The Quiet Giant's Mate Chapter 7 - Ivan

I listed all the reasons being with me would be a bad idea, and she shot down each one like targets at a shooting range. I don’t know what I expected her to do or how I expected her to react to my reasoning. But finding counters to them wasn’t something I’d accounted for.

Sure, I at least figured she’d have a counter to the boyfriend thing, but given how the little shit acted on the dance floor, I get the feeling he didn’t get the memo. And that made me angry. If what she said was true and they ended things two years ago when they realized they weren’t mates, he needed to fuck off. And some part of me, okay, mostly Cain, but some part of me wanted to find the fuckwad and break his bones.

‘Embrace the jealousy and desire to protect what is ours.’ Cain laughed smugly.

‘Shut up.’ I grumbled at him as she kept giving counters to all my reasons.

Some of her answers seemed more like a joke than her being serious, like talking about how she’s stronger than she looked with a wink. However, I don’t know if she’s taken anything I said seriously. She hasn’t considered the logistics of someone as petite as her being with a guy like me.

‘Oh, I bet she’s thought about it and is eager to put herself to the test.’ Cain snickered.

I swatted him away because I didn’t need his dirty mind infecting mine. I refuse to go down that mental path. It won’t lead anywhere but regrets and rejection. Been there, done that. So, I’ll pass, as it would be far worse to have Regina reject me after realizing a physical relationship wouldn’t work out.

Okay, I did laugh when she talked about handing out signed pictures in a literal ‘take a picture, it will last longer’ mentality. As amusing as her suggestion was, it once again made me question how seriously she took my concerns. She doesn’t know what it’s like to be me.

She doesn’t know the looks she would be subjected to, the whispers, the rumors, and the blatant lies that would be spread. My sister doesn’t face such issues of being related to me because she helped end the war and save our people in a way they saw.

She can’t truly speak to her family’s opinions of me. I know her brother doesn’t like me. Whatever, I’m not his biggest fan either. I may have had a girlfriend before the war, but she was the only one I’d been with, and even that was limited, given my size.

Only a fool gets sexually involved with multiple women, especially within the pack they hold a title. He screwed around in Incubi, where he was going to be Beta, then came here and fucked around and briefly was serious with Lia before that went south, as I predicted.

Thinking about it, that might be part of why he doesn’t like me. The only time I was around when he was involved in Lia, I slipped up and said what I was thinking. Lia wasn’t the type of she-wolf to change her ways even for her mate, which Alexander wasn’t. I asked if he enjoyed getting Gastone’s and many males of the pack’s extra sloppy seconds.

She hadn’t told Alexander Gastone was her mate before he died. She punched me in the stomach and hurt her hand. And Alexander also took a swing, and I let him because I wouldn’t raise my hand against my pack’s Beta.

I did pledge my loyalty to them, after all. Alexander told my sister to get me out of his sight and keep it that way. I haven’t seen him since, but I heard their relationship dissolved, or more so imploded, shortly after.

‘Too bad for him. Regina is OURS, and she seems to be in the same mindset that he can fuck off if he has a problem with it.’ Cain snorted.

It’s easy to say these things, but I can’t imagine her doing them. I can’t see her hurting her brother or freezing people’s faces when they sneer or give us dirty looks for me merely existing.

‘She was willing to freeze your legs to make you stay in place, and we’re her mate.’ Cain pointed out. ‘Our mate has fire in her. She is our fire pixie.’

I couldn’t find fault in what he said. Thus far tonight, Regina Petridis has shown herself to be fearless with a touch of violence on top of the sweet nature I remember of the girl she was. And it was getting harder not to accept her answers. Her counters to every reason I thought this shouldn’t and wouldn’t work. But of all her answers, it was the last that left me floored and numb.

Alexander had been serious? I thought it was a rouse when he came to my villa three years ago. That he was fucking with me as he told me I was no longer under house arrest with that smirk on his face.

How could I take anything from his mouth seriously? Least of all, when he was smiling like that. It wasn’t a thrilled smile like he was happy with the news.

So, of course, I didn’t take him seriously. My sister encouraged me and said I should try leaving my house more when I still hadn’t left the property after his visit. That told me they were still monitoring me. While I don’t think for a second, my sister ever hoped I’d slip up and do something bad. I just felt that it was a trap or something.

I did go out once, and the looks I got were reason enough to stay home. After enough instances of me adamantly telling my sister I was better off where I was, she stopped trying to push whatever the ranked agenda was.

I should have believed my sister, even if I didn’t believe Alexander. Not that them granting me my freedom meant shit to the people that stared or sneered at me that time I went into town.

It felt different hearing it from Regina. She’s not from Madonie and not part of our ranked families, but she even knew. She knew what my sentence was.

And the conviction in her words, the fire in her eyes when she said she’d make someone pay for me remaining in exile these past years. I was so stunned that I didn’t react when she pulled me closer and hugged me to her chest.

‘Could certainly get used to these pillows.’ Cain snickered, and I rolled my eyes.

Against Cain’s wishes, I pulled away from Regina’s embrace. It isn’t right that she should blame my continued exile on anyone’s shoulders. They told me, but I didn’t believe them. And the one time I tested it, the locals ensured I felt unwelcome. That isn’t on any ranked wolves, even her brother, who could have delivered the news more professionally.

“It isn’t any of their faults,” I assured her.

“How can it not be? You’ve just told me you are under house arrest when I know you aren’t. Someone is at fault for you thinking that way.” She frowned.

“I’m responsible,” I stated.

“I swear to Goddess, if you are going to blame yourself for someone else’s fuck up.” Regina shook her head.

“No, I am responsible,” I repeated. “Your brother came to tell me I was no longer under house arrest. I didn’t believe him because he gave the news with that stupid smirk on his face.”

“And when I didn’t go anywhere like normal, my sister urged me to leave the villa. I thought that was proof I was still being watched if they knew I hadn’t left the property. That it was some test.” I sighed.

“So, I tried.” I frowned. “I went into the little town my vineyard sits at the edge of. People stared, sneered, and glared at me. Many whispered about me and how it was wrong for me to walk the streets.”

“I’ll still be giving my brother a piece of my mind. His delivery left you feeling like it was a trick, and that’s not right.” Regina sighed.

“And the nerve of the residents of Toria to make you feel unwelcome like that. You have done nothing to deserve such treatment. And doesn’t Ebon Moon employ a fair number of the residents in that town between working in the vineyard and the winery? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.” She scoffed.

“You know about Ebon Moon?” I asked, hoping to distract her from her tirade against the residents of my small coastal town.

“Of course, I know about it. Some of the wines are sold in shops in Incubi.” Regina smiled.

“Sure, the wines sold now weren’t made since you bought the vineyard, but they only became available because you started the business and expanded further than Zelma’s family would have.” She shrugged.

“So, you drink my wines?” I asked, still hoping to keep her off the subject of the residents of Toria.

“I’ve sampled a few. They aren’t bad, but I bet the wines made since you took over will taste even better after they have aged longer. Though I know something that will always taste better than any wine.” She smiled softly as she brushed her thumb across my lips.

‘I like where this is going. If you want to distract Regina from being even a little angry with the ranked wolves or the people that live in town, you know what to do.’ Cain encouraged.

I hate to admit it, but my wolf had a point. I hate even more than her simply touching my lips sent a surge of desire through me that made me inclined to listen to him. Gently I touched her jaw and brought her mouth to mine for a kiss. This time kissing her was all me and intentional. At least this time, it wasn’t my stupid wolf controlling my body.

Her lips parted with a soft gasp as I applied light pressure to her jaw. It’s been a long time since I’ve kissed someone, and the memory of kissing Zelma doesn’t even begin to hold a candle to kissing Regina. Her tongue was hesitant as if she feared one wrong move, and I’d stop as mine took its time exploring her mouth, savoring her taste. When I groaned, that seemed to be her indicator that it wasn’t some fluke.

Her arms wrapped around my neck as she slid off the chair and into my lap, not a thought given to the delicate fabric of her dress as she straddled me. Her tongue was no longer hesitant in its movements, rising to the call of my tongue to dance circles around it as she once danced around me. I growled as her dance ended with her sucking at my tongue.

Holy fuck! I didn’t want to think where she learned that move, so long as I’m the only person she’s never kissing like this from now on. Where the hell did that thought come from? Hadn’t I been trying to convince her we shouldn’t be together? And despite her counters, there was still a big issue to consider. She will be the Incubi Beta. Would Alpha Alec and Luna Crista even approve or accept me as a Beta in their pack?