Page 28 of Ondine: Vol. 2

I met Shadow first. Or rather, he made himself known to me first. I fell in love with him immediately. There was no question I wanted him with me all my life. Sebastian was the same way. He is good, and I needed that goodness in my life.

When I met you, I hadn’t been thinking of growing my pack. I’d only been focused on helping Shadow, who had become depressed over the years. Solving this problem consumed me, and it clouded my vision.

I should have known earlier how much I wanted you to stay. Maybe if I would have focused on courting you than throwing you at Shadow, I wouldn’t be apart from you now.

The reason I’m writing to you is to tell you that I want to court you. We all do. Please give me the opportunity to show you how good we can be to you. I want you and Freddie (and whatever you are calling that stripey cat these days) to come stay at the pack house on the peninsula. Your nest is being prepared now. Please come stay here while we court you.

I want to make it clear what we offer you: First and foremost, protection. Second, refuge. Third, support. Finally, I offer my love.

I hope that is enough.

What I want in return is your bond. I want to bond you. I want to be the bridge between our packs. You can arrange any other bonding between your men as you desire. I also ask, with earnest sincerity, that inter-pack relationships will be permitted, specifically between myself and Shadow. This is a requirement, and I hope we can discuss it further if there may be questions.

I also have a surprise for you.

I await your response.

Yours,

Alpha J. Meier

Freddie watches me read the email with Killer in his lap. She’s purring as he scratches her neck. For some reason that’s where my thoughts go, to the cat, and how she’ll probably enjoy living at the Meier house.

I have to admit the warmth that is lighting up my entire body. I wanted this letter more than I even knew. I can picture us all there.

“What do you think?” I ask and he shakes his head. “No, Ondine. What do you think? You’re in charge here.”

I drink some of my seltzer and take a minute. I miss Sebastian so much. I miss Jake. And I miss Shadow. I want to know what he’s been doing this whole time.

“Why is Jake asking if he can be with Shadow?” I wonder out loud.

“You don’t know? Most omegas that we know don’t want their alphas to be together. My dad and Shadow’s dad are more like business partners. Never even bonded with each other. Sebastian comes from a very conservative clan that discouragesalpha-alpha relationships at all. It’s why Jake broke up with Shadow all that time ago. He didn’t want to make it more difficult in the future if there was a problem with the omega.”

Oh.

“But I don’t care,” I say. “Actually, that’s not true, I care a lot. Freddie, did I not tell you how I felt about you and Sebastian?”

Freddie turns his face to the side and looks a little embarrassed. “I was fucking you while I told you about it, so you were turned on.”

“I was turned on. The only thing is, I didn’t like that I wasn’t there for it.”

He sucks in a breath. “You were jealous.”

“I was jealous I wasn’t there.”

“Then tell Jake as long as you’re there, he can do what he wants with Shadow.”

“No.”

“No?”

“With them it’s different. I want to know about it, but they can have a private relationship. I don’t have a problem with that.” I put my hand over my mouth, a little shy about admitting this. “I’m just really possessive over Sebastian. Alarmingly so. He’s mine. No one else’s. As you are.”

He gives me a devilish grin. “Oh really?”

“When he touched Boone I thought my head was going to pop off.”

“I know. I was there. It was gorgeous. You’re gorgeous.” He leans over and kisses me quickly on the lips.