The Contrary Mate

38 Jack

As always, it was the same core group of people at this thing, with a few new faces. This night, the only new face that I cared about was hers. She was nervous, but she didn't need to be, she looked the part for the formal evening. We walked inside where the guests who were already there were milling around.

A few people who I frequently saw at these things came up beside us and talked to me jovially. I introduced my mate as my girlfriend, a new experience for both of us. I really would have to marry her like Lenora suggested so I could just call her my wife, the most synonymous state I could think of in the human world. I wondered if fae did something similar to the humans since they didn't have our bonds. Who could I ask—other than Aura because I wanted her to be surprised—to get some advice about when was too soon to try to convince her to take the next step in our relationship? And what to do when I did.

While I was pondering making her mine, I watched Aura take in the scene around us, pausing at each displayed painting or art piece and looked at each with serious consideration, as if she really were trying to figure them out. Good luck there. I didn't understand art—I was skeptical some of it could be understood at all—but I could invent flattering opinions if pressed.

And then, unfortunately, Alex Brevard's obnoxious voice broke my peaceful contemplation of my beautiful mate.

"Jack Wright, how's it going?" he asked jovially as he walked over with a different woman on his arm than the last time I had seen him. I wasn't surprised, he went through partners at a rapid pace and it wasn't just because I kept messing with him.

I pasted on my smile. "Not too shabby, yourself?"

"I'm doing well. I just thought I'd come over and meet your partner. You usually have Ms. Malosh on your arm for these functions. Where is that attractive secretary of yours tonight, by the way?" His voice was oily and suggestive. Aura stiffened a bit at the fool's words. It would be better once she met Lenora soon so that she could see that there was no competition there. It didn't matter how beautiful she was, Lenora was a friend and fellow pack member, and that was it.

"She'll be here soon enough, she's bringing her own date."

"She finally threw you over, huh?"

"That would be difficult to do since we were never in a relationship, Brevard. And since you asked, this is my girlfriend, Aura Darrow."

He looked at Aura in an assessing way that really pissed off my wolf. "Enchanting to meet you. You're a true beauty."

"Thank you," she said, glancing at me for reassurance. I took her hand in my own.

Alex Brevard went on to introduce the woman with him, but I doubted she'd be around long enough that I needed to remember her name, especially considering how he seemed to have his attention set firmly on my mate. His date clearly was not stupid, and she seemed to be getting irritated with the situation. I didn't know if the human truly had the good taste to see Aura's worth, or if he just had finally found a way to get under my skin and was revelling in it.

Him and his ridiculous rivalry. If he had spent as much time focusing on his company and his women as he did on trying to one up me, he'd be in a much better situation.

But that wasn't my problem. I knew exactly how to handle him. "You're correct, she is a true beauty." I turned my attention towards my beautiful mate—which was easy to do, there was no question on whether I'd rather look at her or my would-be rival—and I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed it. She raised her eyebrows questioningly, but she also gave me an indulgent smile. Then I turned back to the irritated man and the jealous woman on his arm and said, "But I believe the meal will be served soon, so we likely should go." I glanced at his partner. "It was nice to meet you."

She smiled at me and agreed. Alex Brevard smouldered. I hid my smile as I led Aura away.

"So, bad blood between you two?" she asked once we'd put some distance between us.

I shrugged. "He's competitive, but he always loses when he challenges me, and he keeps doing it, so he gets a bit irritable."

"And you like winding him up."

"Ah, you caught me out."

She raised her eyebrows at me.

"I can't help it. He comes at me, so there's nothing I can do about it but enjoy myself."

"I think I recognize him from a couple of pictures where you were flirting with women."

"Again, he starts it. He'd bring them over to show them off, so I would just be nice to them, and..."

"It's really quite unfair, since you've got all the advantages."

"Do I?"

"Well, you're much better looking, for one. He doesn't fill out his suit the way you do."

I liked hearing that. "I think he's also upset that Lenora has turned him down more times than I can count. She's hoping to find the one and he's very clearly not it."

We made our way to the auditorium that had been converted into a hall for dining on the catered meal. A huge buffet had been set up, and we took our assigned seats at the table. I was pleased that whoever had amended the seating chart had kept Aura next to me.

I was less pleased when I realized that someone had placed Alex Brevard and his date at a table ninety degrees away from me, so if I turned my head towards Aura, I could see him talking to his date in my peripheral vision. He apparently noticed the placement as well, because I heard him mention it to his date in aggrieved tones. I still wasn't certain where his original problem with me had come from, but I also didn't care enough to find out.

Because there was no way that I could keep my wolf from worrying about her, I made sure that she found plenty of vegetarian options among the food. She still didn't eat enough to satisfy my worries, but I didn't complain so I wouldn't smother her with my instincts.

Since I was watching her carefully to ensure that she was fine, I also was fortunate enough to see the way she handled herself. She was obviously a bit uneasy, but she managed herself without too much difficulty, listening to her seatmate on the other side. I was next to an acquaintance, so conversation flowed well for me, too. I didn't even mind when he vaguely pointed out that I was a bit fixated on my date—after all, he wasn't wrong.

The night was going great, with nothing more serious than Brevard and his bloviating, when I caught a familiar scent that smelled like trouble.