Chapter 31
Opal
Ugh. It’s too early.
The sound of laughter and hushed whispers pulled me from the most comfortable sleep. I was still surrounded by blankets and pillows that smelled of Dorian.
Dorian. I reached for him, frowning when I felt how cold his side of the bed had gotten. Without him and Atlas here, the tent suddenly felt too large.
“All of you, stop causing a ruckus and go find something else better to do.” Dorian’s Ma’s voice was louder than the rest.
Oh no. His mom is coming in.
That woke me right up.
I held the blanket to my chest as I looked around, panicked. My mate’s mother was the last person I wanted to see me naked in this bed. Dorian and Atlas, most definitely. Her? No thanks.
“Good, you’re awake.” Shelly pushed open the tent flap, sauntering in without a care in the world and holding a tray in her hands. “I wanted to bring you breakfast.”
Teacups rattled as she hit her foot on the rug.
“Whoops.” She let out a little giggle when I caught the tray before it fell, still somehow managing to keep myself covered.
Skills, baby.
“Aw, thanks. You didn’t have to wake up early to cook for me, though. I can fend for myself,” I told her.
“Nonsense.” Shelly hiccupped when she sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping her boa tighter around her neck as feathers flew away from it. “I haven’t gone to sleep yet. But I figured I’d get you something to eat before this place turns into a ghost town. What else are mother-in-laws good for?”
I wouldn’t know.
I didn’t even know what a mother was good for.
That’s depressing. We’ll be a good one. Someday.
Someday, I agreed, picturing a mixture of Dorian and Atlas’s pups.
“Well, thank you,” I said again, taking a bite of the lemon cake. It was the right amount of sugar and sour.
“You’re sweet.” Shelly laughed. “We need a little more sugar around here to soften the rough edges. I think you’ll be good for my son.”
That wasn’t true from what I’d seen. Everyone had been so nice. Then again, I was used to rougher characters from growing up in the town I did.
But I decided it wasn’t the best time to argue with her. “Where is Dorian, anyway?”
“The main office, doing business.” Shelly waved her hand in front of her nose as if the word truly stunk.
Except I’d never been so excited to hear that word in my life. Dorian and I knew each other instinctually on a physical level, but I was anxious to learn more about my mate.
“I know that look.” Shelly pointed her finger at me. “Mischief. My favorite.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I gathered the blankets tighter around my chest, already looking for the dress I’d lost somewhere last night. “Can you tell me where the main office is?”
*
The metal steps on the stoop of the old rickety trailer on wheels rattled under my feet as I took them two at a time. Dust particles danced in the early morning rays of sun as I pushed open the door.
I didn’t even bother to knock.
Look at you, being so bold.
Dorian is in here. It’s fine.
He was sitting behind a green desk buried in stacks of paper and a laptop that looked older than me. Dorian met my gaze with a look of shame that he quickly covered up with surprise as he closed the laptop. The rush of his emotions and bags under his eyes had me frowning.
Did he sleep?
I remembered his head between my thighs as he coaxed me through a few glorious climaxes and then resting on his chest as I drifted off.
That’s what I remember too.
“I must’ve not done my job properly last night if you’re up this early,” he teased, injecting just enough sexual caress in his tone that I almost missed the sleight of hand where he hid a stack of papers under a folder.
I felt sick.
Oh heck no, my wolf growled. We’re bold, remember? Get him.
I nodded, wondering when I’d started getting pep-talks from my wolf, as I made my way around the desk, dragging my fingertips on the cool metal top. “What are you doing up this early?”
“Just some paperwork.” He leaned back in his chair and laced his hands behind his head, spreading his legs a little wider. Like he was relaxed.
Like he had nothing to hide.
Liar.
I let him grab my hips before I leaned over and let my hair fall around his shoulders as I tasted his lips.
Teasing at first, then he caved, growling against my mouth.
I pulled his hand off my waist and pressed the palm against my breast, giving him a handful as I broke our kiss, leaving him breathless.
“What paperwork is more important than staying in bed with me?” I asked.
“None.” He panted. “In fact, let’s get you back to bed right now and I’ll show you how important you are.”
Stay strong.
“Oh really.” I smiled as I grabbed the stack of pages he’d tucked away. “Then what’s this?”
“Opal, don’t,” Dorian commanded.
While I’d normally obey an Alpha, I didn’t have the same compulsion this time. It could’ve been because he was my mate, or that I’d already seen and licked every inch of him, but I also knew deep in my heart that he’d never hurt me.
I turned, giving him my back as I read over the papers. Math was never my strong suit. I preferred reading anyway. But I didn’t have to be a genius to know what those bright red letters meant.
I’d seen more than enough past due notices and collection bills in my life, since before I even knew how to read.
“How much?” I turned to face him, watching as he looked away.
My wolf whimpered. Maybe we should just put it back.
“I’m taking care of it,” Dorian said. It wasn’t a lie, but he still wouldn’t look me in the eye.
“How is this possible?” I stared at the notices, willing them to make sense. “Doesn’t the troupe work? I thought you guys were famous.”
“Fame doesn’t always pay the bills.” Dorian finally looked at me. And that was worse. The pain in his eyes threatened to make me choke. “I don’t want you to worry about this.”
“You can’t worry about it alone,” I almost cried. “What does the pack say?”
He huffed a humorless laugh. “That they finally have an Alpha to take care of them. It’s not their fault. Most of them are too old to work anymore. And it’s not like any of them ever had 401ks. Like I said, it’s my job and it’s fine. I’m figuring it out.”
“What did the previous management of the troupe do when someone needed to retire?” I was still trying to work through the details and understand what we were up against here.
“You don’t want to know. But that’s one reason why he isn’t a problem anymore,” Dorian growled.
I could sense there was more to it, but the look on Dorian’s face told me that wasn’t a place I wanted to go and I trusted him enough to respect that.
“The show…” I stopped breathing as I stared at my mate. “You left the show and didn’t get paid because of me.”
“This is not your fault,” Dorian grabbed my hands, stressing each word that he willed me to believe. “More opportunities are coming. I’ll take care of it. Promise me you won’t worry about this.”
“I have money,” I said instead, knowing I couldn’t make that promise. As an Omega, I was built to worry. It was literally in my DNA. “Lots of money. You can have it all.”
“No,” Dorian growled as his eyes flashed with his wolf.
I flinched.
“I’m so sorry, princess.” He gathered me close, pressing my head against his chest where his heart was beating fast. “I mean, no thank you. That money is yours.”
“Ours,” I whispered, trying not to cry as I thought about my one-sided bond. “We’re a team now.”
“And what about Atlas?” Dorian’s grip on me tightened.
“What about him?” I pushed back so I could look into his eyes. “Atlas is on my team too.”
“Yeah? And what happens when he hears how I took advantage of your kindness?” He caught me by the hand as I tried to get away, cursing under his breath as he rubbed his thumb over my knuckles, attempting to soothe like I would.
“I need you to understand that a real Alpha wouldn’t take from his mate. ”
“It’s not taking if I’m giving it to you,” I whispered.
“That’s not how it works for Alphas.” Dorian turned his red-rimmed eyes toward me, begging me to understand. “And speaking of Alphas, your other mate is here.”
*
I wanted to run to Atlas’s strong arms and beg him to help me make Dorian see reason, but I couldn’t. Not when the situation was already so precarious. The tightrope we walked threatened to snap at any minute. I couldn’t risk pitting them against each other or causing another fight.
My heart couldn’t take it.
So, I just smiled at Atlas when he took my hand, stopping at the border between territories to reach for Dorian.
“Come with me to meet Volk Pack?” I asked.
If we could spend more time together, we could figure this out. He wouldn’t have to do it alone. And I knew if I could just get Atlas on board, we’d all be able to sort through this mess, somehow.
“I can’t.” Dorian’s wolf flashed in his eyes as he nuzzled my neck, inhaling my scent like it was the last time he’d ever get a taste. “I have a meeting with my agency this morning.”
“A meeting?” Atlas frowned. “For what?”
Tension thickened between the two of them and I was caught in the middle.
It is way too early in the morning for this.
Dorian smirked. “Don’t worry, I promise to keep the volume down so we don’t annoy the neighborhood HOA.”
“This isn’t a game,” Atlas growled, moving me safely to the side so they could stare each other down. “If this is going to work, I can’t have the spotlight shining next door.”
“And why not?” Dorian provoked him. “What skeletons does Volk Pack have in their closets that you’re so eager to hide?”
“You want to act like a child, fine. But take it somewhere else.” Atlas folded his arms over his chest.
Dorian curled his hand into a fist and raised it in the air. “I’ve had it up to here with…” He tore his attention away long enough to realize I was walking. “Wait, where are you going?”
“Back to my nest.” I shrugged, fighting the tears that burned behind my eyes.
“Opal…” Atlas pleaded as he jogged to catch up. “We weren’t fighting.”
“Really?” I sniffed. “Then what do you call it?”