The Huntress and her Alpha

Chapter Eleven

The dining room was bustling with activity when Lip finally convinced me to follow him down for lunch. We had spent the morning laying together and just talking. He didn’t talk about yesterday. But I could tell he was happy that I didn’t rush out to the training this morning.

It was nice to wake up and find him there beside me. Slightly creepy that he had been watching me sleep, but it was still something I wasn't used to. Then again I wasn’t sure it was something I would ever get used to.

Anyways we spent so long talking we missed breakfast. Lip told me stories about his childhood growing up in the pack house. I told him a few stories of mine growing up and a few more recent ones that involved the bar where we met.

He was a good story teller and he made me laugh. Really laugh, hard and long and tears fell down my cheeks. It felt nice to laugh with him, to talk with him about something other than the supernatural world. Again it felt like we were just two people getting to know each other.

Lip convinced me to go down and meet some more of the pack when he realized lunch was being served. I was hesitant because everyone was intimidating. But luckily Sarah and Aimee were waiting for us at what Lip deemed their table. Even though Jack was beside Aimee, I felt better seeing their familiar faces.

“She finally shows!” Sarah clapped her hands. “So I guess things are going good big brother?”

He glared at Sarah, as his hand found my thigh. “Sarah don’t start.”

“Hey I like your sister. To answer your question.” I turned my eyes towards her. “Yes. He’s a gentleman and we’ve been getting to know each other slowly.”

Lip was smiling again as he watched me talk with Sarah. Soon the food was being served and we all fell into conversation while eating. We talked about the weather and how training was this morning. Aimee asked me where I was and I admitted that I skipped it to spend time with Lip.

The girls all sighed with happiness for us. Jack just glared. Then he coughed. “So alpha you still having the meeting today?”

“No. Clear my schedule and you’ll handle the important stuff today. I promised Max we’d spend the day together.” He squeezed my thigh gently, making me smile.

Jack sighed loudly. “How adorable.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Oh come on, Jack. You were just as infatuated with me when we first mated.” Aimee said smacking his shoulder.

He laughed and grabbed her hand. He leaned in and kissed her. “Who says it stopped after we mated?”

Aimee rolled her eyes. “See. Case and point. Leave these two alone they’re cute and Lip has been through enough he deserves to be happy with her. I like Max.”

I smiled my chest loosening at her compliment. “You don’t have to clear your entire day for me, Lip. I’ve already hogged your morning.”

“I told you I was taking you on a date. I don’t go halfway in on anything, so you’re stuck with me all day.”

Sarah laughed. “You think it’s cute now but he’s not lying. He does nothing halfway. So be prepared for grand gestures every f*****g day.”

I blushed. “I’d like to spend the day with you. Just no grand gestures. A regular date, dinner and a movie. Or something simple will be fine.”

“I’ve got it covered. First we fly to Paris.” My eyes went wide and Lip laughed loudly, causing a few others to look our way. “I’m kidding, sweetheart. I figured simple was good. So don’t worry, it’s nothing too extravagant.”

“Well if you ever get the idea to fly us somewhere, please don’t choose Paris. I’m more of a Dublin or Edinburgh kind of girl.”

Lips eyes sparkled. “Well I’ll keep that in mind for one of my more lavish ideas.”

He kissed my cheek and once again the girls sighed watching us. I blushed as Jack whispered in Aimee’s ear and then looked at Lip.

“Alpha.” Lip pulled his eyes away from mine and looked at his beta. “Can we have a word? Before I fill in for you today?”

Jacks eyes glazed over me and I had a feeling his words had to do with me. He didn’t like me. That much was clear, since we had fought over something as stupid as a boundary. I wondered what they done with Claire.

Maybe that should’ve been a bigger concern than the fact that Jack didn’t like me. But for some reason I cared more about the possibility of him convincing Lip to reject me than anything else at the moment.

Lip blew a breathe out his nose and then kissed my forehead before standing up. “I’ll be right back. And no,” he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Jack cannot talk me about of how I feel about you.”

I smiled. “I really think you can read my mind.”

Lip laughed. “I can because it’s written all over your face.”

He squeezed my shoulder and then followed his beta out of the dining room and I turned to find both Aimee and Sarah staring at me with stupid grins on their faces. For a moment i felt like I belonged here.

“Spill. You two did not spend all morning just talking did you?” Sarah sounded shocked.

“Yes we did. And if we didn’t do you really wanna discuss your brothers s*x life?” I raised an eyebrow at her as I took a bite of my pasta.

She scrunched her nose up. “You’re right. Okay but like how haven’t you two even kissed yet? I know my brother and he has no hesitation when it comes girls.”

I winced at her words. “He told me the pace is mine to set. Since this is so much change at once I don’t want to rush anything. I’m still afraid that he’ll get bored of me and I’ll be left with no one. My father told me I’m not allowed back.”

Aimee squeezed my hand and I looked towards her. “He won’t get bored with you. He’s already in love with you, I can see it. It’s more than infatuation, it’s more than lust. He cares for you, Max.”

“I know. I take a while to warm up to the idea of trusting someone. Probably because I’ve been raised among hunters and we’re taught to manipulate at an early age. But still I want to trust him.”

“You’ll get there. And listen you’ve got me and Sarah. We’re your friends and if anyone here gives you hell, my mate included, you tell us. We’ll take care of them.”

“Thanks Aimee. That’s actually really comforting.”

We turned back to our food and started talking about training and they were telling me what it felt like to find their wolves and fight in the wolf form. I learned a lot more from them than I ever did from my fathers boring readings on the history of supernaturals.

Maybe instead of living separately we could learn from the wolves who followed the rules. The packs that abided by the same rules that we did. Maybe Travis would be open to creating an alliance instead of hating all wolves.

Maybe that’s why I had been fated to mate with an alpha.

His scent hit me before I felt him sit back down beside me. “What did I miss?”

I leaned into him without thinking, his presence reassure as he laid his hand on my thigh. “Nothing they’ve just been telling me about your pack and what it’s like to be a wolf.”

Sarah was smiling as she watched us sitting so close together. I took a drink of water and then sighed. I leaned in even closer so only he could hear my question.

“What did Jack need a word about?”

Lip sighed, pressing a kiss to my temple. “How you shouldn’t be here. You’re taking my focus away from the important duties of being an alpha.”

I frowned at his words and his eyes glanced down at my lips. Lip just smiled, amused at my pout as he rubbed his thumb gently over my thigh. The sparks were intense, even through my jeans.

“Don’t worry. I told him that his opinion only matters when it has to do with the pack. Not my love life. I told him I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you? I mean… what are we doing, Lip? This is crazy.”

Lip blew out a breath, his nostrils flared as he grabbed my hand. He looked at his sister and Aimee, ignoring Jack as he pulled me up. “Ladies, I’m stealing my mate for a moment.”

He pulled me out of the dining area and into the much quieter hallway. He stopped in front of what looked like a common area, there was a couch facing a tv, games lined up on the walls. There was a pool table, as well as other recreational games. My eyes traveled around the room from where I stood outside the double doors.

Lip’s hand framed my face and he looked into my eyes. “You asked what we’re doing? You and me, we’re getting to know eat here other. Don’t let anyone else get into your head and make you question what we’re doing.”

I nodded slowly. “You’re right. Jack just… doesn't like me. He makes me nervous. Which makes me worry he’ll… convince you not to like me too.”

Lip’s crooked smile appeared. Then he laughed gently, his thumb running lightly over my cheeks as he kept his hands where they were. “Listen to me Max. I know you feel the bond. I know it’s as intense for you as it is for me. Trust in that. Because no one can convince me to walk away from you. Not when my heart belongs to you completely.”

He reached down and took my hand, pressing it against his chest. I felt how erratically his heart was beating. But the sparks fly as I curled his shirt in between my fingers.

“Thank you.” I whispered softly. “For knowing exactly how to calm me down.”

His eyes sparkled. “Anytime, sweetheart.”

I leaned in and for the first time I kissed his cheek. When I pulled back he seemed surprised, which made me smile brightly. “Now go do your alpha duties so we can have our date.”

“Yes ma’am.” He squeezed my hand gently and then left me standing there watching him go.

It was easier to believe all those things he said when he stood there holding my hand. As I watched him walk up the stairs towards his office the seed of doubt replanted itself in my head. Especially when I thought about finding my way back into the dining room.

I turned away from the common room and found my way up the stairs. I wandered back to my room, wondering if I’d ever feel as comfortable here on my own as i did whenever Lip was around. Or if I’d suddenly become that girl who’d always be waiting around, counting down the hours until he would find his way back to me.