Why He Calls

Chapter 9

Zeke POV

My phone started going off so I grabbed it from my pocket. Morgan was flashing across the screen. I noticed the time. It’d been over an hour. I should be back in the pack by now. I hold a finger up to my lips and point to my phone to let Sky know I need quiet. I answer, “Hey bro, I’m sorry I’m not back yet.”

“Did you find your mate maybe?” Morgan asks me.

“No she’s just my date. We hit it off as friends and tonight’s just been a whirlwind.” I explain. There’s no reason to outright lie to Morgan. But omitting parts of what I know is different

“Uh huh. I can have someone else give them the tour if need be.” Morgan replies.

“Yeah I think that’s for the best. I’ll just crash here and be back in the morning. Sorry for the inconvenience, bro.” I say.

“No prob. Just let me know sooner next time.” He says more seriously.

“Aye, aye, captain.” I say and realizing how ridiculous I just sounded hang up before I hear his response. Sky laughs though.

“We should probably get some sleep. We both have responsibilities to return to tomorrow.” I suggest and move to grab a pillow and blanket for the couch.

Sky sees what I’m doing, and says “You can take the bed. I’ll sleep on the couch. You did pay for the room.”

“No it’s fine.” I say.

“It’s a big bed, we could both fit on it. I promise I won’t seduce you.” She suggests. I look at the couch and how small it is and know the floor won’t be any better. The bed does look comfortable.

“Yeah okay.” I agree.

She turns the AC and fan on. Is she trying to freeze me? She proceeds to take the flat sheet off the bed untangling it from the blanket and the duvet. I get under the blanket and the duvet. We both eventually fall asleep and by morning I’ve kicked the duvet off over onto her and she’s shoved the sheet onto the floor.

I get up and use the restroom. I realize I don’t have anything to change into so I decide I’ll have to wait till I get home to shower. When I come back, Sky is still sleeping. She looks exhausted so I decide to leave her be. I know I need to get back. We’re pretty far from my pack. I find some paper on the desk and a pen. I write her a note saying I had to head out, we’ll talk more later, and leave my phone number. Then take my leave.

I give Morgan another call to let him know I’m on my way back and then turn the radio on to tune the world out with some music on the drive back. Morgan wants me to meet with this other pack’s leader. I park in the lot closest to the packhouse. When I stop, I notice the little gold tiara that Sky was wearing, on the passenger seat. I grab it and head up to my suite. It looks expensive, like something a real princess would wear so I decide to put the tiara in my safe.

I check my watch and realize I don’t have time to shower so I just run a comb through my hair, rinse my face and quickly brush my teeth so I look like I didn’t just roll out of bed. I rush back downstairs to meet the pack leader.

We have good timing as he’s just walking into the ballroom where Morgan told me to meet him when I arrive. He’s standing with 4 other men from his pack who I can tell aren’t titled so he must have left his Beta home to run the pack.

“You must be Alpha Morgan’s Gamma. I’m Alpha Tyson of the Flaming Heart Pack.” He introduces us formally before I even reach him.

But as I approach and am about to extend my hand to greet him, he sniffs the air and then gives me this intense dark look. His look darkens into one of those, ‘if looks could kill’ moments making me instantly sense danger.

He lunges at me grabbing my shirt and shoving me against the wall. “You’re covered in my mates scent. What did you do with her?” He demands harshly. I’m stunned at first and know better than to tick off an Alpha when it comes to their mate. I take a minute to think before speaking but then it hits me, he has to be talking about Sky. Should I just take him to her? That would be seen as a major betrayal. I mean, I know we just became friends last night, so I don’t owe her anything, but I think I’m the first person she’s opened up to about everything.

“Answer our Alpha.” One of the warriors standing next to Tyson demands. Nice to know they’re so loyal. Loyalty is earned out of respect and I know my dad thinks highly of the Flaming Heart Pack. But as I just learned from Sky, not all Alpha’s are good. That’s what I’ll do then, I’ll get a sense for the guy first and decide if I should convince Sky to give him a chance.

Before I can speak up though, Morgan walks up behind me and demands Tyson release me. “Alpha Tyson, please calm down, my little bro has does nothing wrong. He made the promise to Selene to wait for his mate so I assure you he did nothing with yours. My brother is a gentleman and a protector. If you smell your mate’s scent on him than he either was helping her or she was one of his dance partners last night.”

Tyson lets me go after giving me another death glare and backs off. I move away from the wall and stand next to my brother. I know it may appear cowardly, but I know Morgan wants to keep the peace.

“I just don’t understand, I sensed her here last night. Her scent is literally all over … him. I tried following it but she must have walked all over your pack lands last night and then her scent disappeared behind the pack house. If your Gamma helped her or danced with her, wouldn’t she be here in your pack now?”

“Sir, if I may?” asks one of Tyson’s warriors. He just nods so the warrior continues. “Has any of the other pack leaders or their company left yet?”

“The only people that left so far are the guests of the leaders. Either their dates or some of the hierarchy that just came of age.” Morgan explained. Often, when a pack hosts an event that invites a lot of pack leaders, the younger siblings of the Alpha or Betas will accompany them hoping to find their mate once they’re eighteen.

“Do you have a guest log or a list of all who attended?” the warrior asked. This guy knows just what to ask.

“So I have to track down every unmated guest who already left? This is ridiculous!” Tyson yelled. “Gamma, tell me who all you came in contact with from last night before the ball, up until we meet!”

“Sir, I just mean, if she’s of a different pack, he may not know her name.” The warrior defended when I hesitated to answer.

“Didn’t you bring a date last night?” Morgan asked. Then I saw the remembrance in his eyes. I had to get dad’s permission to invite Electra and Sky since they were lone wolves. Morgan would have the record of who I brought since he’s Alpha now. I looked at the floor and mind linked him, hoping no one noticed.

“I promise, I’ll explain later. Just go with it.” I see him subtly nod and know he’ll cover for me.

“Oh, you mean Electra? It turned out she was Charlie’s second chance mate.” I reply casually.

“So then who was the girl who asked you to dance when Electra and Charlie joined me?” Morgan asked.

“Which one? Several girls asked me to dance after that.” I shrugged. Then I turned when I heard the doors to the ball room opening and closing. The Luna walked in followed by Delta Stephen and Elite Warrior John acting as her guard today. She heard part of our conversation.

“He means that angelic looking girl you spent most of the night talking to.” Luna Evelyn interjected in her French American accent. Thanks for snitching on me Evelyn, I mentally mumble. I definitely have to tell them something about Sky now.

“Can you describe her? The girl you saw?” Alpha Tyson asked politely. I noticed a major change in his demeanor and behavior when he spoke to Evelyn. It was like he could be big and tough to his guards, myself, and even Morgan but not to a girl.

“Her hair was golden like the sun with deez electric blue eyes. She was in this stunning red dress accented with gold. I remember, I wanted to ask her where she got her heels they were adorned with butterflies.” Evelyn began explaining. “But she was la belle, zee most beautiful girl at the ceremony.”

“Who is she?” Tyson turned back to me.

“She said I could call her Sky, but that wasn’t her real name. She was just this mystery girl playing princess for the night. She said her pack was on the other side of the country and had me drop her off at a B&B.” I explain. I know more, obviously not telling Tyson where she lives but I can tell he thinks I’m holding out on him, so I add. “The only other thing I know is she’s from an Alpha bloodline.”

“Fine. Give me the address of the B&B and a list of any other girl’s you interacted with in case it’s not her, then you’re dismissed.” Tyson demanded and then turned to Morgan. “Alpha, I request a different pack member to show me the grounds.” He turned and left, leaving me behind not knowing what to say.