Unsevered Ties

37. Underdog

Chapter 37: Underdog

Aiden peered at the clock on the wall for what seemed to be the hundredth time in the last hour. Today would be the day, and it was still early in the day. Still, he frowned as he watched the second hand tick away. Every minute seemed to go by tortuously slowly.

Molten gold eyes shifted as a large figure approached him, sitting opposite him in one of the high-backed chairs. His lips quirked to one side as he acknowledged his visitor.

"Aiden, it's been a while, and I am glad to be back. It's exciting to see a new face among the winter Council, and perhaps I won't be bombarded by stingy old men who care more about what they get out of the deals this year. It's fortuitous that it falls in a mating season as well. It will be good to have a younger, more selfless personality in the mix."

Aiden chuckled, his eyes crinkling with mirth. Though he, Sega, and Valas were all in the same age range, both of them were close to their current Alpha's personas. Aiden could see why Alfonz did not have much hope for them to be 'selfless'.

"It is as you say," Aiden's deep voice rumbled from his chest for the first time today, other than greeting the Meadow leaders. "This will be my first winter council, and I might be the most naïve here."

Alfonz gave his own deep chuckle. "My friend, naivety is sometimes the gift that is most needed! Fresh eyes see fresh opportunities. I am glad you are among us. I think things might go smoothly with different opinions in the mix. I have always had to fight with the current Alphas over the resource trade. They think more about what they might be losing and less about what the entirety of their packs gain."

Alfonz shook his chocolate head, his eyes slightly lighter than his counterpart's, peering toward the rest of the group. "Perhaps the sons might surprise me, but I'm usually left with pity at the end of these things."

Alfonz turned back to Aiden. "We will have plenty of time for that, though. We have a few months ahead of us, don't we? If I might be both blunt and nosy, how is your alliance going? You two are surprisingly without your new mate, and I don't suppose you are sitting alone for no reason."

Aiden smiled. Alfonz was one of the most amazing analytical Alphas in any book you read. The man did not disappoint his reputation.

"It's something like walking over fragile ice. You know it's stupid and it could cave and take you with it at any moment. Yet you desperately need to cross to the other side, and your only other option would be to shatter the ice on purpose and hope you don't die before making it across." Aiden quirked a thick brow at Alfonz. "That's the best metaphor I can think of to sum things up."

Alfonz's eyes widened at the news. "That bad, is it? I can see how it would be extremely difficult not to throttle that upstart Sega, but you and your joint mate seemed on good terms."

Aiden's smile fell. They were indeed on good terms until he had to go and be rapacious. He sighed. He needed to talk it out with somebody. Riel was still absent, and his girls fell into too much gossip. Alfonz was as close to a like-minded person as he'd gotten from this lot.

"Sega and I have history. It's a history on a personal level." Aiden locked eyes with Alfonz, waiting for the man to get the hint. When Alfonz's expression said he had come to the right conclusion, he continued. "I was in the very fruitful process of winning Naki to my side as more than a political figure when, through my foolish actions, things fell into shit. I was trying to start this relationship with my mate, but at the same time, I refused to let go of my history. To be honest, I don't know if I could. Either way, both came face to face in the most distressing manner, and he bolted."

Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose. "I managed to scorn the feelings of both parties. One wants to castrate me, and the other decided to go off and explore his roots without telling us. We spent nearly two weeks in a frantic search until a letter arrived from him... via a Cloud messenger."