Ever Cynical

Chapter 22- Sean's Mate, Greedy Graehm

Anais POV

I wandered into the kitchen, and spying my sandwich, cut it in half, handed one piece to Helga. She smiled and took a bite, nodding and moaning in delight. I may not be a chef, but I know how to make a damn fine sandwich. I had stayed in my pajamas, with a massively oversized black hoodie thrown over top. You could only see the edge of my sleep shorts since it hit just above mid-thigh. My hair was tossed carelessly into a messy bun on top of my head.

"So, Helga, tell me more about yourself. You're always so busy in the kitchen that we don't get to talk much." I said excitedly. She gave off a mature vibe, but as we all know, I'm older. She made people feel comforted. I had watched her with pack members on more than one occasion. It was clear they valued her beyond just being the cook. Somehow, they all knew she would find a way to help, even if it was outside of her role. Although, her food was simply divine, so honestly, that alone was enough of a contribution.

As someone that had subsisted on subpar food for centuries, I especially valued her ability.

"I came here just about a year ago after being rescued by Delta Sean." She began, tossing her wheat-gold, straight hair over her shoulder. "I was in Canada staying with a Werebear Pack that, while not especially friendly, didn't care that I was an Immortal. I'd gone out to hunt and gotten stuck in a snare. I was out there for a while since the bears just kinda let me do my own thing. Not that they neglected me, I just wasn't really a part of the pack, more like a visitor." She paused. "Before that, I moved around wolf packs trying to settle, but once they figured out who I was, they didn't want the risk of me sticking around. Bears just don't care. They usually do a pretty good job of keeping to themselves, though their King and his brother are kind men."

"Do you mind if I ask how old you are?" I didn't want to be rude, but it helped me line up how much she may have seen, or not seen.

"I am one hundred years old. Born in Ontario, Canada. Though, I don't know what became of my parents." She smiled sadly.

"Seems to be sort of common among Immortals, doesn't it?" I said, thinking of my own past.

"I'd say half of us don't know much past our own birth. With all the records of the original pack either gone or missing, all we've really got is the Celtic Moon Pack. They have kept records since Kieran's grandfather, but that's only about four hundred years' worth. Anything before that is pretty much gone." We were both silent for a moment. There was so much we still just... didn't know. It was beyond frustrating. How were supposed to forge a path forward without more information?

"Wait, is Kieran's grandfather still alive?" I asked, wondering if he was available to ask some questions. Even if I was probably older, he might have more insight from the Immortal wolves' side.

"Hmm. I've never heard that he died, nor his mate, but I've never seen them. Maybe they are traveling or something?" She guessed her brow furrowed cutely. Helga looks like a classic Viking woman to me, quite pretty with that Scandinavian flair, touched by her obviously Irish roots.

"I will have to ask Kieran when this asshat is gone. Grrr. There is so much we need to do, and this guy coming has seriously thrown a spoke in it." I huffed with impatience. Helga laughed and shrugged.

"Are you sure you should be talking about all this with me, Luna? I'm not ranked or anything." She inquired curiously.

"Psh. I don't care about titles. I already know I can trust you, Helga. Obviously, Kieran values you or he would not have sent you to me to keep you safe. For all that I'm still mostly human, the Alpha knows I can still kick ass. Claire says I'm right, too." I heard Claire echoing me in my head. "But Claire says she doesn't feel your wolf yet? What happened?"

"Ah, well. Remember I said I was out there for a while in the snare?" I nodded. "Well, it was two months. Immortal or not, the recovery forced my wolf into dormancy. I'm still not sure how Sean was able to find me." She mused pensively.

I'd bet money she's his mate, ma Cherie, Claire said. She's supposed to be ranked, I can feel it. She's meant to be here with us.

Yeah, I'm with you. But he's waited this long and said nothing? I don't think even Kieran knows. I didn't think wolves could hold out that long.

Not likely. You'll have to ask Sean, I suppose. Maybe he's just waiting for her wolf to come out of dormancy. She settled down in my mind as I refocused on Helga.

"Can I offer my thoughts on it?" I was hesitant to out Sean directly, but I could at least plant the seed. If Helga made the realization on her own, that was not interfering on my part, right? Right! Helga nodded. "With your wolf being dormant, you can't scent your mate, right?" She tilted her head, considering my words carefully.

"Well, sort of. I still have my senses, but it's not as strong." She said slowly. "And I obviously can't communicate directly with her at this point, which I'll be honest, is depressing as hell. I really miss her." I wanted to hug her, but first we needed to get this mate thing I suspected ironed out.

"What does Sean smell like to you?" I asked, and she blushed. Ohhhh mmhhmmm. I knew it. She likes him, either way. I only hope I'm right. Claire huffed, annoyed that I was doubting her instincts. I suppose I should have a little more faith, since everything else had been correct so far.

"He smells like clove and sandalwood, with a little ginger." She whispered., her tone heavy with longing.

"Ahh, spicy, huh?" I teased. She just nodded, her cheeks flushed. "That's funny because to me, he smells like sandalwood alone." I pretended to thoughtfully tap my chin. "What does the alpha smell like to you, Helga?"

"Ah, he smells strongly of vetiver, though not in an unpleasant way." She replied, tilting her head again as the information rolled around in her mind. "And... what does he smell like to you, Luna?" Her question was a little breathless, as she picked up on what I was implying.

"Vetiver, coconut, and lime. So refreshing." I grinned. Still holding the sandwich, she flopped on the barstool, looking astonished. I could tell she was taking a moment to process all of her interactions with the handsome Sean, re-evaluating his every word, possibly even touch, and nuance.

"Oh my. Wow. So you think...? Wow. How do I? Umm..." Poor girl seems to have short-circuited. I get it honey, I really do. Kieran makes me feel like my brain leaked out of my ear only to be replaced by hormones that make me want to hump him till he can't walk straight. I know, it's usually the girl that can't walk, but I mean... hmm, till his legs are like jelly or something? Totally drained. Yeah.

"Sweetie, let's talk to him when the asshat is gone, hmm? How he has held out this long, I have no idea, because I haven't shifted and half the time my thoughts are about Kieran naked." I smirked as she turned red but said nothing. "Aha, I thought so. Naughty Helga." I waggled my brows suggestively at her.

"I just thought maybe I liked him because he saved me, you know?"

"Understandable, but now that we have that figured out, we know why both Claire and I trust you. You're the Delta female. My new bestie, yeah?" I gave her a side hug as she took another bite of her sandwich, nodding. I could see her eyes were teary, probably because like me, she'd basically been alone for the majority of her one hundred years.

Kieran POV

I was so f*****g nervous. Dammit. I had to get myself calm or this was going to be a bloody nightmare. Maybe actually bloody. I shouldn't think like that, but it had been difficult to allow Graehm Pflumer to live anyway every time he tried to have his way with a female in my pack. The only reason I hadn't was that I didn't want to bring my pack under the alpha king's microscope. I just knew, somehow, that his family had a hand in what happened to our people. Ludolf, I'm sure, was just waiting for an excuse.

My team and I stood outside the pack house as Greedy Graehm, my internal name for him, pulled up with his security team. I was glad to note it was only two SUVs.

Twelve of them at most, Sean linked me. Where did you end up posting Helga? I looked at him sideways, wondering why he was asking about the cook.

She's with Anais. Didn't want Greedy Graehm trying to get his dirty paws on her.

Thank you Alpha, he linked, looking relieved. I didn't have time to wonder more about that odd situation when Greedy Graehm himself alighted from the first SUV. He'd actually waited for his driver to open his door. I rolled my eyes before he could catch me. Did his hands only work for harassing unwilling females? What an absolute t**t. He hadn't even spoken yet, and I was already done with him.

Since Graehm was not an Immortal, he'd begun to show his age. As far as anyone knew, he'd never had a mate. It was clear he wasn't concerned with training either, relying on his security detail to save him. His hair was graying and thinning in the back, though it looked like he couldn't see it himself. I nearly giggled at how sure he was that he was the very picture of sartorial splendor. He had a soft body with a slight paunch, and his complexion looked as though he'd spent too much time in a tanning bed. Like, his lips were weirdly pink compared to his leathery brown face. He was not an attractive man, though he walked as though he was the king, not Ludolf.

So cringe.

He held out a limp hand for me to "shake," though his weird version was almost more like vague pawing. Without his title as envoy, he was truly worthless. I don't think that way about many people, but he relied on his people to do so much for him that he could never have functioned on his own, and he liked it that way. Disgusting. He looked over my ranked members with disdain, then seemed to be looking around for something.

What on earth is he looking for? Geoff linked. Sadly, he removed all doubt when he opened his mouth.

"Where are the women for my bed, Alpha Kieran? I've told you I expect at least two beauties to serve me." Greedy Graehm announced.

Oh joy.