The Alpha's Protector

A Date?

The man was upset. For a week now he had seen the blonde going to Alpha. They were growing too close. Maybe it was time to try out his sister's idea. Break this forming bond now, before it's too late. He slammed his fist into the tree. He wished it was a person. He needed to feel bone cracking under his fist soon. Just to quiet the demon in him. It's what he needed. Soon. He reached for his phone and called his sister. "Do it."  That was all he said. She would know what he meant. She knew him best.

"If you can't keep your voice down, I will have you removed." Sam was impressed with the calm radiating from Amber. Her brother had gone on one of his rants again. 

"You have no right to throw me out!" He slammed his hand down on the table. "This town belongs to me and my family, you are mere guests here! I want this matter resolved!" He turned to Sam. "Do you're Alpha duties and deal with this! She fined me! Had my guards thrown in jail overnight!" He swung back to Amber. "YOU had no right!" He jammed a finger in her face. "I will have justice." 

"Matt sit down." 

"I will not..." 

"Sit the f**k down!" Sam growled, her voice going deep and rough. He fell back into his chair, glaring at her. "I think I have the jest of this situation. The driver lost control of his car because he was racing down the main street to get to the hospital." 

"That has nothing..." Matt shut up when Sam stood.

"He was taking his wife to the hospital. You were on the sidewalk, opposite to where he ran into the lamp pole. He got a fine for driving over the speed limit, he was let out of jail on bail so he could go see his wife and newborn in the hospital. He paid his fine, went to court, and is currently doing his community service." Sam looked at Amber, who nodded in agreement. "Then, you and two of your guards decided to go to his home, and while they held him down, you beat him up." She turned to the guards and all four took a step back. "Amber here was called to deal with this, as she is the one in charge of the law. She only gave you a fine, locked up the two idiots who went with you, and left it at that." 

"Yes. And like I said she had no right to do any of that! I am the mayor." 

"So because you are the mayor, you are above the law. A law our father set?" 

"Yes. No. This is about her treating me like one of the common people." 

"When you went to that man's house and had your men hold him while you beat him. You turned into one of the common people." 

"Sam?" He stood when she sat. "This is not dealing with my problem, this is making it worse." 

"No, this is me making it worse." She pointed at the two guards that he had taken with him. "You two are fired, I want you out of this town by nightfall, if I see you, or one of the patrols sees you, I will deal with you myself." She pointed at the other two. "Who do you belong to?" 

"Sam that has nothing..." 

"I am not talking to you." She silenced Matt. "Who do you work for?" 

"Uh, we are with." He sighed. "We both saw an ad in the paper asking for guards. It said that they should be willing to get their hands a bit dirty. Joe and I both box at the gym and we thought it would be an easy income." He gestured with his head at the other two. "I don't know where they come from." 

"They don't matter." Sam dismissed them. "Amber, do you have space for these two on your team?" 

Amber looked at them. "Sure. Speak to Taylor at the front desk, she will give you the forms. If you're serious, I always have space for more muscle." 

"You can't do this!" Matt shouted.

"Just doing my Alpha duties. He's going to need his guards back." She told Amber. 

"No problem." Amber picked up her phone and let Taylor know. "They will be waiting downstairs." 

"This is a joke! You will pay for this, both of you!" He made a move to shove Sam but Mya caught his arms and pulled him out of the door. "Get your filthy hands off me! The council will hear about this Sam." 

"I'm sure they will." She sighed and stood. "Look, I know we have a session scheduled later, would you mind if we just rescheduled?" 

"Yes, actually. I do mind. I will see you later." 

"Amber I really..." 

"I'll see you later." 

"Fine," Sam said and left. She needed to run. Needed to shift, just let the animal loose a while. And maybe kicking Ambers ass later will help. Sam found laughter bubbling as she heard Mya curse when she shifted and ran. Everything cleared up. Her mind opened and she could feel, smell, taste the forest around her. Here, in wolf form, she was truly free. She ran till her legs ached, then stopped and drank water from the lake. She felt eyes on her and lifted her head. Amber stood looking at her, leaning on an oak tree. She shifted, not caring that she was naked. She felt more than heard Ambers swift intake of breath. "You have a thing for oak trees." 

"Huh?" Amber struggled to string thoughts together. Sam was absolutely gorgeous. 

"Oak trees, you seem to like them." 

"Oh, yes I do. Are you feeling better?" Amber asked and straightened as Sam came closer. She felt a bit like she was being stalked.

"Yes, I always do after a run." 

"That's good." 

"How did you find me?" Sam asked. She stopped in front of Amber, tilted her head to listen to her heartbeat. She frowned. 

"You're father also ran until he felt better, he sometimes ended up here." 

"And did you help him?" Sam regretted the question as soon as she asked.  An emotion crossed Amber's face. Hurt? "I'm sorry." She ran a hand through her hair. "Apparently I'm not feeling better." She turned and walked back to the lake, sitting down on the grass bank. She heard Amber approach and swore she felt a hand brush her hair. But it was just a whisper of a touch. Amber sat next to her. 

"I didn't." She lifted a hand when Sam tried to speak. "I just want to make that clear. I cared for your father, he was a mentor and friend. God, he was family." She laughed. "So is your mother." 

"I really am sorry. Please forgive me." 

"Okay. Anyway as to how I found you, I just followed you." 

"Followed me? I ran full out." Sam shook her head. "What are you?" 

"Sorry?" 

"Nothing. I really don't have the energy for our sparring date." 

"Date?" 

"I mean, you know what I mean." Sam dropped her head onto her arms. "This was a horrible day. I usually look forward to our sessions, they always leave me relaxed. Today, I might hurt you." She looked into the blue eyes next to her. "I don't want to hurt you." 

"You wouldn't." Amber smiled. The truth in Sam's eyes touched her.  "But okay. I'll just wait for Mya to catch up, then I will leave you alone." She stood. "Will I see you tomorrow?" 

"Yes. Are you always so serious?" 

"I uh, I guess so," Amber said frowning. Sam took a step toward her a strange twinkle in her eye. "What are you doing?" 

"Let's see if we can wash of the serious." 

"What?" She tried to fight off the arms that grabbed at her and threw her over Sam's shoulder. "Put me down! What are you doing??" She realized where Sam was heading. Also realized her hands were on the bare muscled back! "Oh god, put me down, Sam! Don't you dare drop me in that water!" 

"Or what Miss Serious?" She walked into the water knee-deep. Warm hands settled on her ass. Amber wiggled, trying to dislodge Sam's hands. "Oh, you want me to put you down?" 

"Yes! No! Put me down on the..." Amber sank into the cold water. Sam was laughing deep, throaty laughter. Her retort died on her lips. Gorgeous. "Two can play." She said and Sam looked down at her. 

"Huh?" She felt the foot behind her knee a second too late. They laughed as they sat neck-deep in the water. "That was cold." 

"No shit." Amber saw movement from the corner of her eye. "Mya." She gasped and stood. "You sit!" She pointed at Sam who laughed up at her. 

"You two okay?" Mya asked. 

"Yes, just cooling off after our, uh, session." 

"Oh? You must have caught up with her quite quick then, Boss." Mya smirked. "If you have this covered, I have a date with Taylor." 

"Yes, no problem. I will make sure she gets home safe." 

"Safe. Yes. Sure boss. See you tomorrow Alpha." 

"Bye Mya. Oh, Mya?" 

"Yes?" 

"Mind the squirrels," Sam said and laughed when Mya threw her the middle finger.

"Squirrels?" Amber asked. She lifted her shirt over her head. If they were swimming, she was damned well going to enjoy it too. She looked down at Sam. "Sam?" She asked again, watching Sam's gaze roaming her naked body. 

"What?" 

"Why did you say that to Mya, about the squirrels?" 

"Oh, you don't know?" Sam laughed, trying to get her composure back. The woman was built. "She has a phobia for them." 

"What? No, she doesn't." 

"Oh yes. Miss hardcore agent fears them, she won't even look at my painting in the lounge." Sam ran a hand over the water. 

"I should demand a new agent just for that." Sam joked. She laughed when Amber splashed water at her. 

"She's one of the best." 

"You know, this past week, it's been one of the best. The sparring really helped me. And my mom says it's good for me to have a friend." 

"Are we friends now?" Amber asked. 

"I hope so. Or at least moving that way." Sam looked at her. "That brings me to this." She took a deep breath. "Would you like to have dinner with me and my mom tomorrow night, after our sparring session?" 

"I don't think..." 

"Okay, it's fine, I just thought I'd ask." Sam stood and was about to walk away when Amber grabbed her hand. 

"Okay." Sam looked down at her. 

"Really?" 

"Yes." 

"Okay. Okay." Sam said and sat down again. They sat there. Naked. watching the sunset behind the oak trees.