Lobo whimpered at the thought of their mate enduring such pain but it made sense. It explained why Phoebe avoided the packhouse and chose to live alone. No doubt her first mate was as member of the pack and she would want to avoid him especially if he took a different mate.
It also explained why she was so thin. When he held her Jason couldn’t help but notice she was underweight even for her petite size. After the rejection she probably lost her appetite further weakening her and making it more difficult to shift which took a lot energy and calories to maintain.
‘Mate hurting.’ Lobo whined.
‘Yes. But not anymore. It stops with us.’
‘Yes! We make Mate feel protected and loved!’
Jason grinned. He and his wolf were in full agreement. They would erase every bad memory their mate suffered one by one.
“Someone looks happy,” Luke commented. “And by your smell…I take it the talk went well?”
“We’re having dinner tonight,” Jason couldn’t wipe the smile from his face if he wanted to. “At her place.”
Luke smirked. Given how long Jason waited for his mate he was certainly entitled to enjoy this moment. In fact Luke was a little jealous. His own mate was a horrible cook but the thought of enjoying a meal cooked by one’s mate was very appealing. If he had any skill in the kitchen he would treat his mate to a meal as a surprise.
“So it went very well.”
Jason’s smile faded.
“What?”
“When I first saw her she asked if I was going to reject her.”
“Why would she ask that?”
“Because that’s what her first mate did.”
“First mate…so you are her second chance,” Luke said.
Jason nodded.
“Well that explains a few things.”
Like Jason Luke now understood why Phoebe avoided the packhouse and lived alone. Depression and loss of appetite wasn’t uncommon for rejected wolves especially if their mate betrayed the bond after the rejection. But it also meant Jason had his work cut out for him.
Wolves who suffered rejection were often reluctant to commit to their second chance mate, afraid of being hurt again. In such cases their mate had to work twice as hard to earn their trust and win their hearts. Luke knew Jason was up to the task. Hopefully he had enough time before they headed back to their pack.
“Well, good luck. Not that you need it.”
“Thanks.” Jason grimaced. Though Luke seemed confident Jason was not so sure. He was not a Casanova and had avoided all romantic entanglements choosing to stay faithful to his mate. With his lack of experience did he really stand a chance of winning over his mate?
Jason could barely contain his anticipation as he anxiously watched the clock for dinnertime. Returning to his room after the disastrous joint training he hopped in the shower to wash away the dirt, grime and frustration. Not only did the Rimrock pack’s warriors lack discipline but also strength and stamina. His warriors could run circles around them.
However when pressed by Luke’s aura they quickly fell into line and pushed themselves so there was some hope. What was truly lacking was the pack’s authority. The warrior’s lackluster performance was clearly due to their alpha’s absence and lack of motivation. Even if just their beta participated in training it would be a huge improvement to morale.
Luke’s reaction to learning about the traps was predictably incredulous. He shook his head at the sheer idiocy of the whole idea especially if the pack’s warriors didn’t know the location or placement of the traps. If the warriors didn’t know where the traps were located their movements would be equally hampered and the traps just as deadly to them as their enemy.
For a small pack controlling a vast area traps weren’t necessarily a bad thing but implementing them called for strategy. Placing them in areas difficult to patrol would be smart but not everywhere and especially not remembering where they were placed was a problem. Rimrock was a mid-size pack so there should be no reason to employ so many traps given the size of their defensive force. It all came down to laziness and their alpha’s disconnection with his pack duties.
Stepping out of the shower Jason shook his head to clear his mind of such thoughts. Right now the only thing that mattered was his mate. He wouldn’t let anything interfere with his first meal with her. Tonight would be perfect. Not wanting to appear too formal he dressed in a sweater and jeans with his leather jacket as the final layer. Jason considered his reflection carefully.
Normally he didn’t care what he looked like but tonight he hoped to impress. Touching his now smooth cheeks he thought he struck a handsome profile. Hopefully his mate would be impressed. Lobo was practically climbing the walls of his mind eager to see their mate again.
Leaving the packhouse through the kitchen and out the back door Jason avoided his hosts and any needless questions. Luke already had a prepared excuse for his absence blaming the recent rogue attacks for an emergency call home.
Following Luke’s directions as well as using Cam as a guide Jason had little trouble finding Phoebe’s cottage. As his Beta described, it was a neat little structure making a cozy home tucked into the woods and surrounded by a garden teeming with herbs. The perennials had long since gone to seed and minded themselves with little effort from their caretaker.
Though it was picturesque scene Jason did bristle at the thought of Phoebe living out here alone with no one to protect her but border patrols whose abilities he now seriously questioned. Lobo growled in agreement. It simply wasn’t safe for their mate to remain here.
“Alpha?”
“Anything to report, Cam?” Jason asked without looking at his warrior newly emerged from the forest shadows.
“All is peaceful.”
“Good. You can head back to the packhouse and get yourself a proper meal. I won’t be needing you the rest of the night.”
“Planning to guard Luna on your own then?” Cam asked with a smirk.
Jason growled at his warrior’s audacity but Cam was already off. With a sigh he calmed himself. It was his hope to spend the night with his mate. If she was uncomfortable with that idea he would sleep on the porch. But tonight would be perfect.
‘Remember, don’t push her,’ Jason said to his eager wolf.
‘I know! I know! But…Mate!’
‘Tonight is all about her so she is in control of what happens.’
‘Right. Yes. Now go to Mate human!’
Jason couldn’t help but smile. A wolf’s s*x drive was generally high and tempered only by their desire for their one-true mate. Their wolf counterparts seldom found anyone tempting if it wasn’t their mate and so had no desire to be with them. It was the human counterpart that lacked self-control and chose to engage in sometimes numerous trysts waiting for their mate to appear.
While it wasn’t uncommon for young wolves to engage in s****l activities Jason had abstained. The idea of touching any wolf who was not his mate was nauseating especially after learning about his parents’ troubles. Jason was determined not to repeat his father’s mistakes so he avoided affairs with others.
Apparently other wolves found his level of self-control appealing and many sought to be his first partner but Jason shrugged them away following his wolf’s instincts to save himself for his fated mate. He wanted her to be his first and selfishly wanted to be her first. Jason certainly wouldn’t have faulted her if she took other partners before meeting him but now it seemed his selfish wish had come true.
When he held Phoebe and breathed her scent he hadn’t detected any trace of another. It seemed her first mate had rejected her immediately and perhaps because of that Phoebe hadn’t had any desires to be with another. Lobo was eager to express the pent up urges they had suppressed but Jason insisted they take it slow. They had to be mindful of the trauma she suffered because of her rejection and gradually breakdown the barriers she erected to protect herself.
Once again in control Jason let himself through the garden gate and stepped onto the porch. With a deep breath he knocked and anxiously waited for an answer. What if she changed her mind and refused to let him in? Lobo whimpered at the thought.
After an agonizing minute the door opened a crack. Verifying her visitor Phoebe undid the last latch and opened it wide. Shyly she smiled, “Come in.”
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