Chapter 22: 22. Everyone excited except alphas
AT THE SAME TIME
MICHAEL
If I thought the necklace thing was bad, it got worse. Like, way worse. Because now Charlie had apparently decided that I was his new favorite person on the planet.
Specifically, me and Zavier. Together.
"SO." Charlie said brightly, plopping down right next to us like he hadn’t just dropped a family bomb on the entire room.
His golden eyes sparkled with the kind of mischievous energy that meant trouble.
"How long have you two been mated?"Charlie asked.
I choked. Zavier didn’t even blink.
"We’re not-"I started.
"Since the day he finally stopped running." Zavier said calmly, pulling me closer just to make me squeak.
Charlie gasped. Loudly. Dramatically.
"OH MY GODS THAT’S SO ROMANTIC."He said happily.
"Charlie." Rose’s voice was amused, not warning. Of course.
"No, Rose, look!" Charlie gestured wildly between us like he’d just discovered a rare painting.
"They’re perfect. He’s the grumpy one and Zavier’s the scary one but secretly soft, this is literally every romance story ever."
I buried my face in my hands.
"Please stop talking."I muttered.
Charlie ignored me. Completely.
"You two need a ship name!" He continued, tapping his chin. "Mav- no, Zichael- oh! Wolfie and Firefly!"
Zavier smirked.
"I like that one."He grinned.
"I do NOT."I frowned.
"Wolfie and Firefly it is!" Charlie announced proudly, as if anyone had voted.
Terrence groaned so loudly it shook the windows.
"This is humiliating."Terrence said.
"Humiliating?" Charlie repeated, tilting his head sweetly. "You’re just mad you didn’t win him first."
The entire room went quiet. Adrian actually sputtered. Terrence’s jaw clicked. Xavier’s nostrils flared. Selene looked like she was about to faint, not from drama, from rage. Rose, of course, was grinning like she’d just been handed front row tickets to the best play in the kingdom.
"Charlie." Selene hissed through clenched teeth. "Stop encouraging them."
"Encouraging what?!" I yelped.
"The bond." Selene snapped. "He’s supposed to be free until the trials are complete."
Charlie gasped again, this time scandalized.
"Wait, you’re saying he’s supposed to just sit here and be sad while his mate cuddles him all cute and protective?!"He said.
Zavier actually smirked. Smirked.
"Exactly."Zavier said.
"Oh, no no no." Charlie shook his head rapidly, silver hair bouncing. "That’s boring. He needs to be happy and glowing for the trials! Right, Rose?"
"Absolutely." Rose smirked at Selene, crossing her legs like this was better than wine. "A happy saint is a strong saint."
Selene pinched the bridge of her nose like she was seconds away from screaming. Meanwhile, I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
"This is ridiculous." I muttered.
Charlie leaned forward, cupping his hands around his mouth like he was telling me a huge secret, except loud enough for the entire room to hear.
"Don’t worry, big brother." He whispered shouted. "I’ll make sure everyone ships you two by the end of the week!"
My soul left my body. Adrian looked like he might throw himself off the nearest balcony. Terrence snarled something about ’over my dead body.’ Xavier muttered something under his breath that sounded like ’idiotic prophecy.’ And Zavier? Zavier turned bright red. Then leaned down and kissed the side of my head. Deliberately. Slowly. In front of everyone. Charlie made a noise so high pitched I’m pretty sure dogs heard it three towns over.
"YESSSSSSSS!" He cheered, practically bouncing out of his chair. "SEE?! FIRE. FLY."
Rose clapped once, smirking.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."Rose grinned.
Selene slammed her hand on the table so hard the plates rattled.
"ENOUGH!"Selene said.
But nobody was listening. Because Charlie had already pulled out parchment and was literally drawing a heart around our names. If I thought Charlie was done, I was wrong. Horribly, catastrophically wrong. Because the very next morning, I woke up to find him sitting cross legged at the end of my bed, grinning like a gremlin.
"Good morning, brother!" He chirped.
I sat up so fast I nearly fell off the bed.
"What are you, WHY are you in here?"I asked.
"Lesson time!" He announced proudly, holding up a scroll.
Zavier, who had apparently been awake the whole time and, of course, shirtless, just leaned back against the headboard, silver eyes half lidded and annoyingly amused.
"This should be good."Zavier said.
Charlie unrolled the scroll with a dramatic flick.
"Lesson one: How to be the best omega mate ever!" Charlie said.
"I don’t need lessons." I snapped.
"Pfft, yes you do." Charlie said cheerfully. "You almost fainted last time someone complimented you. Lesson one is called Communication."
I buried my face in my hands.
"I hate this."I groaned.
"No, you love this." Charlie said, scooting closer. "Okay, so when your mate does something nice, like, oh, I don’t know, saving you from dying in heat, you say thank you. Preferably with cuddles."
Zavier’s smirk turned positively predatory.
"I like this lesson."Zavier said.
"You would." I muttered.
Charlie ignored me and went on, reading off his scroll like this was a royal decree.
"Lesson two: Public displays of affection are good for pack morale!"Charlie said.
I shot upright.
"Absolutely NOT-"I said.
Before I could finish, Zavier wrapped an arm around my waist and yanked me flush against him.
"We should listen to the teacher." He said innocently, clearly enjoying every second of my flailing.
"Put me down!" I hissed.
Charlie gasped dramatically, like I’d just committed a crime.
"You can’t put down love, Michael!"Charlie said.
And then because the universe hates me the air shimmered. Moonlight pooled across the room like someone had spilled silver water, and the temperature dropped into something sharp and holy. And then she was there. The Moon Goddess herself. Golden hair cascading like liquid dawn, green eyes glowing with mischief and ancient knowing. She was barefoot, luminous, smiling.
"Oh, this is delightful." She said, her voice silk and bells. "I thought I would have to wait days before you started this game, but no, you are already learning."
I froze. Zavier didn’t. His grip tightened like he was daring anyone including deities to take me away.
"Goddess." Selene’s voice came from the hall, tight and reverent.
She was kneeling before she even entered the room. The others Adrian, Terrence, Xavier appeared right behind her, tense and watchful. The Goddess ignored all of them. Her gaze stayed on me.
"You are glowing brighter." She said softly, stepping closer. Her fingers brushed my forehead, and a rush of warmth flooded me, like starlight filling my veins.
When she pulled back, I caught my reflection in the polished metal of Zavier, my eyes looked just a little brighter, my skin almost shining. Zavier turned red. Actually red. Charlie, meanwhile, let out a delighted squeal and started clapping.
"YES! BEAUTY BUFF!"Charlie grinned.
I glared at him.
"Stop narrating my life!"I said.
"Oh, don’t stop." The Goddess said, laughing like sunlight on water. "This one is far too entertaining."
"Goddess-" Selene started, but the Goddess just raised a single finger and Selene went silent, grinding her teeth.
"This bond." The Goddess said, looking between me and Zavier. "Is strong enough to rattle the heavens already. And yet..." Her grin turned sly. "I expect a show worthy of the moon’s favor. Do not disappoint me."
"Oh, they won’t!" Charlie said helpfully. "They’re already cuddling and everything!"
"CHARLIE." I hissed, mortified.
But the Goddess only laughed.
"Good. Let him be loud, little wolf. The louder the world sees, the brighter you will burn."She said.
I groaned, covering my face. Zavier leaned close to my ear.
"You heard her. Orders from the moon herself."He grinned.
I wanted to die. Charlie was now dramatically drawing a heart around us again, this time with actual chalk on the floor. Rose leaned casually in the doorway, smirking.
"Well, this is the best entertainment I’ve had in months." He said.
Adrian looked like he was about to have an aneurysm. Terrence muttered a prayer to some storm god under his breath. Xavier’s jaw ticked so hard I thought he’d crack a tooth. And the Goddess? She just winked at me, stepping back into her silver light, clearly delighted.
"Oh, this will be fun." She murmured, and then vanished like mist.
Leaving me sitting in Zavier’s lap, glowing like a lantern, with Charlie cheerfully chanting Firefly! Firefly! at the top of his lungs. I am never living this down.