A Matter of Convenience

Thirteen

~Ericson~

Now that Isis is gone and the humor of her words has died down, I have to admit that I’m thinking about everything. I hate to say it, but it does actually have the benefit of helping everyone. We will both take over our packs and won’t have to deal with the council. The only issue is the ‘us’ part of it. I don’t want to be tied to her any more than she wants to be tied to me. I don’t want to mark her or even have kids with her. I want us to stay together long enough to take over our packs, and then we can go our separate ways. Why don’t we talk to her and come up with a plan that works for both of us?

This is crazy, Blade. I swear this could never work. We’d have to really act like a mated couple. There’s no way Dad would agree to us playing a game like this. As if summoned by my words, he walks into my room with a she-wolf walking behind him. She looks familiar to me, but I can’t be sure.

“Son, I hope you’ve been resting so you can get out of here. I was telling Kira here how you were injured during a hard training. She wanted to come see how you’re doing.” The woman steps forward, and her eyes are filled with lust. She looks like she’s 5’5 with very light brown skin. She has a lean body with the smallest amount of curves. She’s wearing ridiculously long lashes, and her hair is pink. If I had to guess, I’d say it was a wig. Her lips are this,n and her face is much too skinny. Her tongue runs over her flat bottom lip, and my stomach turns. Still, there’s something about her that seems familiar. “You remember Kira, right? She’s Janet’s younger cousin.” FU.CK! That’s where I know her from. I used to see her with Janet all the time.

What are you doing, Dad? Why is she here?

She’s been taking classes to be a proper young lady. She’d make a good mate for you and is part of our pack.

Dad, I have a mate and am not interested in anyone else.

Your mate is a sl.ut, and she’s proven that. If you want to take over, you will have a mate by your side of my choosing. If not, well, I can always stick around longer. I should have known he’d pull some sh.it like this. I won’t have him picking my mate for me. He wasn’t even excited about Amara, so he felt vindicated when she was caught with Simon. I don’t even know what type of women he envisions by my side. I just know that we have very different tastes.

Kira sits next to my bed and leans forward in an attempt to show me cleavage that she doesn’t really have. I close my eyes and roll them, just wishing they would both go away. Looks like this is how things will be for us from now on unless we take Isis up on her offer. Unfortunately, Blade is right. It’s either be set up by my father or go to Isis. The elders will be back in a day or two, and something has to be decided before then.

Kira reaches over and runs her hand up my arm. Her skin feels clammy, and her touch is all wrong. I really don’t want her touching me, but if I make a big deal about it, my dad will intervene. I wish my mom were here so she could take him away from me. She’s always been the one who could keep dad from completely destroying me. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. How about I stay with you for a while?”

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The Moon Goddess must have been smiling down on me because it didn’t take long for a nurse to come in to check my vitals. Dad left along with Kira, but not before she gave me a smile that must have meant to seem sexy, but it just wasn’t. Before that, she kept trying to find every excuse to touch me. I dodged her advances as discreetly as possible, so, of course, it wasn’t enough to completely hold her off.

I’ve been sitting and thinking since they left, and every path I dream up leads to the same few conclusions. This wasn’t a situation I ever thought I’d have to go through, but fate always has other plans. My mind drifts to Amara and the life I thought we’d have before I quickly shake my head. If I want things to end up a certain way, there’s only one thing to do. I can’t complicate things further with thoughts of her.

I sigh and throw my covers back. I should really go back home, but I don’t want to deal. I don’t want to be reminded. I change into some sweatpants and my slippers. I throw a hoodie over my head and walk out of my room.

The path down the hall was heavy with uncertainty, but I don’t think there’s any turning back now. I already asked what room Alpha Emmet was in, and I was assured that Isis had been with him most of the day. I swear I can feel the sweat drip down my back, but I ignore it and keep walking.

When I get to his door, I hesitate before knocking on the door. I hear shuffling from the other side before the door opens. The nurse steps to the side, and I step into the room. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I’ve seen Alpha Emmet many times in my life, and I’ve always regarded him as a strong man. This man asleep in the bed before me isn’t the man I grew up seeing. He looks frail and lost. His color isn’t as bright as it always was. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was on the brink of death. Hell, maybe he is; I just haven’t heard anything.

I hear the door behind me, followed by footsteps. She’s here; her scent gives her away. She smells of vanilla and roses. These aren’t scents I usually go for, but they smell good on her. “What are you doing here?” I glance to my right and see Isis behind me, looking at her father. There’s fear all over her face. I wonder if she’s worried that he might now awaken from his sleep.

“I came to see you, actually. Do you think we can talk?”