Page 44 of Arion
ChapterEighteen
“She’s mad at me,” Arion admitted to Brock two days later when his best friend called to update him on the status of the Grelian pack. They knew at least four members of the pack were hovering in the area, weaving in and out of Drydus territory, breaking the treaty.
Brock chuckled. “Surely she can’t stay mad long. Have you tried distracting her with your, uh…”
Arion growled. “Don’t go there, Brock. I’m not discussing my sex life with you.”
“Who said anything about sex? I was going to ask about your singing.”
“Sure, you were.” Arion snorted. His singing. It wasn’t a thing.
“Do you know why she’s mad?” Brock asked.
“Yes. I have no doubt. I can’t even blame her. We’re in our honeymoon period, and I keep taking private phone calls out on the deck. She probably thinks I have a lover or something.”
“Why don’t you just tell her who you’re talking to?”
Arion shook his head even though his friend couldn’t see him. “Because we’re in our honeymoon phase. I don’t want her worrying about pack business. Hell, I don’t want her worrying about pack issuesever.”
“You’ve told me for years that she was a bright girl who made perfect marks in school and always had her head in a book. Think about things through her lens. You came down to the valley like a knight in shining armor. A stranger to her. You took her from the only life she’s ever known to a remote cabin in the mountains. She’s used to being surrounded by people, and now she’s isolated and alone, and the only person she has for company keeps stepping outside to have secret private business calls.”
Arion winced. Brock was right. But what was he supposed to do about it? He’d vowed to protect and nurture her. He didn’t want her worrying about things that were out of her control.
“You can’t keep all aspects of Alpha business from her forever,” Brock pointed out.
“Why not?” Arion challenged even though he knew he was being a prick.
“Because it wouldn’t be safe. She has a right to know who and what her enemies are so she’ll be prepared in the event she ever comes face to face with one.”
“Or I could just keep her inside the cabin for the next hundred years and fortify the outside so she lives in a bubble.” Arion knew he sounded absurd.
Brock chuckled. “I bet that will go over well. She needs friends and human contact other than you, Arion. I know you’re in your honeymoon phase, but you might need to lighten up, talk to her, invite your parents over so she can meet them and not feel so lonely.”
“She’s met them. At the mating ceremony.” Arion winced at the stupidity of that statement. She hadn’t spoken a single word to them, and he doubted she could pick them out of a lineup. “Fine. You’re right. I’ll invite them over. And can you hurry up and claim your own mate so she’ll have someone to play with?”
Brock laughed. “I have several more weeks of freedom. Don’t rush me.”
Arion smiled. His friend was so going down soon. He may have spent the last twenty years in denial, refusing to know anything about his mate except that she existed and would be of age soon, but as soon as he had her in his arms, he would see.
“Now, stop hounding me about my mate and tell me what’s going on with the Grelians. Has anyone seen them yet?”
“No. Still just following the odd trail of their scent. Four of them. It’s like they’re taunting us. They keep weaving on and off our territory. No one knows why. We’ve sent a pair of scouts to meet with their leaders to try to get some answers. When I find out more, I’ll let you know. Or I’m sure your father will.”
“Thank you.” Arion didn’t like any of this. It smelled funny. It smelled like trouble.
And he didn’t want to burden his new mate with that trouble. So, damn straight, he was keeping it from her. He wanted her to live a life filled with laughter and happiness. She deserved the best. Not burdened with pack problems.
ChapterNineteen
“Are you sure about this?” Jezebel asked as she stared at herself in the full-length mirror in Daddy’s bathroom. “I’ve never once gone out in public or received visitors wearing something this revealing. And it’s your parents, Arion.” She spun around to face him even though it wasn’t necessary. He was standing directly behind her, leaning against the counter casually as if he wasn’t asking her to do something way out of her comfort zone.
He chuckled.
She glared at him. “Daddy!”
He shoved off the vanity, and put his hands on his hips. “First of all, since when do you call me Arion?”
“Since your parents are coming over! I need to practice. I can’t call you Daddy in front of them,” she shouted, throwing her hands in the air. She glanced down and groaned. “And I’m dressed like a baby.”
