Chapter 10: Ada's Mate

Blake

My leg is impatiently bobbing up and down as I watch the people. We all gathered in the living room for coffee while we wait for the doctor to arrive. Margo and Clyde are in a conversation in one corner while Tyler and Theo are arguing in another.

The longer I stay here, the more dysfunctional these people seem. From the stories I have heard, Theo is a tough and womanizing alpha. But from what I see, he is being told what to do in his own house. How can a man successfully rule a pack if he cannot control his house?

“We need to get out of here,” I whisper to Cooper that is sitting next to me. “I don’t feel like participating in this sh*tshow. Parker already went home, I don’t see why we should stay.”

“You cannot be serious,” Cooper snorts. “Ada could be your mate and …”

“I don’t care about that,” I snap furiously. “Or did you forget about June?”

“You know what?” Cooper turns sideways in his chair to get a better look at me. “I wish you would. It has been two years. You need to let it go.”

“I have,” I growl. “But I will never forget.”

“Whatever,” Cooper rolls his eyes at me. “She could be my mate, and I’m not missing out on that opportunity. And even if she’s not mine, there’s the issue about the bomb.”

“Yeah, well, I’m starting to think that bomb has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Moon Shadow,” I sneer. “We’re nothing more than collateral damage.”

“Even so,” Cooper continues. “Our wolves are dormant because of it, and I want the truth to the why and who. The person could easily target our pack next.”

Reese walks into the living room and the look on his face is enough for me to ignore my conversation with Cooper. Something has happened. Reese seems ready to kill.

“Let’s go for a walk,” Reese says softly when he reaches us. “We need to talk.”

“Fresh air would be great,” I stand up. I do not even know if I am interested in what he has to say. I only want to get away from this dysfunctional family. Without saying a word, the three of us walk to the courtyard.

“What’s so urgent?” I ask when we are alone.

“We need to protect Ada,” Reese rests his hands on his hips.

“Oh, for f*ck’s sake,” I sigh and look up at the stars as if they have the answers. “Can we please get past this mate thing?”

“Listen, man,” Reese growls at me. “I get it. June was a b*tch, and she scarred you for life, boo-f*cking-hoo. But I’m not talking mate stuff. We didn’t stay here because of her, we stayed to get behind the explosion. The possibility of finding a mate is only a bonus. Ada is in trouble, and I want to help her.”

“Reese, seriously,” I chuckle. “I might not be infatuated with her like you two, but I will admit that she’s one hell of a woman. She can take care of herself. Death should fear her.”

“Clyde molested her as a child before she got her wolf,” Reese’s words are like a nuclear bomb and my head jerks in his direction as he informs us about his conversation with Ada. Generally, I stay out of other people’s business, but when someone targets children and old people, I see red. “And I’m fairly certain that there’s more to Clyde than meets the eye and none of it is good. Now she’s wolfless again and a target. I don’t have all the information, but right now, Zoe is the only one I trust behind those walls, besides Ada. Mate or not, I have the feeling she is about to uncover something that could put her in danger.”

“But that has nothing to do with us, Reese,” Cooper says hesitantly. “It’s Moon Shadow business. Interfering could seriously p*ss off Theo.”

“We do it discretely and in secret,” I smirk at Cooper. “I’m with Reese. If we stay on the sideline and do nothing, we’re just as guilty as Clyde.”

“What’s your plan?” Cooper squints his eyes at me as he crosses his arms in front of his chest.

“Easy,” I shrug. “We don’t let Ada out of our sight for a second. We milk this mate thing dry. We take turns flirting and wooing her.”

“You mean like taking her on dates and stuff?” Cooper looks at me with a twinkle in his eye that I do not like.

“This is not an episode of The Bachelorette, Cooper,” I hiss at him. “It’s a smoke screen, not a rose ceremony.”

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Reese smiles mischievously. “We already have the mansion and the girl. All we need is roses.”

“Do you think Moon Shadow have a yacht and a helicopter available for romantic trips?” Cooper grins.

“I’m bachelor number one and get the first private date,” Reese continues.

“Can we get back to business?” I growl at them. By now, I know they will ride this joke to death if I do not stop them. “There’s a s*xual predator that needs to be castrated.”

“Okay, fine,” Reese chuckles. “Let’s go talk to Zoe.”

“Do you think we should organize a fantasy suite?” Cooper pumps Reese in the ribs as we walk to Ada’s room, but I tune them out.

As much as I wanted to leave a moment ago, I want to kill Clyde more. And I am dying to know why Theo allowed his only daughter’s attacker to live. If it were my child, he would have regretted taking his first breath. Most adults can fend for themselves. But old people and children are vulnerable and need to be protected. I am amazed that Ada still respects her father after what happened.

However, this does explain why Ada can manipulate her father to her will. He failed her as a child and his guilt is eating at him. Now he is overcompensating and allows her everything.

We arrive at Ada’s room just as the doctor is about to leave. We pretend to walk past him but as soon as he descends the stairs, we slip into her room.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Zoe looks at us. “She needs her rest.”

“And you need our help,” I smile as I cross my arms. “Right now, we’re the only ones without ulterior motives.”

“You cannot stay awake and be alert twenty-four-seven,” Cooper adds. “One of us will stay here while you sleep and wake you if you hear anything.”

“And we’re doing it in secret,” Reese says. “Nobody must know. We will be in hiding the entire time. We will only help when there’s no way out.”

“I don’t know how Ada will feel about this,” Zoe frowns. “She’s rather … uhm … independent.”

“She’s also without her wolf and injured,” I reason. “I’m certain she wouldn’t mind if we keep Clyde away from her.”

“Okay,” Zoe nods with a sigh. “Behind that bookshelf is a secret door that opens into the study. Nobody uses it. You can use that and come and go undetected.”

“Good,” I smile as I go sit on the chair in front of Ada’s dresser. I make myself comfortable and stretch my legs lazily in front of me. “I’ll take the first shift.”

“We’ll see you later,” Reese smiles at Zoe before he and Cooper leave.

An awkward silence fills the room as Zoe only looks at me.

“Good night,” I smile and take out my phone to kill the time.

“Night,” her voice is soft as she turns her back on me and pulls the covers over her.

**

It is nearly two in the morning, and I am bored out of my mind. I played games and read the news. With a soft sigh, I stand up and stretch. Zoe and Ada are still fast asleep, and I walk to the window.

The moonlight shines onto Ada’s face and I cannot help but look at her. Dammit, she is beautiful. If she were ordinary or ugly, this would have been so much easier for me. My fingers find their way to the scar just above my heart. Absentmindedly I rub it. I covered it with an Aztec warrior tattoo, but I can still feel it. A bitter reminder that a mate is not always a blessing.

A sound catches my attention and I quickly kneel next to Zoe.

“Wake up,” I whisper urgently as I shake her. “Somebody’s here.”

“Go,” she murmurs, and I scurry away. The door opens just as I enter the walk-in closet. Zoe pretends to be asleep as somebody walks toward Ada. The moonlight falls onto the visitor’s face, and I recognise Clyde.

I ball my fists and grind my teeth to control my anger. He is one cocky bastard to come knowing very well Zoe is here. For the longest time, he only stares at her. He quickly glances at Zoe before he looks back at Ada. I can hear his breathing getting heavier as he puts his hand in his pants and starts stroking himself.

“Lurk much?” Zoe asks coolly and Clyde jerks his hand out of his pants.

“I’m only checking in on her,” he says quickly. “The doctor said to be on the lookout for a fever.”

“Liar,” she sneers at him. “You don’t need your d*ck for that.”

“How dare you accuse me?” he hisses furiously.

“It’s not an accusation when I saw you,” Zoe sneers as she stands up and walks closer to him. “Get out of this room or I’ll cut off what’s bothering you.”

“You little b*tch,” he hisses as he storms at her. “Who the f*ck do you think you are to talk to me like that?”

“Come on,” Zoe lifts her chin. “I dare you. I’ll beat you into a pulp.”

They glare at each other, and I am dying to walk out of this closet and beat the sh*t out of Clyde. But we made a deal, and I must wait until Zoe cannot control the situation anymore.

“You think you can take me because you have your wolf?” Clyde sneers. “Guess what? So do I.”

He lifts his hand and extends his claw.

“Look down, assh*le,” Zoe smirks and for the first time I notice the dagger she has pressed against his groin. “I will cut your balls even before you think of attacking.”

“Fine,” Clyde retracts his claw and steps back. “You might have won this round but mark my words. You will regret this.”

He glares at Zoe for a moment before he turns away and leaves the room.