Thirty nine

OLAMIDE

A rustle by the skylight and the penetrative lights that hit my closed lids the next second was enough to wake me up. I turned on the direction of the frantic movement, immediately noticing that Jason was not in bed.

"Are you going somewhere?" I asked noticing he was all dressed up in a suit.

He kept his gaze on the mirror but I didn't miss that sunken look on his face. "Yes. I have an alliance meeting."

"So...what happens to me?"

Jason took a calming breath. He clearly did not want to have this conversation. In fact, if his movements weren't so lacking in grace, we might not even be having this conversation. The minute I roused, I'll probably be babysat by Satake or Axel. Jason stopped fondling with his tie and turned to meet my gaze. His eyes were a penetrating grey, soulless yet intriguing, a forbidden fruit you clearly knew was bad for you yet couldn't stop plucking. I had to constantly remind myself that I was kidnapped by this man and there was nothing romantic or normal about the situation. It was a futile attempt. My mind wouldn't stop wandering. What would his lips taste like? What would the callouses of that rough finger do to my bare skin if he teased them? Momentarily snapping out of my pondering, I wondered if the markings Jason had imprinted on the nape of my neck had something to do with it.

"You stay here of course. You almost got murdered and you were under tight security then. I can't risk people knowing your identity before the time is right." Jason finally spoke.

"You have to be kidding," I objected. "There is no way you are cooping me here for another day. I am not your prisoner Mister. I have done everything in my power to pretend this is normal. I even let you mark me! I cannot have my normal life back but I'm trying to adjust myself to this kind of life and you are certainly not making it easier for me."

"I did not ask for a mate."

"Yeah, no shit. But just look at the cards your goddess dealt us. I am trapped with you, Jason. You and your twisted lifestyle and there is no getting out of it so believe me when I say I will rather die in the hands of your enemies than spend another day alone in this room."

I watched a smirk creep its way to Jason's lips. Something I said had amused him. The cocky bastard. He raked close and inhaled deeply when he was only inches away from my face, imprisoning me in his aura. "It sounds like you are just mad we don't spend enough time together. Is this the Stockholm syndrome talking?"

Was I truly under the influence of a mental illness, I asked myself. I couldn't be, I rebuked harshly. I only let Jason mark me yesterday because that pestering voice in the back of my head made me do it. In my defense, I only did as Candice wanted because Jason had mentioned something about the mate bond being the thing that would finally bring me to my knees irrespective of what I thought of him and thanks to Satake, I was now well informed that Jason was not the only one who stood to gain from strengthening the bond. I guess that was why Candice wanted it too and that tiny fragment of information made me worried for the jerk. The witch inside me was mad with a grudge. She wanted revenge and if I continued to do what she wanted, Jason might end up dead. Strange enough, the thought of that made me sad.

"Do my demands sound unreasonable to you, Alpha?" I asked.

"Of course not," Jason replied, surprising me. I stole another look into his eyes. He looked as he always did—dangerous, alluring, and strangely relaxed. There was something different though. Jason was kinder and that was what surprised me. I expected to be rebuked by this man who held his opinion in high regard. What was I to expect from a being who once upon a time saw me as a toy he could play with before one of his enemies came to the picture to exterminate me? "I'm just worried," He continued. "You have to trust me when I say that you are safer in here and if you feel alone, you can cuddle Zeus or talk to Luna." He said, picking up his feline companion. "I promise you, she is a great listener."

I inwardly groaned. Once upon a time, I might have agreed with what he said. But I had never craved human interaction as I did right now. The voice echoing at the back of my head was maddening. Any more time in this room and I was certain I would succumb to the wiles of Candice Blossom.

"Cats aren't people Jason. I just want my freedom back. It's not like I can run away or anything. Everyone here seems to be after me. I feel strange saying this but staying by your side might be my best chance at survival. For a kidnapper, you are my haven."

"Is that why you let me mark you?" It came out of him like it was natural. As Jason stared into my shock-filled brown eyes that were usually twinkling with an impish benevolence, he raised his brows. "You look genuinely surprised that I know that. Did you honestly think I was that clueless dear mate?"

"I—" I tried to speak but nothing but air left my lungs. My mind wandered to a million places at once. Did the trick Satake suggested fail? Could Jason still read my thoughts? No... That could not be it. I could not read his mind and I could tell he was trying his hardest to break into the mental wall I had erected.

"You don't have to find an excuse. It's called adapting. I am impressed though. I could barely believe you would let me do it after everything I had said. Is that how resilient a human's will to survive is like?"

At those words, a surge of anger shot through me. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do more. Smack Jason with the lamplight on the table by my left or pull him in for a kiss? But I couldn't give Jason the satisfaction of seeing me losing it. A chaotic silence ensued for what seemed like minutes until Jason reached into the breast pocket of his shirt and retrieved an ancient-looking band. It was a simple silver ring with a wolf imprinted at the center. He reached for my right hand and I reluctantly gave it to him. I was unsure of what he was getting at but a weird-looking ring, my fingers, and a werewolf spoke doom. Yet I did nothing but watch as Jason threaded the band into my ring finger.

"What is that?" I demanded in the coolest crisp voice I could manage.

"It's an heirloom," Jason answered. "They say it will protect you if you are in danger." He continued, looking into my eyes as he completed his sentence. Why was he being so nice, I wondered. I noticed his cheek flushed red and the moment he realized I could see he was red as a tomato. He pivoted towards the door. It was the strangest thing. Just as Jason opened the door leading outside, I remembered I had not really gotten an answer to my demand.

"And my demands?" I requested, going out of my way to ensure that we didn't make awkward eye contact.

"If you have no problem with Axel being in your space half the time, I have no problem with you going outside. You might actually even need it."

I looked in his direction to thank him but the door was clamped shut and Jason was nowhere to be found.