Awakening (2 book series)
Awakening – Rejected Mate Chapter 43

"Hi. I'm Cesar, this is Jesus.... and the infamous Meadow here." Cesar nods at me, no hint of either dislike, or friendliness in his blank statement. He's another tall stocky type and I'm starting to see a pattern with this pack. Best of the breed and all alarmingly alike, except Carmen, the only blonde among them. They're all big, strong, and have lashings of both aggression and attitude, common among our strongest. I'm sure as a pack they have many a battle of wills and lots of spats.

"She knows who we are, don't you, Amiga? She has Cole's memories and I'm sure she knows how to access them." Meadow strolls in front of me, heels clicking on the hardwood floor, her eyes wandering over me as she takes me all in without caring how uncomfortable it's making me. Devouring my appearance with a critical eye.

"I do" I answer sheepishly, aware another has entered the open door and praying that has to be all of them. This is getting crowded and I'm starting to feel like raw meat being lowered into a hungry lion's den. I don't even glance their way, as Meadow has a commanding quality that demands you give her our full attention.

"How, oh how, did the fates get this so wrong?" Jesus sneers at me, appearing beside her, not too dissimilar in looks to his sister, only masculine where she is feminine, and instantly shuts up when Meadow throws him a pointed glare with a subtle growl. "The fates are never wrong! Don't you know that?" She snaps, before taking a calming breath, lifting her hands, making motions in the air as though to accompany deep breaths. She smirks when she catches my eye and bends towards me, almost dropping her massive boobs from her low-cut top in my face. "I don't know. I sense something in this one. You think, Papi, she has a little summin, summin?"

Cesar doesn't seem impressed, or not impressed, totally blank, and I can only assume he is who she calls Papi. I know it's a name for your lover or mate. She reaches out picking up a strand of my wild unbrushed hair and runs her fingers through it slowly, tingling my scalp as it tugs gently. Putting me on edge and making me so uncomfortable I feel like calling on Colton, but I don't. I have to expect his pack are going to be like this at a first meet. I mean, he just threw me in with them amid all that happened today, and they're sizing me up to see how much grit I have. I can't show them weakness, or they'll shred me.

"Is it true she came from the home for the rejects? The ones the Vamps all slaughtered." One of the twins can't conceal his disgust, and Carmen sneers, a look of anger crossing her face and darts him a side eye glare.

"Yes. And our formidable alpha lowered his standards and tried to mark this mutt. He needs his head read." Carmen is quick to chirp in with her dislike of me, seething hatred my way. The room feels like it's closing in as anxiety builds and my panic grows, and I wonder how long before I get cornered and chewed on.

"Ai..." It's a sharp sound given out to shut her up, Meadow standing to roll her own hair between two fingers and facing them with an air of 'I'm getting so pissed'. "Don't disrespect our alpha's companera, I won't tolerate it, and neither will he. Don't make me mad, Chica, I don't like when I get mad."

Meadow is by far the scariest femme I have ever come across and I don't know why she's unnerving me so much, because she seems pretty sane on the surface. It's just, she has an aura that screams 'certified psycho' and every single time she moves, I flinch internally, getting antsier by the second as she stands so close to me.

Carmen recoils, obviously knowing only too well that Meadow doesn't make empty threats and Matteo clears his throat to distract her. He too seems like he knows he should diffuse things and it only heightens my wariness. Some of the femmes in our packdom are worse than the mates in terms of volatile aggression and ability to maim and I'm starting to think Meadow is one.

"Drinks anyone? While we wait on him." Matteo glances around for takers and gets a couple of quiet nods.

"No, nosotras have other plans for our little companera. She needs a little help over here." Meadow clicks her tongue at me to catch my attention and when I look up at her she extends her finger and motions me to come. It's creepy and yet an order, and without question I slide up in my chair, heartbeat elevating and wondering what the hell she plans on doing to me.

"You look like a bag lady who dresses out of the trash, Novia. If that's what Colton has you looking like, you ain't gonna last long here. It's not a good look. Come, we have to fix this before I can sit and look at you for any length of time. You're offending my eyes... What he do to you? You look like you been working out on our man, huh? Maybe practicing getting marked, huh? Saying goodbye to your poppies and letting his seeds blow up your wind tunnel, heh?" It's a dirty raspy laugh, following a dirty remark, and I flush with embarrassment at her brazen statement as I catch her meaning. Knowing I probably do look a little disheveled and I can almost taste Carmen's seething rage winding my way.

"No. I haven't let poppy seeds, blow or, umm...... err I ... no." I retort, face flaming, mumbling, babbling, as excruciating shyness almost kills me. Face reddening and unable to look her in the eye. I can feel Carmen's eyes boring down on me, waiting for my answer with vicious suspicion. I can feel her poised body getting ready for my take down if she thinks Colton has touched me sexually. "We haven't done anything... nothing." How can I tell them I turned, ripped him half to shreds, and then called him weak? I don't think that would go down well with his crew.

"Hmmm, disappointing. Well I can help with that." She gestures again for me to follow and when I hesitate, eyes roaming the enraged Carmen sitting near the doorway, she catches my sleeve and yanks me. Carmen is poised with a reply to what Meadow said, but I can see she's holding it in and simmering, despite the knives she's throwing with her eyes. I'm not sure what the story between Meadow and Carmen is, but I don't get happy bonded packmate vibes from either of them.

"Colton will be a while and my room is not far. We look around the same size if you roll up the legs a little. I'm sure I have something that makes you look less vagabunda."

"You'll help her with nothing. She's not and will never be his mate. You know who he chose and that he rejected her, so stop playing games, Meadow, and leave her be. The trash look suits her because it's what she is." Carmen couldn't hold it for much longer, and that flash of rage has Meadow spinning her way, almost taking me with her.

"Green is not a good color on you, Puta! I don't think you are in any position to make demands, considering whose bed I caught you in. You should be thanking your stars that I've not excised my right to punish such a betraying Perra as you. Don't make me reconsider it!"

There's a shocked silence and Carmen's eyes dart around the rest of them, obvious shame written across her face as all the others avert and avoid her. They all know, of course they do, and the silent tense moment tells me they're mad at her for betraying Colton as much as he is. She committed a sin that in the eyes of wolf law, is non comparable to his.

He was bonded and he kissed his fated mate. She had sex while promised to another, in a bid to wound him. It doesn't matter how double a standard it is, it's how this works, and our laws on commitment and betrayal are clear. She was linked to Colton and she chose to punish him with defiling their union after he already rejected the mate the fates gave him.

Packs are weird in they can fight all day long, get aggressive with one another, nip, and tease, but you wound one of them and they will turn on you. Even if you were one of their own. They have a special bond with their alpha, and I can see Carmen is in the doghouse. None of them like her right now.

"You have less than half an hour before Colton most likely shows. You know Juan likes to keep things short." Matteo points out and Meadow claps her hands happily.