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Concern
Dakota
“Thealphaandhis mate are... indisposed currently.” The officious personal assistant said as I stood outside of Blake Sweetwater’s office.
“Still? It’s been three days!” I heard my voice rise with incredulity and winced at how sharp it became. “Sorry.”
Dalton, as his name tag on the desk identified him, waved me off. “It’s fine. We’re all concerned for them both, but Axel said Kade’s heat went on a while last time.”
“That’s true.” I rubbed my bearded face in thought. “My dad thought it was just because it had been a while since he’d had one. He’s had another since then, though.”
Axel’s personal assistant was working double duty since Blake hadn’t hired a new one, Axel had said. Dalton was a pale, slim, beta. Some sort of cat shifter, like a lynx, if I was guessing correctly.
“So I should come back then?”
“Could you... um... this isn’t really my place, but everyone is so worried. Blake forcibly removed Chase from his rooms yesterday and only allows Axel in, but I see how worried Axel is getting.” Dalton wrung his hands. “Your dad is a doctor, right? Could you ask him to come look at them? There seems to be no sign of it slowing.”
“I can. Yeah, that’s a good idea. Get a doctor’s opinion.”
Moving away from the office door and Dalton, though I was sure he could still hear me, I put in a call to my dad. As usual, Papa answered with his cheery tone. I felt bad that I couldn’t make time to chat. He understood why when I explained why he was calling. “He’ll make time for this. Be there soon, sweetheart.” My face reddened when I saw Dalton smile at my interaction with Papa. I should hate that my Papa called me sweetheart and treated me like a child. I was in my fifties, but I knew how much they longed for me and I was an only child. They would always call me their baby bear.
Papa and Dad arrived not long after with Alpha Jason in tow. They had sent me as a friend to the Sweetwater pack to figure out where things stood in merging. I knew both alphas were for the idea. Jason wanted to retire and didn’t have a suitable heir in the eyes of the council. Neither of his children wanted the responsibility of running a pack, anyway. Blake just wanted unity.
I’d had mixed feelings on Blake to start with, but he’d shown me, and my alpha, that he was what a true alpha wolf should be. His pack was thriving and happy. If the concern that Dalton showed told me anything, it was those he ruled over loved Blake.
Axel led dad into Blake’s rooms and they exited half an hour later, frowns marring their faces. “Both are as well as can be expected. Blake is doing a great job of looking after Kade. Himself? Not so much. I’ve given some energy boosting potions Poppy makes for Heatwave.”
I’d forgotten that the betas at Heatwave were often boosted with potions to help them keep up with the omegas that frequented the club. Tate and Asher sometimes had to take potions to keep up with Hiroshi depending on how close he was to his heat. The closer he was, the easier their jobs were.
We took our conversation down to Blake’s office, Jason sitting in the alpha’s chair and looking at home. Dalton came in to offer us refreshments while Axel, Deke and Jason discussed the details of what the merge would entail.
“Kade told us you have an elder, Janet, that he would love to host here. He expressed that the house she was staying in might be difficult for her with reduced mobility,” said Deke carefully.
“Ah yes, this house isn’t any better from what I’ve seen.” Jason mused.
Deke and Axel shared a look before Axel spoke up. “We’d likely set up one of the omega houses for her. I know a family has just moved to a larger property now they have a pup. It wouldn’t take much to renovate and fit the place up, so it was safe for Janet.”
“That sounds perfect. I’m sure that Janet would like to be around the omegas.”
“The omega houses are like their own little compound within the compound. There’s a school in the community center and my brother has dinner with them once a week. If I’m honest, it might be his favorite place in the compound. He spends as much time there with the children as he can.”
Jason smiled. “So Janet would be among the omegas and the children? She’ll love that. I worry that she’s become so isolated and there are so few young in our pack.”
We chatted for a little while longer until there was a commotion at the door.
“I demand to see my son!” The tone set me on edge, but I couldn’t think why.
Roan had been training on gate duty and escorted a red-haired man and a little girl into the office. “Deke, Axel, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I thought he was going to shift into his fox and run right here. This is Jasper Hayes, Kade’s Papa.”
Deke spoke up. “It’s okay, Roan. You’ve done the right thing by bringing him here.” He turned to the man. “How can we help you, sir?”
His head snapped up and his eyes met mine instead of Deke’s. The same bright amber eyes as Kade. The same delicate features with a slim nose and full lips.
Stunning.
My mate.
My fated mate was Kade’s papa, Jasper.
