Page 25 of Rogue If You Want To
“If Lutris’s people track you here, they can’t remove you unless they want to start a war,” Auden added.
It made sense I supposed, but if Otto were ever to present his case to the bevy council, he couldn’t be pack. He had to remain a bevy member.
“But how does this help Otto?” I must have missed something.
“Imagine you are Lutris,” Auden said.
Ewww, no. Not that. Anything but that.
“What would be the best way of getting Otto to agree to whatever Lutris wanted?” Creven chimed in.
But he wouldn’t. Otto was the one person on the planet who was privy to his twin's personality.
“If he threatened you, how would Otto react?” Creven continued.
Shit. The mating bond that should protect Otto could be used to harm him and kill our relationship. I was part of the problem, and yet by marking me as pack, it was as though I was abandoning my mate and leaving him exposed. I put my head in my hands, saying I had to speak to Otto, and Creven told me to do it quickly.
Otto was washing up when I raced in and spilled the details. He wasn’t conflicted like me and said I had to do it.
“Go, now.”
I wanted him to be present and for it to be a ceremony, but there wasn’t much to celebrate.
“We’ll have a big party and make vows when I join the pack.” He told me to get it over with but that he’d come too and witness my marking.
We met in Creven’s office. Auden was present but no one else. He spoke a few words but I only heard “Stoney River.” Otto held my hand, and I gripped my pendant as Creven’s fox’s claws extended. Shoot, I’d never done this, and it was going to hurt.
My wolf told me I’d be fine, and I gritted my teeth while staring at my mate and wishing he was being marked too. I looked away as I used to when I was vaccinated. Back then Mom was with me, holding me tight and promising me a lollipop afterward.
Owww, owww, owww. Those fox claws were sharp. I didn’t want to cry, and I pictured what Otto’s and my life would be like once Lutris wasn’t a threat.
“Welcome to the Stoney River pack, Torin.”
"Thank you.” That was my voice. It was done? I was pack?
Otto kissed me and admired the jagged mark over my chest. He raised a brow, and I sent him a look that said, “Not here.”
“Don’t thank me just yet. Being part of the pack means you have responsibilities.” Creven shook my hand
Great. Did I have to be a short-order cook or something?
“But first you need to learn our territory boundaries, so I want you with me while I do a perimeter run.”
Otto returned to the cabin, and I followed Creven away from the buildings. But he wasmyAlpha, not justtheAlpha. We removed our clothes and shifted, and his fox raced ahead. My wolf was pleased at being in his fur, but disappointed not to be hunting.
The land was larger than I’d thought because I hadn’t made it much further than the stream. Alpha’s fox pointed out the boundary markers such as the scratches on trees and boulders, as well as the pack scents.
My mind went to Otto. We were still mates, though not marked, and I refused to allow me being a pack member to come between us.
What I’d done was for him.
14
OTTO
It had been three days since my mate became pack. At the time, I understood the reasons and also that it would hit me hard. But it was done for safety, and my discomfort was a price I was willing to pay.
The first day, my otter was nearly uncontrollable. That I hadn’t expected. It got to the point where I didn’t dare allow him to shift, just pushing him down every time he tried to take over. Nothing I could say or do would convince him that our mate hadn’t rejected us.
