The rich scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air of Boris's office. Heavy mahogany bookcases, crammed with leather-bound volumes, lined the walls. A large mahogany desk dominated the center of the room, its surface neat except for a few pictures of his family. Through the massive windows behind him, the dense forest stood sentinel, a green and brown tapestry stretching to the horizon.
Thomas shifted nervously in the chair opposite the desk. He had just finished explaining how he had risked Trinity's safety to bring back her humanity.
A storm of emotions raged within Boris. He was teetering between rage and thankfulness. He was sick of people taking risks with his daughter's safety and wished that he had been told, or at least had the option to decide, what was best for his own child.
"Sit," Boris said, his voice a low growl.
Thomas took a seat, not wishing to anger the beta or show any disrespect.
"The boy brought her back?"
"Yes, Beta. I know he isn't her mate, but he does seem to be her anchor. He's also exhibiting signs of his wolf emerging, and it's not for the first time."
A deep frown creased Boris's brow. He wondered why these "defectives" were showing changes. They were stronger, faster, and smarter than the other defectives in the pack. Something about this group was propelling them toward a physiological change that he was more than a little terrified of.
His eyes glazed over as he received a mental message from his maid. A high-ranking family had come to visit unannounced, and they were at the front door.
"Were there any issues with the Finch family during class?" Boris asked Thomas, hoping for some insight into their unexpected visit.
"No, Beta," Thomas replied.
"Hmm," Boris hummed, a low sound in his chest. "You may leave."
Nodding stiffly, Thomas left the office, bowing his head respectfully as he went. He passed by the impeccably dressed Finch family in the hallway. They looked as if they were about to have the most important meeting of their lives. Thomas wanted no part of the political storm about to erupt and disappeared down the hall.
The maid led the Finches to Boris's office. They entered, their faces stretched into ingratiating smiles. They bowed their necks a little too respectfully, hoping to show their sincerity to the beta. They wanted him to know they came with the utmost gratitude for all he did for the pack.
"Do you mind?" Mr. Finch asked, indicating the chairs in front of the desk.
With a simple nod from the beta, Mr. Finch pulled out a chair for his wife before seating himself.
"What seems to be the problem?" Boris asked, still looking at his tablet. He assumed whatever came out of their mouths would be trivial at best and irritating at worst.
"Nothing at all. We just came to catch up. So many changes in the pack. Your daughter being back—that must be so lovely," Mrs. Finch began, hoping a little flattery would go a long way.
"Our son, Mike, is in her class. We hear great things. She is truly thriving," Mr. Finch added, smiling at his wife.
"I get the reports," Boris said, his tone flat. If all they wanted was to chit-chat, he would tell them to leave. He was a busy man. "I do have a lot of work…"
With nervous urgency, Mrs. Finch leaned forward and cut him off. "Our son has developed strong feelings toward your daughter. And we think it would be delightful…"
"And smart if our two children form the bond," Mr. Finch cut in.
The air in the room stilled as Boris processed their words. His blue eyes shifted to black as he looked at the couple. "My daughter isn't for sale!"
Mrs. Finch laughed, playfully slapping her husband's arm as if the beta had just told a funny joke. "Of course not. Your daughter is priceless. What we mean to say is there seems to be a connection between them. He's past the age of finding his mate. Pack life can be lonely without a mate, and since they already have a connection…"
"Get out of my house!"
The couple looked ashen at the beta's furious gaze. Mr. Finch stood, gently lifting his wife by her elbow. "When choosing your daughter's mate, please consider our son," he said before they fled abruptly, escaping the beta's anger.
"Idiots!" Boris cursed under his breath. It seemed they were just the first to try and win him over.
He got up from his desk and walked out of his office, feeling the need to get out of the stuffy room. As he stepped into the living room, he saw his reflection in the marble floors. Just then, the doorbell rang.
Frowning, he walked toward the large oak front door, annoyance radiating from him.
"William, what are you doing here?"
He was taken aback to see the leader of the Second Stagers standing on his doorstep.
The man never came in person to bring his reports, and there was less interest involved in the Second Stagers. They were still closely monitored, but the Alpha's son wasn't one of them.
"I want to speak to you about your daughter. May I come in?"
"No!" Boris snapped, moving to slam the door.
"I just know she's without a mate, and I am as well…"
Knock, knock, knock.
Boris slammed the door in the man's face. He hadn't even taken a few steps back into the house before the door started knocking again. He tore the door open, ready to punch William. Instead, he came face to face with Henry Dean, Jess Dean's father, who stood next to Alpha Adrian.
Quickly schooling his features, Boris bowed his head, exposing his neck in a show of respect. "I'm sorry, Alpha. I've just been getting a lot of visitors today."
A glimmer of mischief sparked in Adrian's eyes as he smiled at his beta. "So I hear."
Opening the door wider, Boris gestured for the Alpha to enter. Henry followed begrudgingly. Boris led them to a smaller sitting room just off the hallway. His head maid appeared instantly, bringing drinks and snacks, which she placed on the stone table before quietly disappearing.
"How is the preparation going?" Adrian asked.
"Very well, Alpha. I will be leaving first thing in the morning with your daughters."
"Good."
"Beta Boris," Henry said, clearing his throat. "I happened to run into our Alpha on the way here and was discussing how our children would make a strong match."
"Yes, Jess and Trinity are the thickest of thieves," Boris replied, acting as if he didn't know Henry had a son just a little younger than Trinity.
"So stubborn. Loosen up. We all need to let our daughters grow up eventually," Alpha Adrian said, grinning at the irony of the situation.
"I hear your daughter's wolf has emerged?" Henry asked, wanting to be sure. It would be better for his family if Johnny met Trinity after her wolf fully emerged.
"She is back to normal. Her wolf will not emerge," Boris said, hoping this knowledge would be enough to make Henry uninterested.
"I had heard differently."
"Things change quickly," Boris replied, crossing his arms over his chest, unwilling to offer up his daughter to anyone.
"We have time to make proper plans. Excuse us, Henry. We have pack matters to discuss."
"Of course." Henry bowed respectfully to his superiors before leaving the house, unsure of what to believe.
"How many families are after Trinity?" Adrian wondered, his mind already calculating which of the most powerful families would be coming to beg for the hand of the previously defective girl.
"I don't know! It's best for her to wait to find her mate." Boris still couldn't be sure if Mickey wasn't Trinity's mate. This giant question hung over his head, and until they knew for sure, she couldn't be mated to anybody, not even her true mate, if she found him.
"Leave it to me."
Boris felt his palms begin to sweat at the Alpha's casual words. "Thank you, Alpha, but I would prefer to deal with my own family matters."
Standing to his feet, Alpha Adrian towered over his beta. "I'm trusting you with my daughters' lives. I think you can trust me with your daughter's future. We both must be very invested." He grinned before walking out, leaving behind a stunned and uneasy beta.
Knock, knock, knock.
Boris couldn't believe how quickly the vultures seemed to be circling his family. He walked back to the front door, his knuckles white against the heavy oak door. He glared at the door, the heavy oak seeming to mock him. "Who is it?" he called out.
"The Johnson family!" a cheerful voice called back.
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock! The sound was a rapid-fire succession, a drumbeat of eagerness that vibrated through the floorboards.
"I'm sorry, but we're not accepting visitors right now!" Boris shouted back.
The knocking stopped. Boris let out a sigh of relief, but before he could even think about getting back to work, the insistent rapping started again, this time with a frantic, desperate rhythm.
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock! The sound was more than just a noise; it was a physical presence, a demand that burrowed into his skull.
"Please, Beta! Our son, Daniel, is still unmated, and we think he would be a perfect match for Trinity!" the voice pleaded.
"Go home!" Boris roared, slamming his fist against the door with a resounding thud that rattled the marble floors. He tore up the stairs, two at a time, and into his bedroom. He sat on the edge of his bed, his head buried in his hands, wondering what he should do.
"What's wrong?" Alana asked, coming to rest a hand on his back, her fingers rubbing small circles.
He didn't want to speak about the problems plaguing Trinity. Not with Alana. She was home, but he didn't trust her with their daughter's safety or happiness.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her onto his lap, his head resting against the soft curve of her chest. Her arms encircled his back, holding him close. It had been a while since he'd been this close to his mate, and he needed the comfort and the distraction.
His tongue dipped out, tracing a warm, wet trail between her breasts, and he felt her body shiver against the sensation. His hands, resting on her waist, slipped beneath her shirt, the smooth skin of her back a familiar comfort. He pushed the fabric up, over her head, until it was just her bra left. She stared down at him, her eyes heated with the same intensity. Leaning in, he kissed her lips softly, savoring her taste before exploring her mouth with his tongue—a pleasant harmony of revisiting a place that had been home for years.
He moved his mouth from her lips to her jaw, then lower still, until he was kissing the soft skin of her chest. With a slow, deliberate motion, he unclasped her bra and watched it fall away, leaving her bare for him. He leaned in, his tongue circling one nipple, then the other, before he drew her into his mouth. The sensation sent a wave of shivers through her, her fingers threading into his hair, holding him to her. He licked and suckled her, a soft groan rumbling in his chest, loving the feel and taste of her.
She pressed on his shoulders, guiding him back onto the mattress as she straddled his waist. Unbuttoning his shirt, she trailed her nose along his exposed skin, loving the smell and feel of her mate. She stared into the deep blue eyes she had fallen in love with as he reached up, his thumb caressing the side of her cheek with loving affection. The bond between them pulsed, radiating a pleasant heat that flowed through their entire souls—a comforting balm against the recent stress.
"I love you," she breathed, her lips brushing his with each word before they met in a tangle of passion and need. His thumb caressed the slender column of her neck, loving the feel of her tan skin that always seemed to glow just for him. His throbbing erection pressed against the zipper of his pants, desperate to be set free. As they kissed, he lowered the zipper before sliding them off.
Rolling them over, he rested his weight on his forearms, staring down at his mate. "You really are beautiful," he whispered into her ear, peppering kisses along her jawline and breathing in her beautiful jasmine scent.
Alana's breath quickened, her excitement growing as her lower body began to cry out in desperation for her mate.
She unzipped her skirt, easily slipping out of it, and he wasted no time slipping his fingers between her folds. Pressing his thick digits into her womanhood, she sighed in relief and moaned in pleasure, arching her chest to meet his. He slowly and rhythmically brought her pleasure while still trailing kisses along her jaw. He leaned in to kiss her lips, tasting her sweetness.
Alana closed her eyes against the sensation, her entire body tingling and buzzing with life and energy. Her hand wrapped around the back of his neck, clutching him to her as she rode the wave of pleasure. With her body still sensitive, he entwined with her, bridging their bodies together as one. He pressed his forehead against hers as he sank into her wet depths, groaning in satisfaction with each slow, deep thrust. Every pump of his hips brought them closer and closer to their ecstasy. The two stayed wrapped in a kiss, unhurried by the passions of youth. They were completely settled in their affection, hungry for each other but not desperate.
They lay together in the marital bed. Alana was tucked into Boris's chest, feeling at peace, like they were finally on the same page again.
"Will you tell me what happened?"
Boris wrapped his arm around Alana, holding her tight to his chest, before shaking his head no.
"Why?" she pressed on, pulling his chin down so his eyes would face her.
"It's about Trinity," he told her, hoping that would be more than enough of an explanation of why he wouldn't tell her.
"And? And what is that supposed to mean?"
Boris pressed his lips against her forehead, kissing her gently. "I love you! But I don't trust you."
"What? But you brought me back—"
"Because we're mates. I can't forget what you did. I'm still trying to forgive you. But I will never trust you. Not with Trinity."
Tears bloomed in her eyes, and she buried her head in his chest. She couldn't stand to see him look at her like that. She hadn't done anything wrong. Everything she did was for their family.
Boris could feel her hurt through the bond. The ache that it brought him in his chest at her feelings of betrayal and hurt. He held her closer, wishing he could make this go away for her. But he couldn't. She was home, but they were still at odds. And the problem would only fracture the more she pushed her unethical ideals on Trinity.