Lessons in Love

Chapter 34: An Unlikely Ally

POV: Delta Rick Wallis

The drive to Ridgeline felt longer than two hours. George managed to say all of five things to me, one of which was to turn off the radio. I was falling asleep at the wheel without the radio to keep me occupied. I hadn’t slept much after Ben left. As good as I had felt about helping the girls face their fears, fear was all I felt afterward. I had tried to get some sleep, but every time I had closed my eyes, I had seen Mike’s dismembered body, Crista’s dead eyes, the pools of blood I had dug my back claws into hoping to find a grip on the hardwood floors.

When we reached Ridgeline’s pack lands, I sighed with relief. I drove us to the packhouse, got out, and let George out. Alpha Tyler greeted us at the door. He was a young Alpha, all of twenty-one years old. Marcus hadn’t thought much of the kid, especially after he had tried to swindle us out of land in exchange for assistance during the war. Ben and I had been firm with Marcus about rejecting the offer, and Marcus had agreed. As the war had taken a nasty turn, Marcus had seriously considered the offer.

I wondered if that offer was what George was here for. Was he planning to sell off the lake front property Tyler had originally wanted? Ben would flip if that was the case. The original deal was that Tyler would get the land and build a huge summer resort on it. He wanted the beach on Sapphire Lake, where the pack got its name, to be cut off to our pack members, and our pack members would have to work in the house to maintain it. Ben was hard on that piece of property – it was not for sale.

I walked behind Tyler and George. George kept pawing at him, patting him on the back and gripping his shoulder. Tyler seemed to blush and look at George awkwardly. I thought the interaction was strange. Alphas didn’t invade each others space because they didn’t want their space invaded in return. Tyler’s Beta, Andrew, didn’t seem to mind the interaction, seemingly ignoring it.

Then again, Andrew was young, too. Both Andrew and Tyler lost their fathers in a Rogue attack about 3 years ago, just before Tyler’s eighteenth birthday. Two months after burying his father, he was made Alpha of one of the largest packs in the region. Andrew was promoted to Beta a year later. We reached the landing, and Andrew and I made for the door to Tyler’s office.

George turned to us. “You boys can wait here. We have a private matter to discuss.”

“Sir?” Andrew looked at Tyler, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly at him as he questioned George’s orders.

“It’s alright, Andrew.” Tyler gave him a nod. “Please wait here with Delta Richard.”

Andrew stood at attention at the door. I lounged against the door frame. I wasn’t stressing my back to look the part when no one was around. As we reached the two-hour mark, Andrew started leaning too. He relaxed, and we made pleasant conversation. It was lunchtime when Tyler and George emerged. I smelled whiskey on both of them, but George didn’t look green like Tyler did. Honestly, Tyler didn’t smell that much of it. The ill demeanor was more likely caused by the conversation. After lunch, we were put back at our posts, holding up the door frame and waiting for our Alphas. A woman with long dark hair approached us late in the afternoon.

“Luna Isobel,” Andrew straightened up immediately. I did as well at the title. “Alpha Tyler and Alpha George Westlake of Sapphire Lake are still in their meeting and not to be disturbed.” He said very formally. I gave her a polite ‘ma’am’ and a nod. She studied my face for a moment.

“Are you, by chance, Delta Arthur Wallis’s son?” She asked.

“I am ma’am.” I said, trying not to sound suspicious.

“He was fine officer.” She smiled at me.

“Thank you, ma’am. May I ask how you knew him?”

“I’m a Delvain,” she smiled brightly. “Or was before I was mated. I’m from Sapphire Lake originally. My cousin …” she paused.

“I knew Chris well.” I said quickly. “He was a fine warrior. His daughter, Shawna, is a lovely girl, too. She’s just started in our new women’s program.” I told her.

“Yes, I heard.” She said, her smile getting strained. “Perhaps you will sit with me at dinner this evening? I would like to hear more about the harvest and the program Shawna is enrolled in.”

“I’m at your service, ma’am.” I smiled pleasantly. She seemed relieved. Her smile turned genuine as she let out a breath. She gave Andrew and I a courteous nod and was about to turn around when the door behind us opened.

“Luna Isobel,” George’s voice practically sang behind me. “I’m so glad you’re here. You should join us.” I glanced over my shoulder at George and saw that malicious grin he would get on his face before beating Claire or Ben. “We were just talking about our families.” He said.

Isobel went pale at the comment. “I really should be taking care of dinner.” She forced a smile to her lips.

“Nonsense!” George barked, and the poor woman flinched. “That’s what staff are for. Come!” His awful smile returned.

“Ma’am, the kitchen staff is gathered as you requested.” A maid came up behind the Luna.

“Thank you,” Isobel smiled with relief. “As I said,” she met George’s eyes almost defiantly. “There is much to tend to before dinner. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wallis.” She smiled and took off after the maid.

Andrew’s back was extra straight, and Tyler looked good and angry at George’s tone. George let out disgruntled noise and slammed the door shut. Andrew gave me a hard look, like somehow George’s behavior was my fault. I couldn’t really blame him. I would have been furious if someone had spoken to our Luna in such a manor.

Eventually, they came back out of Tyler’s office. Not before a bottle of whiskey went in, I noted. George’s breath was horrendous as he slapped me on the back and demanded we go down to the dining hall. George sat next to Tyler, patting him hard on the back and laughing at his own jokes. Andrew was leaning over whispering something to Tyler, blocking the seat next to him, and leaving nowhere for Isobel to sit that wasn’t right next to George. I stepped forward and pulled the chair a seat down from his and offered it politely to the Luna.

“What are you doing?” George growled at me. “The Luna should be seated next to me.”

“Protocol, sir.” I said firm, giving Andrew a quick look, daring him to suggest otherwise. Andrew pulled the chair out and sat immediately.

“That’s not a thing.” George growled.

“It is in my pack, sir.” Tyler spoke up. Not one of his officers so much as flinched at the lie. I took my seat next to George as the serving staff began to bring out the salads. I spoke inanely about the harvest festival, sounding like a country bumpkin as I did. I noticed some of the other officers snickering and whispering to their mates. It didn’t matter, George had zoned me out and was having a rowdy conversation with Tyler that was leaning more and more in the misogynist direction.

By dessert, I had to wonder if I had misread Isobel earlier. She had asked me to sit with her, and the way it had all played out made me think she had wanted to talk to me about something. I lifted my napkin off my lap to wipe my face and felt Isobel’s hand press something into my thigh. I lowered the napkin quickly, trapping the item as she pulled her hand away.

We kept chatting as I slid my hand under the napkin and felt a small, velvet bag. There was something hard and round in it, like a stone, I immediately thought. There was something else in the bag, too. Perhaps folded paper, a note to go with the stone.

I glanced at George, who was busy explaining how excellent our new women’s program is going to be this year. He was too drunk and too full of himself to see the exchange. I slid the little bag into my pocket. I wanted badly to know what it was, but I knew I’d have to wait until I got back to Sapphire Lake and the privacy of my home to open it.

After dinner, George was swaying a little. I needed to get him the hell out of there before he embarrassed our pack any more than he had at dinner. I packed him in the car and sent a quick text to Ben that I had news, and he should rally our troops for a debrief.

I drove a little aggressively, but George was too drunk – and still drinking – to notice. We got back to Sapphire Lake, and I half carried George inside his home. Ben stood up from the kitchen table as we entered. He was furious that his father was drunk. Not to mention that Ben would have to leave his mother here with him like this.

“A sandwich, woman!” He yelled at Claire as we came into the dining room. “And bring me a glass of whiskey while I wait.”

Claire was up and pulling out a glass before he’d finished the sentence. Ben’s back got straighter, and his jaw clenched. He stuffed his fists in his pockets and shook his head slightly in frustration. I saw Claire’s face flush and had to assume Ben and his mother were silently arguing through the mind-link, likely about where Claire should spend the night.

“You served me well, Delta Richard.” George piped up. “You may go now.” He dismissed me with a wave of his hand, like he was the king.

“Pleasure was mine, sir.” I gave a curt nod and one last look at Ben before taking my leave. I stood on the porch for a moment and mind-linked Ben. “What do you need me to do?” I asked.

“Wait with the others.” He said, sounding angry and defeated.

“Ben,” I started to argue.

“Just go. Please.” He growled.

I cursed under my breath and got in the car. I pulled the note out of the bag and read it. “That’s not for tonight.” I muttered to myself, stuffing Isobel’s note in my pocket. I shook the stone out into my hand. It was red, with a faint glow to it. It was exactly what I expected a curse stone to look like.