Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Mate? What does that mean?

I stared at Jeff's mother with a trembling gaze. My whole mind went blank with the bomb she just dropped. Why would they know about mates? Do humans have mates, too?

Jeff's mother narrowed her eyes at me. "Who are you?" she asked again. "What are you doing inside my son's house?

My lips parted, unable to answer her question because my brain is not in its best state-not when I am suddenly confused about what's happening around me.

While waiting for me to answer, two men came from behind her.

They both looked so intense that the first thing I thought when they came in is that they are her bodyguards. One is wearing a brown shirt and a pair of jeans. I think.

He's tall as Jeff and their body builds look the same. His deep-set eyes are dark brown as he stared at me. like he's trying to melt me with his gaze. His face has unshaved sideburns that made him look mature and intimidating at the same time.

The other is wearing a black shirt and a pair of cargo shorts. He looks a little tamer than the other one-a a little friendlier. Or maybe because he's not as tall and as huge. His red lips look like that's why smiles are invented.

"Hello!" the friendly-looking one chimed. smiled widely and walked towards me before taking my hand for a shake. "I'm Ryder. And you?" he let out a boyish grin forest yesterday and now, this?!

This guy, Ryder, narrowed his eyes at me but his smile is still plastered on his face. "That's Neil"

I looked to where Neil is but instead, I was greeted by Jeff's Mom stare. I immediately looked away from her and smiled awkwardly at Ryder. "I'm A-Andrea," I told him, stammering hard because I know I am doomed. I knew I has met them before. My secret is gone but I was hoping now will remember who am I. It is been months since I had that encounter with them and it was worst forgotten by anyone who has no memory.

I wonder if Jeff knew they will come over. If he did, Why didn't he tell me? I should have just locked myself in my room the whole day.

"Where's Alpha?" Ryder suddenly asked.

My eyes widened in confusion and shock. "A-Alpha?"

He narrowed his eyes at me before looking to where Jeff's mother is. He shrugged at her before turning to me again. "Are you not his mate?" he asked me. His voice is filled with curiosity, I'm pretty sure my stare is already trembling intensely.

"What? Mate?" I asked again. I am lost. Why did they have to dump everything at once? I can't even find a moment to breathe.

Mate, Alpha. Me. Jeff. These are the only words that "Jeff is a werewolf?" I blurted out.

Ryder stepped back and showed a fighting stance. Neil also put Jeff's mother behind him as he looked at me like he's about to attack me if I make a move.

"How the hell did you not know?" Neil spoke with a low, threatening voice. "What are you doing here?"

His voice was laced with doubt and warning. I stared at Ryder and saw him looking at me with furrowed brows, exuding the same emotions as Neil, sending my whole system in panic.

I was trembling but I managed to raise my hands in surrender. "I didn't know!" I exclaimed. "I just thought he was a… shit, if I speak like this, they would wonder why I am not shocked at their existence. I don't have any skills to smell their wolf scents because that would only happen when I'm already able to shift. That's why I wasn't able to identify them as wolves. I thought if I give them this explanation it will be fine.

Ryder tilted his head to the side, waiting for me to continue what I'm about to say.

I swallowed hard and tried to gather whatever sense l have left in me. "I was lost in the woods and he let me in his house for the meantime," I explained.

"Jeff let a girl stay in his house?" His mother asked, laughing like she doesn't believe it. She then threw a questioning look at Ryder.

"Did you know about this?" she asked.

This is their former Luna. And since Jeff seemed to have not found a mate yet, she could still be acting like the Luna. I don't know.

Maybe. But why am I making it my problem now? I have other issues to take care of.

Ryder shook his head. "I'm sorry, Luna. I have not been informed about this," he replied.

Jeff's mother walked to me. "You must be his mate," she said with certainty. "You can't be his mate when he already let you stay at his house."

My lips parted before shaking my head fervently. "Ma'am, I am not his mate.

"Mother?!"

Jeff's voice echoed in the whole room. We all looked at the door where he is. Neil and Ryder immediately greeted him as he walked towards me, standing in front of me.

His mother raised her brow and smirked when she saw what he did. She smiled widely at his son before walking closer to kiss his cheek.

"What are you doing here?" Jeff asked before looking at Ryder and Neil. "And what are they doing here?" Ryder stifled a laugh while Neil just shrugged. "We just want to check on you!" the farmer said. "We didn't know you already found your mate."

My eyes widened and I was also in front of me. Jeff getting stoned

His mother smiled widely. "Well, now that you found her, we have finally fixed the problem!" she beamed and then walked towards me.

I couldn't help but give her a horrified look when she took my hands and gave them a slight squeeze. Damn it. What's happening? "You're our savior!" she beamed.

I looked at Jeff but he's just standing there, massaging his temple, unable to do anything about his mother.

Ryder snickered before walking to me, too. "Nice to meet you, Andrea…or should I say, future Luna?" He grinned widely while Neil just bowed his head at me.

Jeff's mom pulled me to the kitchen. "You can just call me, Roselyn," she said. "You're Andrea, right?"

I nodded. "Yes, Ma'am," I answered because I didn't know if I can stomach calling her by her first name.

She frowned at me. "Just call me Roselyn," she reiterated. "Or maybe, you can call me Mom. After your marriage with my son, you will be a member of our family, anyway." She began speaking that I couldn't even find the right timing to retaliate and explain everything.

I am not Jeff's mate. Gods, I don't want to be married yet! I have a lot of dreams. And besides, I don't want to marry someone I don't love.

"I'm sorry. Did we wake you up?" she asked me as she let me sit on the dining table as she opened the fridge.

I looked at Jeff's who seemed like he's scolding the two men who came with his mother. Ryder was smiling playfully while Neil was just shrugging. I shut my eyes and let out a frustrated sigh when I suddenly heard his mom gasp.

"Oh my!" She looked at me as she pointed at all the leftover food inside. "Did you make all of this?" she asked me.

I nodded shyly. We have some leftover pasta and lasagna there.

She giggled before taking the container of the lasagna out. "Ryder, come here and heat this," she ordered and Ryder obliged in a snap. She walked towards me with two glasses of water. "I'm pretty sure you'll have a good marriage with my son since you know how to cook," she said as she sat in front of me.

"Ma'am-I mean, Roselyn," I called her. "I don't think Jeff thinks I am his mate. And I don't think that way, too," I started as she just stared at me. "I was just lost in the woods and he was kind enough to let me in. Besides, I am just a human." I lied.

She raised her brow at me. "You're not a human," she told me. "I can smell you. You're a wolf, like us."

My eyes widened. I could clearly remember Xavier calling me out because I smell like a human-different from them all. And now, Rose is telling me that she can smell my wolf scent? And if she can, then, does that mean, Jeff did too?

She tilted her head to the side. "And mind you, Jeff may play a lot with girls but he never brought a girl home. He brings them to the packhouse but not in his residence," she said. "This is his private place. He doesn't let anyone in here. He doesn't even let me sleep here overnight!"

My lips parted and I turned to look at Jeff who was looking at me with hawk-like eyes. I bit my lower lip and looked back at his mother. "But…" I trailed as I fiddled on my fingers. "I don't think I am the mate he's looking for."

She raised her brow. "How sure are you?" she asked. I looked down, unable to answer her.

I heard her sighing hard. "Did you know that he's been in search of his mate for months now?" I looked up at her and saw her smiling weakly. "His father died in a battle so he was given the Alpha position by default-well, other than the fact that he's the strongest wolf in the pack."

I narrowed my eyes as I listened. I don't see anything wrong with that. If he's the strongest wolf, then he deserves to be the Alpha. And more than that, his father was the former alpha. He's always been next in line.

"But in the Fire Moon pack, we have a tradition. All Alphas must have a mate before they'll be handed the position," she continued.

"In Jeff's situation, he was given the position because his father died. He hasn't found his mate yet, which goes against the tradition of our pack."

"But that was an emergency. A pack can only go so long without an alpha," I told her. "You all needed to have an alpha."

She nodded. "But traditions will never bend," she replied. "He was only given three months to look for his mate or the position will be handed to his cousin, the Beta."

I looked at her in confusion. "But he's the strongest." "The Beta already found his mate. That's their trump card," she retorted. "That's why we have been pressuring Jeff to find one." She smiled. "He left the packhouse to find his mate."

What? Who would do that? Why would the Alpha leave the pack's residence when he's needed to be there to protect his members?

"I don't think I am fit to be his mate," I told her.

She smiled. "Well, you can't resist the pull, my dear." I looked at her. "Does the fact that I am not a member of your pack not worry you?" I asked her.

She shrugged before leaning on the table. "I am more worried about what will happen to Jeff if he didn't find his mate in time.

He's only got a month left or he'll be replaced." She then gave me a look. "Are you a rogue?"

My eyes widened as she asked me that so casually.

"I…well…think I am," I replied. I was exiled from my pack so that makes me one.

She sighed and nodded. "No one will know you're a rogue," she told me. "I'll vouch for you and say that you're one of the few members of our pack who got lost after a wildfire." She sounded so prepared with her excuses.

"There's no way they'll know you're a rogue. You'll be safe."

"But…" I swallowed hard. I don't see anything good with this plan. I also don't understand how a Luna could trust a rogue this much. What if I am a bad one? But well, if I am a bad one, I'll be killed anyway.

Besides, who said I wanted to be married to the alpha? I just wanted to live in the city.

She reached for my hands that were on top of the table and smiled widely as if assuring me that everything will be alright. "Don't worry too much," she said. "Jeff's will protect his mate."

I gave her a pleading look but she ignored it. She sounded so sure about it. Maybe I'll talk to Jeff later. I'm sure he won't let this happen.

What have I gotten myself into again?

spurs