A Matter of Convenience

Fifteen

~Ericson~

Talk about cloak and dagger. You’d think we are on some kind of spy mission with all the sneaking around we just did and end up in some sort of hidden lair. It’s just wild! I have to admit it’s a little bit cool. It’s definitely something I would have loved as a kid.

I’m waiting for her response. I feel like one year should be enough. We can definitely show the elders that we are a team and get everything signed over within a year. Once the year is up, we can split and go our separate ways. We will be the Alphas of our packs, and we can maintain our long-standing alliance with each other. “A year?”

“You don’t agree? You think it should be longer?” Isis turns her head to the side and looks at me. The look on her face makes her look so much older and sexy. Whoa! I slightly shake my head, hoping that thought dislodges from my mind. We’re going to work together, not actually hook up.

“Do you not think that a year is too long?” I stand and start to pace the area we’re sitting in.

“If you think about it, a year will make it more legitimate in the minds of the elders. If we don’t go at least a year, people will ask too many questions.”

“What about when that year is up?” I sigh and shake my head.

“That’s jumping too far ahead. We can work that out along the way. We can decide how we want to split and how we want it to look to others. Right now, we need to worry about the beginning of all this: getting this started.” I look over to Isis, and she looks pensive. It really isn’t that difficult of a situation. I feel like it’s pretty cut and dry when you take the time to think about it. “Look, you’re the one who came to me with this. If it’s so damn complicated, we can just forget it and go back to how things have always been.” I didn’t mean to sound so aggressive, but I can’t help it. I feel she’s making a big deal out of something that’s pretty simple.

“It… it isn’t that. I just,” Isis sighs and drops her head. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.” Her voice is soft, and a lot of emotions are swimming around in it. I wonder what her story is. Nah, never mind. I really don’t care. I want my Dad off my back, and if this is the way to do it, then I’m down. Isis’s head snaps up, and she squares her shoulders. “Let’s do this.” I nod and sit down again.

“I think we should stay at our respective packs for now. There’s no need in doing this big move if we are going to end things in a year. We can tell the elders that we want to slowly integrate the packs together. We can come up with a few pack activities and mixers over the year. It won’t hurt anything since we are allies. It will be just a way for us to bring out packs together.”

“Yeah, and we can tell the elders that we are building a packhouse in the neutral area. That will take time to do so we can stall that way.” I nod. That isn’t a bad idea at all. I mull over everything else when an idea strikes me.

“We’re screwed!”

“Why? What’s the problem?”

“What are we going to do about marking and mating? There’s no way in hell that I’m going to mark you and I really don’t want to mate you. I mean, you’d probably be a good roll in the hay, but I’m not interested.” Her growl rolls through the room and vibrates the furniture. I find it cute, so I hope she wasn’t trying to intimidate me.

“Watch your mouth! One thing you are going to have to try to do is not be the asshole we both know that you are!” Huh, I’m the asshole?. That’s rich. I decide not to respond. Now isn’t the time to go back and forth. If we get started, it might not end, and then we won’t get anywhere with this agreement.

I sit back on the couch, spreading my legs and arms to get comfortable. Isis looks pissed, and I’m sure if this were any other situation, she’d be trying to rip my head off right now. “Well? What’s your bright idea for that one?” I watch her close her eyes and let a breath out. I’m not going to lie; her lips are really tempting. I look away and remind myself who she really is.

“I actually have a solution for that. I know someone, a witch. I’m sure she can help us with marks and maybe even mix our scents together.”

Son? Where are you?

Uh, I went for a walk. Just wait in the room, and I will be there shortly. I stand and stretch my body.

“As entertaining as this is, I need to get out of here. Come to my room tonight and we can finalize things.” I don’t wait for a response before turning on my heel and making my way back to the surface.

~Isis~

Fu.cking piece of sh.it! I should have known that our interactions were going too well. I should have expected him to be his usual di.ck self and say what he said. I guess I was being way too optimistic.

I sit back on the couch, fuming. I wanted nothing more than to punch him in his throat, but we are in a dire situation and as good as I would have felt hitting him, it wouldn’t have helped me solve my problem. I sigh and try to shake his words off, knowing that this won’t be the only thing he says that will piss me off.

The sad part is that this is probably how it will be with us over the next year. We can’t stand each other, and I’m dreaming if I think we will be able to get along simply because we are older. He’s going to say a lot of things that I’m not going to like, and I need to get used to it so I won’t always react to his words. I need to see my Dad.

I shut off the lights and make my way out of the room. I make sure everything is closed and secure. The last thing I need is someone finding this place. Miles and I have been able to keep this location a secret for a long time. I don’t know how he will feel knowing that I let Ericson know about our spot, but I don’t need anyone else to know.