Chapter Text
Boston, Massachusetts. April 5, 1820
“Oh Heavenly Father,” Benjamin Jones, Head Alpha of the House of Jones, prayed softly as he knelt in the front parlor for his early morning prayers. He always tried to pray before traveling to Boston harbor because he never knew what his day would bring him. “I thank you for your daily blessings. Our home is warm, my family healthy, and our bellies full from the multitudes of your grace. You’ve blessed me with a successful life, a wonderful, kind wife, Sarah, and two beautiful Omegas, Matthew and Alfred.” At his eldest son’s name, the grey-haired man heaved a great sigh, opening his blue eyes to peer through the window to the endless blue sky. “I don’t ask for much, Father, but please grant me the patience to curb Alfred’s enthusiasm. Grant Alfred the perception he needs to…..” His prayers are interrupted by the sound of his wife’s infamous screeching. Benjamin turned his head, glancing towards the parlor doorway to see Sarah trembling as she tossed a collection of items towards a portly servant.
“Honestly Alfred! That was the fourth Alpha this month!” Sarah’s voice grew increasingly weak as she stared at the sullen form of her eldest child. Benjamin couldn’t quite see his sweet child, but he could hear his soft sniffles. Alfred hated disappointing his parents, but his lack of social graces left a lot to be desired. He wanted to run over to sweep his sweet boy into his arms, but he knew this was for his own good. Alfred needed a good Alpha; because once he died there would be no one to take care of him. As an Omega, Alfred could not inherit and would be destitute without a mate. “Your father and I have run out of eligible, reputable Alphas to court you. I just…I don’t know what we’re going to do with you! What’s worse, your brother cannot marry his intended until you’re taken care of. Your eccentricity robs Matthew of his happiness! Why can’t you be normal?”
It was the sounds of a harsh gasp and footsteps running upstairs that entered Benjamin’s ears as he remained in the parlor. His wife spoke far too bluntly, but the aging man knew she meant well. With his death and no Alpha heirs, the family fortune would pass to his nearest alpha kin, his younger brother. Alfred would have no safe haven unless he had a proper husband. He sighed as he clasped his hands back together, returning his gaze to the blue sky, "There has to be someone out there to appreciate my son’s gifts. Bless them and rush them to our door, for I cannot see him unhappy any longer. Amen.”
As Benjamin stood to his full height, the man knew he needed to put out two great fires raging in his home. While he held a soft spot for his wife, the heartbreak of his son called stronger to him. He ignored the sound of pots and pans clanging in the kitchen to climb the staircase to Alfred’s room. He knocked gently once he came to the closed door before slipping inside to see the Omega sprawled across his bed with his face buried in a pillow. “Alfred,” he muttered softly, shutting the door behind him as he stepped over piles of books and strange artifacts from the local apothecary. When he refused to answer him, the father sat down on the edge of his bed, playing with the spine of a leather-bound book. “A Vindication of the Rights of Omegas?” He read off, placing the book back on the bedside table. “Don’t let your mother see that book, or she’ll toss it out.”
Passionate words came from his son, but the pillow muffled them. When Alfred seemed to realize this, he pulled his wet face away from his hiding place to glance at his father. “Mother doesn’t appreciate my knowledge. No one does, Papa. Why…why would you allow me to learn these things if they’re looked down upon by proper society?” He spits out the words ‘proper society’ with an ugly grimace on his pretty face. “Why am I blamed when these Alphas run when I prove my intelligence matches my beauty?”
Benjamin reached over to wipe the tears from his face. “I’ve always prided myself on having such an intelligent, kind Omega in the family. I wish you didn’t have to live in a society where marriage is your only proper path, but there is little I can do to change the law. I can only hope to find you a husband that is kind and will be able to take care of you.” He leaned forward to brush a kiss to Alfred’s forehead. “Your mother grows frantic as you grow older, because she fears you’ll become an unhappy spinster. Your annual heats are already far too much for us to handle. A mate can curb those for you and give you everything your station desires. You’ve seen the love your brother holds for his intended and the love I hold for your mother, so you know there can be good in marriage.”
Alfred nodded his head, fiddling nervously with the frayed ends of his sleeves. “I would have no objected to marriage, Papa, if you could find someone that didn’t belittle my opinions or stifle my nature.” He lifted his head to look his father in the eye, “I want Matthew to be happy too. I’m not purposely trying to mess up his happiness. I…I’m just…strange.” Alfred squeezed his eyes shut as he uttered the word ‘strange’ because he knew his acquaintances whispered it behind his back. His reputation was in shreds because no one could handle the loud, outspoken Omega, or his fascination for science and literature.
“You’re not strange, Alfred.” His father scoffed, gathering Alfred’s hands into his own as he tugged him to his feet. “You’re unique, like the rarest pearl in the ocean. I promise, my son, I’ll find you someone that appreciates you and all your ideas.” He hugged his son to his chest, marveling at his height for a moment. When had Alfred become so tall? “Now,” Benjamin said as he stepped away and shooed him downstairs, “try to make peace with your mother. I’m due to visit the harbor to oversee a shipment from the Caribbean and if everyone is all smiles when I return, I may have a treat for my lovelies.”
Benjamin left his quaint colonial home hoping to return to a peaceful house. Surely his family could manage to soothe their ruffled feathers without him? Benjamin certainly hoped so as he mounted his beloved mare to ride into town. The Jones family lived on the outskirts of the city of Boston, but close enough to the harbor that the head of the house could conduct his daily business. The cozy little neighborhood was becoming rather popular now that the lingering resentments between the British merchants and the American citizens were dying down after the War of 1812. There were far too many opportunities in the New World for businessmen to cater to old resentments.
As Benjamin rounded the corner of his neighborhood, he stopped his mare with a soft clicking of his tongue, and peered at the servants milling around the Kirkland House. The young master of the house, Arthur Kirkland, was the fourth Alpha of a prominent English family. They were titled and landed, if the American remembered correctly. Yet, underneath English law, only the eldest Alpha could inherit the land and titles. Second Alphas went into the military with officer ranks purchased by their fathers and third Alphas joined the Church. With those positions taken by his older brothers, Arthur Kirkland used his family’s reputation to purchase a grand ship, the Sea Witch. He’d made a lot of money shipping between the United States of America and the Caribbean, especially during the war. Smuggling may not have been a very gentlemanly occupation, but Benjamin knew it was a profitable one. Profitable enough for the young man to purchase a house in Boston that usually stayed empty because he enjoyed the warm weather of the Caribbean far too much.
Why, Benjamin hadn’t seen the young Alpha since 1815. It had been five years since Arthur Kirkland inhabited his Boston home. He’d left shortly after the end of the war to seek greener pastures in Bermuda. How did the elderly man know this? Well, Benjamin had always been an inquisitive man and struck up an unlikely friendship with the young captain after he smuggled in a few extra supplies for his family. In 1813, Arthur had seemed far too young to captain his own ship at the rather young age of twenty years. Benjamin doubted him at first glance, but before the Sea Witch left Boston harbor to sail for Bermuda, he’d been proven wrong. Arthur Kirkland was perfectly capable of running his own ship and managing to remain goodhearted. He was a good, strong Alpha.
“You there, servant girl.” He called out to a young Beta girl carrying a set of freshly dried linen in her hands. She dipped into a quick curtsey, her dark hair bobbing as she glanced up at the tall Alpha on the large horse. “Is the Master of the house in?”
“Master Kirkland arrived late yesterday evening, sir.” She answered with a slight accent. She sounded fresh from the shores of Spain or from Spanish Florida to the far south. “He’s seeing to personal matters in the city while we clean the house. If you’re seeking him, sir, Master Kirkland is staying at the Inn.”
“Thank you, dear,” Benjamin praised, turning his mare towards the city. The soft sounds of his mare’s feet plopping against the ground lulled him into a strange sense of calm. The ride allowed him to clear his mind and set his eyes on happier times. Seeing his young friend would cause him great joy, especially after such a harsh morning. As he stopped his mare outside the Inn, Benjamin spied the young man seated near the window with a book and a journal spread across his table.
He’d changed quite a bit in five years. The tropical sun tanned his skin and telltale freckles dotted across his nose. The sun had bleached his blond hair, but it remained as messy as the first day they met. Arthur was no longer a young lad, but sat before Benjamin as a man. His scent had even settled, which used to embarrass the Alpha to no end. The American stepped into the Inn and took the seat across from Arthur, groaning as his knees cracked with every motion. “I guess I’m not quite as young as I was five years ago.”
Arthur jerked his green eyes up from his tally marks with a wide grin stretched across is face. “Benjamin Jones,” he greeted with a handshake, closing his journal as he straightened up the table to entertain the older man. “News of my arrival traveled faster than I anticipated.”
“That’s what happens when you suddenly return after a five year absence. The city of Boston loves good gossip.” Benjamin joked, taking the offered pint of watered down rum from the barkeep. “It is good to see you, but I must ask what brought you back to Boston? You were so sure you weren’t coming back here.”
“Family matters, mostly.” Arthur answered with a slight grimace on his face. “I received word that my brother, Alistair, gained favor with King George. He’s to be knighted during Yule and my mother insisted that I couldn’t miss the event. Mother also intends to parade a gaggle of high society Omegas in front of me. I’m the last of her children without a mate and apparently she’s not going to survive the scandal for very much longer.” Arthur tilted his pint back, draining the remainder of the liquid. “It’s far easier to leave from Boston and it gives me time to settle a few older debts.” He brushed his hand over his leather-bound journal, sighing as he tucked it into his book. “I came here to escape the ransacking of my home by the servants. Five years is a long time for dust to gather.”
Benjamin laughed along with Arthur, only stopping when a wild idea formed inside his head. Arthur’s home was near inhabitable; why not invite him to his own? Maybe he could meet Alfred? His son had been far too young for them to be introduced a few years ago. Plus, Benjamin hadn’t been able to accept the thought of never seeing his son again. Perhaps Arthur would be willing to make a few more trips to Boston, if he mated Alfred. Maybe introducing them would do some good for the family. Arthur had always been a kind, intelligent Alpha that seemed to have a soft spot for unique Omegas. This could work, if Alfred got along with the Alpha, after all. He would approve of the relationship because he knew Arthur’s character. “Since your home won’t be habitable for a few more days, why not stay in my home? It’s in the neighborhood and my wife does run a good kitchen.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” Arthur insisted, looking a bit eager at the prospect of enjoying a hot meal and a bed without dust mites. “If you’re certain, then I’ll gladly take up the offer. At this point, anything would be better than fighting my way through cobwebs.”
Arthur was eternally grateful for the kindness of the Alpha. Benjamin Jones was one of the first shopkeepers to trust him when he first came to the United States in 1813. After purchasing the Sea Witch, he’d discovered he had a hidden talent for smuggling and managed to slip his way past the Royal Navy to bring supplies into the States. He ran a legitimate shipping business, but the side smuggling always brought in excess profit. It allowed him a similar comfortable lifestyle to the one he enjoyed as the son of English aristocracy. Without the trust of Benjamin Jones, Arthur might not have managed to secure the elusive Bostonian smuggling contracts. He was eternally grateful to his old friend.
“It’s settled, then.” Benjamin exclaimed, grinning as he stood from the table. “I’ll send word to my wife to expect you before sundown. I have a few transactions on the docks to make myself, but I’ll be home soon. Please, make yourself at home there.” He reached over to clasp Arthur’s hand in goodbye.
Arthur watched as Benjamin gave the message to a young boy before disappearing towards the harbor on his mare. The Captain spent only a few more hours pouring over his logs before gathering his possessions and taking leave of the Inn.
~~~~
“No, no, no,” Sarah hissed as she tugged Alfred in front of his bedroom mirror and tossed a burnt orange dress with short, puffed sleeves across the room. It just added to the growing pile of discarded clothing. Alfred hated when his mother got into one of these moods. Apparently, their father was having an alpha over. Whoever it was, his mother deemed it appropriate to raid his best eveningwear for the visit. Nothing ever seemed good enough. Once more he would be paraded in front of an important member of high society in hopes of snagging a mate. Alfred didn’t mean to sound bitter, because he did desire a husband, but he wanted to fall in love. He wanted a whirlwind romance and adventure. He didn’t want his future husband to purchase him for his singing voice or his accomplishments as a gentle Omega.
“Mother,” he tried to interrupt, but the harsh shushing made him pout like a small child. Alfred peered into his mirror to see the unhappy image he made standing there in his corset and chemise. Male Omegas often lacked a girlish figure, but the corset corrected that problem. Fashions for male Omegas often fell right in line with fashions for female Omegas. Dresses, skirts, frocks, and tunics often filled Alfred’s closet. He much preferred sneaking breeches and tights to cover his legs when his parents weren’t looking, but tonight he had to play the part, even if he was uncomfortable. He hadn’t even put on his petticoats yet, and the twenty-two-year-old already felt unbearably hot in the April evening. Alfred ignored his mother’s frantic searching to peer into his mirror to see his baby brother watching them from the doorway with a worried expression. His sweet baby brother, precious Matthew, only eighteen and already engaged to a wealthy French fur trapper from New France. If it weren’t for Alfred’s unusualness, his brother would already be married and probably swollen with his firstborn child. Oh, why couldn’t Alfred charm an alpha like his brother? Matthew was every bit as educated and talented as Alfred, but for some reason the Alphas always preferred the soft-spoken Omega.
Was there something wrong with him? Certainly not? All of those suitors were just not worthy of his affection. Empowered by his thoughts, Alfred groaned softly as he stomped over to his closet and pushed through the dresses until he found a simple, blue muslin dress. It was far too informal for a dinner party, but he refused to be uncomfortable in his own home. While his mother dawdled in his closet, Alfred finished dressing. He tossed his petticoats into the rejection pile and grabbed a crème colored shawl to wrap around his shoulders. “I’m finished dressing mother,” he called to the exasperated woman walking out of his closet with protest already forming on her lips. “No,” Alfred stopped the words before they could form, slipping into a light blue pair of slippers and grabbing his newest book, Pride and Prejudice, from his vanity, “I’m not wearing anything else. You better hurry, mother, or supper won’t be ready.”
As he stepped out of his bedroom, Alfred linked arms with his brother to keep him away from their angry mother. “Alfred,” Matthew sighed, “you’re only irking her ire more. She just wants what every mother wants for her children, happiness. Couldn’t you have worn the yellow satin dress? It would have looked lovely with your eyes. You’re going to be severely undressed once more.”
Those last two words were intended to sting, but Alfred was used to hiding his emotional pain. He squashed down the childish desire to pinch Matthew and settled for removing his hold from the other Omega. “Then I shall be underdressed in my father’s house, oh what a crime.” He snapped, clenching his hold on his book. “I don’t care about this guest or about any other guest that darkens our door.” Alfred stomped downstairs, ignoring the calls of his brother as he disappeared into the kitchen. He grabbed an apple from the basket on the counter and disappeared through a side door into their small garden. It was only after he found himself a comfortable spot underneath a large oak tree that Alfred plopped amongst the grass with his book. As the day grew to a close, the twenty-two-year-old Omega found himself immersed into the world of Elizabeth Bennet. Oh, how he saw himself in the young Beta. The constant push to marriage and the allure of a whirlwind romance were reoccurring themes in his daydreams.
He was nearly finished with Mr. Darcy’s rather unorthodox proposal when the young Omega became very aware of the presence of a foreign Alpha. Alfred smelt him before he ever heard the Alpha speak, but he paid little attention to the scent of a new Alpha. Boston saw many different scents come and go. It was the Alpha’s voice that truly startled him.
“I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice until the point Charlotte Lucas agreed to marry William Collins. The tale was ruined for me at that moment, because she settled and married for money.”
Alfred lifted his blue eyes up to glance at the Alpha. He was certainly a handsome one, with blond hair and dashing green eyes. His clothes were tailored to fit his station with all the frills and shiny buttons of a wealthy man. His scent surprised Alfred, because he didn’t smell of ink and copper, but of mangos and wood with just the hint of the ocean breeze. He was beautiful, but the Omega looked past the physical features to grimace at his statement. “If reality ruined the book for you, then you were never truly invested to begin with. Charlotte Lucas was an Omega past her prime and needed to marry to be comfortable. Isn’t that what happens to all those unable to inherit and unable to change their fortunes?”
The Alpha’s lips quirked up into an impressed smile, “Sadly, you do have a point. It was a jarring realization that not everyone can have a fairytale ending like Elizabeth and Darcy. I’ve always believed no one should settle for their comfortable fate when true happiness could be just around the corner. Unfortunately, this society we live in doesn’t allow us to pick our fates.” He reached down to offer the mesmerized Omega a hand. “Forgive me, I’ve shown atrocious manners. I’m Arthur Kirkland, here to see Benjamin Jones.”
There was something rather poetic in the way the Alpha talked about happiness that made Alfred smile. “It does seem rather refreshing when you talk about it that way.” The Omega accepted the hand, allowing the Alpha to effortlessly pull him to his feet. For the first time in a long time, he felt a little self-conscious about the state of his dress and the messy, untamable hair atop his head. On the other hand, he was far too irritated to deal with another suitor. He just wanted one day of peace and quiet. “You’re here to see Papa?” Alfred asked, tucking the book underneath his arm as he gathered his shawl around his shoulders. He left the eaten apple core beneath the tree for the squirrels. “He’s still in the city, but he sent word to welcome you into our home.” At least Alfred knew how to be a good host, dipping his head as he returned the greeting. That was the one thing his mother beat into his head that he took a liking to. He’d always enjoyed being the center of attention. “I’m Alfred Jones. If you’ll follow me, Mister Kirkland, my mother has prepared the parlor for entertaining.”
Arthur followed behind the Omega, wondering why Benjamin never mentioned the pretty son he had at home. They hadn’t talked at length about the elder Alpha’s family, but Arthur knew he had children. If his memory served him correctly, the eldest was only a few years younger than himself. Yet, he wasn’t mated and quickly falling past society’s idea of prime mating age. Not that it defiled his beauty, or his sharp tongue, which Arthur found himself admiring the longer they spent time together. “Are you going to be part of the entertainment?” He asked with a cheeky grin, far too used to the easy attitudes of the Caribbean. Decorum and elegance were easily forgotten amongst the sand and sunshine. Omegas skipped heavy corsets and skirts for lighter variations. Everyone spoke as old friends.
His informal attitude must have scandalized Alfred, because the muscles in his back tensed as he whirled around with a frown on his face. Alfred’s eyes had darkened with anger, “no, I’m not. I don’t have a talent for vocal music, nor any desire to bang away on piano keys for your entertainment.”
Arthur whistled softly, holding his hands up in mock defeat. “Apologies for treading over a sensitive topic.” He slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers, trying to smooth over the break in decorum. “I merely meant to jest with you since you seem so melancholy.”
Properly chastised, Alfred soothed his hands over the skirt of his dress and took a deep, cleansing breath. “I..I overreacted,” he admitted with a sigh, “my brother tends to be the entertainer of us. He can sing like a lark and rivals the musical greats in his piano skills.” Alfred had little patience for learning the keys and failed to impress with his voice. Now, that didn’t mean he was completely talentless. His father pushed him to learn the violin, which he did excel at. Problem was that Alfred preferred fiddling to the classical sounds of the violin. Unfortunately, fiddling wasn’t a mark of a sophisticated, high-society Omega. “He’s a very accomplished Omega.”
“Ahh,” Arthur hummed, “well, that’s wonderful for him. In my travels, though, I’ve realized that accomplished often means boring.” He winked at Alfred; taking delight in the way the Omega covered his mouth to hide his laughter. Arthur hadn’t put much thought towards a mate, but the thought of showing up his brother’s ceremony with a pretty Omega bride did seem appealing. That was his mother’s goal for the visit, wasn’t it? Why not take the decision out of her hands? Well, that and the idea of having a source of warmth and conversation on his long journeys across the sea. His men were fine sailors, but not the kind of people to have conversations about literature. Alfred could obviously hold his own in those discussions. He’d always been a bit of a romantic at heart, but perhaps love learned was better than love found? Despite his outbursts, there was something about the Omega that rekindled a long-lost desire in Arthur. Perhaps, he could broach the subject of courting with Benjamin. Even if the man were hesitant to mate his son to the sailor, surely the union of his shipping empire and Benjamin’s shops would create a wonderful enterprise.
“I wouldn’t call him boring,” Alfred insisted, hoping to squash down the guilt he felt over gossiping about his brother. “Matthew’s accomplishments gained him a grand intended mate. Once…once Papa finds me a mate, he’ll go to all the way to New France. I’ll probably stay in Boston.” The Omega sighed, ignoring the lingering guilt he felt over keeping Matthew away from his happiness. If only their parents didn’t insist upon the eldest child marrying first. It simply wasn’t fair to Matthew.
“Do you wish to stay in Boston?” Arthur asked, watching as the Omega opened the front door to lead him into the parlor. He’d never been inside Benjamin’s home, but it was exactly like the old man: cozy, warm, and filled with vivacious energy. Characteristics that were passed onto the pretty Omega in front of Arthur, “it’s a lovely city, but the world’s rather large.”
Alfred brought the Alpha into the parlor to wait his father’s arrival. It was odd that his mother or brother hadn’t descended from the rafters when they realized they had company. Probably assumed this was another one of Alfred’s suitors. Alas, Alfred couldn’t hope for someone that actually cared to talk to him. The previous four Alphas only asked him when was his last heat and how many children did he want. Arthur seemed to only care about holding a good conversation. “I’ve never thought about it, to be honest. When I was younger, I wanted to remain in Boston for the rest of my life, but as I’ve grown older I feel less attached to this place. I’ve never had a reason to leave, but I can’t say it wouldn’t be exciting to go on a grand adventure outside of Massachusetts.”
Arthur liked that answer. An Omega that wanted adventure was a rare gem in a society that continued to impress the idea that Omegas shouldn’t leave the home. Alfred was certainly a diamond among the rocks. “Perhaps you’ll get a chance to see the world sooner than you believe.” The Alpha took a step closer to Alfred, as if he were going to take the Omega’s hand, but inched backwards at the last second.
“Ahh!” Benjamin Jones shouted as he limped into the parlor and handed his hat to a young maid. “You made it, Arthur! I was beginning to think you weren’t going to take me up on my offer. I see you’ve met my oldest boy, Alfred. Isn’t he something special?” He clapped Arthur on the shoulder, smiling widely as he swept Alfred into a hug. “My darling boy, tell me, what do you think of Papa’s old friend?”
Alfred had always been the apple of his father’s eye. His father had spoiled him far beyond the appropriate age and made him a rather overindulged Omega. The young man eagerly soaked up his father’s attention, curling into the older man’s side as he peered at the young Alpha. “Mister Kirkland is quite the conversationalist, Papa.” Which was the best compliment Alfred ever gave a potential suitor.
It tickled his father to hear those positive words. “Is he now? That’s excellent, Alfred.” Benjamin pecked Alfred’s cheek as he nudged his son towards the dinning room. “Go help your mother, dear. I need to have a discussion with Mister Kirkland.”
The two watched the doorway until Alfred’s skirts disappeared before turning back to each other. Fearing that he’d done something wrong, Arthur launched into an apology. “I apologize for not seeking your wife out first. I saw him reading a favorite book of mine and wanted to know his opinion. I should have insisted on a chaperon.”
Benjamin waved off Arthur’s words, reaching into his pocket to pull a long pipe out. He used a candelabrum to light the end. “What do you think of him, Arthur?” He asked as he took a long puff of his pipe.
“He’s lovely,” Arthur answered instantly, frowning as he tried to guess his old friend’s train of thought. “He’s intelligent and utterly bored of his life in Boston. He’s a bit sensitive towards his brother, though. I can’t say anything about that, because I’ve been known to get jealous towards my own brothers.”
“Would you like to mate him?” Benjamin asked rather bluntly, taking another long puff. He grimaced when he saw Arthur’s shocked expression. “Don’t look at me like that, Arthur. It’s not like I’m throwing my firstborn to the sharks. You’re an old family friend and you’re the only Alpha that has lasted more than five minutes in a room with him. He’s…he’s so strong willed, Arthur, and needs a patient hand. He needs someone to take him away from the high society of Boston so he can be free and happy.” The older alpha sighed as he combed his fingers through his hair. “His brother’s intended Alpha is getting antsy, too. I need Alfred happily mated before I can allow Matthew to mate.”
Arthur was shocked, but it did make his own offer easier. “I was going to ask if I could court him.” He admitted with a soft chuckle. “I have no desire to see my mother vying for favor by forcing me to mate some penniless noble-omega. I would rather go to England with a mate.” He fiddled with the end of his sleeve as he stood there before his friend, “Alfred is…well…he’s easy on the eyes and quick-witted enough to make our life together interesting. I..I would like to court him as properly as time allows, but, yes, I would like to mate him, if he’d have me.”
“I’m assuming you’d like to be mated by the time your ship leaves the harbor?” Benjamin asked as he tallied up the days in his mind. It was only a fortnight before the Sea Witch planned to disembark. “Then it’s settled, we’ll perform a bundling tonight so you can discuss your future with Alfred.” He walked over to squeeze the Alpha’s shoulder, “welcome to the family, Arthur.”