CHAPTER SIX - Lucian
I inwardly flinched when Mariska snapped at me.
It was my own fault. I tried to strike up a conversation, but I went about it in the wrong way.
I wasn’t a smooth talker like Jasper or naturally likable like Balthazar.
When I said I got along better with animals sometimes, I meant the vast majority of the time.
Balthazar had talked about nothing except Mariska all week.
He wanted us to call on her at Primrose House—and we knew she lived there because Liz knew Eloise—but Jasper refused to budge on the subject.
He was right that we should let her be because she was leaving the state, but I couldn’t get her out of my head either.
And now I was fucking this new chance up.
If Balthazar thought I screwed up any shot our pack might have with Mariska, he’d be furious.
He had been trying to find an Omega for us for a while now, but none of them had ever been the right fit.
Mariska was a scent match for all of us, and none of us could deny our attraction to her.
Of course there was a lot more to consider, but this was one big step in the right direction.
Other than the fact she was moving to California at the end of the month.
I followed behind her, trying to make sense of all my conflicting thoughts.
Balthazar believed we could convince her to stay, and Jasper wanted to forget about her.
I found it impossible to get her out of my head since we met, and while I had been happy to accept an Omega into our pack before, I found myself suddenly wanting it as badly as Balthazar because of Mariska.
She walked confidently through the snow with Artemis trotting along beside her. Just by the way she was dressed and how she knew where to step told me she was a girl comfortable outdoors. Plus, she was an environmental tech. She was smart, scientifically minded, and cared for the natural world.
All of this greatly appealed to me, but was I the Alpha who could convince her to join our pack?
Mariska made a sudden stop and turned. Her amber eyes shimmered with concern. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound like you didn’t know your job. I’m sure you’re very capable, but…”
As her voice trailed off, I wanted to embrace her and let her know everything was all right.
“Don’t worry about it. I understand it’s a surprise to see me here.
You’re an Omega, and I’m an Alpha. You must feel anxious about that fact.
I don’t know why they paired us up, but I’m glad for it.
You have nothing to worry about from me. You’re absolutely safe.”
Fuck. Did she think I didn’t find her desirable now? Did I insult her rather than reassure her?
A thousand different things I could have said whirled around in my head.
Instead, I pushed forward like an idiot with my job credentials.
“I completed my arboriculture degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. I did my internship with Silver Tree Farm and stayed on afterward. Since we do landscaping for several big homesteads and businesses, I’m sometimes called on to do an independent contract.
This is my first for Blue Skies. I’ve not been to this site before, but I’ve helped at other farms in the past.”
Slowly, Mariska blinked once.
Twice.
Yup, I should have just kept talking to the dog.
She nodded slowly. “Marion University graduate. Environmental sciences degree. I interned at Blue Skies and stayed too. My focus is on birds and bats and improving the environment for them around the turbines.”
Now this was my sort of conversation. “I admit I don’t know much about wind turbines themselves.
We’re considering getting a trio of turbines at the farm, but we’re pulled between that and solar panels.
It would help to know what benefits the turbines would have over the panels and, with our many acres and diversity of wildlife, how turbines would affect the environment. ”
Mariska perked up and described the pros and cons of turbines over solar energy as we walked to the first set of trees. I kept asking her questions, loving the excitement in her voice, as I conducted my survey of the copse.
We continued on to the second and then third ones. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, and her eyes shone with more gold as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. I’d never found a soul so beautiful just from one conversation, but she was an intellectual goddess with a compassionate heart.
There had been physical attraction right away, but now I was absolutely convinced Mariska was the one. She was our Omega.
It was ridiculous to think of such a thing. We’d really only just met. But fuck, I couldn’t help how I felt. The problem was how to convince her she belonged with our pack. She was very focused on her work. Not only was she good at it, but she loved it. How could we compete against her dream job?
As we approached the fourth and final copse of trees, I slowed my steps, not wanting for the morning to end. My heart beat harder and my mouth was dry. I had to think of something, anything, but would I be enough to lure her to becoming our Omega?
“Your farm would be the perfect candidate for wind turbines. I personally think solar panels are more suited to residential and city sites. Turbines are way more efficient and collect more power if you have the land to position them correctly.” Mariska was working toward her final arguments when I stopped and let out a long exhale at the sight of the poor trees.
“What?” She looked back and forth between me and the barren limbs. “Is there something wrong?”
“These are ash trees, and they’re badly infested.” My heart grew heavy with the knowledge that they likely could not be saved. The file on this site had not indicated any arborist had inspected the trees before, and they were lucky these trees were still standing.
“With emerald ash borers?” Mariska asked and I nodded, moving up to the trees.
“How can you tell? Usually the only way I can tell is in the spring and summer if there is canopy dieback. The last time I was out here…” She tapped on her tablet’s screen and frowned.
“Was at the end of March. So I wouldn’t have been able to tell myself. ”
“Come here.” I gestured to her as I ran a hand slowly along the trunk.
“See how the bark is split and cracked? This isn’t from the cold.
” I easily removed a piece of bark and pointed to the tunnels the invasive insects made.
“You can tell emerald ash borers made these because they wind like a snake. And these little D-shaped holes,” I pointed a couple out.
“The adults emerge from them. Higher up, you can see where the woodpeckers have been at these trees. If you looked at where they drilled, you’d find they know where the borer tunnels are too. ”
Mariska stood on her toes, leaning in beside me to look more closely. Her sweet vanilla scent sent a rush of warmth through me and had my cock hardening in my jeans. I glanced down at her neck.
Bite her. Claim her.
The urge was powerful and smacked me with such force that my head shook as if struck. Another handful of bark crumbled beneath my hand as I tried to grip the tree to anchor me to my logical self.
“That’s fascinating. Sad, but fascinating.” Mariska lifted her head to meet my gaze. Her eyes widened and dilated. She swiftly stepped back and placed a hand on the side of Artemis’ neck. “Can the trees be saved?”
Her voice trembled with the words. Those cherubic lips of hers were meant to be tasted, kissed like there was no tomorrow. If I leaned in…
Fuck. What was I doing?
I cleared my throat and focused on the tree.
Nothing had been harder before in my life.
Crouching down, I cleared away some of the snow from the base to expose tiny bare branches.
“The number of new shoots here shows that there is great injury to the tree. The infestation is at least a year old. Borers can take down trees in two to four years. Good thing that this one is older and maybe will respond to treatment. I don’t see any injection points, so it hasn’t had any injections from a tree surgeon yet. ”
“None. According to the file.” She affirmed my observations, still with a shyness in her tone. A tiny shiver of pleasure at it traveled along my spine.
“You can put in a request for your usual arborist to do it, but I will add in my report that I’ve been working on a more potent serum for these infestations which may help since it is so far along.
All of the ash trees here will need to be treated.
” I stood and wiped the snow off my lower legs before making a note of my own.
“We have an ash grove at our farm, and I’ve been fighting to get rid of the infestations.
Some of the trees are over one hundred years old.
It would be a great loss if they fell to the bugs. ”
“A great loss,” Mariska echoed, nipping at her lower lip as she continued to type on her tablet. “Do you think you would be able to treat the trees? I know the Kraus family would greatly appreciate it. I think they have an old ash by their house too.”
For you, anything. I swallowed hard. “I would gladly help.”
“Thank you.” She smiled and I would treat a million trees just to see her happy like this.
“I know I won’t be here to see the results of your work, but I’ll pass on the file to another tech who I know will appreciate your help.
These copses are vital to the welfare of the wildlife in this area, and it’s important we keep them healthy. ”
The reminder that Mariska was leaving Wisconsin squeezed at my heart and lungs. I could barely breathe. I could only nod as she put her tablet away and led us back toward our vehicles.
The crunch of our boots in the snow and the distant slow whump of the turbines had my stomach twisting. I couldn’t stand the thought of this being the last time I saw Mariska. But how to make her stay? I needed more time.
My mind scrambled and tossed out the first thing I could think of. “It’s about noon now. Would you like to join me for lunch?” Shit. Did I sound like a schoolboy asking out a girl for the first time? “My treat.”
“Oh.” Mariska looked down at the ground and to the sides. Anywhere but at me. “I don’t think…” She wrapped her arms around herself. “It isn’t a good idea, you know? We shouldn't be alone together as it is.”
I wanted to say fuck the Omega laws, but I knew they were for her safety.
Hell, there were a few times back there I didn’t think I could trust myself with her.
That fact wasn’t stopping me though. “How about dinner later this evening then? I could bring someone to be an escort if you didn’t have anyone available.
I know the best supper club in the area. ”
She put a few more paces between us, burying her face deeper into her coat’s collar. “Thank you for the offer, but I have a busy weekend ahead.”
I was ready to beg, but what sort of Alpha did that?
She probably already thought I wasn’t worth the time.
Balthazar would have growled, stating he’d pick her up at six, whether she said yes or not, and Jasper would have had her eating out of his hand, licking and sucking his fingers as he lured her back to his bed.
Me, I was the strange Alpha who wanted to hug the sick trees.
My father’s voice snarled in my head: Take what you want. You’ve never been Alpha enough.
I’d heard that constantly since I was a boy.
He’d been an asshole. Once I found my pack, Jasper and Balthazar had made me feel I had nothing to be ashamed about, but still my father’s ghost sometimes whispered in the darkness of my mind.
We arrived at our vehicles. Mariska stopped by her Jeep’s door. “It was good working with you, Lucian. I’ll put a recommendation in that they use you again if Antonia isn’t available.”
I took off my beanie, suddenly feeling too hot. “Yeah, I really liked talking with you. You’ve convinced me to go with turbines at the farm. Definitely the best choice.”
Mariska beamed. “I’m glad I could help.” Her smile then weakened and turned down. She removed her gloves as she dug her keys out of her pocket. “I guess I should be going now. I have two more sites to visit on the other side of the county today.”
Don’t go! I took off my gloves and ran a hand through my hair. Dammit. I needed to be strong like Jasper and just let go of her. “Well, drive safely and take care. That goes for you too, Artemis.”
At the sound of her name, Artemis wagged her tail and leapt away from Mariska who only had a loose hold of her leash. The dog jumped up with her front paws on my chest, and I laughed as I scratched behind her ears and on her sides. “Such a good girl.”
Once she lowered down, I took her leash and held it out to Mariska.
“Thanks.” She reached out and her fingers brushed mine as I handed over the leash.
It was as if a bolt of electricity zipped from her to me. Not as in a painful, frying your nerves type of way, but a jolt that awakened every cell in my body. A rumble vibrated my chest as she jumped back and swiftly opened her door.
My chest heaved as I breathed in her now more potent sweet scent. My head cleared and fogged at the same time, and my vision focused solely on her.
“Come on, Artemis. Up.” She put the dog in the car and hopped into the driver’s seat. Glancing my way, she started the engine. “Good to see you. Take care of yourself.”
Mariska shut the door, and the wheels kicked up snow as she sped off.
No one had ever affected me like she did. I couldn’t just let her drive out of my life.
I lifted the hand which touched her to my nose and sucked in her creamy scent.
There was no way she could deny what passed between us. We were more than scent matched. The feeling from just one touch… She was meant to be my mate. I felt it to my very bones. Just asking her out to share a meal wasn’t going to be enough. I needed my pack with me.
My breaths still came heavy. I didn’t even feel the chill in the wind as it whipped at me. Her Jeep disappeared down the road, but her beautiful face was seared into my mind.
I would figure out a way to win her over. Balthazar would be with me on it. Jasper might take some convincing, but he scent matched with her too. This could be our only chance with all of us being compatible with one Omega. She was the holiday gift we most needed.
Yes. An idea started to form in my mind. She was meant to be with our pack, and the Christmas spirit was going to help in that.
Together our pack would offer her a deal she couldn’t refuse.