Chapter 05
DARIUS
I was excited to meet my prospective mate. The anticipation had me on edge as I went about my rounds in the morning, but I hadn’t been able to keep the smile from my face.
I made sure to make my way to my office in plenty of time.
I wanted to get there early to compose myself and make sure I was ready to meet my mate.
Although the search for a mate had started as a necessary inconvenience, once I’d seen the photo of the beautiful omega, I knew it was fate.
I couldn’t wait to meet him, couldn’t wait to look into those amazing green-brown eyes, couldn’t wait to kiss him…
Wait! I was getting ahead of myself, wasn’t I?
I was a stranger to him, maybe he hadn’t fallen in love (or lust) with the man in the photo he’d been sent.
Maybe it was just me doing crazy stuff. But Zendius had told me he was very keen for this mating, so I had to think he at least liked the look of me.
I pulled the crumpled photo out of my jeans pocket and looked at it for the hundredth time since Zendius had handed it to me.
The crinkles and fingerprints were evidence of that.
I couldn’t help my grin when I looked at those mischievous eyes, nor the rush of anticipation that flushed my entire body with a heat that had my skin prickling under the coarse fabric of my shirt.
I slipped the photo into my back pocket and checked my watch.
10.45. Good. I still had fifteen minutes before they were here and I needed to be ready to greet them.
Fifteen minutes to calm myself down. I wanted to present myself to my prospective mate in the best possible light - I didn’t want to go all alpha on him and frighten him off, though in truth he didn’t look like the sort to be easily frightened.
I was pretty sure I was going to have my hands full.
He'd already rejected my suggestion of going somewhere to get more acquainted with each other (a date, even if Zendius had insisted it wasn’t to be that).
I was disappointed about that. One look at that photo and I’d been certain he was the omega for me and I would have liked to woo him appropriately.
Still, he apparently didn’t want that and I didn’t want to be an insensitive alpha, so I just rolled with it.
My office door was open and I strode through, calling out to Zendius as I did, my mind occupied with thoughts of my future mate, and…
I pulled up short. Unexpectedly, the office wasn’t empty.
My eyes landed first on the scowling alpha slouching in the visitor’s chair.
He was an older man, with black hair but grey roots showing through – aha, a touch of vanity there - and he was glaring at me, apparently irritated, even though he’d arrived early.
Zendius was there, and standing next to him was someone I recognized instantly.
He was even more gorgeous in person than his photo had suggested.
He’d dressed in a suit – despite my request for casual - and I had to admit, he looked incredibly handsome in it.
It clung to him, in all the right places, hinting of a body shape that was tantalizingly slender.
He was almost a head shorter than me, but he held himself proudly and… stiffly.
I frowned. This meeting was supposed to be informal – I had wanted my omega to be at ease, since an unfamiliar alpha could be intimidating and the circumstances were... unusual... to say the least – but nothing about this reeked of casual, and he looked far too tense.
Was I exuding too many pheromones, was he afraid of me? Or was he shy and nervous about meeting me?
“Xander,” I said, ignoring the others and stepping closer to him. He stiffened further, drawing himself up and away. I stopped where I was. I forced myself to speak softly, “I’m so pleased to meet you. Thank you for coming today.”
He inclined his head. “Alpha.”
So very formal.
“Just call me Darius, please.”
I held out my hand, palm upwards, and after a hesitation, Xander placed his hand in mine. A little frisson ran through me at the contact, and he seemed to startle.
Lifting his hand to my mouth I kissed the back of it. His eyes widened and snowy white teeth gnawed at his bottom lip but he didn’t say anything.
Behind me, Zendius cleared his throat, and I realized I was still holding Xander's hand and staring. The alpha vibes emanating off me must have been uncomfortable for everyone in the room.
Gently letting Xander’s hand go, and stepping back, I remembered my manners, and reluctantly took my eyes off Xander, as I turned towards the older alpha who had risen to his feet behind me.
Zendius introduced him. “Darius, this is Maximius, my good friend and Xander’s uncle.”
I shook hands with Maximius. The man’s features were hard and his eyes cold, but this was my omega’s uncle and I needed to show him respect.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maximius,” I told him, “and thank you for bringing your nephew here today. My apologies for not being here to greet you myself. There appears to have been some mix-up with the time.”
The older man grunted. “Well, we’re all here now and that’s what matters,” he said, grudgingly. “I’d like to get this settled as quickly as possible, so I can return home.”
I tried to stop my surprise from showing on my face, shocked he was talking so dismissively about his nephew’s future.
“I’m sure you must have some questions you want to ask me,” I said smoothly, “before committing your nephew to my care. We can put you both up in the pack house for a couple of days until you’re both satisfied that you’re happy with the arrangement.”
I cast a quick glance over to where Xander was now looking out the window with his back to us, the tension evident in the stiff set of his shoulders. Something was wrong here.
“No need to delay. Zendius has told me everything I need to know,” replied the old alpha coldly, “I’m satisfied my nephew will be appropriately looked after. His suitcase is in the car. I’ll hand him over to you and be on my way.”
I blinked. This man’s attitude towards his charge was baffling.
I looked across at Xander. He hadn’t moved from his position by the window. A thin ray of sunlight ran across his head, highlighting the different shades of brown in the flyaway strands.
A sudden thought occurred to me, sending a chill down my spine. Was he really agreeable to this arrangement? Had anyone asked him what he thought about it?
This was something I needed to ask Xander, although selfishly I was afraid to, fearing what the answer might be.
He was even more attractive in person than he had appeared in his photo, and now that I’d finally found my mate – and my inner wolf was screaming that I had - I didn’t want to lose him.
But if he didn’t want to be my mate, then I wouldn’t force him, so I had to ask.
However, if he was here under duress, then he couldn’t answer freely unless I could get him in private. Maximius was a shifter, just like us, and he would have a shifter’s hearing. I needed to get Xander away from him for a few moments.
“Very well then. Zendius, please escort Maximius to his car, and I’ll have the honor of escorting Xander.”
Zendius motioned towards the door, inviting the alpha to precede him through the doorway.
Maximius strode out as if he owned the place or couldn’t get out of here fast enough, I couldn’t decide which, but I didn’t care.
I didn’t like his attitude towards his nephew and whilst I wouldn't kick him out since he was my mate's uncle, I wanted him off the premises, stat.
As Xander went to follow them out the door, I laid a hand on his arm, a jolt of what felt like electricity rocketing up my arm as I held him back. Xander stared at his arm, then turned to look at me, brows drawn, his eyes narrowing, piercing me with their intensity.
I looked straight in their mesmerizing green depths and said in a soft voice, “Xander, I need to ask you, are you here of your own free will?”
For a moment all I could hear was my heart pounding over the silence in the room, my spirits falling with every passing beat. When eventually he spoke, his voice was curt, “Yes, of course I am.” He shrugged off my grip and walked out into the corridor without looking back.