Page 134 of The Ashpaw: Part One

Darion growled low, a warning that Fern felt all the way in her bones.

But Cyran merely grinned. “It appears it would be, then.” Then he turned towards his father. “The connection is there, but the one with Kyntha is stronger.”

“How dare you try to analyze me like some sort of—”

“Enough!” Alastair bellowed. “Darion, we’ve discussed at length the precarity of your arrangement, and I will not risk either our alliance with the Ironcoats nor the well-being of an omega because you are too proud to admit you cannot manage both.”

The look in Darion’s eye was murderous as he stared at his father. “It is my right…”

And then Katreena held out her hands. “Alpha Darion, I can see how deeply you care for the two she-wolves. It is no wonder you cannot imagine losing either one of them.”

Darion took a deep breath, the tension in the room slowly fading.

“I think I have a solution, then, if you wish to have both.”

When all eyes were on her, she blinked slowly, and said, “I think it would be best if the omega were placed into isolation until after the ceremony, when Alpha Darion and Kyntha have had their mating bond properly secured. That way Alpha Darion will not spend the rest of the courtship divided by competing instincts.”

“That will not happen,” Eidan said quickly. He shook his head, scoffing. “My brother forced her into that already, and it nearly broke her.”

Murmured whispers broke out, and Alastair’s eyes widened in shock. “Already? What do you mean?” He turned to Darion. “You told me she was well, that she had agreed to spend the time alone. Was this a lie?”

Darion did not answer, so Alastair looked to Fern next. “What really happened?”

Fern looked at the table, her body beginning to shake. She wanted to answer truthfully, but if she did…

“Let’s not put our little Fern on the spot and ask her to speak ill of her alpha,” Reinn interjected, giving her a pitying smile. “But like a flower needs the sun, an omega needs companionship to thrive. Keeping her away will only cause her harm, perhaps even permanent damage. Unless that is your goal, Aunt Katreena?”

He smiled, watching as her face twisted quickly from rage to shock. “I would never suggest we harm an omega!”

“Oh, thank the gods!” he exclaimed, wiping his brow. “You had me worried for a moment. I mean, you do know so much about them, I was almost surprised you suggested such a thing.”

Arnet snorted a laugh into his cup as he drank, and Katreena’s eyes narrowed before turning into something slightly more sympathetic. “Now that my nephew mentions it, prolonged isolation can have negative effects on an omega’s constitution.”

She tapped her chin as though she were thinking of a new proposal, but Fern had a sinking suspicion it had been chosen long before this meeting even began.

“I think I have an excellent idea…”

Chapter 31

Fern

Lucas escorted her down the hall, her bare feet cold and silent on the stone.

It had been raining for days, quelling the summer heat and finally making her lack of shoes a problem.

She knew she’d need to bring it up eventually. Anyone who already noticed had assumed it was some omega eccentricity and not a symptom of her alpha’s neglect.

Which was now to be carefully avoided thanks to Katreena’s “brilliant” solution.

Lucas stopped in front of Kyntha’s door, knocking to announce their arrival.

“Enter.”

“I’ll see you in one hour,” Lucas whispered in her ear as he opened it.

Fern gave him a small smile, her palms sweating and completely unsure of what to expect.

Darion and Kyntha were sitting on the divan. He was dressed as he had been for dinner, but she wore a revealing nightdress, cut so low she almost saw the entirety of her breasts while her legs were draped over his lap.