Page 22 of Lost and Pound

“I am disappointed that there won’t be blood uniting the Wolfsons and the Silvermoons. Though, seeing how Horace handled the entire situation, I cannot say that disappointment will last, especially with what Shilo can offer us.” My father slouched in his chair. “And the food is worth coming back often for a visit.”

I froze in place, a tremble caught in my chest.

“Shilo, I understand you are happy with my son. And, Nicolas, are you happy? I will bring you home and we’ll search for a more fitting union if this isn’t to your liking.” My father brushed invisible crumbs off his chest.

“I’m very happy with Shilo.” I swallowed hard, my nerves on edge.

“And I am eternally grateful for having met him.” Shilo rubbed my back gently.

“Then it’s settled. The Wolfson pack is now allied with Pine Warren. I look forward to doing business with you. And please—do my son a favor and look to expand. It looks good on me whenmy omega sons are spoiled.” My father stood and extended a hand toward Shilo, catching his palm in a tight squeeze.

“Sounds good to me.” Ares stood and jerked the leash. “Congrats, you two. I’ll fill out the paperwork necessary and send to your email, Shilo. I’ll wait a few days for the reply.”

“And, Nicolas, you represented the Wolfsons when you set foot on this land. And you represent them still in name before the Pine Warren and all they interact with.” My father stared me down, and I nodded.

“You did me proud, son. It may not be the mate I chose for you, but it is a good match. Fate has good taste, it seems.” He nodded and turned to leave. I didn’t know if I’d see my father in any emotional capacity again, not that he’d been abundantly so before, but having his approval felt nice.

“You good, Nic?” Shilo’s hand slowed and slipped down to palm my bottom the moment my father was out of view.

“I think so. I really do.”

“Welcome to the pack. Want to go home and initiate you?” Shilo wagged an eyebrow at me, and I couldn’t think of a reason to say no.

Chapter Thirteen

Shilo

I took Nico’s hand, and we headed out, passing by Ares on the way, arms crossed outside the door. Horace sat across the parking lot, head down in Ares’s car. The leash had been wrapped a few times around the headrest of the car.

He leaned toward me as I halted, eying my golf cart as the fastest mode of transportation between the rec center and my bed.

“He got pretty worked up in there. I know you get sick over fear, so pay attention to that scent coming off him.” He elbowed me and it finally registered with me that the fear I hated had morphed into something sweet and alluring.

Any omega sufficiently trapped by an alpha or driven to panic had one defense mechanism… Estrus. Nico had been driven to heat by sheer panic.

“Fuck,” I whispered.

“Exactly. Get to it.” Ares slapped my back and marched off while Nico gave me a sidelong glance.

He didn’t look behind him, not at his departing father, nor at Ares or Horace. In a way, it made me sad for him. Though, I’d not been very close to my own father before he went off on his own. As a beta, my father had worked hard to stand in place of pack alpha. It was rare and my grandfather allowed it, but he never cared. He never showed the potential I did. “If only my grandfather were here to see this.”

“Sorry for your loss,” Nico said, but I laughed.

“No, he’s on an extended vacation in Alaska with Grandma.” Shilo laughed. “He handed control over to me. My beta father just wasn’t leadership material.”

“Because he was beta?” Nico halted in step, and I halted too, turning to face him. His expression twisted into something sad.

“No, because he had no loyalty to family or pack.” I snorted a half laugh.

“What did he do?” Nico frowned.

“Knocked my mom up and skipped town to join the military. Grandpa raised me. My mom comes to visit every now and then, but we’re not super close. Alpha pups need an alpha in their lives and Mom’s family was all betas.”

“My father has a few females he spends time with, but he mostly goes for omegas, so he doesn’t have many beta kids at all. A handful with the women.” Nico pursed his lips in thought. An alpha and female could make any gender, but an alpha-omega pair only yielded alphas and omegas. Two betas could make omegas occasionally, which is why there were often slightly more omegas than alphas who liked omegas. In a way, alphas having a few omegas was a kindness. But I always suspected that societal pressures kept more betas from seeking omegas.

“I don’t like harems. I’m glad you know I won’t go that way. My grandfather taught me better. Any alpha is welcome to look down on me, and I know my pack is small, but we’re happy and there’s a lot to be said for happiness.” I drew Nico to me once more, inhaling his scent deeply. I hated fear, and I hated that his body decided to resort to heat as a defense.

“Your pack is wonderful. I had every opportunity to leave if I wanted. I really want to stay, though. And I want to return this bite, Shilo.” Nico rested a hand on his neck and flashed teeth with a little of his wolf in them.

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