The Alphas & The Heiress

Varian

The sun is still a few hours from rising, but I can’t sleep. I haven’t been able to since she arrived in our woods. Neither Rohanor nor I have slept well. Not when we can smell her scent, her arousal on some nights, hear her whimpering in her sleep. Our wolves pace in our minds, feverishly pushing us to go to her, to comfort her and settle our own nerves.

The past few days have been torture too. I’m not sure what I expected the matebond would feel like, but I certainly thought I’d have more control than this. I can’t escape her, her scent is everywhere. The kitchen, the lounge, the training center. It’s permanently embedded in our office, so even here I can no longer focus or go a minute without thinking about her.

It’s not for lack of trying. After the night we took her out with the trackers I’ve needed ice baths to cool the heat that’s begun simmering for her. She had to ride home with Rohanor that night. Another minute of her thighs pressing against me, the heat from her center along my spine, and my wolf would have taken her with no regard for who was watching. We felt it best after that to leave the search to Baron and his team.

We still allow her to train with our group after hers is done. I hate to admit it but she brings a fresh perspective on war tactics and defensive measures. There’s not a single wolf who hasn’t learned something from her or grown stronger because of her.

When they leave, her absence will be felt throughout the pack. We can’t risk anyone finding out that she’s our mate, their luna, and that we rejected her and sent her back home. They’ll move on much easier if they think she was just another guest. My chest tightens as this train of thought barrels through my mind threatening to consume me. I refuse to acknowledge that Ro and I will be among those who feel her loss.

My office door opens, I expect it to be Ro but I’m surprised when I pick up my father’s scent instead. He doesn’t regard me as he walks in, rather he silently comes to a stand next to me, looking out into the woods that will soon ignite with color from the rising sun.

“What are you doing up so early?” I ask him, genuinely curious. It is unlike him these days to be up before dawn.

“What are you doing up so late?” He says without malice.

I frown and look down towards my feet, shifting my weight on my legs. “How did you know I haven’t slept yet?”

He sighs and gestures for me to sit with him on the couches. “It’s been a while since I’ve lost sleep over this job, but I still recognize the symptoms. It’s that dragoness, isn’t it?”

“Why would she have anything to do with it?” I try to deflect. I remain standing, I’m more on edge now than I was before he walked in. He can’t possibly know, can he?

“Surely you must feel it? Everyone in the pack has been calmer, happier, stronger since she appeared at our doorstep.” He smirks at me knowingly. “Everyone but you and Rohanor, that is.”

“There’s nothing calming about running the pack, outfitting search teams, and babysitting two dragons.” I say through a clenched jaw. It’s too damn early for this heavy of a conversation and the lack of sleep does nothing for my mood.

“Oh please, if anything that girl out there is babysitting you. I’ve heard the warriors talking, I know what they all think of her – don’t you fucking growl at me. Sit down, it’s time we talked.”

I get my wolf under control and suppress the bubbling rage that’s slowly building over his mention of the warriors and their thoughts of Syble. They have no business thinking anything about her, she’s mine!

I run my hands through my hair, exasperated and on the brink of losing what remains of my sanity. I have got to get a grip before everything gets blown to hell.

Noise in the hall distracts me from my thoughts, footsteps, sure and heavy are heading towards us. Rohanor. I can hear him groaning and cursing under his breath as he gets close. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Var. I can’t take listening to –” Ro stops himself mid sentence when he realizes that our dad is also in the office.

Dad laughs softly to himself, shaking his head at us and our shared misery.

“Have a seat Ro, this concerns you too.” My dad waves him over but Ro looks back and forth between us with skepticism.

What’s going on? Ro links me. He’s right to be anxious, he knows it must be important if dad couldn’t wait until daybreak.

He thinks Syble is having a positive effect on the pack. He also alluded to what our warriors think of her. Ro growls at my response.

I rub my hands over my face and breathe out a sigh. Trust me, brother, I felt the same way.

Ro takes a seat next to me on the couch across from our father. Dad leans forward so his elbows rest on his knees, his hands clasped together in front of him.

“Boys I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but if you accepted your Luna things would be much easier for you.”

Ro throws his hands up and rakes them through his hair with exasperation. “How many times do we have to have the same argument? We are not taking a chosen Luna.” Ro seethes at him.

Dad remains calm. “You’re not hearing me, Rohanor. I didn’t say to choose one, I said to accept the one meant for you.” He looks at us expectantly.

You told him?! Ro roars through the link.His eyes wide and frantic.

No of course not! But I know he’s suspicious, so don’t take the bait. I try to calm him down so we don’t confirm what I’m sure our father already suspects.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” He taunts us after a moment of silence. “Look me in the eye and tell me that the dragoness upstairs, the one you won’t let anyone get within 5 feet of, the one you’re losing sleep over, isn’t your fated mate.”

I pick imaginary lint off of my pants, avoiding eye contact as long as I can. I don’t know how exactly he figured it out, but I know we can’t lie to his face.

“Having a mate is a liability. We’re safer without needing to protect her 24/7.” I say at last, my voice lacking conviction.

“I’m sorry, are we talking about the same person?” He looks bewildered. “She’s stronger than any wolf in the pack, she even gives the two of you a run for your money.”

At this I smile, because it’s true. But when word spreads of our dragon Luna, she’d have a permanent target on her back. Losing her after completing the bond… I daren’t even think about it.

“Stronger wolves than us have been brought to their knees at the loss of their mate. I won’t have that fate for our pack.” The words are out of my mouth before I’m even aware that I’m speaking aloud.

My father looks at us sympathetically. “Those wolves were only that strong because of their mate. Don’t let your fear determine the pack’s fate. You really want to put the pack first? Then acknowledge that they are thriving, unknowingly so, in the mere presence of their Luna. Imagine the surge in power that would come from solidifying your bond!”

He stands and moves towards the door, the light of the dawn beginning to poke through the dense forest. “Put the matebond aside for a day. Get to know her for her. You owe it to the pack and to yourselves to know exactly what you might be walking away from.”

Without another word or glance back at us he exits the office, leaving us alone in the newborn light of the day.

Maybe he’s right, maybe we should get to know her and figure things out once and for all. Goddess knows our wolves will finally shut up.

Minutes pass between Ro and me in silence, we watch the sun slowly bathe the office in its warm glow.

“Is he right?” My whispered words shatter the silence. “Would things be better if we accepted her?”

Ro contemplates my words for a moment. “We can speculate all we want, but all that hinges on her feeling the same way. The truth is we don’t know how she feels, we don’t know anything about her. There’s also Incandis…” He doesn’t have to finish his thought, I know what he’s getting at. It may be too late.

Bile rises in my throat as I grapple with the sobering truth that though she may be ours, she may already belong to another.