The Omega Queen

Thirteen

“I don’t have to tell you how worried I’ve been for Alex,” Cahira sighed. “He was a bit of a wild child. I’m so glad he’s finally found you. He desperately needs someone to keep him in check. He can be such a male.”

She rolled her eyes, making Erin snicker. This didn’t seem to be a conversation anyone should have about their alpha, let alone from the pack’s former luna, but it was filled with motherly concern. Cahira spoke earnestly and it put her at ease. This was how her parents often acted at home.

“My mate is not here five minutes, and you are already gossiping about me,” Alexander said as he approached and leaned on the back of the sofa close enough that he could indulge in Erin’s scent.

“Oh, hush,” Cahira admonished. “I have decades of frustrations I haven’t been able to share with anyone.”

“So, my mate is going to be your coffee buddy?”

“No. She’s going to be my co-conspirator. For once, I won’t be outnumbered,” Cahira corrected, eyeing the beta as Nathan approached. “Between you two I’ve had my hands full.”

“Hey, don’t drag me into it,” Nathan grumbled, plopping in a chair.

“These two have been best friends since they were out of the womb,” Cahira explained, patting Erin’s hand. “Don’t let them try to double-team you like they have done to me.”

Nathan chuckled. He figured it wouldn’t take long for Cahira to warm up to Erin. The long-time luna had always been caring. She was the epitome of a true Luna and Queen. With her by Erin’s side, he was certain it wouldn’t take long for her to take up the mantel of Luna herself.

But maybe it was something she already knew.

They still knew almost nothing about Erin’s past, her pack and where she came from. It was clear by her aura that she was not a high-ranking wolf. It was rare for an alpha to be mated to an omega, but lunas and omegas did share several characteristics with each other. They were both naturally caring and concerned about the health and wellbeing of their pack. The only substantial difference was the amount of authority lunas held.

Erin might lack the aura of a high-ranking pack member, but she did possess the dignity of one. It was an odd combination that Nathan found difficult to quantify. Did that mean Erin’s parents had been ranked wolves? But that was even rarer than an alpha being mated to an omega. Maybe she had been adopted by a high-ranking pair?

That was possible. Still…

It wasn’t adding up. He glanced at his phone, hoping for a reply to the message he had sent before their plane landed. Unfortunately, the screen remained blank. There was still time before nightfall. He hoped he would have an answer before then. Alexander had given him a strict time limit, so they needed to get the investigation underway as soon as possible.

“Please don’t tell her too many embarrassing stories,” Alexander complained as he sat beside Erin. “I’m trying to impress my mate.”

He leaned forward to grab a cracker and load it with meat and cheese, only for Cahira to slap his hand away. Alexander stared at her with a huff of annoyance.

“I set these out for Erin, not you,” Cahira said. “She’s much too thin.”

“Agreed,” Alexander nodded.

Erin blinked, looking from one to the other in surprise.

“You are too thin, pomme,” he said. “I have half a mind to fly back to that diner and curse the Fae for not giving you enough to eat. We have higher metabolisms than humans, so we require more calories. If that Fae insisted on being your caregiver, she should have known that.”

Erin bit her lip and shook her head. Laverne did know that. She often lamented that Erin should eat more, but after weeks of captivity and malnutrition, Erin simply couldn’t handle large meals. She ate smaller ones throughout the day, but it was never enough to satisfy the exu. Considering Fae didn’t need to eat at all, it was rather ironic. The nightmares that continued to haunt and stir her lingering guilt certainly didn’t help. Hesitantly, she wrote down a response and showed it to him.

Alexander frowned, “Not her fault? You have a hard time stomaching food after everything that happened.”

His aura seemed to pour out of him as he pulled her into his embrace. He kissed the top of her head as his chest rumbled with a growl. Erin stiffened at first, then relaxed.

“Ma chérie,” Alexander whispered. “What you are describing is survivor’s guilt, yeah? Your family would want you to eat. They would be happy that you survived and that we found each other.”[1]

Her face warmed as his scent surrounded her like a blanket. She breathed deep, loving his earthy, slightly sweet, scent with just the hint of citrus notes. It took her a long time to place why it seemed so familiar and relaxing before it finally came to her: agave. It was a plant she had often seen around her pack and prized for its uses. The pack shaman had shown her how to make numerous medicines from it. Did this mean he was always meant to be her mate?

‘Of course!’ Eir snorted. ‘The Moon Goddess wouldn’t make a mistake.’

“Here you are, dear,” Cahira offered her a cracker layered with meat and cheese.

Erin slowly pulled away from Alexander though he seemed reluctant to let her go. She accepted the offer, nibbling it cautiously.

“Alex is right, you know,” Cahira said. “Your family would be happy that you are alive, and they would want you to eat.”

Wanting to redirect the conversation away from such a heavy topic, Alexander said, “She was admiring your garden when we first arrived.”

“Oh? Do you garden?” Cahira brightened.

Erin shook her head. Aside from the pack’s medicinal garden, she didn’t have much experience with plants.

“Oh,” Cahira seemed a little disappointed.

Erin patted her hand before touching her chest. Holding out her left hand, palm up, she brought the fingers of her right hand to it, then up to her forehead. Cahira blinked. Erin pointed at her then pinched her fingers together with both hands like dual duck heads. She brought them both to her forehead and out.

When Cahira continued to stare at her, Erin took out her notebook and wrote what she was trying to say: I learn, you teach. Cahira’s gaze widened and she smiled.

“Yes, of course, I would love to teach you!” Cahira said as she practiced the signs. “And you can teach me.”

Erin nodded. Cahira clapped her hands, equally pleased. She had been worried when Alexander told her about his mate’s handicap. However, this could be a learning opportunity for the whole pack. They would look to her to know how best to handle this situation and follow Cahira’s lead. She would pave the way for Erin to be accepted, which meant learning was even more imperative.

Over the next half-hour she asked Erin to show her more signs. Erin’s full attention was on Cahira, so she didn’t notice Alexander and Nathan were also paying attention. They also mimicked the gestures and learned alongside the former Luna. The pack would be watching all of them and following their example.

Cahira’s phone suddenly beeped, alerting them that dinner was ready. She stood to excuse herself, but Erin gestured she wanted to help and followed her to the large kitchen. The appliances were stainless steel, sleek and modern, but didn’t look out of place among the woodwork and slate countertops. It was all neat and well-organized. With a little direction, Erin had no difficulty finding the dishware and setting the table.

Dinner was a roast with baked potatoes and vegetables. Cahira had also decided to chill a bottle of wine to celebrate her arrival. Erin had never drunk before, so that would be a new experience.

Once it was ready, Cahira called the males in to eat. She watched as her son carefully seated Erin beside him and served her before loading his own plate. Nathan opened the wine and poured it for them all. Cahira settled in her chair, trying not to stare.

For years, she had watched Alexander flit from one superficial relationship to another. When he was younger, she might have argued that he was just experimenting, but lately it only seemed self-destructive. His soul had been crying out for its match long before he even realized it. It was hard not to see him and his wolf grow more despondent over time.

But now, he was finally relaxed. His attention didn’t waver from his mate. If her gaze settled anywhere for more than a few seconds, he offered whatever dish caught her attention.

Erin cautiously sniffed the wine before taking her first sip. Cahira had chosen a sweeter wine since she wasn’t sure about Erin’s preferences. It seemed like the right call, perhaps too right. Between the excitement of finding her mate and coming to a new place, as well as the rich food, the wine proved to be a little too much for Erin to handle.