Chapter 30
Braun
“Why are they fighting as humans? Have I missed werewolf boxing?”
My adorable mate and I were going to have a discussion on not distracting me around crazy or stupid people.
Luckily for me, I’d been trained by the best and easily dodged the damned near uncontrolled swing.
Who’d taught him to fight?
“I think the guy claiming to be his Alpha told him not to shift around Alpha Braun.” Webster was doing better than I’d expected, so it seemed like his training with the local cops had helped. “From what I’ve read, it changes how they respond to each other.”
Dorian sucked in a breath.
“You and I need to have a conversation about books later.” Dorian’s response had me trying not to laugh as I dodged another poorly aimed swing with just a side step. “I’m behind on my supernatural history if you’ll forgive the fantasy-style framing of that description.”
Webster was barely holding back giggles, mostly because one of his older brothers had told him real men don’t giggle.
His family was half weird and half asshole.
How that kid had turned out so sweet I had no idea.
“Fight me.” Our angry new friend was just getting more and more worked up as I kept moving. I’d been taught to conserve energy, but clearly, he hadn’t been given that advice. “You’re a fake Alpha and a coward.”
Did he really think that would make me reckless?
Maybe Uncle Coen hadn’t been just being a competitive dick when he’d tease me as we practiced fighting.
“Real Alpha’s don’t punish misguided wolves.” That’d been another one of the first lessons I’d learned along with learning how to gather the power I’d be given as Alpha. “I don’t know what’s happened in your pack but this isn’t right.”
Some part of him had to know that based on his half-hearted attack.
But it wasn’t a big enough part because his swings were getting more violent even if they weren’t getting much closer.
I really hoped Dorian could see that or I was going to be a dead Alpha when this was over…because he was going to be pissed.
“The…pup…belongs…to…Alpha Otto.” His stuttered-out response came with swings and slightly abrupt charges like he didn’t know what he was supposed to be doing. Was the magic affecting him more than he realized? “You’re a fake Alpha.”
“Do you think he’s ever met a real Alpha?” Dorian’s question had our new friend nearly tripping over either his own foot or something in the grass.
His growled-out embarrassment had Dorian sighing. “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s okay. Everyone falls.”
For fuck’s sake.
“You’re not supposed to be nice to the enemy, Mr. Dorian.” The smile in Webster’s voice was just as distracting as my mate’s logical questions. “We’re hoping he trips and falls on his face.”
“But that’s just not nice and I’m hoping he learns how wrong he is.” Dorian was too nice for his own good.
Fuck.
“Stop calling me wrong!” Whirling around, the crazy wolf lost his shit and aimed all that anger at my mate.
He looked nearly feral.
I’d never seen it happen in real life, but I’d been taught all the signs. I’d just never thought I’d have to use that information because I hadn’t been kidding when I’d told Dorian our pack was stable.
Webster started to shimmer to bring out his fucking dinosaur form that was impossible to hide, but I’d had enough of the nonsense.
I was Alpha…and he wasn’t going after my mate.
“Stop!” Letting the power of the first Alpha finally spill out, I could feel the explosion of magic radiate around us like a bomb, but it was all aimed at the idiot.
Who froze just like he was supposed to.
Who was a badass learner?
I was a badass learner.
And my mate was going to have to tell me that later when he was cuddling me and giving me attention.
“Good pup.” Yes, I was being deliberately antagonizing with a sugary tone, but I had to get through to him. “This is much better behavior.”
As I slowly made my way around to face him, he looked like he was ready to piss himself. “First time feeling the power of an Alpha, huh?”
Yep.
That was because most people were smart enough not to antagonize us enough that we got to this point.
“That’s probably startling.” Dorian just couldn’t help being a caring Alpha Mate. “I’m sure he understands you’re an actual Alpha now.”
Hopefully.
“I think it’s getting through to him.” Letting his brain come back online, I waited until the fear in his eyes had eased to a more manageable level. “Remind me to go over what an Alpha can do under the right circumstances, my mate.”
“Thank you.” Dorian’s cheerful response got a snicker from Webster. “This has been a good learning experience, so I’m honestly not upset about our date being…sidelined.”
“Dinner’s just been slightly delayed.” This wasn’t going to derail our date completely. “You promised me steak.”
His scoff had me fighting to keep the stern Alpha look I had going. “You promised me steak. You’re romancing me, not the other way around.”
We’d have to come back to that debate because the idiot blinked like he was processing what we were saying. “I don’t think you’ve congratulated me on my new mating…and I don’t think you understand how territorial a new Alpha gets over his mate.”
Overall I’d done incredibly well, though, and I knew my uncle would’ve been proud of me.
The idiot wasn’t even dead.
“I’d have let you wear yourself out all afternoon if you needed it, but I will not let you have my mate or my son.” Sometimes we needed to get our anger out and he just wasn’t choosing productive methods.
Dorian would’ve said he hadn’t gotten enough exercise lately.
“Webster?” His shocked inhale said he hadn’t been prepared to get my attention.
The startled cutie took a breath and I could almost hear him standing straighter. “Yes, Alpha?”
“Please notify the Justice Council that we have a problem.” I’d gotten nothing but the runaround from Otto’s local council and confusion from mine, so it was time to head right to the top.
“Me?” His squeaked-out response had me desperately trying not to react. He’d done a great job and I didn’t want him to question that.
“You’re very competent and didn’t Braun say you were with the local police?” From the sounds coming from my mate, he’d patted the boy’s head or maybe back. “He trusts you.”
And he was currently the representative of the local authorities, so technically outranked me when it came to legal matters.
He didn’t seem to remember that right off the bat, though.
“Oh.” Now he remembered. “Yes.”
I could hear him moving around before the clicks of his phone made it clear he’d remembered how to do it.
I was still of the feeling that having an app was ridiculous, but I might’ve been a bit old-fashioned when it came to technology.
“What does that do?” Dorian’s curiosity couldn’t be held back. “Oh, that’s interesting.”
Had he figured it out already?
“Braun, your paranormal police have an app. That’s very convenient but does this have GPS with it?
” He seemed to be poking at the app, but I tuned most of it out as the air around us thickened.
It only took a few seconds for him to notice, making it even clearer that he was human-plus at the very least. “That’s odd. My ears are popping again.”
Before he could ask any questions—because it was clear he already had a thousand—the magic condensed and a portal opened next to us like we were in a fucking sci-fi show.
They were so dramatic.
Yep.
The man who stepped through was wearing head-to-toe black on black, with most of it being fucking leather. He looked like a cross between an angry lawyer and whatever a dirty romance author thought a Hell’s Angel looked like.
“Speak.”
Great. Dramatic and stoic…and sexy judging by the sharp inhale and giggle coming from behind me.
Clearly those two troublemakers liked tall, dark, and tattooed.
“My mate, don’t flirt with the Justice Council representative.” That didn’t help either of their behavior but it got a confused blink from our helpful, magical biker-looking guy and a huff from Dorian.
What?
Had he been expecting me to use their old high German name to a kid and a human?
“Thank you for your help.” I, at least, remembered my manners as I started listing off all the stupid things the wolf had done. Just those were enough to get him in trouble, but it was just the tip of the iceberg of the chaos that had been going on.
The Justice rep listened closely but there was a slightly foggy look to his gaze which made me wonder if he was somehow listening with magic and not just hearing the words.
Dorian was going to be frustrated later when I couldn’t answer any of his questions, but I’d never actually met any of them in person before.
Neither had any of the previous Alphas in the pack as far as I knew.
Being well-behaved backfired sometimes.
When I finally got to the Alpha Otto who didn’t seem to be an Alpha part, I wrapped it up.
“I’ve also submitted an official report on that but handling it is out of my control.
There’s something wrong with that pack and I know it might sound insane but I don’t think Alpha Otto is actually an Alpha. ”
Blinking slowly, he gave a faint nod and focused on the idiot again. “He has been…manipulated in some way.”
Well, then it was good I hadn’t killed him.
“I hope he can be helped, but if he comes after my mate or Emeric again, I’ll kill him.” Might as well make that clear so no one could claim to be surprised later. “I have no idea what’s going on. This isn’t my strong suit, but he’s persistent and reckless.”
And probably stupid even if he’d been manipulated.
“Agreed.” Hard eyes flashed as magic raced around us. “Justified.”
Good?
Had he just given me some kind of magical legal permission to kill the idiot if it came down to it?
Ancestors above…Dorian was going to hate how many times I was going to have to say I didn’t know what was going on.
“He will be judged as well as the wolf named Otto.” The way he worded it made it sound like Otto really wasn’t an Alpha.
Had he ever been one?
“Am I allowed to ask questions or should we stay quiet?” Dorian’s question wasn’t as quiet as he thought he was.
Thankfully, it seemed like tall, dark, and stoic thought it was funny because I could see a faint smile touch his eyes before it vanished. “Yes, Alpha Mate. You may ask questions.”
“Oh. Oops.” Dorian swallowed hard but didn’t let the surprise derail him.
“Do you know why they’re coming after Emeric?
Can I ask what you are? I’m very new to this community and I’ve never seen someone like you before.
Will he be dangerous once you…de-spell him?
Un-spell him? I need to read more to get a better vocabulary.
I’m sorry if the wording is wrong. Is there anything else we can do to help you? ”
He was adorable…and I had a feeling if he wasn’t my mate I’d have had some competition for his attention.
“We have just started our investigation but it seems to be financially motivated. The wolf named Otto was once an Alpha but is no longer. The pack will no longer be a danger to you and steps will be taken to fix their broken magic.” When he paused, we realized explanation time was over. “Release him to my custody, Alpha.”
Nodding, I stepped back toward Dorian before releasing the magic that had the idiot still frozen. For a moment he jerked and came back to life, but before he could do anything, the rep waved his hand and the idiot disappeared.
“Magic is amazing.”
Dorian’s awed tone got a smirk from the Justice Council rep and a slight nod of his head before he turned around and strode through the portal.
When it closed, Dorian and Webster both let out deep breaths, but it was Webster that made me laugh. “That’s so weird.”
Agreed.
“Okay, let’s go back to that date thing.” Dorian’s fascinating brain shifted gears as I turned around to make sure my sexy mate was as safe as I thought he would be. His crossed arms and adorable glare said he was fine. “You were taking me to dinner.”
“Is that what we discussed?” Playing dumb got a huff from Dorian and a barely restrained giggle from Webster…and from my own pack members. “If that’s how you think the discussion went, my mate.”
If I was taking my mate out, then clearly it was me who’d get the reward later.
“I really don’t like that look.”
If he didn’t stop being so cute, Webster was never going to be able to control himself.