15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

-Naomi-

A lpha Reese’s behavior struck me as peculiar. He lingered close behind me, almost brushing against me. Despite my confusion, he encouraged me to continue, positioning himself as a shield at my back. Though I couldn’t fathom his motives, my hunger took precedence. I hastily prepared a sandwich—something light and easy to carry. As I worked, I stole a glance at Alpha Reese, finding his intense gaze fixed on my hands.

“Shall I make one for you too?” I whispered.

His surprise was evident, yet I had cooked for this pack countless times, him included. With a nod, he accepted my offer, clearly famished. So, I made an extra sandwich, making his larger, knowing his Alpha metabolism craved the extra sustenance. Wrapping them in paper, we departed the room, eager to escape the lingering tension and enjoy our meal elsewhere. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling of eyes upon me.

As we walked, Alpha Reese’s expression turned perplexed upon taking a bite.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?” I asked.

“I love it,” he declared earnestly, catching me off guard with the sincerity in his voice.

“It’s just food,” I murmured. However, his next words gave me pause.

“Yes, but somehow you knew I don’t like cheese on mine,” he mumbled, a detail I had indeed remembered. I knew too much about him, more than a mere pack member should.

“I also know you have a sweet tooth,” I admitted, realizing there was no point in hiding what I had observed. He regarded me with suspicion, but he refrained from saying anything as we found a secluded room to eat.

I closed the door as he moved to sit down, yet I became acutely aware of the intensity of the moment with just the two of us. Almost instinctively, I discreetly nudged the door ajar, letting it rest slightly open.

“Why did you reopen it?” he asked, his sharp alpha instincts catching even the slightest change, like the crack in the door.

“Um, just to let the room air out,” I offered lamely, cobbling together a feeble excuse.

“Close it. The house should turn livelier as dinner approaches,” he insisted, his tone firm and commanding. While I knew he was right, the thought of shutting the door again seemed daunting.

“I think we should keep it open.”

“Why? Afraid I might pounce on you?” he teased, and a peculiar sensation rippled through me at his playful remark—a strange mix of heat and discomfort. It was absurd to feel even remotely aroused by the notion, especially considering I had no desire for any such encounter, and his tone didn’t suggest any genuine interest either.

“No,” I replied softly, avoiding his gaze.

“Then close it.”

With a resigned sigh, I obeyed his directive, the click of the latch amplifying the tension in the room. Suddenly, my appetite vanished. Slowly, I turned to Reese, observing as he continued to eat, seemingly unaffected by the atmosphere. He extended his hand, motioning for me to join him, and I complied, making my way over to where he sat.

As I settled into a chair, I couldn’t shake the feeling of self-consciousness, fussing over my skirt despite its modest length. Taking small, distracted bites of my food, I avoided his gaze, uncertain of what to say or how to navigate this unexpected situation. We had rarely spent time alone together, and now, here we were, forced into an awkward intimacy.

“So,” he began, breaking the uneasy silence. “We should probably treat this like a date.”

“A-A date?” I stammered, meeting his intense gaze. He nodded, casually crumpling the paper wrapper in his hand. With practiced ease, he tossed it toward a distant trash can, the sound of its landing echoing softly in the room. I blinked in astonishment at his effortless accuracy before turning back to him, finding a small smile playing on his lips as he gestured toward my untouched food.

“I thought you said you were hungry,” he remarked.

“Um, maybe not as much as I thought,” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

“If you’ve been trapped for most of the afternoon, you must be,” he pointed out, but I shrugged, feeling the weight of his scrutiny.

“Do I make you nervous?”

“Um, a-a little,” I admitted, feeling the tension building within me.

How could he not? He threw us in jail! my wolf interjected, echoing my own sentiments. However, I struggled to stay still under his penetrating stare.

“What can I do to make you feel calmer?” he asked sincerely.

“I-I don’t think that’s your job. You’re the Alpha,” I replied, trying to dismiss his concern.

“Yes, but if we are mates, then I shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable.”

“I’m fine,” I reassured him, though the lie tasted bitter on my tongue.

“You’d only be fine if you were able to eat in my presence. If I take away your appetite, then I must be making you feel unpleasant,” he pressed gently.

“Not unpleasant,” I murmured, grappling with conflicting emotions.

“Are you sure?”

“I just... never thought I would find myself here,” I confessed softly. “And I still think we shouldn’t... I don’t think we should be spending time together.”

“Then provide me with a solution,” he urged.

“A solution?”

“Yes, a solution.”

“I told you,” I reminded him.

“Other than rejecting each other. We can’t even be certain it would work when our wolves haven’t claimed each other,” he reasoned.

“Maybe it won’t, but it might be worth—”

“No, I don’t even want you to bring it up again. It will not happen,” he asserted firmly.

I released a long exhale, realizing that broaching the topic wouldn’t yield positive results.

“Hm, perhaps we should schedule a time for our wolves to get acquainted,” he pondered aloud.

I lifted my gaze slowly, observing him lost in thought.

“Our wolves? As in running together?” I inquired.

His eyes locked with mine. “Yes, our wolves dictate our bond. If they spend time together, it might help determine if they connect on the level of mates.”

“I-I’m not sure. Running together is a deeply personal experience,” I hesitated.

“I understand, but it could provide the clarity we need,” he persisted.

“I really think—”

“Naomi, we will schedule a time,” he declared firmly.

“What if I don’t want to?” I challenged, feeling a surge of annoyance at his unilateral decision-making. Didn’t I have a say in this?

Reese appeared taken aback by the defiance in my tone, and I was equally surprised by my own assertiveness. It was unlike me to speak so boldly.

“Why wouldn’t you want to?” he countered. “Don’t you want to resolve this too?”

I nodded hesitantly.

“Then running together is the logical step,” he insisted.

“Running entails shifting,” I reminded him.

“I’m aware,” he acknowledged.

“Sometimes when mates run together as wolves...” I trailed off, leaving the implication unspoken. But Reese understood the potential consequences, shifting uncomfortably in his seat as he contemplated the scenario of being alone and secluded. If our wolves were interested in each other, there might be no stopping them...

You really think I have such little self-control? my wolf challenged within me.

You really believe you wouldn’t be interested? We’ve harbored feelings for him since we were young , I countered.

I don’t think I like him anymore , she huffed, but her emotions were mine, betraying her.

“Yes, that’s a possibility,” Reese muttered to himself, briefly averting his gaze before meeting mine again, a hint of embarrassment coloring his expression. “But we can plan for it in the future. Besides, there’s no guarantee our wolves will even be compatible.”