The Werewolf and the Human

Does She Deserve Someone In Her Corner?

I pulled my beta into Lucy’s kitchen. “Is everything alright?” he asked me.

              “What the hell are you doing here?” I growled, trying to keep my voice as low as possible.

              “I thought Lucy could use a little moral support,” he said, barely making eye contact with me.

              “You did not tell me you wanted to be here,” I growled even lower.

              “I did not want to create a conflict for you, sir. I know you have to take a hard line on the human with the welcoming committee coming, but I don’t have to take such a hard line. I can be on her side more than theirs.”

              “Why do you want to be on her side?” My voice at this point was nearly a snarl.

              “She saved one of our own,” he said, looking at me for the first time. There was a fire in his eyes for the first time in this entire conversation. There was a moment when he wanted to see that spark. “I don’t know if you care, but I do.”

              “I am aware that she saved one of our own.” I turned my back on him.

              “Then she deserves our protection, and I won’t throw her to those…” He paused, trying to find a word that would respect them enough and yet show his utter detest. Finally, he landed on a word. I don’t think it was a word that he wanted, but the only word he could think of. “wolves. She deserves better than that.”

              “I could have managed them,” I snarled between my teeth.

              “I was trying to make it easier on both of you,” he said. I heard him take a step toward me. “I thought you needed the backup. And I knew she needed one. She deserved one.”

              “I decide what she deserves.” My teeth were barred talking to him.

              “Yes, sir,” he said, but he did not look away from me. “Does she deserve someone in her corner?”

              I glared at him. How was I supposed to explain she had me? “Fine, but stay out of my way.”