Chapter 9: She hates me
Nathaniel
After taking care of the situation in my pants, I returned to my seat as if nothing had happened. Roger looked at me suspiciously, but I paid attention to what the other Alphas were saying.
"The rogues are getting closer and more confident. If we don't stop them, they'll take our territories like it's nothing," one of the Alphas said while I tried to concentrate.
"I think it's definitely the humans that are the problem," Alpha Marco said out of nowhere.
"What would humans have to do with it?" asked Asher.
"Well, isn't it obvious, Alpha? With the humans having their towns so close to our territories, they allow the rogues to roam free. I think without a doubt, everything would be easier if we managed these lands," Marco said smiling. "The humans have had these territories for years," said another Alpha.
"Well, everything has to change... we have always been neutral towards them, and I think that now it has to be different," Marco said confidently.
"And what do you suggest, Alpha Marco?" asked Asher, annoyed.
"Well... declare them our enemies and show them who's in charge. We could even start with this small town," he said, as I became more and more nervous.
I felt even worse when I saw her coming in the distance with our orders.
I was petrified because it was obvious that everyone could smell my scent on her, not to mention that I was not wearing my shirt under my jacket.
But... I couldn't help but feel the satisfaction of her having my scent all over her body. I could imagine my hands and my skin caressing her completely. Those sweet, lush curves.
She looked terrified when she saw me. The situation was even worse for her because she was no mere human. She knew who we really were, and it seemed obvious that she preferred to be far away.
Not to mention the fact that she disliked me, more than all the others put together. Nobody said anything, I couldn't even speak. If someone knew she was my mate... it would be bad. Until Marco did something stupid and threw things on the floor, on purpose.
My sweet mate got more and more nervous, and I had to fight the urge to defend her and help her. And when I saw that she had cut herself... I did nothing to help the situation. Again.
"You're a disgrace and a shame to our kind," my wolf told me in my head, and I couldn't even argue, because he was right.
Any werewolf would have killed anyone who treated his mate like that... and I just stood there like a fool.
After hours of meetings and discussions, we finally left. My heart was racing with the anticipation of seeing her again, preferably alone.
It was the first day I knew I had my mate, I had even touched her, and I was already desperate. But just as I was about to leave, Marco started talking.
"Yes, I helped her with something and that's why she had my scent on her," I said, apologizing like a coward. When Marco leaned closer and whispered to me.
"Nate... I think you, of all people, should understand what we have to do with humans, don't you? Your pack has suffered firsthand. You know what they're capable of. If she had been in my pack, she would be dead by now." I held back as much as I can, but Hunter wanted to get his claws out and kill that damn Alpha.
“We will take the humans... I will propose this to the Council very soon," he continued. I was silent. When I noticed that her scent was fading, I ran out and saw her horrified face again as she noticed me.
Now, it was obvious that I was bothering her. I could feel her anger in every word she said.
And the worst part was that I didn't know what to say to her. I wanted to be near her so much that I just stood there like a moron watching her.
She stressed that I shouldn't call her Penny. She was offended when she thought I only cared about my stupid shirt. Then I saw the wound on her hand. I thought it was something small, but now I could see it was bleeding, and my heart practically stopped. But I kept screwing up over and over again.
My wolf will always be tough and strong, and now he was like a little heartbroken puppy. We were both hurt... all because of me. I had no one else to blame.
"I can't do this... she hates me," I said to my wolf as I watched her leave.
"We have to follow her," he told me. I left my things behind a tree for Hunter to take control, he needed it and I couldn't deny him.
She was in her house, with her brothers. She seemed content and that made my heart light up. I watched as one of the twins looked out at me nervously.
I guess I would have to explain myself sooner or later. I stood there for a long time, thinking about how my mate's house would look. Finally, defeated, I returned to the hotel. Roger was waiting for me.
"Something is going on, and I need you to tell me what it is... yes, I know you're the Alpha, and I'm just a Beta... but I'm here to help and support you, and I can't do that if you don't tell me what's going on. Not to mention I'm also your friend," he says.
I walked back and forth across the room, holding the shirt in my hands and sniffing it from time to time. Her scent was the only thing that calmed me, and the thought her perfume would be gone in a few hours almost drove me to despair. "Is it because of Marco and the things he says? Is it the human thing? Is Hunter still desperate for his mate? I know it might take a while, but I think..."
"I found my mate!" I blurted out to him. His face lit up.
"Your mate? Really? That's wonderful, man!" His expression was so happy that I felt guilty for having to dash his hopes immediately before this went any further.
"She's human, Roger. To be precise... she's Penelope," I said, watching the happiness on his face slowly fade away.
He sat on the bed and covered his face with his hands. I couldn't say the reaction was strange to me, although I hated the fact that someone else thought she wasn't the right one, even if I do, does it make sense?
"And you let Marco treat her that way? I'm embarrassed and ashamed of myself," he told me.
"With a lot of effort and cowardice, yes. But you heard him, he considers anyone who hangs out with humans to be a traitor."
"That can't be..." Roger was annoyed.
"I tried to reject her, but I couldn't... " I say.
"Reject her? Are you out of your mind?" he asked, suddenly astonished.
"Roger... we both know that she can't be the Luna of our pack. Everyone will hate her, and my own position could be jeopardized," I explained. He looked at me.
"It's your true mate, Nate. it's not to be taken lightly" he said confidently. I was surprised at his attitude. I thought he was going to convince me to reject her right away. "You sound like Hunter," I tell him shaking my head.
"Well, your wolf is right, dammit!" he replied angrily.
"Not yet. I haven't decided yet. I just know I can't stay away from her... and she hates me," I replied, and his expression dropped.
"Because of... everything that happened." He understands the situation now, disheartened.
"We're thinking about whether I should accept her or not. But would she even accept me? Why? I was terrible!" I can see in his eyes that he was thinking the same thing I was. "She... she hates us... doesn't she?" he finally asked.
"Especially me." He stared at me, thinking about something.
Roger responded. "Okay, so the first thing we have to do is take care of the human issue at the council, right?" I nodded.
"And protect her. She might be in more danger than the rest of the humans. Marco knows what happened to her in our pack," I reminded Roger.
"Exactly. And you just have to get close to her. She won't feel the connection as you do... but Nate, you just have to..."
"Win the heart of the woman who hates me," I said, finishing his sentence.
I couldn't sleep that night. The next morning, I ran out to see her. Marco didn't get to speak at the council, but he'll bring it up sooner or later.
"There's a party... and she'll be there," Roger whispered to me. So I might be able to see her, maybe in another situation. I kept my eyes on her all day until the restaurant closed before I lost sight of her.
On the day of the party, she was overwhelmed with work, without a minute to spare. I heard a co-worker whisper to her about us, but Penelope showed no sign that she knew me.
"Something's wrong," I said to Roger as I left the place, taking advantage of her going out. That's when I noticed the scent.
"She smells like Marco..." I said desperately. Hunter was green with jealousy... and I felt like going out and killing that fucker right now.