Chapter 39
Alexei’s POV
I got my work done as quickly as possible, considering it was quite a few days’ worth of it. The problem was that I also had three meetings to deal with today. The paperwork had built up, and there was no more putting it off. I need to get this last meeting done, and I can leave for the day. I didn’t need dinner; I just drank a bag from my fridge. I was itching to go now but had to wait for my day to be complete.
Anyone in the coven can request a meeting, the only stipulation being that it must be related to the coven. Pointing out problems or issues that were going on to try to head off any altercations. The problem with the last meeting is who it is with. Jana was a human who had been turned into a vampire. She has been a vampire for eight years but has lived here for the last three years. She came in from the group we helped to break up. The leaders had been killed by us as they were chasing the witch who now lived at Black Adder.
The ones who we could rescue were brought here for another chance to live out their lives safely. We also saved Anika, who was also a human and was turned eighteen years ago. Both women shared a home and basically stayed to themselves. Jana comes to me once a month to flirt and make another offer to be my mate. She has done so since the second month after she arrived. She won’t accept the fact that I am not interested in her. She always ignores my refusal. She winks and comes back the next month to offer herself up again.
I know why she does it. She wants to run the coven with me. Her behavior makes her less welcome than the rest of the coven members. She is lazy and does not want to help the coven at all. She balks at running the perimeter at night for security. She is still a fledgling, and she cannot take the direct sunlight at all. She has to work while it is dark, so she is limited in what she can do. She wanted to be on my special team, as we never replaced Kira when she became mated to Blake. If needed, Kira will still come out and help us. Jana has no special talents or abilities that we have seen. She wants to boss others around. She feels that being my mate would be the best way to live here.
I am sure it would be, but I don’t want to be associated with her in any way. I do a great deal of work for my coven. Jana is not the first to have thought of this idea. I have existed for a long time and am not fooled by the thinly veiled attempts any more. I did fall for it when I was younger, but I have a lot of experience in it now. I am sure that Cara knows that I am not a virgin. I have lived for almost five centuries. I just stopped aging at thirty.
I have never had any doubts about my appearance before. Most girls approach me first. I still train quite a lot, and I am in peak condition. Cara is just not like anyone that I have ever met before. She doesn't;t go by appearance. She needs to feel loved and wanted. Her former pack did a number on her, and I doubt that I will ever know everything that happened to her while she was there. I know what she wants, and I am happy to give her what she needs. I already love her, and I very definitely want her. I just have to convince her of that. I understand why her heart is guarded, but I hope that in time, she will learn to trust me. I want her to accept me, too, even the fact that I am a vampire.
I smiled, thinking about Cara. I can’t wait to go and see her. My meeting with Ivan and Dmitriy went well; it was my first meeting of the day. There were no pressing matters or requests from anyone who needed us. Which means that I have more time to spend with Cara. I also had a meeting with Stephan, our IT expert. He has been a vampire for over fifty years and is very knowledgeable. He takes college classes every five years to stay viable in his field and enjoys his work.
I heard the knock on my door and mentally prepared myself for this meeting with Jana. I don’t want to have to deal with her. The good news is that the meeting will be over once she gets off track and it becomes personal. I called out, “Enter,” and she immediately came into my office. Yet again, dressed provocatively to try to gain my interest. The short skirt and the top two buttons are undone to allow her cleavage to show. It has never piqued my interest and will not work this time either.
I went directly into business mode. “Have a seat. What did you want to tell me? Have you noticed anything suspicious on patrol?” I asked her.
“Well, hello to you too,” Jana said with a smile.
“Jana, this is not a visit between friends. You set an appointment to discuss the Coven's business. You know where I stand with you. I am not, nor will I ever be, interested in you. Please state why you are here. I have somewhere else I need to be,” I replied. I was glad to see her smile disappear, but she didn’t leave. She just settled back into her chair and looked at me thoughtfully.
“I heard a rumor,” she began.
“I am not here for gossip. Have you got any information or issues found while on patrol?” I asked her.
“No, it has been quiet for the last month. I am sure that no one wants to enter a vampire coven for fun. No trespassers or issues, but I heard you believe you have found your mate. Anyone I know,” she asked with a smirk.
“No one that you know. I want to stress this to you as you have refused to accept the rejection that I have given you on multiple occasions. I am not interested in anything that you have to offer me. I have never been interested in you, and this little monthly appointment is ending. This is the last time you will waste my time with your attempts at flirting with me. I have found my mate, and I fully intend on marrying her. From now on, if you have something you need to request a meeting for, go to Dmitriy or Ivan to advise them. I am now off-limits to you. I won’t have you making my mate feel upset at your refusal to accept my rejection of the offer you keep making,” I told her.
I watched as shock, sadness, and then anger crossed her face. I wasn’t going to be polite anymore. She could not take a hint and truly thought she could force me to accept her. She couldn't. She finally spoke, “I was told when you rescued me that you were here for all of us, that we could come to you as needed to speak. Has that changed?”
“It has for you. You have never come to me to advise of an issue. Every month, like clockwork, you show up to try to flirt or offer yourself to me in your appointment. That is not what these appointments are for. They are specifically set up to make sure that our coven is safe. That my people are safe. No one else wastes my time like you do. I have been more than kind in turning you down, but things have changed now. I have found my mate. I will not lose her due to your immature acts. We both know you want to rule by my side, but you have no idea at all how to do that. This will be our last meeting, Jana. Please leave,” I told her as I stood up. I needed to go and see Cara before Jana made me lose my temper.
“You won’t speak to me any other time. I had to start setting appointments. You see me and go the other way. How am I supposed to get any time with you if you are doing that? It isn’t fair. I am attractive and could be a good leader to your people,” Jana refused to stand and immediately started arguing with me about it.
“No, you would not be a good leader. You only care about yourself. You do not take instructions or corrections well. You do not like to listen to others. You are the youngest vampire here. You are still a fledgling and have very little empathy for others. You are still very immature in your interactions with others. Those are just a few of the reasons why I have never looked twice at you. I am not just not interested in you. Do not make another appointment with me. If I see one on the schedule, I will cancel it. Do not push me, Jana. I allowed you and your friend Anika to live here with us for the last three years to provide you two with a safe environment. Not for you to continue to hit on me. I have never encouraged you. I only tried to help you both as much as I could. I will see about transferring you to another coven if I need to,” I told her coldly.
I cannot afford to be polite anymore. Jana takes any kindness and thinks I harbor affection for her, but that is untrue. I already know that I will have to transfer her. I can see from her expression now that she will not stop. The only thing I can do is keep her away from Cara until I find her another coven to live in.
“You would kick me out for some harmless flirting? Seriously? You promised us that we would be safe here; now, you are ready to toss us aside. How can any of us trust you? How can we trust your mate not to want to get rid of us, too? I will go. You don’t have to kick me out. I know when I am not wanted,” Jana’s voice rose as she spoke. She exited my office, slamming my door shut as she left.
She was really upset. I don’t think it is because I threatened to send her away. I think she is trying to give Cara a hard time before she can even be introduced to the coven. I won’t allow that. I will start looking for a place for Jana and Anika to go first thing in the morning. I will not allow either of them to cause Cara any pain. She has been through enough, and I know that my team will welcome her with open arms. They are just as happy for me at finding my mate as I am. It gave them hope of finding their own mates one day. I won’t allow one petty girl to hurt Cara. I called Dmitriy to put someone on her. If she goes after my mate, I will deal with her myself.