Chapter 309

Other than the occasional random hookup, which has been admittedly very sparse lately, the brothers don’t entertain very many visitors at the Pyramid. So it is unusual when I walk down toward the kitchen and find Neil in the living room with a pair of middle-aged strangers in ill-fitting suits.

None of them are sitting. Instead, they stand around each other, the two strangers talking animatedly in Neil’s direction, as Neil listens with his arms crossed and his head dipped low.

They haven’t spotted me yet, so I duck for cover into the corner near the entryway and eavesdrop. I’d feel bad about it, except I’m more concerned about what’s happening here. If Neil is in some kind of trouble, I’m ready and willing to jump to his defense.

“Now is the perfect moment,” one man says. “Your moment. Neil, there’s no better time to start your political career.”

“With your father’s future uncertain, the people are looking for someone who can move the kingdom forward. Stabilize things. You are a hero for calling out your father. Now, it’s time to seal the deal by becoming the next Alpha King.”

“You can’t actually believe I would win,” Neil says. “After everything that’s happened.”

“You are ahead in all of the mock polls we’ve run,” the first man says. “The people are practically begging you to run.”

“They want someone they can trust on the throne,” the second man adds. “There is no one they trust more than you.”

“I’m too young,” Neil says.

“Not so young that you can’t legally run,” the first man says.

“It’s what the people want!” the second man says. He seems to only have the one point to contribute again and again.

Watching Neil, I try to read what he wants from this scenario. Does he want to be Alpha King? He’d be a much better leader than his father, that is unquestionable. But does he actually want the job?

As I watch, Neil looks over and spots me. Blushing, I pull myself back into my hidden space, but I know I’m caught.

“I appreciate you both coming over,” Neil says. “Give me time to think about it.”

“The election is soon, Neil,” the first man says. “We’ll need your answer as quickly as possible, if we are to make a push.”

“I understand,” Neil says. “I’ll have an answer for you soon.”

That’s enough to placate the two older men. Neil gives them directions toward the door. Then he turns and makes a line straight for me. He stops just outside of my hiding spot, boxing me in.

I expect a bit of a lecture on why eavesdropping is rude and an invasion of privacy, etc. etc. And I might even agree with a few points. Though I will never apologize for worrying about Neil and his safety.

“Did you enjoy that conversation?” he asks, though he seems more curious than annoyed.

“Kind of,” I admit. “Though I’m dying to know what you’ll decide.”

Neil tilts his head. “What do you think I should tell them? Should I run for Alpha King?”

I shrug a little. “Do you want to?”

Neil and I look at each other, trapped in a bit of a standoff. Neither of us seems inclined to answer the other’s question first.

After a moment, Neil sighs and pushes a hand through his hair. “I don’t know,” he says, and I believe him.

“It’s not like you to be unsure.”

“I have a lot to think about. Too much, maybe. I just need time.”

I wish I could help him in some way, but I know less about being Alpha King than I do about pretty much anything else. Any advice I offer would be superficial at best. That’s not what Neil needs.

“You’ll figure it out,” I say, trusting in him and his mind. If there’s a right answer here, for the kingdom and for himself, Neil will find it.

He nods slightly, then walks away.

Later, I decide I need my friends outside the Pyramid to well and truly help me decode these near-bites I’ve been having. I don’t know enough, and the topic proved too embarrassing to speak with Mom about.

If I need answers, I need to go to people who know better than I do about boys and life.

Debbie, for her romance novel knowledge. And Angela, for her practicality. Having the opinions of both ends of the spectrum would likely help me make a more objective decision, right?

I invite them both out to lunch. Once we are at the restaurant, we sit quietly around the table for a few moments. I’ve introduced them, but the girls are quiet around each other, eying each other curiously.

I should have gotten them together well before now. That might make this conversation a little less awkward.

Well, too late now.

I clear my throat, claiming their attention, and then I jump right in. “Debbie. Angela. I need your advice.”

“Advice?” Debbie asks. Her eyes brighten like she knows she’s in for some good gossip.

I clear my throat again. “About… mating bites.”

Angela gasps. Immediately her eyes go to my neck.

“I don’t have one!” I’m quick to assure her.

“I already looked,” Debbie says. “I’ve been checking for months now, every time I see you.”

“Really?” I ask her.

“Of course.” Debbie shrugs. “You’ve been living with four unmated horny alphas. That they haven’t bitten you up already is nothing short of a miracle.” Softer, she adds, “Or a tragedy.”

“Our relationship hasn’t really been like that,” I say, though I trail off at the pair of flat looks I’m receiving from both of my friends. “I mean, they certainly haven’t wanted to mate me… before…”

Debbie just started to drink something. After I speak, it comes out her nose. “’Before?!’”

Angela hands Debbie a napkin. “Maybe you should just tell us what happened.”

“Nothing happened,” I say quickly. Too quickly. Angela’s eyes narrow in suspicion. “I’m speaking hypothetically only.”

“Chloe,” Angela says sweetly. “We’re friends aren’t we?”

“Of course,” I say.

“And friends tell the truth to one another?”

I swallow hard. “They do.”

Angela nods. “So let’s stop playing games, huh? If you want our advice, you have to give us the truth of what’s going on.”

I don’t want to admit it to myself, but I know she’s right. So, with a sigh, I quickly fill them in on Beau’s near bite, and everything that happened after.

“Of course it would be Beau,” Debbie says with a whistle.

“What does that mean?” I ask her.

Angela is the one who answers. “His hookups were never genuine. Even with me, we were just having fun. It’s different with you. He’s caught feelings, even if he doesn’t understand them.”

“He’s used to letting his body do the talking,” Debbie adds. “In this case, his body said mate this girl.”

I question how Debbie knows so much about Beau’s personal life, but I suppose Beau doesn’t make a secret of his many, many conquests.

“They stopped themselves. Nothing happened,” I says.

“Something clearly happened!” Debbie says. She’s still dabbing the napkin to her nose. “It is happening!”

“I didn’t ask you here to get into this,” I say.

Angela tilts her head. “Then why did you ask us here.”

“Because… mating bonds… I don’t really understand what it entails…”