9. Mate

Ford’s pov

While I worked at the packhouse with my beta, I let the door remain open.

‘Let?’ Callum asked mockingly. ‘You wanted to hear Sarah and Nivia talk.’

Nivia seemed much more at ease around Sarah. They spoke freely, and I listened as they spoke about various topics. While I was not pleased to hear the way Nivia talked about me in the manner she did, I had expected worse.

Hearing her laugh, seemingly carefree, was delightful.

It was a bit loud, though.

It seemed my mate was refraining from insulting me, which I appreciated. So, I repaid my mate the favour by holding my tongue for the rest of the day whenever she did something untoward.

Mostly, that is. At times refraining from speaking felt impossible. It’s common for me to share my disapproval with my pack and family. I expect them to behave a certain way, and when they don’t, I teach them how to do things the right way.

I watched Nivia read to my children before bed and considered it a pleasant surprise after the events of today.

Seeing Nivia with my children made me realise she was more interested in being my mate than she had led me to believe.

Why else would she show my children such kindness? Why get close to them, only to leave so soon? She had shown interest, had danced horribly, and had read a children's book far too animatedly.

Nivia is barely an adult, so perhaps she was more in touch with her inner child.

Or perhaps she isn’t properly raised and taught that at some point you need to place those childish behaviours in the past. Fun is meant for children, and even they require boundaries to determine the appropriate amount of fun.

Fun is to be earned.

‘Maybe she’s just a nice person.’ Callum suggested.

There was nothing nice about the person I had been conversing with the last few months. I would characterise Nivia's conduct towards me as condescending, disrespectful, inexperienced, rude, and arrogant.

Her family had led her to believe she was better than any other pack or alpha. It had caused her to forget her place in the hierarchy.

She is an eighteen-year-old female with little to no experience running a pack. She’s an heir to the Iron River Pack, but she has not accomplished anything yet.

Instead of trying to school me on my behaviour, she should appreciate getting the opportunity to learn from me and soak in what I have to offer.

Callum didn’t agree with my testament. Wolves tend to feel the bond with their mate much stronger, and it can blind them from the truth.

After bidding my kids goodnight, I went to the gym.

Staying strong and fit isn’t something I do solely to ensure I can protect my pack. It also serves as a means to release pent-up aggression and maintain the physical appearance of an alpha.

Looks, aura, and charisma are all ways of showing you’re an alpha male before uttering even a single word. It’s the way you present yourself to the world.

Not by having pink hair and a cheery attitude. Nobody will respect a woman or man who behaves the way Nivia does. First impressions matter, and Nivia surely has ruined hers with me, but perhaps there is hope.

Once I was done training, I returned home eager to shower and head to bed.

I returned to my room to see my mate lying on my bed, giggling at her phone. The covers covering most of her body.

“I see you’ve used your time wisely.” I sneered as I walked into the bathroom.

Nivia did not reply. Perhaps she’s finally seeing sense, although I highly doubt it.

As I stood in the shower, I reflected on the day. My mate might be young and have her flaws, but with a little guidance, she could be an adequate mate.

There was a certain appeal; despite her pink hair and attire, I could see she was a beautiful woman. Her body was shaped exactly to my preferences, curvy and defined in all the right places.

There was kindness inside Nivia, a motherly quality.

And despite my annoyance at most of Nivia’s behaviour, I did respect the strength she has shown. Her will is stronger than most.

I dried myself after exiting the shower, tying the towel around my waist.

As I walked out of the bathroom, I watched my mate kick the cover off her, revealing basketball shorts, her bare legs, and her gorgeous feet. The toenails were painted with pink nail polish to match her hair colour. I bit my lip as I watched her stretch her toes before twirling her ankle around.

Her phone was placed on the nightstand, a sign she had taken my words to heart.

“We should mate,” I said, as I dropped my towel to the floor. We were both here; we were mates, and it was the logical next step to further our relationship.

Nivia’s eyes widened as she stared at my cock, which was growing in anticipation. Then her eyes went up to mine. She seemed to be searching my face for something. Perhaps she thought I was not serious, so I repeated my words.

“Nivia, we should mate. You should undress.”

“No.”

“No?” I asked, not understanding where this response was stemming from. “Do you need assistance undressing?”

“Hell no,” Nivia said as she got up from the bed to stand in front of me. As soon as she stood in front of me, I sensed the distinct scent of another man. It wasn’t very strong, and it mixed well with hers.

“You’re in love with another.” She was denying my advances, so there must be another. How dare she wear another man's scent in my bed? She is mine!

“No?” She looked at me like I was a fool. “It can’t just be that I am not interested in you?”

“You smell like another man.” I growled, grabbing the hem of her shirt. “You are my mate.”

She took a step back, “don’t touch me!” Her arms folded over her chest, as if to protect herself from me. She thought I meant her harm?

“Why do you smell like another man?” I asked again, this time with more calmness.

She shook her head, “it doesn’t matter. There isn’t anyone else; I just don’t want you. And don’t even try to command me, because I’d rather have a brain aneurysm than sleep with you!”

Command her? She assumes I am the type of person to force my mate to bed with me? Her body was shaking, and although she appeared angry, I could smell her fear.

It angered me to know my own mate thought so poorly of me.

‘You need to calm her down and explain yourself,’ Callum urged.

“I would not command you, but it seems logical for us to consume our relationship.” I explained, even though inside I was fuming. I had never felt this disrespected. Not only had my own mate rejected my advances, but she had accused me of wanting to force her in bed.

She shook her head and laughed, “there is nothing logical about this!” She grabbed the towel from the floor and threw it my way, “you have treated me like shit the entire day!”

"I have actually been holding back for most of the afternoon," I calmly countered, seething inside as I grabbed the towel and placed it around my hips.

“O, so you were being nice to get me to have sex with you?!” Nivia scoffed. “Don’t fucking bother next time, because I can promise you right now there is nothing you can do to make me sleep with you. I am not interested.”

“You’ve accepted to share my roomand my bed.” I scoffed. She acted like my proposal came out of nowhere. Why wouldn’t I have assumed she’d be willing to spend the night with me?

I continued. “You’ve treated my children with kindness. You’ve left your home to come here. I see no reason not to assume you wouldn't sleep with me." I had never felt this insulted. Never had a woman turned down my advances. My embarrassment was greater than my anger, but I could never let Nivia see how small she had made me feel. She would not have that power over me.

“I took this room because I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of your pack members!” She shouted. “If you were here, I would have declined to stay in your room, but you decided I wasn’t important enough to show around. Are you really that dumb?! Do you really think I would want you after you hurt me, insulted me, and humiliated me at every turn? You don’t even like me!”

"To mate with you, I do not need to like you." I sneered.

“Well, good for you. But I need to love or at least like someone before having sex, and I doubt that’s possible with someone like you.” She spat as she grabbed a pillow from the bed. “I’ll sleep in the closet.”

“Good, because I don’t want to see your sodding face right now!” I shouted back at her.

She looked at me with venom in her eyes, “you’re probably a selfish lover anyway, asswood.” Before closing the closet door with a loud bang.