Chapter 7 Relationship Rumor

Maya’s POV

“Your grandmother thought what?!” I gasped, baffled by what the Alpha told me.

“I said because of that photo I told you about, Grandma believes we’re in a relationship. With you being pregnant with my child,” he repeated. 

We were in his car, driving to the clinic to get my arm treated, which was starting to bruise. Not because of the Alpha when he pinned me to the wall earlier, but more from when Jayden grabbed me before that. As he drove, the Alpha explained the questions his grandmother was asking me. Though the explanation did answer the point of those questions, it left me with more confusion. Particularly…

“Can’t we tell her that it was a misunderstanding?” I inquired.

“If it were that simple, we wouldn’t be in this situation to start with,” he pointed out.

We soon arrived at a clinic, where the doctor was treating my arm. As he was giving me treatment, the Alpha went to make a phone call right outside the building. Not long after he finished treating my arm and left the room, the door slammed open, and I turned to see Corina burst in.

“Okay, I want answers, and I want them now,” she hastily said, sitting right next to me. “When and how did you end up with Alpha Zeke of all people?”

“Huh? Well…” I knew she was going to ask that, but I was not entirely sure what to tell her.

It seemed Corina caught on to some part of my hesitation and sighed, “Well, I guess it may be a sudden thing between you two. If you don’t want to talk about it because you don’t remember much, I understand.” She rolled her eyes. 

My sweat dropped at the claim, for I had doubts she actually understood much of my case. I then shuddered when a strange smile formed on her face.

"Let's go home now. I'm starving." Before she uttered anything, I grabbed the wallet from the counter, and dragged Corina out of the examination room. 

We headed downstairs to a self payment kiosk. Logging onto my medical account, there was no due medical billing showing on the screen. As I was about to retry, a nurse came by and told us that Alpha Zeke had already covered me. In spite of confusion, I thanked her politely and walked out of the clinic with Corina. 

"Wow~" Corina bumped her shoulders against me and smiled wickedly “Ever since his first mate disappeared, I haven't seen Alpha Zeke be so kind to other women.” 

The Alpha’s mate disappeared? How could that happen? I knew how important it was for werewolves to be with their mates. Specifically their first one. 

"There were plenty of rumors about what happened," Corina turned to me as she unlocked the car and opened the passenger door for me, “but the most famous one is how she couldn’t handle the responsibilities expected of her as the pack’s Luna. Adding on talk about him being in need of an heir, many other women practically jumped at the chance to be his new destined other. Some even went as far as to… do questionable things to get his favor or cheat their way into the position…”

The way Corina said that last part told me enough of what those ‘questionable things’ were. I supposed it was why the Alpha accused me of seducing him earlier. Even though it was only by chance from my perspective, in his, I was only doing what other women in his life were attempting to do. And that…

… Made me irritated. Yes, I understood how he felt, but to take that out on me and make baseless assumptions that I would be anything like his ‘pursuers’? I might be human, and thus weaker than any werewolf in the pack, but even I had my pride. 

“Anyways, we need to make a plan,” Corina cleared her throat, regaining my attention. “If some other sexy woman comes up and wins Alpha Zeke over, it will be over for you. Just think about it. You and the Alpha, whom Jayden would never cross. If you play your cards right, not only will you be that jerk’s new boss, you can get him to break off the bond he forced on you! Win back your freedom through the Alpha. I have plenty of clothes that can help you seduce him~”

The thought of that made me flinch and blush. I could imagine the clothes she spoke of, and they must be quite revealing, to say the least.

“I-I don’t need that sort of help!” I exclaimed. “Besides, I have more important things to think about. Like finding a place to live, and… getting a steady job.”

Corina blinked, bewildered by my response. “I don’t mind if you stay at my place. Also, do you need to find a job when you have the Alpha?” Corina asked.

“I can’t keep relying on you. Nor can I rely on my relationship with him to make a living,” I reasoned. “I’d rather keep my options open than be close-minded as to think anything goes one way, like Jillian did."

Corina frowned when I pointed that out, clearly annoyed with Jillian. “You’re nothing like Jillian. I should know. I’ve seen how you interact with others during all those volunteer events.”

“And if staying with the Alpha does make me like her?” Corina tilted her head when I said that. “You said it yourself. His first mate disappeared. That doesn’t mean she’s dead. What if she went into hiding or something, and the reason why the Alpha didn’t take any other women is because he’s keeping her hidden somewhere safe? I stay with him any longer than I should, and I would be no better than Jillian.”

Corina looked down with a slight nod at my statement. “You do realize, though, that after that event back at the gala, everyone is going to think you two are a thing, right?” she pointed out.

I winced at the reminder, thinking back to the scene we made. In fact, he could do whatever he wanted and pin the blame on me. And then not only would my inheritance be at risk, but my life would also be hanging by a thread for offending an Alpha.

“I-I’m sure the Alpha will be able to explain...” I replied in a voice that couldn't even convince myself.