The Lion and his Emancipated Mate

Restless Wolf Pt. 2

I laughed, “Nope.” Dylan burst into the room and smiled broadly, “I KNEW I smelled you. Et tu Brute? No link Alpha man? For shame!” Haley laughed, “Good to see you, my friend Dylan.” He took off his hoodie and threw it to her, I groaned, “Eric will kill you.” Haley laughed, “No he won’t. Why would he do that?” Dylan smiled, “Put the hoodie on.” Haley shrugged and put his hoodie on. She asked, “Why did I put your hoodie on?” Dylan's smile deepened, “Because when you pop home you will smell like me. It’s so rare one gets to mess with the Great Alpha Eric Conners. We plebeians have to take our shots in when they come to us.” Haley laughed.

Dylan said, “I would have hugged you, but I know how you feel about that.” Haley smiled, “I’m working on it. I’ll let you know when we’ve reached hug status.” I grinned broadly now and mocked my Beta, “She’s hugged me before.” Haley slapped my arm, “You hush! You are my lion. Dylan knows that. Have I worn this long enough?” I laughed informing her, “The second it touched your skin you’d worn it long enough. You are a brave little fairy.” She winked, “Half Fairy, half Hackura. Fairies are mischievous, my lion. We thrive on pranks and goading people. Plus messing with Eric’s possessiveness is fun. Besides, I told you at the summit with the Claudia situation it was time to fight fire with fire. I don’t have an ex to throw in his face, so smelling like Dylan seems like a very minuscule way to begin my fire.” Dylan roared with laughter. I grimaced.

I told her, “I’m not sure Eric will see it that way. I heard you had some Hackura men troubles.” Haley’s face darkened, “I did NOT! They had brain problems or some s**t… I don’t know... they never said we were friends, and they certainly never said they liked me. I already told Miley, who agreed by the way, that had they asked me on a date before I met Eric I would’ve gone. Nothing would’ve happened, but they never even asked. Then those asshats say I friend zoned them. WE WEREN’T EVEN f*****g FRIENDS!” Dylan was admirably holding back his laugh, whereas I was not. She glared at me.

Dylan said, “For the record Haley Conners, I am your ever faithful servant or friend whichever you wish to see it as.” Haley told him, “Friends it is.” She took off his hoodie and gave it to him. I sighed, “Well, I’m going to plan Dylan’s funeral.” Haley frowned, “I won’t let Eric kill my friend.” I smiled, “You not wanting Eric to kill him, will make him want to kill him more.” Dylan smiled, “It will also mean he won’t kill me. He’d do anything for her. Plus, he does not actually want to kill me. We are friends. We mess with each other. I’m the only one brave enough to get him. He appreciates me… Deep, deep down in his little pinky toe.”

Haley smiled, “Eric would do anything for me, wouldn’t he?” I nodded and she popped away.

I rolled my eyes at Dylan “We are going to hear his growl from here. You’re playing a dangerous game.” Dylan laughed, “Oh, it’s all in good fun. They wouldn’t leave you in a Beta lurch. My brother hasn’t graduated. His eye is on the lead warrior title, and he shall get it. He trains oh so hard. Besides, Alpha Eric loves you. You guys were bed buddies.” I blanched, “Don’t say it like that.” Dylan laughed, “You’ve shared girls at the same time and tumbled in the sheets. What would you call it?” I sighed, “We are friends with a deep connection and respect for each other. Who now no longer will have an intimate component because he found Haley.” Dylan smiled, “And what a find it was.”

We both went to bed. My phone rang at four in the morning. I groaned. Christy spoke beside me, “Make that stop ringing, Lucas.” I kissed her shoulder. Dominic growled, “We didn’t go to bed with her. What is she doing in here?” I stumbled out of bed. I told him, “I’m not even awake right now give me a second.” I walked out onto my deck reading who was calling. I snorted greeting “Good morning, Eric.” Eric growled, “Tell Dylan that Haley is f*****g MINE!” I snorted, “He knows. It was a joke.” Eric replied, “I’m laughing. So damn hard. Can’t you tell?” I sighed, “I was in the room. He just gave her his hoodie.” Eric growled, “Unless your office is now in the Artic f*****g ocean why the f**k would she need a hoodie?”

I asked, “Did she not explain it to you?” Eric was quiet for several moments. He told me, “She just went to sleep.” I roared with laughter, “You f****d her all night long? You guys have pups, Eric. She needs more sleep.” Eric growled, “No, she doesn’t. It’s her Hackura and fairy sides combined. That’s not the point! You know what? When you meet your mate, I am going to have so much fun giving you s**t. Tell Dylan if he values his life to stop this.” I sighed, “Eric, they were messing with you. Apparently, they are now friends.” He growled, “They are not f*****g friends.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. I told him, “Haley called Dylan her friend last night.” Eric yelled, “MOTHER FUCKER! FINE! I swear he lives to annoy me.” I laughed, “It does make him happy.” He growled, “Goodbye, Lucas.” I laughed for several minutes when I hung up the phone. I probably shouldn’t give Eric such a hard time, but he never gave a s**t about any of the girls he was with. He cared about Claudia, but he had no problem sharing her. Or being with me and Christy while he was with her. Now, he was ready to punch Dylan because Haley wore his freaking hoodie for a couple of minutes.

I sighed and looked at Christy in my bed. I needed to lay down ground rules. I didn’t tell her to come up here. Our relationship wasn’t going anywhere, but it was familiar and comfortable. Dominic spoke, “You do need to stop. Let’s go for a run.”

I jumped down from the balcony and shifted. My wolf was large and black. All Alpha wolves were. I ran for twenty miles before Dominic settled down. I came back to the house and grabbed some clothes before walking inside. I asked, “What’s up with you Dominic? Why are you so amped up?” He answered, “I don’t know. I just feel like something is going to happen.” I sighed, “Something good or bad?” Dominic answered, “I’m pretty sure it’s good.”

I groaned and walked into my office. Dylan was waiting. I told him, “Eric called very early this morning. He’s not happy with you.” Dylan grinned broadly, “Ah, but now I’m Haley’s friend. He won’t hurt me.” I nodded, “He might hurt you.” He smiled, “We have our fun. You know that. It’s so rare I get such good material to annoy him with.” I nodded, “I know. Anyway, what do we have today?” Dylan smiled, “You’re speaking at the high school. To Mr. Blaze’s class, all day about your youth center.” I groaned, “Why did I agree to that?” Dylan smiled, “So that any teens who are struggling know they have a place to go because you care. That’s what we call you, Alpha Care about Teens… That’s a lie. We do not call you that.” I rolled my eyes, “I do care. Let’s head out.”

We stopped at a diner near the school. I smelled the scent of jasmine again. I ran inside, but the smell disappeared. Dominic was going crazy in my head. I was disappointed. Dylan gave me a weird look when he came inside. My assistant at my youth center, Ruth, joined us. She smiled, “Good morning Alpha Lucas and Beta Dylan. What’s wrong Alpha?” I sighed, “I keep smelling this scent, but it disappears as I get closer.” The waitress came over to take our order.

Ruth smiled broadly then asked the woman, “Was there a waitress that clocked out early?” The waitress answered, “Yeah, she had to get to school. She works early and late shifts, picks up what she can. She’s a sweet girl. The big guy feels for her.” She said pointing at Al the owner, who was in my pack. I knew this woman. It was his mate, Liz. She was human. I hadn’t met her officially, but I knew of her.

I frowned asking, “Why does he feel for her?” Liz shrugged, “She clearly needs the money, so he made up a shift that lets her come in the mornings for a few hours. She’s actually a transfer from the school that burned down. We all breathed a sigh of relief when it happened to be honest. She’s been working here for a year and used to ride her bike here from her old school.”

My jaw dropped. I yelled, “That’s twenty miles away!” She nodded, “I know. Like I said she clearly needs the money.” Ruth asked, “What’s her name?” Liz frowned, “Why are you interested in her?” I interjected, “I run the youth center in town. I just want to make sure that if she needs our help, she knows it’s an option.” Liz considered then offered, “Her name is Emmaline Richards. She’s a really good kid.” We nodded. Dominic was purring her name in my head, dumb wolf.

Dylan said, “Well now we know her name which means we can find her today. Or when she comes to her next whatever it is that her and Chelsea are doing, we can talk to her.” Ruth smiled at me biting her lip. I asked, “What?” She just shrugged, “Oh, nothing.” I raised an eyebrow as did Dylan.

We moved on and talked as we ate our breakfast. We all walked over to the school together. We got to Mr. Blaze’s class early. He smiled when he saw us, “Ah, you’re just in time Alpha. We have about twenty minutes until my home room starts. This is my accelerated class; they are my brightest students of the day.” I nodded, “It seems we are only a few days into school, and you’re already attached.” He smiled, “There are some special ones. One in particular, sweet girl. She’s new.” Dylan laughed, “Let me guess, her name is Emmaline.” Mr. Blaze was taken aback.

Dominic was purring again. I asked him, “What is your deal? Stop purring!” He closed our link. I assumed it was to keep purring. Mr. Blaze asked us, “Have you met her?” I answered, “No, but her name keeps coming up. We just ate across the street where she works.” He frowned asking, “She works at the diner?” I nodded, “We want to talk to her. We’ve heard some things about her that make me think the youth center could really help her.” He considered, “I don’t know much about her, but I do know that her parents didn’t show up for meet the teacher.” I frowned.

Dominic growled in my head. I growled back at him, “WILL YOU STOP IT! What is the matter with you Dominic?” He grumbled but didn’t answer me. My head was starting to pound from his growling and purring. I sighed, “Shit.” Ruth asked, “What’s wrong?” I lied, “I didn’t get a coffee to go.” She smiled, “I’ll go grab some from the teachers’ lounge. I have to take a call during this class anyway. Unfortunately.” Both Dylan and I frowned. I asked, “Why is that unfortunate?” Ruth smiled, “I have a theory.” She didn’t continue that thought.

I asked, “What would that theory be?” Ruth teased, “Women have to keep some cards close to their chest, Alpha. I told our Beta what I think, and he thinks I’m wrong. Or he’s just saying that I’m pretty sure it’s the later. Either way I’ll be collecting fifty dollars from him when I come back from my call for the second period. I just know it.” I looked at Dylan who rolled his eyes. He retorted “You’re giving me the fifty, Ruthie. Why ever would I make my day interesting by placing a losing a bet.” She smiled, “We all know you would. I’m actually very sad that I must make this call.” She left to go get coffee.

Students began to file into the class. I linked Mr. Blaze “Which one is Emmaline?” He turned and frowned, “She’s not here yet. She’s been a few minutes late every day. Now that I know she works across the street I’m guessing she takes a quick shower here.” My frown deepened. I needed to talk to this girl.

The bell rang and I started giving my speech about the youth center when the door opened. The smell of jasmine hit me like a freight train. I turned and saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She was tall, about five foot eleven inches, with chestnut brown hair. She had the most perfect breasts I had ever seen. She was a little underweight, but she was perfect.

Dominic screamed the second we locked eyes, “MATE! MATE! MATE!” She was standing there staring at me with her wide blue eyes holding a coffee. I growled, “MINE!” Everyone in the class gasped. Dylan said under his breath. “Well, this just got seriously interesting.”