Mates Conquer Everything, Right?

Leaving the packhouse, I feel Igétas close, his eyes are on me. I look up and see his handsome face. He is only wearing jeans, and I don’t think it’s necessary to say I love the view. I smile at him and he leaves two guards he was talking to behind, running over at wolf speed. Within a second, he’s standing next to me. Members aren’t allowed to run that fast often, but my mate can.

Before I can say a word, he is between Amanda and me. His nose hovers over my hair and neck, his arm sneaks around my waist,but I take a step back, away from him.

“What are you doing?”

“Smelling you,” he says, like it is a normal thing to smell me. Maybe it is. I am still learning something new about wolves every day. His nose runs up and down, making a sniffing sound.

“Why do you have Amanda’s smell all over you?” He growls a little and I take another step back.

His eyes are twitching and I can see Vasil wants to take over.

“Stop it,” I whisper, but in a firm voice.

“She is female. Are you seriously jealous?” Amanda is still standing behind him, but she shifted so I can see her. She is rolling her eyes.

“I can also smell your scent, a little,” he whispers so quietly that I know only I and Amanda can hear it.

“Of course you can smell me, I am your mate and you’re standing close to me.”

“No, not like that,” he is scanning the grounds and walking me to the trees. Amanda follows behind us. I look back and she is shaking her head, like this is not a big deal.

Igétas guides us to the middle of the grass field and stops.

“What is going on?” I am not in the mood for whatever this is after everything that happened today.

“Why do you smell like Amanda and why are you aroused?” He is balling his fist, holding Vasil back with clenched teeth.

I can see Amanda giving me a pitying smile.

“Excuse me?” My eyes are big and my face is flushed.

I am lost for words. He is so jealous and does not trust me. I had an emotional day and he is accusing me of cheating with Amanda! Embarrassing me in front of her. And what the hell does he smell on me?

I am about to give him a piece of my mind when Amanda opens her mouth.

“Beta…,” she begins with his title, good move. “Your mate was sad and I hugged her. She was in my room for two hours I think, talking about a lot of things. She smells like me because I was soothing her.”

Her eyes are glued to the ground.

The tension in Igétas’ body seems to lessen.

“You are sad?” he asks, moving to me and taking me in his arms. I feel the warmth and comfort of my mate.

“Yes, I am still sad. I decided I am going to visit doctor Brown. I can’t handle it all alone.” It’s a miracle I don’t start crying again.

I leave his warmth, taking two steps back from him. “This has to stop. She is my friend, a pack member and a very nice person. And don’t forget to mention a female.”

Before he can talk, I continue. I have to stand up now for the future. Our future.

“And even if she were a man, I don’t want someone else. I want you, you are my mate!” I raise my voice with frustration.

He is stepping forward, not standing the fact that I am upset and too far away from him.

I let him reach me.

“It’s hard for the both of us to have to wait to mate,” he whispers, “but we can conquer this. I am sure of it.” He kisses my cheek.

“I am sorry Amanda, I don’t know what came over me.”

She nods, accepting his words.

“Wait,” I pull back. “You said something else.”

“What did I say? I am sorry for acting like a caveman.”

I look at Amanda and her face is slightly red.

“Oh no, is it true?” She gives me a shy smile and I hide my face behind my hands.

“You have to be kidding me!” I turn to Igétas and he looks lost.

“You can smell me…” I’m whispering now, embarrassed beyond words, “down there?”

He shrugs his shoulders and looks to the ground.

“A werewolf has a great nose.”

“Oh my God, are you telling me every time… everyone can smell me?” I start to pace back and forth.

I hear a familiar growl. “I don’t want anyone to smell you like that!”

“I don’t either! But every time I lay my eyes on you, it just happens.” He smiles at my statement and I want to punch his smile off his face.

“It is not funny!” I say with gritted teeth.

“No, it is not, I didn’t want you to feel self-conscious. But we smell more, hear more, and see more than you do.”

’I don’t know what self-conscious means,” I mumble and rub my head.

“Aware of yourself.” Amanda helps and I feel more of an outsider than ever before in the presence of Amanda and my mate.

“Just forget it, I am not visiting doctor Brown today. I just can’t handle it today.”

“It is okay, I will ask him if you can see him tomorrow morning after the training.” Amanda offers and I accept.

“I will take you to my room. I am done for the day.” Igétas protectively slides his arm over my back and we enter the building, going straight to his room.

“We need to talk about the waiting, you know.” I make air quotes with my fingers.

He sits down beside me.

“I know, it’s getting harder and I am losing my mind seeing you without a mark.”

“I am your mate, I am not leaving you.” Mark or not, he is my life.

“It’s more than you belonging to me. It sends a message to the other males that you are off the market. Not all wolves will believe a human’s words.”

“We will find our way,” I say.

We really need to fix this, because this feels crazy. I don’t even have a wolf and my hormones have taken over my mind. I know Igétas has more difficulty, and he is strong, but how long can he fight his instincts?