Chapter 10 - The Bond
1126 Words
Rhys sat amongst the pack warriors, eating and drinking and generally having a great time for the first time in weeks. He was just waiting for the go ahead from his private investigators to approach his mate. He knew it would be soon, so he was in good spirits.
Any day now, she would be in the right place and the right time for him to make his move. He’d been thinking about it every day since he was handed the folder with her info. He had planned what we would say, what he was wearing, who would be there. He wanted the first meeting with his fated mate to be perfect.
He’d made peace with the fact that she was human. He’d teach her everything a wolf needed to know, and she’d thrive here with the pack.
It was a good turnout. Aside from the warriors assigned to guard the border on the night’s first watch, they were all in the pack house’s bar. It was a minor celebration, someone’s birthday, maybe? His mother would know. He was just there to have fun.
Dyan weaved his way through the crowd with two ales in hand. He was followed by Marcus, who was the pack’s Gamma male, and Marcus’ mate, Jodie. They joined Rhys at the booth.
“How’re you doing, boss?” Dylan handed Rhys one of the beers.
“Pretty good. Just waiting for the go-ahead from the PI.”
“Ooo, a PI?” Jodie exclaimed, “Sounds thrilling!” She wiggled excitedly in her seat.
“Since when are we investigating something that needs a PI?” Marcus asked. He was a older man who prided himself on being up-to-date on pack matters.
Rhys kicked himself for mentioning the investigation. “Oh, hah! It’s just a little project I’ve been working on. Dylan’s helping!” He nudged his Beta, who had been eying a pretty she-wolf across the bar.
“Whoa, what?” Dylan sputtered. “I mean, yeah, of course, definitely!”
Rhys shot daggers at him.
“A project…that involves a private investigator?” Marcus glared at the two younger men through narrowed eyes. Dylan realised what had happened.
“Yeah! It’s a surprise. For the pack!” Dylan tried to sound casual, but knew he just ended up sounding even more suspicious.
“Hmm, I don’t like the idea of a surprise I don’t know about, especially if it involves the whole pack.” Marcus was also Gamma under Rhys’ father, as was his father before him. He was devoted to North Star pack like no other.
Luckily, his mate was a perky and cheerful as he was serious and dour, and she rescued them without knowing it.
“Oh it sounds like fun!” Jodie jostled her husband. “Lighten up, honey. If it was important, they would have clued you in.”
“Of course I would!” Rhys was eternally grateful for the unintentional means of escape that Jodie gave them. “I swear that it’s nothing serious.”
Dylan nodded enthusiastically.
“Alright, then," Marcus gruffed, "as long as you pups aren't up to trouble."
Jodie ruffled her mate's salt and pepper hair and pecked his cheek.
After a few drinks, though, the tension between the older Gamma and the young Alpha and Beta had melted away and they were all enjoying the evening.
A pretty young woman sidled up to their table and squeezed into the booth next to the Alpha.
“Rhys, I”m glad to see you enjoying yourself. You’ve been so moody lately.” She purred, stroking his shoulder seductively. Rhys flinched at her touch.
Dylan rolled his eyes. “Not now, Georgia. It’s over between you two. Get the hint.
“This is between me and Rhys!” She snapped at the Beta.
“That’s 'Alpha Rhys', to you.” Marcus warned. He’d never liked the daughter of the pack’s Omega warrior. He didn’t trust either of them, especially when she started showing interest in their Alpha.
“Plus, there’s more than just you two at the table” Dylan said, gesturing to the group, whose merriment was quickly fading.
“He’s right, Georgia.” Rhys agreed, shrugging her hand away “This isn’t the time.”
She pouted her heavily lacquered lips dramatically and whined,
“But we used to have so much fun…don’t you miss that?” She ran a hand up his leg and leaned in close. “I made you feel so good.”
“STOP!!!” Rhys leapt up, Alpha authority beaming from him and filling the room. The chatter, laughter, and clinking glasses that had filled the bar silenced as all the wolves in the room lowered their heads and bared their necks in submission.
Georgia scrambled from the bench and kneeled, cowering.
“I-I’m sorry, Alpha….” she stammered, on the verge of tears.
Her father, Xavier, hurried forward and took his daughter’s arm, roughly pulling her up and back.
“Georgia! What are you doing? I’m sorry for my daughter, Alpha.” He hissed at his daughter, keeping his lowered eyes and neck bared. “Please know she’ll be punished appropriately for whatever she did.”
All eyes were on their corner of the bar. The fuming Alpha, the cowering woman, and the penitent father were the center of attention.
“Take her away” Alpha Rhys boomed. But just as he spoke those words, he suddenly doubled over as if in pain. The Alpha authority that had captured the room was gone in an instant.
“Alpha…” Marcus reached a hand to his young leader.
“I’m fine!” Rhys gasped, even though Ragnar was howling in pain, twisting and cringing in his mind. Something was very wrong. Something involving his mate.
“Dylan, something’s happened. Bring the car around. Marcus, I’ll speak to you when we get back.”
The older wolf knew a serious order when he heard one.
“Yes, Alpha. Dylan, what are you waiting for?”
The Beta was still a little dazed, but he quickly snapped out of it and rushed out to the parking lot.
“Do you need anything from me right now, lad?” Marcus continued.
“Not at the moment, but thank you.” Rhys replied, regaining his composure. Despite this, Marcus could see tears slowly forming in his Alpha’s eyes.
Most of the curious bar patrons had gone back to their drinks and conversation. Only Xavier and Georgia remained before them.
“You heard the Alpha.” Marcus growled at the pair. “Go home!”
They hurried out of the bar. Georgia looked back to see her former lover getting into his black Mercedes and speeding away.
- Writer
