Page 10 of Unsubmissive Omega
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maximius,” I told him, “and thank you for bringing your nephew here today. My apologies for not being here to greet you myself. There appears to have been some mix-up with the time.”
The older man grunted. “Well, we’re all here now and that’s what matters,” he said, grudgingly. “I’d like to get this settled as quickly as possible, so I can return home.”
I tried to stop my surprise from showing on my face, shocked he was talking so dismissively about his nephew’s future.
“I’m sure you must have some questions you want to ask me,” I said smoothly, “before committing your nephew to my care. We can put you both up in the pack house for a couple of days until you’re both satisfied that you’re happy with the arrangement.”
I cast a quick glance over to where Xander was now looking out the window with his back to us, the tension evident in the stiff set of his shoulders. Something was wrong here.
“No need to delay. Zendius has told me everything I need to know,” replied the old alpha coldly, “I’m satisfied my nephew will be appropriately looked after. His suitcase is in the car. I’ll hand him over to you and be on my way.”
I blinked. This man’s attitude towards his charge was baffling.
I looked across at Xander. He hadn’t moved from his position by the window. A thin ray of sunlight ran across his head, highlighting the different shades of brown in the flyaway strands.
A sudden thought occurred to me, sending a chill down my spine. Was he really agreeable to this arrangement? Had anyone asked him what he thought about it?
This was something I needed to ask Xander, although selfishly I was afraid to, fearing what the answer might be. He was even more attractive in person than he had appeared in his photo, and now that I’d finally found my mate – and my inner wolf was screaming that I had - I didn’t want to lose him. But if he didn’t want to be my mate, then I wouldn’t force him, so I had to ask.
However, if he was here under duress, then he couldn’t answer freely unless I could get him in private. Maximius was a shifter, just like us, and he would have a shifter’s hearing. I needed to get Xander away from him for a few moments.
“Very well then. Zendius, please escort Maximius to his car, and I’ll have the honor of escorting Xander.”
Zendius motioned towards the door, inviting the alpha to precede him through the doorway. Maximius strode out as if he owned the place or couldn’t get out of here fast enough, I couldn’t decide which, but I didn’t care. I didn’t like his attitude towards his nephew and whilst I wouldn't kick him out since he was my mate's uncle, I wanted him off the premises, stat.
As Xander went to follow them out the door, I laid a hand on his arm, a jolt of what felt like electricity rocketing up my arm as I held him back. Xander stared at his arm, then turned to look at me, brows drawn, his eyes narrowing, piercing me with their intensity.
I looked straight in their mesmerizing green depths and said in a soft voice, “Xander, I need to ask you, are you here of your own free will?”
For a moment all I could hear was my heart pounding over the silence in the room, my spirits falling with every passing beat. When eventually he spoke, his voice was curt, “Yes, of course I am.” He shrugged off my grip and walked out into the corridor without looking back.
Chapter 06
XANDER
“Are you here of your own free will?”
What. The. Fuck.
I was so close to freedom, well, more accurately the interim step to freedom. There was the shitty matter of the mating to go through first, but after that I’d at least be free of my uncle and his threats. As Alpha Mate, I’d surely have plenty of freedom and if I didn’t like it here, I’d just piss off once I’d gathered enough resources to see me through. So what was this shit about? Did he think I wasn’t good enough for him? Now that he'd actually seen me, was he looking for an easy out of this arrangement?
Well, I wasn’t going to give it to him. It wasn’t my arrangement but I sure as hell was going to get what I wanted out of it. No-one had asked for my opinion, not my uncle, not this sexy-as-sin alpha who was so arrogant he couldn’t be bothered meeting me privately first to see if we were compatible or at least give some sort of pretense of this being a real match. And he hadn’t bothered to dress up, despite insisting I wear a suit… as though I had to impress him, or was it to make me feel awkward standing here overdressed in comparison? And he couldn’t even be thereto greet us himself, leaving his PA - was it? – to do the job for him. Was this a deliberate strategy to make me understand my place? That I was nothing but a business transaction and shouldn’t expect more?
I marched off ahead of him, determined that he shouldn’t see the tears of frustration and rage in my eyes. And maybe the disappointment too. There was no doubt there was something about him… and for the briefest moment I’d wondered if maybe … but no, forget that.
I caught up with my uncle and the other guy – what was his name? Zendius? - as they neared the car. They were talking but I paid no heed as I marched past them to the trunk and yanked my suitcase out. Suddenly the weight lifted out of my hands.
“Let me take that.” It was Darius. I’d been so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn’t heard him catch up with me. I scowled and let him take the suitcase, not wishing to embarrass myself by struggling over it.
Zendius was shaking hands with Uncle Maxim. He turned towards me.
“When you’re done saying goodbye, I’ll take you back to the office while Darius finishes up here,” Zendius told me.
I shrugged. I didn’t need to say anything to Uncle Maxim, and I sure wasn’t interested in anything he had to say to me.
“Let’s go,” I said and headed towards the house. Zendius’s eyebrows rose just the slightest, and I didn’t miss the faint frown and speculative look in Darius’ eyes, but he said nothing. I swear I felt his eyes following me as I walked away, but no way was I going to give him the satisfaction of looking back.
I lifted my chin and strode as confidently as I could towards my new home. In truth, my legs felt weak and shaky, my shirt damp under my armpits, but I refused to give in to my anxiety… at least, not until I was alone and could afford to fall apart. I wasnevergoing to show weakness. I gave a cocky flick of the head, trying to portray an insouciance I didn’t actually feel, and concentrated on my breathing, the deep slow breaths helping me calm myself. By the time we’d reached the front door, I had control of myself again.
