Chapter 18 #2
“Excellent. I expect to be informed the moment he gets here.”
“Absolutely. Right now, his eta is 2pm. I’ll be sure to keep you informed. Here is your door card, sir.”
“Thank you. You can give the rest of the keys to Beta Marcus Haze. His boy has our luggage.” Alpha Dean swaggered off, his Luna on his arm. A pack member motioned him to follow, a personal escort to his rooms.
“Beta Marcus, here are the door cards to the rooms. I do have people to take the luggage up.” Drake motioned a volunteer porter over.
“The boy will get the luggage. Hayden, here.” Beta Marcus gestured imperiously at a scrawny kid to come closer. The attitude did not endear Beta Marcus to Drake. He was achieving the opposite of what he wanted people to see.
Hayden only had a t-shirt on in ten degree weather?
It was winter for fuck’s sake. Long blond hair was pulled back from his face.
It fluttered in the freezing, light breeze.
Amber eyes refused to look up at anyone.
Withdrawn and resigned was written all over him.
No matter what, no one would be treated so badly on Blood Moon Pack territory this week.
Drake’s heart seized as the smell of pine and smoke drifted his way.
The smell was gently rolling off the ‘kid’.
Wolf was furious. Mate. His mate was shivering in the cold.
His mate was being demeaned by some self-important abuser.
Mate needed his protection. Wolf started charging towards Hayden.
Drake fought hard to stop him. Something was off.
If he wasn’t eighteen yet, he was close.
There was no reaction to Drake’s scent yet.
It took everything in Drake to rein in his wolf from killing every person standing close to his mate.
Mate’s suffering ended now. Somehow, he needed to get mate alone so he could start protecting him, get him warm, care for a guy who clearly had no one caring for him.
“Yes, sir?” Hayden said quietly to Beta Marcus.
“Luggage. One of Drake’s men will show you where to go.” Beta Marcus nodded to Drake. “Thank you for your help. Would it be possible to get a tour of your territory tomorrow? Of course, I know you’ll be busy.”
“I’ll get it arranged. How many will be in your party?” Drake couldn’t care less at the moment. He wanted to get the ‘boy’ away from this Beta. Drake was mate’s shield. Hazel’s glowing green eyes stared at him.
“Ten.”
“11am work for you?”
“Yes. Come, my beautiful Kali. Boy! Luggage!” he barked again and snapped his fingers at Hayden.
“I’ll help with the luggage, sir,” Drake said between gritted teeth. He gestured at a pack member. “Your escort is Vince here.”
Drake’s wolf almost took over again to kill Beta Marcus.
How dare he talk to his mate that way? He just couldn’t say it out loud.
Wolves believed it best not to tell the underage wolf about the mate-bond.
It was a solid rule for the most part, but exceptions were made.
They didn’t want the younger, vulnerable party to feel pressured, or worse yet, fall into an abusive relationship of lies.
It was too easy to take advantage of them.
Underage wolves were warned not to believe any wolf claiming they were a fated mate until the mate-bond actually confirmed it on their eighteenth birthday.
Drake mind-linked Asher. Get me a coat and sweatshirt for this guy.
Drake grabbed a luggage cart and had another two volunteers grab more. The ‘boy’ was grabbing a luggage cart, too. Drake gently took it out of his hands and handed them off to volunteers.
Asher, I’m done with meet and greets. Let Alpha Steven know. Drake would take the heat if Alpha Steven got mad. They’d built trust over the last three years. The ‘boy’ took priority. That designation pissed Drake off even more.
“I have people for that. You’re my guest,” Drake said quietly. “Your name is Hayden?”
“Yes, sir. My family is expecting me with the luggage.” Hayden swallowed hard. “Sir, I don’t mind. It’s my duty.”
“Drake. Not sir. And this week, you are my personal guest.”
Shivers rippled up and down Hayden’s body. Drake had to fight back the urge to wrap his mate up in his embrace. He sighed in relief as a pack member handed him a hoodie and jacket.
“Here. It’s too cold. A gift from Alpha Steven.” Drake wanted to dress Hayden, but he had to be careful. He couldn't allow the mate-bond to force Hayden into anything. The bonus was that having the gift come from an Alpha would make it harder for Hayden to refuse.
Hayden still shook his head no at the gift. He didn’t even reach for the clothes. Eyes locked hard at the ground as he stepped back. Drake took a careful step closer to shield Hayden from the cold breeze. He felt like he was dying as his mate shook in the cold.
“I’m sorry, sir, um, Drake. I can’t accept that.”
“He doesn’t need that hoodie and jacket,” some little bitch spoke up at Drake’s elbow.
“And who are you to decide that?” Drake turned on the little bitch and let his Alpha power slip the leash enough to get her attention. The brunette little bitch flinched away from him. She bared her neck as she stumbled back a few steps.
“Allison Haze,” she squeaked out. Drake raised an eyebrow at her. “His half sister. Dad said he’s not worth it.”
Drake growled at her. His wolf lunged to the surface. A teen boy leapt to the girl’s side and pulled her away. Asher appeared at Drake’s side, lending his support. His support helped Drake shove his wolf back yet again.
“Sorry, Alpha Drake, I’m her brother,” the pup had the sense to say. “He can have the clothes. I’ll let dad know it’s a gift from the Alpha.”
The girl’s face had drained of color. She let her brother lead her away. She better decide to never show her face to him again. His wolf wouldn’t suffer her presence. He had her scent now.