Good News or Bad News

Good News or Bad News
LINCOLN

“It was not safe for her here!” Rafael growled in my direction. “And in accordance with Pack Law she is still my ward until she bears the mark of her mate and as I saw no mark upon her flesh when we met, I will be taking her home.” 

My entire body rocked up, my muscles swelling and my eyes heating as I fought the need to shift.

Take her?

Away from me?

“Absolutely not!” I said at the exact same time that my father snapped, “No!”

The entire right side of my body was now tingling with awareness and I surveyed my father through narrowed eyes, shocked that he would speak up for Ginger at all.

He avoided my gaze, keeping his attention focused on Alpha Rafael and Beta Leon while simultaneously attempting to appear completely unaware of my scrutiny.

Tearing my eyes away from him, I noted my mother seething from across the table, her phone now forgotten as she glared daggers at her husband, her hands white knuckled around the edge of the table.

Alpha Rafael scoffed, “I wasn’t aware that I was asking permission. The only person with the power to deny me is Miss Ginger and given everything that has been divulged regarding her treatment in my absence, I don’t think I’ll be giving her the choice.”

“It’s not that simple,” I hissed, my fists clenched at my sides.

Alpha Rafael’s eyes glinted in the light, their center focus dancing about my face with mock amusement. “It most certainly is that simple,” he stated, eyeing me warily. “I am her uncle. She deserves to know me. She deserves to know where she comes from.”

“He’s right, Lincoln,” my mother agreed and I threw her a warning glare that sent her shivering back into her seat.

Turning my eyes on the rest of the party, my gaze fell on Marsha, the Timberwolf female that sat overconfidently in her chair inspecting her nails, acting as if she was already Luna. Goddess how I longed to toss her out on her ass and tell her that the position had been filled, but I couldn’t. At least, not yet.

Turning away from her before she could mistake my attention, I spoke to Rafael in a voice I hoped bore the entirety of my disapproval, “It took you an awfully long time to return to your pack. Especially after an attack like the one they suffered. I happen to know for a fact that they sent for you right away. What exactly kept you so long?”

I knew I had no right to ask such questions and I knew I was pressing on an old wound, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t the only one with three years worth of negligence to answer for and I meant to make that clear. 

Leon winced and Rafael’s face fell, his guilt bubbling forth and casting a shadow of remorse over his features as his eyes dulled and a muscle in his jaw ticked unhappily. “I was…off the continent. Unreachable,” he replied, his voice full of shame. 

As a few Omega servers entered the room bearing trays full of appetizers and pitchers of water, I gestured for Rafael and his Beta to sit, hoping at the very least they’d agree to finish dinner. Rafael held my eye for a long moment, and I did my best to relay a private message, a plea without words. With just the quick sweep of a gaze between my mother and Giselle and then back again, I lifted my chin in hopes that he might understand there was more for him to learn. Things that should not be said here.

Rafael’s eyes crinkled and he cocked his head ever so slightly to the right. I replied with the slightest nod as I pulled out my chair once again and took my seat next to the Timberwolf girl as he and his Beta took theirs across the table.

Thank the Goddess.

Releasing a slow breath, I reached for my water glass, my hand freezing when Marsha’s fingertips suddenly grazed the flesh of my forearm.

“Alpha Lincoln,” she purred quietly and my teeth clenched. “How much longer are we to sit through this…fiasco?”

If that isn’t the million dollar question.

The slide of a very pointy shoe up the side of my jean clad leg had me gripping my water glass tight enough to crack the stem and I was forced to release it so that I might give Miss Marsha my full attention.

I leaned in close, swallowing my bile when the scent of her arousal met my nostrils. Placing my lips above her ear, I whispered, “Do not ever touch me without my permission. Is that understood?”

Marsha gasped, snatching her hand back and withdrawing her wandering high heel so quickly I heard her crack herself in the shin. Her face roasted with a blush of embarrassment and she cleared her throat, her lips falling open to reply yet saying nothing.

Rolling my eyes, I shifted an inch to the right and away from her, lifting my gaze once more toward my guests from Thunder Wolf.

Alpha Rafael was watching me with raw amusement having witnessed our entire exchange and I suddenly wondered if he was powerful enough of an Alpha to have heard the low murmur of my words.

It wasn’t too late to salvage things, but my mind was moving a thousand miles per minute as I contemplated how best to maneuver forward. Rafael had stated that Ginger wasn’t marked and was therefore still his ward, but what would he say if he knew that I fully intended to mark her as mine? What would he do if I told him that the only way he was taking my Strawberry away from me was if I were dead? And even then I’m thinking my corpse may not allow it.

My phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket and I surreptitiously slid it out to read my newest message from Ghost.

GHOST: Good news or bad news first?

ME: Shit.

GHOST: That’s my boy! Never the coward. Bad news it is then - Red knows you’re a two timing sleaze ball. 

ME: Fuck. Where is she?

GHOST: That would be the good news and YOU just spoiled it. I got to her right before she crashed your party.

ME: I have an idea.

GHOST: Goddess forbid.

ME: Have her change into something presentable and escort her down here for dinner.

GHOST: Hahaha! What if she doesn’t want to? I mean, I think she may have had a change of heart. I practically had to peel her off of me after carrying her up here.

ME: You carried her?

GHOST: Like my very own baby.

ME: Asshole.

GHOST: What? She didn’t want a piggyback ride.

ME: Son-of-a-bitch.

GHOST: I am what I am.

Glancing up, I found I had the entire table’s attention and couldn’t help but smile as I beckoned one of the Omega servers.

“Yes, Alpha Lincoln?” 

Holding my mother’s gaze, I grinned and said, “Set the table for one more.” Then, to Marsha, I added, “And I’m going to need you to move.”