Chapter 14
Braun
Good fucking grief.
Emeric’s calm tone was probably the only reason Dorian wasn’t coming through the phone, but I was having a hard time too, so I didn’t blame him. “I’m betting he told you that you had to fight him to show proof that you weren’t involved in your father’s disloyalty.”
There was no logic in it, but I wasn’t surprised when Emeric nodded in the back seat. “Yeah, I’m not strong enough to fight him, though, and I don’t know what happened. How can I prove something I don’t understand?”
“Because that’s not how that challenge works.” Otto was either a moron or evil. Probably both. “It’s supposed to be the Alpha showing they’re in the right because the magic wouldn’t support an Alpha who’s using his power in…in bad ways.”
There was something fucked up in that pack.
“That’s why your dad ended up in some kind of fake accident.
He couldn’t use his magic to defend the pack.
If you’d have attacked him first, then it would’ve responded to the threat and he could’ve accessed it.
” I was just shaking my head as Emeric listened closely.
“I’ve never heard of it being used on a child.
Ever. I’m honestly not a hundred percent it would even work against you since you couldn’t be a threat until you’re older. ”
No matter how well he’d already trained, the size difference would make it impossible for him to win again a fully grown Alpha wolf.
Fuck…a full-grown wolf of any sort.
“I’m going to be a threat when I’m older. Don’t worry about that.” Emeric’s future plans had Dorian’s groan fill the car. “Don’t worry, Uncle Dorian. Alpha Braun will help me become badass. See? I can use that right too but not at school.”
Dorian’s long sigh said I was going to hear it later. “I’m glad you understood that right off the bat. I’m going to have questions on how he’s going to help you become badass, though.”
Oh, I bet he would.
The Alpha Mate was protective and I wasn’t going to be immune to it.
“We’ll ask together.” Emeric’s cheerful tone wouldn’t help Dorian feel any better, but the pup wouldn’t understand that. “I’ve never been trained in anything but I learned stuff online.”
What the fuck was going on down there?
“That can’t continue. You need to learn how to use all your muscles and instincts, not just the human-facing ones.” If I was reading his tone right, Dorian was offended on Emeric’s behalf. “Don’t worry. We’ll fix this situation.”
I’d teach them both at the same time if it came down to it.
“Great.” Emeric was back to nearly bouncing around the back seat, but part of that was probably because we’d finally gotten back to pack lands.
The ties he was growing with the pack would’ve made him feel safer and happier, so there was a lot of reasons he was feeling better.
“But first we’ve got to fill the pantry and find the bottom of the attic. ”
Dorian had clearly tattled on me.
“We’ve got a list.” Dorian’s sigh had me trying not to smile. “Don’t forget we need to get you signed up for school and I need some explanations about who at my school knows about nonhumans. It’s just not safe for me to have a large population of students who probably have unique individual needs.”
I had a feeling explaining that kind of stuff was going to fill in a lot of blanks for him.
“We need to write down our list.” Emeric’s excitement as he said that sentence made him sound like a young Dorian. “I’ll help.”
“After organization and lunch. We need to make sure we feed the Alpha because he can’t do it himself.”
“This time it’s because I’ve got phone calls to make and a shift at the park after lunch.” I had to make up for taking so much time away from work. “But I promise to be very grateful for your help and to pitch in where possible.”
“There’s only so much you should be responsible for.” Something about Dorian’s tone or the words had Emeric nearly giggling again. “Emeric and I will take care of the house.”
“No one can do everything alone.” Emeric was clearly repeating something he’d heard but he didn’t make us guess. “My grandma liked reminding my grandpa of that.”
Dorian’s slightly strangled laugh said he was going to like reminding me about that too. “She was very smart.”
Thankfully, we pulled up to the house before they could start on giving me that lecture. “Alright, let’s get the groceries inside, and then while I make some calls, you and Dorian will make a list of the stuff you need that we can get delivered.”
Because in-person shopping wasn’t going to happen again until I figured out what the fuck was going on.
“The to-do list just keeps getting longer.” Dorian pulled up beside me, frowning like I knew he would be. “It’s easy to see why getting groceries hasn’t been on the top of your to-do list.”
“We’re going to be good helpers.” My good helper hopped out of the car as soon as I turned it off. “Let’s go.”
Just watching him was going to make me tired.
“Hey, who’s the Alpha here?” My grumbling got snickers from Emeric and had Dorian shaking his head as I ended the call and he climbed out of his car. “Me. The answer is me.”
Oh, he wanted to grin but Dorian was too serious for that. “Of course you are.”
He was sexy when he was trying to be a pain in the butt.
“For now, the Alpha can help with the groceries so we can eat.” His dry but still teasing tone had me fighting to keep a straight face. “Then you’re going to work on checking a few things off your to-do list so that we can have a nice evening without you working a thousand hours this afternoon.”
“Would I do that?” I needed to do better at sounding more believable…they weren’t supposed to have laughed that hard at my retort. “Fine.”
Alpha Mates were bossy…and I couldn’t help wondering how he’d channel all that attitude in bed.
I kept that question to myself for a variety of reasons, and not just because of the pup racing around ready to burn off energy.
“Do we have a plan of what to put away first?” Bouncing by the trunk of the car, Emeric looked like he was barely holding on to his human-looking body. “Uncle Dorian likes having a plan.”
He wasn’t wrong, but looking over at Dorian had him frowning at both of us. “You’re both capable of making good decisions.”
Really?
That was the game he was going with?
Turning to Emeric, I shrugged. “I think we should go sit down first and you list off the meals you guys bought. Once we have that sorted out, we’ll organize the pantry by individual meals.
I have boxes somewhere. I think someone gave me a box of shoe boxes that are in the attic. We’ll use those to keep it organized.”
“Like the social media people that organize things. I saw them.” Emeric jumped and I could feel his wolf side barely under the surface. “That’ll be cool.”
“Ancestors above.” Dorian groaned and looked up at the sky. “I’m starting to understand those mental load videos. I’m sorry I was an ass.”
Emeric’s giggle said he wasn’t worried about pissing off gods or ancestors but I shrugged as Dorian glared at me.
“It’s a legitimate way to handle the situation.
It keeps the food organized and makes it obvious what the plan was when we’re looking for options later this week.
You like lists too, so the meal list will be helpful. ”
He threw up his hands. “Fine. I had a plan and you were supposed to read my mind and do it my way.”
“Really? I hadn’t realized that.” He looked like a proper Alpha Mate who was ready to strangle his Alpa. “How would you like us to do this?”
“Not with shoeboxes.” Dorian stomped over to the back of the car where Emeric was smart enough to have tried to get his giggles under control. “Have to side with the Alpha, huh?”
Emeric was learning fast and gave his honorary uncle wide eyes and frowned. “He doesn’t know how to decorate. I had to help him.”
Smart pup.
Dorian huffed and realized there was no point in arguing. “Fine.”
He was cute when he was grumpy, but I was hoping we’d distracted him enough that his stress levels had started going back down. He wasn’t thinking about leaving the grocery store, but his scent still carried a lot of stress.
It was fading quickly as he opened the back of the car and handed Emeric a bag. “This is the meat we picked out. Will you put half of it in the fridge and half in the outside freezer? There is no right or wrong. You just need to think about what you want to eat first.”
Oh, interesting.
Emeric’s entire body jerked to attention. “I can do that. I’ll pick out a good one for tonight.”
As he raced into the house, I closed the distance between my mate and myself and wrapped my arms around him so his back was pressed against my chest. “Big deep breath in and let it out slowly. You did a wonderful job of handling the situation and you’re both safe now.
You’re literally one loud shout away from having a dozen wolves showing up. ”
Dorian closed his eyes and obeyed without pushback, and as he exhaled, he relaxed into me. “What do I shout? I can’t just yell help.”
Leaning down, I kissed right under his ear earning a soft whine from him. “It’s sexy how smart you are, Wolfchen. In a loud voice you need to say ‘to the Alpha’ and the magic of the pack will do the rest.”
He might’ve been human but he was the Alpha Mate whether he knew it yet or not.
Magic didn’t always understand consent.
“I can remember that.” Dorian took another deep breath and let it out slowly again.
“If Mr. Stein hadn’t shown up, I’d have called you while we were in the store and stayed up front while we waited for you.
I think that would’ve kept us safe, but I’m going to need someone else’s number just in case. ”
“I will always come for you, Wolfchen, but yes, you need to start meeting other members of the pack, and I’ll make sure you have a few people you can call for difficult or just confusing situations.
” He might not run into the same situation ever again, but he worked around too many shifters and other interesting locals not to need help once in a while.
I couldn’t understand how he hadn’t run into those situations already.
“Good. Yes.” Tilting his head, he snuggled closer and rubbed against my cheek. “And…and I’ll make a note about who would be good for different situations.”
“We’ll do that today.” Tightening my hold, I wasn’t sure how much he could feel through the tenuous bond that the magic had established, but I did my best to let him feel the confidence I had in him and the tender emotions that had started to grow.
Whatever he felt had him sighing out in relief and pleasure, but he didn’t pull away from what had to be an unexpected sensation. “Eventually I’m going to ask you more questions.”
“But today is not that day?” His grunt had me trying not to laugh. “I think that’s a good idea, Wolfchen, but what do you think about going for a walk with me later? We’ll let Emeric go be spoiled by my mother and we’ll have some quiet time to get to know one another.”
My mate was smart but taking things slow wouldn’t kill either of us.
“I’d like that if you think it’s safe.” When I nodded against him, he let out another soft sigh. “Then yes…and you’ll show me your other form?”
That request surprised me and yet didn’t.
“I’m not doubting you. I’m curious and…” He shrugged as his voice trailed off.
“I’d be shocked if you weren’t curious but you need to understand I’m a lot bigger than Emeric and I don’t want to make you nervous.
” There was no way to predict how he’d react even if he’d been easygoing about everything so far.
“I’ll be able to understand you and as you saw with Emeric my personality carries over. I won’t be a danger to you.”
Dorian folded his arms so he was running his hands over my forearms. “I wasn’t worried about that. Seeing Emeric helped rid me of any of those fears but it still feels different with you. Intimate in a way it wouldn’t be with Emeric.”
“Because our relationship is different.” A lot different, but I just kissed his neck again instead of pointing out the details. “It’ll be special and I think intimate is a good word, you’re just going to have to ignore my reactions to you.”
Three.
Two.
One.
“Oh.” He couldn’t resist rocking back against me and feeling my erection against him got a squeak from my mate. “Well. That’s. Yes. We can’t always control reactions.”
I managed not to laugh but there was no way he hadn’t felt my chest jerk. I gave him another quick peck before he turned around, but I might’ve still been smiling a bit too much as he turned around in my arms and glared at me. “Really? Giggles?”
“Alphas don’t giggle.” Never. “I was covering up very manly laughter because you’re sexy and cute.”
He scoffed but I could see the softening in his eyes. “Sure. Alphas don’t giggle.”
Nope.
“They do, however, bring in groceries and follow orders about getting shit done so they can go on a date later.” The date word had his eyes going wide and a faint blush spreading over his cheeks. “So, I am at your service.”
My Mate.
He blinked, taking a moment before whatever he’d been thinking vanished and he was back to looking dramatic. “Thank you. Especially since these are your groceries.”
That he’d bought for me.
“I can’t wait to see what you picked out for me, Wolfchen.
” I wasn’t sure I could explain what that did to me.
It just didn’t seem to have a human translation as far as relationship dynamics went but seeing my Mate taking care of me and by extension the pack had me doing my best to remember Emeric would come find us at any moment.
Dorian swallowed hard, licking his lips as he tried to go back to glaring at me. “Somehow I don’t think what you said was what you meant.”
“Smart men are so sexy.”
So were mates who glared.