Eleven
MARCUS
My heart beats so fast I can feel it in my throat. I’ve rubbed elbows with some of the wealthiest people in the world, and none of those moments compare to the all-consuming pit of anxiety my body has become today. Charlotte grabs my hand as Megan sets up the laptop in the living room, arranging it so the three of us can be seen in the camera. She kisses my cheek before tucking her head against my shoulder. I wrap an arm around her waist and bring her tighter into me, smiling into the crown of her head when her sage scent slowly engulfs us.
Megan disappears into the kitchen before reemerging with two glasses of water and Charlotte’s half-finished smoothie.
“All right,” she says as she perches on the other side of Charlotte. “Don’t forget we need to get his number. That’s priority number one so we can communicate after tonight. And then we need to see about where he lives and his thoughts on moving out here.”
There’s that lump in my throat again, ready to choke me just like it has every time I’ve thought about this damn video call throughout the day. I probably should have just opted to work out of office, but the reality is that I would have paced like a caged animal and driven Charlotte mad with my nervousness. Best to just sequester myself in my office uptown instead.
At exactly nine, the video call lets us in, and a man in his mid-twenties fills the only other square on the screen. He offers a polite greeting to each of us.
“Good evening, Pack Harper. We appreciate you being willing to facilitate a call this late,” he offers, shuffling a couple pieces of paper and then adjusting his black-rimmed glasses. “Mr. Fallon is just getting logged in and going through some questions with my associate. Do you have any questions for me while we wait?”
Charlotte’s the one who answers.
“I don’t believe so.”
The man nods, and then something draws his attention away from us. “Ah, here he is. Let me get him added.”
He clicks something, and then there’s another screen. My heart jumps. Cole’s in a plain green shirt that stretches across his chest, highlighting the subtle strength of his arms. The color brings out the golden flecks of his eyes despite the artificial lighting of his home. Yellowing bruises sit under his eyes and around his nose, leftovers from that Alpha assaulting him at the gala. But aside from those, there’s no evidence it happened.
“Good evening, Mr. Fallon,” the Council staff says warmly.
Cole offers a smile and polite greeting back.
“This call will automatically end in an hour, so don’t panic if it shuts off randomly. I encourage you to exchange contact information before anything else. After this, you’ll be free to interact as you wish. Final paperwork is due on the 24th.”
The employee logs off, and then it’s just us and Cole.
“Hi, I’m Charlotte.” She leans forward and waves. “And this is Megan.”
Megan offers a greeting.
“I’m Cole,” he says, that same warm tenor. His eyes flick from them to me, and then his cheeks darken with a blush. He starts to say something but is cut off by a feminine voice.
“Everything working?”
Cole raises an eyebrow and focuses on someone we can’t see. The movement has the collar of his shirt shifting, revealing part of his bond scar.Myscar. All at once, nutmeg fills the room and the need to touch him, taste him is consuming me. Cole’s eyes flash back to the screen as he clears his throat.
“It’s fine, Vi,” he says hoarsely. “I do know how to work a video conference.”
Someone laughs, and there’s the sound of skin smacking.
“Pretty Omega,” a low voice with a southern drawl says, “he’s perfectly fine. Stop hovering.”
“Apologies, Cole,” someone with a heavy Italian accent says. “We will go distract her.”
There’s an outraged squeal before the sound of footsteps and then a door closing.
“I am so sorry,” Cole says, that flush he’d had before creeping down his neck. “She promised she wouldn’t interrupt.”
“Who was it?” Megan asks.
“My sister, Violet.” He clears his throat and runs a hand through his hair. When he focuses on us again, there’s an easy smile curving his lips. “Anyway, it’s great to meet you both. How long have you guys been registered with the Council?”
“Just under a year,” Charlotte says.
