Second Meeting

CHAPTER 48- Second meeting
JASMINE’S P. O. V.
I have been racking my brains for three days on how to do this. I have to meet the rogue or he is going to attack again. Not that we couldn’t hold him off, but how many people would be hurt in the process. It is really hard when there is always someone watching everywhere I go. Especially Hunter, he seems to think that I am going to die if he isn’t watching me. I feel like he doubts I am going to stick around. He must be feeling this gap. I can’t help it, there is just too much right now. After all this is over I will make it up to him.
I am sure that most wolves are on the training grounds right now, this is going to be my only opportunity to disappear for a bit. I put on a pair of loose fitting jeans, a sweater and hiking boots. I can’t shift so I have to trapeze through the woods on foot.
However, as soon as I hit the tree line I am linked. “Where do you think you are going?” At least it is Jay and not Hunter.
“Just for a walk.” I continue on, hoping that he will just go about his business, even though his tone made it seem like that wasn’t going to happen.”
“Well, I will keep you company. Wouldn’t want a rogue to attack you.”
“I am fine Jay.”
“Nope, Hunter would be pissed if I let you walk off alone.” Now he is at my side. Still silently talking but he isn’t letting me go alone.
“I need to be alone for a little bit. Can you let me do that?”
“Why, so you can go meet the rogue?” He kept the topic silent but that doesn’t stop the fact that he knows.
I stop in my tracks. “How did you know?”
“I figured it out. You have been stressing so hard about it and sometimes you think of me when you do it. You kind of projected the thoughts at me. Something about having to meet him every three days so that he doesn’t attack the pack.” Still in my head. Obviously he knows that I don’t want the other wolves to know about this.
“I have to go alone, Jay. If I come with anyone he will attack.”
“I am not going to go all the way to the meet spot, just close enough that if you need me I can be there. On the way there you can explain the whole thing to me.”
He starts walking and I follow him. He isn’t going to take no for an answer. So, I talk. I tell him the whole thing from the meeting word for word. Ending with the kiss and his demand that I give him something every three days.
“I don’t even really know what I am supposed to give him. I am assuming a kiss, I just really hope he doesn’t try to push it. I feel like I am cheating as it is. The guilt is killing me. I think Hunter feels it too. He seems distant. Worried. Maybe he thinks I don’t love him or something. I’m just stressed.”
Jay nods. “I can tell. So can Hunter by the way. He suspects that the rogue is doing something like this and he isn’t happy. He doesn’t know about the three days thing. He just thinks that the rogue is trying to take you from him. Sounds like he is.”
I sigh. “If I don’t get enough humans on my side by Christmas I have to marry him. I made the deal because I was so sure, now it seems impossible.”
“I talked to Hunter about the Rally, he thinks it is a good idea. Plus it would be a big boost in numbers. It would make it seem less impossible.” He scrunches his face because he knows I already shot down this idea and he is giving it to me again.
“Go ahead. I will be there too. I guess we are hitting a dead end and it is time to push as hard as we can to get over the wall. Does that make sense? I am starting to feel like I am losing my mind here.”
“It is a ridiculous metaphor, but I get it. Listen, Hunter and I are doing everything that we can to make sure that this works. You aren’t going to have to marry the rogue. We can get through this.” He takes my hand to reassure me.
“You know you are my best friend right?” I smiled at him.
“So you tell me.” He nudges my shoulder. “I love you Jas. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“Same here Jay.”
We spent the rest of the walk in silence. Just trying to enjoy the walk. When we are about a mile from the border I stop Jay. “I don’t think you should go any further.”
He hugs me. “This is close enough if you link me I should be there in a minute. Don’t wait until the last second. You understand me.”
“I won’t. Thank you for being here.”
“I’m not sure I want to let you go meet that guy. What if he takes off with you? Or hurts you. I’m worried.”
“I don’t think he wants to hurt me. I don’t think he would ask to marry me if he wanted to hurt me. He is just a domineering jackass. And if he wanted to kidnap me he would have done it last night in the restaurant. He could have taken me out the employee entrance and you wouldn’t have noticed until we were gone. That isn’t his plan.” I don’t know if I am comforting him or me.
Pulling away from Jay I fix my resolve. I am doing this. Whatever he wants, it is for the pack. I start towards the border again when Jay links me again. “Check in every fifteen minutes or I am coming to look for you.”
“Will do.”
My fear mounts again as I get closer to the border. When I reach the edge of the pack lands I am scared shitless. I look around and I don’t see anyone. There is a slight clearing here. It looks like some of the trees were burnt out here. A small creek flows from his land into mine. I look around again and I don’t see him. He could want anything, many of which I am not willing to give. I stand right on the edge of the border for a full fifteen minutes. Jay links me. “What is going on?”
“Sorry I haven’t crossed the border yet.”
“Why not?”
“Nerves.”
“Oh, ok. Take your time.”
I take the biggest deep breath that I can. Extend my leg and step out of the pack lands. I feel the shift in power. I am in foreign territory. I usually only feel this when I enter the city. This is the first time I have ventured this far.
After about five steps I am met by two wolves. They shift back, ignoring the fact that they are completely naked and stop me. “What is your business pack wolf?”
“Could you put some clothes on? I am here to see your leader. Gabe Smith.” I sound snarky but it is only a cover for how scared I am.” I keep eye contact with the two men so I don’t get an eye full that I really don’t want.
I wait a minute, I can see they are linking Gabe. One of the guys smiles at me. “Like what you see, little lady?”
I scoff. It’s not like I was even looking. I was just watching their faces. Making sure they weren’t going to attack. “Hardly.” Not that he is bad looking. I have seen better.
Five minutes later Gabe shows up on a quad. Dressed much the same way he was when we met at the restaurant, minus the tie. He swings his leg over the quad and stalks towards his men. He back hands them both. “You stand here naked in front of her.” He growls at them both.
They both look down and bare their necks. “Sorry Alpha.”
“I don’t want to see either of your faces for the rest of the day. Keep the area clear. I don’t want to be disterbed.”
I stand there and watch. He sure has a grip on these wolves. They obey without a second thought. Which is amazing for rogues, by definition they don’t follow rules.
He watches them leave. Then turns back to me. “I apologize. They shouldn’t have done that.”
“I have seen a few naked men. I think I am a little used to it by now. Isn’t it like a fact of wolves?” I am trying to defuse his anger, the last thing I need is to have it directed at me.
He smiles at me. “True, but they could have addressed the situation sooner. They didn’t need to continue to stand here like that. Wait here. I have things over here to make you more comfortable.”
I am a little on guard because he is being too nice. This isn’t like the way the last meeting ended. He threw me against a wall. He walks back over to the quad and removes a box from the back of it. Gabe smiles at me as he walks back.
“You look confused Darlin’.”
“I am. What are you doing?” I don’t even have a clue what the fuck he is doing. With him it could be anything.
“A picnic. I wasn’t sure where you would come out so I had it boxed up and ready for when you crossed. I know I told you here, but I wasn’t sure how well you follow directions.”
I watch as he starts laying out a tarp and a blanket on top. After that is laid out then he sits on the blanket. He waves his hand out motioning for me to have a seat. I continue to stand. “What exactly am I doing here? You never really said what I needed to do here.”
He patted the blanket next to him. “As of right now Darlin’ you are here to have a picnic. I suggest you sit. It is in everyone’s best interest.”
A gentle reminder that I am here to keep my pack safe. I take a seat and link Jay. “He is making me have a picnic.”
“That is about the oddest thing I have ever heard.”
I try to suppress a chuckle, but I think I fail because he says, “Where is the vamp?”
“Far enough away. How did you know he was close?”
“I knew you wouldn’t come totally alone. You don’t trust me. Plus his scent is the strongest on his skin, so that means he was the last one in contact with you. Isn’t that weird having a blood sucker as a friend.” He starts pulling a thermos and a covered bowl out of the box.
“He was my friend before he was a vampire. He is my best friend as a matter of fact.” I have no problem defending Jay. I don’t care who the other person is.
He opens the bowl to reveal fried chicken, still warm. “I understand. I heard that your pack gave you a hard time before. Especially that mate of yours. He was exceptionally hard on you. It must be difficult to be saddled with him. Not to mention all that you have had to deal with since you have been mated. Seems like he is not the most loyal one.”
“What exactly are you driving at?” I am still guarded.
“Mates suck.” He doesn’t elaborate, he is just making a statement. “I think the goddess has lost her mind. Mating someone like you with him. Seems insane to me.” He hands me a piece of chicken. “Don’t worry I am not poisoning you.” I take the thigh. He smiles, like he is winning some points or something. “I heard that dark meat is good for the baby with lots of iron.”
I give him a scrunched look. “Why would that be something that you would hear?”
“Ok, maybe I looked it up.” he looks embarrassed, which is just weird.
“Why?” He just gets more and more confusing.
“I told you, you calm my beast. It was a way to think about you. I’m not too pleased with the fact that it is someone else’s pup, but I have gotten past it. I know the next one will be mine.” He leans back as he is talking, resting his body on his hands behind him.
“You are so sure I am going to fail.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt your ambition. I doubt the humans ability to understand things that are beyond their comprehension. Actually I doubt a lot of things but not you.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough about you to know that you don’t deserve a piece of shit like that pup.” He almost growls at that last part.
“What makes you say that he is such a piece of shit?” I feel the need to defend Hunter. He is my mate and he has changed a lot.
“Don’t worry about it right now. I will tell you later. Right now I want to enjoy my time with you. It’s limited I know. How long did the vamp give you before he storms the borders to come get you?”
“Jay isn’t going to storm the borders.” I roll my eyes. “He is protective though. He won’t come over here as long as you behave yourself.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Is he watching us? I thought I told you that you were to be alone. Are you violating our deal?” He doesn’t sound angry, just curious.
“No he can’t see what we are doing?”
I see the smile deepen. “So then how is he going to know if I behave myself?”
“We have a link. It’s a deep link. Even easier to communicate than a wolf link. It’s actually very interesting. It’s almost as if he is in my mind.”
“It is, how did you manage that?” He leans back so that he is laying down. Then he pulls me down so that I am laying next to him.
“I don’t think we should be doing this.” I push away from him and try to sit up, but he puts a hand on my side to stop me.
“We are just laying here. You are using my arm as a pillow. Nothing sinister.”
“All this makes me feel guilty. I am not a cheater, Mr. Smith. This makes me feel like one. Technically that is what is going on.”
“Don’t be so formal with me please. I am not turning you into a cheater. I am merely enjoying your company.”
“That is not how it feels.” But I do lay back down. I am going to hell.
“It shouldn’t, I am waiting until we are married.”
I chuckle. “What makes you so sure that I am going to marry you? I could do it, you know.”
“I don’t really care if you do or don’t. I am going to marry you. I know a few things that you don’t. I have the confidence that I need to win you over. That’s all you need to worry about at the moment.”
Jay links me. “How is it going?”
“He is determined that he is marrying me. Says he knows something that I don’t. Whatever the hell that means.”
“His mate rejected him, he has no faith in the mate bond.”
“I gathered that. But he isn’t hurting me. He is actually being really nice, which is just as scary.”
“Romantic nice?”
“Yeah.”
“Interesting.”
“Where do you go?” Gabe asks.
“What do you mean?” I ask. I am still here.
“You stare off into nothing and you are not here. Are you finding it hard to be around me?” He seems a little hurt.
“I am linking Jay. He is checking in on me to make sure that you are not kidnapping me.”
“Well, that is helpful. You always have a guard then.”
“Yes. He is always there and quicker than most wolves.”
He pats my side. “That gives me some comfort. I worry for you. I heard about that she-wolf that attacked you the other day. I was very upset that you had to handle that yourself. Where was your supposed mate? Or was he rooting for her.”
“Patrolling the border where your wolves were attacking.” I point out. No sense being gentle at this point.
“Still he should have been at your side. Where was your vamp then?”
“He was with Hunter. That is where I told him to be. I was in my office before I went to the gate. It was more important that the borders were protected. I had the front guard at the gate. I wasn’t alone.”
“You still took her on by yourself. Like a true warrior. That’s one of the things I like about you. Plus you are a gorgeous creature.”
“Why? Why would you say things like that?”
He rolls us over so that he is on top of me. “Because if someone doesn’t make you feel that way every day then there is something wrong. It should be against the law.”
“This is inappropriate Gabe.” I start pushing him back. He takes the chance and kisses me. I try to push him off, but he just presses harder.
He pulls back just a little to speak. “Kiss me back. You know what will happen if you don’t.”
“How can you like that I am doing this under duress?”
“I don’t care how you do it, just do it.” He growls. I can tell that he is losing his patience. He slams his lips into mine again, this time I kiss him back. Only because if I don’t then I know that he will unleash his wolves.
He keeps kissing me. Pawing at me. This time there isn’t a waitress to interrupt him. He breaks away from my lips only to trail down my jaw and neck. “Gabe. This is too much.”
He comes back to my lips. “You said my name.” He kisses me again. “It sounds so perfect coming from you. Don’t ever stop saying it.”
“Gabe, I can’t do this with you. I am with someone.”
“Not for much longer.” He smiles down at me. “You will be mine Darlin’.”
“What about the little fact that you attacked my dad? Did you think I forgot about that?” Scolding him. He gets this look of regret.
“Believe me if there was another way then I would have done it. I needed it to be you that I met with, not your father. I knew when he was unavailable he left the pack to you. I really needed it to be you. I didn’t mean to hit him so hard. It was only supposed to injure him for a short time.”
“That makes it better? You could have killed him. Or better yet, you could have not hurt him at all and just requested to speak to me.” I push him off me. “I think it is time for me to leave. I will see you again in three days. Hopefully then you will be past this marriage thing.” Getting up I dust myself off and start to head towards the border.
Before I reach the other side I am pulled back to a massive chest. “I will never give up on wanting to marry you. If this deal doesn’t work then there will be another and another, until you are mine.”
“Mr. Smith, that is just ridiculous.”
“Gabe.” He purrs against my back. “Not ridiculous when it is you. I told you, you calm my beast. I need you. I don’t like the feeling. I don’t like to need someone. Especially someone I can’t have when I want. But I assure you Darlin’ you will be mine.”
“I have a mate.” I push against him but he holds me tight.
“A man that doesn’t deserve you. I don’t care how much you think he has changed, he hasn’t.” He kisses my neck. “I will see you in three days. Same spot. No guards. Except the vampire. He was a fine distance today.”
“Fine, can you let go of me now.” As soon as the last word is out of my mouth he turns me around.
“One more kiss than you can go. I don’t like to think you are leaving me mad.”
“But I am.”
He brushes my cheek. “I don’t want you mad at me.” His voice comes out as a whisper.
“That is a little difficult at the moment.” I look down so that I can’t see his expression. I don’t like this change in his behavior. I also am not liking what he said about Hunter, he seems to know more than I do about my own pack. What is Hunter hiding?
He puts his fingers under my chin to pull it back up, “We met for a reason. I believe that.” Gabe brings his lips to mine. Softly this time. I kiss him back because I still remember the threat. “I want you to meet me tomorrow.” He whispers. Not moving his lips away from me.
“The deal was every three days.” My breath is on his lips.
“Not enough. Tomorrow.”
I sigh, because I know what is coming next. The threat. “Alright, tomorrow.”
He smiles down at me. Jeez this guy towers over me. “That’s my girl.”
“Not your girl.”
“Yet.” he pecks my lips. Then smacks my ass. “Get going, before I don’t let you go.”
“You forget about Jay already?” I ask.
“Not one bit. That is the only reason why I am letting you go now.” I chuckle and leave his territory.