That you do. I smiled asking, “Do you want me to come tonight?” Ted sighed, “You’re not part of the pack so you can’t. I wish you could.” I said, “Maybe I’ll just throw on my Black Arrow gear. I won’t get too close.” Ted warned, “Their sense of smell is out of this world good.” I winked, “I’ll stay really far back and bring binoculars. If anything goes haywire, I’ll have your back.”
Ted kissed me on the cheek, “I love you, Lex. I will breathe easier knowing that the Alpha and you have my and Matt’s back.” I hugged him, “Always. What time is this shindig?” Ted looked at his watch, “In thirty minutes, I’ve gotta run. Matt is linking me. God, I wish we could do this. It’s so damn handy.”
I questioned, “So it works like Haley’s with Eric?” Ted shrugged, “Not exactly. I had to mark him too before it worked. I did that after our call SHEEZ. Girl, it was so hot. Got his motor all KINDS of running. He was actually a little late to his coming out to his family meeting.”
I nudged him, “I’m really happy for you. His family was nice to you right?” Ted smiled, “They were in a bit of a weird place, but they were nice to me.” I nodded, “Good or I’d kick their asses.” Ted groaned, “Ugh, I really have to go. Thanks for being my eyes up in a tree, I assume.” I joked, “Where else would an archer keep watch?”
He took off like a shot out of my house. I quickly went over to my secret panel and put on my Hood outfit. I picked up my bow that hummed in my hands. Haley had put in a secret panel where all my gear was stashed. I sighed, “I know I haven’t picked you up in too damn long.” I grabbed binoculars, stepped on my porch. then walked back inside closing my door.
You can’t hear me if the door’s closed, I teased the shadows in my head. Then groaned “Fuck! I do not have time to lose shadows.” I thought about it then smiled. This was solvable. They were on the front of the house, but I doubted they were at the back. I went on my back deck. No one was in this direction.
I took off running off the back deck. I found a tree far away but when I checked my binoculars I could see a stage. I climbed high up in the tree. The breeze was at my front so they wouldn’t catch my scent on the wind. Plus, I’d picked a tree inside Haley’s border. Thank the War Goddess it had a clear view.
I pulled up my binoculars then almost dropped them when I saw a guy on a platform speaking. My mouth watered. I might have to hit Ted if this was his Matt. He was just as tall as Eric, but he had dark brown hair. He had on a fitted nice shirt on with slacks. There were two men standing beside him dressed similarly. They were attractive too, but not like this man. I had to wipe my chin because I was literally drooling.
I felt something faint in my chest but pushed it aside forcing myself to look at someone besides this man. It didn’t work for long. I couldn’t resist looking at his neck first. When I saw no mark there, I sighed in relief as something released in my stomach.
Who was he? Then it clicked. He had to be Chase. GREAT! Not only is his wolf beautiful, but his human half is also mouthwateringly hot. I looked at him again through my binoculars and rubbed my chest. I knew right then and there, for the sake of my string, I couldn’t meet Alpha Chase. That man would own the keys to my heart that I’d locked away. I knew he’d rip down my walls and set up camp permanently in my heart. I was already resisting the urge to flash in front of him. That wasn’t fair to my string.
I also knew that unlike with my ex, I’d never get over Alpha Chase if he broke my heart. I shook myself. What the damn hell? I haven’t even talked to him. I shook myself and looked around. I spotted Ted around the side of the house with two older gentlemen. He was so nervous. I hated that I couldn’t be beside him.
Both men were putting a hand on him in reassurance. Ted took a deep breath and came around the corner flanked by the older men. I saw him glance around. He smirked directly at me. He’d know what tree I’d pick; we were just that good of friends. His eyes locked onto the guy next to Chase, and he forgot all about me. This must be the brown wolf, his Matt.
I studied the crowd, and almost fell out of the tree when I saw Haley and Alpha Eric were there. Haley stiffened when she saw Ted. She must not have known who Matt’s mate was. Alpha Eric put an arm around her. She was on alert though, studying the crowd.
Ted spotted her when Matt pulled him forward to face the crowd. He visibly relaxed and blew her kiss, and she blew him one back laughing. The crowd visibly paled. I smiled broadly knowing Ted wouldn’t need me. If anyone was dumb enough to say something; Haley would end them.
I saw Ted’s face fall and Haley jumped up. I watched delighted as Haley pummeled someone. Alpha Eric was right behind her picking someone up by their neck and throwing them across the space. Everyone came to attention staring at the stage in shock and fear.
I looked back and saw Alpha Chase was yelling at them. He had them all cowering. He was the hottest angry man I’d ever seen. He took charge of the situation by grabbing the two people Haley and Alpha Eric had beat up and threw them both. He yelled at them, and they took off running.
I do not think so. Not a chance. They were not going to get away with whatever they had done to my best friend. I didn’t have to hear them to know they’d just offended the War Goddess and their own. I smirked realizing they were headed my way. It made it easier for me, but it was a bad decision on their part. I climbed down and notched an arrow.
After several minutes they cleared the tree line and came to a halt seeing me. I ordered, “Shift back if you don’t wish to die at this exact moment.” Both shifted. Too bad. Two older naked men now stood before me. One addressed me, “We have no quarrel with your people Black Arrow.”
I disagreed, “That’s not what it looked like to me. What did you say to Ted?” Both paled. The same one asked, “He’s a Hood member? They didn’t say that!” I shrugged, “They don’t know. That shouldn’t even matter. TELL ME what you said to him!”
The other one said, “We’ve already been banished. We need to get to at least Nashville to find a pack to take us or we will start to go crazy and become rogues.” I questioned, “Do I look like I give a shit?” The first man said, “It’s not right. A Beta’s line must go on.” I knew it.
I asked, “So, you openly disrespect your Goddess and mine? How small minded of you both. Ted and Matt can have kids if they want, be that through adoption or a surrogate. Ted wouldn’t have cared about you saying anything like that. He’s used to that shit which is a sad state of affairs for this realm. That’s a separate issue. What did you say to him? Mind you this is your last chance to answer me.” I raised my bow.
The other man said, “We said he would never be the Beta male. That our pack would never accept him, and we’d force Matt to step down. That Matt’s dad would take his place as Beta again until one of Matt’s brothers came home.” I needed to get our file on Matt. I didn’t know he had brothers. My anger consumed me, “You narrow minded pieces of shit.” I let my arrow fly.
Before the other man could even realize what I’d done, I fired sinking an arrow through his heart too. I grabbed the bodies and ran. I had plans for such situations. There was a crematorium near here. I snuck in and placed the two bodies in the fire and ran back to my place. I put all my gear away and stepped into the shower.
When I came out in my robe, Haley was waiting on my bed. She smiled, “I saw Ted tonight.” I sat down beside her, “He was so nervous. We had to get clothes from the stash you had here.” Haley laughed, “He told me after I told him either we had the same taste, or he’d raided his clothes here.”
I nudged her with my shoulder, “I’m really happy for him.” Haley asked, “Have you met Beta Matt yet?” I tilted my head, “Ted didn’t tell you?” Haley shrugged, “I didn’t ask him.” I shook my head, “I haven’t met anyone in Beta Matt’s pack, let alone the man himself. Ted actually kept it a secret from me until today.” That was one hundred percent true. I hadn’t met the wolves who helped us, and I hadn’t met any of them tonight.
Haley pressed, “Are you going to meet them?” I shrugged, “I’ll probably go to Ted’s place and meet Matt. I don’t know about anyone else. I don’t want to be too on the radar right now with the leak going on.” Haley nodded, “Alright.” She hugged me then pulled back, “You call me if you need anything.” I agreed, “Always. Same goes for you, you looked worried.”
Haley looked off into space saying, “I’m trying to get everything done.” I laughed, “Go have bunny sex. That will take your mind off everything.” Haley looked back at me, “I don’t know a werebunny. I’ve only had sex with Eric so… Don’t mind if I go have wolf sex because that makes everything you said make sense.” She gave me another hug then popped out.
I was about to lay down when a knock came at my door. It had to be Ted. I flashed downstairs. I’d barely opened the door when Ted came bursting in and hugged me. He had tears running down his face. I saw Matt pacing outside the barrier.
I whispered, “Ted.” He came in and I shut the door. Matt didn’t need to hear this. As long as my door was shut, they would hear nothing. Ted cried, “They don’t want me.” I disagreed, “Two old fuckers with their ass backwards ways don’t want you. Everyone else seemed accepting.” Ted was hysterical, “They said they would gather support.” I snorted, “They will gather nothing but dust.”
Ted’s head came up startled, “You killed them?” I nodded, “And burned their bodies. No one disrespects our people like that. Even if I’m far away when it happens, I’ll avenge it eventually. The Hackura have that right. Besides, you're my ride or die bestie. Like hell I was going to let that go. They missed out on knowing the amazing person that you are.”