The Oddball Alphas

Chapter 13

Kieran

Ramsey’s kiss had thrown me for a loop. My face was still heated from the sparks and tingles igniting my arousal. Thankfully, it was slowly dissipating. That man knows what button to push on me, especially when my mind is fuzzy from his scent. Strawberries and lilacs seemed permanently stuck in my nose. His boyish grin threw a thrill through me, too, and the devilishness he exuded with his plan to escape curled my toes. I swear if I don’t leave soon, I’m going to succumb to the mate bond from just his moves.

Worse, I am reminded of him. There is a brown stand behind the pink-floral, white couch, where an omega stands waiting to jot stuff down. And next to her are lilacs in a gold vase with more lilacs placed around the room. It was like his mom knew what Ramsey smelled like to me, and his brothers. Strawberries and other fruit were on the brown coffee table between us as I sat on the matching sofa. This peach-colored room matches with the curtains and drapes and some of the decorative items. However, I kept getting distracted by Emily, who was already there.

“Isn’t this so great!” she squealed excitedly. “My rescuer is my soon-to-be sister-in-law!” She clapped her hands with a wide smile on her rosy face. “And next month, I'll get my Lycan and maybe find my mate. I wonder if the goddess is going to do me in the same way as my brothers.”

She is definitely too excited for this mating. I know I am going to disappoint her when we reject them, but oh well. I am not being mated to alphas even if they do not seem like my ex-mate, nor will I live in a pack. It might not seem like my old one, but time will tell me what kind of people they are.

I hope that I do not succumb to the bond and find a good way out of this place.

Too late for that.

I know! I don’t know what to do, Moonbeam. They are just… ugh!

It’s the bond. And I’m in a pickle myself. I have three Lycans banging at the “door”. One is mewling, which makes me feel like I am a b***h.

Should we…?

No! We must be strong. I don’t think I can withstand another heartache.

“Kieran,” Marabelle called, sounding concerned.

“Huh?” I said, giving my head a shake. Then, I blushed hard, noticing that they were looking at me, and probably said something. “Sorry. My wolf was drawing my attention.”

“That’s fine,” Marabelle said, sounding so understanding that I wanted to pull out my hair. I wanted them to show their real selves and not this fake happiness. “Just try not to do it in front of guests when we start introducing you.”

“Of course,” I nodded while refraining from rolling my eyes.

“I was saying that I had to let Emily do her normal rant,” she said. “She is a romantic enthusiast.”

“That’s fine,” I said, waving off the apology. "We all had a mindset like hers at one point in our lives. It may not be as much as hers, but it was there."

"True," Marabelle nodded with her smile, starting to beam brightly at me. “The first thing I wanted to start with is welcome to the family.”

She stood up so quickly that it jolted me out of my seat expecting her to throw a punch. Instead, she hugged me tightly and squealed her delight, which hurt my ears. I winced at that and the way she nearly squeezed me to death. I was panting heavily by the time she released me and was sure that I would be going to the bathroom soon. That woman seemed too prim and proper to be this excited, but she was a Lycan. I recognized the scent from her sons.

“If Dad were alive,” Emily said, causing her mother’s smile to falter a little, “then you would have the triple bone-crunching hug.”

The next thing I knew, she came around and squeezed me in a hug, too. It was light compared to her mother’s hug, but I gave her a pat on the back. It felt awkward hugging them like this, and it felt right at the same time. I know it had to be the bond that wants me to make sure that I make good friends with my future in-laws. It just did not settle well with me after everything that I have been through.

“Now, we need to move along,” Marabelle said as she hurried back to her seat. “There is a lot to be done. Let’s begin with the Luna Ceremony, and then we will go to the other ones that are coming up soon. You will need a dress, some shoes…”

“How about we sneak her away for a shopping trip?” Emily suggested eagerly. She almost looked like Ramsey when she said it, too, which had me looking at her funny.

“That is true!” her mother agreed heartily.

“Hold it!” I said, raising my hands and feeling a panic attack coming on.

I needed to get out of this situation, but I did not know how to do it without hurting their feelings. I also did not need Marabelle to know that I was rejecting her sons. That would have her pull the Luna effect on me. I do not need to succumb to that power. I don’t even know if a werewolf’s Luna power is the same as a Lycan’s Luna powers. There must be something I can say to deter them.

“I think you forgot that the doctor wanted to see me today,” I pointed out. Thank you to whoever put that in my mind! “I really don’t want to p**s off the alphas, especially when we don’t know each other.”

“I doubt they would get upset,” Marabelle laughed, giving a wave of her hand. Now, I know where Ramsey got it, I thought. “You will be with me and some warriors. That would be sufficient for them to tame their anger, but…” I guess my worried look made her rethink the idea. “You cannot miss the doctor’s appointment. So, we will go tomorrow.” I’ll find a way to get out of that, too. "Now, we need to set a date for the ceremony. You had mentioned earlier that your family is on the East Coast.

"Do you know how long it would take for your mom to get here?"

“Like you, she lost her mate,” I said, hoping to gain sympathy for my plan, “but it was a long time ago. My brother’s death did not make it easier for her, so I think she would need a little more time. Her wolf is not as strong as it once was. Maybe in a week or two. One to recover from the shock and two to arrange a way to travel.”

“We will take care of that,” Marabelle waved it off. “You must’ve forgotten that your mates would take care of your family for you, especially since your mother has no one else. I think she and I would benefit from each other.”

I know how true that was. Two women filled up with grief from their mate's death. That spells a perfect relationship even if one is hiding her true feelings. I don’t know if I could put my mother through a move that big, though…

What am I thinking!?

This bond is screwing with my head. Ugh! It is just like when I was in the hallway with Ramsey. I became flustered and stunned that he wanted to take me on a date. I even blushed while feeling like I was a superstar. It also astonished me that he would ask me. Didn’t alphas usually demand that their mate attend to them on a date? It made me so confused, but this whole situation has me so d***ed confused.

“I… I don’t know if she will, and it is a long way to travel,” I responded, utilizing my uncertainty. “I will have to ask her.”

“Have you called her back yet?” Emily asked and I shook my head. I did not have time to do much of anything with this whirlwind family. “Then, later today, do so. You can tell us at dinner what she said.”

“Okay,” I said, starting to feel like earlier when people are controlling my life. I needed to change the subject, or I am going to end up calling my mom now. “What all happens in a Luna ceremony? My former… pack did not get a new Luna.”

“For us,” Marabelle began to explain, “there is the chalice and the swearing-in. The elders will give you something to drink in it which is usually dark, like wine. It is better that everyone believes you are drinking the blood of the alphas, but they only put a few drops in. You’ll put a drop of your blood in it, too, after repeating the words where you swear fidelity to the pack and alphas. If you’re not already marked, then you are marked at the end of it.”

“Oh, Mom!” Emily gasped, putting a hand to her mouth. “She needs to be inducted into the pack, first.”

“You’re right,” Marabelle sighed dramatically. “I bet my lovesick sons have not remembered that part.”

“Excuse me!?” I squeaked.

Dread picked up my heart and slammed it into my chest bone. My hand shakily went to my neck where my former mark was, but the feeling was not done. It went to my stomach and squeezed it while taking away my air. I felt like I could not breathe. I felt like I was going to die from this thing grasping hold of me. My thoughts swirled with the urge to run, to get far away from this place as quickly as possible, so I did not have to join a pack. Then, my mind went blank, blocking out everyone and everything from my vision. My ears rang with what they said until the roaring Lycans pierced through this thing coating me.