The Alpha's Other Woman

49 Objectified

Carrie

We got back to Glenshadow, and everyone seemed excited to see us, returning home victorious. Everyone but Porter, that was. He had overheard my promise to tell Amanda how she could reject him, and he had awaited our arrival like an execution. I had meant what I said. Just because she was only a human did not mean she didn't deserve to know that there was a way out if she really didn't want him. Of course I hoped she would choose Porter in the end, but coercion was not love.

I could see that my friend was also waiting, but she was doing so surprisingly patiently. Once I'd gotten all my urgent business out of the way, I went to her and suggested that we walk together.

"I heard they're not breaking up your pack. That's good, right?" Amanda asked me.

"It's very good."

"I can see why you like it here."

"Oh?"

"It's peaceful, and everyone seems to be a part of the whole, if that makes sense. I kind of envy you werewolves."

"It was strange not being a part of a pack while I was a rogue. That was mostly why I was so down when you met me."

"I like the individuality of being human, I really do. This seems nice, too, but it's not really for me."

"Understandable. Well, I promised you that I would tell you how you could reject Porter if you still want to, and I intend to keep my word."

"He's a controlling possessive jerk. But..."

I waited for her to finish for a moment, but she didn't. Well, it wasn't a bad sign. "They all can be a bit possessive, but they're entirely at the mercy of their mates. I don't know what sort of jerks you've dealt with in the past, but his wolf just wants to keep you with him and keep you safe, and he can control it if he needs to. It's that constant struggle between the animal and the human. If you want to be with him, lay down the law and he'll agree, even if he doesn't like it. It might be a battle for him though, but he'd fight any battle for a chance to keep you."

"Is it like that with you and Jason?"

"Jason's pretty easy-going for a werewolf, especially for an alpha. His wolf is strong, but he's usually calm and watchful unless threatened." I hoped Amanda's curiosity about our nature was a good sign. "If you do choose to accept Porter, he should settle down a lot once his wolf feels secure. They're always worse at the beginning."

"This is still surreal. I mean, werewolves? You're all straight out of fiction."

I just smiled. I bet it did feel surreal, probably what I would feel like if I found out ghosts or unicorns were hiding in plain sight. "Well, if you decide you really want to end things, you'll simply say, 'I, Amanda, reject you, Porter Hansen of Glenshadow'. It's not an exact formula, but the more specific information you add, the better. And I want to warn you of two things: don't let him mark you unless you're sure you're in it for good because it'll be even worse if you end it after that, and don't reject him unless you're sure because if you do, the bond will likely never be the same, even if you do change your mind later."

Amanda exhaled shakily. "Not gonna lie, you're really not making me feel less pressured right now."

"Sorry, but you need the facts. I was stupid and tried to reject Jason, but thankfully he stopped me before I could do something I would forever regret. I feel like an idiot when I think about that now." It made my stomach feel sick, or maybe that was just Jason's baby screwing up my insides.

No, that was definitely the feeling of shame of former stupidity.

"Do you think I should?"

I laughed. "I was a bit of a mate bond skeptic for a while there, but now that I've got mine, I'm a believer."