Lessons in Love

Chapter 51: Wake Up Call

POV: Riley Campbell

I slowly woke up, warm and contented. I was wrapped in my mate’s scent. It was hard to pull my eyes open with his aura lapping against mine. In the haze of sleep, I didn’t understand how his aura could be swirling around me. There was steady, rhythmic thumping under my ear, and it felt like the couch was moving. The sound was a heartbeat, my brain finally clued in. The rise and fall, someone’s chest. Ben’s chest.

I snuggled into him, breathing in his scent and feeling his body underneath me. His chest and stomach were firm under the cotton shirt, and his arms were heavy where they wrapped around me, even though he was clearly still asleep. I started to fall back asleep, but the chance to see his face peacefully asleep made me force my eyes open. My eyes focused on the room as they opened, and I saw a clock on the nightstand.

“s**t!” I jumped upright.

Ben growled loudly, his arms tightening around me. “What is it?” He growled.

I tried to wriggle out of his hold, but his grip was stronger than I expected. “I’m late.” I giggled, still trying to worm my way out of his protective hold. I looked up at him from his arms, and all thoughts of going to work vanished.

Ben looked down at me, his face breaking into a smile. “Good morning,” he whispered down at me. He pulled me up toward his mouth as he lowered his head. His lips were soft on mine, the kiss nothing more than a lingering peck, but it may as well have been the most passionate kiss I’d ever been given.

“I’m still late,” I whispered against his lips.

He shook his head. “You can’t be that …” he said, looking over at the nightstand. “s**t!” He jumped, seeing the clock read 7:00 am. The school would open at 8 am. We had overslept by about an hour. At least I had. I started laughing at him.

“It’s not funny! I was supposed to meet Rick thirty minutes ago.” He said, kissing my lips with a smile. He lifted me out of his lap and rested my feet on the floor. “I’m bringing you lunch today.” He said, grabbing stuff out of his dresser and flinging his closet door open.

“And I want you to stay here again tonight.” He called from inside the walk-in closet. I heard a soft thud and a curse come from the closet and snickered to myself. He poked his head out of the door. “If you want to, of course. That wasn’t a demand or anything.” His face went beat red when he saw my smirk.

I walked over to the closet and stood in front of him. “I’ll see you at lunch.” I smiled. I kissed his mouth quickly and headed for the door.

“Riley,” his voice stopped me, and I turned around. He was smiling widely, and I felt his joy. “I’ll see you then.”

I ran home, washed my important body parts with a face cloth, and threw on some clothes. A handful of the girls and their parents were waiting outside when I arrived. Some of the parents looked perturbed. Usually, I have the doors opened by 7:30 am since classes start at 8. It was ten minutes to the hour, which was spectacular, all things considered.

“I’m so sorry, everyone,” I said apologetically. “Some mornings, right?” I tried to smile as I unlocked the door to the school. Most of the parents smiled back, but I could tell a few felt put out by my tardiness. I knew not to take it personally. I saw Henry and Emma coming up the steps with the other students. Henry looked nervous while Emma seemed elated.

“You look happy.” I said.

“Uh huh!” She nodded happily. “I had the best sleepover, and I got to have popcorn and stay up to watch a movie.” She giggled as she skipped past me to go tell her friends about her adventure.

“She’s blissfully unaware of life.” Henry murmured as he followed her into the classroom.

The bell sounded and I turned to go into my own room, when the door was thrown open and George walked in. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but something told me mine and Ben’s tardiness was likely to blame. If George was here, then Ben and Rick hadn’t gotten to him yet. He stood there, snarling and growling.

“Shawna,” I called over my shoulder. She came out of the classroom. She eyed George cautiously seeing the danger in his posture as easily as I did. “Can you please take these and start the lesson?” I handed her what I was holding. “No problem, Ms. Campbell.”

“Close the door on your way in, please.” I added. I saw her nod out of the corner of my eye. She threw one last concerned look between George and I before doing what she’d been asked.

“Is there something I can help you with, sir?” I said, trying not to sound as pissed off as I felt. I dropped the guard around my emotions and hoped Ben would feel it. I probably could have mind-linked with him, but as it would be the first time, I didn’t know how much concentration it would take to do that. I couldn’t spare an ounce of concentration in that moment. George looked poised to attack, and I needed to be ready.

“Your services are no longer required, Ms. Campbell. Leave.” He growled with intent.

“Sir, you should probably speak with your Beta and Delta.” I managed evenly. “There needs to be documented proof of wrong-doing to terminate my contract, which is for a year. You’ll also need to file a grievance with the Crystal Lake Teacher’s Guild before you can terminate me.” I replied, sliding my right foot back an inch in preparation to defend myself.

“You broke into my house!” He screamed. A cruel smile developed on his face. “You and your mate took something that belongs to me. I’ve already taken care of your mate.”

“I don’t have a mate, sir. Or did you forget I was spinster.” I gritted my teeth to keep from growling. “I have only ever been inside your home when I have been invited by the Luna or your son.” George practically roared his next growl at me but didn’t move. I heard screams from Henry’s classroom and a shuffling of chairs and desks behind me.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you not to growl like that. Many of these girls were in this building during the war, and …”

“Shut. Your. Mouth.” He growled, taking slow steps toward me. I had to wonder what he was waiting for. I was wide open and alone. “Where is my mate?” His growl so thick, the words were almost hard to understand.

“Your mate isn’t here, sir. I think it’s best that you and I take this conversation outside.” I gestured to the doors.

“You’d like that wouldn’t you, you w***e?” He yelled. “For me to turn my back on you. I will not leave myself open to an attack.”

“Sir, I assure you I have no intention of attacking …”

“Silence!” He screamed so loudly that I had to stifle a flinch. The grin returned to his lips letting me know that I hadn’t stifled it well enough. He pulled his sleeve up showing his watch to me. “Time is almost up. Tell me where my mate is, and I’ll spare his life.”

“Who’s life?” I asked, my voice steady and firm, despite the protective flare of the bond making it difficult to keep from shaking.

“Your mate’s.”

“I told you, sir,” I started.

“Did I guess wrong or are you sleeping with both of them?” He stepped in again with a vicious growl.

Rick was dying. He didn’t know which one of them I was mated to and went after Rick first. It made sense. Losing Rick would devastate Ben. My heart was starting to pound, and I felt a massive wave of panic wash through me. Ben was terrified of something, terrified and sad. I blinked for a second, trying to push his emotions to the side, but they were incredibly strong.

“You feel it now, don’t you b***h?” He growled.

“Get out.” I growled back, unable to control it any longer. I needed to end this and get to Ben. I needed to help him or protect him. I wasn’t sure which. George lunged at that moment, but I was ready for him. I twisted away from him, and he stumbled. I saw Shawna at the door, her phone peeking out between the door and the frame. She was recording it. There was no way for me to know how long she had been. What I did know, was that I wouldn’t be able to throw a punch.

The penalty for attacking an Alpha was heavy. It could be anything from being turned out to live as a Rogue, imprisonment, or even death. George growled viciously as he straightened up and walked right up to me. He threw a massive fist at my face. I blocked it. He threw another and another, and I kept blocking and taking small steps back as I did. I had hoped he’d tire himself out, but his swings kept coming faster and harder.

He gave me a grin with one last swing. I blocked and stepped back, right into the wall behind me. I waited for him to take another swing at my head, but instead he went for my ribs. I managed to block the full power of the blow, but he connected. The pain I felt was instant and brutal. I was certain some of my ribs cracked. I dropped to my knees trying to breathe. No question, I was in pain, but I made like it had been a lot harder a hit than it had been.

He took a step back and started laughing. “Stupid bitch.” He said, raising his foot off the floor. He was going to kick me. I waited a second more for him to start swinging his leg forward before I rolled out of the way. His foot went straight into the wall behind where I had been.

“Really now,” I said as gentile as I could muster. “Such language in front of a woman.”

He growled angrily and came at me. I was up and, on my feet, moving myself in circles so I wouldn’t get cornered again.