Protect The Queen

2 - Emails

Haven’s POV

I walked home after seeing Bobby leave on his bus and detouring a little to clear my head about what we shared on the pier. When I reached the packhouse, I sprinted through the front door where my mother, Melinda, was waiting in the drawing room for me to get back. “Late night at the café?” she asked, staring me down as I pulled the bow and hair tie and shaking out my mousy brown hair to allow it to hang down my back.

“Not really. I went for a walk to the lake with one of the warrior cadets, who was feeling a little lonely before he went to the academy," I answered as Mum pursed her lips in a frown. I know what she’s thinking, and I don’t want to hear it. “It wasn’t like that," I continued, trying to defend myself before she gave me another lecture on safe s*x. She and dad continually tell me how some of the she-wolves of the pack would take warriors somewhere secluded to have s*x with them, just because they could. “We just talked and watched the sunset, nothing else.”

“Then why are you smiling?” Mum asked as I quickly frowned to hide the smile that was obvious on my face.

“Because it was a good conversation," I replied, turning to walk up the stairs to my bedroom to stop the interrogation as Mum walked out of the drawing room to follow behind me.

“Are you at least going to tell me his name?” she asked as I sighed deeply before turning to face her from the top of the landing.

“Bobby," I answered, while Mum smiled quietly to herself with a knowing smirk, because Harriot had probably already told her I was with a cadet. “I don’t know his last name; he didn’t give it. Is the third degree finished?”

“For now,” Mum giggled quietly, while I groaned, turning on my heels and walking the rest of the way to my bedroom, releasing the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I glanced around my room at the queen-size bed with a purple duvet, the small walk-in closet, and desk before taking a step to the shared bathroom that’s adjacent to Shaun’s room. With him at the academy, I guess it’s my bathroom now. “Just a word of warning, cadets will use going to the academy to try and push you into having s*x. Make sure…” “I know Mum," I said, turning to face her, standing in the doorway of my room to hide the fact she startled me because I didn’t realize she had followed me. “I promise, we only talked. I don’t need the ‘if it’s not on, it’s not on’ talk again.”

The thing is, I’m still a virgin, but Mum thinks she’s trendy by being open with safe s*x talk. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of admirers over the years, but I’m not interested in pursuing something that never really gave a spark. I was never the promiscuous one; that was Shaun. At least he was until he started dating Jasmine, but that’s another story. Dad is more about fated mates and what it means. To be honest, I don’t want to talk to my parents about s*x or mates, it’s just wrong. “You know you can talk…” “Eww! Mum… No! That’s gross," I cut in as Mum giggled, giving me another knowing look before she turned to walk away from the threshold of my doorway, shutting the door behind her.

I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth, smiling to myself in the mirror. If I’m going to be truthful with myself, tonight was the first time I’ve considered wanting to do more with a man. Yes, we shared a few kisses, and they were nice. Bobby never pushed for more, and I am grateful he didn’t because even though I considered what it would be like, I wasn’t ready to do something with someone I barely met.

I glanced one more time at my reflection before walking out of the bathroom to the dresser and pulling out an oversized shirt and changed for bed, when an e-mail notification alert sounded on my phone.

Dear Haven,

I didn’t get to tell you, thank you for talking to me. It meant the world to me.

Always Bobby.

I smiled inwardly as the memories of what happened earlier that night came crashing back into my mind. We stole a few kisses, cuddled and just talked about anything and everything like it was the most natural thing in the world. He really did seem lonely, although he didn’t really talk much about why, and avoided the subject when I asked, shrugging it off to family obligations.

I get the family obligation side of things. I’m the daughter of an Alpha and need to act like one, so I’m constantly told by my father. He often jokes, Mum gave birth to two boys, because I’m not a typical she-wolf interested in girly things. I startled slightly as a small knock came on my door, breaking me out of my thoughts, and Dad opened it a c***k. “Can I come in?” he asked as I sat up in bed, placing my phone face down next to me, and he walked through the door before I could answer. “Your mother told me you spent the night with a warrior cadet.”

“For the last time, nothing happened," I groaned, trying not to roll my eyes at the constant questions being fired at me by my parents. I get this isn’t my norm, but I can have friends; can’t I?

“Your mother did mention that," Dad chuckled, looking a little uncomfortable about the conversation he wanted to have with me as he sat down at the foot of my bed. “I’ve never really had to worry about the talk of putting yourself into a situation where someone takes advantage of you. You are far from a pushover when it comes to the opposite s*x. What was different with this man?”

My parents are persistent, which comes with being an Alpha and Luna. I shrugged my shoulders; “He seemed lonely and asked if we could talk to get his mind off things," I answered honestly as Dad nodded his head in understanding, while he tried to think of what to say next.

“I know you don’t want to hear it…” “Then don’t talk about it," I snapped as Dad let off another uncomfortable chuckle before shaking his head, telling me he wasn’t going to drop the subject.

“You are almost 18, and although you claim nothing happened, and I believe you, you have a mate out there that the moon goddess has designed just for you. I don’t want you getting hung up on some warrior cadet because he seemed lonely," Dad continued as I sighed deeply, giving him a small nod of my head, letting him know I understood. How can I not? They talk to Shaun and me whenever someone comes calling. “I’ll let you sleep," he added, pecking me on the forehead before stepping towards the doorway.

“Night," I whispered as Dad turned to smile at me before closing the door behind him. I know my parents mean well, but Bobby was different. I still can’t describe why I know, I just do. I get what Dad said about my fated mate, knowing when I get my wolf, I will be able to recognize him in a crowded room instantly, or so I’m told.

I’ve even witnessed and seen how all other thoughts and feelings go out the door but have never experienced it. Will what I felt tonight disappear? I hope not. Bobby doesn’t deserve my betrayal when I find my mate.

I picked up my phone and hit the reply button, stopping to think about what I was going to say.

Hey Bobby,

You don’t need to thank me. I really enjoyed your company and our conversation. If you are ever in the neighborhood, I would really like to catch up again; if you are willing, that is. I know I’m probably not your fated mate, and you may not want to. I understand if that is the case.

Haven.

I hit the send button and placed my phone on the bedside table before pulling my duvet over my head. I could still smell the faint hint of Bobby’s maple scent, and I instinctively sniffed the air again when another e-mail notification sounded, and I quickly picked up my phone to read it.

Dear Haven,

I would like that.

Always Bobby.

I smiled gently, placed my phone down and curled up in my blanket, trying to stop my head from thinking about what Bobby and I talked about, when another notification sounded, and I quickly picked up my phone again.

Dear Haven,

About my fated mate. I know what it means to find her, but things are complicated for me, and I can’t go into it yet, but I will. Trust me when I say, I cherished our time tonight and thank the moon goddess I found you at the café. I just wanted to email you to let you know I have arrived before I start training tomorrow. I’m not sure how often I can email, or when I will be able to email again. They limit our internet access because they reckon it’s to keep our minds clear. Just remember, I am thinking about our time together and what we shared. You should get some sleep, and I will email again soon.

Always, Bobby.

I read and re-read the last e-mail a few times, deciding if I should answer him or not. The rational part of my brain is telling me I probably shouldn’t, but nothing about tonight I did was rational. Re-reading the e-mail one last time, I hit the reply button.

Hey Bobby,

I got your hint; you want me to leave you alone lol. I wanted to reply for when you can email me back. You don’t have to give me any explanations. I, also, valued our time together and have never felt something like I had felt with you.

I know you probably don’t feel the same way I do, and that’s fine too. I don’t expect you to have felt something, when we barely know one another. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for anything more, I just wanted to let you know how I felt. Dad is always saying honesty is the best policy and if you meet my brother Shaun at the academy, he can testify he does.

I should get going and head to bed. Take care and stay strong for what lies ahead.

Haven.

I re-read the e-mail; “Here goes nothing," I whispered to myself before hitting the send button and placing my phone on the bedside table and hoping Bobby didn’t mind me being so straightforward with him.

I hope it wasn’t what Mum and Dad were thinking. Bobby didn’t seem like the kind of person who would use going to the academy to get into my pants, even though he didn’t get into my pants. We did kiss and cuddle, and although it’s not the same thing… Or is it?

I exhaled slowly as I traced my fingers around my lips, remembering the kisses we shared. “Stop overthinking everything, Haven," I reprimanded myself softly, rolling over in my blanket and curling myself into a ball. “If that’s what Bobby was after, you will know soon enough, and you can break his nose for deceiving you like that. He hasn’t given you any indication of the sort," I continued quietly before closing my eyes and letting sleep take hold.