The Lion and his Emancipated Mate

Unraveling the Mystery Pt. 2

I frowned, immediately questioning, “What do you know? We could find next to nothing about her.” Al sighed, “We don’t know that much. I helped her get a bank account that I had to co-sign. I’ve never seen any sort of adult figure in her life. I know she is emancipated. At first, I thought she was taking care of her siblings or something. Then she told Liz she was the youngest in her family. I took a chance on her, particularly with her biking that far into work I worried, but she’s never late for her shifts. We’ve offered to pick her up, but she always says she enjoys the ride. I taught her how to drive when she turned sixteen, but I know she can’t afford a car. We’ve tried to ask about where she lives, but she shuts down.” I nodded, “I’ll get it figured out.”

He nodded to our warriors adding wryly, “Hopefully they are better than me. I’ve tried to follow her, but she always shook me.” I frowned. Dylan linked, “Challenge accepted!” I laughed and walked further into the diner, heading for Emmaline’s section. Her back was to me when I entered, but I saw her take a peek at me over her shoulder. I decided to do a stretch to see her reaction. Her eyes narrowed on my abs, and I smirked. She literally ran to the back. I could hear her trying to breathe normally.

Ruth swatted my arm, “That was mean. She doesn’t understand why she feels this way and you’re taunting her.” I smiled admitting, “But her blush is the highlight of my day now.” Ruth rolled her eyes. A drunk guy interrupted us when he hollered for Emmaline. I linked Dylan, “Who the f**k is this werewolf in my f*****g territory yelling for my mate?” Dylan cringed, “He’s one of the truckers that asked for permission to pass through years ago. Because I’m amazing, I can tell you off the top of my head his name is Ralph. I told myself to remember his name because I knew it would come in handy. I am so good.”

I was not happy to hear they came here often. I glared at Ralph whose friends seemed to take the hint. They tried in vain to get Ralph to notice what was happening, but they were ignored. I asked Dylan, “Do these werewolves in my territory treat people badly?” Dylan sighed, “We don’t know what that means. Maybe they just give her a hard time.” I growled at him, “No one will give her a hard time. I want to know what the f**k they do to her. In MY territory. NO one is to be harassed by werewolves in MY LANDS!” Dylan nodded, “Shouting was uncalled for. I’m already all over it.” I took a deep breath.

Ralph, who was the new bane of my existence kept getting my mate’s attention. She clearly didn’t like him. Ralph’s life expectancy was steadily decreasing. Dominic linked me, “I will kill him if he keeps disrespecting our mate. How DARE he talk to her that way!” I answered him, “I’m not disagreeing with you.”

I linked Dylan, “On the menu? STILL NO? HE WANTS HER AND SHE’S MINE!” Dylan winced and rubbed his head, “Ok, we’ve got to cool it on the shouting. We will handle it. He can’t have her, she’s yours.” The longer they spoke the more I growled.

Dylan spoke to me quietly, “Lucas, don’t scare her. Emmaline is what matters here, and you don’t want her to be scared of you. I’ll have to console you, and I don’t have a handkerchief on me.” I quit growling immediately. I really did not want to scare her.

I linked Dylan, “We need to keep better tabs on this area. If I had known werewolves who had requested permission to pass through were causing problems at Al’s or any other business in town; I would’ve put a stop to this behavior long ago.” Dylan nodded.

It was becoming rapidly apparent to me that Ralph had a death wish. He started talking to his friends about the things he wanted to do to Emmaline. I was seeing red. Dylan kicked me under the table and jerked his head to Emmaline. She was taking our order. Our exchange was over far too soon.

Most of the time passed with me glaring at Ralph’s table as he talked about my f*****g mate. I linked Dylan, “WHO IS HIS f*****g ALPHA?” Dylan sighed, “Are you stuck in shouty mode? It’s Alpha Kane. I had Travis look in our files. We have a meeting with him tomorrow evening.” I retorted “Ralph might not make it until then.” Dylan sighed, “I’d be surprised at this point if he did. Since he’s going to ruin my hearing with all your shoutiness; I’m not really sad about it.”

Suddenly Ralph stood his intent clear as he eyed my mate’s ass. I was out of my seat before I processed it all. Dylan muttered “Well, now he’s dead for sure. Paperwork here I come.” Ralph finally took notice of me, the prick. I’m a god damn Alpha and he ignored my warnings all damn night long!

Emmaline’s exchange with Ralph made me realize this was not a one off. MOTHER FUCKER! He’s dead. He’s so f*****g dead. I grabbed him by the throat. I lowered my voice so Emmaline wouldn’t hear me, “If you say one f*****g word, I’ll snap your neck right here.” Ralph was grabbing at my hand.

Luckily for him, Emmaline was able to calm me down without even trying. My mind was going over possibilities. He’d grabbed her hard enough to bruise. Had he ever put bruises on her before? I looked Emmaline up and down. She didn’t seem shaken up or in shock. That confirmed it in my mind and angered me on a deeper level. This happened so often it didn’t even phase her. We left to handle the situation.

I threw Ralph into our SUV. I told the warriors staying back to guard Emmaline, “I want to know where she lives. Keep her safe.” They nodded. I started driving. Dylan started talking, “I have to thank you guys. I thought my day was going to be boring with my best friend finding his mate. You lovely specimens had to go put your hands on his mate, my future Luna. Now you are going to pay. I have been serious FAR too much today. I like to be funny. Everyone knows this. I have to make examples out of those that make me serious, or everyone will try to force serious Dylan to be around all the time.”

Ralph blanched, “Whoa! Hey, she’s not marked. I’ve thought about marking her myself since my mate died a few years ago.” I slammed on the brakes. I nearly ripped the car door off to get to Ralph. I slammed his head on the pavement. I snarled, “YOU WOULD MARK MY MATE? Against her will? She doesn’t even f*****g like you! That is NOT how anyone in my territory is treated whether they are a werewolf or not.” I punched him in the face. Dylan opened his door, “More privacy would make this moment so much sweeter. Not to mention the tap dance I’d have to do explaining it to humans.” I growled and threw Ralph back into the SUV. I floored it to the pack house. I needed to punch this guy in the face.

Christy was standing there waiting for us. Her mouth dropped in shock when she saw the anger on my face. She immediately went to touch me, “Lucas, I wanted to speak to you about this rumor today. Who are these guys?” I growled at her, “Alpha. It’s Alpha Lucas, and these guys are irrelevant because they are about to f*****g die.” Christy shrank back at my tone but bared her neck in submission.

One of Ralph’s friends said, “Alpha Lucas, I’m sorry he manhandled your mate, but we didn’t.” Christy gasped, asking, “It’s true then? Your mate is this Emmaline girl?” I nodded, “Yes, she is. We can talk later if we have to Christy. I have people to kill.” Her eyes filled with tears, but she nodded then walked away. I didn’t have it in me to give a s**t.

Dylan and I took the useless waste of werewolf genes down to the dungeons on our land. I asked his friends, “Have either of you EVER touched Emmaline?” Ralph laughed, “Of course they have. A slapped ass here and there.” I growled and punched them both in the face. I asked, “Were you not given explicit instructions on the behavior you were expected to have in my territory?” One of them answered, “Yes, Alpha. We apologize. No one said anything about it though.” I growled, “Not to me they didn’t. I bet Al and Frank have told you many times not to touch their staff.” They nodded dejectedly.

Ralph ran his mouth some more, “She’s not marked man. She’s fair game.” Dylan sighed, “Why do I bother setting up meetings with Alpha’s? You're just talking your sad little self into a grave.” I growled and lost control to Dominic. He clawed and beat Ralph to death. When I was able to take back over and stepped back, Ralph had been dead for quite some time. Dylan handed me a towel to wipe blood off of me.

The other two pathetic excuses for men and werewolves were cowered in the corner. I motioned to warriors on guard duty. I commanded, “Put them in silver chains and in separate cells. Should they trip and get a bit bloody no one would be upset. They’ve put hands on your future Luna, and accidents do happen.” Both warriors growled at them. They quickly moved to follow my orders.

I went upstairs to shower. When I got out, Christy was waiting on the edge of the bed. I didn’t pull any punches when I said, “Christy, this is over.” She nodded sadly, “I know. I just… you know I’ve always cared for you, Lucas.” I answered, “And you knew this was never more than friends with benefits to me. I do care about you, Christy. I want you to be happy.” She smiled, “I’m glad you are happy.”

I did need her help. I told her, “If it’s not too much to ask, could you stop by the pack house and meet her tomorrow? We are trying to figure out what she is.” She smiled, “Based on the rumors I was going to offer to go see her to determine if she’s a fairy like the others I’ve sent to Alpha Eric’s mate.” I gave her a hug. I whispered, “Thank you.” She nodded and left my room. That went about as good as I could’ve hoped for. Actually, that was even better. Obviously Dominic, Jackson, and Dylan were wrong.

Dominic snorted in my head, “Yes, all three of us are seeing things. That wasn’t a show at all. The only reason she could tell if our mate was any type of fairy is because she was friends with Claudia who was around fairies. What a ringing endorsement that is. I want to see my mate again. Let’s go see mate. Ask our warriors where she is.” I smiled and put on some gym clothes. I went down to my office and frowned when I saw Dylan in a panic.

He was waving his hands around on speaker phone. He asked, “What do you mean she didn’t cross your border? Our warriors backed off. They linked me and I immediately called you. If she’s not at your border where did she go? I’ve already got a growly Alpha. If we don’t find her, we will have another Alpha super serious broody Conners esque type on our hands. Help me, help everyone not have that happen.” Alpha Kyle sighed, “I don’t know what happened, I’ve sent Peter and Drake to the border. They know her. With your permission, they will come onto your land and see if they can’t pick up her scent.”

I growled “We lost her?” Dylan sighed, “It was too much to hope you wouldn’t hear that. Our warriors were coming up on Red Run’s boundary line. They pulled back and linked me. I called Alpha Kyle, who sent pack members to watch for her. She never came, and our warriors never saw her come back their way.'' I growled. How could they lose her?

I told Dylan, “Let’s get moving then. Alpha Kyle, permission is granted for your pack members to try to pick up her scent on our side of the border.” We all met up quickly. We searched with Red Run’s pack for an hour before I told them to head back home. Dominic was furious we couldn’t pick up her scent. Drake was openly worried because his mate was friends with mine. He’d even called Sam to see if her aunt, the school’s secretary, could find an address for Emmaline anywhere. Sam had called him back to say they searched through all the paperwork from Red Run and found nothing resembling an address for Emmaline.

We had to call off the search for tonight. Dylan silently got into our SUV. The five warriors I’d left to guard Emmaline barely made a sound when they closed their doors. Eventually one broke the silence, “We are sorry, Alpha Lucas.” I looked out the window. I gritted my teeth, “It’s not your fault. We know she’s not human. Al warned me that he’d tried to follow her before.”

I linked Al, “Is Emmaline on shift tomorrow morning?” Al replied, “Yes, Alpha. I’m guessing the warriors didn’t have better luck tracking her.” I answered tersely, “No.” I spoke out loud to my passengers, “Emmaline has a shift tomorrow morning. I want you five outside the diner at three in the morning. I want to know the moment she arrives, and what direction she came from.” They nodded their agreement.

When we got back, I didn’t talk to anyone. I immediately went upstairs to my room and tried to sleep. I was restless and worried about Emmaline. I needed to know where she was, I needed to know she was safe. When I felt tingles on my chest and opened my eyes as fast I could. I was shocked to see a naked Emmaline on top of me. She blushed whispering, “Hi, Lucas.”

I growled and rolled over, so she was under me. I asked, “Where have you been?” She kissed me gently. I deepened the kiss; she tasted so good. I bit her neck and she moaned and ground her hips into mine. I didn’t even care how she got in here. I entered a finger into her, she was dripping wet. She begged me breathlessly, “Lucas, please.” I teased, “What do you want Emmaline?” She bit my ear huskily replying, “You, inside me.” I growled in response. I was just about to enter her when someone hit my head.

I opened my eyes and groaned. It was a dream. I still checked for Emmaline, but only saw an amused Dylan. He teased me, “That must have been one hell of a dream. I linked you, and you didn’t answer. Then I came up here and found you humping your pillow. I, for one, did not know of your interest in pillows. Good for you. The guys spotted Emmaline. She just got to work.” I nodded dressed quickly. I had a lot of meetings today, so I had to wear a suit.

I told Dylan, “I don’t want her alone for one second today.” Dylan nodded, “Already covered. Drake is all in because Sam’s a nervous wreck. He feels responsible for Emmaline apparently. Ever since the school fire, he and Peter have felt responsible for all students that came over in their group. My little brother is also in on my eye on Emmaline scheme. Chelsea is bringing her straight here after class. Peter may even go to school Friday to help keep an eye on her. We are all on your side here, Lucas. We will protect her. Know it pains me to suggest this, but you should consider calling Alpha no fun who is good at everything he does.” I nodded, “Thank you, Dylan.” He nodded and we drove in silence to the diner.

As soon as we walked in, I smelled her jasmine scent. It was like I could finally breathe right again. Dylan linked me, “You’ve seen she’s perfectly fine. Can we sit down and eat now? Making plans all night means I need so much coffee. All the coffee for Dylan.” I nodded and we walked over to join our warriors.

I teased Emmaline when she came to take our order. Dylan linked me, “Your age gap is so not a problem for possible human sensibilities. She wants to throw you down. I’ve been scandalized without enough coffee.” I didn’t bother to reply. We stayed and watched her work until she had to leave.

Dylan asked, “Are you calmer now? We have a lot of work to do today. I’m having such Beta brother pain for Beta Caleb. I now feel like I know what he goes through. I can’t be him, Lucas. I’m fun.” I nodded, “I can’t explain it, Dylan. Not knowing where she is and not knowing if she’s safe wrecked me.” One of my warriors smiled, “It’s normal, Alpha. Even after you are mated and you mark her, you still worry about her. It lessens once you’re marked because they live with you, so you know they are safe. In your situation everyone understands what’s going on.” I nodded.

Dylan and I went back to the main house. We worked all day. I kept watching the clock as I got through our disputes and paperwork. I breathed a sigh of relief when the school day ended. Dylan muttered, “Thank the goddess. Chelsea has Emmaline. They are on their way here.” I growled at him, “I’ve gotten all our work done.” Dylan glared at me, “You’ve been tense all day. All our meetings ended early. Some actually ran from the room. They ran at a full sprint. You knew she was safe. The entire pack that’s in high school is watching her. We train our people well.” I growled, “She’s running from something. We can’t protect her properly if we don’t know what it is she’s running from.” Dylan sighed, “Just give her time to open up. She likes being around you already. Get to know her and get her to open up.” I nodded and we kept working.

Dominic desperately wanted to go to the pack house now that we both knew she was here. Christy stormed into the room. She slammed the door and declared, “She’s not a fairy, and she’s quite immature, Lucas. She’s not ready to be a Luna.” I asked, “What happened?”

Dylan sighed dramatically, “I’m going to go talk to the most mature sixteen-year-old I’ve ever met. Who has maintained a 4.0 GPA in school while having job that she used to bike twenty miles a day to get to. She was never late, and her shift starts at four in the morning. If anyone wants to do some basic math, that means from the time she was fifteen she got up at the latest two o’clock in the morning to get to work. Show some respect for your future Luna, Christy. Lord knows she’s more mature than you were at sixteen.” He left muttering about having to be serious so much lately.

Christy growled, “She was rude to me, Lucas.” I frowned, “I’ve never seen her be rude to anyone.” Christy said, “She was probably following that pup's, example.” Now I was annoyed. I asked, “Chelsea Hanes? You called Chelsea Hanes a pup? She’s my Gamma’s daughter for Christ’s sake, and she’s eighteen years old. So, you’re saying you disrespected Emmaline’s friend? Who, as the Luna, would be well within her right to reprimand you.”

She gritted her teeth, “She’s SIXTEEN years old! I will NOT be reprimanded by a child.” I growled, “She’s not a child in the eyes of the law or to supernatural’s. Legally, she’s an adult and she’s my MATE! Are we going to have a problem here?” Tears filled her eyes.

She sat down, “No, I’m sorry Lucas. This… it’s just new. I’m taking us being over forever harder than I thought I would.” I sighed and pulled her into a hug. I told her, “I never meant to hurt you.” She pulled away, “I know. You’ve always told me what this is; we've just been circling each other for six years. I just need some time.” I nodded. Once she left and I couldn’t stop myself from racing into the pack house with a smile on my face.

I heard Dylan talking to Emmaline. I heard someone gasping for breath. I started to run. Dylan shouted, “WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS HAPPENING? EMMALINE, BREATHE!” I growled at everyone trying to get into the kitchen to help their Luna, because they were very much in my way. I picked her up off the ground and took off running through the pack house. Everyone glanced worriedly as us. The pack link was going crazy. “Is that the Luna? What happened?” I blocked it out and ran to pack hospital.

I ran inside yelling, “DOCTOR! WE NEED A DOCTOR!” Emmaline looked confused, but her breathing was slowly returning to normal. I linked Dylan, “WHAT HAPPENED?” Dylan answered, “She grabbed her chest like she was in pain, and she couldn’t breathe. I don’t know what happened. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

The pack doctor, Hector Gonzalez, tried to take her from me. I yanked her away from him. Hector linked me, “Alpha, I am mated. I need to examine her. Take her to that room on your right. You can stay with her. Dylan linked me what happened, she’s quite young to have any heart problems. It needs to be ruled out though.” I rushed into the room and begrudgingly set her down.

Hector ran several tests, then came over to me. “She can leave. Nothing showed on any panel I ran, or the EKG. There is a rumor is she can feel your bond, is that true?” I nodded then linked Gemma Hanes, “Emmaline can go home. Will you drive her and let me know her address?” Gemma linked back, “Of course. Chelsea is so worried.” I assured her, “Hector says she’s fine.”

Hector hesitantly spoke, “Alpha Lucas, I mean no disrespect, but I have two theories about what could’ve caused this.” I motioned for him to proceed. He continued, “The first option is the thought of going home and leaving you caused her pain. There are certain supernatural’s who need their mate around them especially before they are marked. Angels come to mind. Obviously, she wouldn’t be a full-blooded angel. Partial angels need their mates just as much as a full blooded ones, though.”

My mind was racing. My mate might be an angel? An actual honest to god angel? Hector cringed continuing, “The second option, and again I mean no disrespect, I’m not judging just giving a medical opinion. If you were being intimate with someone else at the time, it could cause her pain.”

I growled, “Unless a hug would count, I didn’t touch another woman.” Hector sighed in relief. He admitted, “I was thinking of a kiss. Since that’s ruled out, I will look into what supernatural races need their mate near once they meet.”

My mind was racing. I asked, “Will she be ok leaving?” He shrugged, “She’s seen you and you held her. If she were a full-blooded angel, no she would not be ok, she’d collapse trying to leave our lands. But she might not be an angel. Like I said I need to research it some more.” I nodded and he walked out leaving me with Emmaline.

Our conversation was confusing. Had someone harmed her in the past at a youth center? I couldn’t find any record of her staying at one before. Anger consumed me at the thought of someone cutting corners and keeping her name off their lists. Did someone try to use her situation to abuse her? I would kill them. It was clear she was hiding from someone.

Dylan came in and shot me an apologetic look and reminded me that I had a meeting. I wanted to growl because the meeting was with Alpha Kane about his f**k up wolves. It was hard to leave Emmaline. Dominic was whining in my head. I walked to my house. I turned and watched Chelsea get into the car with Emmaline. I linked her, “Come to my office after you’re done talking to her.” Chelsea replied, “Yes, Alpha.” I walked into my office and Dylan un-muted the line.

I growled “Alpha Kane.” He sighed, “Alpha Lucas, I assume you are having a problem with the pack members who pass through your borders on business.” I growled, “They are manhandling the staff of a diner in my territory. Apparently they have been repeatedly grabbing their assess and groping them. When I saw Ralph’s inappropriate advances I growled in warning. He ignored me. I took them into custody, and he admitted he was going to mark a sixteen-year-old non werewolf girl against her will.”

Alpha Kane sighed, “I’m guessing Ralph didn’t make it through the night then.” I answered, “He did not. We have two others in chains. I plan to keep them for a week then send them back with their tails tucked to your territory. If I EVER see them in my territory again, or near that girl; I’ll kill them.”

Alpha Kane agreed, “Understood Alpha Lucas. I am sorry for their behavior. I’ve punished them many times. Honestly, with Ralph gone I have hope for the other two. They just followed his lead.” I agreed with him, “I know. They heeded my warning growl which is why they are still alive. Send someone to collect them in a week.” Alpha Kane agreed, and we hung up.

Chelsea knocked on the door as Gemma linked me, “Lucas, Emmaline wants me to drop her off at Al’s. She’s eating dinner with another waitress that works there.” I groaned, “That’s fine. I have warriors guarding her. Make sure she gets inside safely though please.” Gemma replied, “Young man! I have a daughter her age. I would never just drop her off and leave.” I replied, chastised, “I know, Gemma. I’m sorry, I’m just out of sorts about my mate.” Gemma chuckled and replied, “That’s the way of mates, Alpha. Alex can’t wait to get home to help out.” I didn’t answer her. He was following a local lead on Lacy.

I spoke out loud, “Come in Chelsea.” She quickly came in and sat down. I asked her, “What do you know?” She sighed, “She asked me not to say anything.” I groaned, annoyed. I could make Chelsea tell me as her Alpha, but that wasn’t the kind of Alpha I was. I asked her, “Did what she tell you have anything to do with any danger she’s in?”

Chelsea’s eyes went wide, “Is that what’s going on? She’s in danger...? NO... No, I’d tell you I swear. I don’t think she understands. I mean, what I can tell you is she’s really not human. The mate bond is affecting her. Something about the youth center scares her. I don't know what it is, but she thinks she’d have to leave our territory if she went there. That’s what hurt her. The thought of leaving you. That’s all I can say, the rest doesn’t affect her safety.” I nodded.