Chapter 18
AGELIUS & TOSCA
AGELIUS
For once, the betas weren’t hanging around the omega house when I got there.
I supposed with Zarbius in camp, they were making a show of being busy or something.
Zarbius seemed an inattentive leader, not noticing anything until it was pointed out to him or it hit him straight in the face.
That would account for the poor pack discipline.
That, and the fact he seemed to have collected the dregs of shifter society to his side.
I knocked lightly on the door. A dark face with startled eyes peered around the filmy curtain in the kitchen window and then disappeared. A moment later, the door opened. A short, omega with tightly curled black hair stood there, eyes fixed on the ground by my feet.
I cleared my throat, torn between my inherent respect for omegas and the need to remain in character to keep them – as well as Irian and myself – safe.
Safety won.
“Tosca.” I snapped, voice hard and harsh, just a step below compulsion. “Now.”
The omega scuttled away, probably glad I wasn’t looking for him.
I heard murmuring deep within the house, and soft footsteps padding towards the front door.
When it was pulled open again, there was my beautiful mate.
He had his customary slightly anxious expression, the thick eyebrows peaked, a couple of lines crossing his brow.
His beautiful brown eyes lit up when he saw me, and the frown lines eased.
“Alpha…” he breathed, a little hitch in his voice.
“Tosca…” I sighed his name. Just looking at him made most of my body relax and soften, with one obvious exception. “I have an hour. Are you free?”
Even though he ducked his head, and a hint of pink touched his cheeks, the rapid nods of the head, which sent the strands of his straight hair flying, betrayed his eagerness. He swayed forward on his feet, as if about to move toward me but then checked himself, clearly unsure.
“Sorry for this,” I told him, as I smacked a hand on his shoulder (slowing it infinitesimally just before it landed – but that adjustment should have been invisible to anyone watching) and dragged him forward.
“Come!” I told him in a voice that was loud and stern. But as he lurched forward, I leaned in close and murmured, “I need you to do more screaming for me.”
He turned his wide eyes on me, just the faintest trace of fear showing in the whites of his eyes. Ah! My poor omega didn’t really know me yet.
I winked and slid my index finger across my lips. With a possessive hand on his shoulder, I steered him towards my cabin. I had one hour and I was going to make the most of it.
TOSCA
The handsome alpha had asked for me again, and I wasn’t sure what to make of that. Had he meant what he said about taking me away from here? Was it possible that I really meant something to him? Or was I just a convenient way to ease his physical needs?
I sighed. He was quite majestic, and I didn’t mind meeting those needs at all, but he was also scary.
It was hard to figure him out at times. I thought he was playing Zarbius, but maybe he was actually playing me with all this talk?
But he didn’t need to. Even if I’d been unwilling, I’d have had to accommodate him. Were all packs like this?
Anyway, I couldn’t see he had any need to pretend, which meant… maybe it was true. I just was afraid to allow that minuscule kernel of hope lodge inside me in case nothing came of it. I didn’t want to break my heart.
Come. I need you to do more screaming for me.
What had he mean by that? Did he want me to bolster his charade with Zarbius? Or was he really going to hurt me this time?
It was confusing, and as we walked to his cabin, my heart thumped so hard in my chest, I thought he must surely hear it.
My legs quivered with fear and anticipation as we reached the steps to the porch and an uncomfortable heat rose in my cheeks.
I ran a finger under the collar of my shirt, swallowed a few times, the sound so loud I didn’t dare look up.
As soon as the door closed behind us, and we had as much privacy as one ever had in a wolf-pack, Talius motioned to me to sit on one of the beds.
He squatted down in front of me, taking my hands in his larger ones.
His skin was rougher than mine, hard callouses that suggested he did manual work snagging at my softer skin.
He was tall, so in this position we ended up face to face.
He leaned in. I felt his warm breath across my lips. My eyes began to flutter closed.
But instead of kissing me, which to be fair, it really looked like he was going to do, he spoke in the softest of voices.
“I have to leave here in an hour,” Agelius whispered, voice barely audible. “I have to deliver the ransom demand to my old pack, and I’m going to try and bring back help. I don’t like leaving you here, but I don’t have any choice.”
He drew back, looking at me earnestly, as if imploring me to understand. I simply nodded, because I could see he had more to say, and anyway, how was he going to be able to get me out of this pack with Zarbius and the betas here?
“I don’t trust the betas while I’m gone,” he continued. “I’m taking Sharkey with me, but that still leaves the others. Can you keep yourself safe until I get back?”
I nodded. “Yes, Alpha. I’ve been keeping safe all along. I’ll be fine.”
He looked away, shoulders tense. When he turned back towards me, his lips were pressed together in a thin line. He didn’t look pleased. His Adam’s apple bobbed. The fabric of his shirt rustled as he slid his hand into his pocket.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, scrunching up his face in a grimace. “I hate this, but…”
He started to pull his hand out of his pocket, then hesitated. I frowned, wondering what was about to happen. What could be bothering him so?
I watched the splendid muscles of his chest stretch the fabric of his shirt, right in front of my face, as he breathed in seeming to come to a decision. I was distracted by the way the fabric stretched tight over his nipples and I didn’t see when he pulled his hand out of his pocket.
“It’s entirely up to you,” he murmured, not meeting my eyes. “But this might keep you safe, if you chose to wear it.”
My eyes flicked to his hand, widening when I saw what he was holding.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “You don’t have to wear it.
But Zarbius told his crew not to touch the omega wearing it.
I’d told him I wanted to be exclusive. But like I said, it’s up to you.
It’s all I can offer to help keep you safe while I’m gone.
” His jaw snapped shut after this rambling, an unhappy look casting a shadow over his handsome face.
“It’s not to insult or demean you,” his whispered words sounded so regretful, I felt sorry for him.
I looked at the object in his hand. A collar.
Not a fancy one either. Not a new one. There were creases where the leather was cracked and peeling.
There might have been dog hair caught in the buckle.
Or maybe it was wolf hair. Or not. It didn’t matter.
All I could think of was ‘exclusive’, the word running through my head over and over.
“Would you want to?” I dared a quick look at him through the straggly strands of my overlong fringe, knowing I could hide if I didn’t like his answer.
“Want to what?”
“Be exclusive… with me?”
“Of course. Yes! If you want that too.”
“Then yes, I’ll wear it, if you put it on.” The corner of my mouth curved up in a small, private grin. I’m sure there was a little sparkle in my eye, and even if he couldn’t see it, I could feel it. I could nurture that kernel of hope, after all.
I offered him my neck and Agelius leaned forward, his fingers warm where they brushed against my skin.
The cool of the metal buckle contrasted sharply with the warmth of his touch.
The collar itself was soft enough, and it wasn’t heavy.
It fit snuggly around my neck – enough to remind me it was there, and whose I was, but not so tight it was uncomfortable.
Agelius smiled his wide smile, his perfect white teeth dazzling me. Was there anything not perfect about this man?
“Thank you,” he said. Then with a sigh, pulled me off the bed into his arms, cradling me close, his body hot against mine. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my chest, felt the warmth of his breath on my head.
Today there were worse things than being an omega.