The Porch Wolf

“Alpha, the Chairman is leaving, and Luna Adrienne is remaining here,” I heard from Anita over the link.

I opened my eyes; I’d moved to the bed, napping with Vicki, who was now gone. “I’ll be there shortly,” I said. I asked my wolf why he didn’t wake me when she came back, and he said she wasn’t ready for me yet. I slid onto the scooter and drove over to the closed door. The Chairman was putting his coat on when I drove into the living room. “I apologize for my absence, Mr. Chairman.”

“It’s quite all right, Alpha Leo. It was an enlightening time for me as I met your Pack members,” he said as he moved to the door. “I have other commitments, but the Council will be watching this situation closely to ensure it is resolved promptly. Luna McInnis will remain here until that time. I expect you will work closely with her; she represents the Council in this, and reports directly to me.”

“I will not let you down again, Mr. Chairman.”

“I hope not.” He went out the front door, accompanied by his guard.

As soon as he was in the car, I turned the scooter around to go into the kitchen. I didn’t get far; a sultry redhead was in my way, her body shaking with anger. “I’m so sorry, Adrienne. My words and actions hurt you in ways I didn’t know. I’m ashamed that I did that to you, especially in front of others.”

I felt the slap before I heard it; the left side of my face exploded in pain. “You dismissed me like I was NOTHING! You cut my heart out and tossed it in the garbage with your Kleenex,” she said. She had her fists at her side, trembling as her anger fought at her control.

I resisted the impulse to put my hand to my face or strike back; I deserved that slap and more.

I let a breath out and looked into my mate’s stormy green eyes. She was right to be furious with me; if she had rejected me and left, I would have understood. I could see her wolf pushing forward, challenging me. My wolf came forward, seeking his other half. The animals didn’t need love; once they recognized the other, the attraction was like with rare-earth magnets. My wolf was all for claiming her and spending the night making love. Of course, her human side would rip my nuts off if I tried it. “I know that now. The words and the tone I used caused you great pain. I wish I could take them back; I wish that I could have chased after you and explained myself. My heart ached when I heard your howl, knowing I was the cause.” I reached my hand out for her. “I did not reject you, Adrienne. My wolf knew, but he did not tell me because he did not think I was ready. I know what you are now.”

“Are you ready now?”

“I will not lie to you, Adrienne. I had never let my mate go after she died; it has only been in the last week or so that I’ve started to give away her things and sort through her effects. While you were running around, I left my wedding band on the dresser for the first time since she slid it onto my finger thirty years ago. I’m a work in progress, but I’m making progress.”

“I know how hard it can be, and I had a Pack that helped me through. Luna Susan told me you withdrew from everyone, and then you were banished. It’s a miracle you survived.” She was right; Alphas did everything to extremes, even grief. “I will not reject you, not unless I have to do so to protect my heart again.”

“You won’t need to do that, Adrienne. I know what a gift you are, and I trust Luna. If she gave you to me and me to you, there is a reason. I beg you to be patient with me while I get my life back in order. I’m not ready to be your mate YET, but I will be.”

She didn’t say anything for a while. “I am to monitor the progress of things here for the Council, and I will do that. I will get to know you and your Pack along the way. Until my job is done, there is no ‘us.’ We get to know each other as friends first.”

I let out a breath I was holding. “Thank you,” I said. “You will not regret it. There is a guest room on this level that is ready for you, this way.” I led the way back to the hallway, going to the bedroom next to mine that Liv had used that first night.

“It will be fine, though I didn’t bring much with. I may have to do some shopping.”

We were interrupted by a call to dinner. Adrienne led the way back to the kitchen as I enjoyed the view. She was tall and athletic, with the body of someone a decade or two younger. I think she sensed me looking at her because her hips started to sway a little more in those white slacks.

I didn’t have much time to watch before we reached the dining room, where all but two places were taken. Adrienne was left with the chair to my left as I pulled up to the opening for me at the head of the table. My Pack was already recognizing her as the Luna. Luna Susan was on the right, as a fellow Alpha and guest. “You’re still alive,” Donna said as she brought the manicotti and sausage over with Anita. We passed the trays around, filling our plates with the fantastic smells of the meat and cheese. I cursed that my arm was still in the sling because I couldn’t serve my mate as I wanted to.

“Our Goddess has blessed me with a second chance, a mating pull between myself and Luna Adrienne. A second mate is a rare and happy occurrence. I have issues I need to work our, and the Luna has Council business here to attend to. The timing of the completion of this bond, if it does happen, is a private matter between the two of us alone. Is that understood?”

Everyone answered yes. No one would eat until the Alphas did; I deferred to Adrienne, taking my bite a half-second after she did.

Sharkbait broke the silence. “No sex?”

I inhaled a bit of the manicotti, starting to cough as I choked on the piece. Adrienne smacked me three times in the back, the last after I got the pasta out of my trachea. “Thank you,” I said weakly.

“It was my pleasure,” she said. “Vicki, what do you know about mates?”

“Mommy is mates with Brent, but no sex yet.” If I wanted to crawl under the table, I could Imagine what Liv was thinking.

“Yet,” Brent said before Liv elbowed him.

“Unky Leo’s mate died, and he was sad. Now you come, and he can be happy. Bread, please?”

Liv quickly pushed more food onto her plate, hoping she’d stop talking. Adrienne wasn’t intimidated. “My mate died too, and I was sad for a long time. There is nothing better than the mate bond, and nothing harder than living alone after it. I can sense your strength, Vicki. You will be a strong female, and Luna will find the right person for you too.”

“Boys are yucky,” she said.

The rest of the meal was uneventful, and Adrienne, Susan and I returned to my office. I had texted my lawyer, Jacob Burnley, with the financial terms Susan had accepted earlier. The paperwork for the sale of eighty percent of Volkov Construction back to me was ready. It took Jacob an hour to go through all the forms and obtain the signatures he needed. “The money will be transferred Monday prior to the paperwork being filed with the Secretary of State’s office. Per my client’s instructions, the money will be directly transferred to the indicated creditors.”

Susan rose and shook his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Burnley. You and Patricia have made this unpleasant task bearable.” She left with Adrienne, leaving me alone with my lawyer.

“You overpaid,” he told me.

“I know, but I have my reasons,” I said.

“I hope so. The company is a mess, and you’ll be a busy man turning it around.”

I just laughed. “I’ve been doing jack point shit for years, Jacob. It’s about time I got back to work.”

“I don’t think it will be struggling for long. It’s been fun, Leo. Maybe now I can enjoy my winter vacation.” I escorted him to the door and shook his hand before he left.

I was exhausted from the day. I readily agreed to a movie night in the living room with those who weren’t going for a Pack run. Liv still couldn’t shift because her ankle wasn’t healed, but Vicki’s concussion symptoms were gone. Liv said she could run with Anita and Adrienne; they would do some training with her when the rest of the Pack took off for a hard run.

I let Liv pick the movie, and she selected “Rocketman.” I didn’t argue; I liked Elton John. I hoped the documentary would be as good as some of the other ones I’d seen lately. I just about spit out my popcorn when the first song and dance routine started. “What the hell is this,” I said as I pointed at the screen.

“It’s a musical,” she said.

“What? The commercials didn’t say that!” Of course, I ended up watching the whole thing. Just shoot me now.

The wolves came running into the house, shifting and going to their rooms. Sharkbait’s little wolf was covered in clumps of snow and ice. She jumped up on the couch, giving her Momma a lick as her wet paws tracked over her clothes. “Upstairs, SHOWER,” she said as she got up to follow her.

I turned the television off and went back towards my bathroom, glad I’d invested in the on-demand water heater for when so many people were in the showers at once. I took my own shower, put on shorts and a shirt with my arm immobilizer, and readied myself for bed. Instead of heading for the sheets, I turned the other way and went out into the hall. The house was quiet and dark; I stopped by the guest room. Lightly tapping, I wished Adrienne a good night. “Good night, Leo,” she responded.

Smiling, I went to bed and turned the light off. Sleep escaped me; my wolf was anxious. He wanted his mate.

The door opened just as I thought I might get up again since sleep wasn’t coming. “Leo?”

“Come in, Adrienne.” I could make out her, in her pajamas, nervously approaching the bed. “Your wolf won’t let you sleep either?”

“No.”

I moved the covers aside. “Come on in. I’ll behave,” I said. Adrienne slid into the bed, moving until my right arm was wrapped around her back, and her leg was draped over mine. I kissed her forehead, and we were asleep in moments.