The Mating Bond

Chapter 12

Malcolm's P.O.V.

"Guys! Stop NOW. You're making Melissa Terrified!"

I look at my mate who tucked herself into the corner of her seat as she stares at us in terror. My gaze softens as our eyes meet. Fear is clear in her eyes as they shift between Ace and me. I was about to say something when a voice rang through the silence.

"Order 1013. Your order is ready."

Bridget clears her throat "I'll get it. Ace, why don't you come with me? You can refill your drink."

It was supposed to be a question but it came out as an order. Any other Alpha would take that as an insult or challenge, but Ace just followed it without question. He grabbed his drink, stood up and swiftly walked to the front soon followed by Bridget.

I look back at Melissa and she seemed to have a calmed down a bit but, her back was still against the window as she gazed at me warily. I reach over and grab her hand which is resting on the seat and give her a gentle smile.

"Sorry if we scared you. You don't have to worry though. Once you get to know Ace, he's really a big goofball. I don't know why he's acting like this but, he'd never hurt you."

She takes a huge breath before relaxing her posture and grasping my hand more firmly. She still looks warry but has calmed down. 

I don't understand what got into Ace. Why was he interrogating her? He looks at her as if she's a potential enemy and that pisses me off!

"Alpha Ace has no right to look at mate like that!"

Maddox growls angrily even though he's usually obedient to Ace. But I have to agree. That was uncalled for. And I need to know what vendetta he has against my mate.

"I'll be right back okay? I'm going to go talk to Ace. In the meantime, you can talk with Bridget and get to know her better."

Her heartbeat speeds up and her eyes widen. "A-Are you sure?"

I lean in and kiss her forehead. "It'll be okay. I'll only be gone a minute or two and Bridget is really nice. I promise."

She's still for a moment before nodding. I get up and turn towards Ace's direction just as Bridget approaches the table with our trays.

"I'll be back in a second. Don't freak her out any more than she already is, okay?"

I mind link Bridget which causes her to give me the look. 

"I wasn't the one who freaked her out in the first place now was I? She'll be fine. No one can resist my magnetic personality."

I roll my eyes as I walk past her. That's exactly what I'm afraid of.

I get to the soda fountain where Ace is in the process of filling his drink. He looks at me before putting down his drink and moving to the doors already knowing what I wanted.

We walk around to the back of the restaurant before I start my own interrogation.

"I want an explanation."

"An explanation for what?"

I growl at him, though he's un-effected and his face still has that bored look. I hate when he does that!

"You know damn well what! Why the hell were you interrogating my mate?"

He glares at me, though the anger doesn't seem like it's directed at me. 

"Something is off about her. She's... hiding something"

I scoff. "Hiding what?"

His glare changes to a glare of annoyance. He swipes his hand through his hair before looking away. "I don't know what, but I'm positive she's hiding something. It's as plain as day for anyone to see. Anyone but you since you're at infatuation station or blinded by 'true love' or some crap like that."

"But you can see it. How? How can you tell?"

"The way she sits. The way she talks. Her answers are vague. She doesn't look me in the eye when she mentions her family. She downright refused to answer anything about her mother.

I don't buy the 'I'm shy and innocent' act. Clearly, something else is going on here" 

What the hell is he talking about? He thinks she's acting? Maddox hates how Ace is implying she's a liar. 

"Then what is going on if you have this all figured out Sherlock?"

"I'm not positive but what if she's just a social climber? Someone who is just using you for power?"

My eyes widen at his implication. That came out of nowhere! It's as clear as day Melissa isn't a social climber. If she was a social climber she would be more talkative and more outgoing, wanting to become friends as soon as possible with him yet she is none of those things!

"You're jumping to massive conclusions with no evidence! Ace listen to yourself for even a second! A social climber? When she found out she was meeting you she was terrified! If she was a social climber like you say, wouldn't she want to meet you and befriend you?"

 "I'm not taking any chances. Even if the possibilities are slim, I need to make sure you don't get played. I hate to think that but I need to make sure you'll be okay. I care about you and Bridget too much to just sit back and watch you get hurt. If that means I have to play Mr. Big Bad Alpha to get the truth then I'll do it. But I won't stop until I figure out what she's hiding."

I'm speechless. He's doing this to try and protect me? 

I feel both honored that he would go through this for me but at the same time pissed off that he is treating my mate this way by acting like this!

"Listen Ace, I can understand why you are doing this but, if you spend a little more time getting to know her than you can see her shyness isn't an act. I haven't spent that much time with her yet but enough to know that it's not an act."

I don't know what he said about her hiding something is true but I can tell she isn't a social climber. She wouldn't have immediately assumed I would reject her if that was the case. He's my best friend since forever so I want to believe him as I have always done in the past but my soul is wanting to trust my mate. And I'm going to leave it in fates hands and trust Melissa isn't using me.