Alpha's Faire

XLIII

“That wraps up the plan, then.” Alpha Stone finished conveying the plan that Jexanna and he had agreed to before the other Alpha’s. Everyone seemed to agree to tracking every pack member’s red blood count with daily sample draws as a method of testing for those infected with the disease. The prospect that entire packs could be infected frightened everyone. Even the most notorious packs. That effort alone was going to require more assistance from the FLA, which caused some grumbling from a few Alphas. The only compromise was to allow only human researchers on pack grounds. The fae would only be allowed very sparingly. The last thing they needed was a skirmish.

In regards to the iron levels, packs located in more urban areas agreed to purchase as many supplements from the local pharmacies and distribute them. They would be distributed evenly throughout the packs via portals, with those in the beginning stages of infection and worst stages of infection receiving them. Everyone else would begin to be on a strict regime of iron-rich nutrition.

‘Stone, let’s talk on another call after this.’ Brothe sent an instant message and Raphael sighed. So much for going on a run today. Between meetings, meals, and reviewing incoming information, Raphael rarely had time to go for a run. Well, at least when he wasn’t trying to find a certain half faire.

Once the call with the other Alphas ended, Brothe called him.

“Dr. Lewis.”

“What about Dr. Lewis?” Raphael growled, annoyed that Brothe was bringing up Jexanna. Honestly, he was more surprised than anything that Brothe was bringing her up.

“For someone who rarely compliments anyone, you sure seemed to singing her praises.” Brothe remarked with what Raphael could only guess was a snarky smirk.

“What is wrong with giving someone their due credit? Dr. Lewis is an explimary leader and scientist.”

“Explimary?” Brothe asked him. “Do you even hear yourself? The last time you used that word was at Jacob’s mating ceremony.” Raphael groaned inwardly as Brothe continued. “You loathed this woman a year ago. Convinced that she was the source of your little black market problem.”

“She was cleared of those charges.” Raphael interjected, annoyed. He tried his best not to let Brothe know how much this conversation was grating against his skin.

“That was the FLA’s investigation and we both know to take that at face value.” Brothe responded. Raphael paused before responding. He didn’t want Brothe to know everything. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust him, but more because he felt that the topic of mates would come up again.

After all, Jexanna drew the line in the sand. This relationship wasn’t anything but an exchange of pleasure. She wasn’t interested in investing more time and energy. Meanwhile, Raphael was struggling with a bile taste in the back of his throat at the thought. A primal instinct wanted nothing but to claim her as his. But that wasn’t what she wanted. He didn’t want Brothe to know about this inner turmoil.

“Fine. I did find something.” He replied slowly. “She was the black market dealer’s source and as retribution for her actions, she’s going to join my pack as the lead scientist for 5 years.”

The sound of coughing and wheezing told Raphael that this did indeed catch Brothe off guard.

“You’re bringing a human onto your pack as a leader?” Brothe asked in a raspy voice. “A human that you, and I quote, 'would skin alive upon meeting them face to face, and then roast on a fucking spiget as a warning to any one else who dated to abuse your packs precious orchid.' And you’re telling me that you’re not attacted to this woman?”

“What does attraction have to do with anything when it comes to talent, intellengence, and skills?”

“Everything for you.” Brothe snorted. “Thea has always stated that the only one who could ever be your mate, would have to be someone far more intelligent than your smartass.”

“She’s not my mate.” The words came out in almost a soured snarl, leaving a disgusting taste in his mouth. Bile continued to fill his throat as his stomach churned.

“She may not be fated. But she could be your chosen.”

But she didn't want that nor did he want to subject her to that. It would be cruel to force anyone to be a chosen mate when he hadn't even met his fated mate. It'd be gnawing at the back of their minds, what would happen if he had stumbled across his fated mate? Would he leave? Would he reject his fated blessing from the goddess herself? It wasn't something he wanted to entertain.

"It's not going to happen."

"But you are attracted to her. It's the only reason why you'd drop a nearly decade long tirade for revenge against her." Brothe paused. "But even just attraction wouldn't be enough to throw you this far over the bridge…..fuck." Brothe growled and Raphael gritted his teeth.

"You've slept with her, haven't you?"

Raphael hung up the call immediately, knowing that Brothe wouldn't let it go, and would not only lecture him but badger and bring up even the possiblity of taking Jexanna as a mate.

If he were going to continue to be in any relationship with her, to enjoy what she was comfortable with, he needed to accept and squash any hope that she would change her mind. His primal instincts grumbled, his body shook, at the realization. It felt completely and utterly disgusting to know that that was the truth of the situation but Raphael wasn't going to force Jexanna into a corner. His stomach dropped and churned at the emotional turmoil that swirled inside. His fists tightened as his teeth gritted together.

"Fuck," he growled in silence. Now not only did Brothe know which broke part of the his and Jexanna's agreement, but the big loudmouth would tell Thea, who would never let it go.

Great.
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I promise, more chapters are coming. I'm planning on writing more this month after I take a deep dive with a printed version of our tale here. But apparently, I have to go and print it at the library because it's like 149 pages. 😂

I hope that these chapters, even small, help in the meantime and were a good introduction back to our story.