Page 31 of Omega Haunting

“You should be restin’ up before that pup gets here,” Dern sighed. “You’re gonna need all the rest you can get.”

“Have you seen something else about me or Marsin, Dern?” I asked, my voice a little firmer.

“Nothing new,” he shook his head and smelled like he was telling the truth.

“Why were you arguing outside of my house with your dead mate?” I asked the obvious question we both skirted around earlier.

“He was spying. He knows Marsin doesn’t like me.”

“Marsin likes you.”

“No, he doesn’t. He puts up with me because it makes you happy.”

“Ormund wouldn’t try to hurt Marsin, would he?” I asked, pushing aside my plate suddenly no longer hungry for my midnight snack.

“Ormund wouldn’t hurt nobody. Not unless they were gonna come after me or the kids. He won’t hurt Marsin, because your mate doesn’t have the heart to break yours.”

“He doesn’t want to hurt you, Dern,” I frowned at the old wolf. “You don’t have to be afraid of anyone. You’re pack and Marsin’s pack too now. You can tell Ormund that. I think we’ve taken good care of you – as much as you’d let us take care of you – since he’s been gone. He doesn’t need to walk around with a chip on his shoulder now.”

“It’s complicated, Ast. It really is. He has one more person he needs to help before we can rest and I don’t know how to get stuff done anymore. I’m tired and he’s gonna do what he’s gonna do. He won’t hurt you or Marsin, though.”

“Who do you think he’d hurt?” I leaned forward, my belly broiling with concern.

“Anyone who stands in his way of keeping a promise.”

“Dern, can I walk you home, buddy? When you finish with that sandwich?” Marsin asked from the doorway.

“No, it’s okay. Ormund’s still hanging around outside. He’ll walk me home.”

Chapter Sixteen

Marsin

Sticking to my plan, I decided to act as if an old wolf talking to a man not even witches could see was one hundred and fifty percent normal. I gave Astral a hug and a kiss on the forehead before carrying him back to bed. I was ready to feign sleep until I dozed back off but Astral decided that night was the night we needed to discuss Dern once and for all.

“He’s going downhill fast, I think,” he whispered from under the blankets. “Faster than I thought, at least. He thinks Ormund wants him to do something for him.”

“He’s a seer, though, right?” I asked, finding his hand and entwining our fingers.

“A fortune teller,” he nodded.

“Well, seers see, right? Maybe he is seeing him. I mean, sometimes spirits show up before doors. What I don’t like is whatever Ormund wants him to do seems to have something to do with us, Astral. That’s the worrisome part.”

“I don’t think he’s seeing him, though, alpha. That’s what worries me. I’d know what to do if he was actually seeing his dead mate. I could handle that. Magic goes a little wonky when people grow older. I don’t think his true-mate would show up and demand that he do something. Something about a promise. I couldn’t imagine doing that to you if I were dead and you were old.”

“You’re not Ormund and neither am I. I think he’s dying, mate. I heard you two talking about it tonight. He might not want to acknowledge it and there isn’t a door following him around yet, but I think your friend isn’t doing great.”

Astral sniffled and I pulled him into my chest as much as his pregnant belly allowed. Why did I have to say it tonight? It could’ve waited for morning light.

“I don’t know what to do,” Astral said, his tears hitting my bare chest.

“No one can stop old age. No one can stop death, not forever anyway, mate,” I whispered, kissing the top of his head. “All you can do is be there for him, but in a way that keeps you safe too. I know you’re always careful but sometimes people don’t see things if they really care about someone and Dern means a lot to you. A lot to us.”

“We have to figure something out.”

“I think short of moving him in here, we’re doing our best and I don’t think Dern would move in with us. He likes his house. He lived there with his mate, didn’t he?”

“He did,” Astral nodded.

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