Her exiled Gamma

Asking for his help

*Kiona*

I hear the heavy tread of footsteps on the marble stairs. Since the Alpha and his heir had left earlier, I know it has to be Castor. Setting aside my writing desk, I rise to my feet, shake out my skirts, and glide over to the doorway.

He is wearing the fine dark blue coat and silver waistcoat he had worn to dinner. The sight of him causes my heart to give a little stutter in my chest as it normally does when I first catch a glimpse of him. But it is only because we are always at odds and I am bracing for the encounter. It has nothing at all to do with the fact that over the years, he has grown into quite the handsome specimen.

He has obviously not spotted me because he has almost reached the door. On the verge of missing my opportunity, a panic nearly sets in. Quickly I hold up the brass. “Castor, I believe I may have found your key”.

He comes to an abrupt halt, and his gaze slowly travels the length of me. I am grateful the pale green gown flatters me and softens my coloring.

He takes several steps toward me, and I don’t know why it feels as though my corset is being tugged tighter as he comes nearer until I can see his eyes more clearly. I have always thought of them as beautiful. A deep hazel, like my own, but much darker ... warmer.

“Where did you find it ?” He asks.

“On the front drive. I enjoyed a walk earlier in the afternoon and spotted it, just lying there”. I quickly lie.

“Interesting”. As he has yet to put on his gloves, his fingers graze over mine as he takes my offering, and a strange sort of warmth travels not only along my arm but through all my limbs. “I searched the drive after I left you in the garden and had no luck finding it”.

Drat it. My lie is on the cusp of being found out. “You must admit you were not in your finest form this morning. Perhaps your eyesight was affected”.

His gaze captures mine. “Do you find that I normally have a fine form, Miss Kitty ?”

He has lowered his voice and is drawing out his words as though we are sharing a delicious secret. I want to give one of my usual retorts, although now I am noticing things about him that I hadn't before. When has his shoulders broadened so much ? When had he begun to fill out his clothing so nicely ? From all appearance, he looks quite toned, and I wonder if he engages in any sports. He is my dear friend's brother, and yet I know so little about the specifics of him, really.

Still, I ignore his question, instead saying. “I assume you're on your way to a gaming

hell or one of those clubs".

“As the spare, a mere future Gamma,what else am I expected to do ?” He says with a shrug.

I do not miss the sarcasm in his tone. He no doubt takes exception to what he had overheard this morning. I am not against all men with lower titles, merely the reprobate ones, the ones like my uncle and cousin ... unfortunately a category into which Castor seems to fall. “Join the army, become a priest of the Goddess, seek a position as a member of the Wolf court".

“You can't truly see me engaged in any of those occupations, surely”. He mumbles.

"Do you intend to be just a man of leisure until you are called to be Gamma ?” Why had I asked that?

Why am I prolonging this encounter ?

Something ... almost a longing ... flashes in his eyes before he steps back. “More like a scoundrel, I should think. Thank you for the key”. With a wink, he tucks it into the pocket of his waistcoat and turns to leave.

“You don't have a pocket watch”. I suddenly say.

His attention is back on me, and I wonder why I only now noticed his lack of accessory and had bothered to ask about it. Why is he suddenly rousing my curiosity ?

"No. When Dimos reached his majority, Father handed him the one that his father had passed on to him. I thought he might purchase one for me when I reached my majority, but as that is six years past, I suppose I should see about purchasing my own”. He shrugs.

“What did he give you when you reached your majority ?" I ask.

He shrugs. "Nothing, as I recall".

The words come out even and flat, as though he harbors no emotion regarding them, but how could he have not been disappointed ?

“I'm so terribly sorry”. I mumble.

An emotion now sparks in those hazel eyes. Anger, embarrassment, irritation. “I don't require your pity. If you'll excuse me, I must leave. Lady Luck and other ladies await my arrival”.

Once more he makes to leave

“Is it likely that you might cross paths with the Alpha of Brinsley this evening ?” I ask.

This time when he faces me, his eyes are narrowed and his jaw taut. "It's possible. We frequent the same club".

Licking my lips, I clasp my hands together and take a step toward him. “Would you do me the kind service of asking him precisely what he is looking for in a wife ?”

He gives his head a quick shake. “The Alpha is an utter arse. He hasn't the ability to care for anyone besides himself. You would be miserable married to him”.

As though he would care about my misery. In truth, I suspect he would wish it upon me.

“Please, I have my reasons for wanting to be the one he seeks to court”. I admit.

“To beat Miss Jade ?” He suggests.

I offer a small smile. “Partly. But I have other reasons that are more personal”.

“Will you write falsehoods in your letter or change yourself to be what he wants ?” He ponders out loud.

“I will not lie when I write to him, but I can be certain to emphasize the qualities I might possess that he hopes to find”. I say.

He sighs deeply. “If I have occasion to do so, I will make inquiries of him. But I will not inconvenience myself or ruin my evening to help you with this ridiculous endeavor”.

“Thank you, Castor. I appreciate your generosity of spirit”. I send him another small smile.

“The day you appreciate anything about me, miss Kitty, will be the day hell freezes over”. He mumbles.

My smile turns a bit more teasing. “I suppose you have a point. And, pray tell, I do hope you won't drink so much that you are unable to remember what he says to you”.

“Why would you think drinking to excess would cause me to forget something ?” He asks suspiciously.

Has he no recollection regarding where he had awoken this morning ? “I heard you tell Isadora that you didn't recall how you came to be sleeping behind the hedgerows”.

“Ah, that. The memory loss is only temporary. The details will eventually come back to me”. He tells me.

I couldn't have stiffened more if he had dropped me into a vat of cold water. Dear Goddess, I hope he has the wrong of it there.

"Good night, Freckles". With a nod, he heads for the door.

Oh, the daft man. "Have you not noticed that I no longer have freckles ?”

Opening the door, he steps through it before turning back to me, his grin the sort that would cause a she-wolf made of a weaker constitution to swoon. “But I can still recall where they once were”.

Then he disappears, making me regret that I had returned his key to him, that I had asked a favor of him ... that I enjoy our sparring perhaps a little too much.