Page 8

TAL

While we were running around, Alpha and his guests emerged from the dining shed, slowly walking up in the direction of Alpha’s house. Mar was with them, looking sulky. He could’ve joined us, but we didn’t call him over. We weren’t friends. He looked bored too, trailing along after his parents, while we were all tearing around having fun. That was what you got for being the Alpha’s son… and an asshole.

The group had already passed us when I saw Alpha turn back and cuff Mar around the ears, saying something. Mar dipped his head and even from here I could see the pink stain of embarrassment on his cheeks, as his dad went off about something. I strained my ears to hear what was being said, but I only caught snippets … idiot… too young for… what were you thinking … I kinda felt sorry for Mar. He was an asshole and a bully, but maybe that wasn’t surprising given how his parents treated him… and especially doing that in front of visiting alphas.

There was a dull thud in the middle of my back, and Irian ran past laughing as the small rubber ball bounced off me and rolled underfoot.

He looked like he was going to chase down another victim – one of the cheeky pups darting out from between two obstacles, but he checked his stride and then headed off in the opposite direction – to Mar. Uh-oh, looked like he might be going to invite Mar to join in the game.

I headed over that way too. I might have felt sorry for Mar, but I didn’t trust him either. Some irrational primitive part of me thought he might try and snatch Irian away.

I arrived in time to hear Nah, running around is for kids!

…what the ever-loving fuck?

Mar was a prick, but I supposed I didn’t really care. He was just making it easier for me to keep my Christmas present close.

I conveniently ignored the fact that until Irian had joined the game, none of us adolescents were doing anything more exciting than standing around and talking. Figure it took a sassy 16-year-old omega to show us what’s what.

I quickly forgot about Mar. I wrapped an arm around Irian’s slumped shoulders, the firm curve of his shoulder fitting snugly in the hollow of mine, and murmured “Forget him, he’s an asshole”, as we turned away.

I had to admire his spirit. For an omega, he was bold, seemingly unafraid to go for what he wanted. Maybe that was the result of having two alpha parents, or perhaps because he was an only child and he’d had to stand up for himself and be independent. It was unusual for an omega, but it made me warm inside… I was proud of him.

As the day drew to a close, the sun set and darkness crept in. The yard grew quieter as the younger ones became tired and one by one disappeared inside their packhouses for the evening. We adolescents withdrew to the tree again, but it wasn’t long before people began leaving the group and headed to their respective homes for dinner. Lunch did seem a long time ago, and gurgles rumbled through my gut. It reminded me I had spent most of my lunch watching Mar try and stake a claim on Irian, instead of filling my belly with roast venison, roast beef and chicken. I scowled.

Another growl from my belly, and Irian’s hand flew over his mouth as he tried vainly to contain his laughter.

“Didn’t you eat lunch, Tal?”

“Actually, no. I was too busy watching that idiot Mar trying to seduce you.”

“What? No!” he protested, looking shocked. “He wasn’t… Oh!”

His voice trailed away as the realization finally hit home. I stayed quiet, giving him time to process it. Clearly it hadn’t occurred to him, though he would have known about mating behaviors. Everyone did. From the moment shifters could talk, they were talking and thinking about these things. “Surely not. Surely , surely not. They wouldn’t… would they?” he muttered to himself.

His brow scrunched as he looked up at me, a pained expression on his face. He looked devastated.

“But I’m underage. By years!”

“I know.” I cocked my head. “So, you didn’t know about it?”

“No! I swear. You… you think my parents have made an arrangement for me? Behind my back?”

I let my shoulders lift and fall, in a gesture of uncertainty. “I don’t know. Unless Mar came up with the idea himself, but he was definitely trying to stake a claim on you. I’m not the only one that thought so.”

“F-u-c-k.”

“C’mon, don’t worry about it. Let’s go back to my house and eat. We don’t have to worry about it now.”

Irian was uncharacteristically quiet as we walked to my packhouse. I wanted to put my arm around him and console him, but given how he was reacting to hearing Mar was trying to claim him, I worried that he might not take the gesture well. He was a very independent omega.

Maybe it had never occurred to him that as an omega, he was political currency. A mating could be used to bind two families together to gain influence, social or political standing, even to acquire property. I didn’t know enough about his family to say what they would bring to such an arrangement, but our pack leader came from an established family that had been on the Council for generations and was highly influential. Their alpha children could probably have their pick of available omegas.

Irian had previously told me that his mother was a member of the Paranormal Council. A politically favorable alliance with a wealthy and influential Pack Alpha like ours would be something that would solidify her position on the Council. Depending on how traditional they were, as alphas, his parents might not think to ask their omega son what he thought of such an arrangement.

I had met Irian less than 24 hours ago, so in truth I didn’t really know him that well, but from what he’d shown of himself so far, I doubted he’d be thrilled with a forced union. He was an omega that seemed to know what he wanted. I couldn’t imagine him being a pawn in anyone’s game.

The low hum of murmuring voices interspersed with a child’s high-pitched giggle and some grumbling greeted us as we entered the packhouse.

My omega dad and younger brother and sister were seated at the table, a board game with tokens in various places around the board in front of them. The dirty dishes stacked on the table beside them were clearly less important than the game.

If he was surprised to see me bring Irian home, Pa didn’t show it.

“The food’s laid out in the kitchen. Help yourselves, boys.”

“Thanks, Pa. Where’s everyone?”

“Your sister and her family have already gone to bed… the little kids were tired after staying up late last night and all the excitement today. Dad and your uncle are over at Cousin Patty’s house, with the teens. Not sure where the others are… there was a rush on food a while back, but everyone’s gone now, except us, as you can see.”

I turned to Irian.

“Wanna grab plates and watch movies in my room while we eat?” I hesitated, “or are you expected to join your parents tonight?”

“Nah, they won’t care. They’ll be with their friends, so they won’t be paying attention to me anyway. And I’d rather stay away from Mel.”

“Mar,” I corrected him.

He shrugged.

The air hissed out of me in a long, slow hiss. I wasn’t going to argue. It looked to me as if his parents brought him here so he could get acquainted with Mar, but the facts were, he’d been under my Christmas tree when I’d found him.

He was my Christmas present.

He was mine.

I just hoped he agreed with me on that.