Page 11 of Bunny Be Mine
“Elders, that is not what is happening here.” Marcus gestured to the house and then his friends. I could almost feel the lying venom from my safe spot in my mate’s arms. It was disturbing to think of Marcus getting away with any of this. “We just wanted to make sure the area was secure for Fen and Arley. There have been rumors that there are shifters running wild in the woods and attacking omegas in heat. We couldn’t let Arley fall victim to such a crime. When we found out our old friend Fen was with him, we decided to check out the boundaries of Arley’s property to ensure no one could interrupt the couple while they were indisposed.”
Due to our shifter hearing and our location by the window, we could overhear almost everything said. It helped that they had raised their voices. While not every word could be heard, most could. Especially the louder statements from the elders.
“We are not going to let you do this inside our pack.” Elder Edwards poked his finger in Marcus’ chest. “You may think that you guys are running the pack, but we are still in charge. You’re just a tiny little boy trying to run a pack, and you are failing.”
“I deserve to be alpha.” Marcus growled, his face transforming into the monster he really was. “This pack was run by my father until he died, I should have inherited his rule.”
“That’s not how this pack does things, and you know it.” Elder Mitchell shook his head. “You have not been elected alpha and we do not rule by bloodlines here. We do what’s best for the whole pack. And by the activites you have been participating in, you are currently not showing the qualities it takes to be an alpha.”
“That’s bullshit.” Marcus pushed Elder Mitchell. “The title should be mine. I am the strongest alpha and can lead this pack to greatness.”
With the mounting anger seeping off these alphas, I was glad to have my mate inside safely watching the action from this window.
“You sound like a child playing pretend king. Lead this pack to greatness,” Elder Edwards mocked. “We are the exact kind of pack we need to be. We don’t need to grow into some super pack or gain power. We just need to protect our members and live decent lives. As for electing an alpha—we find the strongest of the pack, we make sure he is the best for the whole pack, and we hold a vote for the pack and council to elect him as alpha.”
“But.” Elder Mitchell looked around at the other elders and then Marcus and his friends. “Whoever becomes our alpha works together with the elders to run the pack. He does not rule alone.”
Elder Edwards gestured toward Marcus. “You are not our alpha, and even if you were our alpha, you are not working with the elders, and therefore you would be terminated from your position.”
“What?” Marcus shouted. “I think you all have this wrong. We were only trying to help some friends. I am more than willing to work with the elders. Just elect me alpha and you will see I am the right choice to lead us.”
“Enough.” Elder Anderson stepped up from behind the gathering crowd. The most respected of all elders, he tended to hold more weight with his words than any other in the pack. When he spoke, everyone knew to listen. “We are all going to leave this area at once. Let Arley and Fen be.”
“Yes, Elder Anderson.” Marcus nodded and snapped his fingers so that the rest of his friends would follow his lead. “We will no longer disrupt the lovely couple. Come on, guys, let’s head into Davensport and hit the club there. I heard they are having Omega Night and the place should be full of…potential mates.”
“And, Marcus.” Elder Anderson placed a hand on the retreating shifter’s shoulder. “You and your men are to meet the elder council tomorrow night at the pack meeting house. We have things to discuss.”
“We’ll be there.” Marcus entered his car and drove off, his friends all abandoning the area as well.
“We will be leaving as well.” Elder Andrews ordered the elders still remaining. “Congratulations, Fen and Arley. Let us know if that group gives you any more trouble.”
Relief swam through me as the elders pulled away and Fen and I were alone once more. That was not how I wanted to start my mating, but I guess it was done and over with now. I leaned up and kissed my mate. The sweet pleasure released from that one touch gave me an invigorating boost. “I know this won’t be the last of them, but I am glad that it has ended for now and rather peacefully.”
“Me too.” Fen led me back to the couch and we sat down. “Come sit with me. Maybe we can watch a movie.”
“That was scary, but I feel better now.” I grabbed the television remote and flipped through the offerings. Fen waited a moment before adjusting me right next to him. “But a movie sounds like the perfect solution to relax after that.”
Fen’s phone rang and he answered it on speaker. “Hello.”
“Hello, Fen, it’s Elder Anderson. I didn’t want to disrupt you two while Arley is in heat. But I wanted to let you know that we will handle Marcus and his men. We have been building up a bit of a case and tomorrow, we will be going over all the evidence and holding a meeting. Some of the elders don’t want to give up on him completely, but I have them all willing to show him that we will not accept his current behaviors. If they bother you again, call me right away. Just know that I am aware of the sort of man Marcus has become and I will not let him destroy this pack or harm this town’s residents.”
“Thank you, Elder Anderson.” Disconnecting the call, Fen settled onto the couch. “Let’s watch something stupid and fun. Nothing too serious.”
“I know the perfect one.” I selected one of my favorite cult classics and relaxed in my mate’s arms. Another round of heat would start soon but until then, I just wanted to cuddle and forget about the drama with Marcus.
Maybe we should move to the city with Fen,my rabbit pondered.They still have places to shift in the city. And we would get away from those wolves.
Shhh… less thinking. Just enjoy our mate. We can figure out our future later,I told my rabbit.Just enjoy the moment.
Fen
“What are you doing, Marcus? I thought we told you to leave us alone.” I seethed when I found my ex-friend waiting outside of the corner store for me and Arley after our shopping trip. “He’s my mate. Stop stalking him.” What would it take to get Marcus to understand? He obviously didn’t agree or approve of mates in the same manner as the rest of the town. Why did they have to put up with him?
“He is not good enough to be anything to a wolf but a fuck.” Marcus licked his lips and grabbed his crotch, making him look like the biggest moron on the planet. “Or a snack.”
“Fuck off, Marcus.” Arley rolled his eyes yet shifted closer to me. “Just go away.”
We pushed past Marcus and got to my car, my wolf on alert. The whole while, I was aware that Marcus’ goons were watching and waiting for a cue to start up trouble. I wouldn’t let them. I had to get my mate to safety. Permanently. I’d do whatever it took to keep Arley safe. One would think growing up in a pack, they would know what an alpha would do for a mate.
