The Reluctant Mate

Amanda

It was Friday, and normally I’d be rushing home after work, excited to escape.

I was still eager, but I was more excited to get home to see Porter than anything else. We’d been living together for a couple weeks and the novelty of having someone that hot living in the same place as me had not worn off. The man was stuck in my mind and I no longer wanted him out. I liked having him inside me.

As I drove back, I thought about the weekend and the fact that I had two beautiful days to enjoy with him and to play with my cute little Uno. I was going to go with the girls tonight—because there was no way I was completely ditching them from my life for Porter. He was going to come and meet me there once he was done all his beta stuff.

And then tomorrow, Krystal was throwing Kain a birthday party—apparently whether he wanted one or not. Porter had asked me to grab Kain a gift from us.

We got him money stuffed in a card.

Porter was going to have to deal with it. I was gambling that a fourteen-year-old boy would like choices and spending power better than some heartfelt gift.

When I got home, I played with Uno for a while and he clawed my hands like the violent little beast he was. Perfect for a werewolf beta, no doubt the reason Porter had chosen him, whatever he said about its resemblance to my attitude.

I was surprised when there was a knock on the door. I went and opened it to find Carrie waiting. “Luna,” I said in a half-hearted attempt to adhere to the weird werewolf rules.

“Oh you don’t have to call me that,” she said. “I actually had a request for you.”

“What is it?”

“Want to talk here or in my office?”

“Here’s fine, come on in. Want something to drink?”

“Yes, please,” she agreed as she followed me inside. “How do you like living here?”

“It’s nice. I thought it would be weirder but it feels oddly normal.”

“Porter treating you right?”

“Of course. Aren’t you the one who told me he was a good guy back when you were trying to match make?”

She had the grace to look a bit uncomfortable. “Sorry about that. I just knew he was your mate, and if Jason taught me anything, it was how perfect having my mate can be. I wanted that for you two. But everything else I said was true, too.”

I was kind of glad she’d tried to get me to consider Porter. “Well, I had ulterior motives then too.”

She just laughed as we sat down on the couch. Uno stalked towards her and fixed her with his adorable intimidating stare. He was going to be a guard cat, for sure. He’d been completely unfazed by Porter’s wolf when I’d wanted to test that.

“Anyway, I didn’t just come here to chat today. I actually have a proposition for you.”

“What’s that?” I was sort of curious.

“Well, no pressure. I don’t know how much Porter has talked to about pack ranks, but you’re essentially our beta female, and will officially be if you and Porter end up fully mated.”

I stopped her. “You’re talking about the marking thing?” I still wasn’t sure about it. It gave me permanency nerves.

“Yes, but that’s not important as far as what I’m asking you. So you’ve heard of the alpha, beta, delta, gamma, I assume? There’re equivalent positions for their mates if they have them, like how I’m the luna. Those exist for the other positions, too, but they’re even more flexible. Basically, you’ve got the freedom in your position to either work very closely with and for the pack, or to choose to continue working in the human world. Or to split your time between both.”

“Okay?”

“So, my proposition. I was wondering if you wanted to take on a larger role here.”

“I’m human though,” I pointed out.

“Absolutely irrelevant. Obviously you’d be no use as a fighter, but that’s not what I’m suggesting. It would be kind of like secretarial work, and a paid position. You’d be even more involved in the supernatural world if you chose to. It wouldn’t be much more than what you’re making now at first, but as the pack grows it would get better. No transit costs, flexible hours... It would help if you officially joined the pack, but that wouldn’t be necessary. No pressure. No one will be upset if you don’t want to do it.”

“Wow. This is surprising.”

“If you were a werewolf you’d be surprised not to get drawn into the pack work mated to a beta. But again, it’s up to you. I know you didn’t grow up finding all this normal like we all did.”

I shrugged. “It’s actually surprisingly normal now. Porter’s explained a lot.”

She smiled.

“So, what’s the marking thing like?”

“Which part?”

“All of it.”

“Are you thinking of letting him?” She looked curious.

“Maybe.”

“Well, it does hurt a bit, but it also feels very good. You’d be able to link with Porter if you did.”

“I have noticed the staring into space a lot.”

“Must look weird to a human.”

“At first I thought he was just spacing out, and then I realized it was silent conversations. Kind of rude, but...”

“Sorry about that. Again, it’s pretty normal for us so we don’t think about it. Think of it like mental texting.”

Fair enough. It wasn’t like I hadn’t ever texted with someone in the room. I actually should text the girls before I left. “While I’m thinking about it, feel like going out tonight?” I glanced at her growing stomach. “If you can, that is. Maybe you shouldn’t with that not-so-maybe baby in there.”

“One night wouldn’t hurt I think. Where you going?”

“Angie’s again. I’m meeting the girls.”

She considered. “Okay. I could use a break to unwind. Bluegorge has been getting on my nerves again. They’re the worst neighbor, but we’re working on something to get them off our backs once and for all.”

“What are you planning?”

She chuckled darkly. “I shouldn’t have even said that much. Just rest assured, we’re not taking their bullying much longer. I’ll teach him to call me a status hunting whore and then continually harass my pack.”

“He called you that?”

“In front of the entire Alpha Assembly. He was trying to rile up Jason.”

“What a bastard.”

“Exactly. And a lot more than that. But anyway, I think I will go out tonight. Jason might not love it, but...” She shrugged. “It’s good to not always let them get their way.”

“Porter’s coming to meet me near the end of the night. Jason could tag along with him if he wants.”

“Excellent. Give him lots of time to miss me.”

I smiled at the sentiment. I did kind of like when Porter couldn’t help but show how desperate he was for me.