Ramses tugs me closer until I’m standing between his legs, his orange scent is everywhere now and I’m going to miss it as much as I miss him.
“I don’t want to go, and even thinking that makes me feel like a right slag. What kind of friend am I?” I admit quietly, rubbing my fingers over his short hair.
“What kind of partner am I if I say I don’t want you to go either? Now we feel the same,” He purrs and then proceeds to press his face into my stomach, until he feels me relax slightly. “But you’re going.”
“Confusing, much?” I laugh.
“I’m not confused. I’d happily never leave this house and never let another person inside the gates but that’s not you and that’s not me or Dare or Kai.”
“I know, I’m still allowed to sulk about having to be an adult,” I pout at him.
“And I’ll listen every time.” He winks one minute, the next he gets serious. “We don’t have to hide, Heidi. The three of us can be there with you and you can be with us meeting Koz too. Our disguises are good, no one will know who we are,” he insists. And we’ve had this discussion a lot over the past few days in between the triplets meeting with Allan as a trio and individually.
“But someone might put two and two together. We stick to our original plan for a while longer,” I say, climbing onto his lap.
I’ve become a whore for cuddles since coming off all the drugs I’ve been using.
Ramses watches me closely, like he’s always assessing my needs and trying to anticipate what’s going to happen next. The way he does it though is miles different to the way the Board did it.
“You can explain us to the girls however you want,” he says again.
I close my eyes and nuzzle up under his chin, sinking into his presence and topping up on his yummy orange scent. “They know the important details already, but I won’t compromise you or your legacy. We keep things separate like we agreed. Besides, we’re not packed.”
“We’re as good as,” he mock growls.
And we are as good as. Just not officially because of Verdune and the Triplet law hanging over our head, and that is going to take time. We’ve got some huge hurdles to get over, on the outside. Behind closed doors we’re enjoying each moment we spend together.
“I don’t even want to pretend I’m entertaining packing with Pack Lowly anymore,” I admit quietly.
“They’re a means to an end. Once you’ve got the support you need and a new board in place, it won’t matter. And you know they can’t touch you; they’d disappear before anyone noticed. All my people are watching them around the clock, they haven’t left the hospital.”
The ring of my mobile drags me from his lap.
“Speak of the devil,” I say, showing Ramses my phone screen before answering. “Heidi speaking.”
Graham Lowly manages to lock my shoulders up tight with stress even before he says a word.
“You need to be here,” he demands without any greeting.
I walk out onto the balcony overlooking the garden, reining in the swirling tirade filling my thoughts and waiting to be said.
“Heidi, did you hear me? You need to be here at the hospital with us. It looks bad you’re not,” he spits sullenly like a demanding child. And even through the phone I can feel the rising influence of his Alpha. It makes me shiver for all the wrong reasons. But I’m well and truly used to dealing with shitty Alphas. I start to employ the internal barriers I’ve employed protectively since the day I emerged.
Ramses drops his hand on my hip, and I continue to realign myself further away from Graham’s disillusioned expectation.
“I think it’s more important that you’re with your father than me dragging a media storm into this awful time for you and your family, Graham,” I offer simply, working hard to ensure there’s barely any emotion to my tone.
“The way you’re acting, Heidi, has me wondering if packing with you is really what is best for my pack,” he bites back.
“Yet you jumped at the chance as soon as it was waved in your direction,” I say softly.
“And I can also stop it from proceeding further. How would that look to the shareholders? Two packs not wanting you in the space of a few months would have investors and our staff fleeing in panic. Not to mention the disappointment your father would feel.”
“Aggressive sentiment coming from you. It almost sounds like you’re teetering on the edge of blackmailing me,” I offer back blandly.
I can hear his teeth grit, before he talks louder no longer bothering with subtlety. “We’re getting legal advice and have already spoken with the Alpha Council.”
“About?” I smile like a crocodile as the sun hits my face. It makes me giddy even thinking about how much Pack Lowly fucked up, and how stupid they were signing the Deed before getting any advice.
