Chapter 30: Ada's Mate

Blake

“Do you think she’s our mate?” I ask my wolf, Keanu, as we jog back home.

“I don’t know,” he grunts. “I cannot sense her wolf at all. The only thing I could pick up was her desire for you to do more than fondle her underwear.”

“Clyde has been taking advantage of her for her entire adult life,” I say angrily. “I will not disrespect her like that.”

“It’s not disrespect if she wants you to,” Keanu argues. “And believe me, I could smell how much she wanted it.”

“Because of the circumstances,” I reason. “It was an emotional evening. If I acted on desire, I would be taking advantage of her vulnerable state. I’m just grateful she’s giving me half a chance after the way I acted towards her.”

“Yeah, you’re a jerk without my guidance,” Keanu teases.

“Shut up,” I snort as I kneel in front of the door so that Ada can climb off.

Reese

I couldn’t get to the front door fast enough when I saw Blake’s wolf approaching. I desperately want to talk to Ada – alone. I cannot give her up without a fight.

I have been angry with the world the entire day. I am mad at Blake for changing his mind. I know he has the right to, but I do not care. What is so special about him that everything comes his way? He already had a mate. Now, he might be Ada’s plus his wolf already returned. Why should he get all the luck? When is it my turn?

I come to a stop at the door and cross my arms as I watch Ada climb off Blake’s back.

“Thank you,” she smiles at Blake before she hugs him tightly.

Worry and irritation stir in me as I watch her stroke Blake’s fur before he runs off. The two of them have been alone in the dark for hours and by the looks of it, they were not fighting. If anything, they seem closer than ever and that concerns me.

“Are you okay?” I ask as I tuck my sour mood away when she walks to me.

“Yes,” she smiles. “And I will be perfect after a hot bath.”

“I was hoping we could talk,” I scratch my neck sheepishly. I have not felt this awkward since puberty while approaching my first crush.

“Sure,” she shrugs, and I follow her inside.

I want to talk to her about us but the right words just will not come to me.

“I have a theory about Gregory,” I say instead as we walk to her quarters.

“Do tell,” she looks at me curiously.

“I think he’s playing Opal Moon and Moon Shadow against his other,” I say as we enter her quarters. She sits down on the couch and I take a seat next to her. “Think about it, Gregory is on speaking terms now with both you and Killian. He’s currently not attacking either pack. Instead, Killian is providing accommodation and you the food.”

“It’s a triangle,” Ada looks at me with big eyes. “Clyde, Killian and Gregory. They all have one common goal – getting rid of me.”

“Hold on,” I take her hands in mine. “That doesn’t make sense. Clyde and Gregory, yes, but not Killian. He wants to marry you.”

“Marrying me is a ruse,” she laughs humourlessly. “Gregory killed Killian’s mate and was about to kill him when the rogue entered the room with my hoodie. Killian must’ve seen it and now he holds me responsible for his mate’s death. And their unborn child. He only wants to marry me so that I can give him the child he lost and then he’ll kill me.”

“You’re right,” I murmur and I can feel the blood drain from my face.

“I need to talk to Dad. I’m calling off the agreement with Killian,” she gets up.

“Ada, wait,” I quickly grab her wrist and stand in front of her. “Come home with me. I can keep you safe. They’ll never find you there.”

“You must be kidding,” she looks at me in astonishment. “You’re asking me to abandon my pack and endanger yours. Because they will try and find me.”

“You have no proof of that,” I take her hands and hold them tightly. “All of this is speculation. All we do know for certain is that Clyde hates you and not even he is stupid enough to follow you to my pack.”

She looks at me with her beautiful green eyes and the urgency to convince her to come with me, intensifies.

“Ada,” tenderly I cup her cheek as I smile at her. “I know this is not romantic or even the right moment, but please, be my Luna. I’m not asking this to keep you safe, that too, but I’m mostly asking because there’s nothing that I desire more than you. Please.”

“Reese, I …”

“Please,” I whisper before I softly kiss her.

“Reese, I can’t,” she mumbles as she steps back and my heart pulls painfully from her rejection.

“I can’t do this,” she sighs the words as she wipes over her eyes. “Taking turns kissing you and Blake and then you say these things and …”

“When did you kiss him?” I cut her off. Blake told me about last night, but my gut is telling me that was not the last time.

“Oh, no, no, no,” she shakes her head, and I can see her eyes fill with anger. “We’re not having that discussion. We’re not comparing notes on this.”

“It’s not about comparison,” I defend myself.

“I haven’t discussed you with him,” she hisses at me. “And I sure as hell aren’t going to discuss him with you. Get out of my room.”

“Ada, I’m sorry,” I sigh. “It came out wrong. I sounded jealous and well, I am. Truly, I would prefer not to know what happened between you and Blake. It’s a mental picture that I don’t need. But you and I have something special and I don’t want to lose it.”

“I’m not sorry about our afternoon together,” her words are soft. “It was the first time I …”

She trails off and walks past me to the window.

“You should leave now,” she says with her back towards me.

“Ada, I …”

“Please leave,” she says urgently, and it sounds like she is crying. “We’ll talk more in the morning, okay.”

For a second I consider walking to her but I stop myself. I do not want to pressure her, it will only spook her.

“Good night,” I say softly as I turn around and leave.

Ada

The moment the door shuts behind Reese, I allow the tears to run freely over my face. This is pure agony. How did things get so complicated so fast? Even if Taima returns this instant, one of them will be hurt and that is the last thing I want to do. It does not even matter if I kiss them or not. There are feelings involved. The damage has been done and there is nothing I can do about it until Taima wakes up.

“This is so messed up,” I mumble as I wipe my tears and walk to the bathroom.

Continuing like this is only going to create more drama, I realize as I fill up the tub with vanilla-scented bubble bath. Two men are waiting for my next move while three men are trying to ruin me.

I cannot change what I feel for Blake or Reese, but I can choose my actions. No more mate business, I decide as I drop my clothes in the laundry basket and climb into the bath. I am going to focus on what is important. Namely to stay alive.

The first order of business will be to set the record straight with Killian. He can stick his marriage proposal where the sun does not shine. I am nobody’s breeder.

Then I need to convince Dad to release Clyde from the dungeon. I need the idi*t out there because I know he will mess up. Which he will most definitely do now more than ever. His anger towards me – and now also Father for locking him up – will urge him to react hastily.

Lastly, I need to get Gregory on my side. He is not an Omega that went rogue. He is clearly the leader of the group, and I am convinced that he used to be a rank. With his connection with Killian, he could give me plenty of answers. But he will not help me without gaining something in the process. I must find out what he wants.

But most importantly, I am not telling anybody about my plan. Father has been turning a blind eye towards Clyde’s doings. Just as I have been ignoring Father’s lack of action towards him. As hard as it is to admit, Father is not objective. Until I know who the female is that impersonated me, I am not trusting anybody. Not even Zoe. I know she will never betray me, but I have no idea how much she will share with Cooper and he will tell his brother. And by now, I know Blake and Reese well enough to know that they are going to hate my plan.