Page 35 of The Alpha's Mates

“It was just a scratch.” His voice was low, but the gravelly quality made my lower belly cramp with awareness. “Thank you for taking care of it for me.”

“How did you get it?” I breathed the question out, still stuck in his trance as he watched me like a spider watched the fly. It was as though he wanted to gobble me up instead of the food that was set in front of him. Somehow, I knew it would be worth the loss of control on both our parts when he did.

“Convincing the leader of the Fenhall Pack to cooperate,” Calder said, answering for him.

My brows shot up as I looked between the three of them. It’d been difficult to tear my gaze from Soren’s, but I was afraid that if I didn’t he’d end up spreading me over the table top. None of the omegas would likely appreciate the show along with their morning meal. Or…maybe they would. Omegas were inherently sexual creatures. But I certainly wasn’t ready to share that experience with these men, let alone my pack.

“And did he?” I asked.

“Did he what?” Soren replied.

“Agree to cooperate?”

“It took some convincing.” He picked up his fork and scooped up some food, shoving it in his mouth.

I didn’t know him well enough, but I was pretty sure that meant he didn’t want to talk about it. That irritated me. If I was going to be their mate, to complete their cadre, they’d have to share these things with me. Maybe not if I was an omega, because such things wouldn’t interest me. But as an alpha? I couldn’t live without being included.

Atlas’s huge hand covered mine where it was fisted on my lap. “We’ll tell you more about it after breakfast.”

Looking around, I saw the worried glances my omegas were giving us. My muscles loosened and I un-balled my fist so that I could squeeze Atlas’s hand in gratitude. He really was the most level-headed out of the four of us.

My males knew we didn’t need to be having this conversation in front of the others. I wouldn’t lie to, or keep things from them, but I could buffer the information I gave so as not to worry them.

Emma, thank the Goddess for her, kept up a steady stream of small talk during breakfast, pulling the omegas into the conversation and relaxing them.

We parted ways afterward and I watched as my males stalked off to complete whatever list of tasks they needed to finish before leaving. I was sure it was nearly limitless. My own to-do list was daunting enough and I was only responsible for the nine we were leaving here. It helped keep things in perspective.

Soren could be brusque and uptight, but it was because so much was riding on him. It made me wonder if there was anything I could do to help make things easier on him. Shaking my head, I realized that the yearning to take stress off him was another sign of our bond getting stronger. It wasn’t a bad thing. And I wasn’t trying to avoid it anymore, I just wished this had all come when I was ready for it.

When would that have been?

I ignored my wolf’s completely valid point. No matter where I was, I wouldn’t have been prepared for these three. All I could dowas work with what I had and do my best to stay open to them. As long as Soren, Calder, and I didn’t wring each other’s necks first, we might make it through all of this. Hope that we could come out stronger on the other side was a deep wish buried inside my heart.

CHAPTER 17

Atlas

We were up before the sun the next morning, finishing up last minute tasks that would allow us to leave our pack for an indefinite amount of time. None of us were happy about it, but this was important.

My eyes followed my mate as she flitted amongst the women who formed her pack. By the time we returned they would likely be integrated into life here in the village. It was an important time and Reese was going to miss it. I knew she felt badly about that. She was as stuck as us.

She needed to come along, despite Soren and Calder’s reservations, we all knew it was true. Hauling the pack that held some of our supplies over my shoulder, I walked toward her.

“Ready to go, Little Warrior?”

Her eyes flashed up to mine and she put her hands on ample hips as she scowled at me. “Why do you all do that?”

“Do what?” I asked, amusement with her.

“Call me little this and little that?”

“Are we not allowed to have nicknames for you?” I arched a brow.

“I’m not little,” she huffed.

“You are to us.”

Her beautiful gray eyes narrowed and it was clear she was thinking of a rebuttal.

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