At that point, they both pushed for me to go wait in the lobby beyond the office, as they had pack business to settle. Flimsy excuse. I took a seat across from the secretary—I wasn't stupid enough to place my back to the ho. I saw the looks, I've read the books, and the best outcome would be if she controlled herself and glared at me for the whole visit—which would distract me more if she did that to my back than if she did it in my face. And she was doing that much, as I unzipped my bag to work through reading the sections I would miss in my classes, today. Just because I wanted to leave didn't mean that I was going to fail, not this close to being done.

         "He won't keep you. He's mine!" she hissed that at me. Seriously, she wanted to dominate me, but didn't dare leave her seat or speak up loud enough for the men to hear her—which means she didn't believe herself but wanted to intimidate little old me. Of course, if I was a complete ass, I'd get her to snap and force the two men to come and  save me. That thought did amuse me, and would be worth risking my life to see, but in all honesty, I had more concerns about the future. A curiosity to know just what made me tick. I settled for the middle ground—leaving it up to her to be a cunt or not.

         "Look Bitch—can I call you Bitch or is that an insult to your kind?" I waited, as she breathed in, enraged, but confused as my tone wasn't heavily cruel. Nice to confuse poor sugar drawers over there.

        She muttered under her breath for a moment before answering. "It's both."

        Oho! This one has some self-control. She had to, to be sitting there. I had more than a passing interest in this conversation, so I put the stupid math book aside, for the moment, as I stood and took a seat closer to her. That also caused me to grin, plain human teeth flashing. "So....I know that mates have options .Are you one of theirs?"

         "Theirs?" she had a puzzled frown on her face, for that. "No, just a strong drive to protect my leaders as if they were..."

        That caused me to chuckle. Not all the posturing called to be from jealous bitches in these novels were because they wanted their Alpha, then. Good, it keeps people from being boring. It also edged up to a strong instinctual drive—at least hinted at it. "Honestly, ma'am, they don't really want me, but I'm going to be a problem for them. So, I hope they are sorting things out before I have more run-ins with overprotective pack members."

         "Packmates works. Not the same word as mates." She was still trying to size me up, while sitting there.

        So I gave a little more. "No, I don't know enough about anything for you to be that free with me, but at the same time, I've got no reason to give up any secrets of my own. I also suspect that if I dig around without at least Allen breathing down my neck, that it won't go pleasantly for any of us. I am...barely aware of your world. They seem to think my being here will outweigh the risks—whatever they are."

        She gave me the faintest of nods before I conjured him into the room—say their name, grab their attention—damn their hearing. "Vanessa, quit badgering her for information. We're leaving in a half an hour."

        That caused me to roll my eyes, but I barked out the one thing that both pissed off and calmed my father. "Sir, yes sir!"

         He growled, but slammed the door shut, no longer bothering with me. Amazing how much disrespect and submission you could pour into that old military response. Both free and obedient at the same time, them both mollified and enraged. I leaned forward, theatrically whispering to the woman. "I called it. I so called it."

         Then I went back to my books with her gaze never fully leaving me. But this time, I knew it wouldn't just be because I was a generic threat to her and her people. She would be trying to figure out the nearly crazed human that was under her surveillance, for the time being. Its the difference between really seeing me as a true threat and me merely being a dangerous pest. I was actually pleased to have shifted her that far from her original intent. Makes a lasting impression, in case this would one day be my home. Not that that was guaranteed, no matter what was driving the two Alphas.

~~~

       It was closer to two hours later, when Allen finally strode back into the room. By then, I had put away my books, having gone over anything we'd have covered today. He didn't even turn to me, just marched on through like I wasn't even there. I was staring at his backside as he made it to the elevator and pressed a button. I still had not stood up.

        "Unless you intend to make that couch your bed, I suggest you keep up, Vanessa." No pleasantries, just a command that honestly sounded like he didn't give shit one about me following him. Of course, I knew better. I'm problem number one in his life, right now. I guess this is what saving your dignity looks like in an Alpha. After all, he could not get to me in a conventional manner as you would with another mate. I almost felt sorry.

         I also felt like causing trouble because I didn't like being treated like something owned, even this gently. But then, this wasn't about me—or him—but about the mystery of me. Either I make this about his pride, mine, or I put up with it to get at answers quickly.

         And in all honesty, other than one brief moment, I'd be admitting I cared about his opinion to make something of his behavior—and I don't. Not yet, probably not ever, especially if he continues to be an asshole. So, I got up and made it in the elevator with him without having to rush. Given what he was, he might mistake it for wanting to please him. If he did, that would at least push him to be nicer to me. That is, unless he wanted the fight. That's just it, something about me is supposed to be compatible with this guy, and I'm not sure what of me is. Would it be worth it to find out that this guy was actually something I'd want in my life?

        Would there be anything beyond my curiosity about this new world? Could I come to love and drool over a guy I don't even know?