Jane |18+| ✔️

17. The time when I explained adding to her Turmoil

"Which is why you should have left your hair well alone," she scolds as I smirk. "Your people will question your sudden appearance change, especially since I am now staying with you in your cottage. Small towns talk, and if you are uncertain who can and cannot be trusted, that could ultimately give them leverage through me." There she is. This is my true mate. I knew the consequences of cutting my hair, but it was time, regardless of Jane's arrival. Yes, it was a show of commitment to my young mate, but it did serve another purpose.

She gives my hair another snip and another as she works her way around my head. "Will others scent our merged auras, or just us?" she questions. "That could be dangerous, too." Another myth.

"Firstly, our scents will never mix, Jane. Whether through the consummation of our bond or marking—it's a fable." I smile as she stills for a mere moment. "Hypothetically speaking, if we did have pups, they would scent like the both of us—just in different potencies." The pause is suffocating as I feel her mately instinct to breed—something that will never come to fruition if I can help it. "However, you do scent of my seed, Jane. Anyone who comes close to you will know we have had sex."

"I see." She answers almost immediately, but I feel a sense of dismay once again. Before I can address it, she continues. "In that case, I feel that I should immediately relocate for your best interest." My hand clasps her wrist at lightning speed, stilling her from her task. Pulling her around in front of me, my irate eyes meet hers. A strong sense of stubbornness meets mine as she continues once again.

"Since we met, you've been acting out of character, and your people have noticed, Silas. After twenty-plus years, many will question why you have a human under punishment staying at your personal dwelling."

My grip loosens as she makes a good point. I knew there would be backlash, but I wanted to be selfish after finally connecting with Jane—my mate. My instinct needs her nearby at all times. Not only in my bed but within arm's length where I can protect her. But she's right. If I continue to pretend she is nothing more than a human, paying her debt, no one would question and likely leave her alone.

"It's an easy fix," she mumbles almost to herself as she focuses on my hair. "You can say I was disrespectful from the moment I crossed over into Sweetwater. As if to ensure that I learned a lesson, you played the cat-and-mouse game until you got bored and took my virginity in one sweeping thrust to prove who you are and what you are capable of." Her darkened eyes meet mine. "It's not far from the truth," she saucily adds.

"Jane—"

"Once we're done here, you can call your guards and have me ushered away and out of your sight. And if anyone questions your seed buried deep inside me, it was a sullen reminder, not a gift, never to fuck with Alpha Silas."

"Jane—"

"Enough!" Her eyes shoot to mine. "You want to protect me—and your reign—this is the only way. We can't let anyone know what I am to you. My family and little friends I have are also in danger because of how you've been behaving instead of just being upfront and truthful from the beginning—"

"And would you have believed me? If I told you what we were?" Her mouth slams closed. "No. Probably not." I sigh, rubbing my face. "There's no need to argue - the damage has been done since I acted erratically toward you and landed us in this bloody predicament. You're right." She sardonically smiles. "We'll do it your way, but just until I flush out the vermin and make the north safe for my precious Luna, I'll be all over you again." She nods, sliding her arms around my neck to hug me. My arms, in turn, wrap snuggly around her body as we hold one another—inhaling each other's mesmerizing scents.

"No special treatment, Silas. Promise me." She pulls back after a long, indulgent moment, searching my eyes. "You need to keep up your front. Your façade regarding how you handle me in public – including in front of your friends. No one can know until we've flushed out the vermin." Nodding, I sniff as she again is right. I can trust only a handful of people in Sweetwater; even then, I'm constantly being tested. Jane is my faithful ally... it warms my heart and soul to know I'm no longer alone.