Big Bad Wolfie
Chapter 23) Stage One

...Jason's POV...

Fu**k she's gorgeous.

She did it to me, now it's my turn to treat myself with some eye candy.

Not that I don't do it every time she has her back turned.

But the look on her face while I'm giving her all this attention is just making it all the more sweet.

Plus... I like this position. I'm gonna take advantage of it.

"I have some more questions for you," I told her smoothly.

'Stage one of the plan is a go,' Ki budded in.

"No! Backsies!" She said again, more exasperated.

Goddess, she's adorable.

She was trying to look me in the eyes, but I saw hers trailing down my neck and to my chest again.

I shook my head with a smirk. "Always so distracted."

She took in a shaky breath, "Could you just ask the question?!" She blurted, squirming a bit underneath me.

Awe, is someone getting flustered?

'Nah, she's been flustered since we told her to come get the key,' Ki snickered.

Ha!

"Don't squirm like that underneath me, sweetheart. You never know what you might —"

"Ha! Haha, are we done here?" She stuttered out, grabbing hold of my wrist and cutting me off before I could make fun of her more. She's probably about to try and escape from under me. "What you have to ask obviously isn't that important, since you keep getting off topic, so -"

'Don't let her leave!' Ki growled.

I know, I know.

"Nuh-uh, not so fast, cutie," I said while my other hand shot up to hold her wrists in place above her head. I leaned most of my body weight on her as well, so she's not going anywhere.

She froze, eyes glued to my chest.

I chuckled, "Good girl - HoUgh."

The wind got knocked out of me by her knee coming up and nailing me in the side.

"Don't ever say that again," she deadpanned.

I recovered excellently, "Oh c'mon... you don't like that?" I asked, trailing my hand down her right arm.

She shook her head easily, "No."

My hand reached her neck, and I started rubbing circles around where I'll mark her someday. Right in the crook of her neck and shoulder blade. It should be sensitive there.

I felt the slightest shiver from underneath me.

I held back my smirk and kept a serious face on, "Are you sure?"

"Y-yes."

Haha, someone doesn't sound so sure.

"Oh... Okay then. Well, in that case... Would you prefer I call you a ba—"

"Hey, what was that question you wanted to ask me?" She babbled suddenly again, cutting me off.

I'll let her think she's getting a break.

"Oh right, the question," I started.

She honestly looked relieved. So cute.

'Let's ruin it,' the wolf in me smirked.

"Do you like it when I touch you here?" I inquired, running my hand down her body to her waist and squeezing. Hard.

Yes, only her waist. I don't wanna push it. This plan takes time, and I don't wanna go scaring her off.

'She's gonna learn who's boss, though. If it's the last thing I do,' Ki schemed.

I may have been playing it a bit safe, but by the way her face flushed, I can tell it affected her.

I knew it would. She doesn't seem like the romantic, touchy-feely type.

I had to hold back an evil laugh.

I can rest my arm on her shoulder and she'll get flustered.

I tilted my head innocently, "Well?"

I dragged my hand over her hip and to her generous thigh, little more risky, "Or how about here?"

Nothing. Nothing but an adorably flustered look on her face.

She looks like a dear caught in headlights.

But she's not getting away without responding. Not that easily.

I stared her down.

Eventually, I dragged in a breath, "Y'know, it's rude to ignore people when they've asked you a question."

"I-I..." She stuttered.

I let out my smirk, "finally, cat's got your tongue," I mocked.

I leaned my face closer to hers and felt my eyes fall to her lips. "I know somebody else who wants it though too..."

Knock, knock, knock.

Malaki growled lowly. I think I might have actually let it out of my chest out loud too. I don't know.

Definitely not ecstatic about this little interruption though.

But is that... Is that disappointed in her face?

Her hands suddenly slipped out of my grip and she pushed me off of her.

Well, I guess not.

"Yes? Come in!" Maria jumped to respond.

"Hey! You don't say come in! I say come in!"

We just stared at each other for a few seconds.

"Come in," I finally called.

She rolled her eyes at my antics.

I heard the knob shake. "Um... It's locked," Zach's voice sounded from the other side of the door.

I turned with a smirk to Maria, and held the key out to her.

She swiped it away quickly and scurried to the door, probably hoping to slip out.

She unlocked it and threw it open.

When she tried to step out, "Nuh-uh, not so fast," Zach blocked her way with his large form. "Sorry, Sarah and them are out at breakfast, there's no one to watch you." She went from a stubborn little mouse to a glaring bull.

Zach laughed nervously and gently nudged her farther back into the room so he could close the door behind him.

She huffed and crossed her arms to storm over to the opposite side of the bed from me.

Zach shook his head while looking after her, but his attention finally came back when he saw me.

"What's up?" I asked casually.

"Jay, you're parents want you to head back to the pack so they can talk to you," He told me.

"They couldn't just give me a call?" I raised a brow.

He put his hands up in defense, "They're orders, not mine."

I sighed, "Like, right this second?"

He shrugged with a nod, "Today yeah."

"Well, did you tell them I'm busy?" I questioned.

It was his turn to raise a brow. "Did you just ask me if I told Alpha Samuel you were busy and that's why you couldn't go?"

I laughed. "Yes I did, probably a pretty stupid question though, right?"

Yeah... My father would not like that.

"Yeah."

I sighed, "Alright, tell them I'll be there by the end of the day."

"Oh, I already did, but I told him you'd be there by noon."

My eyes bulged, "That's in five hours. And it takes four to get there."

"I know. Better start getting ready."

I rolled my eyes, "What am I going to do with you, idiot?"

"I think the question is, what would you do without this idiot."

I heard Maria giggle from across the room and Zach sent her a smile.

That little exchange didn't sit well for me or my wolf.

'What is she doing laughing at his jokes?' Malaki growled.

I took a calming breath. She just likes jokes.

'But then he smiled at her.'

'I wanna eat his heart out.'

Dude! That's our friend! Y'know, the wolf that's saved our lives countless times.

'Yeah well that's my mate. Our mate. Our unmarked mate.'

That is a good point.

But you know you're over exaggerating.

'Do I?'

Jeez, Ki, we're not killing our friend!

Although, if I said it wasn't a relief when he left the room and was out of range of Maria, I would be lying.

"Alright," I turned to her, "You heard him, we only have an hour, so hurry up and get ready."

"Um, what? I'm going with you?" She raised a brow.

"Yep," I answered shortly.

She furrowed her brow, "Why?"

"Because you're my mate, and I want you close," I answered simply.

She had a look of slight surprise on her face, "Oh." It actually looked like a happy and hopeful surprised.

I don't know why it felt like a stab in the heart. I guess maybe because I wish I could make her feel like it wasn't surprising that I want her with me.

'You better not be going soft already!' Malaki popped back in.

I'm not! And don't act like you don't feel the pull too.

'Of course I do, I just know she'll be close weather she knows the reason we want her to be or not.'

You don't want her to be happy?

A vision of him rolling his eyes flashed in front of me. 'What a dumb question.'

Well jeez.

'YES I want her to be happy, and she WILL be happy. But you know what wouldn't make her happy?'

I mentally sighed, The consequences of breaking this deal.

'Exactly.'

I know, I know.

"Also because I don't want you getting into trouble. Oh, and by the way, you need to keep the whole, you and me being mates thing, on the down low," I informed Maria.

Well that completely fu**ing crushed the hope in her face.

Malaki let out the quietest of whines.

Mhm.

'Shut up!'

But I needed her to know.

"Oh..." She said looking exactly like a freaking lost, starving, orphan puppy, I swear to the goddess.

'I don't like that face. Tell her to stop making that face.'

That's not how people emotions work Ki.

'Tell her to stop!"

Calm down, she'll cover it up any second.

She did.

See? I told him dejectedly.

'But she's still sad. Can't you feel it?'

Of course, I can feel it! but there's nothing we can do about it right now. She'll get over it.

'I don't want her to get over it.'

I thought you wanted her to be happy.

'But getting over it would mean getting over us.'

Oh shi-

"Hello! Earth to Wolfie!" Maria waves her hand in front of my face.

She's over it.

I cleared my throat, "Alpha."

"Actually, we call it a Mistress, but it's a common mistake."

I growled, "Me. You call me Alpha."

"Oohhhh," She nodded sarcastically.

"No," She shook her head right after.

Malaki suddenly shot to the forefront.

Crap.

I know he can be seen in my eyes at this point.

"Yes!"

Oh sh**

Malaki has the ropes.

He let out a growl that shook the room.

F**k, this hasn't happened in years.

What is going on?

Malaki! You'll scare her!

'That's the point!'

I feel my feet moving. It's just like I remember. Like when you're legs fall asleep and you try to walk, but I'm not the one that wants them to move.

We're going towards Maria.

It feels the same for arms. Little prickles cover my right arm as I watch it through my wolf's eyes. I see it land on Maria's shoulder, and what happened next happened in a flash.

I — or, Malaki — am suddenly holding Maria against the wall.

Any sane person would have been scared sh**less of me in this instance.

I'm a seven foot dude with glowing golden eyes at the moment - thanks to Malaki — and I know my muscles must be bulging through my skin and jeans because, I feel like I'm about to explode out of them. Shouldn't be very comforting for a girl that stands at what? 5'10 MAX, and I certainly have her trumped in the whole muscle department. But that's obvious.

So what doesn't make any sense, is the way she doesn't look like she gives a flying sh** about the way a d@mn Goliath compared to her is pinning her against the wall and radiating all sorts of bad vibes.

I can feel it. Malaki is letting on some of our alpha aura.

Speaking of Malaki.

He's pissed about Maria's reaction. Or, lack thereof.

And I can feel our canines and nails elongating.

"It's Alpha," Malaki growled way too calmly.

Nothing.

But an eyebrow raise.

Dumb, dumb girl.

"YOU CALL ME ALPHA!!"

There it is.

The rumble of giving off an alpha command.

And now our claws are digging into the skin of her arms that we've been clamping onto. Great.

Instead of crying out in pain though,

Maria fu**king smirks.

Stupid, stupid girl.

But it wasn't only that.

Her eyes flashed red again.

A deep crimson red.

Hm, fitting that'd be her family's name, huh?

Not the point.

The point is, like the last time her eyes turned, I don't feel like the predator anymore.

In fact, it's very clear who is. And it ain't me.

And this honestly just pissed Malaki off even more. He's always looking to challenge to be the best, and I'm usually on board, but this is our mate.

And I don't know about the vibes she's giving off.

"I wouldn't do that, Wolfie," she sang, eyes still blazing.

Ki narrowed his eyes at her and I was able to wiggle my way to sharing the forefront. "Wouldn't do what?" We both questioned.

"Use your little alpha command on me," she responded.

I got shoved right back to the back of my own consciousness.

Malaki, sleep! I attempted.

Earth f**king shattering growl.

Don't worry about my mental capacity, I knew that wasn't going to work. I just thought it was worth a shot.

Aside from that, something feels so... Off.

Like I need to get away from her and her crimson eyes and weird aura.

She nodded, "Don't ignore your instincts."

What the f**k.

Last time I checked she wasn't a mind reader.

"They're probably telling you something along the lines of, don't screw with her," she said darkly, nodding again, "listen to them."

Now that I think about it, that is what every sense in my body is saying.

But of course f**king Ki gets angry about it because that's all he f**king knows how to do apparently!

He took her by the shoulders and slammed her back against the wall. Her head whipped and hit hard, and I swear to the goddess her eyes looked like they were on fire for a second. Screw concern for my

mate, that flew to the back of my mind real quick. The feeling of RUN suddenly started screaming through my system. Everything went from like a two to a hundred in a split second.

Then in the other half of that same second everything went back to around a 30.

Because it's never at a zero with two alphas in one room, and she was really worked up.

But she took a breath in, and then out, and then in, and then out. And then over and over again.

This whole keeping chill thing, must be taking a lot of effort.

And thank the goddess she's willing to put it in because, I DO NOT want to see the alternative.

Ki must have found it incredibly fascinating as well, because he held his own breath as he watched her take in slow, purposeful gulps of air with her eyes closed.

The remainder of the freaky energy around her diminished even more over a couple of seconds, until it was just a small background buzz in my mind.

This made Ki's anger and restlessness towards her resurface.

He was about to make another move.

Stupid, stupid wolf.

But she shot her hands out to cup my face before anything more could go down. It wasn't a rough gesture at all. I wanted to melt into her soft hold and just stay as putty forever if that's what she wanted.

But Malaki, being the rough and jumpy alpha male he is, stiffened under her tender hold. He wanted to revel in it as much as I do, but he is so dead set on not coming off as weak.

Ki! You need to chill the f**k out!

'I need to '

"Jason..." Maria's voice rang through the room. This time, quiet and sweet. I've never heard it like that. It's like no other sound dared interrupt her. Not even my inner conversation with Malaki.

"Yes?!" We both jumped to respond.

How could we not? She used that voice and my actual name. It'd be crazy to ignore her for even a second.

She took another breath in with her eyes closed again.

She's so beautiful.

"I need you to chill the f**k out," she breathed so delicately and sweetly, it doesn't even matter how crude the contents of the actual statement were.

Her eyes are open now, locked on mine. They're green again with crimson swirls swimming around inside. Completely entrancing.

And a reminder of her hidden predator.

But calming (weirdly enough), nonetheless.

I almost forget to tell Malaki I told you so in the complete bliss of her sweet voice and eyes combined.

But I don't.

Told you you needed to chill the f**k out, Malaki.

He didn't even have the presence of mind for a snappy reply.

"Seriously," she continued when neither of us responded, "for mental and physical health purposes on both ends, don't Alpha male out like that again," she whispered, putting our foreheads together.

My heart.

Any aggressive or alpha aura I — I, meaning Ki - was dishing out before, on purpose or not, is completely gone. Stored back away inside me, neatly tied by a little crimson bow.

Maria took one last breath, and let it out. With it, went the last bit of bad vibes radiating off of her.

She smiled, not the creepy smirk like the one she did earlier, but an adorable Maria smile. Her freckled cheeks moved up and were indented by her cute little dimples. A smile I wish I could put on her face all

the time.

"I can hear your heart beating super fast, Wolfie," she giggled.¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶