Alpha's Undercover Mate

Jeremy I really didn't know why I was bothered by Aub. I saw Logan retire to bed early-he was exhausted, so he said he didn't want to attend the pack dinner. If he was that tired, being an alpha, I couldn't help but wonder how tired Aub was.  He looked frail, and the background check I did on him showed he had no family, friends, or whatsoever. I took pity on him and decided to give him a chance with the alpha. Who knew Logan would pick his mate scent from his body and hire him without a second thought?  I knew Logan would be giving him a hard time, which was why I left what I was doing to check on him. I was even going to offer that his food be delivered to him if he was too tired to make it to the pack dinner.  "Where is he going?" I asked myself as I spotted Aub walking into the woods behind the female dormitory. "Could he be a pervert, and is he trying to take a sneak peek at ladies from behind!? My thoughts had better be wrong, because heaven knew I'd be so disappointed if I figured out that I was right.  It was better to catch him in the act than to speculate. So, I followed him.  He went beyond the female dormitory and ventured deeper into the woods. "What is wrong with this lad?"  I saw the way he jumped in excitement at the spring before him. Had he not seen a spring before? Maybe he hadn't, given the circumstances of where he came from. I was about to walk towards him and probably tease him about how he was acting like a child. But that was until I saw him taking his clothes off.  He looked around to see if anyone was watching him. The moment his head turned towards me, I dorked behind the tree I was standing close to. Then, he reached for his head, and nothing prepared me for what I saw next.  He had been wearing a wig all along!? I meant 'She'.  Aub was a lady?  I knew it was inappropriate for me to watch her take her bath. So, I stayed still behind the tree until I heard her giggles and her steps on the dry leaves. I was so furious that she had deceived us all. If Logan found out, she'd be dead before dawn. Logan hated being lied to the most.  "It's such a beautiful evening," she said to herself, but I could hear her loud and clear, thanks to my werewolf hearing.  That snake! "I know, right?" I saw her stiffen as the vibrant smile that was displayed on her lips before disappeared. It was like she had just seen a ghost. But, hey, it was just me.  "Aub, is that even your real name?" I doubted; it wasn't. She came to the pack using a fake identity. An identity that didn't belong to her. I wondered what her motives could be. I watch her contemplate what to say while twisting her hand in fright. She knew she was done for.  "Will you please give me a chance to explain before you go to the alpha?" She asked, and for a moment I saw fear flash through her eyes.  I didn't say anything, but she was smart enough to know my silence meant she could go on with whatever excuse she had.  She took a deep breath, her lips quivering each time she opened her mouth to speak, but failed. It seemed like she was having an inner battle from within. She wouldn't dare lie to me, would she?  "I needed the money," she eventually managed to say.  I cocked my head, implying that she continue. That single line wouldn't do.  "I was jobless for two years, until I came across the ad that you were looking for a secretary," she swallowed hard before she continued. "I knew Aub. We were from the same town." "Aub's background check says he had no friends or relatives." She pressed her lips together. Seemed like I caught her lie. "You can actually say that. Aub was antisocial. It was hard for him to make friends. I tried  my best to befriend him, but his disorder wouldn't let our friendship go beyond just being townsmen." Maybe she was telling the truth.  "Even when he went missing, I tried to look for him. I checked every possible place I knew he might have hidden himself, but I couldn't find him. So, when I saw that ad, I decided to make use of his name and skills to get myself the job." I folded my arms in disbelief. "Were you not even ashamed to do that?"  "I guess my instinct to survive was bigger than my shame," she said, lowering her head in shame. The shame she didn't have when she stole his identity.  "You shouldn't have done it regardless," I couldn't help but feel disgusted at her in that moment. "Do you realize that this would cost you your life?"  She went straight to her knees the moment those words left my lips. She crawled closer to me, with her hands on my legs like heavy reins. I tried to push her away, but her hold was so strong.  She shook her head frantically, tears stinging the corner of her eyes. I hadn't seen her eyes before because of those thick glasses she always wore. But, now that I could see them clearly, I realized how blueish and captivating they were, even despite the fact that they were so moist with tears in that moment. No wonder the glasses were part of her ruse.  "Please, you can't tell the alpha or anyone else." "What!?" "Please, let me live," she pleaded like her life depended on it. Where, matter of factly, it did depend on it.  I bent down and placed both hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down. "I'm sorry, Au..." I shook my head.  "It's Aubrey," she quickly said.  "Yeah, Aubrey. I have to tell Logan. He doesn't like to be cheated, and I don't want to do that..." "Please don't, I'm going to lose my life." Tears began to stream down her face.  I felt bad for her, but I knew where my loyalty lies. I slowly removed my hands from her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Aubrey."  "My mother," she said under her breath, making me stop on my tracks with my back towards her. "She's dying of cancer." I turned to face her.  "It's at the last stage. I just wanted to work and let her get treatments that would ease her pains before she leaves this world," she managed to say between hiccups.  Oh, jeez! I hated sob stories.  I walked back to her and pulled her up from the ground. "I'm sorry about your mother." She wiped her tears off with the back of her palm.  "How about we meet tomorrow? I'll decide on what to do by then." Everything was overwhelming, and I didn't want to betray Logan. It wasn't like I'd be able to talk to him this night, since he had already retired to bed.  I saw Aubrey beg me with her eyes even as she reluctantly let me go. She probably thought she would be the only one who wouldn't be able to sleep throughout the night, but I was now trapped in her lie, too. I'd think about how to go about it till daybreak.  Maybe I should go for a run.  I knew it was too late for me to go for a run the moment I managed to drag myself back into the pack house. The dinner was filled with werewolves already. I had looked forward to dinner, but I had already lost my appetite with everything that had happened.  I decided to just lock my office and go home.  The door to the elevator opened, but what were the odds that it was Logan in the elevator?  I stagger backward in fear, losing my balance.  Logan smirked, his arms crossed over his chest. "Did you just chicken out at my presence?" I rose quickly, dusting my pants. "Chicken out?" I scoffed. "I was just too surprised, since you said you were going to bed." "I couldn't sleep," he said as I stepped into the elevator.  "Still, you..." "Where are you coming from, Jeremy?" He asked in a serious tone, making me quiver on the spot.  I smiled nervously. "Why do you ask?" "I can smell my mate on you." "What!?"  The stoic expression on his face was now replaced with confusion. "First, it was Aub. Now, it's me."  "I know, right? Maybe it's happening with you because I'm very tired, but I wasn't wrong about Aub." He stared straight into my eyes. "Or have you met with him today?" My breath seized. I shook my head. Then I realized something. If he could smell his mate on me because Aub held onto me, while begging me. Could Aubrey be Logan's mate!?