A Winter Gift

The Lodge

Mina

***

"You are very talented," Ari said as I hung my tapestry from the tiny nail. It swung a little lopsided for a moment, and I fussed to straighten it, eager for an excuse not to look at the alpha.

"Thank you," I whispered, not sure what to say. Seeing him as anything othAer than my father's friend and not a prospective mate was next to impossible. Ari's sandy brown hair was gray along his sideburns, and his beard was almost entirely white. His eyes crinkled as he smiled at my tapestry, appreciating every detail. He really was very nice, or at least he was to me. Perhaps that would be enough to make a good match.

"How do you come up with the ideas for your designs?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," I shrugged, admiring the gold beads that formed the star. "I pick a pretty bit of fabric. Then I let my fingers decide for me."

He pulled his brows together, thinking. "Interesting."

I hummed, fighting the urge to yawn.

"You make such lovely things with so much care. I'm sure you will make a wonderful mate one day."

A flicker of distress moved over me, and I dropped my gaze to the floor. Keeping my mannerisms bashful, I hoped he saw me as too shy for such a discussion and wouldn't press further. I was fully aware of how ridiculous I was being. After all, this was what I wanted more than anything—a mate. I prayed for an alpha to want me, and now here he was.

But he wasn't Ivor.

My mind pulled to my silly gift, and my chest squeezed at the indignity of my actions. I was entertaining one alpha while still hoping to woo another. There was a word for omegas like me....

Summer moved on the other side of the room, catching my eye. She smiled wide at me, raising her brows and blowing silent kisses. I wanted to smack her silly.

"Omega Mina." I startled as Ari grabbed my hand, his tone suddenly very official. "Thank you for letting me walk with you and for the lovely conversation. Would you allow me to escort you to the festival tomorrow?"

Pulling my lips into a wide smile, I nodded. It would be rude to reject him. And it wasn't like I had a line of suitors waiting to dance with me.

Ari turned on his heel and marched across the room without a second glance. Nix bowed his head at the older alpha, but Ari didn't stop to acknowledge him. I pressed my lips together, reminding myself that Ari wasn't being rude. They were both members of the guard. This was how captains and low-ranking guards acted. But it still seemed so cold.

The moment the door closed behind Ari, Nix turned to me and groaned, "How much longer?"

"If you want to leave, then leave," I snipped at my brother, turning to my tapestry. I spotted a few snagged threads along the border and pulled the sewing kit out of my pocket.

Nix huffed, then left, slamming the heavy door behind him. He did this all the time, thinking it might make me move faster to know he was outside and ready to go, but it never worked. I would leave when I was good and ready.

Summer sided up next to me, bumping her shoulder to mine. "You are such a perfectionist."

I caressed the fabric lovingly. "I want the pack to love it."

"Of course, they will. Alpha Ari doted on your tapestry the whole way here. It really is gorgeous." She narrowed her eyes at her design hanging next to mine. She looked at it as if it had personally offended her.