Lessons in Love

Chapter 11: Not Now

POV: Beta Ben Westlake

“You’re going to need to explain that reaction, but first, I think I need to know about this.” Rick said, joining me in the living room and handing me a letter. It was addressed to Riley Campbell. So, mystery solved. My mate was the new high school teacher, who had been spending all her time with Rick and Sam and not me because I hadn’t bothered to introduce myself. I let out a sigh and started reading the letter. My concerns over my mate washed away as my anger took root again. I gripped the letter tightly in my fist, letting out a violent growl.

“I had dinner with my parents tonight.” I said through clenched teeth. “My father invited Marcus, who informed me that you and I are the future leaders of this pack, but that my father would be the acting Alpha until they see fit to promote us.”

Rick let out a vicious growl of his own. He got up and started pacing. “This isn’t good.”

“No, it isn’t.” I put the letter down and raked my hands through my hair. “The Alpha is not well. Rick, he’s dying, and he knows it. If that’s true …”

“Then the Luna is dying, too.” Rick rubbed his mouth, like he’d felt the words leaving his lips.

“I don’t know if my mother could survive my father dying.” I said bluntly.

“Ben, we can’t kill the Alpha.” Rick said calmly.

“I would agree, but we’re talking about my father here.” I growled.

“We’ll cross that bridge if we have to. Right now, we need to make sure we build a loyal following this week. Even with the old guard. You know how they’re going to feel about your father.” He said. I nodded. “I think we need to bring Sam and Riley in on this.” He added. I sprang from the chair with a vicious growl before I could stop myself. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” He demanded.

I stepped back from him and sat back down with a sigh. “You don’t smell it, do you? The flowers?” I asked miserably.

Rick moved around and sat down on the coffee table right in front of me. Rick looked at me quizzically for a moment before I saw him draw the conclusion. “It’s Riley.” He said softly.

“She got hurt on the patrol today.” A growl underpinned my words involuntarily.

“Just a scratch, I promise.” Rick said calmly. “She got checked out the minute we got back. How long have you known?”

“That it was her? About two minutes. I’ve known I’ve had a mate for two weeks. I caught her scent off the letter she sent to the Alpha and Luna. You took it before I got to see who it was from.”

“I’m so sorry, Ben. Why didn’t you tell me to leave the mail alone?” Rick chuckled.

I shrugged. “It was so crazy. I didn’t think you could connect with a mate like that.”

“I think she felt the same way this afternoon. She acted really strangely when I handed her the letter.” Rick admitted.

“She knows,” I said miserably. “She went to my door when she came up here to talk to you.”

Rick looked me in the eye, gauging me before he spoke. “Ben, I know you’ve never wanted this, but this could be for the best. Mated pairs are always stronger, and we could use every advantage …” My growl cut him off. He raised his hands in surrender. “Poor choice of words. I’m just saying the timing is a lot better for you than you think.”

“Better?” I growled. “Rick, I’m not putting anyone else in my father’s war path. After we deal with him, maybe, but I’m not entertaining this while my father is acting anything. Not now!”

“Okay,” Rick said calmly. “But I think you two need to have a conversation about this.” I shook my head at him. “What are you going to do, Ben? You can’t avoid each other forever. Hell, you can’t avoid each other beyond Saturday and the harvest festival.”

“I know!” I barked at him. I felt sick to my stomach, and I was clenching my hands together to keep them from shaking. “Rick, you have to help protect her from him.” I heard my voice get thick, and I looked down at my tightly clenched hands. “Please, promise me.”

Rick didn’t say anything, but I heard his breath hitch at the request. I looked up and saw absolute terror cross his face before his eyes went blank, and he nodded. “I’ll protect her.” He whispered, looking down at his own tightly rung hands. “We need a plan.” He got up and started for his coffee maker.

We spent the next several hours going over the harvest schedule, the festival plans, and anything else we could think of that would give us an advantage. We went over the way Marcus had told me about my father taking over, desperate to find a clue in it.

Riley’s floral scent hung in the air, gnawing away at my nerves until I was calm and almost complacent. Rick, on the other hand, was wound tightly. He’d had two cups of coffee and was fixing himself a third.

“You’re never going to sleep if you keep drinking coffee like that.” I said and let out a jaw, cracking yawn.

“We need a plan more than we need sleep right now.” He said, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. Since I’d asked him to help me protect Riley, he’d been acting strangely. He seemed jumpy and a bit distracted. I had chalked it up to the coffee, but I didn’t believe it was just that.

“How have you been sleeping?” I asked. “Those late-night runs helping?”

“Yeah,” he said, sipping on his coffee. “What about the old guard? We need to ingratiate ourselves with them. I’m thinking Mr. Sloan might be helpful.”

“Mr. Sloan? He was stripped of the title as Gamma when he worked with our fathers. I don’t know that he’d be well enough respected with the old guard to help there.” I said, noticing the change of subject.

“I don’t know,” Rick mused. “He sits on that front porch all day, chatting with all his neighbors. I think it’s worth a shot. He likes us.” Rick shrugged.

“Something about him makes me feel uneasy.” I admitted.

“Really? He’s a super nice guy. He took Emma in, you know?” Rick’s voice got low at the last part.

“Isn’t Emma still with the other orphans most days?”

“Yes, but that was Sarah’s idea. She felt it might help Emma to be with kids who are going through the same things. Sarah also does the school prepare for the little ones. It’s more like going to school and therapy.” He said, setting the mug down and flexing his fingers. It did little to hide the fact that his hand was shaking.

“Rick,” I leaned forward, propping my elbows on my knees. “Talk to me.”

“I am.” He said with a snort. “I still think Henry Sloan is our best way into the old guard. Everyone else …”

“Rick, that’s not what I meant, and you know it.” I said firmly.

He sighed. “I … get a little … tense sometimes.” Rick searched for the words as he leaned back on the couch. “I’m fine, really, I am. Sometimes there’s just a lot more talk of war and dead friends than I’m good with.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked.

Rick shook his head. “It’s only sometimes. Everyone’s grief is different.” He shrugged.

I gave him a sympathetic smile and nodded. “Okay, let’s try with Mr. Sloan.” I said. “If you trust him, I’ll trust him.”