False Mate, True Mate

Chapter 17

Why do I feel like he laid a claim on me? They were in the kitchen again, eating with George and Cheryl. Everyone else was in the dining room. A few of the pack had come through the kitchen to get to dinner, and each one had nodded first to Xander, and then to her.

I feel like I'm getting set up to be something I'm not. I'm just a rather small she-wolf. Worse, those that addressed her called her "Luna". I don't know how to be a Luna. I was twelve when I was taken.

She'd had a chance to observe them while she rested on the grass. They were well organized and highly disciplined. She'd watched as they'd slipped back and forth between wolf and human during their sparring, using knife and teeth with equal skill. She'd also noted the wolves deeper in the woods. She'd catch sight of one now and then. Patrols. Every one of those wolves had paused when they were downwind of her and sniffed the air, catching her scent.

With the shifting breezes, she knew every member of the pack knew her scent, now, especially after the display Xander had made. She'd also gotten used to thinking of him as "Xander" instead of "Alpha". Although, perhaps she should think of him as "Alpha" to show respect.

She found herself frowning slightly. I don't want to make him mad, but "Alpha" sounds so... formal.

"Penny for your thoughts," the person in question breathed in her ear.

She looked up at him, startled. She was sitting between his legs, having eaten a few pieces of venison and a baked potato. She was stuffed. She hummed indecisively.

"Is it something bad?" She shook her head. "Is it something good?" She shrugged.

"Ooo! Twenty questions!" George exuded. "Is it bigger than a breadbox?"

Cheryl smacked him on the back of the head, but Angelique nodded slightly. He's a lot bigger than that.

Cheryl made the next comment, "So what were you thinking about our alpha?"

Angelique jerked her gaze to Cheryl, startled.

"No fair!" George complained. "You have to ask a yes or no question! And you just jumped to the topic!"

There was a soft chuckle behind her. "Now George, you should know you'll never beat a woman's intuition." He wrapped his arms around her, "Though I must admit to being curious about what she thinks of me, too."

Angelique felt her cheeks warm, slightly.

"Oh! She's been thinking naughty things about you, Xan!" George teased.

Angelique's heart stopped as she suddenly froze. Her mind stopped. She heard "Alpha"'s angry voice behind her, but didn't process what was said. Her body started to tremble slightly. A door closed somewhere nearby.

Arms wrapped around her, and she flinched, her mind suddenly engaging again. "Easy, easy. You're safe. You're okay." Concern and irritation were bleeding through the contact with the arms around her.

I'm trapped. She curled in on herself, not trying to escape. He's upset. She waited for whatever he'd do to her.

There was a deep sigh from behind her before he scooped her up in his arms. She forced her body to relax in his arms. The irritation was getting stronger. Suddenly, the contact broke as she was placed on the couch from earlier.

After a few moments of not getting struck, she carefully peeked around the room. She saw "Alpha" across the room in a recliner. He was sitting in it with the foot rest up, watching her carefully.

She heard him softly mutter, "During practice tomorrow, I'm going to school my Beta for this."