I shut the front door and listen as the locks click into place before I trudge up the stairs. The surveillance room door is open and the light is on. Walking over, I push the door open.
“What are you doing?” I ask Andrei, who is sitting at the desk.
“Nothing, just checking the cameras. Where is Jonah?” He asks.
“Malik took him back with him and Casen.”
“Probably best,” Andrei agrees, running a hand through his hair.
I lean over the back of his chair and wrap my arms around his bare chest, hugging him. “Everything ok?” I ask, his emotions are everywhere.
“Jonah’s parents worked for Jackson, the man whose pack was responsible for killing mine,” Andrei confesses.
My stomach sinks at his words. I wonder what this newfound information means for Jonah because, mate or not, he won’t be hurting that bubbly little boy. I won’t allow that.
“That’s not all, though,” Andrei whispers.
“What more is there?” I ask, praying for some good news.
“That rogue I killed, Lior? That was the man who was entrusted to look after Jonah. I killed his guardian, Sage. Johan lived alone in a cave for months by himself because of me until Nora and the rest found him.” My stomach sinks at his words. Jonah has no one left?
“I’m sorry, I am having trouble reading you. You feel angry, but sound sad,” I admit, furrowing my brows as I try to understand what he feels and thinks.
“I am both. I killed his only family member that we know of, but I am angry because I have a murderer’s son in my pack territory. And the fucking guilt for what I did.” He groans.
“So, what does that mean for Jonah?” I press.
“What do you mean?” Andrei looks up at me as confusion crosses his face.
“I mean, will you let him join the pack?” I ask him, and he grabs my arm, pulling me to sit on his lap.
“I can’t let him join my pack-”
“What? No! You can’t abandon him because he’s a rogue, he’s just a kid-”
He cuts me off with a wave of his hand. “Let me finish. I am not a monster, Sage and he’s just a kid. That’s the issue, he’s too young to join a pack without parental or guardian permission. We have laws to prevent underage people from joining packs. Could you imagine how many runaways packs would have if it were allowed? He can’t join, and I will have to see Kat and get her to override pack laws to allow it.”
“But she will. Kat wouldn’t abandon a child. She has kids herself.” I keep pressing the issue with a newfound passion. Letting the boy leave, or god forbid tossing him out, are the last things I will allow Andrei to do. If Jonah has to go, I will too.
“Yes, but before she can override it, there will be a call sent out to look for any relatives alive. They will look through all the packs in the country, so that it may take a while. Then, we just have to find him a home. There are plenty of people that would take him if we can’t find a relative.” Andrei explains, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“So he can stay until Kat overrules the law?” I ask him.
“Of course, he has nowhere else to go.” Andrei scoffs as if I am the crazy, unpredictable one of us two.
“When will we see Kat?” I question as I run my hands up his chest to his shoulders.
Andrei clears his throat, his skin is warm but sticky under my palms. “Ouch, what the heck is on your hands that you rubbed all over me?” He growls, grabbing one and looking at his chest.
I snort a laugh. I forgot about the marshmallows Jonah stuck on my hand, and now, it is stuck in Andrei’s chest hair. “Sorry, Jonah was holding my hand. It’s just a marshmallow,” I admit, trying to pull it out when he jumps.
“Just leave it before you rip out more of my hair,” Andrei winces, rubbing his chest. “We can see Kat after the Alpha meeting,” he adds and slowly stands up.
I quickly jump off his lap. He turns the monitors off, and I hurry into the bathroom, grab a washcloth, and wet it.
I carefully scrub my hands to get rid of the last bits of the sticky substance. When I’m done, I turn around, and Andrei walks in. He strips his shorts off and reaches past me to turn on the shower.
“Remind me never to give him marshmallows again, damn sticky shit.” He grumbles under his breath as he steps into the shower. Another snort leaves my lips, and Andrei glares at me. “I should make you lick it off,” he taunts.
“God knows where you have been,” I announce, just to annoy him a little and hopefully brighten his mood.
His arm slips out of the shower and hooks around my waist. He drags me into the shower with him. “I still have clothes on!” I shriek as he shoves me under the water, making me sputter and choke. He laughs, and I shove at his chest.
I peel my clothes off and dump them out the door one-by-one. As the fabric hits the tiles, each piece makes a slapping noise, which seems to amuse Andrei.
“It’s good that Zane found his mate,” I chirp as I reach for the soap and wash his chest as an apology.
“Hmm, it is,” Andrei hums in agreement.
“You don’t sound too happy about it,” I comment.
“No, I am, but it might have bothered me a little when they talked about marking each other so darn soon. I have had you here for months, and you still haven’t allowed me to mark you. That’s why I came inside. All their lovey-dovey shit was driving me nuts when they only just met. I am happy for him, just a little jealous.” Andrei shrugs his shoulders.
I stay silent as I chew my lip nervously and concentrate on washing myself. I start to say something, but close my mouth.
Sierra pushes forward, her voice sad as she speaks to me. “Hasn’t he waited long enough, Sage? I know you are worried about going into heat, but most mates mark each other as soon as they find each other, he let them come back, and he hasn’t hurt anyone. What are you scared of? Is it really him or more to do with us?”
“He will expect me to have sex with him,” I insist when his fingers grip my chin.