Lost and Pound (Love Sync Mates: Season Two)

Chapter Twelve

Nico

The kitchen was moderately busy, with a handful of people cleaning up while pack members stuffed their plates from the taco bar.

Blake left shortly after dropping me off in the corner, sitting alone in a chair they reserved for the odd naughty kid that needed an extra eye on them. I felt somewhat like a scolded child myself. Especially with Carlin watching me. I didn’t know the beta too well, but he had twin boys that were really sweet little things.

I stared at the floor, my heart racing as someone carted off food for them. The sting on the side of my neck told me that they couldn’t take me away, but it didn’t mean that my father or Alpha Silvermoon wouldn’t demand recompense far beyond what I was worth, or worse, make things difficult for Shilo, challenge him for pack ownership. I put my hand over the wound until one of the ladies, Nadine, dish towel in hand, came to kneel beside me. She handed it to me with a bright grin.

“So, you’re staying?” She tilted her head to stare at the mark before I put a towel over it. He’d done it so fast he didn’t have time to lick it clean.

“I guess. We didn’t really get a chance to talk about it.” I huffed, giving a half laugh as I slumped.

When I told Nadine, she frowned. “We all knew you’d be staying. I think you did, too. He’s not keen on losing you, aren’t you the same?”

“I do want to stay. Our wolves are great together.” I felt childish, tucking my hands into my lap. “They’re mates. We’re mates.”

“Well, duh.” Nadine put her hands on her hips and scowled. Her nose twitched, and she sniffed at the air in distaste. “And they have you stinking up the place, scared. I bet Shilo hates that.”

I glanced up. “I stink?”

“Of fear. That many alphas in one room all after you? Shilo can not handle a wolf in fear. It drives his beast batty.” She patted my head and told me to grab a plate. Food didn’t sound great, but there were some cookies for dessert that I scrounged up and scarfed a few of.

Halfway through a third cookie, my phone rang, making my pocket buzz. I fumbled the cookie and answered. Shilo.

I answered with a hesitant tremor in my voice that I fought to silence.

“Come on to my office. It’s okay. I promise.” His voice, a soft whisper, brought me less comfort than I wanted, but I still rose all the same. And when I went to pick up my dropped cookie, Nadine beat me to it, shooing me off to meet my fate.

Some part of me thought I might be angry at Shilo, but I couldn’t muster it. We’d spoken of it not long after I arrived, and infrequently since. I wanted to stay, but my resignation came from what my father and Alpha Silvermoon would be capable of. I didn’t want to harm him, deprive his pack of resources or cause chaos.

I made my way all the same, though, pulling the dishcloth off my neck to see if it still bled. It didn’t, so I made my way into his office, clutching the spotted rag nervously. “Al—Shilo?”

I did my best not to look at the other alphas, despite the fact that the councilman had Alpha Silvermoon on my leash.

“C’mere, Nico.” He welcomed me with an arm open and I approached, sidling into his open embrace. “They’ve some questions to ask you, I think. Are we good or—”

I stared him down for a long few seconds before I nodded. “We’re good. It’s been a long time coming. I just didn—Father, please don’t make things difficult for Shilo.”

“Do you like him?” My father met my gaze, his face hard and posture bored. I never could read him on the best of days, but at that moment, I was more lost than ever.

“I do. I really do. Our wolves speak to one another. I—he makes me comfortable. I sleep well when he’s there.” I tried to meet his gaze, but those golden eyes always pinned me.

“Does he make you comfortable? Financially, are you well? I noticed you were working when we arrived. I won’t leave you with an alpha that cannot support your every need.” He kept that bored posture and leaned back. “I provide for all my omegas very well, and I expect my children to be well cared for by their mates.”

Polygamy was frowned upon by the general populous, but pack alphas always seemed beyond the societal norms. Part of me never realized how much I hated it, and how much I always expected to be one of the many omegas in orbit around a pack alpha, sharing my body and heats but nothing else.

“Very comfortable, and money was never an issue. Pups needed sitting, and I was available. I do not think Shilo would be comfortable with more than a single omega, as he places value on other kinds of connection, so I do not worry about a future where I have to share and compete for an alpha’s attention and beg for a night in his bedroom.” The jab didn’t seem to register with his father. He cared little about the omegas in his possession save for that they were unharmed and available to him when he wanted them. Alphas have needs , and all that. Shilo had needs; none of them involved anyone’s holes.

“I can see that. Housing spare omegas would be an issue for him, seeing his current setup. I suppose he is rather dedicated.” My father gave Shilo a hard stare.

“I mated him, didn’t I?” Shilo gestured toward me and my cheeks grew hot.

“But will you accept his mark in return?” The councilman, who up until then, had been preoccupied with a lunch box full of tacos, raised half of a hard-shelled taco up, lettuce raining down.

“You know I will, Ares. For Goddesses’ sake.” Shilo gave him a dirty look.

“Do it.” Ares flicked a brow suggestively before taking another bite.

“Until it’s reciprocated, it’s not recognized by the council. If you’d hear me out, I can make a better offer for him.” Alpha Silvermoon spoke so coldly that it sent chills down my spine. He flicked the leash. “There’s no need for this.”

My heart raced in my chest as my fear response kicked in. Too many alphas in one room. The councilman’s daring glare combined with Alpha Silvermoon’s insistence. My father’s menacing presence. All I wanted to do was bury myself in Shilo’s arms and hide until they were all gone.

“I don’t want to go with Alpha Silvermoon,” I said as a flush of heat rose to my cheeks.

“You could come with me? I’d treat you nice,” Ares, the councilman, said through a mouth of tacos.

“No, I’m…I’m good. Thanks.” I stepped back from him and Alpha Silvermoon, accidentally bumping into my father’s chair with a yelp.

“Leave the poor boy be. I educate my omegas to expect and be complacent with orders. It was my understanding that you understood and were prepared to do what was expected of you.” My father sighed heavily and slouched in his chair. “This is why I asked you several times if you were okay with it, if you understood what was expected.”

“That was before I realized you’d matched me with someone who had no interest in me at all. He viewed me as a punishment! And by the look his partner kept giving me, I assumed I’d be forever watching my back.” I clenched my jaw shut, holding back from saying more as my father’s expression went dark and tense.

“The goddesses work in mysterious ways. The van’s driver had tons of GHB in his system. Somehow, I think that was meant for you,” Ares said, wiping crumbs off his lips. “Best we can figure, some bottles got swapped around. Driver wasn’t supposed to get messed up. Wrecked. We tested the water bottles in the truck and…yeah.”

Alpha Silvermoon paled.

“The beta that was driving brought in a bunch of bottled water for me during the drive… He said you gave it to him for me.” I hesitated, thinking back to that night.

Ares halted in his scrounging for taco crumbs at the bottom of the box and glanced up. “Did he, now?”

“I did no such thing.” Alpha Silvermoon’s voice trembled.

“Whether he did or did not is irrelevant. You lost your first alpha son, did you not?” Ares stared at the bottom of the box before eyeing an unopened one in front of Alpha Silvermoon.

He didn’t answer Ares.

Ares, for his part, seemed more preoccupied with the box of tacos and helped himself, making a noise of satisfaction when Shilo gestured for him to take it already. He lit up and opened the box, chowing down on another while my father leaned over Alpha Silvermoon who sat between them and gestured. Ares handed over one of the tacos in the box and my father happily ate.

Shilo met my gaze. “Good tacos, right?”

“Hadn’t had one yet. Kinda regretting it, now.” I watched the alphas eat and Shilo offered me one of his, but I declined. I supposed I was too nervous to eat. He did, however, coax me into his grasp for a one-armed taco-scented hug.

“We’ll get you some on the way out in the kitchens. We’ll make sure they’re still hot.”

“Well, I think I’ve seen enough.” Ares sat up and placed the empty box on Shilo’s desk. “Godfrey?”

“I have, too. Tasted enough as well.” My father licked his fingers and met my gaze.

I hesitated, my heart skipping a beat.

Shilo snuck his hand out and wrapped an arm around my waist, giving me a comforting squeeze. I wanted nothing more than to fold into his grasp and hide away.

“Horace?” Ares tugged the chain on the leash.

“Why ask me? He’s mated and of no use to me.” Alpha Silvermoon glared but did nothing, to my great relief. My fate lay solely on my father’s word.

“I am disappointed that there won’t be blood uniting the Wolfsons and the Silvermoons. Though, seeing how Horace handled the entire situation, I cannot say that disappointment will last, especially with what Shilo can offer us.” My father slouched in his chair. “And the food is worth coming back often for a visit.”

I froze in place, a tremble caught in my chest.

“Shilo, I understand you are happy with my son. And, Nicolas, are you happy? I will bring you home and we’ll search for a more fitting union if this isn’t to your liking.” My father brushed invisible crumbs off his chest.

“I’m very happy with Shilo.” I swallowed hard, my nerves on edge.

“And I am eternally grateful for having met him.” Shilo rubbed my back gently.

“Then it’s settled. The Wolfson pack is now allied with Pine Warren. I look forward to doing business with you. And please—do my son a favor and look to expand. It looks good on me when my omega sons are spoiled.” My father stood and extended a hand toward Shilo, catching his palm in a tight squeeze.

“Sounds good to me.” Ares stood and jerked the leash. “Congrats, you two. I’ll fill out the paperwork necessary and send to your email, Shilo. I’ll wait a few days for the reply.”

“And, Nicolas, you represented the Wolfsons when you set foot on this land. And you represent them still in name before the Pine Warren and all they interact with.” My father stared me down, and I nodded.

“You did me proud, son. It may not be the mate I chose for you, but it is a good match. Fate has good taste, it seems.” He nodded and turned to leave. I didn’t know if I’d see my father in any emotional capacity again, not that he’d been abundantly so before, but having his approval felt nice.

“You good, Nic?” Shilo’s hand slowed and slipped down to palm my bottom the moment my father was out of view.

“I think so. I really do.”

“Welcome to the pack. Want to go home and initiate you?” Shilo wagged an eyebrow at me, and I couldn’t think of a reason to say no.