Page 5 of His to Mate

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“The league is meeting againtonight. Rex wants me to make sandwiches. Like his silly group is some women’s luncheon or something, and I’m his personal cook. I told him I wouldn’t. He can do it himself if he wants to.” Amanda’s voice stopped Ann as she walked toward her mother’s kitchen the next day.

“Good for you. He really needs to just… stop!” Her mother’s voice, in the same hushed tones as Amanda’s, kept her still against the wall.

Ann wasn’t sure why she hid against the wall and listened, but something told her to wait.

“I know. This isn’t the way to change things. It’s just so stupid, and I’m afraid.” Amanda’s voice broke on a hushed sob and Ann couldn’t just stand there anymore.

“Hi, I’m here,” she called, guilt all over her face, she could feel it.

“Oh, hi, honey.” Mary looked at Ann, her own face flushed with guilt, and Amanda turned her face away from them both. She saw the other woman was chopping onions so she could blame the sob and the tears on that, but Ann knew it wasn’t that at all. And they didn’t want her to know.

Ann’s heart twisted in her chest as she realized the two most important women in the world to her didn’t trust her. Why, she wondered as she sat down and started to shell peas from their pods? Was it because Rager was her mate? Or was it because of how Rex had treated her? Surely, they didn’t think she would use his activities against him in some stupid idea of revenge. She wasn’t that kind of person, and never had been.

“What’s up, ladies?” Ann asked, and looked at each in turn. They shared a glance and put on pleasant smiles.

“Nothing, baby, just ladies talking. How are you?” Her mother came over to her and stroked Ann’s hair. “You look good.”

Mary sat down beside Amanda and started to chop tomatoes, her head down, where Ann couldn’t see the expression on her face.

“Thanks. I had a good night’s sleep.” They’d had to go to a surprise dinner with one of the other villages’ leaders. Mayors as they’d chosen to call themselves. They’d left when other people started to leave, and by the time they’d traveled back to their house, it had been after midnight.

Rager had gone straight to sleep, and she’d slept in a little late. Which meant there’d been no playtime, something that hadn’t escaped her notice. Even now her body wanted to go to him, despite the fact that she’d just sat down at her mother’s. It was some internal craving, something that she’d started to think she’d never be able to control.

She reminded herself that she needed to stay for a while, Rager wouldn’t be home from work for a while anyway.

“Are there any problems?” Ann prompted, but both women focused only on the jobs they were doing. “You know you can trust me, don’t you? I’m no different just because the Supreme Overlord is my mate.”

“Everything is fine, honey, I promise,” Amanda said with a confident smile as she looked up at last. Ann could see still a red tinge around Amanda’s eyes, but the tears were gone. Not the onions then.

“I hope so. If there is trouble, I’d like to help, you know?” Ann looked right at Amanda, but the older woman’s head was down again, on the onions she still chopped at.

“How are things at your house, Ann?” Mary asked, and Ann turned her head to look at her mom.

“Fine, Mom, though our peas aren’t this nice.” She held up a pod and then shelled it. “I’ll have to get some of yours.”

“Of course, baby, you brought me those lovely tomato plants, you can have all the peas you want.”

“Thanks.” It felt too much like small-talk and Ann cringed a little. This wasn’t how today was supposed to be. “How’s your head?”

Mary’s blond bangs covered the cut on her forehead, but Ann noticed how she shook her head to make sure. Mary had on a sapphire blue, long-sleeved blouse, but the sleeves were rolled up to her elbows. Paired with black jeans, it wasn’t exactly the kind of outfit one might expect from a mayor’s wife, but Mary had always been practical, not flamboyant.

“I’ve heard the other wives of mayors want to institute some kind of uniform for us all. Have you heard anything about it, Mom?” Ann had overheard one of the wives talking about it the night before.

“No, can’t say that I have. What an utterly ridiculous idea. Why on Earth would they want to do that?” Mary looked at her daughter with obvious confusion.

“To make sure… ahem, to make sure that others know their, well, their places.” Ann felt ashamed to say anything like that in front of Amanda, but she knew the woman wouldn’t think bad of her. Amanda had on a black utilitarian house-dress, something a maid might wear, but she’d chosen that as a practicality. She’d been used to lab coats in their old life, her house dress wasn’t that different to her. She’d even said it was kind of reassuring, familiar even.

“That is just nonsense! I hope you put her in her place.” Mary looked at Ann expectantly.

“I’m still new to all of this, Mom, it’s…” Ann’s voice faltered as she looked for the right word, “intimidating sometimes. I don’t know how much power I have, what’s right or not, what’s expected of me, nothing.”

“Honey, you’re the mate of the Supreme Overlord of Earth. I don’t know in the world of their business, but here, in our midst, you have control of all of the women. Did Rager not make that clear to you? It’s one of the stipulations your father asked for. Rager was more than happy to agree. You’ll even be over any alien women that might come over.”

“What? Why didn’t anyone tell me? I really need a copy of that agreement thing they brokered between themselves.” This news changed things a little, and she’d definitely make sure to speak up about this stupid uniform idea. They were not going to become some kind of hermit nation, with coded uniforms and bowing. For fuck’s sake, it all made her head throb. She winced and rubbed at her temples, the pain a surge that came up from behind her ear and straight into her temple.

“Are you alright?” Mary asked quickly and leaned over the table to look at Ann.