Chapter Ten
Archer
For the last few days, I’d become a huge fan of texting. Sylvia and I had conversations about everything. Books, mostly. Like me, she read everything. Some people stuck to romance or mystery, but I would read almost any book put in front of me.
I’d also noticed a trend with our omega. She liked a late-night treat.
I wished I could hear her voice, but knowing her and having her in our lives was more than enough. She was more than enough.
Dax and Talon were texting her as well. There were a few texts in the group chat, but it often got confusing for all of us.
She told me Dax sent her pictures of our home, our garden, and even Emma the goat. Our omega had never been around animals before moving into her brother’s farm.
We would see her again at the farmers market on Saturday, but my alpha was going nuts in the meantime. Scent matches were rare, and packs and their omegas usually moved along with the process of mating and being together fairly quickly, but Sylvia was as rare as us finding each other.
She was reserved. Maybe that was her general personality, but I thought there was more.
Time for the alpha of our pack to make a bold move. Good thing I was the alpha.
I closed the book on shifter biology I’d been half reading and stood up, a plan forming in my mind.
We were supposed to be courting our omega. It was high time we started.
I’d never loved flowers as a gift. They died soon after receiving them. Didn’t seem right. But I could get her an arrangement that never died. Like our love for our omega.
Fuck, how cheesy.
Sylvia deserved wooing.
“Don’t forget the grocery list.” Talon plucked it from the fridge and waved it at me.
“I’m not going to the store. I’m…I’m making the first move with Sylvia. It’s time we courted her over more than text.”
Talon lit up. Dax walked in the back door, wiping his hands on a towel. “What’s happening?”
“I’m going into town to that florist that has the wooden flower arrangements. And to the chocolatier. Text isn’t enough for me. I’m sure you two feel the same way.”
“Should we come?” Talon asked, looking down to assess his outfit. We stayed pretty casual around the homestead.
“I think if we all go, it will overwhelm her.” Dax agreed with me. “We have to court her slowly. She’s skittish from what I can tell.”
“Same here. I thought I’d go by myself this time.”
“You’re right. And it might be easier to talk to her in person with only one of us. Until we learn to communicate better, one on one might be best.”
Talon was right. We had already started learning some signing on YouTube, but it would only be with a lot of practice that we could have real conversations with Sylvia.
“I’ll call when I leave, okay?”
Talon nodded. “Wait. Here’s the address.” He plucked the business card from the fridge and handed it to me.
I laughed. I’d been in such a hurry that I almost left without the address. I also thought that Sylvia’s brother Benji might be a roadblock to be able to speak to her, but I had to take that chance.
I had more patience than a lot of people, but we had to make some kind of gesture, proving we were serious about her.
One stop at the florist and another at the chocolate shop and I was on my way. The florist had a lavender and deep-purple arrangement I thought was best. And I may or may not have bought the biggest box of chocolates I could find plus some hot chocolate bombs.
I questioned myself and what I was doing over and over as I made the drive to see her. There was a chance she wouldn’t even come out, but at least she would know we were here and thinking about her—wanting to see her.
It was something.
Over an hour later, I pulled up to their home, her brother’s pack’s home. I looked up to the second floor and swore I saw her move in the bay window.
I got out of the car with my offerings in hand. The front screen door slapped against the frame and an alpha came barreling down the steps. He had the same dark hair as Sylvia. The same nose.
“You must be Benji,” I said. “I’m Archer. Alpha of our pack.”
“I am Benji. Sylvia’s brother. I’m assuming she’s why you’re here.”
I chuckled, releasing some of my tension. “The flowers and the chocolates are not for you. Sorry.”
Benji laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to play who is the bigger alpha. But I’d like to talk to you a bit about my sister first, okay?”
I nodded. “Of course. But first, I brought this as an official request to court her. This is the first of many courting gifts. We are serious about her.”
“Good. She deserves that. The choice is hers but let’s talk.”