The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 169: Chapter 169

Rohan POV
Josie was acting off. It was the only way I had to describe it. She was acting moody, happy one moment and then raging mad the next, and not for any reason that I could see. I tried to put it down to hormones, with the pregnancy and everything, but for some reason, I felt like there was more to it. It was like she was mad at me for something but wouldn’t say it directly. The night felt stiff as she rolled away from me, murmuring she had a headache and keeping her distance. I frowned, not liking how detached my mate had become and wondering what I needed to do to fix it.
Maybe she feels like we’re neglecting her, since we’ve been so busy with our special plans my wolf suggested, pondering what had made our mate so upset with us.
Then why not just say it? Besides, she’s too angry for it to be just that I argued, our body propelling over the large trunk of a tree and sailing over the other side, landing neatly on our paws, it’s like we did something to offend her.
Well, we both know it wasn’t me my wolf said mischievously so what did you do to piss her off? Forget her birthday or an important anniversary? He sounded amused now.
I scowled. No, at least not that I know of.
Maybe it’s a woman matter? My wolf phrased it delicately and I snorted as we wove our way through the forest, breathing in the fresh air, our ears pricked as we listened for the sound of any animals nearby big enough to hunt. We were both in a fighting mood and needed something to vent our frustrations on.
It’s not that either I snapped. The smell of a buck nearby caused our mouth to begin to salivate, the aroma enticing us to stalk towards it as it began to turn and spring away in desperation. It was no match for our speed and we took great pleasure in following behind it, giving chase, enjoying its fear and its frantic attempt to escape its predator. We allowed it to run for over half an hour before we grew bored with the chase and ended its misery, leaping on it and clamping our jaws around its neck, breaking it instantly, and letting out a large roar of satisfaction. We began to lick its blood and eat away at the meat, my wolf instinct taking over.
We sat and licked our paws clean, smoothing down our fur. We left the remnants for other animals to take apart and enjoy, turning tail and trotting back towards the pack house which was a fair distance away. Although the hunt had improved our mood, it had done little to alleviate our concern when it came to our precious mate and what had made her so angry with
us.
Maybe she’ll be back to normal when we get back home my wolf suggested hopefully, wagging his tail at the thought. I almost laughed at his optimism. Josie had been upset for the last two days and I wasn’t going to hold my breath that today would be any different. No amount of prompting or encouragement had gotten her to divulge any information about what was bothering her either. She was a formidable foe when it came to keeping secrets. Then again, I couldn’t really talk, now could I, when it came to keeping secrets, as I had one of my own I was keeping and from Josie as well.
We landed back over the other side of the fallen tree trunk and scanned the perimeter once more. I had every faith in my patrol but it never hurt to always be on guard. One mistake could cost you everything. I was slinking back towards the pack house, heading onto the grounds, when I spotted Josie outside, talking heatedly to one of the warriors. I shifted without consideration and raced towards her, full of indignance.
“What on earth are you thinking?” I demanded, grabbing her arm and stopping her conversation, the warrior hurriedly running off, “you’re supposed to be in bed” I added heatedly.
She glared at me “I was supposed to be resting but I’m bored and I’m tired of being stuck in bed” she snapped, her eyes blazing as I almost recoiled at the sheer anger in them “Besides, I feel perfectly fine” she snarled.
I fought to keep myself calm, aware that the two of us yelling at each other wasn’t going to accomplish anything. “Josie, I was planning on coming back and spending some time with you,” I told her honestly “I thought you would still be asleep” I added.
After all, she had a penchant to sleep in, so I thought I would be relatively safe to go on a run. It looked like that had been a mistake.
She put her hands on her hips, scowling. “So I should just wait around until you deem I’m worthy of you spending time with me? What am I supposed to do” she hissed, yanking her arm away and standing her ground “Twiddle my fingers while I wait? No thank you” she griped.
Where was all this rage coming from? This was not my mate. Not the woman I had fallen for. This was like staring at somebody different. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling exasperated. “Josie, that’s not what I’m saying,” I said patiently. “Then what are you saying Rohan?” she shouted, drawing the attention of several pack members “Why don’t you spell it out to me seeing as I’m too stupid to understand it?”
Whoa. She was pissed and irrational. My wolf was speaking to me, attempting to soothe me. Whatever you do, don’t lose your own temper and yell back. She’s angry. she’s upset, she’s emotional, she’s hormonal and she’s carrying our pup. Be the bigger person he growled.
“That’s not what I’m saying” I yelled, my temper fraying.
My wolf sighed dumbass.
We were causing a scene. Josie didn’t seem to care. I on the other hand was growing concerned about what kind of damage this might do to her or the baby if this continued. I gritted my teeth. “Josie,” I said tersely “I know that you’re angry with me right now, but perhaps we could talk about this in private?”
She sneered “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I mean, god forbid your dirty laundry gets aired out in public.”
I blinked. Now what the hell did that mean? She was talking in riddles and I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
You know, maybe she just needs some alone time my wolf said gravely.
Do you think that’s wise with how she’s acting?
Do you want to go with her and see what she does to us? Right now I’m more afraid of her than I am of you and that’s saying something. I’ve never seen our mate so angry and her wolf is refusing to tell me what’s wrong too and she’s pissed. So it’s not just Josie that’s angry.
But we haven’t even done anything I growled.
Well, you tell them that. Somehow right now, I don’t think they are in the mood to listen to reason. Also, I would like us to retain our manhood and your words may put us in real danger of losing them. Please rethink before you speak.
I grabbed Josie and dragged her, resisting, into a tight embrace, refusing to let go of her as she struggled. It became a battle, until finally she acquiesced, her arms reluctantly wrapping around me as I stroked her back. I glared at my pack members who hurriedly began to disperse in different directions. There was a sheen in Josie’s eyes when she looked up at me, and I wiped the tears that were threatening to fall at the corners of her eyes. “Will you just talk to me” I murmured, my voice hoarse and filled with regret “tell me what’s going on Josie and maybe I can help” I pleaded.
I was willing to do whatever it took to make her happy and carefree again. Something was tearing away at her and I wanted to free her from whatever fears she was hiding. For a moment she hesitated and I inwardly celebrated, thinking that she might just be prepared to divulge what she was keeping from me, but then the moment was gone and the spell was broken. She disentangled my arms, stepped back, and bowed her head as I looked at her stunned. Just like that, it was like there was an impenetrable wall between us that couldn’t be touched. “Josie,” I said thickly, watching a look of determination come over her face “Josie, don’t walk away,” I said, “talk to me” but it was like talking to a brick wall.
A shadow came over her face and then she began to turn away. “I’m going to go and lie down on the sofa in the living room. It’s the same as resting in my bed” she said listlessly “I would appreciate it if you didn’t disturb me. I know you probably have work to do anyway. If I need anything I’ll mind-link an omega” she said listlessly.
I tried to step forward but my wolf refused to let me move. Don’t even think about it. Mate needs alone time and we’re going to give it to her. Use the time to think about what to do, because we can’t leave our mate feeling like this. We have to fix this relationship and fast. Otherwise, Friday is going to turn out to be a big bust he snarled in annoyance.
But I was thoughtful as I watched her slowly walk back into the pack house. Maybe Friday might be just what she needs to reassure her that she’s the only one for me and always will be? What if she’s just feeling insecure about our relationship, with the baby coming along?
It made sense to me. If that’s the case then Friday night will definitely improve her mood, but if that’s not what’s wrong… my wolf trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence, both of us sucking in a breath and feeling immense pressure and not wanting to admit the devastation we would feel if we failed. If she doesn’t agree, then everything we’ve worked so hard for, everything we’ve worked towards, will have been for nothing and there will be nothing left in the relationship to work with I told my wolf silently, both of us going silent as we feared what the following night would bring and what our mate’s reaction would be to all of our hard work. Would it go down in flames and break the tenuous bond holding us together or would it strengthen and renew the mate bond we currently had? There was only one way we were going to find out.