Chapter 40: Ada's Mate

Violet

Frowning, I watch Ada cry with a stranger. I never thought she could be this emotional. Ada is always in control. Even when she is sad. I remember that she used to be awfully moody after her mother died, but she never cried openly like she is now.

“I’m going to talk to Eric,” I whisper to Zoe.

“Good luck,” she smiles at me. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”

“Thanks,” I smile and walk to the packhouse where we agreed beforehand to meet.

I am gleefully optimistic. Surely, Eric will see the benefit of Ada being the alpha. She can talk to Killian on Eric’s behalf and reach an agreement.

My heart takes a tumble when I see him behind the bar polishing glasses. He is so handsome and soon he will be my mate.

“Barkeep,” I take a seat at the bar. “Champagne please.”

“You’re here,” Eric says happily as he reaches over die counter. His hand goes around my neck, and he pulls me closer as his lips come crashing down on mine. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” I sigh dreamily as he pulls back.

“Come on,” he walks around the counter and takes my hand. “Soon this place will be busy and then I won’t have time for you.”

Excited I follow him as he drags me into the storeroom and shuts the door. Instantly, his lips are on mine and his hands are hungrily roaming my body. I consider stopping him for a second so that we can talk first, but I decide against it. We can talk with people around us, but we cannot do this with an audience. I eagerly start pulling his shirt out of his pants and sigh contently as my fingers touch his bare chest.

He lets go of me and quickly gets rid of his shirt before he pins me to the wall and kisses me. My breathing gets shallower as he undoes my blouse and I moan in pleasure when he grabs and rubs my breasts. He pulls my bra aside and I gasp when his mouth’s warmth covers me. My body starts trembling from delight as he sucks, and my arms go around his neck.

Swiftly, he picks me up and places me on a stack of boxes before his hands move up my skirt and rid me of my underwear.

“Hurry up,” I beg as he undoes his pants. “Before the people get here.”

“They can wait,” he grunts as he kisses me again.

I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him closer. I am so ready for him, and I do not want to wait any longer. He settles himself and thrusts into me.

“Yes,” I cry out and curl my fingers into his hair.

His fingers dig into my hips as he continues plunging into me while his lips ravage mine. The room is filled with our breathing and rattling boxes as my pleasure increases.

“Harder,” I pant as I dig my nails into his back and tighten my grip around his waist, and he obeys. Pleasure and delight build up in me and my muscles tense as I get closer.

With my eyes closed, I focus on the increasing sensation until my body quivers before I go weak and numb. Eric pushes into me a couple more times and groans when he reaches his clim*x. He kisses me passionately before holding me close to him.

“Now can I have my champagne?” I joke breathlessly.

“Whatever your heart desires,” he kisses me quickly before he pulls up his pants.

“As much as I love this,” I say as I fix my bra and blouse. “I would love it even more if we were mates.”

“I’m working on it,” he sounds strained as he picks up his shirt.

“I may have the answer to our solution,” I pull up my underwear. “Ada is alpha, and she can talk to Killian …”

“Wait, what?” He looks at me bewildered. “Ada is alpha? What happened to Theo and Tyler?”

“Long, sad story,” I sigh. “But that’s not important. What matters is that Ada can help us, and you can finally join Moon Shadow without Killian interfering.”

“Are you insane?” He looks at me in panic. “Do you want me to join Leon six feet under?”

“That’s ridiculous, Eric,” I roll my eyes. “Killian isn’t going to kill you just because you found your mate.”

“No, he’s going to kill me if he thinks I’m friendly with Ada,” he pushes his hand through his hair. “Violet, why do you think I keep us a secret? You’re Ada’s friend and any friend of Ada, is Killian’s enemy.”

“Why?” I place my hands on my hips and glare at him. “She has done nothing to him.”

“I don’t know why, okay?” He says urgently. “I’m not a rank and they don’t trust me with information. What I know, I overheard them while they were drinking at the bar. I pretend not to listen, but I do. Leon was killed because he was going to warn Ada about the bomb.”

“If Killian is such a d*ck, why do you stay here?” I ask close to tears. “Why don’t you accept Ada’s help and get away?”

“Violet, please,” he sighs and looks at his feet. “We’ve talked about this already.”

“No,” I cross my arms. “I’m sick of this. I’m not asking you to mark or marry me immediately, but I am tired of sneaking around. I’m no longer satisfied with phone calls and stolen moments in a closet, Eric. I want the real deal. Either we go public, or I reject you.”

“Why don’t you just cut off my balls and call me Erica?” He explodes.

“What the f*ck are you talking about?” I gape at him.

“You’re a warrior and friends with the alpha,” he hisses at me. “You have the opportunity to become Ada’s Beta or Delta. I’m a f*cking Omega, Violet. A very poor Omega. I have nothing, but this job. I bring nothing to the table besides debt and a decent cocktail. I cannot give you the things you’re used to. You’re going to be the one providing for me and not the other way around.”

“What year do you think this is?” I ask irritated. “1950? I don’t need a man to provide for me. I never asked or expected it from you.”

“That’s not the point,” he grunts. “I don’t want to be mister Violet. I can hardly face my alpha without risking punishment and you’re talking about your alpha pulling strings for me. I might be poor and old-fashioned, but I do have my pride. I know I will never be able to provide for you and I will be able to suck it up. But at least leave me my balls so that I can figure out on my own how to fix my own problem with my own alpha.”

“Eric, I …”

“Here,” he interrupts me as he pulls a box from his pants pocket. “I took a second job.”

Without any ceremony, he puts the box in my hand, turns around and leaves. Dumbstruck, I open it. My fingers fly to my mouth to stop my lips from trembling as I look at the necklace. I sniff once and wipe my tears before I touch the moon pendant with a tiny diamond.

I feel awful. He has been trying and all I did was push. I did not notice his effort. I have been treating him like a fifties housewife. I expected him to leave his pack to join me. Sure, his pack is worse than mine, but I have not even given him the option to choose. Our conversations consisted of what I will do and what I will arrange for him. I never asked him what he wanted or how he feels about it.

With trembling fingers, I put on the necklace and lovingly lay my fingers on the moon. I wipe my face and pull my clothes into place before I march towards the bar. There is a couple of people, but I do not care. I am not leaving until we fixed this.

“One decent cocktail, please,” I order as I take a seat at the bar.

Eric glances at me before he turns around and starts mixing a drink.

“I’m sorry,” I say loud enough for him to hear.

“It’s fine,” he mumbles. “You didn’t know, and I shouldn’t have shouted at you.”

“You didn’t shout,” I laugh softly. “You were whispering harshly.”

“Then I’m sorry about the harsh part,” he grins as he puts a Tequila Sunrise in front of me.

“What are we going to do, Eric?” I ask softly. “I’m not willing to give you up. I love you.”

“We’ll work it out, okay?” He gives me a longing look. “I’ll talk to Killian.”

“Maybe not yet,” I say hesitantly. “Let’s keep things as it is for now. Killian is not going to be in the best of moods after he hears that Ada is alpha. Sneaking around is not that bad.”

“Speaking of the devil,” Eric steps away from me. “Here they come.”