Chapter 7 - Darren

Cardinal relaxed while we were in the elevator with Kurt and Alexander. He no longer wanted to rip Alexander’s throat out. This is good because the excessive aggressive thing isn’t very Cardinal and certainly not me. We don’t lose our cool over anything.

‘It wasn’t over nothing. Alexander was leaning on our mate. I have a right to be territorial. Just because you are still confused about your sexuality doesn’t mean shit to me. André is our mate. I want him. And you just need to get on board with that or else.’ Cardinal snorted as he curled up in my mine, glaring at me from behind his tail he’d tucked his snout under.

I groaned. When did my wolf become such a drama queen? We never had these problems before. ‘Oh, don’t you dare. Don’t you dare blame André. Our problems aren’t his fault. They are yours.’ Cardinal huffed.

‘I wasn’t going to blame André. No one has a say in who the Goddess matches them with. So I can’t put the blame on him. But I can question what the Goddess was thinking. I get that for you; this is all easy. The mate bond rules you because it’s your engrained nature as a wolf.’ I sighed.

‘I’m the one having issues. And I would think you’d be more understanding. In one moment, everything I ever dreamed of having was gone. Poof. The Goddess snapped her fingers, and it was gone.’ I tried to explain.

‘Not everything you dreamed of is gone. You dreamed of having your mate of loving someone, and being loved by them. If you hadn’t given our mate that look when you realized his gender, you’d have that right now. It wouldn’t have been Alexander leaning into our mate, smiling and having a good time. It’d have been us.’ Cardinal snorted.

‘And once again, you don’t get it. I’m not attracted to men. I never have been. What kind of love can there be when I’m not attracted to my mate? And what about the part of my dreams of having a family?’ I questioned.

‘My brothers are going to start families and make me an uncle probably more times over than I want to count. The uncle. And that’s all I’m going to ever be now. And yes, I know things like adoption, and all that exists.’ I sighed.

‘It doesn’t change that my dream had been being there with my mate through her pregnancy. Of being at her side as our pup came into this world. I can’t have that with him.’ I clenched my hands, trying to ensure that my inner turmoil wasn’t spilling to the outside.

Cardinal had fallen silent after my rant. Good. Maybe now he can start thinking more about what this means to me, on why I’m not so quick to just go with this as him. And if he’s quiet, it means my head can be clear while I have to talk with the Beta and, Goddess help me, face André.

‘Are you nervous?’ Kurt whispered through the pack link. I arched an eyebrow as we stopped outside the Beta’s office. A gold plaque hanging on the door said, ‘Beta Damon Petridis.’ ‘Of course not. Just thinking about a million different things.’ I assured him. 

Kurt shrugged as Alexander led the way into his father’s office. “Ciao, papa. I’ve got Kurt and Captain Darren with me.” Alexander greeted his father. The family resemblance was undoubtedly there. Other than the shade of their blue eyes, Alexander looked like a clone of his father. 

“Good to meet you, Captain Darren. I’m Beta Damon Petridis.” Damon greeted, coming out from his desk to offer me his hand. He was dressed in business casual, similar to our Beta John’s style. I could faintly smell blood on him and noticed a stain on his shirt.

“Thank you for meeting with me, Beta Damon. And for the hospitality, your pack has given to our traveling members and now to my team.” I bowed my head. “Were you injured?” I questioned, nodding to the blood on his shirt. 

Damon raised an eyebrow looking down and groaning. A series of Italian curses fell from his lips. Alexander was snickering. “Mamma is going to kill you. Getting blood on another dress shirt. I told you to change before you arrived at the hospital.” Alexander smirked, shaking his head.

“You shh.” Damon pointed at his son, making a zipper across the lips motion. “I’ll get the shirt dry cleaned, and your mother doesn’t need to know. If she does, I’ll know you ratted me out. And then I’ll go tell Silvano you’ve been screwing around with his unmated daughter.” Damon warned his son as he removed the shirt.

“Papa! That is a total lie. I have not slept with her… just made out a few times.” Alexander frowned, folding his arms. “Silvano won’t care. You’ll be doing janitor work at the hospital for a year.” Damon shrugged, walking to a far wall opening a hidden door to take out a clean shirt. 

I cleared my throat to remind the duo they weren’t alone. “Pardon us. You know how it can be between fathers and sons. We like to bicker at times.” Damon shrugged, buttoning up his shirt.

I saw Kurt shift uncomfortably from the corner of my eye. I know for Kurt, the subject of fathers is not easy. 

“Of course, sir. While we were traveling here, I and others broke off from our convoy to assist in an attack. Now then, I wanted to be debriefed on the current state of things. How often are they happening? Do we have any details about the enemy that you could share?” I questioned, taking my usual military stance.

Damon and Alexander both arched a brow at me. “You’re military, aren’t you? That or your Alpha takes war more seriously than I’ve assumed based on Kurt and some of the other’s dispositions.” Damon questioned.

Kurt looked a bit called out. “Our Alpha does take war seriously. We are not the largest pack in North America with the most feared Alpha for nothing, sir. As for any impression you may have received from Kurt or the others, they aren’t here in the capacity of warriors but in search of mates.” I explained, trying to give an excuse for Kurt and the others.

“And you are also correct. I have served in the military. I was enlisted for five years.” I confirmed with a stiff nod. 

“I see. Well, that makes sense. And I’ll go over everything I have when my nephew arrives. He is acting Alpha, and so I must wait. You understand.” Damon nodded. 

“Of course, sir.” I had a few things I needed to discuss with Isis Adio. “I understand that he will also be bringing Miss Adio with him. I will need to meet with her as well.” I nodded.

“Why do you need to meet with Isis?” Damon arched a blonde brow. “Who needs to meet with me?” A female voice interrupted as a girl shyly poked her head into the room.

Other than the blue eyes and the streak of blonde hair, she looks nearly identical to Beta Sarael. “Miss Adio.” I bowed my head to her. Kurt’s face lit up, quickly moving to usher her into the room. 

“Welcome back.” Kurt smiled, kissing her cheek. Never once did he let his hands leave her. ‘That the power of the mate bond. You never want to let your mate go.’ Cardinal chimed in.

I rolled my eyes at him, opting to ignore him. “Hi, Kurt. Are you okay? André said you went to one of the fights.” Isis stepped back slightly, checking Kurt for any injuries. Once satisfied, she hugged him tightly. 

“I’m fine, Isis. André handled most of the Mandonie himself.” Kurt assured, kissing the top of her head. My heart ached at the sight. That is what I’d always thought finding a mate would be like. Not whatever you define what I’m dealing with.

‘And shut up. Don’t say it’s my own fault. I don’t want to hear it.’ I preemptively stopped Cardinal from talking. I don’t want to listen to him putting all the blame on my shoulders. I carry enough burdens on them.

Alexander cleared his throat with a smirk. Isis jumped and blushed brightly. “Um. Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. Zoe said I should come up while she talked to André.” Isis shyly apologized.

“It’s fine, Miss Adio. I needed to meet you anyway. I’m Darren Delaney. Your uncle, Beta John, assigned me as your bodyguard.” I explained, offering my hand to the girl in greeting. 

“A…a bodyguard? Is that necessary? And oh, I’m sorry. It’s still nice to meet you, Darren.” Isis was a bit flustered as she shook my hand. She quickly went back to Kurt’s side, sticking close to him. 

“Given you are in a warzone and the daughter of a ranked wolf, yes, having a bodyguard is fairly normal. And given my abilities, it makes sense that I was given this added assignment.” I explained.

“Oh, and what are your abilities?” Damon questioned. I was about to answer him when my body froze, and the words fizzled out on my tongue. That scent of sea salt and orchids found its way to me. André is here.

I moved out of the way, taking a position to flank Isis as he entered. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone that enters a room like this man. He’s an uninhibited ball of energy, moving with smooth, confident steps that are as light as a feather. Greeting us with a jovial smile as he jumped on Damon’s desk.

I would say he reminds me of my little brother Azriel and our Delta Silvercloud, but that wouldn’t be right. While Silvercloud and Azriel are eccentric and spontaneous individuals, they don’t measure up to André. He has this air and glow about him. 

His very presence in the room seemed to have a lightening effect on everyone. I could see it in Damon and Alexander, their posture and expressions relaxed and warmed at the sight of their Alpha Heir. Even Kurt and Isis both seemed at ease in his presence.

I’m apparently the only one that isn’t. Every cell in my body is buzzing and on high alert. Overly aware of every tiny movement André made.

This man moves more like a cat than a wolf. And he throws verbal jabs that stab me with such accuracy as he calls me out for standing so stiffly.

Kurt’s suggestion of relaxing fell on deaf ears. How do I relax when I’m in a room with him? How do I relax when every muscle has tightened, either preparing to run or pounce? ‘Pounce!’ Cardinal urged me as André slipped off the desk and moved to stand in front of me.