“And if it doesn’t work?” Xias whispered.
“We go rogue.”
* * * *
Xias swallowed tightly when the door opened and the starchy butler appeared. This was it. He was going to have to face Osamu. Bile rose up in his throat, threatening to steal his ability to breathe.
“Sir,” the butler said as he addressed Xias, “Elder Shen requests your presence.”
Xias glanced at Zhuang one last time, hoping the strong alpha would tell him it had all been a big mistake. When Zhuang’s lips pressed together, Xias knew his hopes were for naught.
“You’ll be okay, Xias,” Zhuang said. “You’re a lot stronger than you think.”
Xias wasn’t sure he believed that.
Zhuang smiled and brushed a finger over Xias’s cheek. “Just remember, as soon as this is all over, we’ll go get our cubs and then I’ll take you to our new home. We’ll never have to see Osamu again.”
Xias nodded.
Zhuang tapped Xias’s temple. “Don’t forget that you can talk to me here. If you need me, call me.”
One corner of Xias’s mouth cocked up. “I’ll always need you.”
Zhuang’s wide smile brightened Xias’s dark thoughts. “I love you, too, mate.”
Xias smiled back before turning away and following the butler.
That was the hope he’d hang on to.
Chapter Eleven
Xias wasn’t sure what to expect when he stepped into the large room he had been led to. He certainly didn’t expect to see Elder Shen, Osamu, and some man he had never met before sitting and casually talking about the weather. They even had drinks in their hands.
This wasn’t Elder Shen’s office either. It looked like some sort of meeting room. Sort of. Even with the dark paneling and marble floors, it was very stark. A table large enough to seat at least ten people sat on one side of the room. There was a seating area on the other side.
That’s where everyone was. Well, everyone except the two guards standing on either side of the door.
“You wanted to see me, sir?” he asked when all three men turned toward him.
“Oh good, Xias.” Elder Shen stood and walked over to take one of Xias’s hands between his. “Thank you for coming so quickly. Alpha Osamu has come to register you as his omega. I informed him that another alpha has also requested you for his clan, so he needs to negotiate for your services.”
Xias knew all of this, so he couldn’t understand why the elder was repeating it. He frowned as he glanced from Elder Shen toward the stranger, and then to his former alpha. His throat tightened when he looked at Osamu. He could easily see the anger simmering just beneath the surface. He had seen it often enough.
“I’m afraid I have some other things I need to attend to, so Elder Yang has agreed to mediate this meeting.”
Xias’s gaze snapped back to Elder Shen. “You’re leaving?” Xias knew the elder said he couldn’t be in the room while he listened to Osamu’s lies, but he hadn’t expected him to leave so quickly. He wasn’t ready.
“I’ll be just down the hallway in my office if you need me.” Elder Shen gave him a smile that was probably supposed to be reassuring before leaving the room. It wasn’t the least bit comforting. Xias was still scared to death.
He turned back toward the other two men just in time to see Elder Yang wave his hand. Xias’s fear became a living, breathing thing when the two guards at the door stepped out of the room and shut the door behind them. Elder Shen had said the council enforcers would be with him at all times. Why were they leaving?
He knew his eyes were huge and rounded when he saw the smirk on Osamu’s face. The man could smell his fear. Xias was just surprised the elder couldn’t. Or maybe he could and was simply ignoring it.
The man was all smiles, however. “Osamu has explained the situation to me and—”
“What did he tell you?” Xias really wanted to know what sort of tale Osamu had spun.
“Well, when Alpha Osamu came to me, he told me how you had been taken from him. He explained to me that you were mated and had cubs together. Under the circumstances, I think we can dispense with the formalities. I have the papers right here for you to sign.”
