Page 27 of His Temporary Alpha Mate
Alpha Blake was on a visit to the demon realm. He wanted the partnership to start out friendly. He’d taken a liking to Toth and Cody when he had met them, so wanted them as friends, not just business associates. Blake and Kade had taken the triplets to the orchard Toth ran so they could sample the fruit there and also negotiate the terms of the contract.
I knew the conditions attached were more than fair. The compensation was generous. Honestly, Blake was showing his hand a little by giving so much. Toth would be a fool not to join the Sweetwater pack’s cider business. He probably needed us more than we needed him, since demons weren’t able to trade as easily as shifters were. Yeah, discrimination laws didn’t quite cover demons, apparently.
With Alpha Blake away with his family and Deke acting as security, Axel was sulking with Chase nearthe door to the mansion, taking their turn guarding us. Both of the twins had wanted to go to the demon realm, but Blake knew only taking a few people was less conspicuous than half the pack leaving.
As such, the mansion was quieter than usual, missing the sounds of the children, and I had the time to really look over the books to see the damage the aviary was causing to our bottom line. The money we’d claimed back as compensation had done a lot to rectify the damage, but we couldn’t continue as we were. The temptation was there to be creative with the accounts to cut our tax burden. I knew all the tricks, legal and, um, otherwise. I just knew Blake wouldn’t go for it. There was also a pang in my gut which told me not to.
The guiding sense of doom and dire consequences was the only thing that stopped me from picking up my phone and calling my old contacts to play the market some. I knew I could generate some much needed cash for the pack if I wasn’t too firm with my morals. Yet, every time I truly thought about it, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Slipping back into those habits was wrong. I’d worked so hard to get where I was. The pack had a stellar reputation now. Far from the days when Blake’s father had run the pack into the ground. I couldn’t risk shattering it.
Roan interrupted my musing. “Do you know where Axel is?”
“He’s at the door. Why?”
“Dammit!” Roan scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration. “I need to be ready for when Blake and Kade come home. I need you to get him to go over to the science center.”
“Oh-kay, why?” I couldn’t get a handle on Roan’s mood. He was usually calm, very cool, and collected. Now he was standing in front of me, practically dancing with… happiness, maybe? Had to be something to do with Hiroshi.
“There’s a meeting and we need the pack leadership represented. Blake will need to know what this means for the pack. Well, not just us, everyone!”
So, not Hiroshi then. “Huh? What’s going on? Roan, are you okay? You’re jumpy.”
“Tell Axel to get to the science center as soon as possible. Hiroshi’s figured out the beta sickness. He knows why it happened.”
The bottom fell out of my world then. Something so important to not just my future, but to all betas who had been sick was about to be explained. Ever since I’d woken, I’d wondered why The Luna had put us throughit all.
Shaking, I got up and dashed for the front door. I had to get to Axel. I just hoped he would let me come to the meeting.
Axel!“Axel!” I cried as I got close.
“Woah! Where’s the fire?” He took me by my shoulders, halting my run. I looked up at him, almost at a loss for words.
“You’re needed since Blake isn’t back yet! There’s a meeting at the science center!” I struggled to even say that much. My skin felt too tight. I was ready to beg him to let me go too.
Fear and hope warred within me. I knew I was shaking. Axel was pretty much the only thing keeping me up.
Finally, I got the words out. Ones I knew were just as important to him as they were to me.
“Hiroshi has figured out why we had the beta sickness.”
“What?”
“They want you to represent the pack at the science center. You have to go.”Take me with you, I wanted to say to him. My raccoon stirred at my anxious thoughts.
Axel didn’t take me with him. Didn’t even think about it. He made a hasty goodbye to me and his twin, and ran for the science center.
“Hey, Dally-do, it’ll be okay,” Chase said as he wrapped his arms around me. “Hang out with me fora bit. Get yourself together while I get cover for the door.”
I couldn’t help but think the wrong twin was comforting me, then I felt bad. Chase was a perfect friend and deserved better of me. I sank into his embrace. “Thanks, Chasey-choo.”
His smile was blinding. “I promise, it’ll all work out.”
For hours I waited for more news, for an explanation I was beginning to fear would never come. Would Roan really tell me something so damn important and then just never tell me anything more?
I asked him. Goddess, had I asked him. He just refused, saying we had to wait for Blake to give the go ahead first. I just wanted a clue. It was like trying to get blood out of a stone, leaving me frustrated with him on top of the situation.
Then the call came for us all to gather at the back of the house. There was going to be a celebration. I already knew the demon wanted to partner with the pack, I’d been present, trying to get more information out of a taciturn Roan again, hoping a plea would work, when Kade and Blake hadreturned.
