Abusing the Alpha (Seraphine Thomas Book 4) Page 6

  “Well, I’m not as cool as you. I blush when Reagan slaps my ass too.” I turned and gave him a look. “Don’t even prove it.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he teased. “And yes, you would know the difference between real deer and shifters. Just as you did the rabbit shifters and rabbits when you hunt. Hagan only confused the rabbit shifters with rabbits as he was sleep deprived and had never smelled rabbit shifters before, assuming it was a different species of rabbit.”

  “Oh god, right, no one hunt rabbits today, either! No hunting at all. We’re playing tag or whatever else, but no hunting. If you’re not sure if you’re in control enough for that…” I trailed off and glanced at Reagan like what the fuck is the plan?

  “We’re asking prey to the south end of the grounds and anyone who can’t handle their shift or control to the north end. Understand that the wolves will be patrolling as peace keepers and more, as your safety is our responsibility as our guests. So everyone behave or run to the other end, and we should all be fine.”

  “Awesome, Alphas, do your power thing so everyone around knows the pecking order.” I plopped down on the bench and let out a sigh. “I hate public speaking. I hate you both right now for making me do it. Next time, you talk and I’ll wave from here.”

  “Yes, Alpha,” they said together.

  There were a few that were pretty powerful, but none that registered equal to me and definitely nothing close to Alena.

  “Okay, so lastly from me, we’d also like this to be a time where people can make announcements, and I don’t mean that someone’s kid made the honor roll, though that’s awesome, or a plug for every shifter business, though we could get a directory going. However, new businesses, absolutely. Like Nina Jezebel, an all-powerful witch, has a shop officially opening tomorrow. Personally, I don’t think I’ll ever live without her tea again, but I’m told most big covens or packs would give a toe to get access to her goodies, and we have her here.

  “So don’t be mean to her, she’s under the pack’s protection as well, though I doubt she needs it and could protect all of us from aliens she’s so damn powerful. But if people wanted and can’t make the trip to the store this time, maybe she’ll have catalogs or something for next time or, well, you’re adults. I’ll stop rambling now and ask if there’s any other announcements or questions?”

  “Is the ban on new wolves coming to Chicago still on?” someone called out, their tone respectful but curious.

  “Yes, as the last two were bad, as in one was hiring a sniper and the other cheated, trying to kill me without a challenge in the middle of a busy street,” I drawled.

  “However, we have made several exceptions,” Reagan reminded me and announced to everyone. “For now, we will examine cases as they are presented to us, but be forewarned, the person has to have a recommendation of sorts. Like we had a wolf from Boston who got a new job, but the training is in Chicago, so their Alpha talked to us, and they’re allowed to come in for a few months.”

  “So if we have a friend who was accepted to University of Chicago, we should…”

  “Get us a copy of the acceptance letter and have their Alpha call me. That’s something we’ll most likely allow as long as it’s not a trick. Eventually we’ll be more flexible, but after my trial period to the crazies is over or whatever. Oh, also, there are a few boxes with my business cards over on other tables. Everyone take some and pass them along to those not here, because if you do get in trouble with the police or someone’s harassing you or whatever, that is what I’m here to help with. Okay? Nothing else?” I waited a beat and almost sighed it was done. “Then let’s have fun.”

  Zeno led the others to bring the bunnies out, and other than a few small issues, it wasn’t too big of a deal. Mostly several reactions like mine where the predator shifters were thrown at their teeth changing or whatever. Scared the boys a bit, but they held it together.

  “I was wondering if I could borrow your Theon this full moon or if your siren had sights on him?” Simone asked me. I followed her gaze to Theon and about groaned. Damn, he looked good without a shirt on.

  “She likes him, but no, no keeping. Just return him the way you found him,” I teased, glad when she laughed. “Happy hunting.”

  “You bet.”

  “Oh for gods’ sake,” Hagan growled, and I spun around, worried about the boys. Instead I found him blocking someone. “Just hold on. I said you’d be first.”

  “First for what? What’s the problem?”

  “You have a line forming,” Reagan bitched. I simply blinked at him, hoping he caught on. He rolled his eyes and pointed at Hagan playing gatekeeper. “He’s holding back the line of people who want to greet you and offer to be your moon mate.”

  My eyes went wide, and I glanced around Hagan, my cheeks heating up. “Um, they won’t all hump against me, right? Jesse did that when he offered to be my moon mate and wondered if he was aggressive enough. I don’t want a bunch of strangers humping my leg, Reagan.”

  “That’s not how it’s done,” he scoffed, shaking his head. “You know how to greet someone you want to make your moon mate. It’s the same as their baring their throat to you or you’re accepting them. It’s less aggressive when it comes from them as they are submissive to you.”

  “Okay, show me.”

  “Alpha.” He bared his neck to me, leaning down so I could reach, and I licked up his neck as I normally greeted him, showing the level of intimacy.

  “Wait, okay, pretend I only kissed, right?”

  “Yes,” he chuckled. “So you kiss to say you’re happy with me, and I would do something like this.” He ran his fingers down my forearm. “And that shows I’m interested in anything you wish to give me, respectfully.”

  “Okay, can I just do something else and show them all I’m spoken for this moon?”

  “Yes,” Hagan growled and spun around, giving me his neck. “Show them you want me.” I glanced around and made sure the kids weren’t looking, but then I licked up his neck and shoved my hand down the front of his pants, staring at the fifteen or more men lined up to greet me.

  There were several pouting that peeled off from the line, but a few persisted, so I stopped fondling Hagan and went to the first to play nice. It didn’t go well because when I leaned in to kiss his neck, he grabbed my tits. I pulled away and backhanded him. “That’s not a greeting or offering, that’s just assault. Hagan and I are intimate already. You need to talk to your Alpha about how you greet people.”

  “Yes, Alpha,” he muttered, holding his cheek, and practically ran away.

  “God, he was young. Did I just smack a kid?”

  “Doesn’t matter. If he’s old enough to grab a woman like that, he’s old enough to get smacked,” the next guy chuckled. Then he bared his neck to me but didn’t touch me after I kissed it. “I did want to get first on your list, but not as a moon mate. You are not my type, as you don’t have a penis.”

  “No, no I don’t,” I chuckled. “What can I do for you?”

  “We are having problems with the Rockford police department. There are a few officers that like to harass the women of our herd, saying they will send them to the council if they don’t play well with them. They haven’t taken it as far as rape yet, but I would like help in stopping this before it goes that far.”

  “Oh yeah, I’m in,” I assured him. “And tell your herd members that none of the cops in Illinois have any authority to send anyone to the council since our FBI division has an office here.”

  “Thank you. Most of us didn’t know that.” He gave me a profound head dip.

  “That’s what we want to change, the lack of information. My email is on the card. Send me whatever info you can, especially names, and I’ll have a non-shifter from my office come out and look into things right away.”

  “Thank you, Alpha.”

  By then most everyone had shifted and headed off to have fun. I was more than ready, and once the Greek wolves did, protecting the boys who were alrea
dy bunnies, Hagan, Reagan, and I did as well. They would watch the boys, while us and the rest of the Betas would watch the line between predators and prey so everyone stayed safe.

  It was a bit like football in that a few came racing over the line, and we tackled them down, reminding them to behave and get their butts back to the lack of control section. Overall though, the joint gathering seemed to be a pretty big hit, and it clearly worked in people making new friends.

  Granted, mostly for moon mates, but hey, who was I to judge, and any kind of friends was better than rivals or enemies.

  5

  Speaking of rivals, after the run, I finally made the call I didn’t want to so there wouldn’t be any problems with us going to Vegas. Alpha Gearmo Stud—no, not kidding—was the guy to call, and with a name like that, I dreaded it.

  “Just do it already,” Hagan bitched as we piled out when we got home hours and hours later, leaving the other Betas to keep peace at the pack lands for those who couldn’t shift back as fast as we could.

  Normally I would have thought calling after one in the morning rude, but they reminded me he was the Alpha in Vegas and probably up from the full moon too. The city that never sleeps and all of that, right?

  Wait, that was New York. Whatever.

  “Your mother is going shopping for Vegas-style club clothes, and I want to see you in them but only if we get the thumbs up to go.”

  “Yes, dear,” I muttered and pulled out the number I’d looked up for Mr. Stud. How did anyone call him that with a straight face? Perks of being in the FBI was I didn’t have to go through a club or whatever, I simply pulled his cell number.

  “Hello? Who’s calling Gearmo on his damn cell?” some woman answered, and I rolled my eyes. Yeah, I guessed there would be drama.

  “This is Alpha Seraphine Thomas, I wish to speak with Alpha Gearmo Stud.” There, I said it without laughing.

  “You ain’t no damn Alpha, you bitch. You sleeping with my man?”

  “Umm, no, haven’t met him yet. I suggest you give him the phone before he gets real angry with you.”

  I heard movement and then her talking from a distance as if the phone was in her hand and she was gesturing with it instead of holding it up to her mouth. “This bitch is stupid. Calling this late? Tell your hoes if they’re gonna lie, to give better ones than calling in as an Alpha. There’s no bitch Alphas. I ain’t—”

  “There is in Chicago now, idiot,” a man growled, and there was some more shuffling. “Alpha, I apologize for that. She’s as sharp as a spoon but has an ass that will run all night.”

  “Charming,” I drawled, Hagan and Reagan both looking as if they might fall over laughing at what they were hearing. “I’m Alpha Seraphine Thomas, and I’m planning to visit your fair city this week, so I thought I’d give a call and, well, I’m not really sure. This is my first trip to a city with a pack since becoming a wolf and Alpha. So, say hi? Ask if you want to have drinks while we’re there?”

  “You’re asking for permission to come inside his territory, Sera,” Hagan drawled.

  “Technically this is a work trip and he can’t keep out the FBI,” I argued. “For god’s sake, I’m going to give the Vegas office some info on how to be more paranormal friendly, so he should want that trip.” Then I thought about it and focused on the Alpha. “Okay, do I ask if I want to stay a few extra days for fun?”

  “You’re fun,” Gearmo chuckled. “We like fun in Vegas. And no, other big dogs don’t ask permission for anything.”

  “Then tell me how you would handle this call?”

  “You would ask my advice on this?” he muttered as if wondering if it was a trap.

  “Sure. I’m new, and the only other wolf Alpha I know is from Greece and she’s kinda received everywhere as a Queen. So how do us normal Alphas handle this and be friendly?”

  There was a pause, probably him wondering if he should play nice and give it to me straight. “I would call and tell you I was planning a trip to Chicago, why I was coming—though the reason doesn’t truly matter unless it’s ‘invade your pack’—and ask if certain dates were okay by you. The point is you’re coming, so don’t bother saying no, but hey, I’m a nice enough guy to be flexible that you’re in town while another Alpha’s there because not being in town when another Alpha is in your city is stupid.”

  “Got it. I don’t really have flexibility on the dates of the trip, but I do have some options between Thursday, Friday, Saturday, oh, and Sunday brunch, and I’m bringing a present. Does that keep us friendly?”

  “Yes, very much so, Alpha. You know the rules for entering other territories, yes?”

  I glanced at Hagan and Reagan, and they shook their heads. “I’m getting a solid no here, but if I ask Alena, she won’t have the same answer as others, so fill me in.”

  “You’re allowed to bring any Betas you have, but no more muscle than that unless there are family in your entourage and each need to be guarded.”

  “Six won’t be needed. I’m bringing two, and more for play, and my friend Simone who’s Alpha of the panthers here. Yeah, you might want to remind your female buddy there that there are more Alphas than wolves. I never said I was a wolf.”

  “Too right. Most pack business isn’t done over my cell, so she gets a bit trying then.”

  “Sorry, perks of the job. I just looked up your number. You cool with who’s coming with me?”

  “Yes, that’s not a lot for a new Alpha, though.”

  “I’m coming for work, so I’ll be armed. I don’t need a guard then, and we’re coming to check out the clubs I’m told you guys have that can’t be put into words. I don’t need to bring a bunch of muscle, as you put it, for when I whip it out and try to measure up. I’m a woman. I know mine’s not as long as yours, so I really don’t care.”

  There was a deep laugh on the other end of the line while Hagan and Reagan shook their heads at me. “Alpha, I look forward to meeting you. Let’s say Friday night for drinks at the club in my casino. You are staying here, yes?”

  “Oh, we didn’t book rooms yet. Thought it would be rude without calling you first. I don’t know where we’re planning to stay. We didn’t mean to inconvenience you or anything.” Suddenly a piece of paper was slid to me over the counter by Hagan.

  Take it. He owns the Bellagio. I want to swim there!

  I rolled my eyes at him. Then they should have told me that.

  “Nonsense. Your timing is perfect actually since there was something I wanted to discuss with you as well, and it’s not just your Chicago Master sending his vampire to scout my dancers for his new club.”

  “Yeah, I heard about that. He’ll behave better in the future,” I drawled. “Trying to bring wolves for his shifter club that he wants me to accept on his word isn’t happening. Not that I think your wolves would be a problem, but well, New York just sent a hitter, and another wolf wanted to hire a sniper, so call me crazy for being cautious.”

  “No, smart. Good. We will talk and have fun. I look forward to it. Come to the Bellagio when you arrive, and I promise we will get you all the pleasure and time off you need, Alpha.”

  We said our goodbyes, and I frowned at the twins.

  “We should have told you he owned the Bellagio and he’d probably want us to stay there,” Reagan admitted. “Bad Betas, no cookie.”

  “No, you can have a cookie,” I chuckled, leaning in and giving him a kiss. “You simply have to do the packing and arrange flights.”

  “Alena said for your first trip since becoming Alpha, you should do it in style and take the plane,” Hagan informed me.

  “Then handle the plane. I’m going to take a long, hot bath.” I gave him a kiss too and headed upstairs to check on the boys first.

  Alena intercepted me. “The boys have asked we work on taking things off your plate while you’re gone and do some of the decorating, and I confess, I don’t know your style. I don’t want to set them up to fail but build their confidence that they contributed to making this a
home, their home.”

  “You’re so awesome,” I gushed and hugged her. “I wish you were always here.”

  “We will visit often now that we have our own room,” she assured me. Then she handed me a stack of catalogs. “This would help us steer them in the right directions if you could give us some hints.”

  “So just circle what I like and you’ll make it work in a room or something like it?”

  “Yes, exactly. And they want to fill this sitting room with books, a shelf for everyone, so I need to know what kind you like.”

  “You guys are going to be busy.”

  “They would like as much handled as possible before they start their lessons Monday.” She shrugged and kissed my cheek. “Go relax and catalog shop. Leave the rest to us.”

  “And you’re getting Vegas clothes for me too? How did I survive without you?” The answer hit me, and I gave her the best smile I could. Tristan would have handled stuff like that before. Part of me wondered how he was doing. Instead, I headed to my new bathroom and the crazy see through tub.

  The catalogs ended up being too difficult with the water to handle more than one, so I decided to do one better. I grabbed my tablet, got in the tub and raised the glass side, turned the water back on to fill it, added peppermint bubble bath, and opened Pinterest. I had fun picking out living rooms I liked and kitchens that could work in the house. My style, and they could fill in the gaps however they wanted.

  Then I realized my living room choices were more family room ones, but Alena would figure it out and make the living room more formal sitting room or whatever. Of course, then I found a few I liked and added those. Bedrooms ended up being easy, as three options I loved were on the first page. And they even went with the new color on the walls.

  “Having fun?” Hagan asked from the doorway.

  “Catalogs and water don’t work, but a tablet is small,” I rationalized. “I’ve got living and sitting rooms, kitchens, and master options for them to go crazy on. They’ve already selected wardrobes from IKEA since there’s no closets in the boys’ room, and I trust Alena to make me the most tricked out girl heaven closet ever. But giving them all of this plus the move? We’re only going to be gone like four days.”