The shop was just off the main street, about half a mile over from the Legion offices, so it was a bit of a hike, but it was a nice day. I lifted my nose in the hopes I’d catch the scent of Darius or Kitten, but nothing. Maybe after I saw the Alpha General, I could run home and say hello. Maybe make them come a couple of times, and then go back to work smelling like their pleasure.
My dick got hard, and I mentally told him to calm his shit. I could not walk into the Alpha General's office with a hard-on. Probably wouldn’t give the right impression.
I waved at the people who yelled greetings and congratulations. The grapevine in Maxton was laughably active, and I would bet that a good portion of the town knew Darius was pregnant before we’d even gotten him home to tell him.
Finally, I swiped my hands on my pants once more and walked into the Legion Building. When I was a kid, this building had seemed huge and imposing. The kind of building that struck fear inside of you. It had everything to do with the administration inside and little to do with the place itself. Now, I could appreciate the building for what it was: the heart of Maxton. Or maybe the brain.
I walked past the offices of the Legion Generals, and some of the administrative branches of the Legion, before I stepped inside the Alpha General’s office.
Radic sat behind his desk, and smiled at me when I stopped. “Corvin! Thanks for coming. How’s Kitten settling in?”
I shifted my weight from foot to foot. “Not bad, Rad. Some things take a little more getting used to than others, and she’s still not a fan of crowds, but she’s pretty fucking resilient. We’ve done everything at her speed, on her terms.”
Radic raised an eyebrow. “Almost everything.”
I flushed and set my jaw. “Almost everything. That was an accident. A happy one though. We’re working through it and we haven’t put any more pressure on her about the cubs. She can be as involved or uninvolved as she wants.” I looked at the Beta with hard eyes. “I refuse for it to be an either/or situation. I want the cubs and I want Kitten.”
Radic lifted his hands. “Hey, I’m happy for you, Corvin. We all are. The whole town knows that Darius has wanted cubs from the time he was old enough to play families with Cooper. And if we thought for even a moment that Kitten was being coerced into anything, we’d take her out of your house in a heartbeat, whether we were friends or not. This isn’t the Maxton of last year, Corvin. Everyone has rights, and no one's life is worth more than anyone else’s.”
“That’s correct, my Beta.”
I turned at the sound of the Alpha General’s voice, and the weight of his power hit me once more. I could see how they’d had to cripple him to have even a chance in the Alpha battle.
He stared at me with those fathomless black eyes. “Thanks for coming, Corvin. It could have waited, but I had a spot in my schedule which wasn’t filled with bureaucracy, and seized it.”
Radic snorted. “It’s not that bad.”
Courtland huffed. “I say the same things over and over every day, Radic. There are only so many times I can reassure senior citizens, cut through the same red tape, and appease the families of the new Omegas, before I need a break. Let’s go, Corvin. I’m sure I have some half-decent tequila here somewhere.”
He spun and walked back into his office, while I looked at Radic, who rolled his eyes but had a small smile on his face. He gazed after the Alpha General like he was the last donut on the plate. They obviously loved each other.
The Alpha General’s office was different now. It had always been austere and masculine, menacing even. All old wood and sharp edges. Now, some of Courtland’s Hispanic roots were on display. Bright pops of color were dotted around, and the couch was an unbleached linen, which lightened the whole room. They’d painted the walls a more neutral white instead of the harsh navy blue that had previously been there. It was way less intimidating, and would probably be cozy if it wasn’t for the Alpha behind the ornate inlaid desk.
“Uh, I like what you’ve done with the place?”
He smiled, and even that was an intimidating expression. “Thank you. My sister and Bonnie redecorated it for me. It’s much less… over-the-top masculine. I don’t need a leather couch to let you know that I could skin you and eat you in a heartbeat.”
I blinked. “Uh, no sir. You don’t.”
He waved a hand. “Please, call me Courtland. I thought I’d call you in because I was talking with Alexi last night, and he had some interesting things to say about your Kitten.”
My heart thudded in my chest. “Alexi?”
His dark eyes were like magnets. “About this high, around the age of five? Doesn’t talk much?” He indicated about four feet from the ground.
“Oh, from the Sanctum?” Okay, now I was even more confused.
“Yes. While we were eating dinner last night, he told me that the forest was sad. When I asked why he thought so, he said that Kitten had taught him to read the trees. He told me that the forest was warning me of danger.” He tilted his head to the side. “I’m not sure if you’ve spent much time with Alexi, but he isn’t a child to waste words, so I’m inclined to listen.”
I nodded. “I’ve known Alexi since he was basically a baby. He’s a pretty solemn kid. But I’m confused about what you actually want?”
“Tell me about Kitten.”
I froze. The Alpha in me saw threats everywhere, doubly so when it came to my Omegas.
Courtland pulled a bottle of tequila and two glasses from his desk drawer. “Don’t panic, Alpha. I mean your Omega absolutely no harm. In fact, I think she could help us. But first, I want to know how an unknown Beta could live on the edges of our society for two decades without anyone knowing.”
I shrugged. “What do you know about Lorso?”
