Ten #3
That evening, Reggie came by to say that since he supported Cole’s challenge to become alpha, he had been thrown off the pack land. He and his fiancée, Helene Williams, were on their way to White Sulphur Springs to get a hotel room, but I insisted they stay.
When they were both in my kitchen, having maple scones and coffee, I noticed her shaking her head at him.
“What did he do?” I asked her.
“He thought I would stay behind without him,” she said irritably, scowling at the man she loved. “That’s insane. Who lets the love of their life leave them?”
“I certainly have no idea.”
She huffed out a frustrated breath, glared at him for good measure, and then turned and smiled at me. “This is the best scone I’ve ever had, Mr. Baker.”
“Merritt, please.”
Helene camped out on the sectional, in front of the fire, and even though Evan offered them his room, they both actually really loved the space where they were.
It was both cozy and roomy. Once Helene was curled up and napping, having first announced that she was just closing her eyes for a minute, Reggie explained to Cole that many others also supported his claim, and they would stand with him and be counted without hesitation the following day.
Cole excused himself after that, going to our room.
When Evan wanted to check on him, Ondine reminded him that the two of them had bought the fixings for tacos at the store after she picked him up from school, as he had promised to make them for her.
Reggie sat at the kitchen island, having a beer, talking to both of them, as he too was interested in tacos.
“You also have to bake pies for tomorrow for the feast,” Ondine reminded Evan.
“I thought you were going to bake.”
“I made cookies, didn’t I?”
“Yeah. And they were awesome. So you could make the pies.”
She glanced at me.
“You probably could,” I said.
“But on the off chance they come out tainted, is it worth it, because then someone has to make them all over again.”
“True,” I agreed.
“Tainted?” Reggie sounded concerned.
“Poisoned,” Evan clarified.
“Poisoned?” Reggie repeated, his eyebrows lifting.
“I’m making the tacos,” Evan assured the man. “Don’t worry about it.”
Leaving the kitchen, I went to my bedroom and knocked on the door, not wanting to just intrude on him.
“Yeah?” Cole called out.
Opening the door, I poked my head in. “Is it okay if I come in and talk to you?”
“Of course,” he mumbled, patting the space beside him at the end of the bed.
Rushing over, I stepped between his legs instead, taking his face in my hands and tipping his head back so I could look down into his eyes. “Talk to me.”
Sharp exhale. “What if…what if something goes wrong and I––”
“As long as Abel doesn’t cheat, there’s not going to be an issue.”
“And if he cheats?”
“If he does, then I will intercede. You challenged him, and he has no alternative but to accept. That’s lupine law, and no one is allowed to assist either the alpha or the challenger. But if he has others there, then I am allowed to intervene on your behalf to keep the contest fair.”
He nodded.
“You know all that.”
“I do.”
“I suspect you’re more overwhelmed than anything else. Am I right?”
“I’m nothing today. Tomorrow I’ll be the alpha.”
“Yes. And what will change?”
“What do you mean? Everything will.”
“No.” I bent and kissed him quickly, and I was about to step back, but he took hold of my hips to keep me there.
“Explain.”
I shrugged. “You’ll have to take care of people, yes.
You’ll make choices to make their lives better.
But you’ll still live here. You’ll still sleep in this bed you’re sitting on with me.
You still have to teach your brother to drive, and you have to go to work, pay taxes, get medical insurance for your team, and probably a 401(K).
I have an accountant for that last one that I can set you up with. ”
“I––”
“I also told your brother he can get a dog.”
Long sigh before he smiled.
“So yeah, big changes for you, but also not. And I can help. That’s what a mate is for.”
He leaned into me, wrapping his arms around my waist and holding tight.
“Your people probably also need vision and dental.”
The chuckle was very good to hear.
When the two of us returned to the kitchen, Reggie was complimenting Evan on his guacamole-making skills.
“You can make guacamole?” Cole asked his brother.
“No. Well, yeah, now I can. Ondine knows how, and as long as she tells me what to do but doesn’t do it herself, then, ya know, nothing will come out weird.”
“He means poisoned,” Ondine clarified.
Cole turned to me.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s really good guacamole,” Reggie chimed in.
My mate was still staring at me.
“Your life is gonna be a little weird from now on.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, easing me into his arms. “And I’m so thankful for that.”
Helene woke up then and was thrilled to meet Ondine. After listening to them for a bit, it looked and sounded like they were going to be friends, and that, I thought, was the weirdest thing of all. Sirens, as far as I knew, normally didn’t have girlfriends.