Chapter 29
Dorian
After our second lap around the main center of town, I swung his hand and made sure to look relaxed as I spoke as softly as I could. “We’re being followed, aren’t we?”
It’d been easier to figure out in the car, but something had started to feel off.
Braun grinned, completely unworried and looking a bit like Emeric when he’d gotten into mischief. “Technically he’s trying to walk beside us, just one street over, so it’s more like a weird third on our date?”
Good grief.
I didn’t want to live out that kind of book.
“But I’m remembering to point out more of the little things about the area on this lap around town and I even remembered that story about Jimmy ending up naked.
” His smile was so genuine I couldn’t tell if he realized how insane the situation was or not.
“Oh, and he’s being followed by all the ghosts and two pack members who were in town for work. ”
I’d always thought living in San Fransico for six months would’ve been the weirdest place I’d ever live.
I was wrong.
“That’s good to know.” At least they were on the ball when it came to insane people?
Except for the food truck guy.
He was odd and no one seemed to know what he was.
“Do we have a plan?” His nod was decisive but his grin didn’t give me as much confidence as he seemed to think it would. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Learning more about Braun was helping me better understand some of my more reckless students.
“I think I’m supposed to say no, so I’m going to do whatever the relationship version of pleading the Fifth is.
” And now he looked pleased with himself as well as excited.
“I will say very clearly that our first option is to head to the car. I had it moved closer and we’ve got a straight shot to it just around the corner. ”
Someone had moved the car?
“When you were texting your mother to fill her in about the couple…and…and when I was buying the candles?” That didn’t sound right, so I wasn’t surprised when he shook his head. “When I went to the bathroom in that little antiques store and got distracted talking to the owner about that table?”
I needed to remember not to leave him alone that long again…he got into trouble.
“Yes.” He didn’t look nearly as repentant as he should have. “Should we head back to the car?”
What was the right answer from a pack perspective?
Thinking like a human wouldn’t help me.
“Give me a moment.” This wasn’t as easy as the human thinking side of me thought it should be. “One more lap around the park, please?”
The steaming couple was either having sex there or had finally left, so either way it should be fine to walk by there again. I was perfectly fine being the person to tell them to behave and put their clothes back on.
I’d gotten enough practice it didn’t feel awkward any longer.
“Of course.” Braun kissed my head, letting me process my options but not looking stressed enough about the situation for my liking.
After a few minutes, I found at least a few thoughts and questions.
“I know it sounded like I was teasing before…and probably judging…and I might’ve been doing both, but we’re going to come back to it logically.
You’re…some kind of word like excited…about the idea of confronting him.
I think that’s a biological difference between us and also has something to do with being Alpha. ”
He nodded.
Good grief.
I’d mated an Alpha from a romance novel after all.
“I understand it’s not something you’re familiar with, but think of it like a very well-trained soldier getting to use his skills.
” Braun’s cautious response said he’d used his time wisely.
“We’re wired to be more aggressive which is why we try to burn off energy in more productive ways…
like Emeric running around all the time and why the high school has a ton of extra gym classes kids can take. ”
That made sense.
“Some of the kids stay after the regular hours to take additional gym classes. I’d thought it had something to do with Southern competitiveness when it comes to sports, but this makes sense.” And probably explained why some of my students were wigglier than even ADHD could explain.
“Some of us just need the extra movement to make sure we behave.” He flashed me a grin as he started swinging my hand like he was a kid. “Like going on walking dates with our mate.”
Trying not to laugh, I raised on eyebrow. “So moving the rest of my stuff this morning wasn’t enough exercise for you?”
He shrugged.
Okay, mental note…Braun needs more exercise than he’s been getting lately.
“Part of your training to be Alpha was fighting?” It seemed obvious in some ways but it was so removed from my life it was almost like a fantasy.
But he nodded.
“And logically I think part of you would like to handle this now so we don’t take it back to the pack and Emeric.” We’d managed to keep a lot of it from him, but if this kept up it wouldn’t be possible.
“Yes. Having more of the pack around would technically make a bigger impression on him, but it’s not necessary. He’s not Alpha and he’s not that bright.” Braun was smart enough to wince when I shot him a look. “It’s not rude if he’s stupid and evil. It’s only rude if he’s a nice guy.”
That was terrible justification.
“We’ll come back to that.” Because I’d never thought of the problem before and wasn’t prepared for a moral debate on it. “I think I need to leave this decision up to you, but I need clear instructions about how to stay out of the way.”
I was not going to be one of those characters.
“Alright, then we’re going to turn right up at the next intersection.
Do you remember that green space we walked past that I said was up for sale?
” When I nodded, he continued to talk through his plan.
“Remind me later to ask what kind of shops we might need that you haven’t seen because I could get it for a good deal, but we’re going to stop there.
You’re going to stand by one of the walls with a friend of the pack who’ll keep you safe. ”
My life had gotten very strange.
“The guy will only intervene if the idiot does something stupid like come after you. He’s not supposed to attack you if he’s using actual pack law, but he doesn’t seem to know the laws.” That seemed to bother Braun more than the actual confrontation.
“Thank you for planning for his bad decisions.” The man from the other pack wasn’t making good ones already, so we could probably count on him making more bad ones. “Your goal is to get information and to make him leave?”
He wasn’t going to kill that idiot in the middle of town, was he?
“Ideally information and him leaving, yes.” Braun would’ve made me happier if he’d have still been grinning. “I’m not going to limit myself to what might happen, though. He’s come here to take Emeric. If he’ll kidnap a child, what else will he do?”
“I agree but playing Devil’s Advocate…do you think he actually understood he was going to kidnap Emeric?” His behavior had been odd, but how much did that excuse?
“That’s what’s giving me pause about saying what I’ll do.” Braun stopped as we got to the green space and kissed my head again. “I don’t want to kill him if he’s been lied to and can be reasoned with.”
But…
“I know you’ll make the right decision.” How were we even discussing this? “Where—”
Oh.
There they were.
Three men stepped out of the shadows across the empty plot, two large men who I’d been introduced to the other day and who were basically badass accountants. I wasn’t sure what the plan was for them until one started taking off his clothes and I looked away to study the new man.
Well, kind of a man.
The third was more confusing because he was barely an adult and wiggled like his ADHD was completely out of control.
Yes, he was my protector because he came bouncing across the grass with barely a jerk of Braun’s head. “One of his relatives seemed to have fucked a dinosaur at some point. He’s not coordinated at all but he’ll be able to chomp the idiot in half if he needs to.”
What?
“Webster. This is my mate Dorian.”
A dinosaur?
People really would sleep with anything.
“Hi, Alpha.” The too-young-looking kid was smiling ear-to-ear as he stumbled to a stop. “The chief says hi and to let him know if you need help burying a body.”
Good grief.
Well, it was nice that Braun had such good friends in high places?
“Thanks.” Glancing over toward one side, Braun squeezed my hand one more time before letting it go. “The idiot’s close. Thank you for protecting my mate.”
“Anytime.” Webster turned his beaming smile toward me, ignoring the growing danger and the way one of the other men was now a very large wolf. “I’m really big when I shift. Don’t worry.”
Because he was some kind of a dinosaur.
Great.
“Thank you.” How was I supposed to respond to any of this? “I appreciate your help while Braun takes care of the situation.”
I didn’t think I needed to point out the whole human thing, so I tried not to say anything stupid as we moved to get out of the way.
Thankfully, Webster seemed to be able to fill in any gaps in the conversation.
“I’ve already graduated from the high school but I still have some family members you’re teaching. They really like your class.”
“I’m glad.” Most of my students were great kids.
“I’m supposed to find a way to casually drop in the fact that the Carson kids are all mages who really like pranks.” He shrugged when I coughed to cover a laugh. “I don’t know why they thought I was the right person to do that.”
Me neither.
“I can connect the dots now and I appreciate you being so direct.” That was much easier. “I’m still learning about the community, so sometimes subtle is confusing.”
“Oh.” Perking up again, he looked pleased. “Then I’m not going to tell them I screwed that part up.”
“You didn’t. You were very helpful.” And a bit like a puppy if I had to describe him.
What was he besides part dinosaur?