The Alpha’s Guardian

Chapter 7

I don’t know exactly when it happened but Brian starts to call and text more often. Not just a couple more texts here or there, but a morning,afternoon,and evening checking in texts. He wants to know what I am doing and who I am with. It is odd. We have this mainly physical relationship. But I have gotten call after text from him asking what I am doing. He then shows up wherever I am. It is starting to feel constricting, and I do not know what is going on. I have taken to ‘losing my phone’ or ‘forgetting to charge it’ to get some space from him. I am grateful that the dorm has key cards to get in the building and on the floor. It is the only reason I have a safe space. I feel so stupid. I am a strong and independent wolf, why am I hiding from this guy. I guess I feel that maybe if I put enough space between us, he will get a clue and back off.

I have joined Beth and her friends at lunch. We are sitting in the food court eating subs and joking with each other. My phone has buzzed 3 times just in the hour we have been sitting here. I glanced at and of course it is Brain complaining that I haven’t answered my text.

“So, who is blowing up your phone?” Natalie asks.

“Nobody,” I mumble.

“It’s Brian Tucker,” Beth states as she pops the last chip in her mouth.

“The Brian Tucker, father owns the major department store in Atlanta, and he likes to let everyone know he could make the university do anything he wants?” This time it is Melissa.

“So, are you two going out?” Natalie asks.

“No, it is not like. We are just friends.” I tell them.

“Friends with benefits,” Beth giggles. I take my napkin and ball it up and throw it at Beth. She just laughs louder.

“Is he as good as they say or is he is all fluff with no steel?” Melissa asks.

Melissa leans her head on her hand looks dreamily at me, but Natalie is watching me closely. I can feel this rage bubbling off her. It is an odd feeling. Natalie shifts in her seat and bumps Melissa shoulder, “Come on girl, that is none of our business.”

“Po, you are no fun.” Melissa pouts at Natalie.

I look at Beth who is watching the interaction of her two friends closely. We finish up and lunch and I excuse myself to head back to our room to study. Beth hugs her friends and jogs to catch up with me.

“Don’t mind Natalie, her and Brian went out for a while her freshman year. He broke up with her because his parents didn’t approve of her. She been sensitive about it ever since.”

“Really?”

Beth laughs. “Well, I think she fell in love with him. Then he breaks up with her and she sees him become the male slut of the school and sleep with every girl he could find.”

I stop and turn to Beth, “Even you?”

“Oh no, I am not Brains type. He would never think to approach me.”

“Why?” I ask. It did not make sense. Beth is a beautiful woman. I figured every male in this school hit on her at one time or the other.

Beth c***s her head at me and shakes it, “Am black. Brian does not date black girls, or any girl of color come to think of it. You are the first one that isn’t snow white with bleach blond hair I can think of.”

“What?”

Beth starts to laugh again, “He hasn’t introduced you to his family yet, I guess.”

“Um, No. We are not that serious to be introducing each other to our families.”

“Just a warning. They are old southern wealthy. I am pretty sure they have been in this area since the civil war and a few of them still think that way.”

“I don’t understand?”

“Um, you are not white.” Beth states. “Some of his family may not like you because of that.”

“Okay?” I am so confused by this conversation. “It sounds like you know his family.”

“I know of them. His father likes to be feared and respected. When he comes to campus to hold court, I make sure he has a wide berth. The last thing I want is to land in his crosshairs. When Natalie finally met Brain’s dad, he announced that she was poor white trailer trash and Brain should know better. They broke up the next day.”

“You saw it?”

“No, but the word got around, and Natalie was mortified. She contemplated changing school but decided that she wouldn’t let Brian and his father have the satisfaction. Needless to say, Brian is a sensitive subject. I thought she was over him, but I guess not.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Of course not, why would you? Don’t worry about Natalie, she’ll be fine. Just be careful if you get serious with him.”

“I have no intention on getting serious. I plan to go home after school, and I highly doubt Brian is the type of guy who would follow a woman and be second to her.”

Beth c***s her head, “Second?”

“Father runs the town. I am basically the town’s princess.”

“Oh true, Brian would not like to be second to his wife.”

I touch my nose. “He is just hot, and this is for fun.”

“With the way he is calling I think he wants this to be more than fun.”

I shake my head and then my phone rings and its Brian.

“Be careful there,” Beth points to my phone and heads off in front of me as I hit the answer button.

“What?” I so not mean to sound so short, but I am tired of his constant calling.

“Hello, to you too.”

“Sorry, long day.”

“It’s only one in the afternoon?”

I don’t answer and let the silence stretch on.

“Well,” he states. “Do you want to get together tonight?”

“I can’t. I need to study.”

“Again?”

“Yes Brian, I have to get good grades and pass my classes to keep my scholarship, it is how that works.”

“Why do you have a scholarship, you are the daughter of an alpha?”

“Not all packs are extremely wealthy, and I wouldn’t take money from the pack so I can party at school.”

He hums into the phone. I am guessing he is not worried. His dad probably pays off the school to make sure he is passing his classes, but even if my dad was accepting of my going to college, I wouldn’t take any money from the pack. There are so many other things that money could be used for, people it could help.

“Sorry,” he mutters. “I didn’t think of that.”

“It is fine, Brian.”

“Okay, maybe we can get together this weekend?”

“Sure, that sounds great.”

“Bye”

I hang up the phone and head back to my room. Beth is watching TV when I walk in. She turns and looks at me.

“Everything okay?” she asks.

“Yes, Brian does not understand that some of us have to keep good grades and can’t go off partying every night. It must be nice up in that ivory tower of his.”

“Even ivory towers get old,” Beth tells me. That is when I remember that she said her family is wealthy.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean you.”

She laughs, “No problem, I didn’t think you did.” She shrugs, “to some people money and power is everything to others not so much. I think Brian likes the power from his father. I do not. Different strokes for different folks.”

I walk over to her, “Can I watch too?”

“I thought you had to study?”

“I can take an hour to watch mindless TV before I dive into the wonderful world of corporate law.”

Bath laughs and shifts over to make room for me on the coach. “We’ll have a seat and let see if General Hospital gets any better.”

We sit for the hour and watch the silly soap opera. Finally, I must admit I need to study and get up. Beth turns off the TV and heads to her room too.