Chapter 17: Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

“You had one job!” Alex groaned dramatically and bent over with his hands on his knees to emphasise his frustration.

Black rolled his eyes, something that he did too often when in the presence of Alex and Isaac.

“I thought what you did was cool enough.” Black shrugged, his eyes wandering around them. He would have preferred to have this conversation far from their current location.

“Ugh!” Alex cried out once again and tugged at his hair. “You don’t understand, do you?” He asked and turned to Isaac. “Does he understand?” To which Isaac shook his head.

Alex turned back to Black. “You were the one who was supposed to say all that werewolf law shit and then end it off with, “Willow doesn’t belong to you anymore, she is MINE” in a cool way,” Alex explained dramatically with way too many demonstrations.

Black shoved his hands in the pockets of his coat. “It doesn’t matter, in the end, Willow won’t have to come to this place anymore.” Black defended himself, the bitterness in his voice very evident. “Besides, aren’t I cool enough already? I don’t need validation.”

Isaac laughed loudly and went to open the passenger door of the car. “Yes, Black. You are way too cool. Can we go home now? Alex?” He asked.

Alex huffed and glared at Black and shook his head in disappointment. “Fine.”

Black smirked and followed behind Alex. The night was getting colder and darker. He could feel the eyes that were watching them. The rogues around the place were very aware of their presence just as they were of them.

“Black!” A familiar voice called out and he turned around.

Black’s eyebrows Rose upwards, waiting for Levi to speak as he walked closer to him. Levi took in a deep breath and looked up at Black.

“Look, I know that Willow is your mate and naturally you want to mark and mate with her as soon as possible b-but...” Levi paused as if he was not sure whether to continue speaking or not.

“...p-please don’t pressure her into anything.” Black’s lips thinned into a frown. “She’s been through a lot already, and that’s all been because of werewolves. I’m pleading...please don’t tell her that you’re her mate—”

“What?!”

Levi stepped back, eager to put enough space between himself and the larger man. “J-just listen to me...Willow has gone through a lot because of my brother and rogues, and if you don’t notice, all of those are werewolves. How do you think she’ll react when she finds out that she is supposed to spend her entire life with a werewolf?”

Black’s frown deepened the more he thought about Levi’s words.

“Please try to bare with her. Perhaps, try to pursue her in a more human way?” Levi proposed with his lips set straight.

“I think he’s right.” Alex voiced out, Black turned to face him. “I mean, not every human finds out that they are in a life-binding relationship with a “supposed mythical creature” and supposed to have a mark on their skin as a sign of the bond.”

“See.” Levi pointed out, agreeing with Alex. “She’s already been through a lot and even though I know that you'd the faster way, please be patient with her. I fear that if she is just pulled into this whole mate thing, she will be too overwhelmed.”

Black had a thoughtful look on his face for a few seconds before he nodded. “I understand.” He said, turned and walked to the car.

Alex nodded at Levi before following behind Black. Levi watched as their car drove away with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked around the area, the curious eyes of some rogues and humans still on him. He took out his phone and tapped on Willow’s name and typed in a quick text to send her a message.

Where are you rn?

Wills

Heyy Lee, I’m on my way

Willow’s reply came fast just like usual. Levi was so used to how quick of a replier she was that he would be worried if she did not reply as soon as he sent the text.

Up for a walk??

Ugh, Levi!

I told you not to do that anymore!

(￢_￢)

Levi smiled and started walking down the path that he knew Willow took when coming to the club.

I like our walks too much

I’ll kill you

He laughed at that and paused in the middle of the road to send another reply.

“I’ll kill you.”

Levi looked up and Willow was standing in front of him looking scarier than ever—well as scary as a person named Willow could look. He walked closer to her and pulled her into a tight hug. Willow hugged him back after a few minutes of being taken back.

“What’s up with you? I’m supposed to be mad with you...you can’t just hug away my anger.”

“I don’t expect you to,” Levi said and pulled back from the hug. “I have great news for you.”

“Really? What could that be?” She asked with a teasing tone and ruffled Levi’s hair with one hand after standing on her toes.

“You no longer have to take the scent-suppressing pills.” He said with a huge grin.

Willow’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Levi’s grin grew more and he pulled Willow into another hug. He petted her hair before saying. “You don’t have to do it anymore.”

“You’re free.” He whispered to her, low enough for her to hear. “My brother doesn’t have to tell you to want to do anymore. Y-you’re free and Charlotte is gonna be fine.”

“Le–levi.”

“I know,” he continued running his hand down her hair. “Everything is okay...you’re okay.”

“B-but h-how?” She choked out.

Levi paused and thought about his earlier conversation with Black. Perhaps telling her that he was the one would get him in her good books but knowing Willow, she’d feel more indebted than thankful. A lie and an excuse seemed like the easier way, especially if things were supposed to move at a slower pace now.

“I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

“Le—”

“Shh, don’t argue.”

......

“Where have you been?” Aleisa asked immediately when Isaac entered the house with Black trailing behind him. “Hi, Black.” She waved before turning back to her mate with a glare.

Isaac feigned offence and walked closer to her, and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her close to him.

“I’m fine babe. How are you?” Isaac’s lips tugged upwards into a flirtatious smile.

Aleisa looked around the room and her cheeks flushed a deep red when she caught Black and Caleb staring at them. She hit Isaac’s chest.

“A smile won’t get you out of this,”

“A kiss?” Aleisa shook her head. Isaac put on a thoughtful face. “Sex?” He leaned down and whispered in her ear.

Aleisa’s eyes widened and she hit his chest harder. She looked up and surely Black and Caleb were still watching their public display of affection.

“Is that it?” Isaac asked once again with a smirk. He pulled Aleisa closer and leaned down to place a kiss on her lips.

Caleb cleared his throat. “Other people live in this house,” He reminded the couple with a scowl on his face, pretending to be disgusted.

Aleisa looked up at him and glared. “Really? Why don’t they move out then?”

Caleb placed his hands over his chest. “Ouch! After all these years of supporting you, I even take care of Kace.” Caleb said with disbelief.

Aleisa rolled her eyes. “You moved to the downstairs guestroom after Kace was born just to not take care of him when he woke up at night.”

“I’m just a high school student trying to get the right amount of sleep.” Caleb shrugged.

Isaac let go of Aleisa. “Everyone knows that you sleep way past twelve.”

Caleb was about to say more when Black decided to speak up. “Is there any food in this house or it’s pizza like the majority of the time?” He asked and started walking to the kitchen.

“Of course, there isn’t any food,” Aleisa replied and followed after Black. “Isaac decided to take longer with his work, Caleb won’t assist with Kace and I can’t exactly cook and take care of a baby.”

Black turned to face her after opening the refrigerator. “Plus your cooking socks,”

“Yea...hey!” Aleisa shouted after realising what he said. “My cooking has gotten better over the last few months.”

“Caleb doesn’t agree with you,” Black replied and closed the refrigerator.

Aleisa huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s not like you can cook?” She muttered bitterly.

“I can cook,” Black responded with a smug look. Aleisa stood with a shocked face. “What did you expect? I’ve lived with Nina for almost my entire life.”

Aleisa nodded. “Well, I guess that makes sense.”

On cue, Caleb and Isaac entered the kitchen as well and Isaac put on an apron before taking his place behind the counter and turning on the stove. Black took a seat and so did Caleb. Aleisa left the kitchen and went upstairs when she heard Kace crying.

“What happened? How did it go with being able to get your mate? Judging by the way she isn’t with you, I’m guessing not too well.” Caleb spoke up after a while.

Black and Isaac both turned to him with wide eyes. After a second, both turned to face each other with accusing stares. Isaac shrugged and shook his head and so did Black.

“Alex,” Isaac said and realization dawned on Black’s face.

Caleb laughed causing both men to turn to him. “Oh please don’t give Alex any credit he doesn’t deserve.” He said with a flick of his wrist. “I know everything that you guys do.” He said with a Cheshire grin on his face.

“What?!” Isaac looked genuinely scared.

“Oh no, not that...though you don’t really keep it down when you’re having sex with Aleisa.”

“Our intention is to be as loud as possible and drive you out of the house so that we can finally have sex in every room in this house,” Isaac said and continued stirring the food on the stove.

“Never going to work. My mate is gonna move in and we’ll see who drives who out first.” Caleb countered.

“Can we focus on the original topic?” Black cut-in. “How did you know about Willow being my mate?” He asked Caleb.

He could remember the conversation in the game room. Then, he had thought of it only as a crush and nothing more and he was certain that he never told Caleb that he thought of Willow as a mate. The only people that knew that Willow was his mate were only Alex, Isaac, Levi and Louis, including himself. To even make it more realistic, only four out of five people on that list knew that Willow could or could not be his mate.

“I have my ways,” Caleb smirked. “I also know about the house that you built secretly.” Black and Isaac looked even more shocked.

“What?!”

“How?!”

Caleb shrugged. “You guys don’t know how to keep secrets. Sometimes you discuss things with me in the room and other times, you leave your phones in my hands.”

“Oh!” Isaac said in a voice of realisation.

“So, how did it go? I’d she your mate?” Caleb persisted.

Black’s shoulders sank and his body slumped in his seat. “Not really how any of us would have preferred but Willow is safe for now.”

“Why did you not come with her?” Caleb went on to ask but when Black and Isaac shared a look he gasped. “Does she not know? Why did you not tell her?”

Isaac sighed. “Things are still complicated. Don’t forget that she’s a human.”

Caleb nodded and accepted the plate of food that Isaac handed him. Isaac gave Black a plate of food as well and took a seat as well.

“We need to find a way to end what Louis is doing. I still can’t get those tortured sounds out of my mind.” Isaac said after a while.

Black nodded. “I know,”

Aleisa walked into the kitchen with Kace on her hip. She walked over to Isaac and took a seat next to him and situated Kace on her lap.

“Goddess, he’s getting heavier as he grows.” Aleisa grabbed a fork and ate from Isaac’s plate. Isaac glared at her. “What?” She asked.

“You never allow me to eat from your plate,” Isaac replied.

Aleisa rolled her eyes and stole from his plate once again. “Do you want some?... Mhm Kace, do you want some of Daddy’s food?” She peered down at the kid.

“You guys are sickeningly sweet,” Caleb commented and shoved food in his mouth before standing and placing the plate in the sink.

“Where are you going? Who’s going to wash that?” Isaac asked his younger brother.

“I’m going to bed. I’m so exhausted, you know school and all that stuff.” Caleb replied and walked out of the kitchen.

“Ungrateful bastard,” Isaac said.

“I heard that!” Caleb shouted back.