CHAPTER 9 Not My Mate!

　　Jason's POV

　　"So, what the fuck was that today then, son?"

　　"Subtle Pop's!" Shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans, I looked anywhere but at my Father. Seeing people had slowly branched off and were starting to make their way down to the central part of town, I sighed, happy that we would soon return to pack territory. Clicking my tongue, frustrated at the fact I had embarrassed myself, Sighing deeply, I was meant to be the next Alpha of The Blue Moon pack; I was meant to be respected, feared, and an undisputable force. Yet I had just allowed someone to disrespect me! Disrespect my family and pack! My Father had every right to be annoyed with me. I would be pissed off too.

　　"The girl?" He prodded, arching a brow; his tone was softer than I expected, more curious than pissed off. But still, I knew he was expecting an answer. I could play the role of brooding son, or I could fess up! But honestly, I didn't want to discuss it because I didn't understand Archer's behaviour myself!

　　"You could ignore him, but he will demand an answer from us, which will hurt... So how about we skip the pity party and tell him what he wants to hear." Archer suggested honestly.

　　"Son?"

　　"Yeah! The girl, I don't know what got into Archer. The second he heard her laugh, he was curious, but it got worse when he saw her. He was like a dog in heat. He wanted her! I am sorry about how I acted; I should have kept my wolf in check!" I answered honestly.

　　"Fat chance of that!" Archer announced loudly, his voice booming around my head.

　　My Father watching my wolf and I converse, tilted his head to the side, looking me dead in the eyes as he spoke the words I had refused to let myself think of since Archer had shouted 'mine' and declared her his!

　　"Could she have been your fated mate?" I could hear the hope in his voice; I knew how important it was for him for me to be settled, to have a strong mate at my side to secure our pack's future. Although I suspected it was more for my Mother. He would do anything to make her happy, and she was very vocal about how she wanted to see me mated! Happy!

　　"Not sure, Alpha." Archer piped up respectfully, coming forward to speak to my Father. He had apparently had enough of my pussyfooting around the subject. "Didn't feel like a mate bond… but she's important."

　　"You said 'mine' that must mean something; SHE must mean something to you." He quizzed Archer, obviously not getting the answers he hoped for, judging by the look of disappointment that washed over his features.

　　The pair of them talking as if I wasn't even there drove me insane. Fighting against Archer for control, I found myself rebuffed.

　　"Are you kidding me, Archer!" I growled, not appreciating being shoved back to the depths of my mind.

　　"She does. I just don't know what that something is yet." His answer was honest; I could sense how much he desired the redhead, but it was more than that for him. He felt drawn to her, desperately so. The fact he could no longer see her was causing him substantial pain. He wanted to be close to her, protect her, but mostly he wanted to keep that sleaze ball's hands off her.

　　"Interesting. Archer, can you give Jason control back, please, before he pops an aneurysm." He chuckled, nodding his thanks to my wolf, who did as he asked.

　　"She's not my mate! I would have felt what Archer felt. She's just some chick in a skirt that Archer wants to plough!" I barked the second control was handed back to me, rolling my shoulders to relieve some of the tension I felt building. My father's deep belly laugh made me uncomfortable; I got the distinct feeling his wolf was laughing at me behind those dark eyes.

　　"Ok, son, but… would it be so bad she was your mate? She's a pretty little thing?" He examined with a smirk. Averting my eyes, I looked around and saw my Father's Beta Marcus standing, talking to the few remaining town folk by the hall. I sucked in a breath, really not wanting to have this conversation.

　　"She's hot! For a human! But she's not my mate." I said firmly with resolve.

　　"Perhaps. But I would warn Kayla if I were you!" His response was short and sweet; patting me on the shoulder, he turned to walk over to his Beta and say his goodbyes.

　　"Perhaps, that is all he has to say on that matter! I am NOT mated to some human girl I can't be! The pack would never accept her; I would never accept her! A mate so weak she can't even defend herself! No! I would reject her!" I vented inwardly to Archer, turning to head toward where my Father had parked the land rover.

　　"We would not!" Archer growled possessively.

　　"Yeah, we would!" I snapped back with authority I didn't know I had. "It's not like we don't have another option. We could take a chosen mate!"

　　"No," I could hear the fear in Archer's voice.

　　"We have a solid plan in place. Why rock the boat now? And you like Kayla! She's strong, protective, loyal, and... the sex is damn good!" I tried to entice my insatiable beast, reminding him of how he felt about Kayla until today! The anguish my wolf was feeling washed over me, hitting me hard. Never had I felt him feel so hurt and hopeless.

　　"Kayla is not out, mate." Is all he muttered, closing himself off from me, hiding somewhere in the back of my mind.

　　"Buddy, I am sorry, but neither is she! She's just a human." Feeling him shut me out, I sighed, leaning up against my Father's car, watching him say his goodbyes and head over; unlocking his car, Marcus, his Beta, nodded to me with the respect I was due as the son of an Alpha.

　　"I hear you may have found your mate?" he asked, winking at me as he slid into the front seat beside my father. Pulling the door open, I took a deep breath knowing this would be a long journey back to the creak.

　　"She's NOT my mate." I hissed, sitting back into the expensive leather seats. "She's a human!"

　　The pair of them exchanged a look that rattled me; turning to look out the window, I ignored them and their dreary chatter about the magic of the mate bond for as long as I could, watching the forest whiz passed the window. Having had enough of this topic! It was beginning to grind on me, closing my eyes. I took the bait.

　　 "She's…" I started to say.,

　　"NOT MY MATE" They cut me off in unison, laughing at themselves and apparently at me too!