chapter 7: freya

“You’re the alpha?” I laughed, still finding it hard to believe.

He nodded and continued to put as much effort into dismissing me as possible.

“You didn’t tell me you were the alpha!”

“Wait you two met?” Rosetta gasped looking between us.

“Spent the night together.” He winked playfully and returned to his food.

“We did not!” I wanted to hit him, I wanted to do something but I was speechless. He was the fucking alpha? But then-

“Finally told her then?” his brother sat down next a plate filled with nothing but bacon and another pancakes. He reached a hand out to me with a smile, “Name’s Oliver.”

I just stared mouth gaped.

“Shit!” Elias laughed, “You actually made her shut up!”

“What’s going on here?” Rosetta growled and then turned to the wolves, “You two better start talking.

“Oh auntie.” The scruffy brown haired boy from last night took the remaining seat at our table. “She’s too stunned, in the presence of awesomeness I guess.”

“Oh right,” Rosetta shook her head, “Freya, this is Andre, he’s my nephew, makes him your cousin.”

“Freya?” Elias smirked and chugged nearly a gallon of water before wiping his face with the back of his hand, “Nice to finally get your name.”

“Freya Wallace.” Rosetta spoke up which I really wished she hadn’t. “She’s my niece so you boys better treat her with fucking respect.”

“Nothing but respectful.” Oliver leaned back with a wink my direction. “Isn’t that right little trickster?”

“Have to be pretty special to give Oliver the slip.” Andre laughed, “How’d you lose him?”

I guess my exploits had been broadcasted to the pack. Wonderful. Werewolves were so annoying.

“It’s like you turned invisible!” Oliver looked between Elias and Andre as if he needed to defend himself. He just didn't realize how right he was. “I swear I didn’t take my eyes off her once!”

“Even if you did.” Andre laughed, “She out smarted, out ran, and overall completely bested you. Guess she just has the better genes”

“Fuck you!” Oliver growled lowering his head.

“Enough!” That came from Elias and now I saw it, he was the fucking alpha. “However it happened it’s over.”

A part of me thought he had some clue how it happened. He saw a little taste of it last night. He was smart enough to not outright lie about being the alpha… There was something about him now. Something different. I caught myself gazing too long at him though and shook my head quickly to return to my own food.

“So cousin.” Andre smiled leaning in, “How was sleeping with the alpha?”

That caused everyone at the table to choke and turn to him.

Elias had a rumble in his chest that was vibrating everything at the table but Andre just sat back taking advantage of the gasps to steal a piece of bacon from Oliver.

“What we were all thinking it.” he shrugged.

“I certainly wasn’t!” Oliver snapped and pushed him off his section of table.

I committed to the moment though guessing none of them were prepared for someone to give it back, “I’d say I’ve never dealt with frustration like it before.” My side eye to Elias I hoped was enough to ease the tension.

“Ooohh…” Andre smiled, “Looks like she took after our side of the family.”

“Goddess save me.” Elias sighed and dropped his head.

“Wait…” Rosetta’s fork dropped. She turned to me as if some private conversation had just occurred which knowing wolves it most likely had. “She’s your mate?”

“ROSE!” Elias barked and then turned to me as if my reaction mattered.

I was still struggling to keep up with the silent conversation and the very loud one but the bar went so quiet I could actually hear people talking as they passed by outside. “Something I miss?” looking around I continued to pick at my food. “Seriously? What’s going on?”

“You’re Elias’s mate.” Rosetta whispered again.

“Mate?” Oh fuck no, werewolves had some fucking stupid tie to their goddess and believed she picked your one true soulmate. It was so stupid but of course the werewolves fell head over heels for their mates. Whatever ill conceived notion brought this on needed to be squashed flat, “Can’t have a mate. Your goddess has no control over me, so just stop gawking. I’ll be gone by this afternoon.”

“How many times do I have to tell you, you’re not leaving.” Elias growled and put his utensils down, “Don’t bring it up again.”

“Won’t have to.” I smiled back now choosing to actively dismiss him and focus on my food, “Since I’ll be gone.”

The growl from him caused everyone to return to their own conversations but I could still tell we were the center of conversation.

“Why come here then.” Oliver decided to play the peacekeeper it seemed.

Rolling my eyes I reached into my bag and handed him the paperwork, “I’ve already signed it. You need to find who gets to take over the Wallace estate. My father left it to me when he died.”

“The Wallace Estate?” Andre beamed and turned to Elias, “Oh please say it’s mine. Come on, I grew up there. You can’t really-”

“It’s hers.” Elias was speaking low as if any louder and he’d have exploded like a bomb, “She needs a place to stay.”

“She-” I interrupted, “doens’t need a place to stay. She. Is. Going. Home.” The papers were delivered, I did my job. I pushed back my chair and stood up. Turning to Rosetta I flashed her a genuine smile, “Thank you for the hospitality, but obviously I probably won’t be seeing you again.”

“You’re not going!” She stood up next and then turned to Elias, “She’s-”

“She’s not leaving.” He spoke low again and continued to eat.

“Damn it,” Oliver sighed, “Come on, can’t I fucking get a chance to eat?” he stood up next, “I swear I hate being the gamma.”

“So challenge me,” Andre winked and then continued to eat the bacon from Oliver’s plate in triumph.

I rolled my eyes and turned to walk away. Oliver I didn't care if he was following me. Once I got to my car I was out of here. What were they going to do? Kidnap me?

“Can you not slip away this time?” He called after me as he rushed to match my pace, “Come on, I didn’t get to eat breakfast.”

“Then stay,” I shrugged, “I can make it back to my car just fine.”

“Sure you can.” he winked and finally was able to walk next to me. “Bro says he’s sorry by the way.”

Scoffing I decided to not entertain it, “He can fuck off.”

“Yeah…” his hand reached up to scratch the back of his neck and I wondered what he was getting at, “He’s sorry for everything.”

“He can tell me himself.”

“He is.”

“In person.” I snapped narrowing my eyes at him. “You fucking wolves are irritating.”

“What are you by the way?”

“Ask Rosetta.” She was going to tell them everything anyway I guess.

I felt my phone buzz and pulled it out: On the road yet? Latharn messaged.

Just have to shake the local wildlife. I sent back.

Oh dear, well I hear they don’t do fox hunts anymore at least.

Funny.

Just say the word. I’ll toss them a bone.

Need a juicy one after the morning I’ve had.

“Who ya texting?” Oliver looked over my shoulder and I moved my phone out of view.

“None of your business.” TTYL. Hovering eyes.

“Just my brother being curious is all.”

“Don’t care.” my steps were getting more deliberate and heavy the longer he continued to be near me. “Don’t you fucking have somewhere else to be?”

“Nope, my job is keep you safe.”

I rolled my eyes and continued walking, “Does Elias really think I’m his mate?”

“Pretty confident.” He shrugged, “I mean we all felt it last night when he smelled you.”

“Ugh,” I scoffed feeling like a piece of meat.

“Why are you against it?”

Glaring back I raised one eyebrow, “Is that you asking or your brother?”

“Me. He’s busy with something.”

“Of course he is.”

“He’s the fucking alpha of this entire city. It’s the largest pack that we know of and one of the largest territories. You really think he can just drop everything for some mate that wants to reject him?”

“Oh I reject him alright.” I growled, “He’s nothing to me. He’s a fucking creepy stalker and you’re just as bad! You fucking wolves are all the same. You think just because it’s in your territory it’s yours. Well guess what assholes I’m not a fucking wolf. I’m a gods damned kitsune and if I need to I’ll fucking bring this damn city to its knees to prove how little I care about you.”

He paused and seemed to be lost in thought, for all I knew he was talking with Elias. I used the opportunity to get farther ahead.

“Wait,” he called and rushed after me but never grabbed my hand, only got in front of me and put out a hand, “You’re seriously rejecting my brother?”

I nodded, “Do I need to say something else? I reject Elias. He’s not my mate. He’s nothing to me. How else do I need to say it for you to believe it?”

“But-” he looked me over and then paused again before continuing, “It’s not working.” he whispered. “You can’t reject him?”

“Just did.” I snapped and pushed past him. I was nearly to my car now only it was nowhere in sight.

“No seriously, you can’t.” Oliver rushed back up to me, “Like you cannot-”

“Shut up.” putting up my hand to his mouth I looked around the parking lot. “Where’s my car?”

“You parked here?” He looked around too, “When?”

“Yesterday.” I sighed, “Don’t tell me my car’s been conveniently stolen now. Is this another trick of your alpha’s?”

He shook his head but there was something that pulled both of ours attention. A low growl in the darkness. It wasn’t just a single growl either, judging by the sound it was at least six wolves.

“Okay,” I laughed and moved behind Oliver, “If this is some scare tactic I’m thoroughly scared. Make him stop.”

Oliver hunched over one of his arms to my side making sure I stayed behind him. “You guys responsible for last night then?”

There was no answer.

“Whose pack are you with? Not Hollow Moon. What are you fucking intruders.” He sounded more like Elias than I wanted to admit and I would have given anything for him to be here too. The six wolves were starting to circle us now.

They were large, not as large as Elias but I guessed they weren’t weaklings.

“Tell me you’re like your brother and just as strong.” I whispered as I kept an eye on the two now behind us. Four stayed in front focusing on Oliver.

“Not as strong, Maybe I can take two of them.” I caught a slight hint of a smile, “They’re coming-” Jumping forward he shifted midair landing as a red wolf just a head shorter than Elias. He snapped his muzzle in the air threatening them with a snarl that sounded like gravel.

“Fuck,” I looked back at the two wolves and realized I may have to shift too. I was far faster as a fox. I took off my bag and threw it at one of the wolves before jumping backward allowing the shift to take over.