Of Delicate Minefields

[TAMIKO]

"I don't care what you did or what Igor Konstantin was promised. But you, brother, are staying, and if Igor wants you to buy you, he can name his price. Grealor will pay it all," Galya said, adding the last bit in her luna tone, reminding Gabe that he was fucked for the next year.

"I like you," Igor said with a smile as he turned to Tamiko, "Seems like you were never alone, my little love."

And it was Galya's turn to stare blankly.

"What?" Galya asked like she hadn't heard the man correctly.

Of all the people she had expected would turn up and lay claim on Tamiko, Igor Konstantin had never once been on her mind.

Hell, she had never imagined that the bastard warrior even had anything that he could offer other than his murder skills which made him the bastard he was known as. Maybe Galya was missing something, right?

Maybe there was more to this but then as Galya looked at the faces of Gabe and his friends, seeing how tired they were compared to Tamiko, Galya knew there was something here.

Someone had been put through torture for long hours and strangely, it wasn't Tamiko the outcast. And that made Galya so happy and thrilled, but she had to wait and understand whatever was happening.

"Can we just fucking go to my father so you can have your stupid little chat, while me and my best friends get some rest? I believe we have slaved enough to last you a whole lifetime, no?

"You can do whatever you want after we get to father alright," Gabe asked irritably, instantly shutting Galya up, but making her have more questions than she could spell out.

Whatever this was, it was golden and Galya Belova wanted the front seats.

"I see you haven't learned your lesson yet, Gabriel Grealor. Should I tell Galya dear here about the truth you are yet to share with the whole kingdom?

"Who knows, maybe she could help me burn you and I wouldn't have to dirty my hand, right?" Igor asked as they walked to the alpha's office.

He knew Tamiko was hungry and the only reason he was actually agreeing to this was because he wanted to make sure that his baby was fed. Sure his methods weren't exactly comforting for anyone, but it was who he was.

"You wouldn't dare," Judd said and Gabe just facepalmed.

"Wouldn't, or won't dare? You want to try me?" Igor asked knowingly, but once again, Tamiko came to the aid of the hopeless best friends.

"Kosta… My stomach hurts," Tamiko said, getting Igor's attention back on him.

"Oh, shit. Hurry up, alpha boy," Igor said as he held Tamiko's hands gently, scared that his Tamiko would get hurt from just walking.

He was treating Tamiko delicately and Galya watched the sight before her like she was in some sort of a dream.

She was slowly realizing that she never had to worry about Tamiko when he was with Igor, because he was Igor's world, one that the barbarian would always protect.

"Igor Konstantin, to what do I owe the pleasure? Last I checked, I paid all the dues for your bounty, didn't I?" Alpha Ashton greeted them when they got to the pack house.

The alpha was in his office, where Igor had insisted that Gabe take them. He didn't care what the people who had been staring would say, because one wrong word and Igor would take Tamiko with him.

"I have walked long and hard to get here. I need some food before we can start the discussions, don't you think? Besides, I have something that directly affects you.

"You know I never lie, Ashton," Igor said casually and Alpha Ashton stared at him curiously. He was wondering what the hell it was that had gotten the barbarian to his home, but would he like the answer to what was coming for him?

"Tamiko. Go get the visitors something to eat. And make sure to be fast, or you know what awaits you," Alpha Ashton said and just when he was done, Igor let out a warning growl as he looked at the Grealor Alpha.

He didn't like the tone that the alpha was using, and while Tamiko was already on his way to get the food Igor grabbed his hand mid-movement, bringing the young lycan falling backwards towards Igor.

It was an act that ended up with Tamiko on Igor's lap.

For a moment, the sparks the two were feeling got them out of touch with reality and suddenly, it was just the two of them in their own world.

A world in which Igor wanted to stay in, while Tamiko was worried for himself, because Alpha Ashton would definitely not take this lightly.

"He stays. With me," Igor spelled out and Alpha Ashton looked at the man like he had something else in mind.

Of course, Igor had.

He was already thinking of ways to make sure Tamiko was always happy and never had to work a day ever in his life. He was already planning everything he would do to make Tamiko feel special.

Oh, but there was a long list of things, that even a lifetime wouldn't be enough for him to be done with Tamiko.

"Don't tell me you don't have servants to make things for you, Ashton. Tamiko here is my new friend, and I would like for him to stay beside me, not serve me. If that works for you," Igor requested softly, even though nothing about his tone screamed request.

It was more of a 'fuck around with Tamiko and find out this instant,' kind of tone that had so many warnings for Alpha Ashton and his people.

"Of course we do. Anyway, if you insist, Gabe, tell the servants to serve us some breakfast. The rest of you, have a seat.

"It must really be important if Igor wanted you to be here," Alpha Aston said to Judd, Zakhar, and Galya who were staring at Igor like the man was losing his mind. But they knew better than to say a word.

"Yes, alpha," the trio responded while Gabe walked out, but even before they could sit, Igor spoke again.

"I don't need them for the discussion. They were good security, but what I want to discuss with you is more about Tamiko than the three of them. They can leave.

"They don't need to be here, even your son isn't needed in this room right now," Igor challenged and Alpha Ashton figured that whatever it was had to be very important. So he gestured to the trio to leave and they rushed out.

However, it was clear that Galya had some more questions.

Maybe she would get the answers later, right?

"Alright fine, they are gone. What do you want to talk to me about? And why does the outcast need to be here?" Alpha Ashton asked the moment Gabe walked back in with a huge tray that contained a full-course meal.

Behind him, were servants who had come to serve Tamiko and Igor.

Igor let out a chuckle at the sight before him, because he knew Gabe was challenging him, daring him to a challenge where the one who treated Tamiko the best, would get to keep Tamiko.

But then that would have worked, if Tamiko wasn't seated on Igor's lap, and Igor's hand wasn't tracing Tamiko's abs as if to tell Gabe that he would never get this close to Tamiko.

"Thank you, son. You may all leave now," Alpha Ashton said and Gabe turned to look at Igor with deadly eyes, while Tamiko just stared at the two like he was so done with their bickering.

Igor, on the other hand, pulled Tamiko even closer to him, making Tamiko's back hit his chest, a motion that allowed Igor the chance to breathe Tamiko in even more. Oh, but this was going to be a long game between the two.

Then again, it was obvious who would win, especially with how Tamiko's body felt on Igor's.

It was almost like they were made for each other, like Tamiko was Igor's erasthai, and Gabe was just another obstacle that Igor Konstantin would rid himself of easier than anyone could ever talk.

Was that it though?

"What?" Gabe asked, as he looked at his father this time, unable to take the sight of Igor and Tamiko in anymore. He just couldn't watch his mate be on someone's lap and it was freaking him on the inside.

That should have been him, and yet as Gabe watched his father and then looked at Tamiko and Igor one more time, Gabriel Grealor could tell that he was fighting a lost fight.

But what if, right?

What if Tamiko chose him in the end?

What if Tamiko wanted him?

"Igor wants to have a private chat about Tamiko. You're not needed here, son. I'll see you later," Alpha Ashton said dismissively and Gabe knew there was no other way for him to stay here. He could only hope that he didn't lose Tamiko.

That would have been a valid argument, if only he had Tamiko in the first place.

"Okay, Father."

"See you around, Gabriel."