Chapter 15

MALORY P.O.V

As soon as my alarm beeped, I closed my book shut and flopped on my bed. Correction, our bed. It has been a blissful two weeks mostly because Cortez was talking to me.

A goofy grin slashed my mouth as I thought about my mate. Staring at the ceiling I recalled the changes from Cortez’s behavior. First thing, he was home for dinner sharp at nine and then he would go back to work again. He had told me that he works in his company from morning ten to six and then he takes care of pack business. He had told me that he didn’t actually want to become the Alpha of Moreland Pack but after Alpha Peter’s insistence he agreed to be one. He used to feel that he doesn’t deserve the title until Alpha Peter’s death.

“I felt like the pack would crumble the same way Elegance did” Cortez had told me fiercely. Only after Alpha Peter’s death he started taking responsibility of the pack seriously, until then he was focused on his revenge. But now he genuinely cares and works for the pack.

He has lots of friends in his pack and I’ve met few of them. Some used to come home with Cortez and Sonya had introduced me to some. They were all good and I was comfortable around them too. Day by day I was adjusting well here.

Cortez drops me to college every day and we would talk, maybe not much but we still would. I would peck his lips every day before getting out of the car. A small peck was enough to set my nerves on fire.

My parents had come here to visit me yesterday and I was totally surprised because I didn’t know about that. It seems Brenda had called them and since Cortez was home yesterday noon, we all had lunch together. My parents left later in the evening and they were happy to see me happy. Mama however had a problem with me still being unmarked.

Cortez and I never spoke about that, but I personally am ready to be marked and announced as the Luna of the Pack. My wolf was waiting for that moment because then she would be known to the world as Cortez’s.

The new rumor in the college was I am Cortez’s paid mistress and it was annoying to hear. I only wished they knew the truth about my and Cortez’s relationship. When I had told that to Cortez he had told me that if asked I should tell that we are in a relationship. And when I gave him a baffled look he said “tell them you are my girlfriend”.

Girlfriend! My wolf didn’t quite comprehend that label but I was okay with it. For the humans I am his girlfriend, it was better than telling them anything else.

Our routine was the same; however since the last two weeks he would come home just to have dinner. And after dinner he was off again. Dinner was quiet and peaceful. I would talk and Cortez would listen. He would ask something about myself and I would go on and on about it. I feel like I could share everything with Cortez.

After dinner, I would watch some serials or play with Mumbles before going to sleep in our bed. Cortez would come to bed in the middle of the night. He would try not to wake me up but I could sense him every night. He then would wrap his arms around my waist and kiss me. My cheeks heated up as I realized that some days the small kiss would turn into a make-out session and err… sometimes clothes would be shredded too. But that was it, we didn’t mate, yet.

Other than this, he had told me few things of what he remembers about his pack. He has very few memories of his pack and it hurts him every time to talk about them. I was glad that he was making the effort and talking to me. The more he lets it out, the easier for him to forget and move on.

The past two weeks had been the happiest in my life and my favorite was the Sunday evening where he showed me his current mosaic art which he recently completed. I had asked him to show it to me, after I told him I never checked it since it was incomplete.

When I tugged the cloth away, I saw a portrait of mine as well as Mumbles. I had literally started squealing and clapping as I saw the portrait. I was ecstatic to see Mumbles along with me in the portrait because Cortez hates him. I had heard him asking the maid to clean every room where Mumbles’s fur was fallen and Cortez had warned me to never take Mumbles to the kitchen.

That was the first restriction and a few days later, Mumbles was banned from going to our bedroom.

I will never forget the look of pure horror in Cortez’s face when he saw Mumbles’s fur in the pool. He looked ready to puke and I laughed like crazy that day. After that Mumbles was also banned from going to pool.

Since Cortez knew I wouldn’t exactly stop Mumbles, he came with a wonderful idea of placing a two way mirror on the pool room door. Every time Mumbles sees his reflection in the mirror, he starts barking and runs away from there. And boy doesn’t Cortez love watching Mumbles bark and growl at his own reflection. In fact he even encourages Mumbles to attack his own reflection and my poor dog goes feral.

It was lovely to watch him that carefree for the first time.

I knew with all this minor changes happening in our relationship, I was falling in love with my mate.

Well, there were quite something’s that didn’t change and the first was Cortez still orders Mumbles around by snapping his fingers and my poor dog obeys him when he does that. A smug look appears on Cortez’s face when I glare at him for doing that.

The second thing- I don’t get to drive my two-wheeler. Even though I showed him my license and promised I would be careful, he wouldn’t let me drive. Instead Cortez had threatened to destroy the vehicle if I drive it again.

That is so not fair!

The third thing- his pack business is still unknown to me. I know he is desperately hunting for Konrad who had attacked me that day. But I think there is more to it. Cortez had told me something about looking for Konrad’s brother first.

Amidst all this, I would sometimes think whether or not I should call my mate Connell after all that is his name.

Mumbles barked loudly and I looked at him questioningly. When he started jumping I realized that this was his pee time. “Come on” I said getting up.

Since there was still an hour left for me to cook dinner, I decided to go into town to buy some personal stuff. The first thing, I needed was night dress because two of mine were already ripped thanks to Cortez. My cheeks flamed and I tried to divert my mind from thinking about him.

I was driving Cortez’s car, the same one which I had used to run away the other day. Cortez had given the car keys to me and it is officially mine but I am still not allowed to drive it in a high way. That again, is not fair. Cortez had also given me two shining gold and platinum debit cards and I am supposed to use money from it. I am not at all supposed to ask money from my parents and that was his strict warning. I couldn’t complain against that because he was my mate and I will be monetarily dependent on him until I start earning.

My eyes widened when I realized it was close to eight. I hurried to the empty parking lot were Mumbles was waiting for me inside the car. I had locked him in there as pets aren’t allowed inside the mall.

“Malory” I heard someone calling as I was walking towards my car. The voice felt somewhat familiar and so I turned to look. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw Ruben marching towards me carrying a leather rucksack on his back. He was wearing a red t-shirt and faded denims.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him with a frown.

“I came here to have my dinner” Ruben said stopping in front of me.

“So soon?” I asked since it was only eight.

“No, I should go and have it” he said. “What about you?” he asked me. “And what happened the other day, why did you ran away like that?” he asked worried.

“Shopping” I answered his first question, “And I had to go home for lunch. Cortez’s mom had invited us for lunch.” I said. “What are you still doing in this pack?” I couldn’t help but ask. He had told me the other day that Cortez had killed his father and he belonged to the rogue’s pack. It was impossible for me to form any sort of friendship with him because I am sure Cortez wouldn’t approve of it. He hates rogues and Ruben is a rogue.

Although he was a rogue; I knew he was good, for his friendly approach and calm personality was likeable and complete contrast to Konrad’s.

“I don’t know where to go” he said sadly. “I don’t have any family and I don’t know where my brother is either. So I am hiding in the human territory. Your pack wolves will kill me if they find a rogue in their territory.”