CHAPTER 8- A challenge
At the end of lunch Nick walks me to my next class, he is hugging and kissing me. I like it. He mumbles against my neck. “I don’t want to let you go.”
I grin in a silly way, “It is only an hour you know, then you will see me again.”
He groans. “Still too long.” Nick pulls back. “However, we shall do our due diligence and go to class.” He pecks my lips and heads to his class.
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes my mouth. He fills me with joy. The attentiveness is amazing. The joy I am feeling quickly falls when I turn and there is Hunter holding the door for me. I forgot I had this class with him. I ignore him so much it is hard to remember when I see him during the day. I walk past him and take my seat in the back of the room. I don’t usually like to sit in the back but this class has a lot of guys that like to sit in the front. If you catch my drift it’s a hot female teacher.
Much to my surprise Hunter comes and takes a seat next to me. Unlike in the other classrooms, this one doesn’t have desks, it has tables. The teacher said she liked it that way because it prepares us for the college class setup. “What are you doing?”
He looks at me like I am crazy. “I told you I want to be friends with you. Isn’t this what friends do?”
Now it is my turn to look at him like he is crazy. “I told you that we don’t need to be friends.”
He cocks his head at me and beams. “I think you are wrong. We do need to be friends. You are stuck with me in one way or another for the rest of your life.” He winks at me. What the hell is going through his head?
“Admit it, you are a pod person. You are seriously giving me whiplash here with the alter ego. Just be yourself.” I sit up a little straighter. Trying to tune him out.
Hunter leans in a little bit, “Maybe I am being myself now. Maybe I was fake before.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “That is a lot of maybe’s.”
He puts his finger over his lips. “Shh, I don’t want everyone to know I can actually be a nice guy.” He pulls back from me.
I shake my head and take out my homework. Hunter is seriously confusing me right now. I turn to him when I realize something. “What did you say to Nick? He seems to be under the impression that you are in some sort of competition with him.”
Hunter gets this little twinkle on his lips. If I didn’t totally hate this guy then I would think it was kind of hot. “I only told him the truth. If you are supposed to be with me then I am not going to just hand you over with my blessing. You will be with me, not him.”
I give him a dirty look, “What the hell? You and I both know that if we are paired we are both going to object. Why would you say that to him?”
His grin deepens. “I never said I would reject you. As a matter of fact I said that I wouldn’t. So maybe it is you who is mistaken.”
I am shocked there is no other word for it. Hunter is telling me that he is going to keep the bond with me. He is not going to reject me. All I can do is pray I am not mated to him. He is making no sense to me. He has been telling me for at least two years now how much I disgusted him and now he is saying that he is going to be paired with me for the rest of our lives. Then I remember the comment about how he would do it so that he wouldn’t be weak.
“I remember now, you said it was because you didn’t want to be weak. I get it. A mate of convenience. Not someone you want to be with. Then me being with Nick shouldn’t bother you so why make him think it is some competition.” I don’t look at him. That look he has been giving me is a little unnerving.
“Because I want a mate who will be with me completely. Especially if it is you.” I can feel him lean in closer.
“Yeap, you are a pod person.” I shut down the conversation. This is going nowhere good.
He leans in even closer so he is whispering in my ear. “Then your mate might just be a pod person.” My eyes widened. Why is he doing this to me? Him being this close is making me feel things that I have never felt with Hunter before. I have a boyfriend, I do not need this mind fuck from Hunter. Come on a week before my birthday. Can’t he just let me be happy till then? He leans back a little. “I think we should spar during training today. It could be fun.”
This gives me a little gleam. The thought of kicking his ass is tempting. “Yeah, it could. You’re on. I’ll meet you on the field.” He has no idea how much I am going to beat him down. He probably thinks he is stronger than me. He is in for a surprise. Dad did say I needed to show my strength. Maybe it is time to let it shine.
We manage to get through the rest of the class without any more awkwardness. He just sits there. I see him look over at me on occasion, but nothing more than a quizzical glance. Math is a boring subject anyway.
When I leave the class it is with a smile on my face. I get to spend an hour with Nick and I heard today was a lab so we will have a chance to talk while we work through it. He is already at the door when I reach it. He sees Hunter come out after me. Hunter being the ass he is gives Nick a wink. Great, fuck with his head some more why don’t you.
Nick furrows his brow. “I didn’t know he was in that class.”
“Yeah, a regular pain in the ass. Let’s get the hell out of here.” I lean into Nick and he puts his arms around me, leading the way to class. We take a station together and then Noah decides to make an appearance.
“So this guy gets to put his hands on you and I get nothing.” He actually glares at Nick. I made it clear to this dude that I was never interested.
Nick grins ear to ear. “This is my girlfriend. Back off. I can put my hands on her all I want. She was never interested in you. Move on.” He pulls me closer to make the point. Kissing me on the head. Noah walks away glaring at Nick.
Nick looks down at me. “God, I feel like I have to fight to keep you left and right.” I shake my head and get ready to protest, but he puts up his hand to stop me. “Don’t worry, I like it. Everyone wants what I have. What I have doesn’t want to go anywhere. It’s a man thing.” He gets a confident smirk.
I lean a little closer so he knows that I don’t want to go anywhere. I love the feeling of being in his arms.
At the end of class I don’t want to leave, that would mean that I have to ride home with Hunter and Allison. I would rather just stay wrapped up with Nick. He walks me to the pick up lane and plants several kisses on me before Carlos shows up. Right before I leave he says, “Tell Allison that I am not interested. I keep telling her, but she doesn’t seem to get it.” I am pleased to hear this.
“I’ll text you later. I have some work to do at home, but after, ok.”
He winks at me. “I’ll be waiting.”
I slide in the back with Hunter. I keep my distance as my new normal. He is watching me like half the way home. Why? I have no idea.
When we are about home I link my dad. “Dad, I want to talk to you.”
He quickly links me back. “I am in my office. Come on in when you get home.” Then the link is down. He must know what it is about, he didn’t ask.
When we pull up to the front steps I get out and head in. Hunter stops me. “How long before you’re on the field?”
That’s right I said I was going to spar with him. “A few. I have to change. And I am having a meeting with my father right now. You might want to get warmed up.”
I think he liked the sound of the challenge. It will certainly be one for him. I go to the office and walk right in. Dad is behind his large desk. “Have a seat Jasmine.” I take the seat that is right in front of his desk. “I am assuming you have a purpose for this.”
I nod, “Several in fact.”
He leans back in his chair. “Alright, begin.”
“What happened with the rogues?” I have to start with pack business first. That is my job as the future Alpha. The pack’s security is above my feelings.
“They entered on the north side. They took out a couple of supply buildings. I have interrogated them and gotten nothing. They will remain in cells. I am not releasing them to attack again. The Council is sending someone to collect them in a couple of days.” His tone lets me know that he is pleased I started with the pack.
“Why did you link Hunter and not me?” Ok, that came out a little childish.
“He is your future Beta. That is how information is supposed to be relayed. Don’t worry you will get used to it.” Obviously a statement that he is not going to change the procedure.
“What about forcing me to sit next to him on the rides? I don’t think that is necessary to build comradery.” I give him my stern look. He needs to know that it needs to stop.
“I beg to differ. I think it will make you two work better together. If you keep making distance between each other it is going to be harder in the future to work side by side. You both take over this pack in two years, it is time to learn to work together.” I hate when he uses logic.
I stand, because clearly I am not getting anywhere with him. “Fine, well, I am going to go kick my Beta’s ass. So if you will excuse me.”
My dad just laughed and shook his head. “Have fun.” Nothing really? Does he think I will fail? Or is he humored by the prospect of me showing off my strength.