Roman sat at his desk in the corner office, dark timber broad as a table beneath his hands, the bronze pack sign behind him and the plaza far below the windows. The cold bright autumn light cut through broken cloud and laid thin bars across the stone floor. By rights he belonged at home today with Elena, his mate. The pull toward her had lived in his chest since the hearing hall, a low ache at being across the city from her. But he knew what happened when he stood near her. Unmated, his wolf crowded her. He stayed close whenever she came in reach and smothered her by accident. She needed room more than the wolf needed to be close. So this morning he had risen, dressed, and left the house for the office. Staying away was the only thing he could give her right now, and it ached in him all day long.
People from the outer office stopped at his heavy door all morning, one at a time. Each face showed surprise to find the newly mated Alpha at his desk. They offered warm congratulations and asked, in one form or another, why he was not at home.
Roman answered each of them from his chair, voice even, a faint smile touching his mouth. The question was fair, and to him warm and faintly absurd. A werewolf who found his mate stayed home the next day; everyone knew that.
Marcus put his head in at the door.
"Alpha Holloway has come to see you. In person."
A call in person was a courtesy between Alphas, proper to a claiming. The senior Alpha coming himself showed how large the claiming was. Holloway was the Alpha of Greyfell. He had been a friend of Roman's father, and Roman had grown up around him. He was the kind of old-world authority Roman had been raised to stand straighter for. Roman liked the old man.
He rose as the tall figure entered. Holloway carried himself upright, dark brown skin weathered, tight coiled hair short and grey at the temples, full beard dense and springy and mostly grey, cold still eyes almost black beneath heavy lids, long fine scar along the jaw. Impeccable old-fashioned tailoring, ring on his right hand. Roman received him with real respect.
"A mate found is a bloodline continued. An Alpha's line secured."
The words came grave and old-world. Roman heard real warmth in them.
"In my day a man took the week off. Though perhaps it is as well that you keep your head, given the... particulars."
The first cool thing Holloway had said, barely cool at all. When he named the Interpack Council his tone carried the weight of thirty years on that floor to Roman's twelve.
Holloway continued, courteous throughout. A human mate was a matter. A complication. A thing the Interpack Council and the country would watch. A weakness a lesser Alpha could be ruined by. He implied all of it.
Roman kept his face still as the old man talked on. That was his mate the senior Alpha was quietly treating as a liability. An insult to Elena was an insult to Roman. Once, hard, the wolf came up.
*Disrespect. Mate.*
Holloway took his leave, saying it lightly, almost fondly.
"A mate is a great strength to an Alpha and a great many things besides. I trust you will handle this one wisely, with the Interpack Council watching as the Interpack Council will."
Roman meant his thanks. A blessing, in the old style.
"Thank you."
The heavy door closed behind Holloway. Roman sat once more at his desk and returned to his work, the ache in his chest unchanged.