-Zannic's POV- 

It'd been two days since I'd talked to my father. The whole idea of making Tavyra tell me her whole history about herself was killing me. If she hadn't told me now, was she ever gonna tell me? Or the more important part: Did I even want to know? 

I covered my eyes as I sat on the couch in the den. No matter how much sleep I've gotten on the past couple of days, I'm still exhausted. I asked Rufus and he says it was because my wolf was exhausted. He wanted to be with my mate almost all hours of the day. It was like he was always on edge. 

I tried to step away from crowds and get my mind off things, but it didn't seem to help. I felt someone sit by me and I mentally groaned, not even knowing who it is yet. "Oh, Alpha." It was a girls' voice, but this wasn't Kristy's. 

I uncovered my eyes and groaned externally when I saw who it was. Why'd she have to mess with me right now? "What do you want, Megan?" 

I felt her hand on my chest and I already felt a sickness in my stomach. She put on her pouty, puppy dog face, "I'm real sorry about that whole party thing the other day. I hate to make you mad like that. But I do have to admit--" She leaned closer to my ear, making sure I can hear ever breath, "It was quite a turn on." 

I tried to sit up from my spot on the couch but she simply straddled me, having me go nowhere. Now, I was getting annoyed, "Megan. Please get off of me." I asked her politely. She was lucky I was even nice to her right now. I was not feeling it. 

She smirked and pulled down the neck of her shirt to reveal her cleavage to me, teasingly, "Oh, come on, Zan. You know you miss what you and me had." 

I bit my lip, cursing myself for even looking. They were differently not a bad pair. It was one of the most appealing things she has. 

Mate.

I tried to shake myself out of her trance. I can't do this anymore. I took a deep breath and tried to push her off me, "Look. I can't do this with you anymore." 

She got off me and scolded. She folded her arms as she looked down at me, "It's that black girl, isn't it? What? She give better head than me or something?" 

I needed to leave. I got up from my seat and looked around. No one was in the room with us. Just my luck. "That's none of your business. Now, please. Have some dignity." I realized that I was...fluttered from my cheeks to my toes and this was not good. I felt utterly wrong. 

She took my hand and started leading me towards the stairs. "Come. Let's have some fun!" She said excitedly. 

I was conflicted. She was teasing the crap out of me, but I couldn't bear going through with it. But yet, my feet still move up with stairs. We were at the top of the stairs and she leaned in for a kiss. I started to panic. I couldn't do this, but I wasn't in control somehow. What was going on? Kristy came out of her room and saw the both of us, I looked at her and she looked straight confused. I pushed Megan away and started to become flustered, "Kris, it isn't what it looks like." 

She came up to the both of us and slapped Megan. Megan was in utter shock that'd she'd be treated like that. Kris didn't even flinch. She simply stared at her, "I do believe the Alpha told you to stop. So get out." Megan hurried down the stairs and out the door. I took a sigh of relief. 

I turned to Kristy and started to give her thanks, "Thanks so mu--" I felt a cold hard slap against my cheek. I couldn't believe it. My cheek went back and forth between cold and burning hot. I simply stared at her. She didn't look her normal bubbly self as I've grown up with her to be. 

"You idiot." I tried to find any compassion in her eyes, but they were stone blue, it almost reminded me of my father, "You're not gonna do this to Tavyra. You should no better anyway." 

I felt shame cross my body, she was right, and I have no idea what could've came over me. I hung my head in shame. I sighed, "Please don't tell her..." I pleaded. 

She walked past me down the stairs, muttering before I could no longer hear, "I won't, just don't be stupid next time." 

I went upstairs to my bedroom and closed the door behind me. I needed to get my thoughts together after all of that. I fell face-first on my bed and used a nearby pillow to prop my chin up. I hadn't slept in my bed for nearly three days. My back was killing me, but I'd always do it for her. I'm not gonna push her away. I noticed the pillow I had grabbed smelled like her. It was a relaxing scent of strawberry shampoo and the mix of lavender and vanilla. I made sure to take in deep breaths. 

Now my wolf ached for her to be near. I slipped my phone out of my pocket and checked the time. 12.46. It was a little past noon. I sighed. I'm only halfway through my day. I was kind of glad day had relieved me for Alpha. I'd be in meetings and being official all day otherwise. I just wanted Tavyra to be completely honest. 

I closed my eyes for a moment. 

If you don't find out where she's from by the end of this week. I want her gone.

I tried to shake my father's voice from my head. I didn't even want to think about it right now. I just wanted a nap. 

Gone.

I groaned into the pillow.  I guess I had to deal with this now. I thought about how to get her to see the pack psychologist without making it seem like she was suspicious of being a rouge. She might be mad at me. But how could she be a rouge, if she's not a wolf? If she was, she'd feel the same connection I do, but she doesn't. She can't be a wolf...

That Father's not gonna take that as an answer. Maybe I could ask her myself. Maybe I don't have to have a doctor do this. Nothing formal. But how would I record the conversation for Dad? I can't be writing things down, that'd be too obvious. The idea hit me like a train. I picked up my phone and dialed Rufus. It only took two rings before he answered, "Hello?" 

"Hey, Rufus. I need to ask a favor." I got  up from my bed and looked for good spots under and behind the bed and the dresser. I had to start setting things up now. 

"Good day to you too, Zan." 

I simply rolled my eyes at his sarcasm, "Are you able to get your hands on some hidden microphones?" 

There was a small silence from the other end, "We have some stocked by the military technician officer." I smiled, this should make things a lot easier, "May I ask why the importance?" 

"Just get them up to my room asap. I'll explain later." 

Rufus simply sighed, "As you wish." I hung up the phone and waited to fill him in. 

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-Tavyra's POV-

I was having lunch with Montavius this afternoon at a local pack cafe. My thoughts drifted over to Zannic every once in a while, but I presumed he was busy, so I left him alone. Although, Montavius was being distant and acting strange. I stopped with the bull and spit out what was bothering me, "Alright, what's up with you." 

He looked up from his small salad that he was picking at, "Hmm?" 

I rolled my eyes and leaned on the table to ask him again, "What's up with you lately. This isn't like you at all." 

He shrugged and went back to playing with his food, deep in thought. He mumbled, "Just...confused lately." 

"Confused? About what?" I asked him. 

He pushed his salad away from him and towards the center of the small, two person table. He looked under distress, "Okay...so...there's this guy..." 

I chuckled and leaned back, "A guy? That's what all of this is about?" Montavius seemed to force a smile as he played with his fingers, avoiding eye contact with me, "What? You have some fun with him lately?" I teased. When he didn't answer, I knew I was right, "You're falling for him aren't you?" He nodded. I knew Montavius was strong, but over a one-night stand? That's a new one for him. 

He looked back up at him and explained himself, "This isn't just a thing. This is something....completely different." 

"'Tavius, how different are we talking? I'm mated to the Alpha, remember? You know I can help you out here." 

I fidgeted a little bit more with his fingers before he sighed and confessed, "He says he's straight." 

I looked at him, confused. I started my round of 20 questions, "Was he intoxicated or somethin'? Thought you were a girl? Was it dark?" 

He shook his head, "Nah. He knew I was a guy." 

I had to back track, "Did y'all have sex?" I asked bluntly. He nodded and now I was really confused. "Was he just curious?" Montavius sighed even more. I hated to see him so down. I'd be distraught too if I was in his situation, "Alright, you gotta tell me who he is. I can help." 

Montavius got even more tense and shook his head once again, "I don't think I can do that." 

I scoffed at him, "Com'on. Just point him out to me." 

"I'm not releasing his name, Tavyra. I can't do that to him." I sat back in my seat frustrated. What was the big deal? I probably didn't know him anyway. 

"I probably don't know him, so what's the big deal?" 

Montavius took in a deep breath and finally said it, "He's my mate." The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Now I understood the gravity of the situation. His mate says he's straight, denying him. Montavius went back down to playing with his salad again, avoiding all eye contact and joining in the silence. 

I would comfort him and try to get him to smile, but I had no idea what to say. "He's not good enough for you"?  "There's plenty of fish in the sea"? "Forget about him"? I couldn't say any of that. I'm still going through my own struggles. My phone buzzed on the table and I looked at the incoming message. It was from Zannic. It read:

"I need to see you in my room. We rlly need to talk." 

My stomach instantly started to churn. I didn't like the sound of those words, "need to talk." I felt like something bad was going to happen. Montavius must've noticed how intensely I was looking at the message because he said, "If you need to go, you can. I'll be fine here." 

I started getting from my seat, not wanting to prolong our "talk." "Are you sure?" He nodded. "Okay, well, call me if you need me. Honest. I'll text you when I'm done." 

"Thanks." He muttered under his breath. I felt bad and hugged him before I started walking back towards the pack house. I replied to Zannic with "Omw" and pressed send.