Thoreau - Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Olivia Benson
I'd just finished throwing a load of laundry in the dryer when Alpha Mase knocked on the link, and I hesitated for a second before answering.
He and I went way back. His twin sister, Willow, and I were best friends, and we girls always hung out with him and his friends. Even after Willow died in the sickness, the alphas and I remained close, and they knew they could count on me for duties they couldn't - or didn't trust to - assign to others. I was proud of that fact, but I'd just gotten back from a whole week at Duskfall, dammit!
I understood why the alphas sent me on out-of-pack missions as often as they did, and I appreciated their efforts to help me find my mate, but I did have a full-time job as the pack accountant as well as a part-time gig with the weekend patrol. So much travel was taking a toll on both my roles, and I missed my family. My little brother Landry and his mate, Grace, were all I had, and they were expecting their first pup any day now. I kind of wanted to be here for that.
Still, I couldn't deny my alpha, so I opened up the link with a sigh.
Hey, alpha. What's up?
I got a new assignment for you, Livvy.
For real? I whined. I just got home! I'm sure my desk at work is overflowing!
It's an easy one on pack territory. Should only take an hour, hour and a half each day. And I kept up with your work while you were gone.
Alpha Mase had shocked everyone, including himself, when he discovered he was a whiz at finance, making savvy investments that turned glitter to gold and dimes to dollars. It wasn't long before the alphas' personal accounts were taking all of his time, and he realized he needed someone to keep the pack finances.
That someone was me.
After I'd graduated from GSU with a degree in accounting two years ago, the alphas built an extension onto their offices to create a work space for me and I'd been there ever since.
You didn't have to do that, but thanks, I told him. All right. Let's hear it.
A substitute math teacher chose to bully Thoreau del Vecchio—
Oh, bad choice! I interrupted with a wince.
Indeed. Now Leo Halder needs a solution before someone kills the sub.
I smirked at that. There was probably a line already forming to do the honors.
Who's the sub, alpha?
Andrew Stamper.
Pfft! I should have guessed! I snorted. He lived to bully his students. I was so glad he retired before Landry had him, or Landry would have rotted in detention all year!
Need you to teach Reau in the library one-on-one. Calculus. Last class of the day.
You know I'm not a teacher, right?
You're mathematically gifted and have common sense, he said with a raised eyebrow. All the lessons and assignments are ready. Should be simple.
If you say so.
Leo has a copy of Reau's IEP for you, so be there a few minutes early to review it. In short, don't touch him without his consent, don't hurry him, and talk nicely to him.
No touching, no rushing, no bitching. Got it. I need to drop some things off at the office first, then I'll head over to the school.
Rather than reply, he grunted.
Knowing he was about to close the link, I made a snap decision to talk to him. He would understand better than anyone else in the pack, and I wasn't exactly spoiled for choice when it came to people I was close enough with to bare my soul.
Alpha?
Yeah?
I had a dream about her last night.
I didn't have to say who. He knew who.
I never really got over losing Willow. Ever since she died, I felt like I was on the fringes of the pack, adrift and alone. Sure, I had lots of friends, and nearly everyone in Five Fangs knew my name, but there wasn't anyone else who ever clicked with me like she did.
You want to talk about it? Alpha Mase asked in a gentle tone I'd only heard out of him a couple of times in my life.
I'm sure you're busy, I muttered, already regretting saying anything. I wasn't big into talking about my feelings and shit.
I'm not too busy, but if you don't want to talk to me, Mama and Papa would love to see you. They miss you, Livvy.
I sighed. Julia and Royal Price always treated me like another daughter, and I had an open seat at their dinner table anytime I wanted it. However, after they had a pup nearly two years ago, I started keeping my distance. In my head, I knew it wasn't true, but in my heart, I saw little Rosalie as them trying to replace Willow, and I couldn't take that.
I know, I told him. I'll woman up and visit them soon.
What was your dream about?
Just the two of us sitting and talking on her bed about our future mates. I don't even know if it was a dream. I think it was more of a memory. I shook my head with a smile, then admitted, The beta of Duskfall asked me to be his chosen mate.
Alpha didn't respond for nearly a minute, which was a very long time when you were waiting for some kind of reaction.
And your answer? he finally asked.
I said I'd think about it, I whispered and felt his shock in the pack bond, which made me let out a dark chuckle. I know, right? I'm always so adamant and turn down every guy immediately.
But Beta Yash Patel had caught me in a moment of weakness. I'd been moping in self-pity ever since I turned twenty-three in January and, with no signs of the Goddess' greatest gift miraculously appearing in my life, I'd actually told him I'd consider his proposal.
After all, he was a great warrior, handsome, financially stable, and only three years older than me. Plus, he shared enough of my interests that I felt we had some common ground to build on. I didn't like how dominant he was, but I could learn to live with that, I'd told myself. It would be a small price to pay to not be so lonely all the time, wouldn't it?
And your wolf's reaction? Alpha Mase asked.
Perdix let me know in no uncertain terms that she found it unacceptable that I would settle for anyone other than our true mate, then stopped talking to me. I rolled my eyes again. She hasn't said a word since then, but she started going wild when we got home last night.
Going wild?
Yeah, she's acting crazy and pushing hard for control. I think she's trying to get back at me.
Hmm.
It's ridiculous, really, how childish she's being, I ranted on. I mean, I ultimately told him no before we left Duskfall. She knows as well as I do that I can't leave Five Fangs. I want to be an auntie for Landry and Grace's baby, and I'd miss everyone here too much. What was so wrong with entertaining the thought for a little while?
Hmm. He cleared his throat. Jay told you to take the weekend off, right?
Yeah, to make up for the extended stay at Duskfall. Why?
Take Monday off, too.
I can't do that! I tried to argue.
Sure you can. The bills and invoices aren't going anywhere. Oh, and Livvy?
Yeah?
Have fun today.
Okaaaay, I said slowly, wondering what he meant.
He closed the link with a very quiet chuckle, and my eyebrows pulled together as a second of suspicion flared in my mind, but faded just as quickly.
Any of the other alphas, and I would have been convinced they were setting me up for something. None of them, even grumpy bear Alpha Cole, was a stranger to playing a prank. Alpha Ice wasn't much of a jokester, though, not even when we were kids. He was unrivaled when it came to deadpanning sarcastic one-liners, but usually the last one to pull a trick.
Which made me wonder if Thoreau was going to be a little devil to work with. The two of us hadn't exactly gotten off to the best start when we first met, but I'd been over to his house many times since then, and I liked to think he was more comfortable with me now.
"Well, hopefully alpha was being sincere and it will be fun," I muttered.
With a shrug, I headed for my bedroom.
If I had to go back to high school, I could at least comb my hair and put on nicer clothes. Nobody needed to see me in my reindeer pajamas and elephant slippers.
Wayne
I stood outside school Friday morning and waited impatiently for Reau to show up.
"Relax, baby." Arch rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. "He'll be here."
I nodded. I knew that. Reau loved school and never ditched a day. Still, I worried that he might not come after whatever happened between him and Mr. Stamper. I'd be the first to admit I wasn't the most observant, but I did notice that he'd avoided answering me last night when I said I'd see him today.
Thankfully, before my anxiety could ramp up any higher, my wolf diverted my attention from watching the parking lot for Kon's car to the white streak zigging and zagging through the blue sky.
Look up! Here he comes! Ocean yipped.
"I wonder how he convinced Chime Karma to fly him in," Arch said. "It's going to make Kon late for his classes to have to go home and shift, then drive into Greenville."
Even though he'd been a part of the pack for more than two years now, the dragon was still a rare enough sight that students and staff started gathering around us, pointing and commenting as the sun glittered off Chime Karma's pearly white scales.
"Bet Kon bribed Reau because he didn't want to come," I muttered.
"Whether he wanted to come or not, he looks happy enough to be here now. Try not to dwell, baby."
Ignoring Arch to study Reau, I saw his silky curls were a windblown mess, the cold had turned his cheeks cherry red, and his stony blue-green eyes sparkled with excitement. When Chime Karma came to a halt about twenty feet above our heads, Reau spotted us in the crowd and waved enthusiastically.
"ChiChi!" he shrieked with a wide grin. "WayWay! Catch me!"
"Oh, Goddess, I think he's really going to jump!" I muttered, my heart in my throat.
I did not do well with heights. I'd ridden Chime Karma one time, and that was enough for the rest of my life. Arch and Reau loved it, saying it was better than any roller coaster humans could invent, but it gave me the heebie-jeebies just watching the dragon ascend into the sky with them on his back.
"Better get ready to catch him!" Briar snickered from right beside me, making me do a double-take.
When did she show up? I grumbled.
Like five minutes ago. Ocean rolled his eyes at me.
"First of all, no. Second of all, no," Arch growled, right as I yelled, "Don't jump, Reau! Wait until Chime Karma lands!"
"Too late!" he screamed and slid off the dragon's back.
"Fucking hell!"
My eyes wide, I ran forward with my arms held out at the same time as Arch, and we managed to catch him before his little bubble butt hit the ground. Giggling like mad, he flung one arm around my neck and the other around Arch's.
"I missed you!" He hugged us hard enough to bump our foreheads together lightly, and I sighed in relief to know he was back to normal.
Spring says beta and Gelo sorted out the problem with Leo and Alpha Mase, Ocean informed me and Arch.
Good, we echoed each other, then our attention went to the dragon landing right next to us.
"Andrew Stamper!" Chime Karma searched the crowd. "Show yourself!"
Everyone quickly backed away until the teacher was standing in a circle all alone. Mr. Stamper glared at the dragon, and the dragon glared back.
"Little wolves, even miserable old ones, make a tasty snack. Such rich blood and so full of moon power!" Chime Karma ran his tongue over his sharp, pointed teeth.
"Calm down, Chime Karma." The principal, Leo Halder, held up both hands, palms toward the dragon, and approached him slowly, but it was too little too late.
Quick as a wink, the dragon scooped Mr. Stamper up in his arms and rocketed into the air.
"Chime Karma!" Leo bellowed. "Put him down!"
"I don't listen to little wolves!" the dragon bellowed back.
"Don't make me get the alphas!"
"The alphas? You think the alphas can command me?" The dragon smirked and clutched Mr. Stamper tighter to his chest. "They are my keepers and I respect them as such, but I am a druk! No one commands me!"
Then he hurled Mr. Stamper's limp body high into the air, straight towards the fluffy white clouds, and all of us gasped at the same time.
Reau struggled in our hold, but we couldn't risk him getting involved. If Chime Karma was escalated this badly, he could hurt our baby without meaning to.
When he realized we weren't going to let him go, Reau resorted to screaming.
"No! Don't kill him, Chime Karma! Please don't kill him!"
Since Reau's voice was the only sound coming from the shocked crowd, the dragon couldn't help but hear him, and he closed his eyes for a second before he launched himself into the air and caught Mr. Stamper's body right as it started to fall. Then, with a rumbly sigh, he brought the teacher back to the parking lot and laid him on the pavement.
As Leo knelt to check on the petrified old man, Chime Karma raised his snout to the sky and let loose a thunderous roar. All of us ducked instinctively and covered our ears, and Reau whimpered as he sank into a crouch with his arms over his head. Acting fast, I crouched next to him and drew him into the curve of my body.
Shh, I linked him since hearing over that performance wasn't happening. Like any predator denied his prey, he's just upset. You're okay.
I didn't mean to upset him, but I can't be responsible for him killing someone.
I know, baby boy, and that's all right, I assured him as I cuddled him closer.
Hearing the shush of Chime Karma's scales as he moved, I glanced over to see Mr. Stamper clutching his heart with one hand, his eyes wide and rolling with terror, as the dragon lowered his head until his eye was inches away from the teacher's face.
"Reau is mine, my family, and I suffer no slight against what's mine. Do so again, and not even he will be able to save you."
As Ocean and Firth and even staid old Spring howled their approval, Arch and I exchanged a smirk. It wasn't the epic prank I'd been planning for Mr. Stamper, but it worked even better.
And if the old man had the balls to bother Reau again after that warning, he deserved to be eaten.
Atticus
Chester picked up a whiff of leather about a mile from the farm and, with a surprised yip, he took off running with his nose low to the ground.
The smell became stronger the further we followed the trail, and Chester's fur bushed up until he looked like a puff ball, and I was glad no one was around to see his silliness.
Although if it finally leads to our mate, I won't tease him even a little bit! I thought with a grin as my excitement grew.
Before I knew it, Chester's nose had led us straight to the alpha offices' front porch, where Alpha Mason stood with a coffee cup in one hand and had the other in the back pocket of his jeans.
"What are you doing here, Chester? Shouldn't Atticus be in school?" alpha asked.
We smell mate! Chester ran around in a frantic circle. We go to school later! Where's mate?
Yeah, alpha! I said over my wolf's antics. We're going to go to school and check on Reau for math class, but right now, we smell our mate! Who's here?
"Hmm." Alpha Ice tortured us by taking a slow sip of his coffee cup, and Chester stopped spinning to stare up at him with big eyes. "Well, there's no she-wolves here other than Grace Benson and, considering she's about to burst with Landry's pup any moment now, I doubt she's your mate."
I know she's not, alpha, but we've been following a leather smell and it leads here!
"You never smelled it before today?"
Of course I've smelled leather before, I rolled my eyes, but not like this. I mean, this is filling up my whole head and making me feel high or drunk! Not that I've ever been either, but I imagine this is what it's like! Was a girl here earlier, alpha? There had to have been a girl here earlier!
"Hmm. Go to school and check on Reau like you planned, Atticus. You can continue searching afterwards."
Aw, I think he's fine, alpha. He has Ayla and Leilani in class with him, and Arch and Wayne will—
"Go to school, Atticus," he commanded with a skirl of power that hit us like the shock from an electric fence, something I had a lot of experience with.
Yipping, Chester leapt to obey and took off running in a straight line.
Man, guess alpha really cares about your education, he snickered.
Not like it's a class I'm ever even going to use, anyway. I shook my head while rolling my eyes. I mean, when am I going to use calculus on a horse farm?
That made Chester snicker again, and I linked Reau to tell him I was on my way to be with him for math class.
I'm going to be in the library! he chirped back almost immediately. I'm going to have a special teacher just for me!
Then I'll meet you there.
Oh, and Spring just reminded me to ask. Did you find your mate?
Not yet, but I smell her, which I didn't before, so I think she's either visiting the pack or was away or something, I explained. I'll start looking for her again after class.
What does she smell like? he asked excitedly.
Leather. Like a new harness or freshly oiled saddle.
Everything's horses with you, Atty! he giggled. That is a nice smell. I am happy for you.
Thanks, buddy. I'll be happy, too, as soon as I find her.
Then he had to go back to work, so I closed the link and monitored Chester to make sure he didn't get into any trouble as he looped toward school.
He was a good wolf, even if he was one of the juvenile ones and relied a lot on images, emotions, and scents rather than developing his communication skills. He was smart in his own way and easy to get along with, always eager to please, but he wasn't very fast and was only a so-so fighter, same as me. Neither of us had a lot of moon power, and I hoped our mate was going to be able to accept that about us.
Guess we'll find out soon enough.
We arrived at school with enough time to shift and raid the community closet before math class started. I was happy to find a pair of dark blue jeans that fit perfectly and a brand-new gray hoodie. I had to make do with a ratty t-shirt, but at least it would be under the hoodie. Then I grabbed some socks and the last pair of tidy whities in my size, wishing they were boxer briefs, but thanking the Goddess for them just the same because I hated going commando. After a quick look at the shoe rack, I went with brown hiking boots. They weren't my cowboy boots and they were a size too big, but they were the cleanest pair there.
Looking in the mirror after I dressed, I decided I looked good enough in case I met my mate and hurried into the hallway. If I spent ten minutes with Reau in the library, I could be back at the alpha offices before school let out and pick up the trail of that ... leather ... scent ...
Mate! Chester screamed as we both picked up the smell at the same time. Mate is here!
With an eager grin, I followed my nose right to the library door and pushed it open only to see one person sitting at a table right in front of me, a look of horror on his face.
Reau?! I skidded to a stop in shock. No! It can't be!
For one, his birthday wasn't until next week. For another, if he was my mate, Arch and Wayne were going to be devastated! I was a nice guy, but I wasn't so selfless as to reject my mate so he could be with someone else! And finally, I liked girls, not boys.
At least, I thought I did! But now I was questioning everything, including if what I was smelling was my mate's scent, my imagination, or something else.
I'm losing my mind, I muttered and clenched my hands into tight fists. That's what's happening. Chester, you made me lose my mind, acting crazy for more than a week and making me think you smelled our mate! There's no way it's Reau, you silly wolf!
Not him, you silly boy! Chester giggled.
"Atty!" Reau bounced up and down in his seat and pointed to my left. "Look!"
I spun toward the librarian's desk and, between one breath and the next, found the beginning of the rest of my life in a pair of light brown eyes.
"Thank you so much!" I chirped with a smile. "I understand it so much better now!"
"Well, thank you, sugar pie, for working with me so nicely." Livvy Benson smiled back and stood up. "Leo said we can leave our books and things at the librarian's desk so we have them each day. I'll do that if you want to start packing up your things."
"Already?" My eyes wide, I looked around for a clock, but only saw one of those old-time ones with hands hanging on the wall and I couldn't read that kind. "What time is it, Livvy?"
She glanced up at the clock as she walked past it with our stack of materials.
"It's 3:12. We have three minutes before the bell rings."
Good. I liked threes. Threes were perfect.
I also liked Livvy. She was smart and nice and didn't make me show my work. She also didn't mind that I had to play with my ring a lot because this change in routine had made me extra fidgety today. And she didn't even say a word about how often I sharpened my pencil! Some of my teachers got so irritated about that, but I couldn't stand when the point wasn't pointy anymore.
I had just finished packing my bag when she suddenly stood stone-still and stared at the library door.
"Livvy? What is it?" I watched her with worry, wondering what was happening.
"Ginger," she whispered. "I smell ginger, and it's coming closer very quickly."
Her mate, Spring smirked. At long last. Praise the Goddess.
"Spring says it's your mate, Livvy!" I grinned and clapped my hands. "What's Perdix doing?"
"Going even crazier than she has been." Livvy swallowed hard and her eyes grew even wider.
"Oh, my goodness! I think Spring's right!" I crowed. "Who is it?"
She shook her head and opened her mouth to answer, but the library door swung open as Atty burst inside the room.
Hahaha! Spring laughed. Chester says Atty is afraid you're his mate!
What?! I shrieked and screwed my face up. That's just crazy! I'm not even eighteen yet, and I thought he likes girls!
He does, but he's stressed from trying to find her for the last week, and it's not helping that Livvy's in shock and not reacting, Spring chuckled.
Deciding I'd help my friends out, I bounced up and down in my seat and pointed to Livvy.
"Atty! Look!"
He whirled around and all I could see was his back, so I moved my eyes to Livvy's face. I still wasn't so good at telling what someone was thinking or feeling just from looking at them, but I was better than I used to be. Spring would let me struggle a little, saying it was good for me to try, and then he'd help me if I couldn't figure it out.
This time, though, it was so easy that I didn't need any help. Livvy's shock turned to sadness, her bottom lip wobbling and her eyes overflowing with tears.
Aww, I pouted. She's disappointed it's Atty! How come, Spring? He's a great guy!
She's not disappointed, little one. She's overjoyed.
Oh! Happy tears! I nodded in approval. Happy tears are the only kind I like!
It was like the big kiss scene at the end of a romance movie, and I held my breath as Atty stared down at her while she stared up at him.
You might want to give them some privacy, Spring suggested.
But I want to see him give her a soul-sucking kiss! I protested.
Reau, do you want an audience when you do that with your mate for the first time?
Sure. I shrugged. I wouldn't mind. Why?
Well, not everyone feels that way, and Livvy is a private person. Now get your bag and go find your boyfriends.
Boyfriends! I cheered. Grabbing my bag, I hippity-hopped to the library door, too excited to walk.
You know, Spring piped up with a smirk, Briar might be one of your friends' mates. Elijah or Bridger or Azure or Grey. How would you feel about that?
I thought about that so hard, I forgot where I was supposed to meet Wayne and Arch and kept hopping down the hallway.
I would be okay with it, I decided at last. I wouldn't have to get used to a new person, and two of my friends would be happy. Plus, I could trust Briar to take care of him.
Ha! he snorted. Yes, that is true. She really is a mother hen, isn't she?
Worse than Dad and Papa, I agreed.
Where are you going, anyway, little one?
I have no idea.
Tired from all the hopping, I stopped and took a breather, bending over and putting my hands on my knees as I panted.
"Baby boy, what are you doing here?" I heard Wayne ask from somewhere ahead of me.
"Where am I supposed to be?" I asked as I stood up straight and blinked at him and Arch.
"We were going to meet you at the library, remember?" Arch rumbled.
"Did you get tired of waiting and come looking for us?" Wayne smiled as he laid his big palm on the top of my head.
"No. I forgot where we were meeting because something interesting happened!" I admitted.
"Wait. Where's Atticus? I thought he was going to check in and make sure you were okay with your new math teacher. Who is it, anyway?"
"Livvy Benson!" My grin grew, and I grabbed both of Wayne's hands to squeeze them. "And that's the interesting thing that distracted me. Guess what, guess what?!"
"What, Curls?" Arch smiled a little as he cupped one side of my face in his palm.
"She and Atty are mates!" I screeched.
"Dude! No way!" Wayne laughed.
"Yep!" I nodded frantically. "Spring made me leave, though, before I got to see the big kiss scene!"
"Baby boy, it's not a movie," Arch chuckled.
"It was like a movie," I argued.
"Well, how about we enact our own big kiss scene after we all get off work tonight?" he suggested.
"Oh, boy! Yes, yes, yes!" I danced on my tippy toes and dropped Wayne's hands to throw my arms around Arch's waist. "Are we staying at your house or mine this weekend?"
"Yours," they said together in funny voices, and I lifted my head from Arch's firm chest to look up at them for an explanation.
"Peri and Beta Ty came over for dinner last night to make a big announcement," Wayne said. "It has Mom all in a tizzy, and I don't want to spend my weekend dealing with her craziness when we can easily stay at yours."
"Oh." I blinked. "What was the announcement?"
"Peri's pregnant."
"She is?!" My arms dropped from Arch's waist so I could dance around in a circle. "A pup! Woo-hoo! Now you're going to be uncles, too, just like me!"
"Uncle Wayne and Uncle Arch," Wayne smirked. "We're going to teach him so many bad things!"
"No, you're not, WayWay!" I stopped dancing to shake my finger at him. "You can teach him to play pranks and tease and tell jokes, but not to be bad!"
"Relax, baby boy." Arch's long, thick arms gathered me back against his chest. "That's what he meant by bad things, not bad as in awful or mean or cruel."
"Oh. Okay. That is okay, then." I snuggled into Arch's hug and decided it was time to tell them something I'd been thinking about for a few days now. "Bear-Bear? Wayne?"
"Yeah?" they said in sync.
"During our big kiss scene tonight..." I trailed off as my nerves and excitement got too big to handle, and I had to do some slow, deep breathing so I didn't panic or start pulling my hair.
"It's okay, Curls. Take your time."
Nodding, I pressed my ear against his chest and counted sixty-three heartbeats before I leaned back in the cage of his arms and looked from his bright green eyes to Wayne's silver-shot blue ones.
"Everything okay, Reau?" Wayne ran his knuckles down my cheek and stopped to rub his thumb on my bottom lip, sending shivers through my whole body.
"Yes, everything is okay." My voice sounded a little breathless, and I cleared my throat. "I wanted to tell you I think I'm ready to try."
"Ready to try what, baby boy?"
"Soul-sucking kisses."