Kieran's POV
I froze. There was no mistaking who it was. Her scent had already wafted through the house. Why the fuck did she have to show up at my house? I already warned her, for fuck's sake! Daphne was already on her feet. A hard glare on her face as she suspiciously eyed me, probably imagining the worst. Once she came into view, Daphne clutched onto the counter tightly. Her nails began elongating to form claws. Taylor, who also seemed to notice this, got off the counter and hugged Daphne by the waist, showing Janice his back.
“Thank Luna, you are here!” Janice exclaimed dramatically. “We need your help. My father was attacked by rogues while hunting and the wound is pretty deep. Only Alpha's enzymes can speed the healing.” Judging from her heartbeat, she was telling the truth. And being the Alpha, I can't turn my back on any of my pack members. Though I would like nothing more than to throw her out and continue the planned dinner with my people.
'I have to go.' I mind-linked Daphne. She turned blazing eyes at me wordlessly before averting her gaze. 'I must.' At this, I was literally begging for her understanding. I hated the fact that I could feel disappointment coming from her in waves. 'Promise I will be back right after.'
'Okay.' She finally mumbled. She didn't bother looking at me as she hoisted Taylor back up on the counter and the two busied themselves with onions. Janice hadn't moved a muscle. She could tell Daphne and I were having a conversation.
“Take care of Mummy, buddy. Be right back.” I told Taylor out loud, stepping closer to ruffle his hair and kiss his forehead. I turned to leave, but didn't feel right. Snatching Daphne to me, I slammed my lips over hers and kissed her sweetly, conveying all that I felt for her in the kiss. I wanted to assure her that she had nothing to be jealous of because I am incapable of mating with anyone else.
'Be back soon.' She growled, pushing me away. I smiled, gazing at the puffy pink lips. Taylor was giggling, covering his eyes while Janice just stared unimpressed.
'I promise.' Kissing my mate's forehead, I followed Janice.
“You seem happy.” She observed as we crossed the busy market heading to the pack infirmary. I just hummed as we walked, hoping she will get a hint and stop taking it. The thing is, even when we were screwing each other, we never really did any talking. Our arrangement was quite simple. It started about seven months ago during the full moon. She just happened to be there when I was looking for someone to bed. We mutually agreed it was a one-time thing, but we eventually kept rocking our socks like adults. But there has never been a commitment plan. Never was. And I was angry she tried to claim it just after Daphne popped into my life. I once held her in high regard, but since that day when she tried to play a jealous lover antic, I realized I might have fucked up with her.
“Will you never forgive my stupidity?” Janice asked striking in front of me to take my steps.
“I thought you and I had an agreement.”
“We did.”
“Then what changed?”
“I was jealous.” she raised her palm to stop me when I opened my mouth. “I was sad that you finally found your mate, yet there is no sign of mine. I will never get to have fun with you again like before. Can you really blame me for being Jealous?” I can't. It was natural, she felt that. But it doesn't make what she did right.
“Daphne had no clue about our arrangement, which means you shouldn't have done after her.”
“I thought you didn't want her,” Janice argued.
“What gave you that idea?” I am curious how she found out about Daphne being my mate.
“You kept hooking up with me even after you brought her into the mansion.” Ouch! She doesn't have to remind me what a douche I was.
“But how did you know about her?”
“Taylor.” She said quietly.
“My son?” It can't be. How? Or better yet, when?
“I just happened to bump into him one day as he was playing with other pups.”
“And he just approached you to tell you what? That his father has a mate?” I didn't mean to sound so incredulous.
“Not in those exact words.” Janice laughed heartily, momentarily reminding me how lively she usually is. “You should stay away from Daddy because it makes Daph sad seeing her mate with someone else.” Janice mimicked Taylor perfectly, making me chuckle. I still couldn't believe he did that. I doubt Daphne would believe me if I were to tell her what her adorable son did. “He actually asked me to go look for my own mate,” Janice added, amused. “Though I had begun having my suspicions because you didn't want to talk about Daphne, despite how many times I asked.”
“I should have been honest with you.”
“Why weren't you?”
I hesitated. There was no way of telling her the truth without coming out as a prick. “Daphne was everything I didn't want in a mate,” I whispered, shamefaced. “Or so I thought.”
“What changed?”
“Let's just say she is precisely who I needed, and Luna couldn't have chosen better. Thanks to you, I realized it before it was too late.”
Janice quietened and we once again resumed walking. “Your mate will show when you least expect.” I don't why I suddenly felt the need to comfort her. Perhaps it was the guilt of discarding her without a second thought, or the fact that she looked genuinely sad.
“Yeah, whatever.” She flexed her hand dismissively. Her mother and siblings were pacing in the compound worriedly when we arrived. They quickly led me to the room where the older man was laying, grunting in pain. I had to shift partially so as to activate my Alpha enzymes, which the pack doctor drew from my body through my gums by use of a big ass syringe. It hurt like hell, but I didn't dare make a sound. It would hurt my acclaim.
“Thank you so much.” Janice gushed, coming to my side after the doctor was done. Getting on my feet, I told her there was no need to thank me since it was my job to protect my people. I turned to her father and began questioning him about the rogues. I used mind-link to avoid straining him. I have the idea of those vile creatures lurking anywhere near our territories. He surprised me by saying he was inside our border hunting in the vast wild when two rogues came out of nowhere. How is that even possible? We have twenty-four-hour surveillance from the border warriors, and no rogue would have got in alive. What's more, I would have received information had they even remotely suspected rogues close by. Sadly, my enzymes had begun kicking in which made him drowsy, he couldn't keep on talking. Janice offered to see me out, but her mother insisted on thanking me by dining with them. I declined with gratitude, but she seemed to take my rejection to heart.
'You can just have a bite and be on your way. I bet all she wants is a chance to gloat about having the Alpha dine in our home.' Janice mind-linked me. I should have stood my ground. But feeling obligated, I followed them to their home, and that's how I lost the little trust Daphne had placed in me. If only I had known what would happen…