A few minutes later Ford saw Holly come out with a pile of books to read to the children. Now and then he would shoot them a glance. He couldn't help but smile as the kids hung on to her every word.
As Ford turned his attention back to the window he saw a wolf carrying a pup at top speed to the house. "Open the door and pull them in quickly," he commanded.
The door closed almost as fast as it opened. The adult wolf transformed into a man with long blue hair and bulging muscles. Wayne handed a towel to him and said, "Where are they Alpha Ludus?"
"Not far behind. Thanks, you may have saved our lives. I smelled silver." Alpha Ludus replied.
Holly walked over to the little girl, wrapping her in a blanket, "Hello there, what's your name? I'm Holly."
Before the little girl could answer, the Alpha stood in front of the child told the child to go play.
Alpha Ludus then stalked Holly, "How interesting a human living here among werewolves? Are you compelled or one of their fuck buddies?"
Ford growled and pulled Holly behind him to protect her. Wayne irritably said, "Can you three discuss this when there isn't a mob of people out there looking for us. The two men eyed one another for a moment before agreeing and preparing to protect the pack.
The child came back from the pack's closet and walked over to where the other children were. Holly started to read to the kids again but listened closely to what was going on in the room. The man with the blue hair gave her an ominous feeling.
While they waited, Alpha Ludus asked, "Why didn't you warn me they were coming?"
"I did warn you several times in fact, but your beta said that you were busy every time. Eventually, after leaving 10 voice messages, several emails, and contacting different members of your pack to warn them, I discovered the truth. You couldn't be bothered." Alpha Wayne replied harshly.
Alpha Ludus growled, but he knew he was telling the truth, so he left it be for the moment. Hopefully, word spread through his pack through the others Wayne contacted and none of them traveled to Westtown today.
Soon the humans came into sight. They carried lights and difficult forms of weaponry, searching for the gigantic wolf they had spotted only moments ago. When they couldn't find it they kept moving forward until they were out of sight. A wave of relief passed over the packhouse and Alpha Wayne instructed, "Women and children if you want to go upstairs and go to sleep you can. Men, I want you all to stay put for when they come back through this way. I doubt anything will happen, but I don't want to be off guard either."
When most of the crowd had gone, Holly picked up the books and carried them to the library. She started to put them away when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see the blue-haired man standing behind her. "What do you want?" she asked nervously.
Alpha Ludus frowned and said, "That's no way to treat an Alpha, now you are going to do as I say before I get angry."
"No way," Holly said before she turned away from him. Ludus flipped her back over slamming her hard into the bookcase and looked deep into her eyes, "You want to be a badass huh? Go upstairs to room 301 and wait for me in bed. I like them feisty anyway."
Holly knew Ford would protect her, so she slammed her head into his dropping the books, and ran out of the room.
She hid behind Ford as Ludus came staggering out. He held onto his head and asked, "Why can't she be compelled?"
Both men looked at her curiously before Ford replied, "It doesn't matter, whatever you were trying to compel her to do was probably sick anyway." He then turned to Holly and asked, "Holly can you sleep on the couch tonight. I want to make sure this idiot doesn't get any ideas."
Holly nodded and put her hand on her forehead, it was throbbing. Ford noticed and asked, "What's wrong with your head?"
"I had to headbutt this jerk to get away from him," she said simply.
Ford shot him a glare and said, "let's get you some ice for that."
As they walked out of the room Alpha Ludus asked, "Are you seriously going to stand there and let them speak to me that way?"
"Was anything they said not true?" Alpha Wayne asked.
…
While Ford handed Holly an icepack he asked, "What did Ludus try to get you to do?"
"No, please Ford it's embarrassing," Holly said as she placed the ice pack head.
"It's important," Ford replied gently.
Holly let out a sigh and said, "He told me to go room his room and wait for him." Ford's eyes turned red in anger startling Holly, she grabbed his arm and said, "Ford, please don't get hurt over something as stupid as this. Whatever this compulsion thing is he spoke about didn't work, so there is no need to be concerned about it."
Despite what she said, Ford didn't respond immediately. Instead, he walked into the room and asked, "Is the mob gone for the night."
Wayne's eyes narrowed knowing something was about to happen, but he nodded. Ford then charged at Alpha Ludus throwing his body across the room into a brick fireplace, leaving broken bricks scattered about. If you dare even look at my mate again, I will rip off your head and shove it up your ass!"
"FORD YOU'RE DISMISSED" Alpha Wayne yelled.
Alpha Ludus was furious, but also confused, "Who the fuck is your mate?!" That was when he saw Holly run up behind Ford and he realized. "What the hell is someone as pretty as her doing with a scrawny-ass guy like you?!"
Instead of answering his question, Ford simply escorted Holly upstairs to her room only to discover that her door was locked. Ford let out an annoyed sigh and said, "This room was formerly a guest room. The current occupant likely didn't realize it was taken. You can sleep in my room for tonight." Ford was about to leave when Wayne mind-linked with him, 'I don't know what happened, but just protect Holly until this asshat leaves. No one is going to find us. I am just doing this out of an abundance of caution.'
Ford opened up his door and said, "Sleep in the bed Holly. I'll sleep in the chair."
"I don't mind if we share the bed. It's not like there's not enough room for both of us," Holly replied innocently.
Ford blinked in surprise, "Are you sure? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
"Of course, besides I am kind of scared to be away from you right now," Holly answered nervously.
Ford nodded and gave Holly some clothes she could change into in the bathroom, while Ford quickly changed in his closet.
Once again, when Holly placed his clothing on, she smiled as they smelled like freshly brewed expensive coffee. Ford was already in bed when she crawled beside him. But this time, he knowingly pulled her into his chest. She relaxed, falling into a deep and comfortable sleep.
The next morning Ford quickly showered and woke Holly up. He brought her to Carrie, who took her to the pack's closet to get dressed. Ford still stood guard outside, not wanting to let Holly out of his sight until Alpha Ludus was gone.
Meanwhile, inside the closet, Holly picked up the dress she had planned to try on yesterday. It was a light blue dress with a white apron that could be bleached if she were to make a mess while working in the kitchen. It was both pretty and sensible for the job she would be doing. As she took off Ford's shirt, Carrie let out a startled gasp, "Miss Holly, what on earth happened to your back?"
A few lines spaced about a foot apart started from the back of her head down to her lower back. Holly looked in the full-length mirror and said, "It's just bruised from last night. Alpha Ludus tried to pull something and slammed my back into the bookcase. Please don't say anything to Ford about this though... He's angry enough about the whole situation." She then bit her lip and said, "the rest is simply scars from my past. I'm not ready to talk about that yet."
Carrie immediately mind-linked with Wayne, "Get Ford to bring me down some bruise cream. Tell him it's for me."
Despite Carrie's effort Ford heard the first part of their conversation and was already on his way to grab his medical supplies.
When he returned, Carrie and Holly were working in the kitchen. He handed Carrie the bruise cream and said it loud enough for Holly to hear, "Don't try to hide this from me. I want her safe."
Carrie frowned and replied, "Yes beta, you have my word."
Satisfied, he walked away and met up with Alpha Wayne and Alpha Ludus in the dining room.
Alpha Ludus stood up immediately ready to fight, when Alpha Wayne said, "Sit down Ludus, your pack numbers may have dwindled and you are going to need allies. That's not going to happen if you attack my Beta or his mate. Do we have an understanding?" Ludus growled but agreed. Wayne then turned towards Ford and said, "Ludus and several of our warriors are going to help search for their pack. Can you keep everyone here safe while I am gone?" Ford nodded and walked away to start giving out orders.
While breakfast was being served, Carrie applied the bruise cream to Holly's back. "I'm sorry I got you in trouble with Doctor Ford," Holly said quietly.
"Sweetie, you didn't get me in trouble. Ford is just worried about you. You are his mate after all." Carrie replied.
"Does that mean you're my mate as well?" Holly asked, still thinking that mate means friend. Carrie zipped up her dress quickly and as expected the entire dining hall got quiet and several people poked their heads into the room.
Carrie growled out the door in frustration and embarrassment, "Ford, get in here!"
Ford walked in looking red in the face and Carrie continued, "If you don't explain to this girl what a mate is, I swear I am going to tell her in EXPLICIT detail!"
Ford cringed and said, "Come with me."
Ford picked up both their plates and carried them to his office, figuring it was the most private place to be at the moment. He sat Holly down in a chair and pulled a chair up across from her before saying, "Holly, I didn't tell you what a mate was earlier because I didn't want to scare you off. Werewolves and humans are very different… especially in matters such as this..." He thought for a moment before asking, "Holly do you believe in love at first sight?"
Holly shrugged, "I guess it's possible, why?"
Ford continued, "Well love at first sight is kind of the human equivalent to what werewolves believe. Werewolves worship the Moon Goddess, and for every werewolf she created, she made their equal, their mate. Now for the most part both partners are werewolves. But it is not unheard of for a partner to be human or some other species of supernatural being."
"So, wait let me get this straight, you think that out of all the werewolves and people in the world I am your fated match? How do you know?" Holly asked.
"Werewolves just know. There are some signs that clue us in, but deep down we just know," Ford answered.
The more Holly heard the more she wanted to know, "Well, how can I know if you are indeed my 'fated mate?' Not that I think you would lie to me, it's just a lot to absorb right now."
Ford placed her plate to the side and said, "That I don't know. Wayne might know something about it. You can ask him when he returns. For now, all I can tell you is how werewolves know they have met their mate. Our first sign is a beautiful scent that calls to us even if we are several miles away. Then once a werewolf locks eyes with his mate, he instantly realizes that not another soul on the earth will do. For this creature is perfect in every way."
"The final clue is touch," he said as he stood up and walked behind her chair. He leaned next to her ear and whispered, "with every touch their body reacts, regardless of whether the touch is innocent," he placed his hands on her shoulders and she shivered.
When her body reacted, he smiled and continued, "or intentional." He then leaned forward placing butterfly kisses down her neckline.
She leaned into his touch reaching out for him. She kissed him passionately on the lips. Ford smiled and said, "It would appear that the signs are similar in both wolves and humans."
She stopped short as she heard those words, before asking, "Is this just some kind of joke to you?"
Ford pulled back looking at her confused, "No, Holly. Of course not."
She stood up quickly and ran away crying, thinking that everything he told her was a ploy to seduce her.
Ford quickly mind-linked with one of the pack's trusted soldiers, "Holly just left the house. Follow her, make sure that she is safe."
Ford walked downstairs to the kitchen to place the dirty dishes in the sink. He saw Brad and asked, "Could you do me a favor? I can't leave the pack house right now due to Alpha Wayne's orders. Would you please bake Holly a cake with the words, 'I'm sorry' on it. I messed up."
"Of course," Brad said, "Besides, your mate's my mate now, right?"
Ford shot him a look and said, "Ha ha, very funny."