Chapter 105: Chapter 105

MAYA

“~Better~ as in… you’re setting him free?”

Alex combed his fingers through his hair, smoothing it down on his head.

“He can move on his own, most of his wounds are scars, pretty much healed… What do you propose we do Maya? Keep him on IVs and chained to the bed indefinitely?”

“It’s ~you~. So yes, that’s precisely what I’m anticipating.”

Alex. Alpha Alex. ~Overprotective~ Alpha Alex.

He wouldn’t allow someone with no memories, who could be a potential threat, to wander freely. Especially not with his mate and child nearby. And yet he was…

“Maya, he can break those chains anytime. Then, what, he transforms, he escapes… what do ~you~ expect me to do?

“Kill him to prevent him? Let him go? Wound him so he has no other option? Then once he’s recovered, I repeat the process?”

~Alright~. Perhaps when he framed it that way, the choices were limited.

“If he was anyone else, he would have been gone a long time ago.

“He could have ventured out there to die for all I care. I can’t trust someone who doesn’t know who they are. Especially not someone discovered half-dead surrounded by bodies.”

“But he’s my mate.”

“But he’s your mate. You’re pack, and I care about you, Maya.”

He was in a tough spot because of her. Because he was trying to assist her.

She knew she should be thankful that despite the strain it was causing, he was prioritizing the safety of every pack member over his own. For the sake of his family, he didn’t want him here.

For her sake, he was permitting it.

She wished it was simpler. She truly did.

“So, I suppose…”

“He’s your responsibility.”

~Correct~. She would have to monitor him, assist him, and ensure that he wouldn’t do anything that would jeopardize the pack or any of its members.

He wouldn’t want that. He would want to leave, she was certain. He had been asking to leave since the beginning. Why would it be any different now that he was stronger?

She knew she had to keep her promise. She'd said she'd tell him once he was on the mend. In her naivety, she'd hoped that ~on the mend~ meant he'd regain his memories. ~He hadn't~.

“So, what are you suggesting? We bunk together?” she asked, chuckling.

But Alex didn't join in her laughter. Not one bit.

~Damn it~.

“You're suggesting I share my room with him? Have you lost your mind?”

Perhaps she could maintain a safe distance from him. Perhaps she could keep her inner beast in check. But sharing a room was a different ball game altogether.

He should understand that, given he was always around Olivia, even when she was clueless about mates.

And now he wanted her to endure the same? To restrain herself?

Regardless of whether he understood their connection or not... it was ludicrous to assume they could just ~mate~ and ~move on~. Julian wasn't in any state to make such life-changing decisions.

Besides, it wouldn't be the end of the world if they ~didn't~ end up together.

Some people never find their mates. It's a harsh reality, leading to profound loneliness, but that wouldn't be an immediate concern. They could afford to be apart.

But, could they bear the separation while being in such close proximity? Her inner wolf might not take kindly to ~that~.

“You trust him enough to leave him alone in a separate room? You can keep tabs on him? Ensure he doesn't cause trouble or harm anyone?”

~No~.

“I could.”

“Maya…” Her name was followed by a low growl, one that carried a hint of menace.

~Alright~. “You better arrange a cot for him. I'm not sharing my bed.”

“Maya turning down a chance to roll in the hay?”

“It's not right, okay? It would feel... I would feel like I'm exploiting him.”

“He's not in a coma anymore.”

“No, but he doesn't remember a thing.”

It almost felt like she'd be taking advantage of him without his consent. She knew she was overthinking.

After all, he might never recover his memories. And then what? Was he supposed to remain celibate for the rest of his life? Certainly not.

Perhaps it was the mate bond. ~Perhaps it was the whole situation~.

Perhaps ~she~ was the one who wasn't comfortable with it. Not until she knew ~who~ he was. ~Spending more time together would be a start~. Oh, and being honest with him would be beneficial too.

~A lot of damn things would be beneficial…~

“That's your call.”

He was all over Olivia from day one. And he took a damn long time before he explained anything to her. She wasn't about to take relationship advice from ~him~. He was just lucky things worked out.

“I'll arrange a small bed for him.” He laughed. “Anything else?”

“Yes, what the hell am I supposed to do with him? Play poker?”

“Don't wander off too far. Keep him within our territory. We don't know what happened and if someone is searching for him, I don't want them tracing him back here. We don't need someone else's mess ruining things for us.”

She couldn't agree more. They had paid their dues in battles and losses. She didn't want that crap to repeat for a few more years, or ever, if possible.

“I wasn't planning to. Besides, if I take him out there, he might not want to return.”

Maya wasn't sure how she'd react if she had to watch him leave, but she had no intention of finding out. He would stay here. For a while.

Then she'd figure out the next step. Plus, there was still a glimmer of hope that his memories might return.

“No scouting for you. No patrols.”

“Can't I continue patrolling? Someone else can watch over him!”

“Maya.”

“Alex.”

“Look after your own damn mate, okay?”

She threw her head back in frustration, exhaling sharply. “Fine. I'll stay cooped up in my room, like a good little wolf.”

“I didn't say that.”

“You strongly suggested it.”

“Don't do anything that might draw attention or put him in a situation where he could encounter a stranger. Is that acceptable?”

“I can manage that.”

“Good.”

“Anything else, Boss?”

“Be careful.”

“What are you implying?”

Alex just shrugged. “He’s got a keen sense of smell. He could tell Livy wasn’t always a wolf.”

Maya’s eyebrows knitted together. “By her scent?” Olivia had never smelled different to her. Sure, she carried her Omega scent, and Alex’s scent was all over her, but beyond that… she’d never picked up on anything that marked her as ~different~.

“Exactly.”

“Can you tell… if someone used to be human…?”

Alex shook his head. “No. I can’t.”

“What do you think it signifies?”

“I’m not sure. That’s why I’m asking you to be cautious.”

He shouldn’t harm her. In theory. His wolf recognized what she was, somehow, he must know as well. It should be enough to keep ~her~ safe. But she couldn’t promise the same for everyone else. That was the main issue.

“Okay, I understand.”

~It’s now or never~.

She had to be truthful with Julian.

***

“Did you come to throw me out?”

She was going to speak.

She really was.

With actual words and everything.

But as she entered the room, he was in the process of getting dressed.

So instead of focusing on his face, his chiseled jaw, his pointed nose, or his sparkling eyes, she found herself staring at tantalizing abs and chest muscles that were practically begging to be caressed.

Then he finished pulling his shirt down, concealing it all from her sight, and spoke. She did hear him. She heard the question. But forming words? ~Forming words?~ That was… challenging when one was distracted.

The sound of him clearing his throat, however? That was like a cold shower.

~Focus~.

“I wish,” she responded, looking away, suddenly finding the floor incredibly fascinating. How do you gently force someone to stay? “We thought you could stick around for a bit.”

“Because I don’t know where I’m from, or because you don’t trust me?”

It was a fair question. One that could be easily answered by revealing the truth about ~them~. If she could figure out how to articulate it. Expressing things had never been a problem for her before. She always spoke her mind.

No other option.

“A bit of both, ~and something else~.”

“Something else?” He took two steps towards her and she fought the urge to retreat.

“I—uh, do you… ~Screw it.” She sighed. “Are you familiar with the concept of ~mates~?”~

He raised a hand, rubbing his chin. “Yeah, I had a discussion about it with your friend, Olivia.”

~Damn Olivia~. She wasn’t exactly known for her subtlety. Then again, if she had spilled anything, Julian and she would be having a very different conversation.

The fact that they weren’t was a positive sign. Although she would appreciate someone else taking this responsibility off her shoulders, ~she~ should be the one to tell him.

Like ripping off a Band-Aid. There was no perfect way to reveal the truth and she couldn’t delay it any longer. She wouldn’t be that person. Even though a ~small~ part of her wished she could be ~that~ person.

“That’s what we are…”

“I don’t follow.”

~Oh great, make me say it again. ~As if it wasn’t mortifying enough to say it once, she had to repeat it.

“You. Me. Mates. Is that clear enough?”

~And he remained silent~.

He just stared at her. He seemed to have heard her, but he wasn’t responding. He was blinking. Blinking… was that a good sign?

“That’s why you need to stay,” she elaborated. She didn’t like silence. She couldn’t handle the silence.

“Because you don’t know anything… I don’t—you don’t seem to understand. What we are…. To each other. You could die out there. And I guess… that might be hard for me. So. You need to stay.”

She watched him think, as if he was digesting every word she had said. He didn’t seem angry. He didn’t look like he was about to bolt out of here by jumping out the window. ~Good~. Those were positive signs.

“Alright.”

“Alright?”

“Yeah, alright. I’ll stay.”

“You’ll… stay?”

“Are you malfunctioning or do you always repeat everything people say?”

~Jerk.~

Could she really be blamed for not anticipating his easy acceptance? His initial silence, she had braced herself for. She was ready for that. She had even steeled herself for a potential argument.

Okay. He wanted to be ~okay~. Then she would be ~okay~ with this too. Everything was ~okay~.

She wouldn’t assist him in comprehending or dealing with this any further. Because he was ~okay~. And she was ~okay~. And every damn person in this room was ~okay~.

“You understand that if you choose to stay, you’ll have to listen to me.”

“And if I don’t? The big bad wolf outside will come for me?”

“Something along those lines.”

“I said okay. It means I understand. I’ll follow your instructions, ~mate~.”

“Hold your horses there, pal. No one’s been claimed.”

It seemed… too simple. He was too willing, too trusting. She couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that perhaps his demeanor was concealing something.

Perhaps he was aware, maybe he had sensed it all this time, but he hadn’t been able to articulate the sensation. She could extend him the benefit of the doubt. She had to, didn’t she?

~Nonetheless~.

She would keep a close eye on him.