Chapter 44

When Amanda returns to the house two hours later, I found myself frozen in my seat. Paloma had been ordered to stay away from the unplanned meeting, but she had slipped away...again. I notice that other Alphas and Betas taking a deep breath and smiling to themselves. Every every werewolf had apparently heard regarding my mate as well as how she's the "hottest Luna on the block." I had leaped from my seat and almost killed the Beta who had said it. Unfortunately for him, my senses are far superior to those of a typical Alpha, and I overheard the statement as if it were made right next to my ear.
I realize she'll drop from her high sugar soon after observing her dragging her feet over the floor. When I heard a dull thud, I lean forward in my chair and stare at the door before returning my gaze to Ryan. "Oh, Gabriel, for God's sake!" I hear her shout my name fiercely and kick whatsoever she stumbled over far from her. "Get your self down here and clean up the mess," . "Are you trying to murder me?' The males burst out laughing, only to be cut off when a deep growl leaves my lips. I heard her move over then open the door, stopping dead in her tracks as she sees the room is completely empty.
Everyone's gaze is drawn to her, and my mate's body is scrutinized, causing me to growl loudly at the table's end. Her grey eyes catch mine, a look of fear flickering across her face as she smirks knowingly. "Hello, everyone." Alpha Nicholas, a close friend and comrade, grins and smacks my back. "Silva, you've got a terrific one here." I let out a sigh and nod my head towards her. I frown as I examine her for any injuries and see that her pupils have not yet restored to their normal size.
"Please come here." She walks over to me with her eyes narrowed, high fiving Ryan as she goes. She yelps as I pulled her to my lap and put an arm round her waist, looking for a chair. I let her draw us to the table using her hands before beaming at the males, snarling lowly as she roll her eyes theatrically. "So, what else are you guys doing?" "Discussing battle strategies and creating preparations," Ryan murmurs behind me.
"What is there to plan?" You go in, set up some pyrotechnics, smoke bombs, and paintball guns, and then you go boom!" Amanda immediately throws both of her small fists down on the table, startling everyone. "You leave in a kickass manner." She smirks at them all as she pulls back onto my chest, and I deepen my grip round her waistline and inhale her perfume. Staring up, I notice a few of the men chuckling, their eyes wide with curiosity as they glance at me suspiciously.
"Excuse me, gentlemen." She's a little... Awesomer than I usually am!" "Hyper." I spoke firmly, gazing down towards her with a piercing glare in the hopes that she will pay attention. "Amanda, you're on a high sugar." "I'm not," I say. She visibly argues and pulls the paper across from Ryan closer to her, picking a pen and drawing on it. Of course, my obstinate pal refuses to admit it. "You're just bitter since I can rap greater than you,"
She ignores the low growl resonating across the still room, as well as the short spurts of laughter that rapidly turn into coughing. Huffing, I squint at Nicholas' flushed face looking down and seeing Amanda's features wrinkle up in concentration as she works on her "vehicle." I motion for the Alpha from North California to proceed, grasping my mate's waist as she leans forward, her tongue protruding from the side of her mouth. I cuss internally as I see it moisten her lips, wicked visions of just what she does with that tongue rushing through my head.

The discussion goes on, with me occasionally losing attention due to the raven-haired stunner on my lap. Amanda persuades Nicholas and Ryan to join a finger war along with her and suggests the funniest pranks we might play on "the enemies." Everyone eventually rises from their seats, and I lift her up from my lap and place her beside me. While I conclude the meeting, she continues to draw on a sheet of paper.
As Ryan leans froward to look at her image before chuckling loudly, I'm chatting to a couple Alphas. "Oh my Goddess, of the Moon, is that Gabriel?!" Everyone comes around us, leaning in close to see what she drew. On one page, she has a disproportionate automobile and mountain with a lake right square in the middle, which I don't mind, but on the other... "Amanda, "I begin, my voice hushed." "Why on earth am I on a unicorn wearing heart-printed boxers?"
Snickers erupt all around me, as some Alphas and Betas use their fists to suppress their laughing. Before her eyes contact mine, my mate stood there with joy in her eyes as well as a big smile on her face, looking around the room. "I do not really know, the pen has its own mind!" she exclaims as she holds out the drawing to me. "You should put this in a frame or something." This will look great above the fireplace! Isn't that going to be fun? I'm sure I'll be able to make some more." While I walk everyone out and return to squat by her, she blabbers on and grabs a fresh piece of plain paper, commencing yet another sketch.
Her eyelids droop, and she yawns and shakes her head cutely. I pulled her to face me, gripping her chin, and traced the bags beneath her eyes before laying my fingertips on her wrist, as her pulse throbbed at an even more regular rate than it had earlier in the day. "That's it. You're going with me to my office while I take some work calls." "I don't want to abandon you."
I settle her on my lap as I sit in the chair, observing as she takes a frame nearby and places her painting of me inside. Her silky black hair cascades past her shoulders in loose waves as she rests her head upon her crossed arms. "You didn't say what you think," I said. I came to a halt as I was typing and turned to face the photograph, my eyes widening slightly before stretching a cautious grin across my lips. It's the most absurd portrait of me anyone has ever drawn, but my pal did it, and I'm going to make sure it remains on my desk. "It's the best drawing I've ever seen."
She sleepily grins at me and then nuzzles her cheek into my chest, silently yawning. I wanted to bring her up and kiss her till she begs me to stop, but more importantly, I wanted her to rest... so I could do it again when she's back to her old self. I look down at her with tenderness, but when I observe the purple-blue little bruises on her skin, I am enraged. I grab her forearms and draw her back to evaluate the damage, my fury boiling at the prospect of someone hurting her. "Can you tell me what happened?" I see her flinch as I softly touch a bruise.
"How do you mean..." Oh!" She shouts, her gaze falling on the marks that litter her arms. "'Today I was playing basketball with the lads, but they all utilized their quickness to win, so I was struck more than I can recall." I draw her closer to me and stroke her back in calming circles, battling with myself and also my monsters, who yell at me to walk down towards the pack house and destroy those lads. "I'm going to murder them." When her lips brush against my skin, she hums drowsily and covers her face with the curve of my neck, making me shudder.
I thought to myself, my fingers skimming the soft skin of her bare laps as I took the boots off her feet, a dull thud sounding as they fell to the hardwood floor. "But she's not that tired now. I could have taken her up into my room and ended up making her moan even louder than she did now," "Gabriel, don't be so naive. It wasn't their fault that my skin bruises readily. " "Is it really their fault? They were werewolves with double the energy of an ordinary person, Amanda, and they understood exactly what they were doing when they injured Luna. They will be punished by me." My monsters materialize and roar ferociously in my head, making me seethe.
"Don't." As a reflex response to calm me, she whispers sleepily and cuddles closer to my chest. "It was only a game, and these bruises will fade in two or three weeks' time," "However," "Please, please, I need to sleep!" Her loud whine cuts me short, and she flashes up at me, irritated. I embrace her to my chest and allow her to cover my neck with her arms, her cheek smooching against my left shoulder, while I sigh loudly. She's sound asleep and snoring softly in minutes.
Little does she realize that as she sleeps sweetly in my embrace, I'm enraged and screaming retribution at the guys who have wronged her, with pack members crying in response as my voice explodes through their brains. My sweetheart is the only thing preventing me from switching right then and there, her touch soothing the enraged animals inside me.