The Contrary Mate

33 Aura

This time Jack took me to a vegetarian restaurant and we had a very nice time, talking and laughing and drinking together, although I wondered if he actually liked what he was eating. More and more, I enjoyed my time with him, and it was almost as if his proximity to me lessened the empty feeling of the lack of life of the city. The world just seemed more alive when he was with me. I wondered if it were my part of the bond working on me, but even if it was, I would not complain.

Once we were done, Paul drove me home. I didn't have to give him directions which surprised me, until I figured out Jack was doing so through his pack link. As we crossed the borders, I pondered just how annoyed Senator Salix and the village council would be that I was bringing a second werewolf onto fae lands. At least this one wasn't as notorious, I supposed. Or maybe he was too, since he worked for Jack. I honestly didn't know and barely cared anymore. I was tired of trying to meet the rigid requirements of the other fae.

"I'll go to that charity thing with you," I told him suddenly, twisting myself to look at his face.

By the dim lights of the car, his pleasure was still obvious. "I'll get Lenora to set you up with something to wear, unless you'd rather get something yourself."

"Lenora would be great," I said, wondering about Jack's secretary. There was a lot of work to do at my aunt's so if she was able to get me something I wouldn't complain, plus I wasn't quite sure what I should wear to something like that.

Jack dropped me off, with another promise to meet again the next night. He got out of the car and we kissed, a lingering longing kiss that spoke of just how much he would miss me and reminded me just how much I would miss him in return. It made me completely forget that Paul was in the car so I wasn't embarrassed until we stopped.

It was so early in our relationship, but I still somehow found myself imagining things I hadn't really imagined before, promises and celebrations of forever.

Or maybe it wasn't that early in our relationship. With the bond, he was probably already there, thinking that way. Maybe it was only natural for Jack and I to go faster than the average under the circumstances.

I wandered into my parent's home, daydreaming about Jack as the sound of his car faded into the distance. My father looked up from what he was doing, something with a magnifying lens, I wasn't really sure what, and smiled at me with amusement. I supposed I looked as happily dreamy as I felt.

Before I could even speak to my father, there was a knock on the door. I hurried over, thinking it was maybe Jack who had forgotten something, but my face fell as I opened the door.

"What do you want?" I asked Rex. I was not in the mood to pretend to be happy to see him anymore.

"I need to talk to you, and show you something," he said quickly, probably because he could sense that I was tempted to slam the door in his face.

"About what?" I crossed my arms and frowned. A part of me hated being like this to someone who had been my friend for so long, but he had crossed a lot of lines lately.

"About...I really need to show you."

"Fine. If I look at whatever it is you have there, will you leave?"

"Yes, of course. If you still want me to." He was dreaming if he thought I wouldn't afterwards.

"I'll be back in a couple of minutes," I said to my father, who unbeknownst to me, had stood up and moved closer to where I was talking to my former friend.

"I'll be waiting," he said, and then looked to Rex. "Have a nice night, Rex."

"Thanks, Mr. Darrow."