Caden sat there thoughtful for a few minutes and then said, “What if I made a deal with you and the council? If I agree to marking and mating with my Alpha Female, you need to give me at least three months to find and choose her.”
Mr. Alderman had already started shaking his head when Caden continued, “If after three months, I have not marked someone as my mate then you and the Council can choose for me.”
Mr. Alderman stopped in mid-shake as he stared at Caden in shock.
“Caden, no,” Jessa whispered in stunned disbelief.
Caden turned his black eyes to her and smiled slightly, “Jessa, we both know that as an Alpha, I don’t get a second chance mate. My mate has already rejected me and I don’t see another option to this problem at the moment.”
Mr. Alderman was listening to their conversation as he mind-linked the others members of the council. They all were shocked to hear the deal that Caden suggested.
He is literally giving us power over him, council member said.
True, but he also giving himself time to find someone he thinks could handle the responsibility of being his Alpha Female and mate, another admitted ruefully.
It went back and forward until Mr. Alderman said through the link, we could always add to the negotiations that we must meet and approve of his chosen female.
The whole council has to approve his choice? One council member asked after a moment of silence.
Mr. Alderman sighed before agreeing, yes the whole council must approve.
In addition, he should only be allowed two months, the same voice stated, and Mr. Alderman silently growled, but agreed, as did the others.
He turned to Caden who had stopped talking with Jessa and they had turned to him as he talked with the council members.
“We will accept the deal on two conditions,” he told Caden who scowled, but nodded his head for him to continue.
“We, the Council, must approve the woman you choose as your Alpha Female,” Mr. Alderman said not liking the idea even though it was his idea in the first place. “In addition, instead of the three you are requesting, we think two months is long enough for you to choose someone to mark and mate.”
Caden’s eyes went blacker than normal, but he reigned himself in and nodded his head to the stipulations.
“Yes, I agree,” he said solemnly, and Jessa shifted in her seat as her eyes shadowed with sorrow.
“Caden,” she whispered as pain and sorrow crossed her face.
“Don’t worry about it, Jessa,” he said with a slight smile.
Mr. Alderman looked at Caden and he sensed a melancholy about him. He stilled when his wolf said to him softly, Caden’s wolf told me that there is someone he is interested in although he will not admit to it. She is human.
“So,” Mr. Alderman began filing the information that his wolf shared with him away. “We are in agreement and since we reached an agreement, the council and I will be leaving within the next few days if that is okay with you, Alpha Caden although we will return within two months time?”
Caden had to laugh at that although there was no humor in it as he said respectfully, “It is always a pleasure to have you, sir, even if I don’t like the news that you bring with you.”
“Neither do I, Caden, but thank you for your hospitality,” Mr. Alderman said getting up slowly.
“Sir,” Caden said before he reached the doorway to exit the kitchen, and he turned back to him with a raised eyebrow. Caden continued, “Can we keep this agreement between the three of us and the Council?”
Mr. Alderman looked at him thoughtfully before he chuckled and nodded his head in understanding.
After he left the room, Jessa looked at her brother in horror.
“What are you going to do, Caden?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” Caden said tonelessly, and for the first time, Jessa knew that the outcome had shaken Caden’s confidence.
Later that evening, Abella was cooking dinner when there was a knock on her door.
“Coming,” she called out as she grabbed the dishtowel to dry her hands before heading out of the kitchen.
She didn’t notice as she passed it, but her mother’s box glowed for just a second then stopped.
Abella opened the door without checking through the peephole first or she wouldn’t have been so shocked to see the person on her doorstep.
“Hello,” the person said, and Abella stood in shock as the figure moved slightly before asking, “May I come in?”
Abella moved aside so that they could enter her house and she closed the door her mind still in a state of shock.
She followed behind the individual until they reached her living room where she stood and looked at her surprising guest.
“How have you been, Abella?” her guest asked.
“Fine,” Abella answered, and then said honestly, “I didn’t suspect to see you again.”
Chapter 6
“I apologize,” Abella said as she realized what she said. “May I get you some thing to drink?”
Her guest looked around her living room before turning back to her with a smile, “I am fine. Besides, I can’t stay long.”
Abella tilted her head and asked directly, “Mr. Alderman is there anything the matter?”
Mr. Alderman smiled as he shook his head at her question, “No, my dear, I just wanted to check on you and see how you were doing since I was in the neighborhood.”
Abella looked at him suspiciously although she had a feeling he wasn’t telling her the complete truth, she shook her head and smiled deciding that if he didn’t want to tell her the truth than it had nothing to do with her.
“I am doing fine, sir,” she said relaxing as she strode forward to the kitchen. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like something to drink?”
Mr. Alderman thought for a moment then followed her into the kitchen catching a delicious smell.
“That smells good,” he said sniffing the air.
“It is my dinner,” Abella said with a laugh. “You are more than welcomed to join me if you would like.”
Mr. Alderman couldn’t pass up the opportunity to taste whatever she was cooking so Abella set another place at the table as they made conversation.
Even at dinner, their conversation was lighthearted and Mr. Alderman enjoyed himself immensely.
“We can have coffee in the living room if you would like, sir,” Abella said as she cleared the table and Mr. Alderman nodded his head as he got up from the table.
Walking into the living room, he heard her cell go off and he walked over to it where it laid on one of the end tables, and his eyebrows lifted as the caller id read “Jessa.”
He sat down in the chair as his wolf said, so Jessa and Abella know each other. Interesting…
Mr. Alderman had to agree as Abella came into the room with two cups of coffee.
“Your phone went off,” he told her.
“Thank you, sir,” she said with a smile and handed him his coffee before checking her phone.
Mr. Alderman watched her face as he told her, “You know, Abella, you can call me Jed. Mr. Alderman makes me feel old.”
She laughed as she looked up from her phone, “So is Uncle Jed acceptable?”
He considered it for a moment and then smiled showing that he was okay with her calling him “uncle.”
“So,” he said letting his curiosity get the best of him, “Was that a friend who called?”
“Yes,” Abella admitted honestly.
“You are happier now,” he stated firmly, and Abella looked up at him with wide grey eyes.
She said slowly, “I am happy. I don’t know about happier though.”
He nodded his head and changed the topic as he caught the shadow of pain that crossed her face before she hid it.
After another half hour, he got up to go and he gave her a hug before leaving.
Abella waved goodbye from the doorway and as he pulled away from the house, he watched in the review mirror as she closed the d
oor.
“Oh, Glenda, I hope you were right,” he said silently as he drove back to the pack house.
The next day, Abella met Jessa in the hallway as they headed for their history class.
“Hi, Jessa,” Abella said. “Sorry about not calling you back last night, but I had a guest.”
“Really,” Jessa said with interest.
Abella rolled her eyes as she elbowed her and Jessa laughed as they entered the classroom. The class went by quickly and then they were heading to their last class for the day.
They had separate classes for their last period so Jessa turned to Abella and said, “How about we go over to Icy Lovers and get some ice cream before we head home?”
“Fine with me,” Abella said nodding her head. “Besides, I want to know how you and Timothy are doing.”
Jessa grimaced as she said, “Okay. Let’s meet by my car after school.”
“Deal,” Abella said as they separated heading for their classes.
The last class of the day seemed to drag as Abella listened to her teacher go on and on about the human heart and its many functions.
When the bell rung, Abella quickly gathered her things and left the classroom heading for her locker to get what she needed for homework before heading out to the parking lot where Jessa was waiting next to her car.
“Ready to go,” Jessa said as Abella approached, and Abella nodded her head as she climbed in the car.
Jessa frowned as she climbed in the driver’s seat and Abella didn’t comment although she had a feeling that Jessa sensed it too; they were being watched.
The man took a few more pictures as his target drove off and he wondered whom the young woman was who got in the car with her.
Sir, we may have a way to find out where Alpha Caden’s pack house is located, he told his rogue leader.
Good, was the reply back as he nodded to his companion.
He looked down at the camera and he smiled evilly as they headed for their own vehicle although it would have been faster in wolf form.
“Are we heading back to the compound, sir?” His young partner said, and he growled at him causing him to pale and tail after the two women they had been observing.
Now more relaxed after they left school grounds, Jessa asked, “So who was it that visited you last night?”
“A friend of my parents’,” Abella admitted. “In fact, he was the lawyer who informed me of my inheritance and I was really surprised to see him last night. I haven’t heard anything from him since the petition was granted by the courts.”
Jessa grinned glancing over at her as they pulled into the Icy Lovers parking lot.
“So you do have someone who is looking after you,” Jessa stated as she and Abella got out of the car.
“I guess,” Abella said after a moments thought.
They entered the local ice cream parlor and ordered their ice cream before sitting down at one of the booths.
“So,” Abella started after a few minutes, “What is going on between you and Timothy?”
Jessa sighed as she said, “We haven’t talked yet because I keep avoiding the issue. I mean, we are talking but not about what happened that day.”
Abella shook her head and stated, “You need to talk about it, Jessa. I am sure that Timothy needs to talk about it.”
“I know,” Jessa, said staring at her ice cream in its cup before looking up at Abella. “I am just scared that he is going to tell me that he felt something when Jenna kissed him.”
Abella was silent before she said slowly, “The night you took me to your house for the project, you went to introduce him, but you went to call him something else before substituting boyfriend. What was it?”
“Oh,” Jessa said before she explained, “I was going to introduce him as my mate.”
At Abella’s confused look, she continued, “In our society, we have mates, or our other halves, that we are destined to be with. Timothy is my mate as I am his mate.”
Abella frowned as she took a bite of her ice cream before asking, “So how do you recognize your mate?”
Jessa smiled softly as her eyes shined, “Most mates recognize each other by looking in each other’s eyes because when your eyes meet, you immediately feel a connection. Also our wolves recognize each other and claim their mate from that recognition, and of course, when mates touch there is like a current that each of you feels.”
“Like a shock?” Abella asked finishing her ice cream.
Jessa frowned as she said truthfully, “A little but it isn’t an unpleasant shock although it can be quite startling. I think it is mainly used to intensify the mates’ feelings especially when you mark each other.”
“Mark each other?” Abella repeated wide-eyed, and Jessa laughed before explaining.
“After you find your other half, you mark them as your mate although most wait until they mate, or have sex the first time, before they mark each other except the Alpha as they have their own ceremony.”
Abella nodded her head slowly as her mind accepted the information and filed it away.
“So if you cheat on your mate, does he or she feel it?” Abella asked leaning back against her seat.
Jessa frowned deeply as she said, “Yes, but I didn’t feel anything when they kissed.” Then she admitted, “But it is stronger when one has been marked by their mate.”
Abella looked at her in confusion before understanding crossed her face, “You haven’t let Timothy mark you yet.”
Jessa shook her head as she said quietly, “I’m not ready yet.”
Abella nodded her head before getting back on topic, “Yet you didn’t feel anything even slightly when Jenna kissed Timothy?”
“No, but that could because Caden and I entered the room not long after it happened. Some of the members in the kitchen at the time told me that Timothy had been distracted when Jenna sat down in his lap and then he had been stunned at her action,” Jessa answered.
Abella merely let her talk because she knew that she would eventually come to the same conclusion that Abella had about the scene she had witnessed.
Jessa looked up at her with wide-eyes that were starting to gleam with happiness, “He didn’t feel anything other than shock when Jenna kissed him.”
Abella nodded her head as she said, “From what you told me about mates, then I would say that is an accurate conclusion.”
Jessa pushed her ice cream to the side as she stood up quickly and stated, “I need to talk to Timothy.”
Abella laughed, but followed her lead as they threw away their trash and exited the building.
“I will drop you back off at school,” Jessa told her, and Abella nodded her head.
Once at school, Jessa said, “I will talk to you tomorrow.”
“Good luck,” Abella said hitting the roof of the car before backing away and turning to her vehicle. Jessa tooted her horn as she drove away and Abella shook her head climbing into her own car, and heading home for the night.
“Which one do we follow?” his partner asked as they watched them separate.
“Neither,” the other one said. “Let’s head back to the compound. I am sure that he would like to see these pictures and will decide what to do next.”
“Abella,” Jessa called out the next day as they headed in the school, and Abella turned around at her happy expression.
“You two talked,” Abella surmised, and Jessa laughed knocking her in the arm with her elbow although she noticed that Abella’s eyes were tired looking as if she didn’t get any sleep.
“We had a long talk,” Jessa stressed deciding not to ask her about it right now, and Abella rolled her eyes before they headed inside.
“I am glad, Jessa,” she told her as they separated heading in the opposite direction to their lockers.
After their history class Jessa told her, “Can I come over to your house tonight? I want to tell you something but I rather do it away from the pack.”
Abella looked at her closely and sighed, “Why
do I have feeling that this has something to do with your brother?”
Jessa nodded her head slowly before saying, “But I need to talk to somebody about it besides my mate.”
“Okay,” Abella said not admitting that she would like to know a little more about her brother.
“Thank you and I will see you later tonight around seven,” Jessa said, and after getting Abella’s nod of agreement, headed to her next class.
Abella shook her head, but a pleased smile drifted across her face as she headed to her class.
Abella had to stay behind that afternoon as Ms. Helms asked for her help with something in one of the classrooms.
It was an hour after classes ended that Abella waving goodbye to Ms. Helms left the school heading for her car.
She felt eyes on her as she walked to her car but she stayed focused on the car.
She heard feet as they rushed at her but before they reached her, she calmly moved her hand and the trashcan at the edge of the sidewalk fell over.
She spun around at the sound in surprise, which brought her face to face with the man who was following her.
“May I help you?” she asked with a frown as she looked around her.
The man smiled as he began walking forward, “How nice of you to offer. I need to find a certain someone; maybe you can tell me where I can find him.”
“Really,” she asked in surprise. “Who is that you are looking for?”
“His name is Caden Brody, and he is considered a very bad man,” he said as if he was talking to a child, but gave her a charming smile.
The charming smile or the tone of voice didn’t fool Abella as her senses screamed at her.
She stared at him thoughtfully as if she was thinking before she replied, “No, I don’t know any man by that name. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”
The man’s face became ugly with anger as he snarled, “Don’t lie to me. You were seen hanging out with his sister.”
“Who is his sister?” she asked allowing confusion to cloud her face as she remembered the feeling of eyes on them yesterday.
The Witch Prophecy Page 5