Chapter Twenty-Seven
Archer
Our omega grew more beautiful every day, and her pregnancy sweetened her scent.
What I’d never believed could smell better now, remarkably did.
And it became harder and harder to send her home to her brother’s pack.
She spent more time here than previously, but she still wasn’t willing to give up her turret entirely, and one cold evening after we had dropped her off, we went out for coffee and had a pack meeting.
“This can’t go on,” Dax said, hands cupped around a mug of hot apple cider.
He’d been the one who suggested coffee, but to him, the term meant “have a hot drink somewhere and preferably a pastry along with it.” “My wolf is having fits, and it’s getting a little uncomfortable being clawed on the inside on the time. ”
“It may be ‘physical,’ Talon agreed, “but it hurts all the same. And considering I fully agree with him, I can’t tell my beast he’s wrong. Our mate needs to be under our roof. How are we expected to care for her and our child when they live under another alpha’s protection?”
“Sylvia is our mate, but she’s also a free person, and that’s relatively new to her,” Dax said. “How will she feel if we attempt to force her to do what doesn’t want to? In fact, I’m not willing to force her to do anything. I love her.”
“Me too!” Talon asserted. “If she doesn’t like our home, we can have another built to her specifications.
If she wants a turret, we can do that, too.
No problem. But I can’t sleep without her nearby.
It’s so wrenching to see her go inside Benji’s home and wave goodbye like we are just casually dating or something. ”
“I don’t think it’s a structural issue. Without forcing her, maybe we can point out that mates live together, that’s just how it is?” Dax huffed.
“And imply that she’s doing something wrong by staying where she is?” Talon, who was used to letting his money solve his problems, ground his teeth. “So I shouldn’t offer to build something for her?”
I sat quietly and let my mates hash out their thoughts while working on the problem in my own mind.
Our mate loved her turret. We’d all had the opportunity to see it, but did we want to suggest she move in with us and hide away in her own space?
Avoid us? Would she keep the baby up there?
None of this sounded good. I’d already lain awake multiple nights trying to find a solution, but so far, I’d only come up with one, and I hadn’t mentioned it yet because it was far less than optimal.
No more time could pass while we lived apart from her, though.
It was too hard on our wolves and on us.
Taking a long sip of coffee, I waited for a break in the dialogue.
When they began, I’d had a vague hope they would have an idea I hadn’t already considered, but no such luck.
Limited options existed. And the one they hadn’t mentioned appeared to be the one we’d have to go with.
One that would change everything about our life going forward, but our mate was worth any sacrifice.
Even being pack alpha.
When my friends finally sagged back in their seats, having vented for a good hour, I inhaled deeply and let it out. “We need to ask her brother if we can move into her turret with her.”
Both of them straightened up and gasped. “Alpha, we can’t do that because…well, you wouldn’t be alpha,” Dax said.
“We’d have to be part of their pack.” Talon sounded horrified. “Surely, our mate doesn’t want us to do that.”
She’s said as much, the day she discovered her pregnancy. But had that been for our benefit? Knowing her, probably.
“It’s the first place she’s been fully secure in a very long time.
After all the trauma of her previous years, is it any wonder she is hesitant to give up her place in that tower?
It doesn’t have to be forever. When I apply to the alpha, I will explain that we’d move on if it were ever something she’s comfortable with. Thoughts?”
Their lips were moving, but no words were coming out. Apparently, they, like me, recognized the impossibility of any other option. “All right, if we’re agreed, there’s no point in putting this off. I’ll go speak to Benji now, if he’ll see me this late.”
“Alpha, we need to go with you.” Talon stood and tossed a few bills on the table for a tip. We’d paid for the coffees already but he always wanted to make sure the people who cleared had a little something.
“If he wants to speak with you alone, we’ll wait outside,” Dax added. “What will we do with our livestock, and Emma?”
“We don’t have to give up our property,” I reassured. “Maybe we can hire someone to be a caretaker for the time being.”
None of us would love that idea, but the only one we loved less was spending one more night without our omega.
Benji replied to our text that he would see us right away and, at my request, not say anything to Sylvia until we had a chance to speak with him, so we drove back to the house and parked.
Benji’s brother met us at the door and led us inside.
“My sister is up in her turret, and my mate is feeding the baby in our room, so we have privacy. Let’s go into the kitchen, though, where it’s less likely sound will carry.
I must admit, I’m curious about what you wanted to talk about so late and without Sylvia knowing. ”
“She’ll know eventually,” I said, following him through the doorway, my friends on my heels. “But first, I wanted to speak with you and see if you were on board with what might sound like a crazy idea at first.”
“Oh, this I’ve got to hear, then. Have a seat at the table.” He opened the refrigerator and pulled out four bottles of lager. “I think this might be needed.”
He thought right. I accepted a beer from him and the bottle opener. Popping the top, I handed the device to Dax before taking a long draught. Cold, refreshing, and moistened my dry throat nicely. “In case you haven’t noticed, your sister, our mate, still lives under your roof.”
“I’ve noticed.” He took a drink as well. “I’m not sure how to feel about it. I love her being close, but mates living apart is not good for anyone.”
“And that’s why I asked to speak with you. We three cannot continue to live apart from our mate without our wolves taking us to bloody task. We love her, we miss her, and we want to sleep close to her every night.” At his raised brow, I added, “Sorry.”
“It’s all right. She’s my sister, but she’s a mated woman who is carrying a pup. I can’t force her to leave here though, if she doesn’t want to. I don’t think it’s because she doesn’t have enough love for you three. But she may be unwilling to give up the security she found here.”
“Benji, alpha, what do you think about us moving in here with our mate? We would of course be requesting to join your pack and respect your authority.” Hardest words I’d ever had to say.
“If you will have us. Hopefully in time, we’ll be able to return to our own lands, but only if our mate is willing. ”
Benji nodded slowly. “It’s a lot to ask of an alpha.”
“I know, but we would do our best to be good and loyal members of your pack.”
“No, I mean a lot to ask of you, Archer. You have your own lands and pack structure and authority. I’ve never in this life heard of an alpha willing to give up everything for his mate.
And not just you but Dax and Talon as well.
Any doubts I might ever have had about her being with you were already gone, but now… Now, I stand in awe.”
“You’d do it for Lily,” I said.
“Yes, but I’m grateful she never asked me to.”
“And I am not asking my mates to either.” It was so shocking to hear her voice after the silence of our first weeks together, but so amazing. “I’m all packed.”
“Sylvia, you don’t have to—”
She came over and kissed each of us on the cheek before sitting on my lap.
“It isn’t because of what you just offered to do.
Tonight, when I went up to get ready for bed, I couldn’t do it.
I was going to call you to come and get me, but hearing what you just said?
” Her eyes brimmed with tears that spilled down her cheeks.
“There has never been an omega as lucky as me.” Swiping at the droplets, she flushed.
“Darn pregnancy emotions.” Leaning back against me, she sniffled.
“Like we could abandon Emma to some caretaker who wouldn’t love her. ”