The Lion and his Emancipated Mate

Unraveling the Mystery Pt. 3

I excused her, “Thank you, Chelsea.” She nodded and stood and at the door turned, “Oh and Christy was a b***h to her, and she handled it better than I did.” With that Chelsea left. Dylan spoke, “I, for one, am STUNNED Christy didn’t present the situation in a positive light. Downright flabbergasted.” I groaned, “She admitted to me she’s not handling us being done well. We will watch the situation. I feel like an ass. I had feelings for her once, but not in the last several years. I always told her this would end when either of us met our mates. I knew she had feelings for me, I just deluded myself saying she knew what this was. This is my fault.” Dylan put a hand on my shoulder, “You were honest with her. Yes, you should’ve ended it years ago. Don’t let her be your Claudia though. You know how much that hurt Haley. Don’t let her do it to Emmaline. We don’t know her history, but we know something scares her. Just tread lightly in this situation. I’m at my max for being serious.”

We worked until our warriors linked us, “The Luna is heading towards Red Run. We will stay with her until she crosses the border.” I called Alpha Kyle. His amusement came through the phone “Alpha Lucas, I’m going to have to start calling you just Lucas if we are going to talk this often.” I laughed, “My mate is about to cross into your lands. Can you have someone follow her? I just want to know she’s safe.”

Alpha Kyle sighed, “she told Drake she’d moved closer to the diner and school recently. I don’t know why she would come this way. I’ve got a group running the borders, I’ll have them head her way. I linked Drake to come in here. He has some information to pass along.”

A moment later I heard movement in the room. Drake spoke, “Alpha Lucas it’s Drake.” I greeted, “Hello, Drake.” Drake immediately said, “Emmaline knows she’s not human.” Dylan and I both shouted simultaneously, “WHAT?” I asked, “Did she tell you what she is?” Drake denied that “No, she mentioned going swimming after school. I was trying to figure out where she went last night after disappearing. I told her I’d heard about the race in the pool, that she did almost inhumanly well. She became visibly nervous. She got pale and her heart rate increased. Humans wouldn’t be nervous about that comment. Supernatural’s who are unaware of what they are would just laugh and say I was crazy or something.” I frowned because he was right.

Alpha Kyle spoke, “She knows our area well apparently. She started crying when our warriors got close, then jumped on her bike and headed straight for the lake. She apparently jumped in and is swimming laps as we speak.” I admitted, “She really does seem to know she’s being followed then.” Alpha Kyle offered, “That does seem to be the case. Do we know what she is?” I told him, “Our doctor thinks a partial angel is a possibility.”

Peter spoke, “I think she’s a fairy. I always have.” I disagreed, “A pack member who has been right about several partial fairies said she’s not a fairy. She doesn’t quite feel like ones we’ve met.” Dylan linked me, “For the record, I’m with the future Alpha Peter Kyle. It’s his mom’s Beta blood. Just saying.”

Peter spoke again, “They could be wrong.” I didn’t answer. We sat on hold for an hour and a half. Alpha Kyle growled, “They left to run the rest of the border and when they came back, she was gone. Drake, get your father! Those lazy shits disobeyed a direct order to stay with another pack’s Luna. She’s a f*****g teenager, and they left her there.” He directed his question to me, “Alpha Lucas, did your men pick her up?”

Worry began to creep in. I knew they hadn’t. They didn’t link me. I linked my men, “Did you see the Luna come back your way?” We got a confused reply, “No Alpha, and we stayed where she passed through into their territory. Did they lose her?” I growled, “Yes, meet me at the diner.”

I spoke to the group on the phone, “Alpha Kyle, thank you for your assistance we will search for her in our territory.” Drake quickly said, “I’d like to come. Sam is worried sick about Emmaline. Peter and I both spoke before school started about how we needed to watch out for our transfers in your district. She’s a good girl, and I hate that we might have missed something going on for the past year with her. We are the future leaders of the pack. Our fathers have always told us that everyone in our territory is our responsibility.” I smiled and knew the pride his father and Alpha Kyle would feel at his words,

I granted his request, “Of course. You both have permission to enter our territory. We are going to meet up with our men at Al’s.” Alpha Kyle told me, “Ben and I will be coming with our sons. A Luna in danger in our neighboring allies pack is reason enough. You would do the same for us. You moved heaven and earth when Alpha Eric’s Luna was taken. We all would do the same for you. We raided with you then, and we will search with you now.” Dylan coughed, “His name is Beta McAlister not Ben.”

Emotions were swirling within me. I managed to say, “Thank you Alpha Kyle.” He snorted, “We do what we can for our allies. I consider you a friend Lucas. I know I would be a mess if my Marissa was in this situation. We will see you at Al’s.” He hung up. I looked at Dylan who guided me to the SUV.

Dylan broke the silence, “Alpha no fun would come search with you too if you called him.” I nodded, “I know Eric would come, but that would take more time. He’s an hour away.” Dylan snorted, “He’s a pop away now with his perfect mate.” I smiled at Dylan, “I don’t have time right now to stop him from killing you.” He winked at me, “Oh Haley would stop him for you. Plus, we are friends. He doesn’t want to kill me.” We fell into silence. Dylan offered, “We will find Emmaline.” I nodded and we arrived at the diner. Dylan convinced me to wait for the Red Run group.

Once they arrived, a warrior spoke, “She came from the east when she came to work this morning. From behind the school.” We nodded and headed to the school. Dominic was getting excited. Her scent was faint at first, but the further back we went her scent was getting stronger. We came up to a pond. Her scent was so strong in this area. I announced, “She’s here.”

The Red Run group frowned. We fanned out. It took a second, but then I saw it. A tent hidden among the shrubbery and leaves. I growled, “She’s in a f*****g tent?” I turned to my warriors, “Find out if her scent goes further back.” They nodded and returned within minutes. They begrudgingly told me, “Her scent ends on this side of the pond.” Anger filled me.

Drake told us, “She said she moved recently.” Alpha Kyle growled, “I will have those fuckers that are running the god damn borders heads if she’s been living in our territory in a tent for a f*****g year without anyone in our pack so much as mentioning they found a tent.” Peter frowned, “Surely, she didn’t. We have patrols running every day. They would’ve noticed her.”

Beta McAlister spoke, “Our members that patrol the road where our border ends have noticed her every morning pedaling to work. She was living in our territory. Your dad and I have searched and found no lease in her name, or anyone with her last name. I feel punishments will be handed down tonight. This cannot happen. If she lived in our territory in a tent, because that tent isn’t new, and they never noticed... How many rogues have they let wander into our territory?”

Fury filled me. She could’ve been attacked by a rogue, or by a hiker. She was vulnerable out here and alone. I stalked up to the tent an unzipped it. I didn’t mean to frighten her, but she screamed. It hurt my very soul. She had a flashlight. A flashlight to fight off an attacker. f**k! I looked around the tent. She had a duffle bag with clothes, and a battery powered alarm and a sleeping bag. That was it.

I wondered if Prince Bjourn Cambridge would give me a discount for his services because his sister liked me. I needed his skills to make her parents suffer for this, for a very long time. My breathing evened out, and other needs started to take over both of us.

Dylan linked me, “Lucas... We are all out here waiting. Don’t mate with her now. This is not the right moment.” I didn’t answer him. Dominic was trying to take over. He was growling, “Mark mate! Mate is hot!” I asked him, “Do you know any other words anymore? We aren’t alone. She deserves to be worshipped by us and we can’t do that here with an audience.” Dominic grumbled but agreed, “Fine… then take mate home.” I snorted at him, “I’m not leaving her here, Dominic.”

I barely managed to get out of her tent. I linked Dylan, “Tell Al she’s not going to make her shift.” He grimaced but nodded. Drake and Peter’s guilt was written on their faces. I knew they were going to take the non werewolves in their territory more seriously after this. This wasn’t their fault in the slightest, but it was a valuable lesson as future leaders on how to run their territory.

Alpha Kyle and Beta McAlister were fuming mad. Honestly, I couldn’t blame them. The state of her tent made it clear this is where she’d been living for some time. It was weathered down. Their patrols had never reported it.

When Emmaline came out it was hard to focus. Her shirt clung to her like a second skin. She was trying to figure out what we were doing here. Which was fair, but I couldn’t very well tell her we were tracking her. I deflected. I wanted answers. She was avoiding answering mine.

Dylan linked me, “My, my, my what an EVASIVE answer that was. Almost like a fairy... nay... EXACTLY like a fairy.” I rolled my eyes at him, “Christy already confirmed she’s not a fairy.” Dylan shook his head. I got her attention by pulling her against me. I asked again what was going on. I saw that she wanted to lie, she even opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Resignation entered her face, and she admitted what we all knew at this point. The tent was her home.

Even knowing that already didn’t stop the shock and anger I felt at hearing the words come out of her mouth. Dylan linked me, “She couldn’t even lie… Like A SUPER FUN SPECIAL FAIRY LUCAS! You’re going to give me gray hair. I just feel it. Just let me have my fairy to lord over Alpha no fun. Like ha-ha we have one too! Give this to me. Come on…”

I couldn’t focus on him because Emmaline’s eyes filled with tears. Drake asked, “Did you live in the woods last year too?” She was still looking into my eyes. I told her, “Answer him, baby girl.” She shivered, “I’m sorry. There’s no law against it. It wasn’t private land, and I didn’t bother anybody.” Alpha Kyle growled, “No one is concerned about the law here. We had rainstorms, hail, snow, and ice last year. You should’ve been inside. Where are your parents?”

She closed her eyes and tears fell down her cheeks, “I’m emancipated. I don’t live with my parents.” Alpha Kyle spoke again, “I realize that. Why didn’t you get an apartment?” She admitted, “I tried. I don’t have any credit, and I was fifteen when I came here. Even with a co-signer no one wanted to rent to me. There’s a place next to the diner that I’ve been talking to. They said when I’m seventeen they would reconsider. I’ve been saving and have enough for the first five months’ rent.”

I was going to find her parents and pay Prince Bjourn AND Prince Marcus, possibly even Haley, to rip them to shreds. Eric would help me. He’d seen the Hackura in action a lot recently. He had to have new techniques up his sleeve. I whispered, “Baby girl, you could’ve been hurt. Someone could’ve found you out here. We have wild animals in this area.” She looked down, “I know... I’ve killed a few. This is my second tent. One got slashed to hell last year.”

Drake and Peter shouted simultaneously, “YOU WHAT?” She cringed, “I’m sorry…. They had red eyes though they weren’t….” She trailed off. Everything stopped. I broke the silence, “You know about us.” She didn’t say anything for several moments. She whispered, “I won’t tell anyone.”

Alpha Kyle was staring at her in shock. He said, “To clarify, you killed a werewolf. You’ve known we were werewolves this whole time?” She nodded. I asked, “Then why didn’t you go to any of them when you were attacked?” She cried harder, “They would’ve known where I was living. They would’ve tried to do something; adults always do. I like it here. I didn’t want to leave.” I growled and pulled her flush against me. I told her, “You’re not leaving me. I won’t let you.” She looked into my eyes. I saw hope with lust swirling in them.

Beta McAlister cleared his throat, “Follow up question, the bodies of the rogues you killed. Where are they? And how many does a few mean? How exactly did you kill them?” She cringed, “I burned one. I got lucky. He attacked and I was eating dinner. I got him in the carotid artery with… a fork.”

Drake laughed, “A FORK? You killed a werewolf with a fork?” She looked down, “It was him or me, and I like me better.” Peter laughed too now. Dylan asked, “At fifteen years old you knew enough about anatomy to get the carotid artery in one try? Because you would’ve only had one shot against a werewolf.” She sighed, “He scratched me up pretty good, but I helped my brother study for the EMT exam for a year. I know a lot about anatomy.” I asked, “Where is your brother?” She shrugged and looked away, “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since I left.” We all looked at each other. This was a lot more than we expected to find.

Beta McAlister asked, “What about the rest of the questions I asked?” She looked at me and whispered, “Please, Lucas.” I pulled her back from me and rubbed her cheek. I told her, “We need to know. Maybe not tonight, but Alpha Kyle needs to know how many rogues were in his territory. At least tell him that and if there are any bodies that need to be taken care of.” She sighed, “I didn’t bury any of the bodies. They would’ve smelled them. There’s a pond behind the school that I weighed some down with rocks and sunk them to the bottom. I was attacked by five of the red eyed wolves… you call them rogues, I guess.”

My eyes narrowed at her explanation. I speculated, “You know a lot about us.” She shrugged, “I know you have Alpha’s and Beta’s. I know you are an Alpha, and I think Dylan is your Beta. I know Peter’s dad is the Alpha which means he’s the future Alpha. I think Drake is the future Beta, and I know you have mates. Sam is Drake’s and…” She trailed off. Hope swelled in me. I asked, “And?” I was hoping she knew she was mine, but I didn’t call her my mate. I said mine and she thought I meant she had my coffee.

Emmaline whispered, “And... I think Peter should meet Chelsea. I don’t know why... I just have a feeling she’s his mate now that I know both of them.” Peter stiffened. Alpha Kyle smiled broadly. Drake asked, “Is that why you introduced me to Sam? You thought she was my mate?” Emmaline nodded, “Well, that and she wanted to meet you. When I saw her though…. I thought that you and she were just... I don’t know. I thought you were meant to be.” Peter growled, “I want to meet Chelsea. My wolf is going insane.” Alpha Kyle was giving me a look. I sighed, “Let’s head back to my pack lands.”

Emmaline’s alarm went off. She groaned, “I need to get ready for work. See you in school I guess, Drake.” I growled and pulled her against me. I didn’t want her out of my sight. I told her, “We have things to work out between Red Run and Blue Moon. I already had Al linked and told you weren’t going to make it in today.”

Tears filled her eyes. She shook her head, “I knew the schools were named for the packs. I… I really won’t tell anyone about you guys. I’ve never bothered anyone who didn’t bother me first. Please, I need the money from work.”

Pain filled me. I asked her, “Do you think I’d hurt you?” She looked startled then said, “No... no, I don’t.” A knot released in my chest. I sighed in relief offering, “I’ll compensate you for the money you’ll miss at Al’s. I sent him a waitress for the morning. We aren’t going to hurt you; we just need to talk. Alpha Kyle needs to understand the holes in his territory.” She shrugged, “I don’t want anyone to get in trouble. I hid from his patrol a couple of times.”

Alpha Kyle snorted, “There are daily patrols in the area you are saying you lived in. They should’ve reported seeing your tent, and they never did.” She frowned, “I saw them once a month. I packed my tent up when I knew they’d come. So, they probably didn’t see it.” Their anger was palpable when she finished her sentence. Emmaline instinctively shrank behind me.

Peter asked, “Can we go? I want to meet Chelsea.” Alpha Kyle snorted, “You act like she’s already your mate, son.” Peter started pacing. He admitted, “My wolf is going crazy just hearing her name.” He turned to Emmaline and asked, “Emmaline, what’s her last name?” Emmaline said quietly, “Hanes. Chelsea Hanes.” Peter growled. He shifted and ran back to their car.

Emmaline gasped, “Wow... that was… wow.” I smiled then picked her up and ran back to our SUV. I linked Gemma, “Is Chelsea up?” Gemma startled awake, “No it’s three thirty in the morning. Is everything ok? Did you find Emmaline?” I replied, “Wake Chelsea up. My mate seems to believe Peter Kyle is Chelsea’s mate. He wants to meet her, and we are all heading back to my house.” Gemma excitedly exclaimed, “Of course we will meet you in your office Alpha Lucas. Alex just got home an hour ago…The lead didn’t work out.” They never did, but I was still disappointed.