The Alpha's Protector

The Proposition

The man was sitting on a bench in the park, he watched as one by one the woman and one gentleman started gathering for the morning yoga routine. His keen eyes saw everything, the way the women interacted and the gentleman was almost glowing with the attention from all of them. He was one of them, no danger there. Idiots. 

He saw her approach, the dark beautiful woman with her tall guard. His eyes followed her as she passed, then flicked to the guard, he nodded at her and pretended to take a sip of his coffee. The cup was long cold and empty. When they stopped he saw the way she looked all the woman over like she was trying to see through them, he noted the way she ignored her guard, standing as far as possible from her. The gentleman's face fell when he realized the women's attention shift away from him. The man noticed that one of the women was still missing from the class, he'd been watching for a while now and she was always there. He knew he only had to be patient. Just a little while longer.

The man sat, he watched and he waited. 

Mya was jogging behind Sam, her usual erratic pace was absent. This morning was slow-paced and somewhat, emphasis on somewhat,  enjoyable. Mya hated running, she didn't understand why a person would run unless something or someone was chasing them. Like squirrels. She eyed the trees, those little fuckers had teeth! She kept pace with Sam who started picking up pace as they neared the spot in the park where they did yoga. A man was sitting on the bench they passed, his eyes glued to Sam, Mya slowed her pace and readied herself, just in case. His eyes flicked to her and he gave her a nod and went back to his coffee, Mya dismissed him as just another man ogling Sam. She picked up speed and caught up with Sam. As usual, Sam ignored her and stood as far as she could, Mya allowed her the freedom but kept her eyes open and senses alert. Amber was late. It was unusual for her to be. Mya took out her cell phone and dialed the office. 

"Hey, Taylor. The boss there?" She asked when the phone was answered. 

"Hey, you! I was just about to text you. Amber is here, some psycho tried to run the mayor over with his car, he's claiming accident, but you know the mayor. Everything is a drama." Taylor paused to take a breath. 

"What were you going to text me, Tay?" Mya asked when the silence stretched. Taylor was the most distracted person ever. They all guessed that was the reason Amber put her on reception duty and not in the field. 

"Oh, she wanted you to tell Sam that she would still be there for coffee and that you two should wait for her." 

"Okay, thanks, Tay."

"Bye." 

"Let me guess, your p***y boss called to say she wouldn't make it?" Sam couldn't help jabbing at her guard, it was just a part of their relationship. 

"No, she had business to deal with, but she said that she would be here by the end of the class to have the meeting." 

"Mm, so formal, did they have a class in the academy where they taught you to be broom up the ass stiff? Or does that just come naturally to you?" Sam walked away before Mya could answer.

Amber was still fuming, a cold shower and full-out sprint later and she still wanted to throttle someone. Sometimes she hated her job, She stood under an oak tree and watched the yoga class. Sam was magnificent, fluid, sensual, and sexy. She acknowledged Mya with a nod and continued watching Sam. Something about the woman irritated and drew her at the same time. Her father, Mark, was a good man, he had always treated them like family, part of the pack. It was only when Sam had taken over that they were slowly but surely cast aside. The last few years they were merely seen as the protectors, shadows always lurking, shadows deemed unnecessary by Sam and most of her close company. 

Sam saw Amber watching her. And found herself trying to show off before she caught herself and straightened. She walked toward the woman leaning against the oak tree. Mya following as always, close behind. 

"Boss," Mya said in greeting, a huge smile on her face. 

"Mya." She turned to Sam. "Hello, Alpha." 

"HI, and call me Sam." 

"Sam. You have improved a lot since we started." Amber said. Mya choked back a laugh. 

"I'm sure I would say the same to you."  

"Oh, at her age, she really is a master." Mya laughed. 

"Her age?  She can't be more than a year or two older than me." Sam said. Looking Amber up and down. "You can't be a day older than twenty-nine." Amber looked at her puzzled then laughed. 

"Yes, something like that." She gestured to the coffee stand. "Shall we?" 

"Sure. " Sam looked at Mya. "I'm sure your boss is capable of taking care of me, go take a walk."

"No." That was the only answer she got. Sam shrugged and followed Amber. They ordered coffee and when they both had the steaming cup in hand, they moved to one of the tables. Amber waited for Sam to sit, then took the seat opposite her. Mya kept standing but moved away, a little.

"Look..." 

"We should..." They both started at the same time.

"Go ahead, Sam," Amber said.

"I'm not going to draw this out, what I want is simple. This one..." She pointed over her shoulder at Mya. "Says that she is more afraid of you than me. No matter how many times I challenge her, she just keeps telling me no. I don't like it." She took a sip of coffee, waiting for Amber to say something. When she remained quiet and only watched her, Sam shifted in her seat and went on. "If she is my bodyguard, she should be able to spar with me, without getting hurt. But I ask, I order, I pleaded once, I think. But nothing. If one of you can't even spar with me successfully, how do you expect me to trust you to keep us safe?" 

"Maybe, because we have been doing so forever," Amber said simply.

"Fine, sure. But then why not just spar with me? I'm going to be honest with you here. I need a fight! I need to release some stress somehow. If I don't, then I'm going to explode." Sam lifted a hand and swiped impatiently at a stray lock of hair. "My pack won't, my brother thinks it's beneath him. And Josh is just useless at it. Give him a conference room and stacks of paperwork and he's a genius. But put a glove on him and he turns into a blubbering idiot." 

"I'm confused. What do you want?" 

"Two things. First I would like to have a sparring partner. One of your agents should be willing and able to do so. Obviously, I would not shift. And I would hold back."

"Okay, and second?" Amber asked.

"I want to challenge you to a fight. You and me, a place of your choosing. You win, and I never again say anything about Amber Security's protection. I win, you pull back all protection from me. Let me take care of myself." 

"And the rest of our clients?" 

"Boss?! This is..." Amber lifted a hand and Mya shut her mouth.

"The rest is up to them. I know you do a great job with the companies, and my brother enjoys the entourage of guards he always has around him. But I don't want it." Sam waited while Amber sat and stared at her.

"Okay."

"Okay?" Sam asked surprised. "To both?" 

"Yes. If you win, I will pull back Mya. The guards at the council gather house have to stay." She held up a hand when Sam tried to protest. "At least until the council decides to let them go too." She stood. 

"What about the sparring partner?" Sam asked.

"I will send someone to you. You have an hour every day between six and seven in the evenings. They will be at your house then." 

"Thank you." 

"See you Alpha." Sam watched Amber leave. Something was wrong. That was just too easy.