by Emma Knox
When he was up, I was seated with my diary that had my notes on clients who needed their taxation sorted. The month was coming up, and claims would be met. But I placed it at the side and felt timid beside Sean’s bubbly return to the world.
“I slept like a polar bear.” Sean yawned and then sat up to be level me with. “How did you sleep?”
“Like I’d run for mayor.”
“That’s a better way of putting that!” He scratched his sandy blond hair that’s a little unhinged. “You should be proud, I’d elect you for round three if it wasn’t for the end of your monthly desperation.”
“I don’t need to be raging with lust to jump you, Sean.”
“Glad to hear it…but you still have to be complimented on how good you are.”
“Was I the best you ever had?” A little disdain crept up in me.
“Better than the guy who claimed he could last for twenty-four hours.”
“Was he lying?”
“He managed to bring me to the end of the world…then I told him that’s enough. I’m not made of your steel.”
“So, he was better than me then?”
“No. It’s a joke. The joke is that he brought me to the end of the world because he had a head full of steel and couldn’t last for five -seconds…the idiot! Why lie? Better to be honest and state what you can do.”
I didn’t find it that funny, but Sean’s bounciness kept me tickled pink with a cheeriness that had me in stiches. “I’m glad I impressed you then.”
“More than you want to admit.”
“It’s not that I’m not grateful for the compliment…it’s just been a long time since I’ve realized that I still have the will to please and be pleased. I was so nervous. I can’t tell you how much I felt silly for being so horny.”
“We spoke about that…it’s fine.”
The silence came, and Sean broke it by deflating his cheeks that had trapped air. It made me smirk as he attached his shoulder closer to me and then slouched until his head was level instead.
“One thing that does bother me though, and take it as you will, but how can an Omega who owns such a comfortable bed be single?”
I didn’t see the humour with that one. It just brought me to a gloomy bushel and I didn’t want to pick any happy apples. I knew only a fraction of Sean, and that was with his clothes off. He wasn’t welcomed to the full part of the story just yet. That was going to come with patience, if he would stick around. “I have my reasons.”
“Oh!” This makes Sean sit up. “Reluctance. I sense it in the air. But I do want to get a little more depth, Robbie.”
“Two days of sex equals a proper conversation, huh?”
“It does.”
I speak, so Sean doesn’t have to nod-his-head-off. “I’m sort of a…the word they labelled me under in the community is a social pariah. I run around pack-less in their eyes and I suppose they have a point. I don’t mingle much since…well, I’ve just been single for a very long time and nobody wants to touch goods past their expiration date.”
“Not true. And I’m sure there’s a droplet more on the reason why you—”
“What about you, Sean?” I didn’t want to make both him and myself uncomfortable. It was best that I changed the subject. Even if his thin eyebrows nearly skyrocketed off his brow and then relaxed with him leaning away from me. “I want to know more about your life.”
Sean came back next to me and looked ahead of him at my Siberian bull-worm collection on my window. They were hairy brown worms longer than a size seven shoe encased in fibre glass. “Those remind me of mutant sperm, and I’m sorry to be so graphic.”
“You’re the first person to look at a Siberian bull-worm and call it sperm. But I like the creativity. Have you seen any in your lifetime?”
“Urgh…I hope not. But in truth, I wouldn’t know a worm from a termite when I hit that road to where I need to go.”
“So, you enjoy travelling?”
“The wind smacking me into tears and nearly throwing me off my bike is what I love…definitely. But my trip to Juneau is a little more on the technical difficulties plan. I have to visit a Beta cousin who wants to get all political for the sake of equal rights. Usually I take my sexy beast-mo-bile and high-tail it through California and Alaska; stop off…have a little fun…and then be on my way. But…he’s got me making a detour this time round.”
“What’s your cousin in an uproar about?”
“Mistreatment within the Alaskan Shifter Council. Betas want better treatment and I fully understand that when they come through the cities of Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. I feel their pain. I really-really-do, but I’m a mechanic. And I need him to just think about joining and what that will mean if he does.”
I cross my arms to that. “Huh. So, him joining the beat cause hampers with…” I needed Sean to delegate to me more.
“Hampers with my profession. We need to be on friendly terms with the council. And if he joins this, then they’ll uproot us straight out and we can’t afford that.”
I shrugged. “Times are changing. The year two thousand has passed, and I agree with your cousin and his cause. It’s the sort of period where reproduction isn’t the only value out there on the market. Shifters need all units and those contributing to society to chip in. And if you want to go into mortality rates—”
“I don’t—”
“But I’ll mention it anyway…then you’ll find that Omegas’ birthing mortality is practically nil. And Alphas thankfully aren’t having a massive sweep in the erectile dysfunction sector. Why shouldn’t your cousin hope to be treated as an equal? I hate the idea of class divides: with segregation happening all around. I would join them too!”
Sean threw the blanket off and then cupped his balls underneath his hands. I found that funny, but the direction of this conversation was taking a turn for the serious. “Before I exposed my balls to you, I was going to say that of course you would say that: you’re an Omega! If you were an Alpha you’d know how important money-making is.”
We got up…rephrasing that, I got up and found my boxers were suddenly too tight around my ass. I didn’t have any surgery overnight! But I chucked them into the bin as I walked nakedly to find another pair: opened the drawer, and saw what Sean meant about me being very organized with four-lines-of-four and each pair separated in colours of navy blue; sky blue; white; and black.
“You look good in black.”
I went for the black pair. “Thanks. But to get back to our conversation, Sean, I would say that you’re right.”
He was putting on his socks…one sock, the other he was frustratingly trying to find in every spot but right in front of him. Yes, I saw the sock that he couldn’t see.
“Try taking a few steps back, and you’ll find the lucky sucker.”
Sean took only one step and realized how blind he was. “I sense that your agreement with me comes from some ill feeling.”
“Maybe a little. I think Alphas get it a little easier in the department of work and society overall. You’re the top dogs. The prime choppers who have it easier. You’d have no idea what it would be like to be an Omega or Beta.”
“Hey.”
I stopped him half-way from putting on his t-shirt. It meant I got one last view at the 4-pack.
“That’s a little harsh for you to say—”
“But no less true! Why would you need to come down to our level when everything is setup for you to prosper from?”
“You’re sounding just like him now…politics isn’t my cup of tea so you’re looking at it from the wrong side of my perspective.”
We took the conversation to the kitchen, where I washed up and he stood behind me. “I don’t expect you to endure the standards that we do, Sean.”
“It’s got sod all to do with standards, Robbie. I’m a pretty straight forward guy, and being an Alpha covers my personality comfortably.” Sean spread both his arms out wide with a laid-back shrug. “I like freedom. Nothing more�
��nothing to post home about. That’s all I want. And being an Alpha stamps that on my forehead, and tells the fortunate few who get to rumble in the furnace with me that I won’t provide them with any problematic hinges.”
“You sound more like a problematic sum. The fortunate few who get to know you has to be aware of that stamp you have then?”
“Of course.”
“Then you should respect that it’s your singleness that keeps you free. And not your Alpha status.” And with that shutting him up, and me irritated at my foolishness for hooking up with such free thinker — I had to contemplate the next move…because I had no idea how to deal with a nag-a-de-nag telling me I was one step away from a new-found dilemma.
Chapter 6
Sean
The banter became a little to stale for my liking with Robbie. I liked the guy, he was, for an older Omega, quite easy on more than just the eyes. But the talk about my cousin and his political stance gave me a close shave with a few scars. I had to excuse myself. “I’ve got a meeting to go to, Robbie.”
“Do you want some breakfast? I was going to suggest we grab something.”
“I…you know I got to actually meet my cousin for this thingie.”
“Is thingie a word?”
“It is in my vocabulary. And the definition falls under something that I don’t really want to be doing.”
“The council meeting won’t be that bad, Sean. Think of it as support for your cousin.”
I puffed my cheeks a few times, and then stopped myself from scratching my scalp, hygiene purposes…and not wanting to lower my standards in front of Robbie. Not that I…anyways… “How did you know I was going to a council meeting?”
“I heard some talk at the speed dating last night when I was speaking to a market researcher.”
“Ah. Well, that’s where my knickers will be getting into a twist! I’d rather be swooning on my route to Anchorage.”
“Maybe I’d like you to stay around here.”
“I doubt you would. I’d only dirty your body with my foul play and no call-back later.”
“Is that you giving me a warning, Sean?”
“Just bants, Robbie. Just banter.”
But the banter was my own interpretation of the dating game that I played with a two-sided dice that always landed on the number three. And that rhymes with free. It rolled for Robbie and that’s the number I got. Tough love.
I ended up not seeing him for another month. My cousin Mark, much to my disappointment, kept me busy meeting Betas and seeing the conditions they were living with. I hated every minute of it, but I wanted to be supportive. And the meetings kept coming and intensifying with the council and Betas.
And on my way, I blow-blow-go! I didn’t want to ride too fast to this council meeting, so I took my time with no helmet and a warning flash from a copper that changed my mind on that suicide.
It did bring me happiness to see the wildlife of anchorage on my journey there. I spotted more than one moose wanting to cross the road and I let them take their time. No rush, I told him or her. Do your thing. Stare at me with no care and then pass by. We’re both on the road…the suckers we are!
But I got tired of telepathically speaking with a moose who didn’t reply and put the gear shift in neutral before squeezing that lever and pushing my button. The motor had to warm up, but I was soon on my way with the temperature a little chiller the further out I went. I loved mountains and the shimmering lakes, but too much of this gave me frost bite and an urge to fish. And that’s not cool!
Mark, my cousin, was pinging me in my left pocket. I guaranteed the message was for me to not take the u-turn and head to California. But no, I had to show some grace and pull up outside the Alaskan council meeting with a short t-shirt and trying to withhold the cold.
The vehicles outside were mainly registered Fords, Hondas, and crew cab trucks, with the odd four-wheel drive that could handle the heavy snow when it hit. My cruiser sort of looked out of place here, it was the only one spotted. And I’m sure my attire was more suited to Los Angeles living when a few shifters and Betas walked in peering at me like I needed a polar bear coat to stop hypothermia.
They sure were dressed for a miserable winter. But the changing of the seasons never affected me much, so I strolled in like it was summer with a positive attitude. Mark was there at the entrance departing from a few other Betas who were huddled in a discussion. The entrance was pretty much packed with activity from council members, shifters, Omegas — with the odd kid or two, and then Alphas, who like me would rather be anywhere but here.
The whole building was like an oversized lodge house. And inside was cosy, with laminated caramel flooring. The council room had more than eighty chairs inside, and the majority were already seated. There was room at the front for the heads of the council behind a long glass table with white oval chairs for them, and the décor was mainly large flat fish that weren’t real, but remained mounted in various sizes.
Mark snapped me out of my wide-mouthed gawp to a monster fish that could not actually be… “It’s not real, Sean.”
“I’d say it should audition for some book of records or something. A fish like that shouldn’t be up there with no trophy.”
“I see you care more about the fish, then the actual cause?”
“Is that a question I need to answer, Mark? I’m here to support you aren’t I? Even though I have my reservations in mind.”
“Well save it for the actual meeting that’s going to be starting in ten minutes.”
“I might need a smoke—”
“You never smoked before…”
“For what I need to tell you I might have to start.”
“I just need you in there, cousin, so you can witness what’s going on around here.”
“You know I never hang around long enough to get directly involved.”
“And that’s your problem, Sean. You always have to be up and off to some new destination.”
“Yep. And it’s worked out for me fine,” I called that out to Mark as he and a few other Betas went inside the council room.
Boredom was a stick in the cranium that I couldn’t remove when the meeting got underway and the room failed to keep me entertained. A council board member who could be the slimmer twin of Santa with a short grey beard and buttons for eyes was the opener.
“That’s Phillip,” Mark said his name and I heard Peter.
“I’d like to welcome you all to the Alaskan shifter council meeting for the month. I know there have been grave concerns about the community, and it’s our duty to come together and find a way to bridge an agreement that can work for us all. As you may now, we always, and I mean always look to the future of the shifter population.”
Many disagreed with Phillip, and his edginess suggested he wasn’t sure of what wave the crowed was riding. His choice of words reflected a diplomat who wanted this to be done nice and peacefully. I felt for the guy who stood with the task of introducing the nuisances that many in the community had.
“We’ll do our best to answer your questions. And I’ll begin by letting everybody know that the floor is open to you all on this aisle. Microphone check…one-two-one-two.”
The microphone was fully operable, and the evening was going to be a long one. I put my feet up on the seat’s back as miraculously there was nobody seated there. My legs inclined, and Mark tried to bring them back down.
“Do you own the place or something?”
“I’m making myself comfortable, seeing as we’re going to be here for a good while longer.”
“I’m with the Betas, and you’re sure making a fine example of Alpha superiority.”
“Alphas aren’t the problem. And the council is doing all it can.”
“We’ll see how true that is when the first person takes to that microphone and the council gives back their scripted answers. Then you can tell me they’re doing all they can.”
I sighed, because Mark’s spiritedness was amplified in the
first speaker who was dressed warmly in an all-black jumper and cargos with enough pockets to hide a bomb. He had the head shape of a beaver and his two front teeth could cut through wood. I tried to concentrate on his speech, but got real distracted by the size of those white knights.
“I would firstly like to begin—”
Another laboured sigh, I knew this was going to be a long night.
“My name is Eton Samon, and I’m a regular fisherman out here who ships food over to the shifter community. I just wanted to address the room, and you, council, at the shortage of numbers due to Betas not being able to purchase salmon from me because a license needs to be permitted for them to state they are citizens. I think it’s a right nuisance. And more money would be spent if we allowed them to contribute to our community more.”
Mark and the Beta movement were the loudest to cheer ‘here-here’ in the room. And a few others clapped more than once then stopped when the council started to clear their throats to speak.
I began chewing gum when a bearded, red headed man spoke like he had a frog stuck in his throat and needed to itch his Adam’s apple to move it. But I made out what he said clearly.
The cord microphone just about reached him at the far-end of the table. “Um, yes, we’re aware of the Betas not being able to purchase salmon.”
One of Mark’s Beta movers yelled out, “Discrimination!”
And the room both laughed and joined in with another voice a couple of seats in front who reigned it all in with, “We like smelly fish too!”
That was a good one that nearly had me spitting out my gum.
Phillip intervened to get the room back to normal. “The aisle is where all can have their say. Please, can we allow Chuck to continue?”
A cheeky answer of, “If Chuck answers the question!”
More sniggers, and then the silence fell back as Chuck spoke on.