NOTES | Alpha Order | Inner Wolf | 'Talking in Mind Link'
Chapter Eighteen | Imprint Feels
. . .
Loveless heaved a sigh as she stretched. She had never been one for cooking. But with Vic and James with the help of Claire made it entertaining. And she could honestly say, throwing flour behind the teacher's back was hilarious.
"What is next?" Vic questioned as he placed his arm around her shoulders.
Her nose scrunched as she burrowed closer to Vic. "We have P.E. Is it bad I'd rather have another cooking class?" She questioned while glancing up at Vic. Her nose scrunched once more. "At least I don't have to physically exert myself."
He chuckled softly. "No Princess it is not, I completely agree." He smirked as he looked at the black haired male on the other side of Loveless. "Sadly, James would be rather upset with us if we did not let him expel his pint-up energy."
"Oh?" Loveless smirked. "Momma Vic not putting out?"
Vic snorted. "Go change." He pointed towards the Girl's Locker room. "Shoo."
Loveless giggled, but conceded. She smiled happily at Angela while opening her gym locker.
"So tell me . . . Are you a native banger? Or just a guy banger?"
The room fell silent.
Loveless glanced at Angela. 'She's talking to me, isn't she?' Her shoulders dropped as Angela gave a half jerky nod. A soft groan left her lips as she whirled around. "Do you normally ask yourself questions?" Her head tilted to the side. "And talking about yourself like that, it's just mean. You shouldn't put yourself down like that. Be confident in yourself - without putting yourself out there."
A couple of the girls snickered in reply.
"Lauren, let's go . . . Coach Bar will be upset if we are late for cheer leading." Jessica begged softly.
"Girls!" Coach Bar screeched as she opened the door. "Where are my cheer-leaders at?" She squawked vibrantly.
"Coming Coach Bar!" Jessica replied, while pushing on Lauren's back. "Go."
Lauren growled and pointed at Loveless. "This is not over."
"Okay," Loveless waved her off. "Whatever Ho-bag."
Angela stared at her friend. "You are fearless." Her eyes wide in disbelief.
Loveless shrugged. "Come on, the guys are waiting for us."
. .
Vicktor leaned back in his seat and reached out for James. His mind tingled as they connected. 'Paul is different.'
James gave a subtly nod. 'Very different. He oozes power.'
Vicktor's lips pursed. 'He's got a touch of something besides just wolf in him, I think.'
'He's dangerous.' James' brows furrowed in concentration as he left his mind open freely. 'There is a rage inside him. An unbelievably scorching rage. I was starting to feed off him. It was potent - tangible - fucking dangerous.'
'I could feel it.' Vicktor shivered. 'I've never felt that type of rage. The way it surrounded him, clinging to him, doing his bidding without a second thought. Damn! He has to be a perfect warrior.'
James nodded. 'First time I met him, I stumbled. The pure untainted wrath roiled in him. It fucking hurt, blistered. I almost lost my composure.' He heaved a suffocating sigh. 'It was all I could do to keep it at bay. It felt threatened - Vic. Threatened. We feel threatened for no one.'
Vicktor keened softly and soothed the other. 'I know, he has perfect control - I don't like that. It makes him exceedingly dangerous.' His brows puckered. 'That type of rage comes from somewhere deep, some hidden past. It's not attained - that type of rage comes natural.'
James grimaced. 'I know.' His hands tightened on the steering wheel. 'It was blistering. I got singed when I tried to get inside his head - his rage is a perfect mask, completely unavailable. Whatever demons have curled within him - are perfectly centered.' James frowned deeply. 'Centered and don't plan on leaving any time soon.'
'But at the same time it's alluring. I wanted to feed off him too.' Vicktor nodded. 'Not to mention his grace and ease - the stealth of a swan and the rage of a wounded animal.' Vicktor shook his head. 'He would have been better as one of us, instead of a mutt.'
'He has to be something beside just a wolf. That type of rage is something our kind would possess.' James nodded. 'A good protector for our Princess.'
Victor nodded. 'Yes indeed.'
. . .
"You're back?" Emily smiled.
Loveless glanced at the smiling scarred women before turning back towards the door. "This is Vicktor, you met James yesterday."
Emily's eyes widened as she stared at the male from this morning. Just like James. Her dark brown orbs followed the lithe frame that moved with ease.
Vic smiled his dazzling smile and reached for her hand. He placed a simple chaste kiss on her soft skin. "Ma'am."
"Oh," Emily giggled softly. "Hi. Staying for dinner?" Her eyes shined brightly, all happy smiled and friendly disposition. She had never met a stranger and she did not plan to start. Especially if this was someone that Loveless held dear. Emily was going to make sure they stuck around. Though, she had the feeling they wouldn't leave even if Loveless herself told them too.
James moved closer and repeated the process Vic had. "I was hoping too, I didn't get to try your food last time."
"I know, that made me sad too." Emily beamed. "Please do! Sam and the boys should be here soon."
James nodded.
"Okay," She grabbed the attention of everyone as she cuddled into James. Loveless grabbed Vicktor's hand as she wrapped her other arm around James' waist. "We are going up to my room."
Emily stumbled. "Y-your room." Her eyes widened. Her pulse raced.
"Yes," she snapped. Loveless turned to glare. "Is that a problem?"
Emily shook her head quickly. "O-of course not! I'll call when dinner is ready." She smiled slightly and moved back into her kitchen while the other three moved up the stairs.
"You should be nicer," Vic admonished softly as he shut the door to her room. Emily seemed innocent and sweet. She knew the males were wolves, the claws on her face made that obvious.
Loveless shrugged and flopped onto her bed. "I don't care." Her brows furrowed. She wasn't completely ready to forget and let go.
"Be nice Princess." James cooed softly. "She didn't do anything wrong."
Loveless pouted. "Help me with Algebra?"
They smiled. "Of course baby," they replied in unison.
. . .
He came to a stop at the top of a cliff - above the creek - that helped to separate La Push from Forks. Paul groaned as he stretched. "Good run boys." He always loved to run. The feel of the wind as they moved faster than would be natural and human.
The other - younger - wolves grinned with animalistic pride.
Jared nodded. "You're catching on quick."
The twin wolves beamed with pride.
"To bad the running doesn't burn off any of the energy." Seth grumbled.
Paul smirked. "No, but it keeps you from going stir crazy . . ." He glanced at the wolves once more. Assessing them like he did before and after every run. Paul kept an eye on them. It was one of the promises he had made to himself when he realized he was the alpha. He was not going to fail them. "Helps keep the temper in check - some what."
The others nodded.
"Let's go. We all know Emmy has food on the stove." Paul announced as he rolled his shoulders. He made them run in human for to the second cliff - two right beside each other separated a a gorge with a small creek- jumping off and landing on the ground in a roll. And then they phased on the way back.
Sam beamed. "Finally!" He had smelled the food long ago. Their noses were stronger than any real animal. And a wolf was always in tune with their imprint.
The other wolves grumbled in agreement.
Seth and Jacob howled happily and took off in the direction of Emily's house. They phased mid-leap off the cliff and onto the other side of the gorge as they continued to howl.
Quil, Embry, Collin, and Brady looked at Paul.
Paul chuckled and jerked his head in the direction of the other two. "Run." A smirk rested on his lips as he watched his pack further their bond. He glanced at Sam and Jared as the other two laughed. Paul grinned. "We should show them how it's done."
Jared nodded in agreement.
The three eldest phased as they leaped off of the cliff. They howled happily as they broke out in front of the younger wolves - Paul taking front as Jared and Sam flanked him on each side.
They growled playfully at each other while running. Jared snapped at Paul's hind leg playfully; he snorted in laughter as the alpha snapped in reply.
Paul growled lowly. The pack whimpered as they all came to an alpha's commanding stop. Paul growled again as his body lowered in a threatening stance.
'Breath, Nicole is in there.' Jared soothed through their mind-link. 'You can't do anything rash.' Jared pressed gently as he reasoned with the wolf side taking over.
'Our imprints are in there Paul.' Sam announced. 'You don't want them getting hurt.' He followed Jared's lead easily.
Jared's wolf head bobbed in agreement. 'Right, so take a couple deep breaths. It'll be okay.' He purred gently. 'Kim's in there. I can smell the apple pie. Can't you?'
Paul shook slightly. 'Apple pie? For Lo- Nicole?' He shut his mind off before the other name finished. It was not something he would share with them. And he had made sure to Alpha Order the others into submission when that name was involved. It would not find stout without her permission.
Jared bobbed his head once more. 'Of course.'
The shaking came to a stop as the wolves pushed images of a happy 'Nicole' into his mind. Paul pawed as his snout while snorting - dammit he should have more control as an alpha.
'Focus on Nicole,' Jared ordered gently.
Paul listened to his beta. Slowly the fur receded. He shook once from his on all fours - in human form - position on the ground. A tremble clung to his spine as goose-flesh broke out for a second. Paul pushed air into his lungs and forced his body and the animal into submission.
The other wolves followed his lead.
"You okay boss?" Collin probed gently while holding out the Jerry-Sling bags they had left behind Paul's house.
Paul had long ago made sure that they had separate places through the forest with cut-offs. The shaky ground that was presented by phasing had on more than on occasion left them nude in public. Paul had tried his best to lessen those moments. And Emily made sure to continuously by more cut-offs for them.
Paul heaved a sigh and stood, in all his glory. He shucked on a pair of short and grimaced out a smile. "Yeah. Fine. Let's go eat."
Sam and Jared stayed back.
"Good job - no snapping I mean." Jared smirked.
Paul growled playfully. "Shut up."
Jared grinned. "Excuse me, I have an imprint waiting - somewhat patiently - at the door."
"You too Sam. I know Emily missed you." Paul's voice was soft as he glanced at the male that stayed by his side.
Sam smiled at his alpha. "She missed you to." He covertly jerked his head towards the room on the second floor. "Even if she doesn't realize it."
Loveless' room.
Paul's eyes shot toward the window. A slow smile broke across his lips as his wolf eyes caught the outline of a certain female.
"She might not be ready to give in. But the imprint is there." Sam reasoned.
The alpha nodded. "Sometimes I think you would have been a better alpha."
"Yeah?" Sam grinned wolfishly. "Me too!" He chuckled. "There was a reason the ancestors choose you as the alpha." Sam shrugged. "There is a reason they deemed you the best choice." He grinned easily. "And I believe they made a good choice."
Paul snorted and pushed at the other. "Go." The silent, 'I need a minute', was laced with wolf clarity.
Sam nodded and broke into a run - heading straight for Emily.
Paul heaved a deep sigh and stared up at the darkening sky. His deep mocha orbs concentrated on the twinkling stars that began to litter the sky. Paul's eyes drooped as a warming calm spread through his insides. The imprint. A gentle smile twitched on the edges of his lips. She was happy. A twinge of pain squeezed his heart at the knowledge it was not because of him; however, the knowledge of knowing she was happy was enough.
With a slow easy stride Paul turned - catching another glimpse of his evasive imprint - and made his way towards the house. His ears perked as Emily demanded Seth go and retrieve the guests, while single-handedly threatening every wolf in the kitchen. Paul chuckled, only Emily - maybe even his imprint - would stand up to a bunch of werewolves like that.
. . .