Talons

Chapter 153: The Accommodating

Dolton’s POV

We left pack territory for a few hours only to come back to visible patrols and an overall heightened security presence. The changes look good on the surface, and since no one is slacking off, I’m guessing they are taking their posts seriously.

The first thing I did was head to Colt’s office, where I found him reading over something that looks like it’s confusing him. His beta female is trying to explain how spending more would save more, but he isn’t quite grasping how. 

Even I’m confused by it, but after listening to her explain it several times, and listening to my brother break it down in his own words, I finally understand. 

A three dollar increase in patrol wages is huge, but it would mean more men sign up for shifts. 

In turn, less overtime would be paid to those who aren’t relieved and have to work overnight; that’s where the savings are.

“I’ve been telling your father this for years, but he tells me the pack can’t afford it.”

“How do we not have money?” Colt asks, but Mandy is under command not to answer financial questions. All pack accountants are usually under oath or command, and in this case, my father probably wants to be safe. 

Blood oaths do not immediately fall apart after death. It takes time, sometimes years, and while we have no idea why, it's believed to prevent people from going on killing sprees to get whatever it is they want.

Commands on the other hand, fade over time and aren’t meant to be permanent. Basically, my father was smart to issue the command; where he messed up, is by not specifying that Colt should be an exception.

“The pack looks good, what sparked the change?”

“Rhea killed three rogues this afternoon.”

“What the f*ck did I miss?” We weren’t gone that long, and Holly and my mother-in-law spoke to my brother's mate just before we left. They wanted her to join us, but she said she already had plans.

“Honestly, we aren’t sure. Carter and I think General may have something to do with it.”

“Why him and why now?” My brother folds up what he’s reading, and Mandy leaves the room. I know that he trusts his betas, so excusing herself was her decision; one my brother must agree with because he didn’t ask her to stay.

Colton’s POV

Rogues are simply men and women who don’t belong to a pack. For reasons unknown, their scent changes, but it isn’t immediate. As time goes on, the ‘rogue’ smell of them becomes stronger and stronger, but the men Rhea killed were newly made.

“I haven’t said anything to my mate, but I think he’s been timing it out."

"For what?"

"As of this morning she can defend herself against me. I'm sure he was thinking she would run, and his men would catch her."

"But her parents are still under oath."

"It's just a theory."

"One you clearly need to talk to your mate about because it sounds like jealousy is clouding your judgement."

"Do you blame me? I just found out that my mate couldn't even sleep in peace. When he didn't show up, he called, and no matter what time it was, if she didn't answer…" I can't even finish speaking as I imagine my mate putting up with his torment to protect her family.

At the same time, I can't help but to think of what I did to her. Things she put up with because she believed that I would be fated to one of her sisters. 

After that, she believed that she was protecting the people who lived on the borders of her land as they would be most at risk if a war were sparked.

"That is if they even went to war for her. They sent her away after we attacked her, then let her move out despite being a walking target."

My wolf is right, and truthfully, I really don't understand what Lark was thinking. He should have tried to kill me, not his father, but like Lissette said, Rhea's siblings were probably always afraid of her.

"Where is she now?" I look down at my watch and my eyes bulge. It's 11PM and I hope my mate wasn't waiting to eat with me.

"I have to go, but we can pick up this conversation in the morning."  My brother knows that I eat with my mate nightly, so he doesn't ask what's up.

I get back to my suite and find my mate reading something on her phone. I can tell the area has been freshly cleaned and I can smell that dinner is still on the stove.

"Hey, you're earlier than I expected. I’m still cooking.”

“How did you know I’ll be late?”

“Have you forgotten who my father is?” Rhea smiles at me, and I can’t help but to feel flattered. For most of my life, I have wanted to be a man just like Alpha Jay; someone anyone could talk to but for some reason, I became a complete ass when I entered high school.

Just now, my mate indirectly compared me to her father, who I know woke early and worked late, something I thought my mate would resent, but like her mother, she made accommodations for me, and I’m entirely smitten.

“I-” My stomach rumbles loudly and Rhea looks at me with a frown. 

“I should have timed it properly. There's another ten minutes before I can take the chicken out of the oven.”

“It’s fine, it will give me time to get comfortable so I can enjoy my meal.” Rhea nods, turning back to her phone where her face goes pensive again.

I want to be nosey, but I can ask her about it while we eat. Afterall, I want to enjoy the mood I’m in. 

Rhea’s POV

Colton came back to his suite earlier than I expected. He’s usually back by seven, but because of the events of the day and the change in security I knew he was going to have trouble making it back on time. 

I purposefully started cooking later so that we could have our meal together, because there are a few things I feel like I have to tell him. He’ll be suspicious, but I already have a convincing story to cover my tracks.

Just as I started plating the food, Colton opened his room door, and when I turned, I nearly dropped the plates.

“Careful,” he says, grabbing one of the dishes from me. “Is it hot,”

“Yes,” I reply, but I am not talking about the food at all.

Colton is dressed in a simple white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, his hair is freshly washed, but he must have blown it dry. Overall, it’s good to see him wearing something so relaxed, it highlights how naturally handsome he is, which I’m obviously affected by.

There isn’t any rolling in my stomach, or throbbing between my legs, so I don’t think I’m aroused, but I can admit that I like what I see.

“Other than cleaning, what’ve you been up to today?” I stop following the lines of Colton’s biceps and meet his eyes to respond.

“Before we… umm… well…”

“Before we knew we were fated?” I nod as Colton completes the thought for me, but I can tell that he’s on edge, likely thinking I’m going to say something bad. “I commissioned a specialist to convert my car to operate on electricity. I’ve already paid him; he’s just waiting for me to bring the car to him.”

“You already paid him?” That must have cost a fortune!”

“It was expensive,” I reply, “but I will lose the money if I don’t.”

“Rhea…” Colton says, clearly concerned. “Are you a drug dealer?”

Colton’s POV

I’m no accountant, but I know that my mate spends money without checking tags, and while I’m not cheap, I certainly know how to live on a budget. I’m also not a mechanic, but turning a gas-powered SUV into an EV seems… 

“She’s hiding something.” I agree with my wolf, especially because the Claw pack has always been suspicious to me. 

I know it’s a movie stereotype, but Lissette strikes me as the type to deal in narcotics sold out of her nightclubs, and my mate is a f*cking scientist. If that’s not a red flag, I don’t know what is.

“Rhea… Are you a drug dealer?”

“What?”

“Listen if you are, I would completely understand. It probably wasn’t easy living without support.”

“And if I am?”

“You’ll have to stop. If you’ll have me, we’ll be the alpha and luna of this pack. We can’t put them at the mercy of the council.” I continue to rant about trusting one another and keeping each other safe. I even mentioned turning a substantial portion of the territory into farmland for her.

It’s about then that I notice her hand is over her mouth, and she’s struggling to hold in her laughter. She must have found my actions extremely comical because when she realizes I’ve caught on, she laughs at me.

“Alpha Colton, please don’t worry yourself. It wasn’t safe for me to go to many places, so I saved a lot of the money I made. If you’d like, I can tell you where to invest if you want to grow your savings like I did.”

“Our savings,” I correct. “My money is your money and-”

“My money is my money,” Rhea adds, but I’m not even offended. 

I know she isn’t telling the truth because she has already started to pay Janet, Crystal, and Tyson on my behalf, and although she asked them not to tell me, I know that she paid their rent three months in advance. 

If she were really a selfish person, she wouldn’t have done any of that. Likewise, she has been secretly ordering all manner of educational material for both daycare facilities. She may be using Mandy’s name to get the packages, but I know my beta, she doesn’t spend unless she must.

“Fair enough, your money belongs to you. I know that you worked hard for it, so it's only right you get to spend it, but please; if you are hiding anything significant from me, tell me now.” Rhea sighs, and I feel like she’s about to confess to a serious crime.

“I paid Janet’s rent for three months,” she says guiltily. “I asked her not to tell you, which was wrong.” I internally smile at the confession and press for more. “I buy stuff for the classrooms, but I can show you invoices, they aren’t expensive.”

“Okay, is there anything else?”

“For now,” Rhea says honestly.

“I’ll accept that… ‘For now,’” I repeat.