Chapter 68
1394words
Every word he said, made me feel more and more guilty. But I wasn't lying, about Jean and I spending time together, he was just fixed on being dramatic about it.
Even I had not been so dramatic when the tables were turned and he was constantly choosing Kate over me.
"I'm not trying to be nonsensical," he said quietly,
"but you sound nonsensical. You need to calm the hell down. He is my mate, and I do feel unusually drawn to him, but I am by no means trying to put you to the side. I agreed to try with you, and I intend on keeping my word."
"so what are you saying?"
"that we can work out a day for a date. And in addition to that, I suppose you see exactly how I felt when you found Kate." I said softly.
I wasn't trying to sound judgmental or to point fingers. But it only just occurred to me that the tables had turned.
I was now the one who had found their mate and was slowly losing interest in anyone else. Meanwhile, Paris was the one who was feeling neglected. I knew the feeling all too well. And although he did it to me, I could not bring myself to do it to someone else.
"I suppose I do." he said quietly, and sighed, "you have every right to put me in these shoes, Em. Even though I don't like it."
I laughed lightly, "That's the thing though. I'm not exactly trying to put you in my shoes. I'm not trying to hurt you or punish you. I guess… it's just the way it is."
"yeah."
"Perhaps the weekend after this, we could make a plan to go somewhere or watch a movie. Something fun. "
"All alright then. I'll still see you at the meeting?"
"if you don't see there, I haven't the faintest who else you would see."
"gotcha."
~~~~
"Nice briefing today," Paris said to me at the end of the meeting. I looked up from the papers I was gathering and smiled,
"Thank you. The whole thing is coming together nicely. As of now, we've gotten close to two hundred youths enrolled in the different colleges we have partnered with. They start this coming fall. I like it. I like it a lot."
"I'm proud of you."
"I would not have been able to do all of this without you."
"Well now, you sound like it's all about to end. You're making me sentimental, Em."
My smile deepened, "It is coming to an end, to be honest. The project part. But I'm thinking of stringing this whole thing along. Turning it into a foundation and all. But it's still in the planning phase for me."
"You always have a partner in me. I hope you know that."
I nodded, gratefully, "I definitely know that, and as this project is slowly coming to an end, it brings the deal we had closer to the surface."
"it does," he replied, straightening a bit, and I shrugged,
"safe to say, that I don't feel like I merely have a partner, but a friend as well. It's a nice feeling. Makes me almost grateful you refused to sign the divorce papers."
He chuckled lightly, "I'm glad we're slowly getting on the same page."
"slowly," I said.
I smelled him, before I even saw him, and turned in confusion to see Jean, leaning against a wall, and watching me. I blinked in confusion. We had a date after the meeting, but I wasn't expecting him here. I still had plans to go home and get ready.
Well, as long as he had no problems waiting for me…
"Is there something wrong?" his eyes followed my line of sight and I watched him frown. That made him and Jean both. They both watched each other like they were enemies from another life.
Or perhaps they were actually enemies in this life.
"Seems like your Alpha is waiting for you," Paris said begrudgingly.
"He's early. " I said quietly, and turned to Paris, "perhaps we can catch up on all this some other time. I'll call you or text you."
"mm." was all he replied. And since I was unsure what to follow up with, I simply nodded, before going to meet Jean.
My mate was too excited, and I immediately forgot the guilt I had felt from leaving Paris,
"you're at my project space?"
"I came somewhat late. I had plans of seeing your work."
"hmmm. Perhaps I can show later what we discussed, and how far we've come."
"later," he said, and took my hand in his, and brought it to his lips.
"you're quite early for our date, I still need to change."
"Then we'll take you home, and you can do what you need to do. I'm content with waiting. Perhaps your brother and I can get to know each other."
"ain't that cute?" I replied, and let him lead me out of the room,
"I do my best to be cute.
I tried not to take so long while changing clothes, but when I was ready to go, he was too engrossed in whatever conversation he was having with my brother,
"I think the lowlanders need to keep an open eye. Sure, the rogues were beaten back, but they haven't stopped sulking. Which makes me feel as though they have plans to make a comeback." Jean said
"Well, it will be a matter of making sure my men are ever battle-ready. Because the days of letting those rogues roam around freely are done and over." Axel replied
"We need to strengthen the lowlanders and teach them to fight back."
"aye. I second that. They are way too afraid of the shadows."
"When you're done discussing world trouble," I said, taking a seat beside, jean and he turned to look at me with a smile,
"simply respecting the bothering figure. You look remarkable." I wore a silver shift that made me feel pretty. I was glad he thought I looked remarkable.
"Thank you." I said and turned to Axel, "Can I have him now?"
"sure. It's a smart young man, you have there, though. Take care of him." I smiled and shook my head, "you would think you would be telling him that, and not me." I said good-humoredly, as both Jean and I stood,
"take care of her," he said more sternly to Jean, and Jean turned to me, his eyes paralyzing me as they swept over me,
"There's nothing more I want to do."
Axel's POV
I heard the doorbell and wondered who it was. Usually, I would have waited for one of the maidens to get it, but I wasn't so far from the door and decided to do it,
"Now, who could this- ah, William!" I exclaimed,
"Axel. Is Ember home?"
I think I felt my heart constrict a little, "Nah mate. She went out."
"the project," he asked, walking in, and I truly wished at that moment that I had let the maidens handle it. At least they would have told him Ember wasn't in, and he would have let it be. Or called her,
"No. She's with Jean," I said and cursed the silence.
"the mate," he said and I nodded.
"Well then. I suppose I must settle for your company."
I wanted to laugh, but I felt bad. Here I was, cheering Ember on for spending time with Jean, when I had a friend who was slowly aching for her.
"I suppose you must." I said, and led him to the living room, "Coffee, or whiskey?"
"Consider how I feel at the moment, whiskey might be appropriate." I got two glasses and set them on the table before us, then took my seat,
"do you think she'll end up loving her mate? I mean, he's her mate. But do you see something there?" he asked after taking a gulp from his glass,
"my honest opinion? I think if she let him, he would love her until time infinity."
"But?"
"But, she is still too stuck on Paris at the moment. Which leads me to a question. Now, spare me if I sound too pushy, but might you be interested in seducing her, should she decide that she wants to reject Jean?"
