19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

-Reese-

A tapping filled the office as I used my other hand to sip the coffee. I felt exhausted from not having slept at all. Rosa had tried to engage with me, talking and even a little bit of touching, attempting to reconnect with me. I could kiss her, touch her back, but a full-on mating, I didn’t feel inclined to. My head wasn’t filled with images of her. Instead, I found myself thinking of Naomi. That felt like a bigger betrayal. Yet, even though I had refrained from mating with Rosa, I couldn’t sleep. I felt restless, as if I were a young teenage Alpha again, with a rising need for intimacy.

The tapping grew louder as my frustration mounted and the caffeine spread through my blood. Unbeknownst to me, people in the office turned their attention toward me, annoyed by the sound of my pen knocking against the desk repeatedly. Eventually, my Beta reached over, grasping the pen and putting an end to the tapping.

“I was using that,” I protested as he pulled it away.

“Yeah, and it was driving us all crazy,” he retorted.

Surveying the eyes on me, I shook my head before lowering my cup and groaning. I covered my face, letting out my frustration.

“Are you all right, son?” my dad asked, sitting beside my Beta with his most trusted men around him, many of whom still worked closely with me to keep everything running.

I lifted my head, knowing my exhausted expression was evident. “Do I look all right?”

He raised a brow, not appreciating my attitude. I leaned back in my seat, sighing. “Sorry, I’m on edge. I didn’t sleep last night.”

“How come?”

“Because whatever is happening to me, it’s getting stronger,” I confessed.

“So, your time together with Naomi went... well?” my Beta asked, clearly unsure how to phrase the question.

“Well?” I echoed, mulling over the word. “I don’t know, but something is definitely happening to us the more time we spend together.”

“If you are mates, then you need to figure out your ranking order,” my dad explained.

“Our what?”

“You have two mates, Reese. That means two wolves you must divide your attention between, while also determining their roles in leading the pack. You’re not an ordinary pack member. You’re the Alpha, and it’s crucial to ensure clarity in their roles to prevent chaos,” my dad explained.

I groaned, sliding further down my seat, and I knew my dad could see how lost I felt. “How the hell do I do that?”

“Well, Rosa is obviously trained for the position,” my Beta reminded me.

“And what about Naomi? Is she just supposed to sit around, waiting, and warming my bed at night?” I snapped, turning my gaze toward him. He didn’t appreciate my tone either.

“I’m sure with some training, she could take on a specific domain,” my dad suggested, attempting to ease the tension.

“A domain?”

“Yes, you need to clarify which domain belongs to each mate to avoid conflicts. You’re going to have a tough time leading this pack if your two mates get into a conflict over their roles,” he explained.

“Goddess!” I exclaimed. “But technically, they are both Lunas if Naomi is my second mate.”

“I’m well aware,” he agreed. “And as such, they both have every right to be fully involved in pack affairs. But it’s your responsibility to ensure they each have tasks that won’t interfere or create more chaos. You have your work cut out for you.”

I let my head hang, feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work ahead of me. Why was this happening to me? Rosa and I hadn’t even had our official ceremony yet, and now I might have to consider being bound to two women. While it might sound like a dream to some, I preferred having one mate, one person I could shower my attention on, rather than having to divide that affection fairly. It all felt too complicated, and I concluded the conversation by sliding lower in my seat as the others resumed working.

I accomplished nothing throughout the day. I barely heard my father speaking to me. I just continued to gaze into nothingness, sipping my coffee until I noticed the time. In an instant, I felt more awake, jumping from my seat to inform everyone that my work was done for the day. I rushed out of the office, feeling a powerful need to go find Naomi. Maybe today was the day my wolf made a decision.

I descended the stairs, scanning through the rooms and kitchen until I discovered Naomi in the dining room, meticulously setting the table. When I called her name, she startled, her demeanor betraying a hint of fear as I approached. Despite her strong reaction, she didn’t flee, simply continuing her task.

“Okay, little wolf, you’re mine now,” I declared, noticing her slight tension and the peculiar sound she made in response. Uncertain of its meaning, I paused, but before I could delve further, I spotted the redness on one of her hands.

“What’s this?” I inquired, reaching for her hand, only for her to drop the fork she held at my touch. “Goodness, what happened?”

As I lifted her hand gently, careful not to cause further discomfort, she hesitated before responding. “Um, I accidentally spilled something hot,” she muttered, though her avoidance of eye contact hinted otherwise.

“Did you spill it or was it spilled on you?” I pressed, my tone tinged with concern and a hint of frustration, to which she merely shrugged, seemingly indifferent to the distinction.

“I need to clarify some things,” I murmured, my hands on my hips, but Naomi shook her head.

“That’ll only make things worse.”

“How so?” I inquired, baffled.

“You’d be making a statement. By protecting me, you’re essentially claiming me, and our pack might not acknowledge that we’re mated,” she clarified.

“If I’m protecting you, I’m simply fulfilling my role as Alpha,” I asserted, taking a step closer. “This treatment of you should be unacceptable.”

“Please, I don’t want any more trouble.”

“Which is precisely why I must address this,” I insisted.

“I’d rather you didn’t,” she interjected, and I felt a twinge of frustration at her reluctance to accept my aid, fearing it might backfire on her.

“If you truly oppose it—”

“I do,” she interrupted.

“Very well, for now, I won’t say anything. But you won’t continue working while you’re mine,” I declared, noticing her blush.

“C-Could you not phrase it like that?” she stuttered, her cheeks reddening further.

I understood why she resisted being called ‘mine’, but it felt appropriate to assert it, so I leaned in closer to her with a slight smile on my lips.

“But I like calling you that,” I insisted.

“Please, it’s... not right,” she murmured.

“But it is, because, for now, you are mine,” I countered, sensing her resignation. “Come, let’s go for a walk.”

“Now?” she questioned, casting a hesitant glance at her unfinished task.

“Yes, right now.”

She seemed torn, reluctant to leave the task incomplete.

“Naomi?” I prompted.

“Um, can I finish this first?” she asked tentatively.

“Why? Let someone else take care of it,” I suggested.

She began to fidget nervously, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of someone else completing the task.

“Okay, you can finish it,” I relented. “Need any help?”

“I’d prefer to do it myself,” she replied, resuming her work.

“You don’t think I know how to set a table?”

“It’s not that,” she responded, her attention focused on ensuring everything was perfectly aligned, down to the smallest detail.

As I observed her meticulousness, a theory began to form in my mind. When she moved to the next chair, I reached out and subtly nudged the plate she had just placed down. It was a minor adjustment, but the sound of the sliding plate caught her attention, causing her to react with almost wild intensity. She struggled to maintain her composure, and to test her reaction further, I adjusted the position of a fork. This time, my mate couldn’t contain her agitation, promptly readjusting everything. It became evident that it wasn’t about questioning my abilities but rather a compulsive need for things to be arranged a certain way.

You referred to her as your mate again , my wolf pointed out, but I chose not to respond.

I continued to observe Naomi, noting this significant detail about her behavior. I wondered if everything needed to be in order, so I nudged an unlit candlestick further into the table. Her reaction was immediate. Her eyes conveyed a silent plea to restore it to its original position. I raised an eyebrow challengingly, expecting her to assert herself, as a Luna should. Despite her attempts to focus on her task, her hands trembled slightly. So, I pushed a salt shaker further from its original spot.

“All right, Alpha-jerk, listen up!” she began, before paling, realizing her choice of words.