by Emma Knox
“What is it, Ethan?” I wiped the sweat off of my forehead and folded my arms. A look of worry skipped across his face .
“This is improper of me to ask like this. But I do want to know. Now that Steven is your mate, he’s the head Omega now by default. I don’t want to take his place, I only want to make sure that I can still run—well—manage the Omega Lodge Inn .”
I hadn’t thought about it before, but Ethan was right. Steven was the newest head Omega, but that didn’t mean I was going to boot him out of his job …
“Ethan, cheer up. I know how much Omega Lodge means to you. You’ve put blood sweat and tears into it. Of course I wouldn’t rip it away from you. Plus, I think Steven has different interests .”
Ethan sighed heavily and slapped his body on the wall in relief. “Thank goodness, you’re right. I’ve really come to love managing the Omega Lodge. Plus, I heard he’s a programmer. That could help us a lot .”
“Indeed it could .”
Ethan pushed himself off of the wall and straightened himself up. “Well, you have a family to greet and a tux to pick out with Tom. Off with you while I head over to the Omega Lodge to handle more checkins. Plus, in another week I want to talk about renovations. We’re a bit dated .”
“We are?” I asked .
“Very.”
Ethan ran off leaving me more on track in my frame of mind. I had a tux to pick out, and it was almost time to shuffle Steven’s family inside secretly .
As planned, Steven’s family was waiting in the back to come through an entrance that was for well-respected guests that wanted secrecy and privacy. Perfect for what I was planning .
Tom walked with me to the door, my heart was racing, they all shared his feline scent .
“Calm down,” Tom said, slapping my back. “They’ll love you. Everyone likes you .”
I huffed a small bout of laughter. “You think? Ask the Reluson pack. They can’t stand me .”
Tom sucked his teeth. “Not your fault they produce a lot of criminals that get their ass beat .”
We stopped at the big wooden door at the back of the Alpha Lodge, and I opened the double doors to reveal a family of five. They were the closest members, and I didn’t want the party to be too big. Bad enough my whole pack was going to be there .
“Hello, Mr. Purr,” I said to the man with shoulder length auburn hair. God, he looked so much like Steven it was shocking. I held out my hand to him and the Alpha Mr. Purr grabbed it instead .
“Delighted,” he grunted .
Mr. Purr smacked his hand off of mine and shook it. “Sorry for that, sometimes he’s too much of an Alpha .”
“Not a problem, I understand .”
The three siblings standing in the back eyed me down like a flock of hawks .
“Come inside,” I said, ushering them inside. “We have a special part of the Alpha Lodge cornered away just for your family, Mr. Purr. I’m happy to have you here. We’ll have a strong alliance .”
“That we will,” Mr. Purr agreed, purring. His Alpha came up behind him and nuzzled him on his Omega glands. It made me miss Steven ten times more than I already had, and it was only about an hour and a half since I’d seen him .
They had an apartment suite that was equipped with four rooms. They spilled into the main living area and admired the brilliant architecture .
On a whim, his two brothers and sister surrounded me and stared me down .
“So you’re my brother’s mate?” the small Beta sister said, “You’re really handsome .”
The two other brothers rolled their eyes and grunted .
I patted her head, and she sighed. “Steven’s so lucky!” she exclaimed .
Mr. Purr and his Alpha came over to me and moved their glaring sons out of the way. “Now, now, I hear this is all a surprise. We’ll be here waiting when you’re ready. I hope Steven hasn’t been too feisty .”
“He’s perfect the way he is .”
Mr. Purr laughed. “That was a yes, I see .”
I bowed out and left their suite. Tom was waiting in the hallway staring at his phone .
I broke his attention. “Tom, are you ready ?”
“Oh! Uh, yeah! Let’s go,” he said .
“Are you okay, you seem lost .”
“I’m good .”
Tom wasn’t good at hiding things… Was it Aiden ?
Ethan helped keep Steven busy as the Betas prepared the dinner area. Everything was coming along to plan .
The night settled in quickly, bringing a rainstorm with it. Thunder rolled above us and rumbled the earth below. Peaceful, the exact mood that I was going for .
My pack and the Purrs gathered into the dinner hall where all the stops were pulled. The best lighting, curtains, food, everything. Steven had been under a lot of stress and pressure, especially the fluctuations of his hormones because of the pregnancy .
Once everyone was seated, I glanced at the clock. It was time for me to see the pay off .
“Gryther pack, I know you must be wondering about our guests. This is the Purr family, my mate’s family, and our new extended family. Welcome them with open arms and protect them as if they were a Gryther.” I held up my wine cup and everyone followed after, raising their wine and in the case of kids, juice cups in the air .
The double doors to the dinner hall opened behind me and I threw a glance over my shoulder. That scent. It was him, and he was very pissed off .
“Steven?”
Ethan was behind him, looking terrified and pale .
“Tell me the truth,” Steven said, his voice shaking. He took a few slow steps toward me as if he were going to strike like a snake. “Is it true ?”
“Dear mate, what’s going on? Is what true?” I held my hands out to him and he glared at them .
“Put your hands down and answer me,” Steven hissed .
Aaron Purr, his father, stood up and ran to his son .
“Steven, what on earth — ”
Steven raised his hand, stopping his father before he could embrace him .
“Drake,” Steven began, “Is it true? Were you due to be mated by someone else? Am I putting your pack in danger ?”
I heard a couple of surprised gasps behind me. Only a few in my pack were privileged to know this information. How the hell did it get out? I looked over to Ethan who shook his head with heavy remorse .
“Where did you hear that — ”
Steven flicked out his claws. “Answer me!” Tears were flowing down his delicate flushed cheeks .
“Steven…”
“It’s true, isn’t it? Why can’t you just say it?” he cried. “I don’t want to be the reason your family gets harmed. Or mine.” Steven unsheathed his claws and backed up, breathing sporadically .
“Mate, please calm down, your family is here and everything — ”
“Don’t you dare tell me everything is alright when a war might happen. I’ve seen this happen before. It destroys families and packs by the shit load .”
Mr. Purr’s Alpha marched up behind him, but Mr. Purr held out his hand to stop him from doing anything brash .
Steven turned on his heels and disappeared through the doors. Ethan stood in place, looking at me in horror .
“Ethan, how did he find out?” I asked, under a growl .
“I don’t know, he wouldn’t tell me. And quite honestly, I’m shocked .”
The dinner was ruined .
“The dinner is off,” I whispered to Ethan, “Let everyone eat, but I will not be here .”
“Yes, Alpha,” Ethan said, nodding his head .
Before I could leave the dining hall, Mr. Purr stopped me. “Wait !”
“Yes, Mr. Purr ?”
He narrowed his eyes and approached me. “Why didn’t you tell him ?”
I rubbed my forehead. My skin was hot and my nerves felt like they were on fire and vibrating at the same time. “I—I didn’t want him to know. He was already stressed, and as soon as I saw him… I knew that I c
ouldn’t go through with taking a fake mate .”
“But war ?”
“I’d go through war to keep him by my side, Mr. Purr and Alpha Purr. Now, if you could excuse me, enjoy dinner. I need to find my mate,” I said, turning around and disappearing through the double doors .
Appetites were destroyed, my whole pack was now on edge. Damn it. They didn’t need this stress either. The mere mention of war could stifle anything .
I had a lot of explaining and planning to do, or else epic shit was going to hit the fan .
I ran up to the room to check on Steven. When I opened the door, I didn’t see him at his usual spot. So I checked the balcony, the bathroom, and now my heart began to panic .
“Steven? Steven, come out, where are you? We have to talk !”
Tapping into my inner wolf, I sniffed the air. He wasn’t here …
I ran back down the stairs, chasing his scent down. I caught onto a tiny thread of his scent, and it led out the back doors .
The weather had turned for the worse; strong winds and heavy rain with lightning breaking the sky .
“Steven!” I called out into the dark rainy parking lot. Why was his scent so diluted ?
I ran back to the dinner hall and motioned for Tom to come out to the hallway .
“What’s wrong?” he asked .
“We need a search team. I can’t find Steven, and his scent is nowhere near the manor .”
Mr. Purr slipped out of the dining hall as well. “Alpha Drake, did you find him?” he asked, holding his hand against his chest .
“No, but we will .”
Tom interjected, “I’m on it !”
When Tom vanished down the hall, Mr. Purr laid a hand on my shoulder. “Do you love my son ?”
“Yes. To eternity .”
“Good, I didn’t want to have to shred you apart,” he teased. Half of that was true though. Cats were very protective of their kittens .
“I’ll find him, and make this right, Mr. Purr .”
“We’ll help too. After all, we’re cats, we’re good at finding things. Especially our own kittens .”
Mr. Purr slipped back into the dinner hall and I ran down the hall to follow Tom who was assembling the team as we spoke .
*
H ours went by and not a trace. I kept replaying that moment in my head. Maybe there was something different, something clever I could’ve said to keep him from leaving. It was storming, and he was out there without a car. Anything could happen to him. Rogue shifters, rivals who wished revenge .
Ugh, my gut was sickened with worry and regret .
Chapter 11
Steven
I spent the night doused in organic scent blockers in a hotel where I didn’t sleep much. Needless to say I was dead ass tired, and that much strain wasn’t good for a pregnant Omega .
My belly was noticeably bigger now. It was cute. Damn, everything was laid out perfectly and now this? A war ?
The Purrs didn’t need to be involved in bloodshed. The one thing I didn’t want to do in life was be a part of something that caused a mass amount of people to get hurt or even killed .
There was no way I could stay in this shady hotel, so I finally was able to order another Uber and went back to the Gryther Manor on the Omega Lodge side .
I slumped inside, tired and moody. Ethan saw me and ran from behind the desk .
“Steven, you’re here. Are you okay? The whole pack and your family is still looking for you .”
The room began to spin and Ethan’s words began to warp .
Blackness hit me like a sudden surge and I was out. I remembered the times my father told me he passed out a lot when he carried me. Great, he passed that on to me .
When I woke up, there was a tight warmth gripped around my hands. Looking to the side, I saw Drake, head down and brooding .
This was the same room I was in the first time I fainted and found out I was pregnant .
“Drake…” I whispered, slowly garnering up some strength .
He popped up and squeezed my hand some more .
“Steven! God, you scared the hell out of me and your family. Never do that again!” Drake scolded, frowning .
Good, I put a dent in him. But this still wasn’t over. “Drake, what’s going on? What’s this war stuff that I heard about ?”
Drake sat back down and closed his eyes. Still hesitant to share, huh ?
“It doesn’t matter. Because I can’t be your mate anymore .”
“What?” That made him open his eyes. “Steven, you can’t. I need you. I love you !”
I sighed and held back tears. No, of course I didn’t want to fucking do this. But hell would have to freeze over before I was the start of a war .
“I don’t know what to do. We’re going to be parents. And I won’t deny our child an Alpha father, but I do need to separate myself from you until the babies are born.” I struggled to sit up and finished, “So, I’ve decided that I’ll move into the Omega lounge until then .”
Drake’s jaw steeled. “No. I simply won’t allow it .”
“Damn it, Drake. Don’t make it harder on yourself .”
Drake paced around the room, his hands on his head. “I—I can’t just let you go. You’re my fated mate. That means more than anything .”
I threw my feet over the side of the bed and stretched .
“Look, Drake. I love you too. But my family… many, many years ago had been a part of a war that hurt many people. How would it look to surrounding packs today if that happened again? Can you imagine the death threats and the actual attempts to take our lives ?”
Drake stopped and bit his lower lip .
He was stuck between a rock and a hard ass place .
“Steven, I know what you’re saying, but I can’t do this. I’m tied to you eternally. You’re mine and I’m yours .”
My heart dropped. The truth was evident in his voice. It irritated me that he didn’t elaborate on all this war stuff .
“Drake, sometimes, as a leader, you have to sacrifice a lot to make sure your people are safe .”
“That doesn’t mean you,” he argued. He came up to me and cupped my cheeks. “I’d never sacrifice you .”
I took his hands down and walked around him. “I smell my family. I’ll go find them and stay with them for a while. See you around, Drake .”
My chest hurt. Every inch of me sobbed in tears, tearing away at that fantasy that was re-birthed .
What an idiot I was. Like I could have what everyone else had. All I could get without causing a world full of trouble was that shit head Errik Quint. And there was no way I was going to back track to that .
I followed the scent of my father and was led over to the Alpha Lodge side. Interesting .
The scent was the strongest at the end of the hallway where two huge double doors that were finely carved sat .
My hand lifted up to knock, but my father flung open the door and smothered me in a hug before I could knock .
“My dear son, come in. Oh, you gave us all a panic last night running off like that .”
Tears, as if on cue, came spilling out of my eyes like a fountain .
“Daddy, it hurts so bad. Drake doesn’t deserve all this drama. I just don’t want the Purrs to look like the enemy again. We’ve worked so hard — “
My father held up a finger and hushed me. “Now, now, this isn’t about the rest of the world or his pack. Not even ours. It’s about you and your mate. That defies all rules .”
I gripped my shoulders and my father took me over to a soft couch so I could rest my feet .
A touch of dizziness hit me and I closed my eyes .
My dad touched my baby bump and cooed .
“Steven Purr, you listen to me. Go back to him. He honestly loves you, and we’ll all make sure that everyone stays safe. This baby will need both of you .”
My cravings began to kick my ass again. God, goat with kimchi and collard greens …
“Dad, what mak
es you think he loves me ?”
“He said it to me. He needs you, and I saw the truth in his eyes. Come here, my kitten.” My father gave me another hug .
He was right. Running from the problem wasn’t going to stop it. Just because I wasn’t here didn’t mean Drake would drop me and pick up the Omega he was supposed to mate in some haphazard agreement .
“Okay…but I’m still upset. I want to stay here with you guys for a few days .”
My father chuckled, “You’re such a Purr. Stubborn and good-hearted. I remember when I met your father. God, he had to work so hard for me .”
A warm smile crept up on my face, but it vanished when I smelled a familiar scent cross my path .
It wasn’t Drake it was—him—that Omega from the garden who told me about this war stuff. I jumped to my feet and my father did too, stepping in front of me .
“What do you want?” my dad asked, his claws were out. “Show yourself .”
“So you think you can stay and everything will be alright?” the Omega said, hiding somewhere in the room .
I sniffed around, but couldn’t pinpoint his scent. It was thick in the room, making me sick. The main closet door to the room creaked open, and he stepped out .
“You…why did you tell me all this?” I asked, stepping around my father. He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back .
“You’re pregnant, Steven, stand back this instant,” he demanded, ready to shift at any moment .
“Pregnant?” the rogue Omega echoed. “Really? Well, looks like I’ll have to change that .”
The Omega took two steps forward, his eyes glowing .
“Who are you!” I asked, taking out my claws .
“The Omega he was supposed to mate. He was supposed to be mine .”
I peered into his dark eyes, looking for a hint of love or concern behind his words. But I didn’t see that. The only thing I saw was anger and spite .
“If you say that, how come I don’t see any feelings in your eyes for him ?”
The Omega sucked his teeth and lunged at us, whipping out a knife from his belt .
