She's the luna I want novel Chapter 17

JACE.

My Beta and Gamma were still in the office when I arrived home, so I sent Amara on her own to choose whatever guest room she wanted to take. I saw her hesitate, but she must have seen that I was not to be swayed this time, because she didn’t argue and went up the stairs on her own.

I waited until she disappeared from my sight before I headed to my office.

"The Alpha is finally home!" Austin exclaimed the moment I opened the door and stepped inside.

"Why are you still here?" I asked. My eyes shifted between him and Tyler as I walked to my chair. They were not doing anything but drinking.

Tyler slid a glass of whisky on my table, and I caught it in time before it hit the edge.

"We want to know what you were up to that you abandoned us for the last seven hours," Tyker said.

"Seven hours?" I glanced up at the clock. It was almost ten in the evening.

"You left around three, and you said you’d be back before dinner time."

"Did you fuck Amara?" Austin asked, a coy smile playing on his lips as he sipped his whisky.

I threw the pen that I was playing with my fingers as I chuckled. "Just because I was gone for hours doesn’t mean I’m screwing someone."

"Well, you never went away for a long time unless you needed to be somewhere."

"So where did you do it? Forest? Because I’m sure Aunt Luisa would not allow you in her room."

"We just watched some movies. If you’re doubting that," I paused and pointed a finger at Austin. "Call the movie house tomorrow and check."

"So you went on a fucking date!" Austin exclaimed. "Weird, man. We are not made for dates. Well, except for Tyler."

"Tyler?" My brow hiked up. I didn’t know my Beta was dating someone.

"Shut up, Austin. It was not a date?"

"Am I missing something? Are you dating someone?" I asked Tyler, but it was Austin who answered.

"He took Catherine out to dinner."

"When?" My eyes were staring at my Beta.

"It’s not a date, man. She just didn’t like the food and wanted to eat somewhere else."

"When?" I asked the same question.

"Last night."

"Last night. She decided she didn’t want the food when I was not home and couldn’t come back before midnight."

"We just ate out." Tyler raised his palms in the air before he scowled at Austin, and then turned his eyes to me. "I swear, Alpha, I didn’t touch even her hair."

"Just her pussy probably." Austin chuckled.

A growl erupted from my throat, but I was sure the one that came out of Tyler was louder. And in seconds, he already had Austin’s shirt in his hand.

"Sorry. Fuck! I overdid it. I didn’t mean to say that to Catherine. I was just joking." Austin’s expression turned serious. He might have seen something in Tyler’s eyes that made him change his stance on the topic.

Tyler let him go before brushing his hand over his hair and looking at me. "I’m keeping my word. I’m not taking advantage of your sister. I would never do that. I’m going to bed."

He turned around and was heading for the door when I stopped him.

"Stay," I said in a firm voice.

"I’m sorry, man. That was below the belt. I would never disrespect Catherine, but I took the joke in the wrong direction. I would never joke about it if I knew you were taking advantage of her." Austin explained in one breath.

"I don’t mind jokes, Austin. But let’s leave the female out of it. You can threaten to castrate my balls and feed them to the wolves. I won’t mind, just not Catherine."

"Got it. I guess, Amara too." He said and sighed.

"All females, Austin. If we’re talking about females in general and just joking around it, I think that’s fine. But individually, let’s not get to that."

Austin pushed his body up from the couch where he was seated and closed the distance to where Tyler was, offering his hand for a handshake. "Can we move on from that bad remark? I love Catherine with all my heart, so that was really foul."

Tyler let out a deep breath, before taking his hand and pulling him in for a hug. "You need to apologize to the brother. I was sure a punch could have landed on you if I was not the first one that reached you."

A smirk tugged at my lips as I chuckled. Tyler was right, if I hadn’t seen him launch at Austin, I would have done the same.

Austin scratched his head before turning to look at me with apologetic eyes. "I know I’m the shittiest here. No more side comments on your females or any females. Period. Alpha, are we good?"

I nodded my head.

"Am I still allowed to ask questions about you and Amara?"

"She’s not my girlfriend, but…" I rubbed my palm against my face. "We are pretending that we are. So those fuckers would back off from her."

Tyler chuckled before leaning his back against the wall and slipping his hands inside his pockets. "Come on, Alpha. Amara can handle herself on her own."

"I know. I just want to make sure she ends up with her fated mate, not any other male around."

"Does she want that as well? Or she wants you?" Tyler asked.

"Having a chosen is not bad," Austin added.

"Unless you end up meeting your mate while you already have a chosen, and you end up hurting one of them," I told them.

"I get that, but just be careful. Pretending to be her boyfriend is putting your foot across the friendship line, and you might just realize you have dragged the other foot too. You’re protecting Amara, but who’s protecting you from falling in love with her, Jace?"

"I can protect myself."

"If you say so."

—--------

I kept replaying in my head the conversation I had with Tyler and Austin in my office. Although they respected my decision to play along with Amara, they were not sure I could keep my end of the bargain as I never had any females around me in close proximity as I was allowing Amara.

I knew I was taking a big risk, but two months wasn’t that far. Then I would know if she was my mate or not. And if not, I would move on, even though the idea terrified me.

A knock on my door snapped me out of my senses, and I immediately smelled Amara’s sweet scent.

I stood up from lying down in my bed, grabbed the shirt that I had already taken off, and pulled it on my body. I had no plan on tempting the kitten tonight, as I was sure I would be the one who would have a hard time resisting her.

"Yes?" I asked the moment the door opened, and I leaned my arm against the door frame.

She smiled at me and clutched the bathrobe tightly against her body.

"Do you have clothes under that robe?" I asked, but I knew the answer already. I forgot to take her to the laundry room, where some clean clothes are stored until they are brought up to our rooms by the omegas.

She shook her head.

I retreated to my closet and picked up a shirt before tossing it to her. She caught it with one hand before mouthing her thanks.

I wondered why she didn’t go and check on Catherine, as I was sure my sister was still awake when we arrived home.

"Anything else you need?" I asked as I stood in front of her.

"Can I sleep here?"

"No," I answered instantly.

"I’m not asking to have sex with you."

"I know. But it’s still a no."

"I’ll behave."