Chapter 9: Complications

Amara squealed in delight as she got behind the wheel of her brand new car, a black Chevy Camaro. She turned it on and listened to it purr.

"Hell yes!" Amara yelled. "Whooo!" She turned the car off, got out and hugged Gabriel and Sonya. "This is the best present ever! Thank you!" she said with tears in her eyes.

"You deserve it, Little One," Gabriel murmurred, hugging her back.

"Can I drive it around for a bit?" she asked, pulling away from them.

"Of course! It's your car, after all."

Amara jumped up and down for joy and got back in the car. "I'll only be out for a little bit!"

"Naw, take your time, kid. Go enjoy yourself."

Amara got back into the car, turned it on and smiled. "This is so cool!" she yelled as she pulled out of the driveway and sped off. "Just listen to that engine, Dakota!"

"I hear it," Dakota said. "I don't know what the fuss is all about."

"That's because you don't drive," Amara said, driving down the main road out of the cul-de-sac.

"Well, c'mon. Let's see what she's got, then."

Amara giggled and drove around until she found a straight road that wasn't busy. She smirked deviously as she gripped the wheel and revved the engine.

"Don't go too far down this road, Amara. It leads to the end of the Red Blood territory," Dakota warned.

"I'll be careful," Amara assured.

Amara stepped on the gas and went screeching down the road. She giggled hysterically as she reached seventy miles per hour. When she got to eighty she kept going.

"Amara! You're gonna cross the territory line!" Dakota yelled.

Amara slammed on the brakes and her tires skidded across the pavement.

"Woooo!" she yelled with joy. "What a rush!"

She put the car in reverse and backed up a little before going into drive and turning around to speed up again. She hit eighty miles per hour again and whooped with joy. She stepped on the brakes to slow down and smiled, but then she caught a glimpse of movement in her rearview mirror and gasped.

Wolves.

Gabriel was attending to paperwork in his office. There had been sightings of wolves near the border between them and the old Pale Moon Pack's territory. This was unsettling, to say the least. According to his men, they weren't rogues. Someone must've claimed the former pack's territory. This was not sanctioned by the Elders, though, so how could it be? He wondered how Amara would react if she knew about this.

"Gabriel, we've got a problem!" Leo blurted out in the mind link.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's Amara. She was attacked by the old 21 Interstate, just shy of the border."

Gabriel immediately grabbed his car keys and went running out the door. "Is she okay?"

"We don't know. She took them all out but..." Leo hesitated.

"But what?!" Gabriel demanded as he got to his car.

"She won't shift back and she's pacing. She keeps trying to attack anyone who comes near her."

"I'm on my way!" Gabriel said as he got in and started his car.

He went driving like a mad man out of the driveway and through the neighborhood before turning onto the main road.

"Just keep the men away from her until I get there."

"Yeah, about that..." Leo paused.

"What?"

"The men...they keep trying to go after her. It's like they can't help themselves."

Gabriel stepped on the gas.

When he got to the area where Leo told him Amara was, he slowed down and got out next to her car. Amara's black wolf was snarling at his men and sure enough, they kept trying to go at her. Some dead wolves littered the ground. Gabriel assumed that was Amara's handiwork. He exited his vehicle and ran up to Leo.

"What the hell?" he said.

"I don't know what's happening," Leo explained. "The men won't listen to me."

Gabriel nodded and started walking towards Amara and the other werewolves. "Men! Back off!" he demanded in his Alpha voice.

Some of the men turned to him and Gabriel saw their eyes were black. Their wolves were in control.

"Mine!" they all yelled.

Amara was looking between all of them, drool dripping from her fangs as she snarled and growled. Her body was tense like she was ready to pounce and the fur on her back was raised.

"I said back off!" Gabriel growled. "All of you!"

None of the men were listening. This was very odd. What the hell was going on?

"Amara, what is happening?" he asked her in the mind link.

"It's our scent," Dakota answered. "Our scent is driving them into a frenzy."

Gabriel took a step closer. "How do you know?"

"Amara read a book about black wolves in the library at school. It said something about her scent making all unmated wolves want to claim her and mate with her. It'll get worse once she turns eighteen," Dakota explained.

Gabriel groaned. "Well that explains a lot. How do we fix it?"

"Mr. Shaw bought Amara some anti scent spray. It's in her book bag in the car."

Gabriel jogged to Amara's car and opened it. He reached in and started rummaging around for the spray. He found it and stood up straight, running over to Amara. He took the lid off and started spraying Amara everywhere. After a while, he noticed the other werewolves were coming out of their daze.

"Dakota, why isn't Amara in control?" Gabriel asked.

"She's terrified," Dakota answered.

Gabriel sighed, bent down and scratched the black wolf behind the ears. "Well, it's okay. You can come out now, Amara."

Amara whined and buried her muzzle into Gabriel's chest. He laughed quietly and pat her side.

"I don't want to shift right now. Not in front of all of them," Amara said.

Gabriel nodded and stood up. "Leo, would you take Amara home in her car?"

"Yes, Alpha," Leo said with a nod as he looked at Amara. "C'mon, let's get you home."

Amara trotted over to her car and Leo opened the back door for her. She jumped in and Gabriel sighed with a shake of his head. He looked down at the anti scent spray and frowned.

"Mr. Shaw?" Gabriel called out in the mind link.

"Yes?" Mr. Shaw replied.

"I need to see you as soon as possible at my house."

Mr. Shaw pulled up to the mansion and gulped. He had a feeling this was not going to go well. He parked the car, turned it off and got out. As he reached the door and rang the door bell, his palms began to sweat. After a minute, the door opened to reveal Sonya.

"Oh hi, Mr. Shaw. Good to see you," she said with a smile. "Come in. Gabriel is waiting for you in his study."

Mr. Shaw stepped inside and took off his coat. He put it on his arm and walked to Gabriel's study, knocking on the door.

"Come in," Gabriel's muffled voice called out.

Mr. Shaw opened the door and Gabriel motioned for him to sit. He closed the door and sat in front of Gabriel's desk.

"What can I do for you, Alpha?" Mr. Shaw asked.

Gabriel pulled out Amara's anti scent spray and placed it on the desk. Mr. Shaw's face blanched.

"I had to use this on her today because some of my men were going after her. All unmated males," Gabriel explained.

Mr. Shaw's fists tightened at the thought of any man going after Amara. "Is she alright?"

"A little shaken up, but she'll be fine." Mr. Shaw nodded, sighing with relief. "Mr. Shaw, why did you buy her this?"

"Well, she did some research on black wolves in the library and apparently, her scent is a natural aphrodisiac. And it's going to get worse when she turns eighteen, according to the book. And...well, she does have a...scent. So...I just thought the spray would be useful for her."

"Mmhmm." Gabriel leaned back in his chair. "Mr. Shaw, what interest do you have in Amara?"

Mr. Shaw blinked. "She's my student."

"Uh huh. Well, you're an unmated male so of course you've smelled her."

Mr. Shaw sighed. "Yes, I have. The attraction is a farce, however. I know this, so you have nothing to worry about."

Gabriel laughed. "Worried? Who said I was worried?"

"I...I thought that's why you asked me to come here. To alleviate your worries about my intentions towards Amara," Mr. Shaw explained, looking very confused.

"Oh. Well, I called you here to thank you for buying her this. If you hadn't, well, who knows what could've happened to her today." Mr. Shaw relaxed in his seat. "But while we're on the subject..."

"Oh no..." Mr. Shaw thought.

"Are you sure your intentions for her are strictly...platonic? I want you to be honest with me. I won't place judgment."

Mr. Shaw frowned. "Amara, she...she fascinates me."

One of Gabriel's eyebrows quirked up. "Go on."

Mr. Shaw looked at his hands. "But she is a student. I won't act on any urges that I have."

"Listen, Mr. Shaw. You have my sympathies for what happened to you in Scotland. I can't imagine what rejection from a mate feels like. And I'm sure you're a very upstanding man, but...Amara is like a daughter to me. Can you blame me for wanting to know a suitor's intentions?"

Mr. Shaw looked at Gabriel. "A suitor? Alpha Forrester, I-"

"Amara isn't going to be your student forever, Mr. Shaw. And I have a feeling you will still be fascinated by her once she graduates from high school," Gabriel said, chuckling. "She is very special."

Mr. Shaw swallowed hard. "Yes, that she is."

Gabriel sighed. "On a more serious note, she was attacked by more wolves today when she went joyriding in her new birthday present."

Mr. Shaw straightened in his chair, looking quite worried. "Was she hurt?"

"Not that I know of. She killed all of them, actually."

Mr. Shaw was impressed. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Rogues?"

"No. In fact, we've had reports of pack wolves seen just outside our borders...in Amara's old territory."

Mr. Shaw sat up straighter. "Have they taken it over?"

"It's more than likely. I just don't understand why they went after her." Gabriel stood up. "In the mean time, I'm going to have her guarded from now on. This scent thing is not something to be taken lightly, not after what I saw it do to my men today."

"I understand." Mr. Shaw stood up as well. "Was there anything else?"

"Don't tell Amara about her old pack's territory or the wolves overtaking it."

"I won't say a word."

"Good. That'll be all, Mr. Shaw. Thank you for stopping by."

Mr. Shaw bowed his head and left the study. As he got his coat on and walked towards the door, he heard his name being called. He turned around to see Amara coming down the stairs.

"Mr. Shaw, what are you doing here?" she asked with a smile.

"Oh. Uh...the Alpha wanted to thank me for getting you the anti scent spray," Mr. Shaw replied. He sniffed the air. "I can tell that it's working."

Amara crossed her arms and chuckled. "Yeah, it's working well. Thank you again."

"You're welcome.".

Amara's eyes suddenly lit up. "Do you want to see my new car? Gabriel and Sonya got it for my birthday."

Mr. Shaw considered Gabriel's words carefully and shook his head. "Another time, perhaps. I need to get going."

Amara looked a little disappointed. "Alright, well, I'll see you on Monday, Mr. Shaw."

"Yeah. See ya."

Mr. Shaw exited the house and got into his car, frowning the whole way. As he drove out of the driveway and down the street, a red Dodge Charger came barreling by him.

Benjamin swerved his car into the driveway and turned it off before climbing out and running towards the house. He'd heard about what happened to Amara today and he was totally freaking out about it. He unlocked the door and rushed in to see Amara standing there. He immediately went to her and held her in his arms.

"I heard about what happened. Are you okay?" he asked in a strained voice.

"I'm okay," she replied. "Really, I'm-"

Benjamin grabbed her shoulders and looked her over. "That anti spray stuff really works. You don't smell at all."

Amara giggled. "I know."

Benjamin smiled at her. "You're sure that you're okay?"

"I'm fine. Really."

Benjamin embraced her tightly once more and kissed the top of her head. "I was so worried."

Amara looked up at him. "You were?"

"Yes. I was," he replied, stroking her face.

The study door opened and Gabriel poked his head out. Amara and Benjamin looked at him to see a disgruntled expression on his face.

"Amara, I need to talk to you," he said.

Amara nodded and left Benjamin's arms, entering the study.

Amara sat down in front of the Alpha's desk and huffed. "What's up?"

Gabriel furrowed his brow. "Amara, from now on, I'm going to have guards accompany you wherever you go."

Amara rolled her eyes. "You gotta be kidding me. I have the anti scent spray, I'll be fine with that."

"It's not just for that. It's these wolves beyond our borders. You've been attacked twice now by unknown enemies," Gabriel emphasized.

Amara sighed and buried her head in her hands. "This sucks."

"I know, but until we solve both problems, that's the way it's gotta be."

"I know how to fix one problem."

"You do?"

Amara raised her head and looked at him. "The scent problem. The only permanent fix is if I find my mate and...well, complete the mating process."

"I see. You read that in the book?" Gabriel asked, pacing back and forth.

"Yeah."

"Do you still have it? Did it say anything else?"

"Not really."

"Hmm. I'm going to make some calls. Perhaps the historians will have a book or some knowledge of this...phenomenon." Gabriel eyed balled her suddenly and he sat on his desk in front of her. "Tell me, are you and Benjamin a thing now or what?"

Amara's eyes darted back and forth. "No. Yes? I don't know."

"Huh. Strange. And here I thought you had a thing for your math teacher," he said with a smile.

Her eyes widened and her face turned white "Um, why would you think that?"

"I saw the way you looked at him at dinner. You like him."

Amara lowered her eyes. "I don't know what you mean, Gabriel. I mean, he's my teacher. I'm his student. It would be wrong if we...if I liked him."

He chortled lightly. "You don't have to lie to me, Little One."

A puff of air escaped Amara's lips. "Alright, fine. Yes, I like him. I like him a ridiculously large amount for someone I just met four days ago and it sucks because not only is he my teacher, not only am I a minor, but his attraction to me isn't even real. It's just because of my stupid scent. Benjamin is the safer bet. He was attracted to me before my scent changed, so his is real."

"But do you even like Benjamin?"

"...A little bit."

Gabriel smirked. "Alright, well...if that's what you really want."

Amara looked down. "It isn't. Not really."

"Then why settle?"

"Because being with Mr. Shaw would be impossible. There's too many big ass complications. And who's to say he would even be on board with being with me?"

Gabriel took a deep breath in. "Okay."

Amara stood up from the chair. "Is there anything else?"

"No."

Amara nodded and left the room. She saw Benjamin waiting for her outside with a sad expression.

"You really do like Mr. Shaw, don't you..." he said glumly.

Amara frowned and walked to Benjamin, holding his face in her hands. "Yes, but I like you, too."

Benjamin looked into her eyes and smiled a little. "You do?"

"Yeah. Just...give me some time to get over this crush, okay?"

Benjamin nodded, kissing her palm. "Okay."

Benjamin wrapped his arms around her and Amara nuzzled her face into his chest.