ROWAN.
“Stop staring at me,” I tell the two witches as I take another spoonful of chicken broth.
Damn, we hit the jackpot with our cook.
“Not until you tell us what you are planning,” Lisa responds.
“I am not planning anything.”
“Liar. Dawn said you are going to let our dear Louis out of jail.”
“First of all, he is not our dear anything, Secondly he is not in jail-”
“-you were going to keep him locked up in the clinic-”
“-and last but not the least, you were the one who told me to let him out. Let him out and supervise him.”
“That wasn’t me, that was Rina,” she responds.
“Potato, po-tah-to. Still the same thing.”
“That is offensive. I am offended. How can you say that we are the same? We are nothing alike!”
“And thank the goddess for that!” Rina fires back. “Why anyone would delight in being such a tight ass is beyond me.”
Lisa sticks out her tongue at her and Rina responds with the same.
Like children.
And I am the mother stuck with them.
“I am trying to enjoy my delicious breakfast and you two are running it with your squabbles. Go away.”
“No. Not until you tell us what your plan is with Louis.”
“Yeah, spill.”
“There is no plan,” I exclaim. “I am just going to follow Rina’s advice and watch him.”
“I also said you can use the mate excuse to get close to him. You are not going to do that?”
“You are just using that as an excuse for me to get close to him so I can fall for him.”
“It wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
“Yes, it would. If it turns out that he has evil intentions for us, how do you think I am going to juggle that betrayal as well as my feelings? No, the best thing is to watch him from a distance.”
“Maybe I can help?” Lisa says.
“With getting to know him. Since you don’t want to, I will gladly get close to him.”
The sharp lance of jealousy that rips through me nearly knocks all breath from my lungs.
What the hell?
Why would I be jealous of that?
She is just saying it for the pack’s sake and besides it is not like anything would happen between them.
And why do I care if something does happen?
I don’t want a mate.
“Sure,” I say as I focus on my breakfast. “Let’s go with that.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Look me in the eyes and say that. Say you don’t mind me getting to know your mate.”
I take a deep breath before lifting my head and then in the most expressionless voice I can make, I reply, “Yes, Lisa. I do not mind you getting close to the liar. Just as long as you get the results and information we need.”
“I thought mother’s were supposed to be soft. Softer. You are hard hearted,” she exclaims as he leans back in shock.
“Who told you that?” I retort. “Mother’s are tough because they are willing to do anything. sacrifice anything if it ensures the safety of their children and I have a child to protect. And I want to know just how big of a threat that man poses to her.”
“Right, of course. You are right. Sorry, we weren’t thinking that far.”
“You are forgiven.”
“Okay, then. Who is going to break the news of his freedom to him, you or me?”
“I think it should be you,” Rina says to me.
“I think so too. Let him know who is in charge, while showing that I am not bothered at all by the mate stuff.”
“How is your wolf taking that?”she asks.
“Still not talking to me.”
“Hmm. Finish up, while I go change. Appearance does matter, you know,” Lisa says as she gets to her feet.
Again, I have to smother the flare of jealousy as she leaves.
“You can stop this, you know,” Rina says as she watches me. “She doesn’t have to do this.”
“Someone has to. And it will not be me.”
“Very well, if you say so.”
“I do.”
Less than thirty minutes later, I and Lisa are heading to the clinic planning strategies.
“Okay, I have got to say it. You look ridiculous,” I confess.
“What?! I look gorgeous. And Rina wears things all the time and you never say that about her.”
“Well, that is Rina, you are Lisa. Two different personalities. It is confusing.”
As opposed to her combat khaki pants with black singlets, leather blazer and combat boots, she is dressed in a baby pink knee length gown that has white crisscrossed patterns on the top side. She is also wearing strappy heels that I am seriously impressed that she can walk in.
“That doesn’t make me ridiculous.”
“Yes it does. Have you not noticed the double takes people have given you when you pass them?”
“In admiration!”
“in shock. And probably worry over your state of mind.”
“Whatever, I am doing this because you don’t want to. I mean, what are you wearing?”
“What is wrong with what I am wearing?! It’s my usual go to!”
“You could have at least stopped up a little. This is your mate we are talking about.”
My ensemble that she is so viciously attacking is a pair of stretchy black jeans with a blue shirt half tucked in and a pair of ankle boots.
I look good.
What is she talking about?
“You look like a working mother,” she answers.
“I am a working mother!”
“Still, don’t you want to catch his attention and admiration?”
“No. Not really. That is your job.”
“Right, of course. Still, I look good.”
“Whatever you say.”
“I do.”
“Guia!”
Oh, thank the goddess for Dawn.
“You are here and- oh, Lisa?”
“How do I look?” she asks as she strikes a pose.
“Uh, different,” she says with a confused smile.
Lisa pouts in disappointment as I face Dawn.
“How is our lying patient?”
“Good enough to be discharged.”
“Great. Let’s get this show on the road.”