Outback Love

Glenelg

Luke took out his camera and began taking photos of Emily frolicking in the water. The sun was slowly melting into the sea, but it was still warm enough to swim. He moved closer, walking into the water so that his feet could feel its cool embrace. Goddess, she was beautiful. He couldn’t wait for tomorrow, when she would finally feel the mate pull and she could finally be his. Two halves of a heart, finally made whole.

“Go join her bro, I can do this.” Kiwi said, taking the phone from Luke’s hands. He had been so engrossed in watching Emily he hadn’t even noticed Kiwi there. Luke handed the phone over, smiling as he turned to walk towards Emily. 

She was waist deep, watching some tiny fish move around her legs in total fascination. It was one of the many things he loved about her, the way the world fascinated her. She saw the world through the eyes of a child, often getting excited about things many took for granted. Her enthusiasm for life was intoxicating.

He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and putting his chin on her shoulder.

“This country is calling to me Luke. Can’t we just stay?”

“I can see that Em.” He mumbled, watching the low waves roll on to the shore.

“For the first time in my life I feel free. I feel connected. I don’t feel that at home. Not with my parents, not with my friends, not with my pack. I wanted to stay here with Blane.” Em continued sadly.

“We’ve come to repatriate Blane's body, he wont be here once we leave.” Luke reminded her.

“I don’t want to return him, I want him to rest here. I don’t want to stand by while my parents make a drama of all of this for sympathy. I would rather he was buried in the desert.” Emily sighed.

“I have to admit, I have never felt so free. You don’t realise how controlled your life is until you are removed from it.” Luke agreed.

“I just want to be with you. I don’t care if it's in a hut or a tent or sleeping under the stars. I’m not my parents, I don’t need wealth and power. I don’t even want it.” Emily pleaded with Luke.

Luke squeezed Emily’s waist, holding her closer. He felt her body tense as she watched the waves.

“Look!” She cried, pointing to a spot about 20 metres away. Luke looked to where she was, pointing to see a pod of dolphins.

“Oh Em, that’s magical.” Luke breathed as he watched them frolic in the water.

Emily sighed with happiness as she watched the dolphins.

“Hey, I got us some tea!” Kiwi called out from the beach. Everyone turned and began to walk into the sand. Kiwi had a couple of flat boxes filled with food wrapped in paper.

“Fish and chips on the beach.” Kiwi smiled as he sat on his towel. He began to unwrap the food.

“Oh Goddess, that smells amazing.” Emily smiled as she began to try the different seafood.

“A lot of that is caught locally according to the guy that served me,” Kiwi said.

They sat and ate watching the dolphins as the sun set. Emily sat between Luke’s legs, leaning onto him.

A phone rang, breaking through the peace and serenity. They all looked around at each other, while one of the men, Simon, took his phone from his pocket. He looked at the number, then got up and walked away to answer it. Kiwi looked around and soon realised nobody else found this odd. He shrugged, maybe he had a mate. Still, he focused his hearing toward Simon just to be sure.

“Yes Alpha.” He heard Simon say as he ended the call. Simon looked at Simon as he sat back down and picked up his drink.

“Got yourself a missus there mate?” Kiwi asked conversationally.

Simon shrugged. “Something like that,” he replied.

Kiwi nodded as he began to pick up the rubbish before placing it in a nearby bin. Emily stood up and pulled Luke to his feet.

“Lets go for a walk over there.” She said, pointing to a nearby jetty. Luke took her hand and they walked away.

”Cute couple,” Kiwi said as he watched them walk away.

“They aren’t a couple, all he is doing is ruining her for her future husband.” Simon spat angrily.

“If they are mates, would Luke not be her future husband?” Kiwi asked.

“She is promised to a man, the son of a friend of her father. I’m sure he would prefer to bed a virgin on his wedding night.”

The group all stopped and stared at Simon.

“You cant possibly support these insane arranged marriages James insists on for his children?” Scott began.

“I respect Alpha James and everything he has done for his pack. He has done this for them, to keep them in wealthy and privileged families like the one they grew up in.” Simon defended himself.

“Being rich doesn’t always bring privilege, my friend.” Kiwi said, shaking his head. “How anyone can look at those two and not think they are meant to be together is beyond me.”

“You do not know our ways,” Simon replied angrily.

“Apparently neither do you.” Anton roared, getting up.

Kiwi stood as well and walked away with Anton. “You know he was talking to Em’s father on the phone before, right?” Kiwi asked.

Anton stopped and looked at Kiwi. “How do you know that?” Anton asked.

“I heard him say Yes Alpha. As far as I know, Blane is your Alpha. The only other person who can take that position at this point in time is the former Alpha, yeah?” Kiwi continued.

Anton sighed angrily. “Yes, you are correct. Alpha James had taken over the pack again as soon as Blane's plane had been reported as missing.”

“Well, your boy is reporting back to him then,” Kiwi said.

Anton stopped at a bench and sat down. “Those two have been chasing each other for as long as I can remember. When she was little she used to follow Luke and Blane around everywhere. Everyone thought it was Blane, that she just wanted to spend time with him, but I knew better. Luke has waited 8 long years for her to turn 20 and claim her wolf. I mean, sure he too fooled around with women when the urges got to much for him, but he stayed a virgin for Em. I have never met a more meant to be couple in my life.”

“Em said he is independently wealthy, is that not enough for her father?” Kiwi asked.

“No, because Luke has nothing to offer James. I have a bad feeling, I know who does though.” Anton snarled.

“Let me guess, Simon's dad is wealthy?” Kiwi asked.

”And powerful. There was talk years ago that he might challenge James for the title of Alpha, but he is not of Alpha blood.” Anton replied.

“Then we have a pretty big problem on our hands. We have about an eight-hour drive tomorrow. I’m hoping with the time difference Em wont have her first shift until we arrive. I booked out an underground motel to buffer any noise.” Kiwi said.

“First matings can be pretty dramatic sometimes, I know they will appreciate it.” Anton smiled. 

“I don’t know what it is about those two but I really want to see them work it out.”

“To be honest, I thought Scott was going to be the problem. He is well paid by James to keep an eye on things, but I think he has even come around.” Anton replied thoughtfully.

“Lets walk bro. I’ve been secretly taking photos of them. Let’s get some on the jetty.” Kiwi said, standing up again.

“You have?” Anton asked.

“Yeah, since Em told me about the arranged marriage, I thought it might be a nice memory for her.” Kiwi shrugged.

“That’s really kind of you.” Anton smiled.

They walked towards the jetty, watching Emily squeal in delight as she looked down over the side. They joined them, looking down to see what they had found. A young seal pup was swimming around the pylons of the jetty, seeming to wave as it turned around in circles. Kiwi took out Luke’s phone and began to film it.

Luke was laughing as they stood side by side holding hands.

“He comes around here looking for a free feed, cheeky bugger.” A man said, holding out a bucket of fish for Emily. Emily took one out of the bucket and dropped it down in front of the seal, who quickly chased and ate it.

Luke turned and thanked the man.

As the sun faded into the water, Luke took Emily’s hand and they walked back to the beach. They stopped to get an ice cream before heading back to the hotel. As they walked towards their room, Luke’s phone rang. The phones display came up as a private number and Luke answered it.

“Enjoying your holiday with my daughter?” James Wrights' voice floated through the phone.

Luke covered the phone and indicated to Emily to go ahead into the room. When she was out of sight, he walked back down to the lobby.

“I am here to retrieve my best friend's body, Mr Wright, not to have a holiday.” Luke responded evenly.

“And yet you have shared a room with my daughter since your arrival?” James continued.

“Sir, who would you prefer she share with?” Luke asked angrily.

“I gave you a big enough budget that sharing rooms should not have been necessary.” James snarled.

“With all due respect sir, there isn’t always enough rooms for us all to have our own. There are 8 of us travelling together.”

“I didn’t say you men couldn’t share. If there are two rooms, you will stay with the men in the future and my daughter will have a room to herself. Am I making myself clear?” James roared.

Luke sighed. “Yes sir.”

“Get the job done and get my daughter home!” James replied before hanging up the phone. Luke stared at the phone for a moment before putting it back in his pocket. How did James even get his number? He thought angrily.

He made his way back to their room, where he found Emily taking a bath.

“Join me?” She asked, looking up at him through her long eyelashes.

“Em, that was your dad.” Luke began, sitting on the edge of the bath.

Emily put her finger to her lips, shooshing Luke with a smile.

“Not the time, my love.” She smiled, sliding forward in the large bath. “Come join me.”

“To hell with it.” Luke mumbled as he undressed and slid into the bath behind her. She lay back, moulding herself into his body.

“I’m not going to marry anyone but you, Luke. I don’t care what my father says. He can disown me, I will find a job somewhere.” She mumbled.

“We’ll sort it out.” He promised as he laid back, letting the water soak into his skin. Emily had put some of her oils in it and it smelt divine.

Within minutes, Luke could hear Emily’s breathing deepen and he knew she had fallen asleep. He lay there, listening to her breathing until he joined her.

Luke awoke with a start, the now cold water splashing on the floor. Emily stirred in his arms but continued to sleep. He looked around, finally remembering where he was. He shook Emily’s shoulder, gently waking her.

“Come on sleeping beauty, go hop into bed.”

“Only if you join me.” She mumbled, sitting up.

He chuckled lightly at her persistence. “Of course.” He smiled as she stepped out of the bath. He quickly followed, pulling out the plug and watching as the water drained away.

Emily took a towel and dried herself off before getting straight into bed. Luke smiled as he watched her curl up and begin to drift off again. He climbed onto the other side, lying behind her as he pulled her back into his body. She moaned softly before falling into a deep sleep.

Hours later, Luke awoke from a dream. He was at a wedding and when the bride lifted the veil it was Emily, marrying someone else. He gently eased his way out of bed and got dressed before walking downstairs. The air outside was cool, and he could smell the sea. He walked towards the beach, finding a spot to sit on a low stone wall.

“Can’t sleep bro?” Kiwi asked, walking up behind him.

“Kiwi.” Luke smiled.

“I heard you come down, I thought I’d see if you were OK.” He shrugged.

Luke nodded his head slowly. “Blane and Emily’s father called me tonight.” He began.

“That does not surprise me bro.” Kiwi replied.

“Why is that?” Luke asked.

“He also called that Simon fulla.” Kiwi answered him.

Luke frowned. “When?” He asked.

“When you and Em walked up to the jetty earlier,” Kiwi replied.

“Strange, that was before he called me. Although I don’t even know how he called me. I hadn’t given him my phone number.” Luke muttered.

“My bro, I think you might have a traitor in your midst.” Kiwi said quietly.

“Scott? I already know he works for James,” Luke said.

“Not Scott, Simon. I may be wrong, but I think maybe he might be the one Em has been promised to.”

Luke stared at Kiwi in horror. “That would make sense. James bringing the two families together to stop Simon's father from challenging for the Alpha position.”

Kiwi nodded his head. “And tomorrow when she goes into heat…”

“He can challenge me.” Luke finished the sentence.