The Contrary Mate

Jack

I woke up a couple of hours later with Aura wrapped around me, the best way to wake up. Her leg was tossed over mine and her head and shoulder were across my chest. I held her more securely and breathed in her scent. How did I ever get so fortunate? I must have been very good for the algorithm to pair me with someone like her.

I dozed again until she stirred, which brought me back to full wakefulness. She gave me another one of her sweet smiles and my heart pounded. I’d never tire of seeing the signs of her happiness, or her interests, or of course, her body.

“We should probably get moving, right?” she said. I reached for my phone, and she was sadly right.

I didn’t really want to leave our bedroom, but we had tickets for another charity event that evening. The menu was vegetarian, so I’d asked her if she wanted to go because I thought she would like it. “I guess you’re right.”

She pushed out of bed, and headed toward the bathroom. I heard the shower running a minute later and my mind helpfully supplied memories of Aura wet in the shower, and I decided that even though we probably didn’t have time to do anything, I could still enjoy the view.

I was not disappointed as I pretended I was there entirely to brush my teeth. She peeked out and grinned at me—obviously not fooled by my stellar acting—before she went back to showering. I silently thanked the designer I’d hired for having the foresight to provide me with clear shower walls. I’d barely even noticed them before today. While foggy, I could still see the hazy outline of her form and it was a very nice sight. Who knew hair washing could be so sexy? Well, any teenage boy with an imagination, but besides them?

With another teasing smile, she stepped out and wrapped herself in a towel before I could get a proper look at her. I laughed in response. Mildly disappointing, but I loved the lighthearted way she teased me. I took over the shower, and hurried through the process.

By the time I came out she was already half dressed, and one of my pack members was in my room and doing something to my mate’s hair. I really wasn’t going to sneak anything in with her before the gala tonight, was I? I cursed their inconvenient timing, but Aura seemed happy enough about it so I didn’t want to disappoint her.

Once we were ready she looked like my wildest dream. This time her hair was swept up in some sort of pretty asymmetrical style adorned with a metallic flower, and her dress was strapless but not overly risqué. She looked quite beautiful and I knew what lay underneath in a way no other man who would see her tonight would. Lucky me.

“You look nice,” she told me breathlessly. It wasn’t the first compliment I’d been given, but it meant more than any that had ever come before it, since she meant more than anyone else ever could.

“Not as good as you look, Aura. You’re breathtaking.” She smiled at my statement a bit bashfully, and it only made her look cuter. “Ready to go?”

“I am,” she said, and we made our way out the to the waiting car. She got in without a flinch, although I knew that she still disliked it. I wished there was a feasible way to fill all the cars with foliage, but that would stand out as just too odd amongst the humans.

We arrived quickly to the venue and I helped my mate out of the car and handed off the valet key. We were on our own tonight, because Lenora was working overtime trying to solve some new Meteor issues. I felt slightly guilty that she was doing the work while I spent time with my mate, but she brushed it off because we were newly joined. I hadn’t fought her.

Like many other charity functions of my experience, the location had an elaborately theme, this time animals, much of the decorations done in modern art styles, but Aura outshone any background she stood against. I wasn’t alone in my assessment, because other eyes glanced at her for too long. My wolf growled in my mind, but I kept my social smile firmly pasted on, reminding myself that there was only one man she’d be going home with. She was wearing my ring on her delicate finger.

She excused herself to go to the washroom. My wolf wasn’t entirely soothed, because my mark had been skillfully covered in makeup so there was no trace of it. I reminded myself that it wouldn’t do any good anyway since the humans would be oblivious to the true meaning of the mark. The ring was just not as good as far as my instincts were concerned even though it would be more effective.

But not effective enough, I thought, as Alex Brevard made his way towards my mate as she stopped and looked at a plant on her way back to me. He had a slimy smile on his face that he seemed to think women found attractive. Some must, since he always seemed to find new ones, except tonight I couldn’t see any sign of his date anywhere. As I strode towards them I could hear part of their conversation.

“Miss Darrow, I remember meeting you at the up and coming art gala.”

“Oh. I’m flattered that you remembered me.” Her words said one thing, but I could feel mild irritation through our connection. I couldn’t help but smile.

“It would be impossible to forget such a beauty.”

“Thanks. Well...”

“That’s a lovely plant you’re admiring.” I would have scoffed at his weak game, except that was exactly the sort of thing that would make my mate interested in a conversation with him. Bastard.

Unfortunately, I was exactly right. Her annoyance faded as her focus turned back to the plant. “It really is, isn’t it? It needs to be watered more regularly, though. I wonder if there’s someone I can advise on that since the poor thing is suffering.” She glanced around as if she might spot a building caretaker wandering about.

It was endearing and I put my arm around her waist as I reached her and shot my attempted rival a smile that I knew would piss him off. “Brevard, how nice to see you again.”

“And you,” he lied.

“We were just talking about this plant,” Aura said to me. “I think he’s trying to hit on me.”

“He probably is. Do me a favour, love, and flash your ring.”

She raised her left hand to touch her hair and his eyes caught on the ring. “Oh, are congratulations in order?”

“They are,” she said, glancing at me.

“Meet my wife,” I said and I liked the way the word sounded.

Brevard’s eyes widened at me. “Well, don’t you move quickly?”

“When you find the right one there’s no need to wait around.” I earned a smile from Aura for that.

“I’m just shocked you found just one. Vegas wedding?” Now, he was just trying to cause me trouble. I also didn’t like the way he kept looking at her considering he now knew she was taken. “And matching tattoos?” Aura’s was certainly more delicate than mine, but the markings winding along our arms did look good together.

“Why not? She’s incomparable, I’d be a fool not to lock this down. Good to see you again, but we should get moving.” Because I was starting to feel territorial impulses rising and beating up a human was just plain unsporting. And even more importantly, Aura would not approve.