The Liekos Pack Series

TPDM: Chapter 5

Helen

After last night's nightmare I expected to wake up in a sour mood but the dream with the wolf soon after made me feel safe and sane. I was a little tired when my alarm went off but having Warren at my door, coffee in hand along with flowers perked me up. He was so adorable not wanting to come into my room. I know his self control is wearing thin. Werewolves have heightened senses along with higher s*x drives then humans. Some mates lock themselves in a room for a week straight after finding each other so I appreciate him being as patient as he is with me. I'm going to trust my gut like Fran suggested and just live my life. I'm excited to try dinner again tomorrow night.

I also appreciate the fact that he wants me to eat dinner with the pack because they are like one big family and always try to at least share that meal. Breakfast wasn't as full due to quite a few members starting early morning training and lunches are sort of an on your time kinda thing with people working different jobs throughout the pack. I'm hoping I have something half way decent to wear in my luggage, maybe a nice simple dress. I packed in such a rush and even though I didn't have very many clothes as is, they were all very homely. Paul didn't want me showing too much skin, feeling it would only provoke the gaze of other male wolves, and why would I want them when I had him as a mate.

Finally being away from him I can't believe I never realized exactly how full of himself he truly was. Warren seems very down to earth and has nowhere near the amount of inflated ego Paul has. He proposes driving, since he knows the territory better, and offers to show me the garage the pack keeps their cars in. Then he suggests a ride on Franklin and I can't help getting excited. I don't know exactly how to explain it but meeting his wolf seems like an important next step and instead of feeling nervous about it I'm actually ecstatic. Plus going for a ride on his wolf counterpart seems intimate and a step in the right direction. I feel the more comfortable I get with both of them the more open I'll be to mating and marking.

After arriving at the hospital Warren leads me down to the Emergency Room which is where I'll be spending the majority of my first day. Apparently this is where he mainly works when he isn't with a Senior MD and he asked to supervise me, saying I'm a family friend, which I find kinda funny. I see his eyes glaze over, mind-linking, a few times throughout the day and he explains that a few other wolves work here from the two neighboring packs whose land also borders this town. They check in with each other throughout the day while they are all here together to talk about goings on in their own packs and just keep in touch as a courtesy.

Thankfully nothing too crazy happens my first day and things go rather smoothly. Around Lunch time we do get separated while I go to Human Resources to talk about a schedule change and Warren goes to visit a few long term patients of the hospital he seems to have grown fond of. A weird sense of jealousy blooms inside me after leaving the HR department and looking for my mate. I start to wonder if any of these "favorite" patients of his are young beautiful woman and it doesn't help that when I finally find him on the third floor he is at a nurses station where one is very openly being ridiculously flirty with him.

I feel like I'm in a cartoon and steam is coming from my ears. This feeling is foreign to me. She wolves used to hang all over Paul but it never bothered me even in the slightest. Right now all she is doing is touching his arm but I see red. I want to push her away and stake my claim on him. This mate bond thing really is no joke. My mother said the more time she spent with Eric the stronger their bond grew. That must be what's happening since we've been together all morning and most of the afternoon. I decide that if he can come into the dining hall and pull me from Gavin's arm and stake his claim I can do the same, perhaps a little more subtly of course.

"Hey baby I've been looking for you," I say after approaching the opposite side of the nurse with her hands all over my man, "my man" I like that, and give him a quick peck on the cheek. "Oh," I say pretending to just now see her and scoot my way between her and Warren. "Hi," I continue extending my hand. "I'm new in town and this is my first day here. This guy was just being the best boyfriend ever," I explain looking up at him for a moment. "Showing me around when I had to go to the bathroom and this place is so huge I got lost."

"Oh," she simply states as her hands finally drop to her sides. "I didn't realize he had such a beautiful girlfriend. I'm sorry," she adds and tell us both to have a good day before disappearing.

"That was..." Warren starts.

"Terrible. I sounded like such a b***h. She was actually nice and I was being snooty and territorial and..."

"And I loved it," Warren cuts me off. "Hun you were jealous," he says beaming like he's proud of that fact. "Now you know how I felt that first day I saw Gavin hugging you. Don't worry sweet mate I only have eyes for you, forever and always it will only be you."

"You keep saying things like that it's going to be hard not fall in love with you... mate."

"First things first that is the whole point of this. I already love you and I know that seems fast but it's different for us. I kinda like this whole having to make you fall for me. It's fun and enticing. Second you just acknowledged me as your mate," he says with a huge grin. "I love that even more."

"Well I'll remember to do it more often then... my sexy mate," I tease. "Now come on lover boy I was promised a ride up the mountains that I'm very much looking forward too."

I notice a slight blush rise across his cheeks and I don't know if it's from calling him sexy or the fact I'm talking about riding him but it is so cute. We finish our shift out together and walk hand in hand to the car. It's only been one shift but this right here walking to the car to go home it already feels so natural as if we've been doing it forever. This must be what the bond is meant to feel like. Easy and care free. It's like two puzzle pieces coming together and fitting perfectly. I never ever felt like this with Paul which only confirms he was lying about me being his mate and clearly delusional enough to believe it wholeheartedly.

We arrive at the garage and he parks my car next to the one he normally uses. He explains to me about the pack just sharing vehicles instead of every family or individual having their own car and I of course offer mine up for use. If I'm going to be working in the packs hospital more I won't really need mine that often and anything I can contribute to the pack will make me feel less like I'm leeching off them. Even though I am mated to one of their pack members I'm not one of them so I want to do as much as possible to earn my place here. We exit the garage and Warren immediately starts stripping.

"Warren," I gasp covering my eyes then turning around. "A little warning next time."

"Sorry I thought with you growing up in a pack you'd be used to it."

"I stayed home when they went on runs and never went to the training grounds. My step dad took me for rides when I was little but I would never watch him shift."

"Oh, my bad, I should have asked if you were comfortable seeing me shift first. This whole having a human mate thing is new to me. I'm still learning."

"I get it... I am too."

"Ok... I'm going to give Franklin control now."

I hear the sounds of bones cracking and can't help my face contorting into a look of discomfort. I know it's painful for them at first and over time they get used to it but to me it still sounds like it hurts every time. The sound ceases and I pause unsure if I should turn around until I feel a slight push from a snout on my back. I turn to see a magnificent grey wolf with blue eyes just like the wolf from my dream last night. I look at him confused for a moment until realization hits me that I must have woken at some point seen him and went back to sleep, that's how he slipped into my dreams.

"Franklin you are truly beautiful," I say moving forward to touch his soft fur, he sits back, and allows me to move around him. "You are huge, bigger than my stepdad... I think you may even be bigger than Paul," I say and he lifts his head higher in the air clearly taking that as a compliment. "So, I had a very interesting dream last night," I start taking my place in front of him, he lays down now head on his paws, and ears back. "Were you in my room last night Franklin," I ask and receive a small nod, his sad eyes letting me know he thinks he's in trouble.

I sit down on the ground beside him and he moves his head onto my lap.

"I'm not mad," I state as I start rubbing the top of his head back and forth. "You came because of my nightmare didn't you," I ask and receive a small nod once again. "Thank you for worrying about me," I say leaning down and placing a kiss on his forehead. "Are you ready for our first run together," I ask and his head pops up quickly, ears perking back up, and I can't help laughing at his eagerness.

He moves his head and I stand moving to his side where I carefully climb on top of him. He stands himself and waits for me to place my hands firmly along his neck line before taking off into the woods. Its exhilarating being on the back of a wolf, since I haven't done this since I was a child I can't help tighten my grip on him as he picks up speed but the further along we get I relax and my hands ease up on his thick fur. I know he won't let me fall or do anything to put me in harms way. The breeze between the trees feels nice against my skin. I'm slightly jealous I'll never get to shift and feel the ground beneath my feet like they do.

We reach the pack house in no time and Franklin lays down again to let me off but before I do I wrap my arms around his neck and give it a gentle squeeze whispering a sweet "thank you" in his ear before hopping off. I turn around yet again as he gives Warren control to shift back.

"It's safe to turn around now," Warren jokes and I turn around just as his shirt falls down over his lower abdomen with that damn V, why do all wolves have to be so naturally built. "Shall we," he asks holding out his hand.

"Where are we going?"

"I need to check in at the hospital with Cami then we can go change and head to dinner, if that's ok with you of course. I'm not quite ready to part ways with you yet."

"I feel the same," I reply truthfully placing my hand in his as we take the small stroll to the hospital together.

"We'll see if she's in her office first," he says once we get inside.

"Will you be teaching me how to treat pack members in their wolf forms as well. I never got the chance to learn at my old pack," I ask as we make our way back towards his and her offices.

"Yes, Cami and I will see to it that you know how to properly treat all pack members. Since I'm hoping you're on your way to accepting me and staying here I want you prepared for anything."

"Warren," I say pulling his hand slightly so we stop walking. "You know I want you. I believe when you say your my mate, I never felt what I feel for you with Paul. I'm just worried about him finding me. What if he brings trouble to this pack?"

"Helen," he says softly. "I am your mate and I will protect at all costs... this pack, this is your home now too, you are a part of our family. We protect each other. He can try to come and take you away but none of us will let him. Plus no Alpha in his right mind will start a war over one crazed wolf's mate."

"Their Alpha is just as odd as Paul. He started showing a weird interest in me as well, almost as if he wanted to share me with him," I admit to which a low growl slips from Warren's lips.

I move forward wrapping my arms tightly around him as he does the same. I know it's hard to hear but he needs to know my fears. I don't ever want anything to happen to him or any other pack member because of me. His head finds its way to the crook of my neck as I rest my head against his chest . My scent calming him as his heartbeat does the same for me. I open my eyes to find him looking at me with such love and admiration it's astounding. I can't help move my head just enough for our lips to touch softly. I pour everything I feel for him in that moment into what turns into a long and sensual kiss... that is until a throat clearing startles us both.

"Break it up you two," Cami says walking over to us. "Not all of us have found our mates yet... no need to rub it in," she says sarcastically.

"Just you wait until your mate comes along. If she's anywhere near as beautiful and sexy as mine you won't be able to stay away or stop yourself from touching her whenever possible. You're just jealous," Warren bites back and even sticks his tongue out at the end making me laugh as they bicker like siblings.

"Wait so your..."

"Into woman," Cami interjects as the gears in my mind turn. "Yes," she says with a small chuckle. "So you'll never have to worry about me and this guy," she says shoving Warren playfully and I realize I never even had a doubt about them, not like I did with the nurse at the hospital.

"I didn't even think about that to be honest," I admit.

"You should have seen her earlier when Jessica was pulling her usual sh*t, my mate actually got jealous," he exclaims gloating about my small outburst earlier and I cringe feeling slightly ashamed for snapping at the poor girl, knowing I'm going to need to apologize to her next time I see her.

"You would think after five years of trying she would take a hint," Cami responds.

"Five years," I say shocked as my gut sinks thinking about him being with her even in the slightest.

"I never entertained her advances... ever," he reassures me picking up on my tiny bit of insecurity. "I swear to you I've only ever wanted my mate."

"I believe you," I admit and give him another kiss letting any doubts I have about him with anyone else leave my mind.

He and Cami start chatting about how things went here today and I space out thinking about our date tomorrow night. I'm going to see if I can have something special delivered to surprise him. Every moment we're together I feel safer and more secure in the truth of our bond. I don't want to let Paul's past actions scare me or stop me from living my life anymore than I already have the past three and half years. I believe Warren when he says he will protect me and although I'm not ready for him to mark me yet we both deserve to be together intimately. I mean he's waited eight years already. This will be the first big leap to fully accepting our bond and I just hope he's ready and ok with it.

We leave the pack hospital and he walks me to my room so I can get out of my scrubs before dinner. Dinner is nice and being surrounded by such a friendly and fun group of wolves puts me at ease. I can tell with a little more time I will fit in here just fine. Once we're done eating Warren walks me back to my room and kisses me goodnight before leaving for some late night one on one training with Thaddeus, who is apparently his cousin, which explains his larger sized wolf. He must have some Alpha blood running through his veins from past relatives. Once settled in bed I get online and find just what I'm looking for putting my plan into motion.