Jealousy Can Be Flattering

Chapter Seventeen

I stood out the back of our house whilst pack members enjoyed the barbacue father had put on for them. The sun was just setting and someone had strung up lanterns in the branches of the trees on the edge of the forest. Children screamed and giggled, darting about in their game of chase. I couldn't help but grin as I watched them. They were so happy and peaceful.

The children are the best of us. They never miss an opportunity to have fun. And their logic is simple, but extremely effective. Yang's soft voice lilted through my head.

What did I do to deserve such a philosophical wolf?

She chuckled. Absolutely nothing. Now let's go enjoy ourselves.

I smiled and set off for the barbecue, currently manned by the Beta Gavin, closely shadowed by his mate Jean. When I say shadowed I mean he had his arm slung around her waist, holding her to his side like a flotation device in the middle of the ocean. The Beta looked down at his mate with a grin, softly kissing the auburn hair atop her head. She laughed and smacked his chest playfully, telling him to keep an eye on the food. That was when I took my chance, grabbing a slice of bread and presenting it to the Beta who prompty planted a sausage on the little white bed. Smothered in sauce the sandwich quickly made its way down my gullet, followed by another and another. A tap on the shoulder stopped me from grabbing a fourth.

"Calm down there. You don't want a stomach ache." Joel chuckled.

I grinned, unbeknowest that there was ketchup smeared around my mouth. "I thought our metabolisms meant we don't tend to get stomach aches." I smirked.

"Oh, and who told you that exactly?" He said smartly.

Before there was time for a reply, an arm wrapped around my waist, spinning me to face my gorgeous mate while he planted his lips against mine.

He pulled away, lips twitching into a smirk. "Mm, ketchup. Good choice."

I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand, trying to wipe away the sauce. Pulling my hand away I looked up to the boys. "All gone?"

Both nodded, Joel taking his leave. "I'll be back, father wants to speak with me."

I nodded in understanding, placing my arms around Matt's neck. His hands rested on my waist as silence engulfed us for a time. "So, you found your wolf." He finally said.

I nodded. "Yeah, I guess I did."

"Can I see?" He asked.

"Not with everyone around. I don't feel like losing another set of clothes."

He nodded, seeming to give up on the idea. God he's so good. I took his hand and lead him off into the forest, much to his surprise. But he stayed quiet, not wanting to alert the others of our disappearance. It was likely they knew we were leaving, the pack wasn't about to just let its Alpha-heir wander into trouble. They probably saw us as two young mates wanting a little alone time in the forest.