AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Instead of answering me, they looked at each other again, clearly having a conversation. That was getting old very fast. “Is he terrible?”
“Oh no, nothing like that,” Lyric quickly responded. “He is one of my father’s friends. He’s always been very kind. One of the few alphas who was on Orion’s side during the board meeting to vote him as president.”
I scrunched my nose. None of those seemed like bad things. “I-I don’t understand.”
“It’s just that,” Orion started and then sighed heavily, scrubbing his face. “Emerson won’t take a mate. Ever. He is very vocal about it, which is odd in itself as he’s usually the strong and silent type. But he hasn’t backed down or given in despite the pressure and sometimes threats for years now.” Orion squeezed my arm in support. “I’m sorry, Jett, but I don’t think Emerson will be the one tonight.”
I swallowed hard, my eyes never leaving the man even without him looking toward me. It shouldn’t matter. After all, I’d barely laid eyes on him, yet I felt my heart breaking at Orion’s words. Somehow, I knew that man was meant to be my alpha, refusal to mate or not. I guessed I just had to convince him.
CHAPTER4
Jett
My gazenever strayed from Emerson. Throughout the whole eight-course meal, my eyes were glued to the man’s back. He never once turned toward me, but I knew he knew I was watching him. I couldn’t help myself though. That animal side of us that never died out when the rest of the shifter genes did was screaming. And I meant a full blast toddler having a tantrum. That piece inside my brain hated that I hadn’t claimed my mate yet. That was the word that kept popping in my head.Mate.
It made no sense. Lyric had told me a lot about his and Orion’s initial meeting. The connection was there instantly, but it didn’t feel this concrete until they kissed. I’d barely glimpsed Emerson and I was already positive that I belonged to this alpha. I wasn’t sure why, but I wouldn’t question it. I had bigger worries if what Orion and Lyric were telling me was true anyway. Mainly, convincing my mate of this connection. And since he was very purposely not glancing this way, I wouldn’t be surprised if I had a challenge on my hands.
At any rate, I was distracted throughout the whole meal. I kept drifting off and missing when someone was talking to me. Luckily, Lady Aurora seemed amused by my distraction, though I could tell it was worrying Orion. Other alphas tried to approach me to begin staking their claim throughout dinner, but I could barely muster up enough enthusiasm to be polite. There was only one alpha I was going home with tonight.
Finally, after a tortuously long meal, the final course was getting cleaned up and the volume and the tempo of the music increased, an unspoken announcement that the party portion of the night was beginning. It was also when I was meant to socialize with alphas and potentially find someone I connected with. Already, a few were approaching Orion for permission to dance with me. I squirmed in my seat and did my best to telepathically tell my brother to deny the alphas.
Orion’s lips were pursed and his expression serious as he assessed me. “Jett—” he warned.
I just held in my sigh. There was a crowd around our table, so I didn’t want to be seen as disrespectful. “Please, can I have a few minutes, alpha, before meeting with the other alphas? I need to, uh, freshen up?”
I knew it was bullshit. Orion knew it was bullshit. Lyric, who was snickering quietly, definitely knew it was bullshit, but after he sighed heavily, I could tell my brother was about to give in.
“Of course. Just be careful please.”
It was an innocent enough warning. Even going to the bathroom alone could be dangerous for an unmated omega, especially one that was up for grabs, but his meaning was clear. He wanted me to be careful with Emerson.
I had so many questions about him, but this wasn’t the place to ask. Why were both Orion and Lyric so sure he would deny a mating, especially one that must be blessed by the gods if I was feeling it so strongly? What had happened to cause this? Would he reject me outright, or would I at least have a chance to speak to him? What kind of man even was he?
Since these would all be left unanswered for now, I thanked Orion, nodded politely to the alphas surrounding our table, even the ones who were clearly put out by my delay, and slid out of my chair. I wasn’t naive enough to think that he was letting me go entirely on my own, but there was enough of his personal security around that maybe he’d just make sure they were keeping a close eye on me.
My attention immediately went to where I last saw Emerson, only to realize he was gone. Where did he go? He hadn’t left yet, had he? Since most of the crowd towered over me, I could barely see over anyone’s head. I stood on my tiptoes, looking around, peeking over shoulders, and slipping through dancing couples. I was getting strange looks, and if I didn’t find him soon, someone was bound to report me to Orion or, worse, grab me.
There was some protocol about this kind of thing, and that was the only reason I hadn’t been approached outright already. Since making the announcement that I was searching for a mate tonight, it became a formal courting, albeit a short one. That prevented any of the alphas who watched me hungrily as I slipped through the crowd from touching me if they wanted any real chance at being my mate. In order to have an opportunity to court me, aka dance and have a conversation, they must get approval from my guardian, Orion. It was all very old school and, I thought, a little over the top, but I appreciated that now as I tried to find my alpha.
Then, through the crowd, I swore I got a whiff of something, something amazing. The smell was alluring and turned me on all at once. It was a combination of sandalwood, coffee and cigars. It shouldn’t have been appealing but it was. This had to be Emerson. Following the scent, and ignoring the party around me, I followed it out of the main hallway and toward the restrooms. I guessed I ended up not lying to Orion after all.
When I got to the door of the men’s room, I paused. What was I doing? I couldn’t just corner the poor man on the toilet. Not only was that rude and presumptuous, it just wasn’t what omegas did. He was the alpha. He needed to approach me and take the lead. What would he even think if I barged in there, demanding answers about what was going on?
Then, his scent filled my lungs again and all my doubts disappeared. I belonged to that alpha, simple as that. And if that was the case, then he must not be one for stodgy traditions and formality because we would clash. I would go in there, prove my feelings were correct, and state my case. What was the worst that could happen? He would reject me?
My chest tightened at the thought and the panic was already building. I quickly shoved it down. No, even if he rejected me, it would be better than me pining from afar when I’d never even heard the man speak. Who knew, maybe once I had a conversation with him, these insane feelings would mellow and I could find one of these alphas who actually wanted me and move on. Even as I thought the words, I realized how unlikely that would be. Somehow, Emerson already had my heart in a chokehold. My inner animal instinct would not be satisfied with any other mate besides this man, and I was terrified at what would happen to me if I was rejected.
Still, I wasn’t one to give in to my fears. If I was able to run, alone, across districts and take a chance on a brother I’d never met before, then I could open the godsforsaken bathroom door. I took one last deep breath and did exactly that.
Emerson was washing his hands. He was even more imposing close up. He wasn’t the tallest alpha, or the broadest, but just something about the way he held himself, the confidence that he exuded, screamedI take no shit. He didn’t look up from his task, but I could tell he knew I was there by the way he froze, his shoulders stiffening. It only happened for a second before his posture relaxed, but I saw it. He was affected by me too.
“Alpha,” I managed to choke out gruffly, my head automatically tilting to the side in respect. I wanted to jump the man and demand he bite me, claim me, but that wouldn’t go well. It was for the best anyway because with how weak my knees were, I probably wouldn’t make it more than a step without collapsing.
I tried not to wince at Emerson’s heavy sigh as he shut off the water and stood to his full height, finally turning toward me.
Whatever rebuttal that was on his lips effectively died as he took me in. I watched in frozen fascination as this sure and steady alpha stood dumbfounded. His thin lips opened and closed, as if he wanted to say words but they wouldn’t come. From this close, I could tell his eyes were a light blue, almost gray, and they held me in place. His pupils were dilated with lust, and his alpha pheromones were rolling over me in waves.
I couldn’t hold back my whimper, especially as Emerson took a step toward me almost involuntarily. He took two more before he seemed to come out of his trance and stood in place. His expression closed off and just like that, he shut down. I swallowed hard, trying to think of something I could say. But now that I was here, my mind was blank. He may not have said a word, but I could feel the rejection. I knew it was coming, and I didn’t know how to protect myself from it.
