In The Beginning, Chapter 98
Charlie and I were just finishing our breakfast when I got a call that shot my day to hell, she squeezed my hand reassuringly when my anger flared again. I was looking forward to a quiet night in with Charlie, instead we were heading to the office to meet the Alphas that had already tried to force my hand repeatedly. Thankfully the streets were still pretty empty as our convoy pulled into the parking structure beneath the building, so we wouldn’t have to deal with looky-loos. I brought three squadrons of Eta’s, Bailey, and Alex to keep things under control, but I was worried it wasn’t enough.
“If things go sideways-” I began warning her.
“Teleport to the house, link the warriors, call Ben.” She sighed, I knew she was tired of me saying it, but I needed it drilled into her.
“I mean it, even if one of them has me by the throat, you don’t fight, you get to safety. The Etas will protect me.” I warned as we parked. One squad was already in the elevator with Alex, one was heading to the lobby, the third were surrounding our car, that Bailey was driving.
“Bailey?” She asked, and he winced.
“Yes, Luna?” He replied.
“Once you see sparks, I need you to promise me you will protect Daniel. They won’t be able to follow or hurt me once I’ve teleported, and once I do, your focus should be getting your Alpha out safely.” She said with conviction.
“Of course, Luna... but your safety comes first.” He said resolutely.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, ‘cause I’m as helpless as a baby.” She grumbled under her breath, while rolling her eyes, and I saw Bailey try to suppress a smile.
“All clear, Alpha.” Alex linked; Bailey got out of the car and opened the door for Charlie, while I got out and ran around, the squad immediately responded, moving as one to surround us. One had the door to the elevator open and waiting for us, the squad split, half squeezing into the elevator with Charlie, Bailey and I, the other taking a defensive position in front of the doors. Once the doors closed, they checked the perimeter, remaining on the ground floor to scout the Alphas, and their men. Inside, we got out in my office, Alex was waiting, the other men were positioned throughout the floor. “Only one of the Alphas has left his hotel, the Zeta has followed him to a coffee shop, no other activity.” Alex informed me as I encouraged Charlie to sit down.
“They aren’t due for another thirty minutes or so.” I nodded. “Has the call the Alpha Lang been set up yet?” I asked, looking around.
“Yes, Alpha, your Rho has everything set up.” Alex replied, and Ms Michaels came out of the conference room in a pair of dress pants and a sweater set, not her usual office wear at all.
“Alpha.” She nodded, baring her neck, I think the woman would rather die than not follow protocol. “The call is set up; I have printed the information packets and an amended contract for the bullets and placed them on the table. There are refreshments on the side, and I will be staying to make coffee, and place food orders et cetera.” She listed quickly.
“Thank you, for everything, including coming in on your day off.” I smiled, and even though it was still morning, I was exhausted already.
“I go where you need me, Alpha.” She replied quietly, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Then as usual, I am lucky to have you.” I smiled, genuinely, the memory of our first meeting echoing from the deep recesses of my mind. It was the summer after I turned fifteen, and had just started in the mailroom, my father insisted Ben and I work our way up before he would hand over the reins, and that was fine with me, until I had to use the copier for the first time. The thing screeched at me for twenty minutes before she saved me.
“What in the hell are you doing kid?” She barked before she realised who I was, hip checking me out of the way and somehow sprouting extra limbs as she put the machine back to rights. “What were you trying to-” She finally looked at me, and the colour drained from her face. “Mr Summer, I had no idea... I mean, I don’t go around just reprimanding... I thought you were breaking it.” She squeaked, terrified.
“I might have been.” I grumbled unhappily; the mailroom supervisor had been reluctant to show me how to do anything, and the other workers avoided me like the plague.
“What were you trying to do?” She asked softly, I explained what I needed, and she taught me how to use the copier, and I confessed my issues with my co-workers. When I returned to work the following day, she was waiting with a kid I recognised from school, he had graduated the year before. She introduced us, explained they were cousins, and he would be showing me the ropes. I was only working three days a week and holidays when school started back, but I never forgot her kindness and kept track of her as I worked my way up through the company. She was my very first hire after I graduated college and came to work full time. Traditionally, the outgoing Rho trains the next, but we had been working together for nearly a decade by then, although there was push back, mainly from my mother, who had someone else in mind. A distant cousin who happened to live in our pack, she ended up working for Ben, then Maria before she found her mate and joined his pack. The realisation that the same could happen with Ms Michaels snapped me out of my memories.
“Ms Michaels, could I bother you for a coffee?” I sighed, sinking into my chair wearily.
“Of course, Alpha. Would you like one Luna?” She asked Charlie, who smiled at her warmly.
“Yes, please.” She grinned.
“Caramel soya latte, and your usual Americano, Alpha?” She asked, and I nodded, closing my eyes. Maria’s frightened face flashed behind my eyes, complete with blood dripping from her head. “SHIT!” I growled frustrated. Charlie was next to me immediately, wrapping her tiny arms around me. “Sorry.” I mumbled into her hair since we were alone.
“No, you don’t need to apologise, you should be angry. I’m angry.” She cried, and I saw how frightened she was for Ben and Maria for the first time since that fucking call. The screaming seemed to follow me, like a low background hum of misery, pain and death, I buried my nose in her scent, hoping it would distract me. I wanted to bury myself in her completely, let her cries and moans drown out the horror. Ben had been in discussions with the Alpha, Maria and the Luna were at a lunch the female elders were holding so they could learn more about what had brought two high ranking wolves from another pack to theirs, when they were attacked. The Luna guard tried to protect the women, but it was three against thirty. Maria somehow had the forethought to video call me, stashing the phone so I could see the room before joining the fight. The last image I saw, before someone was thrown against whatever was holding the phone, and it clattered to the ground, was Maria going down, and Ben arriving to witness it. I knew they were alive, but no more than that, as the pack assessed their casualties, and scrambled to regroup. I pulled Charlie onto my lap when my office phone started ringing, I hit speaker so she could listen, figuring it was my mother or father wanting to know how Ben and Maria were.
“Yeah?” I answered gruffly, and Charlie started running her hands through my hair to calm me.
“Nice to talk to you too brother, you'd think, after everything I’ve been through today, which if you think about it, I wouldn’t have even been here if it wasn’t for you. But you would think, I would get a little appreciation, a little love.” Ben quipped. And I almost cried I was so relieved, if he was being this much of an ass, he and Maria had to be fine.
“How’s Maria? Are you hurt?” Charlie rushed to asked, unable to hide her concern from me anymore, or the anxiety that felt like a gut punch.
“Maria hit her head pretty hard, but she’s fine... so's the pup, they just told me. I lost my phone when I shifted, and the only phone number I could remember was this one.” He rambled, I was about to ask him if he was alright, when Charlie beat me to it.
“Ben, did you hit your head at all?” She asked slowly.
“No, I don’t think so, the doc that looked me over said I was good to go. Then some nurse takes me to Maria, finally, and they showed me a blob, and told me it was too early to see a heartbeat. And I gotta go find the Alpha and get in on the conference... but I don’t know how to leave.” He confessed, he sounded so sincere, and stunned.
“Do you mean you can’t leave Maria?” Charlie asked, stifling her own giggles.
“I can’t remember how door handles work.” He sighed, and I burst out laughing, I couldn’t help it, while Charlie swatted at me to be quiet.
“Ben? Ben- Can you hear me? I think you’re in shock, just sit down and try and find the button to call the nurse, okay?” She called over chuckles.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea...” I heard him mumble before the line went dead.
“He’s not going to remember a word of that.” Charlie chuckled softly.
“I’m going to be an uncle.” I smiled at her, she cupped my cheek and smiled, but there was a sadness I didn’t understand in her eyes. I was about to search the link when someone knocked on the door, and whatever it was, was gone. “Come in!” I called, shifting Charlie back onto my lap off of her perch on my desk.
“The first Alpha is on his way up.” Alex informed me, cracking the door open but not entering the room.
“Which one?” I asked.
“Alpha Lyall, sir.” He replied.
“Of course.” I sighed, letting Charlie stand so we could make our way to the staff conference room.
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