Page 27 of Rescued by the Alpha

Which brought to mind another aspect of their coupling that had struck him as odd. Nic frowned, wondering if he should discuss with Elam about having to stop and get some cooking oil to help with prep the past couple nights. Elam hadn’t complained, and Nic had been holding off on getting into too many discussions about things he didn’t understand himself until he could meet with Asha the next day. Elam still held some fears about his new status as part wolf as it was. No point in worrying him over nothing.

Elam called out from the other room. “Hey! I found some actual vegetables.”

Nic wrinkled his nose as he made his way to the kitchen. He paused when he entered and spotted the turnips and yams Elam held up. That’s a relief. They weren’t green, so he could live with that.

“Won’t those take a few hours to cook?”

Elam set them down on the counter then pulled some more items from the walk-in pantry that was about the same size as Nic’s entire kitchen area.

“Depends. But I wasn’t thinking of using them tonight anyway.” He held up a large plastic package. “Smoked salmon.” He tossed it next to the root vegetables. “Sadly, none of your sister’s awesome bread, but there’s some rye crackers and…” The sound of contents being shuffled around could be heard. Elam emerged from the interior of the closet again. “Spanish olives and some sort of fancy processed cheese that doesn’t need to be refrigerated.”

Nic grunted. “It’s been refrigerated in here regardless.”

Elam chuckled. “True. Then it’ll be doubly fine.”

Nic helped Elam gather up the items for their makeshift meal along with the wine and glasses.

Once they’d set everything on the round oak table in the dining area—that wasn’t as close to the fireplace as Nic would have made it if he’d been in charge of designing the home—they took a seat on the captain’s chairs, scooting next to each other so they could share everything. They’d gotten the fire going first thing after they’d arrived, so at least the room had warmed to a tolerable temperature.

After taking a few moments to eat, Nic noticed that Elam was barely having anything. He’d set down a half-eaten cracker topped with a slather of cheese and a chunk of salmon, pushed the small plate away and was sipping his wine instead.

“Are you sure you’re just tired and nothing else?”

Elam bumped shoulders. “I think it’s what you said. I’m just worn out from the intensity of this entire week.” He placed his glass down then gazed up at Nic, a contented smile gracing his lips. “I

need to tell you something. I can tell how worried you’ve been about me since the bite, which is so sweet of you. But you have nothing to be concerned about. I’ve never felt so cherished before, or so alive. I believe with all my heart this is where I’m supposed to be, that you’re who I’m supposed to be with, and I want to reassure you that I won’t be leaving. Not at the end of the year, not ever.” Elam glanced away. “I mean, unless you…”

Nic grabbed his chin and forced him to lock eyes with him again. “No ‘unless’. You’re my mate, you’re mine. I…”

Nic couldn’t push the words out, not when he could barely say the sweet things he knew Elam needed to hear, even if Elam never asked to hear them. So, rather than telling him what he’d known for the past few days, telling his mate he loved him, he took him in a deep kiss, hoping that Elam understood somewhere inside, that maybe Elam’s wolf would remind him that Nic would never, ever let him go. That he couldn’t live without him.

When he broke the kiss, he was pleased to see that Elam’s features radiated peace and his smile had returned. Nic’s wish was that Elam would be happy every day from then on. While he acknowledged there would be challenges ahead and that not every day could be perfect—Nic’s mission would be to make as many of them as joyful for Elam as possible.

* * * *

Elam had offered to shift for the visit to Nic’s family, but he’d insisted Elam should take it easy.

Nic had remarked that he appeared a bit pale and that since Elam had complained about being tired the night before, that he shouldn’t push himself.

I don’t want them to think I’m weak, that I’m not good enough to be part of the pack. Elam sighed. Or Nic’s mate.

Nic reached across the bench seat of his older model Jeep and clutched Elam’s hand. “Are you sure you’re feeling well enough for this? We can go another time.”

“I’m fine, I promise.” Elam put on the brightest smile he could manage. “Like you said, if I don’t shift for a day or two, I’m sure I’ll get all my reserves back. Then I can keep up with you, no problem.”

Nic let him go, pressing his lips together as he grasped the wheel with both hands, gazing ahead on the road that had only been plowed the day before. “I’m not expecting you to keep up. All that matters to me is that you’re well.”

“I know.” Elam furrowed his brow. “I guess…I just hope your pack accepts me, that’s all. What will they think if I don’t shift when I’m there?”

Nic grunted, a low sound in his chest. “They have to accept you. You’re my fated mate. That’s a sacred thing in a pack and not to be questioned.” Nic frowned. “At least, it didn’t used to be.”

Oh. Nic had filled him in on everything that had been going on with the Alliance and the intrigue with his brother, Artur. Part of the reason they were visiting was to show Elam off, but the other motivation had to do with the trouble brewing within the pack.

“They can’t blame you for your brother’s actions. And I’m sure once you meet with your council, you’ll be able to smooth things over.”

The corner of Nic’s mouth twitched. “I hope you’re right. I used to have a lot of influence there, a lot of respect — but I don’t know anymore. I’m sure a lot of people haven’t forgiven me for stepping aside.”

Nic’s reasoning for why he’d decided against fulfilling his role as pack Alpha and letting his brother become heir-apparent had seemed understandable—to a point. Yet, Elam couldn’t help but wonder if things could be different now that he’d entered the picture as an actual mate to Nic. Do theydo things like surrogacy? If having an heir for the pack was such a big deal, then maybe that would be acceptable? He didn’t have enough information about living the shifter life yet, so he’d wait things out before asking too many questions that might be touchy for Nic.