12. Flint

But I didn’t want it to end.

What I wanted was Tony by my side as my mate, the Alpha Omega, my partner and equal. But he hated my guts. I could mark him, but he’d still hate me. I could shift and introduce him to my wolf. He’d be terrified and still hate me. Not that I’d expect him to fall into my arms after I’d kidnapped him. But I had no choice. The universe saw to that.

His alpha father was a shifter, so he had shifter blood running in his veins. Perhaps something would stir inside him when he met my beast.

You aren’t going to kill him, are you?my wolf asked.

That was a given the moment he walked into my office, though I’d refused to admit it.

No.

I had to get to the office. There were urgent matters I had to deal with, and I couldn’t deputize my brother. Another mafia pack, one with a link to a pack that had shaped my life, was stirring up trouble. But every part of me yearned to stay close to Tony. He was my mate, my heart beat for him, and there would never be anyone else but him. I was intoxicated in his presence, making me lightheaded, and imagined myself at the top of a tall mountain with little oxygen.

It was heart-wrenching last night leaving him in the basement. When he’d screamed at me earlier, it was better than silence and quiet loathing. Tony filled that empty part of me, the hole I’d stuffed with work, the pack, traditions, and making our family intact while keeping the world at arm’s length.

Tony examined each mouthful of food, as if he suspected Dad of poisoning him, while his eyes darted between us. But as he ate, the phone buzzed. Emilio. I stepped out of the room again and closed the wooden sliding doors that separated the kitchen from the rest of the house.

“Boss, we have a problem.”

Yeah, one that landed on my office floor last night, but Emilio filled me in on trouble brewing within the pack. The gossip was rife that I’d apprehended a human trying to infiltrate the pack and he was at the house. The rumors were that I was doing a deal with humans and making them partners in the business.

I groaned at the ridiculousness of that, but I also understood “mob mentality.” Not us specifically, but any group of people that got hyped up because of real or imagined reasons.

“They’re demanding a meeting at pack headquarters with you and the pack council present.” He paused. I’d known Emilio since I was a kid, and we’d worked together since my father died. I braced myself for what he was about to say.

“People are really worked up. Text messages are flying back and forth. You’ll have to meet them, boss.”

Firebrands I called them. There were a group of them who resented I’d been made pack Alpha instead of it going to a vote. They pushed against the old rules, complaining we had to change as society did. And we had, but not as fast as they expected. I couldn’t take a group of wolf shifters whose ways were fashioned centuries ago and drag them into the twenty-first century overnight.

“They see the human as a threat to their existence and their ability to work and provide for their loved ones.”

So instinct had kicked in and they were acting as our ancestors did, harking back to the old ways, circling the wagons as humans would say. So much for wanting to change.

“I have to go.” I strode into the kitchen.

Tony paused, the plastic fork halfway to his mouth. “Where have I heard that line before?”

“I’d like to come with you, but maybe I should stay here.” Dad twisted a dish towel in his hands, the diamond ring on his finger my father gave him for one birthday glimmering in the sunlight filtering through the windows. He would’ve heard my part of the conversation

“I’d like that.” Tony’s face brightened. I didn’t trust him. He might trick Dad into letting him stay in the main house or go outside. “Where are you going? Somewhere nice?”

My mate licked toast crumbs from the corner of his mouth and glowered at me, a contrast to the simpering grin he’d given my dad. He was up to something, but I couldn’t stay and couldn’t take him with me. Him being sassy didn’t surprise me anymore. I was exasperated every time he opened his mouth.

My mind went to the pack and what I’d be facing when I stood before them, explaining the human wasn’t finagling in on our business. But if they believed me, there’d be the inevitable questions of who the human was, why he was at my house. They’d demand answers. What I did on my own time was nothing to do with the pack. But my life was entwined with La Luna Noir, and I couldn’t untangle it.

The phone buzzed again. Emilio said they were gathering at pack headquarters, some of the more junior members of La Luna Noir were ramping up the crowd with outright lies. Me telling them to mind their own business wouldn’t fly with a bunch of young wolf shifters determined to revolutionize our way of life.

My brothers called saying they were on their way to headquarters and would take charge until I arrived. I couldn’t let them take the heat for something I’d done.

There was a solution that would protect Tony and allow me to keep him with me. Not one I favored and one that went against everything I stood for. It would bind me to him, but as he was human, he would be free to live as he chose, with or without me.

My eye caught Dad’s, and maybe he sensed a quietness in me after the nervous energy and the fear that I might not be able to protect my mate. His brows shot up, and he nodded.

You said you couldn’t. My wolf didn’t understand my about turn.

I know, I know. I’d be doing something that couldn’t be undone and might leave me alone until I went to the goddess. But even if we didn’t mate, I would never be free of him.

Dad took Tony’s hand and led him to my side. “This is going to seem strange, but we don’t want to hurt you.”

“Hmmm.” Tony gulped a mouthful of food. “Sounds ominous.” He aimed the fork at Dad and the knife at me.

“My son brought you here against your will.” Dad flashed me a glance, but I had nothing to offer. “But you won’t come to any harm. I will not allow it.” There was a strength in my dad’s assurance that I hoped Tony would hear.

“Ummm… okay.” My mate’s tentative voice had my heart aching.

“Slip your robe down and expose your shoulder.”

“Huh?” Tony couldn’t hide the fear in his eyes, though he lifted his chin and stared at me. “Strange doesn’t begin to explain it.”

“Please. This will keep you safe.” For now. There’d be meetings and explanations, questions would be raised about my leadership, and maybe someone would challenge me for the role of Alpha. But I hoped I could contain any opposition today and stem a possible uprising.

“No, tell me why.” He hugged the robe tighter.

“It won’t make sense.” My dad took over again, placing his hands on Tony’s upper arms. “But trust me, if your father were here, he would say, “Follow Flint’s advice.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” He maneuvered away from us toward the window. “He’s been dead for more than twenty years and can’t speak for himself.”

Dad tore out of the room and returned with the photo I’d removed from the wall. He tapped a nail at Anthony. “This is your father, this is me, my mate, and his father. And this is Flint taken beside a special flame tree in the woods.” He flipped the photo over, revealing our names scrawled on the back.

“But it says Anthony! His… his n-name was Antonio.” The fork Tony clutched shattered.

“He was Antonio Oakes at home, but his real name was Anthony. Anthony Oakley.”

Tony took the photo, his trembling hands gripping the old wooden frame, and a tear dripped onto the glass. “You were friends.” He pulled the old tattered pic from the pocket of his robe and compared the two.

“I hear what I imagine to be his voice in my head, telling me to trust you. It’s not a good idea to listen to imaginary voices, but here goes.” He slid the robe down.

“Close your eyes.” Dad held his hand and put Tony’s head on his chest. I hated that he didn’t understand what I was about to do or who I was inside.

I hesitated, my hands on my mate’s warm flesh, and wondered if the primary motive was my and my family’s safety and my status as Alpha I was protecting. Perhaps a smidge if I was honest, but my desire to protect my mate outweighed everything else. In my head and heart, it was all Tony, all the time.

I could give up being Alpha. Grandpa left his birth pack and thrived. We had enough family money tucked away that me, my brothers, Dad, and Uncle could leave, start anew someplace else.

My wolf’s claws extended from my fingers as Dad put his head close to Tony’s and whispered, “It’s going to be okay.” Tony’s body jolted when my beast’s teeth made contact with his skin, and he yelped when they dug into his flesh. Dad mopped up the trickle of blood with the dish towel.

“Mate,” I mouthed to Dad.

He nodded. “Now he’s family,” he mouthed back.

“What’s going on?” Tony opened his eyes, my face the first thing he saw before he glanced at my dad. He twisted his head and examined the wound on his shoulder. “Is this like a cult thing? A ritual of some sort.”

“Not a cult.” My dad hugged my mate and drew me into his embrace. “My loves.”

Tony eyed us both. “What’s with the my loves thing?” He reared away from me while Dad held him.

“Do you feel like you’re on a ship and haven’t found your sea legs?” Dad asked.

“No. I’m fine.” Tony mumbled as he looked up at me. “What’s with that smile?” He pulled a face. “You’re being more weird than usual. That grin is warm and velvety, and I don’t like it. And please explain why you wounded me!” His voice rattled as it rose.

“I’ll explain, but first, you’re both coming with me.”