Lessons in Love

Chapter 59: Gains and Loses

POV: Riley Campbell

Tom dropped his arm to his side at the feel of Ben’s aura. Tom’s eyes were round with fear as he stammered and stuttered. “I’m not mated. My mate died years ago. I’m not sleeping around either.” He said quickly.

“Who else wants to share their love life with everyone?” Ben growled at the room. When no one responded, he turned back to Tom. “The reason we want her to be a part of this pack is to protect the young girls she teaches. You realize she couldn’t mind-link anyone when she was attacked the other day. What’s more important to you?” Ben asked the room. “Her marital status or your children’s safety?”

It was the last bit of perspective some of them needed. They were all nodding in agreement. Tom looked foolish to them. Tom didn’t like that and growled at me again as he spoke just loud enough for Ben and me to hear him. “He was right about you. You’re just some two-bit…”

“And Tom,” Ben growled the man’s name slowly but loud enough for everyone to hear him. It was the kind of growl that promised violence. The whole room stopped and watched Ben. “If you ever raise your hand to a member of this pack again, especially my mate, I will end you.” Ben’s aura surrounded the three of us, and Tom paled at the feel of it. “Go back to your seat.” Ben growled. Tom bobbed his head and scurried back to his seat.

Ben reached out and took my hand. At the contact, he was able to stop growling, and the tension in his shoulders eased. He gave me a half smile. I smiled back but shook my head at him.

“Aw,” someone in the crowd cooed. “She really is the Beta’s mate.” The room erupted in cheers and applause.

“Sorry,” Ben whispered.

I laughed. “It’s okay.” I leaned and in whispered to him. “It was actually kind of hot.” His cheeks were red instantly as he looked around to make sure no had heard me. It made me laugh a little harder.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Someone asked.

“They didn’t have a choice.” Rick spoke up, drawing the attention off us as Ben and I walked back to the front of the room. “George would have tried to kill her if he’d known. The last thing George wanted was for Ben to get stronger than he already is.”

Rick could have phrased that a million different ways, but I felt Ben react to the way Rick had spoken the words. He was embarrassed at the compliment being made in front of everyone, but Ben also felt reassured by his friend’s words. It was like Ben had needed to hear that to believe that he was strong; that he was getting stronger. I gave Ben’s hand a squeeze, drawing his attention, and smiled at him.

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead before straightening up to address the crowd. “Also, it shouldn’t matter who anyone is mated to.” He said. “We should be protecting everyone who lives in our territory. We should be caring for them. We did that for each other during the war, but it’s like we forgot we still needed to after. It shouldn’t take war for us to be kind to each other.”

“The three of us promise, no matter what you decide to do today, to protect you. To care for you and your families.” Rick said. “We hope that you’ll come to us and tell us when something isn’t right. When someone, whether it’s you or someone else, is unsafe and why. We have a chance to make this pack the best it can be for when the true Alpha and Luna return.”

Sam stood up and moved to the left side of the room where a table with boxes on it was set up. “If you have any more questions, we’ll do our best to answer them. Those of you ready to vote, please form a line here and fill in your ballots.” With that, the room erupted in chatter and movement as people got up to vote.

Several people came up to Ben and me to congratulate us. A few people apologized, admitting that they’d spread the vicious rumors George had shared with them. Claire seemed to be uncomfortable with all the attention she was getting and moved to stand with us. A couple approached us, and I recognized the man as one of the men who’d spoken up.

“Luna Claire,” he said gently. “I owe you an apology.”

“We owe you one.” The man’s mate corrected. “I need you to know that I had gone to Dr. Wilder several times. I didn’t know he was being threatened to ignore what you were going through. Had I known, I swear to you, I would have been about as subtle as a loudspeaker.” Clara smiled, ruefully using Claire’s words.

“She doesn’t talk about work. It’s too easy for me to guess who the patients are.” Mike added. “She never told me what you were going through. Please,” he said genuinely. “Please forgive us.”

“I will,” Claire said firmly. “On the condition that you heed the Delta’s words. If you see something wrong, and the proper channels aren’t resolving it, then speak up. Tell someone what you know.” They both nodded. “And Clara, I’m sorry for calling you indiscreet. Mike is right, you can’t talk about your work, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Well,” Clara blushed a little. “I do like a good bit of gossip. That’s no secret. It’s probably why George told Mike all the things he did.”

Claire smiled at her. “Thank you.” She said softly. “Thank you for coming over here and talking with me. I really do appreciate it.” She took Clara’s hand and gave it a squeeze. The two of them walked off to vote.

“Ms. Campbell,” a woman approached me.

“Mom!” Shawna hissed behind the woman.

“Can I have a word with you?” Mrs. Delvain said sternly, eyeing Ben suspiciously. “Privately.” She gritted her teeth.

Ben’s hand clenched around mine. He hadn’t liked the way she’d spoken to me, I realized, and felt his anger through the bond. “Of course,” I said with a smile. “I don’t know the packhouse very well. Is there a library or somewhere quiet we can go?”

“There’s an anteroom at the back of the hall.” Ben pointed to a door on the far side of the room. “Will that work, Carly?” He asked. Carly nodded, and the three of us headed in that direction. Once the door was closed behind me, I turned to them. “What can I do for you?”

“You can start by explaining to me how my daughter got enrolled in a training program I specifically told Katherine I wanted no part of.” She growled at me.

I looked at Shawna. Her face was flaming red and guilty as all hell. “Katherine provided me with written consent from each of my trainees' parents.” I said carefully. “Katherine and I also called each of the parents the Saturday before school started to get verbal confirmation and to provide the training schedule. I was under the impression I spoke to you two Saturdays ago.”

Carly glared at Shawna. “The Saturday you were fixing a problem with my phone?” She said sternly. “Dammit Shawna! I told you no!” She snapped at her daughter.

Shawna opened her mouth to speak, and I could tell it was going to be something that would turn this scolding into a full-blown argument. “Shawna,” I stepped in. “Could you please give your mother and I a moment to discuss how we’d like to handle this.”

“Handle?” Shawna looked surprised.

“You lied to me too.” I reminded her.

“Ms. Campbell, please I …”

I held my hand up, and she stopped. “Give us a moment. Please.” Shawna glared at her mother for a moment before nodding and leaving the room. “Carly, I’m truly sorry. I will pull Shawna from the training program immediately if that’s what you want. Neither Katherine nor I meant to go against your wishes.” Carly nodded and was about to say something, but I stopped her.

“Before you say anything, I do want you to know that your daughter is a natural leader. She’s been great helping with the younger girls, she supports and challenges her peers, and she is a good fighter with a strong aura. I will continue to support and guide her in the first two no matter what you decide, but I hope we can talk about her remaining in the combat program.”

“Let me explain it to you since I know you don’t have children of your own yet.” Carly glared at me. “That girl is all I have left in this world. She is everything to me. I will not allow you, or anyone else, to weaponize my daughter because we’re running low on warriors. She will not be torn to shreds on some battlefield like her father because of some idiotic sense of duty. I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!” She screamed at me.

“Carly, I can’t begin to imagine the loss you and your family have suffered. What little experience I have as a mated woman tells me it would be hell on earth.” I said, feeling my chest get tight at the idea of losing Ben. “Do you know why Shawna did all this?” I asked.

“I suppose you’re going to tell me.” Carly said snidely.

“No,” I said. “I didn’t ask any of them why. I assumed it was for one of the typical reasons, like self-defense.” I shrugged. That knowledge seemed to calm Carly down some. “I will respect your decision. Full stop. If you don’t mind calling her back in here, I would like an explanation for her behavior, if that’s alright with you, of course?” I said. Shawna would have one chance to get herself back in the training program, I thought. I would demand an explanation and hope that explanation resonated with her mother. If not, Shawna would have to be removed from the program.

Shawna opened the door almost immediately, and I saw behind her the other girls from the program hovering just outside before she closed it. “You wanted to see me?”