Summer Cursed

I told him everything Isaac and I’d spoken about. I also told him about the kisses. “I don’t have an excuse; one took me by surprise, but I didn’t stop it. And I initiated the second one. I just wanted a sense of closure.”

His face was neutral, showing zero emotion, but he nodded. “I can understand that. We haven’t defined what we are. I’d prefer it doesn’t happen again though.”

“Hmm, you’d prefer,” I muttered as I studied him for a bit. “Do you want to define us?”

He was quiet so long I was starting to think he wouldn’t answer me. “I know you’re wary of commitment, so if you don’t want to label this just yet, fine. But as I said, I’d prefer you don’t screw around with anyone else. I’ll extend you the same courtesy.”

“That’s fair. I can agree to that.” I looked to the trees and spotted Henry. He was watching us from a branch. I gave him a little nod and turned back to Liam. “What was that meeting about?”

“Nothing really. That was Dr. Miriam Jackson, she’s on the board for the children’s hospital. We have monthly meetings, usually because they want more money for one thing or another.”

“Is everything going well there? What about the diabetes drug?”

“Everything is going well, yes. There have been some promising results from our trials.”

He glanced at his watch.

“Do you have another meeting?”

“Yes. The Alphas called an emergency meeting. I hate to leave you though.”

My brow furrowed as I wondered why Isaac hadn’t mentioned the meeting. “You do not need to babysit me. You have obligations, and I understand. Go. I promise I’ll be fine. If I get bored, I’ll mess with Philip some more.”

He smiled, but it was tight. “Philip will ensure you have dinner. And of course, help yourself to anything. I want you to think of this as your home while you’re here.” He kissed me lightly. “And Stephens didn’t tell you about the meeting because the Winter and Spring Alphas only called it about fifteen minutes ago.”

“What are you a mind reader?”

“No. I could see those wheels turning in that head of yours.” He started to turn around but stopped halfway to look at me. “Do you want to come to the meeting?”

“Really? Is that allowed? I don’t have a penis.”

“And you don’t know how thankful I am about that,” he said on a laugh. “I don’t care. Stephens is Alpha in name only. You’re the true Alpha. If they have any issues with it, you can take them.”

I grinned and shook my head. Again, he would let me fight my own battles. He was definitely growing on me. “I’m sure I can. Yeah, I’d like to come with you.”

Forty-five minutes later we pulled up to the local Vinur Cabin. The Vinur is the supposed leader of all the packs. He’s the one all the Alphas answer to. Having all the packs together can cause tension, but the threat of punishment and the fear of the Vinur keeps things peaceful.

Even though no one has ever seen the Vinur, most shifters think of him as a god. These are the same people who think Artemis cursed me in the womb. Like with my curse, I lean toward the Vinur being bullshit. A way to keep us all in line with the threat of the wrath of some figure no one has ever seen.

“Ready for this?” Liam asked.

“Yeah,” I said on a sigh. “I’m sure it’ll be okay though. You and Isaac have my back, so that’s half of you. But if shit goes down, like you said, I can take them.”

I had to stifle my laugh when we walked into the Cabin. All three of the other Alphas stared at me as though I were an alien. Even Isaac.

Isaac’s expression settled into his usual blasé look, but the other two Alphas looked pissed. Females aren’t welcome in the Vinur Cabin. They join their spouses at the quarterly meetings but cannot go inside the Cabin. No matter how long we’ve been around the patriarchal and chauvinistic traditions tend to stick.

But something told me it wasn’t my gender that had them so perturbed.

“Hello boys,” I said with a smile.

“Fraser, what’s the meaning of this?” asked Rick Wallace.

I’d met him many times at the Council meetings while he defended his pack members, but even if I hadn’t, I’d have known who he was. Between the power I felt from him and his dark blond hair and green eyes there was no doubt he was the Spring Alpha.

The Winter Alpha was trying to stop himself from shifting. His energy had his white-blond hair floating around his head and his light blue eyes were shooting daggers at me since I’d walked in. It was a big no-no to shift within the walls of the Cabin.

“Be careful, Porter,” I said to Shane when he started to shake. “Wouldn’t want to bring the big, bad Vinur’s wrath down upon you.” Liam barked out a laugh, and I nibbled my lip to stop myself from joining him. “As for you, Wallace, I am here by invitation from Liam. Is there a problem with that?”