Page 89 of Ascendant Moon
Evan expected the big-hearted Beta to react strongly, and that bode well for their actual meeting on Friday.
“It may take a while, but I think Lincoln will be fine. Security is keeping a close eye on him, so yes, he’s safe. We didn’t tell him, but Alpha Sheppard is sending a team this weekend to investigate the pack and see that justice is done.”
“Good. Tell Ben that I’ll go if they need extra men. Nobody should get away with abusing an Omega! It’s not right.”
“We all agree with you, Scooter, and Lincoln is a real sweetheart. I’m glad he came to us for help, and I’m sure he’ll be happy to meet you.”
Scooter grunted softly, mind awhirl with new thoughts.
“Thanks again, Evan. Tell everyone hello for me.”
Evan ended the call and returned to the living room to snuggle with his mate. Before the kisses resumed, Ben opened the mind-link and asked a question.
“What was that all about?”
“It seems that Luna’s been preparing Scooter, but I didn’t tell him that Lincoln is his mate. He’d probably come rushing home to claim him, and Lincoln needs more time to heal before they meet. I doubt either of them is stable enough at the moment for a typical mating, but there isn’t much I can do until we see how they react to one another.”
Ben pondered his mate’s words before responding.
“Your dreams didn’t reveal anything nasty, so I’m going to hope for the best and trust that Luna will guide you if things go south. To be on the safe side, I’ll ask Perdy to prepare Scooter’sapartment so they have what they need, and you’ll have to make another set of flashcards for the newlymates.”
Soon after, Lincoln came home and the whole bedtime routine began. While everyone else was counting sheep, Evan enjoyed the focused, pleasantly exhausting attention of his mate.
Chapter 45
Friday, October 8th, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
There were only two things on Scooter’s mind at the moment, and listening to the final conference speaker wasn’t one of them. Checking the wall clock every few seconds didn’t make time go by any faster either, and the yearning to leave made him antsy. Home. He wanted—no,needed—togo home. He’d endured five days of hiding his true nature, pretending to be human with no opportunities to shift and run. He missed the sights and smells of Gladstone, his packmates, the food, and even his job!
Something, or rathersomeoneelse called to him as well, though he couldn’t explain why. He didn’t know Lincoln Hart, other than what Evan told him during their phone conversation. Somehow, the stranger got under his skin and brought out a protective streak a mile wide. Agitated since the initial phone call, his wolf demanded that they return and make sure the sweet, abused Omega was safe. Beneath that was a simmering layer of desire that defied logic. His attraction to men in general was now focused on Lincoln—a man he’d never even met!
Maybe it really did make sense, since Scooter’s occupation and experience with pack security predisposed him to protect others. Not being present when Lincoln showed up only roused his natural curiosity and need to see for himself that the poor fellow was being cared for properly. Surely that’s all this was, and yet his conclusion lacked conviction. Some other force was at play here, leaving him confused and on edge. Hopefully, Evan could sort it out once he got home, and that moment couldn’t come fast enough!
############
Not long after…
While the others mingled and conversed, Scooter tore out of the conference hall like a scalded cat the moment they were dismissed. Even four flights of stairs didn’t slow him down as he raced to his room for a quick bathroom break and to grab his suitcase. He was just about to go when the door opened and Tripp walked in with a relieved smile.
“I was hoping to catch you before you left. I’m glad to have met you, Scooter, and I can’t thank you enough for helping me meet Austin.”
Tripp’s scent revealed a friendly sincerity, and Scooter paused to say goodbye to his roomie.
“You’re a great guy, and I wish you the best. Are you and Austin going to keep seeing each other?”
Tripp’s pale, freckled cheeks flamed with heat.
“Yeah, we’re going to give it a try, anyway. It’s only an hour’s drive between us, and if it gets serious, he could easily find a job out my way. If you ever visit the island, be sure to ask for me at the station. I could be your free tour guide!”
Scooter gave him a warm smile and extended his hand.
“Sounds good. You take care now.”
Tripp surprised him by leaning in for a kiss on the cheek.
“I envy the lucky man who catches your eye.”
Red-faced, Scooter grabbed his things, waved goodbye, and left the hotel room. Five minutes later, he was on the highway heading home at last.
