Page 25 of Ondine: Vol. 2

I bare my teeth at her.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” I say, “but I intend for the Meier Pack to talk to me about courting.”

For some reason it’s the Senator who speaks up now. I’d nearly forgotten the alphas were in the room, so eclipsed by their omega. He says to Freddie, “You want to be in a pack with your brother?”

At first I don’t know what he’s asking. It’s not uncommon for brothers to be pack mates. Then I realize he means Shadow specifically. And then I see it. How the three of these people hate their children. That’s the only way I can describe it. Freddie was going to be sent away and raised by a local unrelated man (a man they will eventually betray). When Freddie found the monastery they never came for him. He’s been there for 20 years. The onlything they wanted from him was his name. But they didn’t even want that from him, they were going to get it from Shadow.

And Shadow was a bigger disappointment. He works for Jake Meier as a bodyguard. There’s no way these people wanted that for him.

They are still trying to recoup their losses. At this point all that’s left is their name and fodder. And I’m validated in this thought because before Freddie can answer his dad, Tina says, “Well at least if that happens there will finally be a Wong pack.”

“I’d never challenge Jake Meier. We’d be the Meier Pack,” Freddie announces and then looks to me for confirmation. I nod.

He unlaces our fingers and kisses my cheek. He’s done. He walks over to one of the other couches and bends down, finding the sleeping kitten underneath. He stands up holding her in his arms, clipping her leash to the vest, then turns to his parents.

“We need to talk more about this Man-ho issue. And you need to stay out of my relationships. But most importantly, I need to return to being alone with my omega. Goodbye, mom. Goodbye.”

Tina wants to talk more about “this Jake Meier thing” but we step away anyway, leaving the penthouse.

9

Courting

Jake

Shadow and the beta are fighting again. I can’t wait until they leave the house. All they’ve been doing is walking around the floors bickering. It’s nice that they are getting to know each other but I’m in no mood for playful fighting. I’ve been separated from Ondine for too fucking long.

I had to leave to prepare my pack for her, but I am at war with myself about it. She needs this to be the easiest decision of her life. We will have everything she could possibly want. We have her little beta boyfriend. We will have the perfect nest. I’ve bought her more clothes. More groceries. I’ve hired someone to tune the piano. I’ve even bought cat food for Freddie’s damned feline.

What was the tea she liked? I’m at my office computer, so I pull up a search for some tea shops nearby. “What tea do omegas like…” I type into the search bar. Oh god, there’s a lot.

A text pings from Boone Anderson. I ignore it. Like I’ve ignored the last several. I have no time for him today. Sebastian told me all about this morning. How he invited himself to Sky Nest.

I’ve known Boone a long time, and for the most part ignored his tendency to lie or scheme. It’s never been so obvious that I’ve been forced to admit it’s a problem. We are dealing with too much at this time to also deal with some nosey lawyer.

I put a few pounds of tea in my digital cart along with canisters, tea spoons, a tea set, and little steepers. I get a call from one of our security agents on the street.

“Alpha Meier, Boone Anderson is approaching the house. Should I intercept him?” Ever since Ondine was taken we’ve had a detail at the house. Sebastian has three guys on Ondine and Freddie, along with a detail at Sky Nest.

“No, just watch him.”

“He’s spotted all of us. Seems suspicious that he’s looking for your protection.”

“Interesting…but don’t worry about Boone Anderson.”

I hear when Boone lets himself into the house. Shadow and the beta are already gone, so it’s just me in the house. He heads right to my office. I end the call, then lean back in my chair and wait for him.

He knocks on the door. Curious since he just let himself into my house.

“Come in, Boone,” I call. He lets himself in.

He’s wearing a suit. His shoes are shined. His bolo tie and cowboy hat have a matching green gemstone. This is no ordinary house call.

“Jake,” he tips his hat to me.

Something I don’t often think about is how both he and I grew up in Sixthwater Ridge two states over. He is three years older than me, so we weren’t that close. He moved to the peninsula to start his law practice, and finding a childhood friend, the nostalgia of it, outweighed most things. Then Sebastian and him became fast friends, and I didn’t think anything of it. But Boone never wanted to be part of my household, just benefitting from it.

“What do I owe the pleasure?” I say, keeping my face neutral.