The Prince's Fated Mate: M/M Alpha/Omega Paranormal Werewolf Romance (Norvargen Wolves Book 1) (19 page)

At last, they were officially wedded as Prince and Prince Consort, and James took Will’s hand in his as they turned to face the crowd. Flower petals were being scattered from above, sending a beautiful white rain down upon them. Will felt a tangle of happiness bursting through him.

To make the moment even more perfect, James leaned over, choosing that moment to whisper his vows into Will’s ear. “We’re going to have a very happy marriage, Will, I promise you that. I’ll always love you and protect you.” His words were just barely audible as the crowd applauded and whooped loudly.

Will smiled, and squeezed the prince’s hand in his. “And I promise I’ll always keep you honest and true to me and to yourself.”

THE END

“Pleasure doing business as always, Nellie,” said Kytes, flashing a winsome smile at the storekeeper. It was mid-day and even though he was already tired out from running around town doing errands, it never hurt to put in a bit of effort to be polite.

Nellie, a middle-aged woman with greying hair, smiled back happily at him. Kytes had heard before that it was easy to be charmed by one of his smiles — he didn’t think there was much truth to it, but hey, if there was someone who found what he considered an average smile charming, he didn’t mind. “Same to you, Kytes. Things must be busy around the inn lately,” she said, raising an eyebrow at him.

Kytes laughed. “With the royal family coming down in a week’s time? You bet.” Prince James, the First Son of the Norvargen Wolves had recently announced his engagement. The entire family of the Alpha Miles had booked out nearly the entire west wing of the inn Kytes worked at, and they were going to be hosting a celebration feast at the field behind the inn.
Busy
was an understatement. Complete and utter chaos was much closer.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a royal wedding,” said Nellie, looking wistful. “I was around when Alpha Miles married Alpha Consort Isabel, and
that
was quite the celebration. I’m expecting no less of this feast for Prince James!”

“Your expectations only mean more work for me, Nellie,” said Kytes with mock misery, and Nellie laughed at him.

“You need to learn to relax a little, Kytes. You’re still so young, but if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re twice your age. Go out and have some fun!”

“Fun can wait until after the Alpha’s family’s gone,” he said. He was amused, really. He might be a bit too hard-working for his own good, but was that really such a bad thing?

“All right, Kytes, have it your way. You best be heading back to the inn anyway. Say hello to your father and Connor for me, will you?”

“Of course.” Kytes gave a sideways glance over at the crates of silverware to be transported to the inn. He fought the urge to groan. Luckily he had a few other inn-workers helping him today, otherwise he just might be at risk of breaking his back carrying those crates by himself.

“All right, boys,” he called out to his helpers of the day, “time to head back to the inn.”

*

Kytes had been working at the inn nearly his whole life. Of course, he was only twenty (very soon to be twenty-one), so that didn’t mean very much yet — but since he was a teenager, he’d come by the inn after school to work. It was a good way to make extra pocket money, along with spending time with his best friend Will. Even his own father worked at the inn, and had been for ages, long before Kytes was even born. It wasn’t easy work, but it was work he was good at, and Kytes liked being responsible and being trusted to do a good job. Maybe it was just who he was, as an alpha-male, born to lead and be in charge; responsibility was in his blood.
 

Back at the inn, he bumped into Will by the reception foyer.
 

“Hey,” he greeted, tugging on his best friend’s shoulder to grab his attention.

“Huh — oh, hey, Kytes. Brought back the extra silverware?”
 

“Already delivered to the back.”

“Good, so you’re free — ”

“Not quite. Connor wanted me to go speak with the gardeners about tidying up the party field a bit more.”

Will sighed, brushing his blond hair sleepily. Connor owned the inn, and Will was his son, and he knew full-well just how anxious his father was over the upcoming arrival of the Alpha’s family. “Pa’s really losing the plot now. He’s worrying over every little thing. I don’t think he’s even sleeping much.”

“Can you blame him? I wouldn’t be able to sleep easy knowing that the pack alpha himself was coming in a week.”

Will gave him a wry look. “Kytes, Kytes, Kytes. You’re more like my pa than I am, you know. Always worrying over every little thing.”

That was the second time someone said something like that to him that day. “
You’d
be better off worrying a bit more,” said Kytes slyly. It was no secret that between the two of them, Will was probably a bit more slack. Not lazy, mind you. Kytes couldn’t imagine Connor would ever allow any son of his to be lazy. But Will loved his sleep and his books, and if Kytes weren’t chasing him around all the time, he’d probably spend his days hiding behind a book or in his bed. For as long as Kytes had known him, Will had always been like that.

Will waved him off, annoyed. “Go away now, since you’re so busy. Shoo, shoo, shoo. Come find me when you’re free again.”

*

Am I really too uptight?
 

Kytes frowned at that question. He shook his head, not knowing why was he so bothered by that thought. There was nothing wrong with working hard. There was nothing wrong with putting work first, especially since he had plenty of time left to look for a mate later. Hell, even with him ignoring relationships for the time being, he was still certain he’d be getting bonded way before Will ever did. His omega best friend was just too busy reading one of his books to ever think of getting a mate, anyway.

Speaking of Will, Kytes couldn’t find him anywhere. He had already finished his business with the gardeners, and he circled around the usual spots in search of Will, but the omega was nowhere to be found.
 

“What are you looking for?”
 

Kytes jerked, surprised by his father suddenly popping out of nowhere, holding a fat ledger in his hands.
 

“Sorry, son, didn’t mean to scare you,” chuckled Byron. He was an alpha-male, just like Kytes, though they didn’t look much alike. Kytes may have a charming smile, but Byron was just affable in every possible way. He always had a genuine smile on a pleasant face, with his salt-and-pepper hair combed neatly to the side, and he knew just the right way to talk to anybody and make them feel at home — and that was a priceless skill to have when you worked at an inn.
 

“I’m looking for Will.”

“Oh, Connor and him went off somewhere for a bit. It looked like it might be a serious talk, if you ask me, so I don’t think you should go disturbing them.”

“Well, then, I guess I
do
have free time now
,
” said Kytes, putting on a smile and stretching from side to side. It was then that it occurred to him that he had no idea what to do. Will was busy, most of his other friends would also be busy—

“Go give Dad a visit,” suggested Byron.

Well, that’s as good an idea as any
, thought Kytes. “I’ll see you tonight then, Pa.”

“Give Dad my love,” said Byron, smiling merrily and waving him along. “And let him know I might be staying the night.”

Kytes went out back to the party field, where the feast would be held in a few week’s time. The field itself led out to the woods, where some liked to go to frolic. Will was a big fan of reading in there; Kytes couldn’t imagine what was the point of going all the way out there just to read. But he headed into it, passing into the network of trees with a purpose. He followed a well-used path until he finally reached a small cottage, almost in the middle of nowhere. The area around it was cleared out and tidied, and a neat little garden grew around it. A cobblestone path led to the front door, and Kytes knocked at it.

“It’s me, Dad,” he called, and the door creaked open after a few seconds.

“Kytes,” said Christian, his omega father, happily. He held the door wide open and embraced his son. Kytes bent down to kiss his dad’s temple. “You’re free now?”

“Already finished everything I had to do today,” said Kytes, settling down on a seat by the table. “So I thought I’d just come by for a while.” The cottage was small, very cosy and secluded, and his omega father lived there by himself. His family had an unusual living arrangement: Kytes and Byron officially stayed at the inn, where they had free lodging (and damn well they deserved it), while Kytes’s other father chose to live by himself in the cottage. Christian was welcomed at any time to stay at the inn, but he chose to live away from the crowds and the noisy townsfolk. Growing up, Kytes would stay at the cottage mostly, but nowadays he slept at the inn except for his off-days.

“That’s good,” said Christian in his soft, gentle voice. “Will you be staying over tonight?”

Kytes shook his head. “Can’t. Sorry, Dad. The inn’s been too busy lately, so I’ll need to wake up early tomorrow and head straight into things. Pa might be staying over tonight though, he said.”

Christian beamed, his grey eyes twinkling.

It was hard for Kytes to think of any pair of bondsmates more in love than his fathers. They might not always sleep under the same roof, but his parents were always appreciative of the time they had together.
 

Looking at how happy Christian was at the thought of seeing Byron again made Kytes’s heart squeeze little.
 

What the hell am I feeling
?
 

“Can I get you something to eat or drink?” said his omega father, rising up from his chair to bustle around the kitchen.

“Anything will do. I’m not very hungry yet.”

Christian filled a kettle up with water, and set it upon a stove. “How’s the preparation for the Alpha coming along?”

“Well…not too bad, I’d say. Things are hectic, that’s for sure, but we’ll be able to handle it. Connor’s going a bit crazy, running around making sure everything’s perfect.”

Christian nodded knowingly.

“But both Pa and Will are pretty relaxed. Well, maybe not completely relaxed, but you know how they are.”

Christian grinned. “Your father knows how to pace himself, that’s all. He doesn’t see the point in getting too wound up over things.”

Kytes sighed, drumming his fingers on the tabletop.
 

“Is something wrong?”

“Huh? No, nothing, Dad. Just…do you think I worry too much?”

Christian cocked his head at his son. “A little. You take after me in that way.”

Kytes groaned, stretching his arms and hooking them over the back of his wooden chair.

His father leaned in and asked, “What exactly is bothering you?”

“I don’t know,” admitted Kytes, running his hand through his messy brown hair. “I guess I just feel a bit off today. Nellie and Will were both saying that I’m too much of a worrywart.”

“Will doesn’t mean anything bad by that, you know.”

“I know, I know. But two people saying the same thing is a sign of something, isn’t it?”

“You’re responsible and you take care of everything you have to,” said Christian, shrugging. “Of course, it wouldn’t hurt for you to have a bit of fun every now and then—”

“That’s exactly what they mean, too!”
 

Christian smiled warmly. “Kytes, do you feel like you’re missing out on something?”

Kytes looked away. His omega father had a way of seeing through him and getting to the heart of the problem. “Maybe?”

The older omega laughed. “I thought so. You want to find a bondsmate already?”

“Well, I’m twenty already,” said Kytes sheepishly. “It’d be nice, wouldn’t it?”

“There’s no need to rush, you know. I didn’t meet your father until we were both well past twenty. And,” Christian turned serious, furrowing his eyebrows and looking sternly into Kytes’s eyes, “this is one thing you can’t be too careless in. Love is a dangerous thing, and loving the wrong person can hurt you more than anything else. Never love someone who doesn’t love you back the same way.”

“Yes, Dad,” said Kytes. It was all totally obvious advice, but his dad looked so serious he knew better than to be flippant. He didn’t know all the details, but he knew Christian had gone through some painful times in his younger days, and this was serious advice coming from the heart.
 

Christian sighed, looking down at his own clasped hands. “You can have as much fun as you want, son, but not when it comes to your heart.”

“I understand.” Kytes was regretting bringing this up with his dad. He didn’t like seeing his father being so solemn, so wounded — but at least he knew Byron would be able to cheer him up later. “Don’t worry about me, Dad. I can take care of myself.”

Christian looked up, and his attitude changed. “I know you can,” he said, smiling and reaching over to stroke Kytes’s arm. “You’ve always been very sensible and strong.”

Kytes flushed with pride. Maybe he wasn’t responsibility just because it was his personality — maybe it was because he really did feel truly happy taking care of others and keeping his family safe and sound. There was a reward attached to it after all, and his father’s praise was an example of it.
 

Now if only I could just stop feeling so empty…

*

Kytes had never been someone interested in complicated things.
 

Kytes has always had his hands full

— Until he meets a stubborn prince who can’t take no for an answer.

Noah?

“All right, here’s the thing,” said Noah, “I like you. A lot. Probably too much.”

“That’s nice,” Kytes said, tiredly, not really interested in playing another game with the prince.

“No, I
mean
it,” said Noah. “I’m serious.”

“Tell you what,” said Kytes, raising an eyebrow. “If you can convince my Dad that you’ll be a good one for me, I’ll give you a kiss.”