Love and Submission

Chapter Eleven

“Umm…Connor?” Kitty appeared before he got a chance to explain anything to Olivia, already chowing down on her food. She looked at them quizzically and then at Connor specifically when he groaned. He managed to get a restraining and comforting grip on Olivia’s shoulder before she fled or attacked whatever was coming at them.

“Oh for the love of….he has the patience of a goddamned gnat I swear.” He glared down at the tray and all but threw the money at the now frightened cashier. Olivia was about to ask him who he was talking about when sounds of a crowd approached. A large crowd by the sound of it all talking at once. Olivia and Kitty both turned their heads in time to see the crowd round the corner into the food court and the spectacle that was leading them. A couple, by the look of it, and the epicenter of the strange scent Olivia’s instincts were still all fired up over.

“No. Freaking. Way.” Kitty said each word as its own sentence, her fork frozen in mid air as the striking pair and trail of people headed their way. Connor was still fuming but he no longer held any of the previous tension. Olivia’s eyes widened as it suddenly hit her who the male half of the couple was. He was a giant mountain of a man somewhere around the six foot seven or eight mark she would’ve guessed. He was so beautiful it had to be a sin with strong chiseled features and a perfect set of dimples. He was flashing his pearly whites at just about anything that moved making sure to greet everyone he possibly could. Charisma just rolled off of this guy in waves. His black hair with blue highlights was meticulously coiffed into a perfect relaxed wave and the suit he wore was black with blue, bringing out the hair and the brilliant blue of his eyes. He was like a very large grown up version of the boy standing beside her still clutching her shoulder.

The woman beside him must have been Connor’s mother. She was beautiful too. So much so that Olivia was suddenly feeling very, very plain. The woman’s hair was a waterfall of blonde waves, so golden it looked fake. She was tall too though the heels contributed some. She had an angelic smile on her face that she turned to the few people that her husband missed, extending one perfect hand to shake or pat a child’s head. The most stunning of all though were her eyes. A beautiful shade of lilac that were nearly dancing with amusement, the way Connor’s did sometimes. They were very GQ as they made there way closer and closer. In fact, it seemed like Connor and the girls were the destination. Olivia started to panic and look around for an exit but felt a squeeze of her hand. “Don’t worry so much.” He breathed into her ear. Funny that wasn’t relaxing at all.

Then suddenly Connor’s model perfect parents were standing in front of them both smiling away. “Dad.” Connor said with a slightly irritated note to his voice. The older version said nothing but gave Olivia the elevator eyes then smiled down at her and winked. Her eyes grew even wider and she felt her pulse start to pound. “Dad!” Connor hissed. Connor’s mother reached out and pinched her husband on the underside of his arm which earned a yelp and a scowl. She wasn’t looking though she moved closer to his son and kissed both of his cheeks. Cheeks that were now turning pink. “Mom.” He said with a sigh. She stepped away from him with confused eyes and then looked over at Olivia. Though her size up was a little less obvious it happened all the same.

“Sorry.” She said with a brilliant smile for Connor. Her voice was a deep beautiful melodic sound that seemed to come from somewhere in her throat rather than her mouth.

“Yup, it was all her doing. When word came that you were here she was insistent.” Connor’s father chimed in with a happy smile and a very pointed look at his wife who rolled her eyes at him. Connor didn’t believe him for a minute. He glared up at his father and the resemblance was really kind of eerie. Suddenly the blue eyes were on her again and smiling kindly. “So since my son is rude I guess I’ll just introduce myself. I’m Connor’s dad….”

“Darien freaking Wahl.” Kitty interrupted finally having found her voice. Darien turned to her with a smile and a raised finger.

“Actually it’s….clever little minx you. I won’t give it up that easy.”

“Chill Dad, she doesn’t know.” Connor rolled his eyes again. Kitty was grinning ear to ear and Darien seemed to enjoy the attention.

“And I’m Connor’s mother but you can call me Marianne.” The beautiful blonde extended her hand towards Olivia.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Olivia.” She stammered out. She did manage to shake the offered hand firmly despite being absolutely terrified.

“Could we possibly sit down and talk? We’re causing a bit of a scene.” Connor said with a little more venom than was necessary.

“I cause a scene no matter where I go.” Darien said without missing a beat and making sure to flash a megawatt smile.

“That you certainly do.” Marianne chimed in though she sounded considerably less pleased by the fact. Darien smiled at her but moved out of the way when Connor moved towards an empty table. Everyone sat down but Darien stood eyeing the little plastic chair with a clear case of disbelief. “Sit down darling, you won’t break it.” Marianne’s mouth was twitching like she was fighting a smile. He sighed heavily and did as she asked look absurdly out of place at the tiny table. Connor started eating after he offered his parents part of his lunch. They both shook their heads at the same time with equally gracious smiles. You could say a lot about how different these two were but they loved their son equally. Their son who nudged a tray over to Olivia and pointed at the food while inhaling his.

“You know I’m not really that hungry.” He growled at her which caused Marianne’s eyes to widen.

“Connor, behave.” Olivia however stuck a fork into her cheese fries and popped one in her mouth. As if she would eat anything with her fingers in front of these two. Kitty was eating her own food, slowly, as she stared at Darien.

“So, Connor, our purpose in coming…” Darien started speaking and Olivia noted that his voice was musical too, though much deeper.

“Was to meet Olivia because you are incapable of waiting like I asked.” Connor cut him off and finished in an angry tone.

“Well, yes, but also we have an emergency meeting that I need you to come to.” Connor froze and stared at his father. The words were casual and spoken with that joking lilt but watching Connor’s reaction, Olivia thought there was something more. “Really, it’s very important. The other heads of business are arriving as we speak, the whole pack of them will be there.” He flashed a smile at Kitty and asked how her food was. She looked up from her plate and got lost in his bright charisma. When Darien turned back to Connor there was a flurry of non verbal communication going between their locked eyes. None of which made any sense to Olivia but she could tear her gaze away. Then the atmosphere of the table shifted. So fast she would have missed it if she had blinked those playful blue eyes turned into frozen ice and a surge of unseen something filled the air around them. It tickled the hairs on Olivia’s arms and had her looking down at her own plate.

“I’ll be there tonight.”

“Connor…” Darien started to object and his voice was suddenly deeper and more demanding.

“I’ll be there tonight. I need to set something up.” His eyes held Darien’s for another brief whirl of silent communication and then Darien’s eyes flickered over to Olivia’s. He smiled and the blue thawed again. He nodded and then rose from the table.

“Very well. We’ll see you tonight.” Marianne got up too and linked her arm into the crook of Darien’s elbow.

“It was very nice to meet you both and I’ll see you later my dear.” She blew a kiss to Connor who smiled one of his real smiles back at her. Olivia turned him a look full of questions as soon as they had left but he shook his head and mouthed ‘later’. She sighed frustrated and now extremely nervous. Something big was going on.

The drive home from Kitty’s was tense and silent. Connor had dropped her off with a pleasant enough expression but Kitty had badgered him endlessly with questions about his parents as soon as they’d left her sight. Apparently she had felt rude intruding on the big ‘meet the parents’ moment, or so she said. Olivia had tried not to groan at that. Connor dropped Olivia off in front of her own house and was inside her room waiting when she got down there. Of course, her mother had plied her with endless questions but she feigned exhaustion. She was going to have to tell her parents about Connor now; it was only fair turnabout after all. Besides, in a little over three weeks she’d be a full blown werewolf. It would be nice to have an explanation for ditching them around the full moon and weird mood swings. Other than unplanned teen pregnancy of course.

“So.” She said as she flopped onto her bed tossing her purse and coat across the room with careless abandon. He ran a hand through all of that beautiful black hair, genetically programmed to be beautiful it turned out, and came to sit beside her.

“I’m sorry they just showed up like that. I meant to take you up there someday when you were comfortable with it but my dad has ADHD to the hundredth power.” He clenched his jaw and then unclenched it and sighed heavily.

“It’s alright. You can’t control your dad, who was great by the way. A little overwhelming but cool all the same.” Olivia tried to use her smile to get one back but got nowhere. “The conversing in silent looks was rude though. You going to tell me what all that was about?”

“I have to leave.” Her eyes slammed open wide and she felt her pulse pick up.

“Leave?” She hated the choked way her voice came out but she was afraid of being left alone. And, if she was completely honest with herself, she had grown attached to him these past few days. She didn’t want him to go.

“Just for a day or two. There is a pack meeting at the house. Apparently I can’t miss it.”

“Okay, I’ll just come with you.”

“You can’t.” He said with a sigh. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “You’re not technically part of the pack.”

“I thought you said I was your mate?”

“I thought you said you weren’t?” He countered with a hard look at her. She sighed and moved close enough so she could rest her head on his shoulder.

“Just for a day?” He nodded looking a little surprised at her outward display of affection. “I’m just scared about being all alone I guess. What if something happens?” He shifted around and then brought and arm around to hug her closer to him.

“I’ll make sure you’re guarded don’t worry.” They sat there quietly for several minutes just taking comfort in the other’s presence.

“So what’s the meeting about, or am I not allowed to know that?” She asked, breaking the silence. She felt his hands heat up through the fabric of her shirt.

“The hunters are becoming a more serious threat. We have to meet and discuss how to handle the problem.”

“Hunters?” Handle the problem? That sounded ominous. She tried to keep her panic down until he had fully explained.

“I never told you about the hunters?” She shook her head.

“All you said was I was in danger until I changed.” He cursed under his breath.

“Okay that was my bad I should have explained further. Other werewolves would love to take you down to rise in their own ranks or pick a fight with me…err us. Then there are the hunters. They’re a small band of humans who know what we are and for their own reasons are intent on killing us. They particularly enjoy hunting down new werewolves and picking them off before they reach their prime.” Olivia envisioned the kind of wolf the towering Darien Wahl probably shifted into and nodded. She wouldn’t really want to try and take that on either. “This current duo that is circling around up here seems to have a more sadistic streak in them. That’s why I’m always so worried about your safety. They could use you…” Olivia reached up and put a finger to his lips stopping the rest of the explanation.

“Hunters equal scary bad people. Got it. No need to overdo the explanation.” She smiled weakly. No need to create massive hysteria was what she meant but Connor’s grin implied he got the point. They relapsed into silence and Olivia just stared out of her bedroom window. It was dark beyond the glass but she could still see. Werewolf senses were pretty cool once you got used to it. She could see the grass swaying in a breeze and two pairs of glowing eyes shot her way before the furry body attached to them scampered away. “So when you say ‘guarded’ what exactly do you mean?”

“I’m going to have my cousin watching you. Don’t worry, he won’t come anywhere near you. In fact, you won’t even know he’s there unless you need him.” She wasn’t worried. More curious.

“Your cousin doesn’t have to go to the meeting?” Connor shifted a bit in his seat.

“Let’s just say he’ll get away with missing it easier than I would.”

“I don’t want anyone getting in trouble because of me.” He grinned at her again making her smile in response. Damn, she was trying to be serious here.

“Don’t worry about it.” She opened her mouth to object but he put a finger over her lips, mirroring the action she had previously taken to shush him. “I will not leave you unguarded end of discussion.” She glowered at him. While she appreciated the protection she did not appreciate the finality in his tone. He sighed heavily and his head drooped down, shielding his eyes from her. “I should get going. Running all the way there is going to take some time.” Her eyes widened again.

“You’re running the whole way? What about your car?” He turned eyes that were beginning to golden around the edges to her with a quirky smile.

“You’ll understand when you change. Running is the most exhilarating…well maybe not the most but it’s a really close second.” She was about to ask what topped it when he turned and wrapped the other arm around her, bringing them close enough to kiss. Which he did, emphatically. She sighed happily and felt her toes starting to curl and then suddenly he wasn’t there anymore. She opened her eyes to see him standing by the window, his eyes almost completely yellow. She gave him a sigh of frustration and a raised eyebrow. “I have to go or I won’t leave.” She frowned but nodded. She could definitely understand that thought process. He smirked.

“Can you read my mind or something?” He shook his head but the smirk did not fade.

“No but I can smell you. You wouldn’t believe who accurately your body betrays your thoughts.” She felt the blood rush to her face but didn’t say anything. What was there to say to that anyway? He dipped his head and then climbed out the window. When it was closed behind him he mouthed ‘til tomorrow’ and then kissed the glass. Normally she would have laughed and ridiculed him for being so cheesy but at the moment she was terrified so she appreciated the gesture. He’d given her a lot of food for thought in the last few minutes that would no doubt take at least a day to mull over. Of course she had school in the morning. She looked over at her clock and groaned. Make that five hours. With another huff she pulled the covers around her and turned out the light, hoping she would sleep and feeling like that probably wasn’t going to happen.