She sniffled and sobbed some more before talking. “He is my mate” She took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. “And he likes you.”
I kept my gaze fixed upon her. “Oh Mandy. I do not think he really likes me. He is just confused.”
She sniffled some more. “But I heard him. I was curious so I eavesdropped your conversation. I am so dumb. I should have known no one would ever want me.”
“Amanda. That is so not true. You are so precious.”
She looked down at her lap. “Not even my mate wants me…”
“That is enough. You stop crying right now, young lady. Crying for men is my job, and I do not appreciate your trying to steal my business,” I said in a fake severe tone.
“No young lady, fun is not allowed in this house.” she chuckled. “Sorry, I do not buy it. To be Alex, you have to rise your voice a little and stare down at people with a frown, like this.” Her forehead wrinkled slightly and she put a hand on her hips.
We both laughed. I stood up and tried yo imitate an scolding Alex. “Okay, young lady, no more crying! We will do this: You go take that shower and I will make you a delicious chamomile tea.”
She clapped excitedly. “That is what I was talking about.”
“Thank you, thank you! I know I am great.” I walked toward the door.
“I do not want to get to know him anymore.” I heard her whisper and turned around so find a pained expression on her face.
“Are you going to reject him?” I asked. The smile on my face vanished.
She shook her head no. “My mom was rejected and ended up killing herself from the pain. I could never do that to my mate. I just do not want to ever talk to him.”
“Mandy…” I looked at her seriously.
She looked up and into my eyes and gigled. “Go get me my tea!”
I sighed and smiled at her. “On my way.”
***
I was in the kitchen heating the water for the tea. Amanda and I love to drink freshly brewed tea, so it takes a little longer to prepare.
Some warm arms enveloped me and hugged me from behind and I smiled.
“Is that tea you are making, woman of my life?” asked Elena.
“It sure is, you, sleepyhead,” I said.
“I want some warm water.”
“No tea?”
“Nah. Just water,” she said and let go of me.
I added some more water to the pot, turned to her, and stared at her sternly. “I am heartbroken, not stupid.”
She laughed. “Okay, okay, sorry. Take a look at this.” She opened the front of her Cardigan and signaled her belly.
I looked at her barely noticeable belly. I swear it was nearly flat. “Am I supposed to notice something? Oh! Wait… You are fat!”
She smacked my arm. “It is a baby bump!”
“Nah. You just got fatter. You cannot trick me.”
“I hate you!” She said hitting me playfully.
“That is so not fair! I cannot hit a pregnant woman.”
She smirked. “I know!”
Usually I would have been able to hear the baby’s heartbeat from the start. Still, since Elena is a Luna, it is impossible to detect. The water was boiling; I removed the pot from the stove and warmed three teacups. Then, poured some water in Elena’s cup and the rest into the teapot. This mechanism protects Alpha pups from greedy werewolves for as long as possible.
Aiden and Matt walked into the kitchen.
“What are you making, mom?” asked Aiden, peeking over my shoulder.
“Tea for me and Mandy and warm water for Elena.”
I added the correct amount of tea leaves into the pot.
Aiden scrunched his nose. “If you excuse me. I will proceed to brew myself a nice cup of coffee. Oh, and some for Matt too.” He poured some water in the coffee maker.
Matt began talking without meeting my eyes. “Samuel called. He said that Lancelot wanted to talk to you, and that the rejection pains hit him hard. He is still in the hospital.”
The whole room felt silent for a moment. I held back all the emotions threatening to break the damp I had constructed during the past week.
I inhaled, exhaled deeply, and talked in the most cold and uninterested tone I could muster. “Tell Samuel I will talk to Lancelot once he grows up and learns to trust his mate.”
Everyone in the room sighed at the same time, but remained silent. They were probably worried that I would start crying spontaneously or something.
Matt stared at me rubbing the back of his neck and broke the awkward silence. “Um, Jolene. About Mandy-”
“You have nothing to worry about,” I said as I strained the tea into another teapot.
“Uh? Why?” he asked.
As in cue, Mandy walked into the kitchen, looking the most gorgeous I have ever seen her. And, that is difficult to accomplish because she is absolutely beautiful. This little devil and her hobby for eavesdropping.
Oh, I love this girl. Even at fifteen years old, she is taller than I am. She has bright green eyes and light brown skin. Her messy curls are somewhat styled but still free in their natural state. She walked with her head high and her back straight.
Elena opened her mouth and I instantly mindlinked her to shut up and to not say something embarrassing. She looked at me sheepishly and remained silent. Matt stared at her as if she was the most fascinating being in the whole face of Earth.
I felt another smile tugging at the corner of my lips. Mandy walked up to a cabinet and took out a tray.
“Let me help you. I will take this to the tearoom,” she said as she put the cups and the teapot on the tray.
Yes, we have a tearoom, as in a room solely for drinking tea, no coffee allowed. We did made some exceptions sometimes, though. Elena and I had it made for winters like this in which the pavilion was not an option.
After passing by the dumbfounded Matt a second time, she stopped and turned around. “You are Matt, right? My name is Amanda by the way.”
“Uh?” he asked as if he was just coming out of a trance.
“You asked what my name is earlier. I am Amanda, nice to meet you.” With that she turned around and left.
Elena mind linked me while wiping off an imaginary tear. ‘They grow up so fast.’
Matt took a step toward the door.
“She heard what you said earlier, you know?” I said and he halted and looked at me with alarmed eyes.
Aiden poured two cups of coffee. He took a sip of his and offered one to Matt, which he took, still keeping his eyes on me.
Aiden laughed and patted his back, getting his attention. “You’ve fucked up, man. After everything I have seen, I am not taking any chances. When I find my mate, I will follow Alex’s tactic and just kneel before my mate and beg him to accept me.”
Elena, Aiden and I broke down in laughter at the memory. That was exactly what had happened. During Elena’s eighteen years old birthday party just as we were about to sing happy birthday, the clock had ticked 5:32 PM, the time she was born.
Alex walked down to her whispering the word mate, and knelt. He, then, took her hands in his and asked her to please accept him and stay with him for the rest of their lives. I needed an insulin shot that day.
Matt looked down and put his cu on the nearest counter. He ran his hands all the way from the top of his own head to his chin. “Aiden, help me? I cannot go beg empty-handed.”
Aiden nodded and took another sip of his coffee. “After my coffee,” he said.
I would not want to be Matt right now. Mandy is going to make him work for it. Elena and I walked toward the tearoom. I have a girl to high five.
I was glad that all these wonderful people kept me entertained. I do not feel like crying anymore. I want everyone around me to be happy because deep inside I feel like I am dead already.