Chapter 42

Kash had woken up as the cars parked in front. "What the hell?" He sat up quite suddenly and looked around. "I can't believe I slept through it all! Why didn't you wake me ass!"

Chuckling at his reaction I spoke the truth. "You need lots of rest, and we were told to let you do it as much as your body wanted."

"Yeah, but did you not think of how my sleep will be messed up now? Like I bet I will be awake all night now!" Kash exited the car and slammed the door behind him. He was more upset about sleeping through the time he could have spent with Atlas. Rubbing the back of his neck he grabbed his small bag from the guard's surprised hand and ran to his room.

"Let him be Zion." Stopping Zion from sending the guards I sighed. "I will join him as soon as you and I finish going over the contract and settle the arrangements to do my duties electronically." I watched as Zion shook his head. "I promise. I know he needs me, but it won't happen if this is not dealt with first."

"It won't take more than twenty minutes, maybe. I have already set up all meetings through Zoom and Teams. You just have to make sure your laptop is charged. Alarms are already set on your calendar attached to your cell as well. I will have food made, so you have a peace offering when you go up."

"Smart plan. But make it light. Just sandwiches and a slice of cake." Thinking about what he would like made me smile. "And some water."

"That wouldn't happen to be the same lunch he had when you first met would it?" Zion smirked at me.

"I doubt he remembers but the idea makes me happy." Zion and I had just settled in the office as Zion finished texting lunch orders to the staff. Smiling, I reminded Zion of my duty as well. "Besides, he needs food. It has been a number of hours since he last ate."

"Yes. Yes. Of course. Now. Let's get back to the contract. I feel like we are getting the better part of the whole deal. I would have thought they would bargain more than just Kash being part of their pack. What gains would they have with this alliance? Besides a new member?" Zion was looking at all the fine print of clauses on his lap top.

"Let's look at it away from the contract and alliance." Leaning back, I closed my eyes. "Pretend Kash was already their pack member. What would we have to do to have him join us?"

"One. His agreement. Can't have an unwilling member. Unlike what happened in the past." Zion sat back away from his laptop to think more. "The next step is the agreement of the family followed by the pack." He shook his head. "Still no gains. They already agreed. In fact both families have."

Then I chuckled as it hit me. "Sneaky." Sitting forward once more, I looked right at Zion. "When a member joins another pack, their old pack gains more in our situation. They will now be part of our pack as well in a way. Their member is becoming the Luna of Lunas. With lands and packs like we both have. This will be helping to create the largest combined pack known, well, since before my father's reign. Not only will we have access to their medical knowledge and spies, thay have access to ours. Though I would say their spies are a little scarier than our own. They are in a win-win situation right now. The combined efforts between us could fix the rogue issues permanently, which is a good thing. They do gain a little more with how much larger my lands currently are. It is not like they won't have access to it now."

"Wait! That's it!" Zion jumped up. "I can't wait to give my piece of mind to Alpha Martin. He made me think…ugh. Never mind." 

"So they do gain a little more than we would. As it states in this contract, Kash would be joining our pack, not the other way around. We have to give them the dowry as is our custom from Alpha to Luna. I still feel good about the alliance. You?" I stood without waiting for an answer, gathering the food that was delivered a couple minutes into our talks. "I have a mate to help."

"Yeah, yeah rub it in. I will finalise the paperwork and email it to you for electronic signature. Need anything else?" Zion was already texting into his phone and I laughed. "Never mind you. Get going to Kash. We have been at it a little over half an hour already."

"Shit. Later. I will text if we need anything." Realising fast I could not move as quick as I wanted, not wanting to wreck the tray of food. It still did not stop me from rushing however. A small scent wafting to his nose told him to go even faster.

Kash had just hit his peak of panic when I opened the door. Kash was sitting in the middle of the room, knees to his chest and hyperventilating. "Kash!" Putting the tray down and running over I made sure to release calming pheromones as fast as I could. "Shh, it's okay. I'm here." I got on my knees and hugged Kash into my chest. "Listen to my breathing. Easy. That's right. Breath with me. Good job Kash. I'm here now." Rubbing his back, talking not much louder than a whisper, and holding him tight to ground him, I now worried about how Kash will handle the next couple of weeks. 

As soon as Kash's breath eased, he curled up into my hold. "I don't know what happened."

"It's okay. I should have followed you here and helped you. It is on me for being an ass without thinking. I knew your scent has not been in here for a long time. It would be a shock to any omega, heck even an Alpha to discover their nest was not smelling like them. The contract could have waited until tomorrow." Slowly I kissed the top of Kash's head. "There is some food. Are you able to have some?"

Kash nodded his head while taking in slow deep breaths. "Just a little." He followed me to the little couch and sat down. Watching as I grabbed the tray, while I kept my eyes on him. "Wait! Where did that come from? I never even noticed anyone coming in!" Pheromones spiked once more as he thought someone entered while he was alone.

"Shh! It's okay Kash! I brought it with me. No one is allowed on this floor now. Not even Zion. Just you and I." Placing the tray on the coffee table I sat beside Kash. "I have made a few changes while I was looking for you. At first it was to try and keep as much of your scent here. Slowly though it was the thought of protecting you and giving you a safe space. No intrusions."

"What about work? Like our duties. Do we not have offices here?" Kash leaned into me as he spoke to gain comfort. His body still shivered and I am sure it was him still unsure of himself.

"I had both our offices moved downstairs. Well, they are one office now. I have made sure the meeting hall is now exactly that. Where we meet clients. From now on, you and I will do things together."

"Aww, then how can I meet with wolves in secret? Especially when I am mad at you." Kash smiled, even though it did not enter his eyes I smiled with him. "Like, sneaking a training session in, or meeting with Zion to trick you? You have created a barrier to my fun!"

He was trying to calm the situation, the best way he knew how and that made me laugh. "Feeling better?"

Kash nodded more determined. It was then Kash looked at the food on the tray. He stared at it for sometime before looking at me. "Did you pick out the food?"

This time I smirked a little with Kash's reaction. "Yes."

Kash looked back at the food and decided to not say anything else to me. Slowly he started by eating, refusing to look at me even a little. As he finished the cake I could feel sleep trying to take over him once more as his blinks were longer and longer. "Why am I so tired? This is ridiculous!"

I stifled my chuckle which finally had Kash turn and glare at me. "Sorry. But it is because your heat is coming."

Kash shook his head so fast he felt dizzy. "Nope. I have never been this tired. Just more, well, angry." I watched closely as he thought of those words and the gears worked to put things together. "And you know that very well. Why are you lying?"

"Not lying. Remember the doctors around you? They told us this heat would be very different due to the outside factors." There was no way I wanted to mention those factors outloud. "We were told about a few things like your emotions going wild, and not just anger. The discomfort you would feel with a full heat but none of the actual symptoms. You will not, well, prepare for mating…" Having to explain this had me going a little red explaining. "But your instincts and mind will want it. So the frustration of not being able to, will cause you more discomfort than normal." Then I sighed once more. "I am here for you. Through this all I will do my best to help." It was just then I realised Kash already had his eyes closed and was subconsciously leaning on me. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."

With more of a mumble over anger Kash groaned and spoke out. "I will kick your ass when I wake."

Chuckling at his attempt at being snarky, I helped Kash to bed. Once he was sleeping soundly curled up with all the pillows, I moved to my small chair and pulled out my cell texting Zion. "Kash is sleeping once more. I told him what to expect but he might have blanked out on it. How are things in your end?"

"Will call you a little later. I am waiting for a call. Try and rest yourself."

Thinking about it I  wondered who Zion would be waiting to call and decided I could ask later. Not like we held many secrets. Looking back at the bed, I decided the temptation was too much. Quickly changing into sleep wear and getting ready for some rest. While crawling into the bed careful to not disturb Kash, I was pleasantly surprised to see him looking back at me. "It is late and I figured we could both get some sleep."

"Hmm." Kash continued to watch until I was fully in the bed and under covers before he crept closer to curl up. "I missed your smell. Even when I forgot, I remembered this."

Those words meant the world to me. It indicated that even with his loss of memories, my own scent was strong enough not to be forgotten. My scent was the one thing Kash held on to, even if he did not know why. I fell asleep to the steady breathing of my mate curled up against my chest, and a smile plastered on my face.