Before Giselda could reply, suddenly, she sighed. "Our Alpha is awake. He's looking for me. I need to go back." Then, hastily, she put her blouse on and walked to the door.
"Giselda?"
She turned to stare at Zealous. "Yes?"
"We haven't finished yet. I'll go to Alpha Jock's house after you have been there."
"Okay." Giselda hesitated for a while before saying, "I-I just feel weird."
"About?"
"My wolf's instinct. You said your wolf confirmed me as my mate. But why didn't my wolf do the same?"
Zealous touched his chin while thinking. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen, and you?"
"Twenty-five. It may be because you are an adult but still young to have your wolf instinct grow strongly."
Giselda shrugged. "Maybe. Okay, I need to go. Let's talk again later."
After Giselda left, Zealous wore his shirt too. He smiled as he recalled how beautiful Giselda was in his arms. It was too bad they hadn't marked each other yet. Before that, he couldn't feel safe since any werewolf could approach, tease, and mark her too. Zealous clenched his hand. 'No, you're mine, my sweet Giselda.'
He walked to the bathroom to calm his aroused body, then returned to Jock's place. When Zealous knocked on the door, Giselda opened the door for him with a blush on her face.
"Kappa Zee, you are early. Have a seat, please."
"Thank you, Mu Giselda."
They acted as if they were strangers so they wouldn't spark the Alpha's suspicion. Then Giselda knocked on Jock's room.
"Alpha, Kappa Zee is here."
"Oh? Okay. Please serve us breakfast, Giselda."
"Yes, Alpha." Giselda bowed her head.
Before she could leave the room, Jock called her, "Giselda, what do you think about Zealous?"
"Um, I think he's okay." Giselda didn't dare look at Jock's eyes since she feared her feelings would be shown.
"I like Zee, and I think he's a good werewolf." Then he patted the bed beside him. "Sit here. I want to talk with you."
Giselda followed Jock's order and sat on the bed. "Yes, Alpha. What do you want to talk about?"
"How old are you now?"
"I'm eighteen."
"Hmm, the right age to have a mate. What if I choose Zealous as your mate? What do you think?"
Giselda blushed, as she had never thought Jock would think about that. Yes, she is his illegitimate daughter, but other than serving him as his maid, he had shown no concern about her before. "I-I …. I don't know what to say."
"Go to talk with Zealous for a while. Then, if you like him, let me know. I'll arrange so he can have you as his mate."
She bit her lower lip and bowed her head. "Thank you for your concern, Alpha."
"I know I have never announced you as my daughter. But I promise, when you marry Zee, I'll announce that you're my daughter."
Giselda gripped her hands. She didn't know what to say. She had already waited for the acknowledgment of herself as his daughter for so long until she lost hope. Now, when she didn't expect it anymore, suddenly Jock offered it. What did he have in mind? What plan did he have for her?
"Go now. I will take a shower first before meeting Zee."
Giselda stood and bowed a little. Before she left the room, Giselda asked for one more thing. "Alpha, why now?"
"What do you mean?"
"I have spent my childhood and teenager being a bastard. But why if I choose Zealous, you will acknowledge me?"
"Because I value Zealous. He is a good werewolf. If I gave my maid to him, he might think I disrespected him. It will be different if he knows I'll give him my daughter. Then, all will respect him too, as my son-in-law."
"But what did he do until you want to give him respect like that?"
"It's not your business, woman. Out now!"
Giselda bit her lower lip again. She thought her father appreciated her because she was no longer a teenager. But it was not the case. The rising hope was cruelly destroyed in a minute, and it was her fault. She should know him better. After so many years of never treating her well, no way he would change himself.
Tears pooled on her eyelids. She bit her lower lip harder so she didn't need to cry before Jock. To be pathetic in his eyes was the last thing she wanted. Before she walked to the living room, Giselda went to the toilet, washed her face, and forced a smile in front of the mirror.
'I'm strong and have been through this for so long. Yes, I have no father, and it'll be like that for the rest of my life.' Still, she couldn't stop the tears from damp her cheeks. 'Stop it, Giselda! Don't let his mere words hurt you.' Yet, her tears fell even more heavily.
She took a deep breath and thought about Zealous. Knowing that he would be hers helped to ease her mind. Giselda took another deep breath and washed her face one more time. Then, after drying her face, she walked to the living room and sat next to Zealous.
"Kappa Zee, Alpha Jock asked me to talk with you."
"About?"
Giselda's face was crimson, and she bent her head so she didn't need to meet Zealous's stare. "Uh, about anything. Please tell me about yourself. I know little about you."
"What do you want to know? Sadly, I'm an orphan, and I haven't been rich enough." Zealous scooted, so his thigh was next to hers, touching her thigh. "Your scent is unbearable." He inhaled more. "I want you, Giselda," he whispered.
She looked at the living room door, then whispered back, "Alpha Jock told me to talk to you, so I could decide."
Zealous frowned, as what Giselda said was too vague. "About what?"
"Maybe he'll tell you himself. But we should make a distance first."
"Why?"
"I don't want him to make a wrong conclusion about us." Then Giselda shifted away. She didn't want Jock to ruin her happiness, nor did she want to look too eager before Zealous.
"You will make me crazy." Zealous reached out his hand to hold Giselda's. He leaned forward and whispered, "I'll make myself useful for the Alpha. Then I'll ask you to be mine when the time comes."