Page 45 of His Temporary Alpha Mate
“I’d be honored.”
I may have freaked out a little when I was told there was going to be a temporary delay in the testing.
Teárlach was sick. He’d fallen into a deep sleep after healing Roan with Hiroshi and nothing the healers or elves tried would wake him.
With him in such a state, and potentially needing medical support if it went on for much longer than it actually did, they were hesitant to start the testing and take people away from him.
Made sense really, this was the Crown Prince of the elves. He was important to the elven people, so of course, we had to wait. It was justso hard!
By the time it was actually the day to register for testing where we would fill in the necessary forms and undergo the exams to check for health, I was ready to vomit from anxiety.
Larken had a shift on the main gate, so he wasn’t there in the morning to keep me calm. Instead, he said he would meet me in the long line for the clinic. I’d bagged a spot near the front.
“He better not keep me waiting,” I muttered.
“Who?” a voice came from just ahead of me.
“Larken,” I answered.
Grady, Trey, and Mateo, one of the newest additions to the pack, turned to face me.
“Hey, Dalton, have you met Mateo yet?” Grady asked with a cat caught the canary smile. Close, since Grady was a wolf and Mateo some falcon-like bird.
“Not officially, but I’d heard about the search for your father and brother-in-law. How’s that going? Any news? Are your mother and sister both recovered?” I peppered them with questions to hide how nervous I was.
Larken’s lateness had me worried something was keeping him from testing. Either something at work or maybe this was his payback for me asking Axel.
“They are doing well, all things considered. We spoke with your Seer. She believes my father and Ricky are still alive, just trapped. Your Alpha—
“Our,” Trey corrected. “You’re one of us now.”
The two betas book-ended their alpha. I’d heard they were going to ask to try a poly bond and had chosen the new bird shifter as the alpha they wanted. There was probably more to the story, but I didn’t know any of them well enough to ask.
Mateo inclined his head. “True. Our Alpha is working with the pride in Northarbor to search. He believes having his own people looking will incite violence.”
“He’s right,” Larken agreed.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts and the conversation I didn’t hear him arrive. He stood close enough it was clear we were a pair, but not close enough to touch. My brain was looking for problems, still on edge with Larken after what I’d done. I knew it was my guilt talking and not his feelings. He had spent the night with me! Throughout the night, I’d slept wrapped up in him completely. It was the best sleep I’d had for a long time without an orgasm involved.
“We’ve tried it. I swear.” He gave Mateo a commiserating glance. “Every time we send some of our own out, they end up attacked. As much as we want to find your family, the people here have families of their own.”
“You misunderstand,” Mateo argued, “I don’t mean it as a criticism of Alpha Blake, just how careful we have to be. I can’t go myself. The aviary would kill me onsight.” His shoulders sagged. “I hope they are together and keeping strong. Janet assures me they will return to us.”
“Then they will,” I said, certain our Seer, the elderly shifter, Janet, had never been wrong. “The pride shifters have a better chance of finding them because they share territory with the aviary. Their Alpha is committed to our alliance working. Jason will be doing his best to find your lost family.”
Larken reached for my hand, squeezing it lightly before threading our fingers together.
“Okay?” he asked, mouthing the words so others didn’t overhear.
“Nervous.” Understatement of the year.
“Understandable. This is a big deal.” He pulled me a little closer. “I hope we’re picked for the first round.” His excitement felt genuine.
Relief slammed through me. Larken wanted this as much as I did!
“Hey, Lark!” Deke called out for him. He motioned Lark over.
“Back in a sec.”
