Chapter 11 #2
I turned my head when someone knocked on the doorframe. It was Theo.
“I’ve put together files for you, boss. There used to be an agency in town for this sort of thing, and there were a ton of applications already.
I picked my favorites for you,” he explained.
I raised an eyebrow, but Elijah shook his head and looked pointedly at Becca before returning his gaze to mine.
Theo put down the files next to me and I opened the first one. There was a couple pictured together and at once I understood.
He was looking to place Becca with a human couple to give her a chance at a family. I understood the reasoning. She was human, after all. If she could have a chance at a human family, now was the time to give her that.
“Elijah,” I began. “I still want to be involved in some capacity. Please.”
“Do not worry, Ashleigh. You and I will choose together,” he vowed, and I sighed in relief. I flipped through several more of the files while he finished cooking. By the time he slid the full plate of pancakes in front of me, I’d already settled on a few of my favorite couples.
He sat next to me, and I smiled back at him wistfully.
He picked up the maple syrup and covered my breakfast with the delicious treat. Then he took my fork and knife, using them to prepare the perfect bite for me.
I opened my mouth when he brought it to my lips. The decadent breakfast treat exploded with flavor across my tongue, and I moaned quietly with pleasure. I was definitely going to have him make this for me again.
“That is fantastic,” I murmured, chewing slowly so that I could savor every moment of that first bite. When I swallowed that initial one, he was already prepared with the second.
“She probably knows how to use a fork,” Becca declared disapprovingly, and my cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
“She needs help sometimes too, you know,” Elijah scoffed. He fed me several more bites until he finally passed the fork and knife back to me.
“Okay. We’ll see,” Becca replied while looking pointedly at me, and I had to hide my face to cover up my amusement. I stuffed a big bite into my mouth, almost as if I wanted to prove that I could indeed use utensils all by myself.
He was so natural with her.
He turned when he saw me studying him and cocked his head.
“I grew up in an orphanage. To many of the kids there, I was something of their big brother. I was the one they went to when an adoption didn’t work out or when they were looked over because people wanted younger kids.
No matter what they needed, I was there for them.
I got in trouble with the law when I was sixteen.
That’s when Amir found me and took me under his wing,” he explained.
“You weren’t born into the Crimson Shadows?” I asked and he shook his head.
“No. I wasn’t,” he replied.
Most wolves felt the power of their alpha intensely. Elijah had only followed Amir out of loyalty. His actions had nothing to do with deferring to an alpha.
His background was a mystery. For all I knew, he could have been born of another pack and was an alpha in his own right.
I flipped the folders shut and focused on finishing my own breakfast. I thoroughly enjoyed every last bite. When I was full, I sat back and pushed it away. Elijah swiftly came to my side and took my plate, washing all the dishes shortly after that.
He made himself a quick plate of eggs, bacon, and chocolate chip pancakes. Becca hopped up away from the table and went off to explore the chalet. Theo went along with her and kept an eye on her.
“It will be best for her to grow up with humans,” Elijah murmured when she was out of earshot.
“I know. It wouldn’t be safe for her to stay with us, especially with my father still in the picture,” I muttered.
“That doesn’t make it any easier though, does it, little wolf?” he asked pointedly.
“No. It doesn’t,” I answered a little mournfully. “It’s hard not to fall in love with that little girl. She’s awfully sweet.”
“She is,” he said thoughtfully.
I pouted a little and he noticed.
“Come here, little wolf,” he commanded gently. His arm wound around my waist, and he kissed my forehead.
“I’ll make you a promise, my sweet mate.
Whoever we choose will not only have Becca to contend with, but they’ll also have us.
They’ll have to smile when we show up to her birthday parties and they will thank us gracefully when we help them with the costs to send her to college. Do you understand me?” he explained.
“Yes, alpha,” I murmured.
“Good,” he answered, and his hand dropped to lightly smack my bottom.
“You’re getting a spanking tonight,” he growled.
“What? Why?”
“Because the two of us are going to start training tomorrow and I want that pretty little bottom sore so that you remember who’s in charge,” he whispered, and my pussy convulsed. I shivered and his arm pulled me up against him.
“Will you use your hand?” I asked nervously.
“If you’re a good girl while we’re in town today. If you’re a naughty one however, I’m going to use the wooden paddle I found on top of the fridge,” he threatened.
“A paddle?” I squeaked anxiously.
“That’s right, little wolf,” he replied. He opened a drawer and I glanced down, seeing the light wooden implement inside. I reached for it, sliding my finger along it. He grasped it in his hand and lifted it out.
“Bend over the counter,” he instructed. I swallowed hard but obeyed him. He swatted one cheek and then the other, swiftly popping me with it over my jeans. I gasped, the sting quick and instantaneous. I sucked in a breath, trying to keep myself from crying out.
“That hurts,” I sighed audibly. I had little doubt that those two swats alone had made my bottom pink already. I didn’t want to find out what a full spanking with that terrible thing would feel like, especially if he decided to take my pants down too.
“It does,” he answered.
He put the paddle back in the drawer and closed it. His fingers grasped my bottom, rubbing the sting away a bit roughly. Wrapping me in his arms, he squeezed my body tight and then grasped my chin with both hands.
He pulled me into a fierce kiss. My ass still smarted from the paddle, but the throbbing of my pussy soon outweighed the residual sting.
When his lips finally drew away from mine, I was overwhelmed with breathless neediness.
His smoldering gaze left me with no doubt that he’d throw me up on that counter and fuck me if there wasn’t a child in the house.
“I want you to remember how much that paddle stings, little wolf. I want that fresh on your mind while we’re in town today. If you are a bad girl for me today, you will find out what it feels like on your bare bottom. Don’t make me have to punish you with it tonight,” he warned, and I nodded.
“I’ll be your good girl, alpha,” I promised.
He kissed me again, much more tenderly this time.
“Eww!” Becca exclaimed as she raced into the kitchen with Theo hot on her tail.
* * *
The three of us rode into town a short while later.
The local school was reopening, and we dropped Becca off so that she could play with other kids her own age.
All the humans we ran into were very appreciative, thanking Elijah and me profusely for freeing them from the vampires that had held their town prisoner.
The more the two of us explored the town, the more evidence I saw that the vampires had been even crueler than I had imagined. People cowered before us, expecting us to lash out at them each time we paused to talk with them. They almost seemed surprised when we didn’t hurt them.
Everywhere I looked, people bore scars on their necks. The rogue vampires had ignored every rule the Council had about feeding on humans.
Many of the boutique shops along the streets were opening for the first time since the vampires arrived. Restaurants were at full capacity as people went out to eat together, enjoying each other’s company out in the open.
It was a beautiful sight.