Omega Bound Chapter 283

Rhonda

The cabin smelled like mothballs, peppermint schnapps, and the faint tang of old gas from the lawnmower Suki stored in the corner. She called it cozy. Marla calls it “claustrophobic.”

Mikhail sat stiff in my recliner like he was royalty stuck at a bingo hall, white hair gleaming under the lamp, posture all noble. The alpha had been through hell, sure, but all I could think was damn, that hair. White as snow, thick too. Not patchy like most of the old dogs around here. I’d take a good head of hair over abs any day.

Jill was fussing in the kitchen about snacks, Marla had dragged out her endless deck of cards, and Suki was already two drinks in. We were supposed to be keeping him hidden. Personally, I thought we were doing a bang-up job.

Nobody would come looking for the fate-gifted Alpha in a cabin full of menopausal hellcats.

Mikhail muttered something under his breath. I leaned over. “What was that, sugar?”

He shot me a look. “I said, isn’t this considered undignified behavior for elder she-wolves?”

I laughed loud enough to make Marla jump. “Undignified? Honey, you’re wrapped in my afghan with a plate of cheddar cubes in front of you and an open bar. That’s living at our age.”

Suzi clinked her glass against the bottle after filling it, “He’s hot though. Like, high priest hot. That serious face. The white hair. Mmm.”

“High priest....what?” Mikhail turns to look at Suzi with confusion as she holds her hand up and fake claws at him with a little growl.

Fates, I hope she didn’t get into the drugs again.

“Agreed,” I said. “Usually I like ‘em younger. Mid-twenties, hot, strapping young Alphas. Forty tops out my usual range.” I squinted at him. “How old are you anyway?”

His eyes narrowed. “Forty-five.”

“Ohhh.” I fanned myself, “Exactly five years too old for me. But that white hair…” I leaned close, grinning. “You might be worth bending the rules.”

Marla made a scandalized sound, Jill rolled her eyes, and Suki just muttered, “Same.”

Mikhail stiffened like I’d goosed him. Poor thing, didn’t know what to do with attention he didn’t control.

“Ladies,” he said, voice dropping low. “If you insist on guarding me, then I should tell you about myself. Who you are guarding. It may....hopefully change your mind regarding whatever it is that you are thinking......or planning.”

I settled back, crossing my legs. “Alright, daddy wolf. Lay it on us.”

The man straightened like he was addressing a throne room instead of four she-wolves in elastic-waist pants. “My name is Mikhail Frost. I was Alpha of the Frost pack. Gifted by the Fates themselves. My twin brother, Nikolai, coveted my gift. He pretended to be me. Imprisoned me, and for years, he drained my gift, using it in experiments. My people thought he was me.”

We all went silent, even Jill. Heavy stuff. His voice caught when he said, “I hid my pack. In the mountains. I do not know if they survived.”

Jill dabbed at her eyes with a cocktail napkin. “That’s awful.”

Marla folded her arms, jaw tight. “A betrayal like that… he should burn.”

I leaned forward, grinning. “You mean you got a secret pack stashed in the mountains somewhere? Well, hell, why didn’t you lead with that? Road trip!”

“Road trip!” Suki echoed, sloshing her drink.

Damn, she got into the drugs.

“No,” Mikhail said firmly, but I wasn’t listening. My mind was already picturing us in a car, windows down, music blasting, four broads and one fate-gifted Alpha crammed in. He’d hate it. Which made me want it more.

Just as I was picturing him in aviator sunglasses, my phone started buzzing. Larry. Of course.

I sighed and answered on speaker. “What?”

“Ma,” he snapped, “why the hell haven’t you answered your phone or mind-links? I’ve been trying to reach you for days.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Busy? busy doing what? The Luna was kidnapped, there was a battle, and the whole time I thought you were dead somewhere!”

“I’ve been with my card-playing friends, obviously.”

“Doing what, Mom?”

Jill piped up, sweet as pie. “Talking about our heat flashes and bladder control.”

Silence on the line. Then, “That’s… disgusting.”

“Then don’t ask,” I said, smirking at the girls.

Larry groaned. “Fine. Do you know what happened to the blue car on my lot?”

I picked a cube of cheese off the plate and popped it in my mouth. “Nope.”

“Somebody cut the camera lines, too. Clean cut. You know anything about that?”

I grinned. “Wouldn’t know a thing.”

“Ma.” His voice dropped. “Are you taking your medication?”

“Don’t need it. Medication makes me feel old. I feel fine. Young, wild, free.” I patted Mikhail’s knee. “Like this handsome wolfy man here.”

Mikhail twitched like he’d been tasered.

On the other end, Larry groaned so loud I could imagine him rubbing his face. “I’m hanging up before you say something else I can’t un-hear.” Click.

We all burst out laughing. Suki raised her glass. “To grossing out your kids until they leave you alone.”

“To lying to my son,” I added, clinking her glass with mine.

Mikhail rubbed his temples like the weight of the world was on him. “How am I supposed to survive this?”

“Oh, you’ll survive,” I purred. “Forty-five’s still got some spark. And if not....well, I can always pretend you’re twenty-five. That hair helps.”

“Road trip!” Suki hollered again.

“Road trip!” Marla joined in.

Suki stands to do something and immediately falls over to the floor, out cold. “What the hell is wrong with her?” Mikhail starts to stand off the couch, but I put my arm across his scrawny chest to push him back down.

Definitely need to put some meat on his bones.

"She got into the drugs again."

“The what?”

“She drugged herself. She mixed her liquor with her medication out of bed. Rookie mistake. Let her lie.”

I slammed the last of the chocolate-covered pretzels into my mouth and wiped my hands on my sweatpants. “Alright, ladies, Operation Save the Alpha Pack is a go. Road trip. Who’s in?”

Marla raised her glass. “I am. I’m ready for scenic views, danger, and whatever other nonsense comes with hiding a fate-gifted Alpha.”

Jill groaned. “This isn’t a vacation. We need maps, supplies, and food that won’t spoil. Mikhail can’t be seen.”

“Maps? Supplies? Food?” I waved her off. “We got snacks, we got booze, we got me. That’s all the logistics anyone really needs.”

Jill held up a notebook like she was conducting an army operation. “Actually, I made a checklist. Route, emergency stops, supplies, disguises for Mikhail…”

I snorted. “Disguises? He has white hair and glowing Alpha energy. Nothing’s disguising that. Maybe throw a sombrero on him, call it good.”

Mikhail cleared his throat, sitting stiff as ever. “I do not require a sombrero.”

“Oh, hush,” I said, waving at him.

Jill groaned. “We’re supposed to be subtle.”

"Subtle went out the window when we started planning this.” I winked at Mikhail. “You’re lucky, sugar. Most Alphas would kill for this kind of chaotic security detail.” He didn’t respond, just pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered something. I took that as a yes.

Jill write more notes. “What about snacks? I vote trail mix, candy, beef jerky…”

“Wine,” I added decisively. “Always wine.”

“How are we going to drive and keep him hidden?” Marla asks, taking the cork out of a wine bottle and skipping the glass.

“Oh, honey,” I said, pointing at myself like I was queen of the road, “Rhonda’s got this. Windows tinted, music blasting, scarves flapping in the wind. We’ll be invisible, majestic, and terrifying.”

“Majestic and terrifying is exactly how Alphas like it,” Jill said with a grin, glancing at Mikhail.

He sighed, voice tight. “I am… grateful, I think. That you are willing to do this for me.”

“Grateful?” I laughed, slapping my knee. “Honey, we’re thrilled. Secret mountain Alpha packs? Road trip? Adventure? I haven’t felt this alive since I played strip poker with Larry’s ex-mate.”

Mikhail blinked. “Strip… poker?”

“Oh, you’ll learn,” I said, waving a hand dismissively.

“Wouldn’t that be your daughter-in-law?”

“Semantics. You’re stuck with me, sugar.”

“Stuck with US.” Marla wiggles her brows up and down at Mikhail, and I haven’t decided how I feel about it yet.

Mikhail’s jaw tightened. “I will try to survive.”

“That’s the spirit,” I said. “Now, let’s pack. Snacks, disguises, maps, and booze.”