Chapter 36: Before the Tournament
The week flew by. Between meetings with pack members and worrying over Ignis, I haven't been sleeping much. Rex has been working hard by meeting with shareholders, investors, and all our business clients. Now that everything is shared and merged, it's been a lot of responsibility. His Beta Petram has been very helpful with managing his busy schedule and even stepping in to support in some meetings.
I sigh as I pack my bag. We leave for the tournament in the morning. Rex and I have already picked who to challenge and intend to return home within three days.
My stomach grumbles loudly, bringing me out of my thoughts. I continue packing by going to grab my toiletries in the bathroom. The door to our room opens.
"Gin?"
"In here." I call from the bathroom.
"I brought you a sandwich." I walk out with my small bag and place it in my luggage.
"Thank you, but I'm not hungry." My stomach grows loudly and I sigh.
"You know I can feel what you feel." Rex gives me a pointed stare. "You're ravenous."
I sigh loudly. "Fine but I'm still very upset we can't find Ignis. Aqua is coming home today. They've literally found nothing."
Rex tenses at the mention of Ignis but he pats the seat next to him. "Come, eat your sandwich."
I sit on the couch and pick the sandwich up from the coffee table. "Thank you."
"Still not done packing huh?"
"Guys have it easy." I say with my mouth full.
He laughs. The sound makes my heart beat faster.
"You wolfed that down. Pun intended." He says as I finish the last bite.
"I haven't eaten today." I shrug.
His eyebrows furrow in concern, "It's like 7 PM. Babe, you've really got to eat."
I feel his hand rest on my lower back. It feels so natural and comforting. I'm surprised by how weird this would've been a year ago.
"I remember the first time I laid eyes on you." He said pulling me from my thoughts.
"Oh?" I say, not quite remembering my first time noticing him.
I'd seen him at banquets and things before the tournament but that was before he became Alpha. He looked vastly different then.
"I was at your naming ceremony." He smiles.
"I call bullshit. You can't remember when you were 7!" I laugh and turn to face him.
"I'm pretty sure our dads were close friends in secret. That's why I saw so much of you when we were really little." His eyes are distant. His mind is probably recalling old memories from over two decades ago. "I thought babies were so ugly. I still do. They look like little aliens to me. Anyway, at your naming ceremony you were like a week old and in a little white dress. I have to admit you were cute even as a baby."
"Oh lord. You weirdo." I laugh. "I know our dads were close. He mentioned one time they were like brothers growing up. I'm pretty sure he couldn't be open friends with your father because of his reputation."
"As the deadliest Alpha." He sighs and rubs a hand over his face. "A reputation that was handed down to me."
"I don't see you as the deadliest Alpha." Then I think back to what he did to Niveus' pack. "Wait, we've never talked about what you did to Niveus' pack."
I point an accusatory finger at his chest and he tilts his head to look at me. "You mean that tiny pack that tried to attack my border? We had to teach them a lesson."
"What about Niveus' family?"
"She didn't have any, they'd been long dead. We actually found out about her from the Alpha before we killed him. He said he'd trade her to us for his life. You know how valuable a Seer is."
I nod my head in agreement but I'm surprised to hear all this. "I thought you attacked her clan for her."
"Look, her visions might have made it seem that way, but we honestly retaliated. They killed my previous gamma and her mate. Caught her by surprise and slit her throat with silver. She was like a little sister to me." His eyes flicker black to silver and I can't tell if he's sad or angry.
"I am sorry for your loss." I reach out for his hand.
He squeezes mine gently. "I've got a few more things to get done before we leave tomorrow."
Before going he kisses my lips softly. I grab his neck, pulling him in for a deeper kiss. He growls throatily and I smile.
"Not right now, but I promise you, tonight." He winks and leaves the room.
I smile at him as he walks away. It's been like a week since we've been intimate. We've both been so busy we haven't made time for each other.
*Welcome to the married life.* Praesul teases.
*We're not married!* I squeak.
*Not yet...*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When I wake up I realize I'm bound. The silver bites at my ankles and wrists. I'm suspended from the ceiling and chained to a wall.
"He's one of the three." A female voice says.
He can't see where the woman is but her voice sounds like a whisper through the wooden door.
"Are you sure?" A male voice replies.
"Absolutely."
"And the others?"
"They'll both be at the tournament."
"They had better be."
"Don't worry, they will."
"One down, three to go."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone