I opened the bathroom door and the water shut off.
“Good morning,” Logan yawned.
“Morning,” I grinned at him.
“Please don’t give me that look this morning or I’ll call in mated and I’m supposed to teach my class the first steps of the flashlight in a bottle potion. They’re really looking forward to it,” he blushed and wrapped a white fluffy towel around his waist.
“Alright,” I grinned at him. “Besides, it’s my first day. I don’t think I can call in mated.”
“If we do everyone will talk about it and I’m not sure I’m up for the attention right now,” Logan smiled.
“The only attention I want on you is mine,” I wrapped my arm around his waist and pulled him in for a quick kiss.
“About last night. . .” Logan started and then stopped.
“I was amazing,” I smirked.
“Yes, I just wanted to thank you.”
“No need to thank me. You’re my omega and I really enjoy making a mission outta making you squirm.”
“Quit it!” Logan laughed and playfully slapped my chest. “I meant thank you for keeping to what we said before we went to bed. Not all Alpha’s would have done that.”
“I’m a Hemlock. Our word is gold and I’ll always keep my word to you. You’re my true-mate. Anything less would be blasphemy.”
“You’re so sweet,” Logan gushed and hugged me. I kissed the top of his blonde head that now smelled like lemon and coconut shampoo. This is how happy and comfortable I wanted him to be every second of every day. I knew life would bring less than stellar days, but I’d do my best to kick their asses into line when they did show up.
“Clean up and I’ll make us something to eat. If we don’t get a move on we’ll be late,” Logan said.
I stole one more kiss before I let him leave the bathroom.
***
After a quick shower, I shifted and ran back to the guard house to grab what I needed for the day and to pick up my car. When I arrived back to Logan’s he had two mushroom and bacon omelets ready and waiting.
“Sorry, I went back to get the car,” I said joining him at the table. “I don’t know where Darian’s sending me today and want to be ready.”
“You’re a tracker, right?” Logan asked. “I think Wrynn or one of them mentioned it before.”
“Yep, one of the best Hemlock has to offer,” I said cutting into the omelet.
“Trackers are away a lot, aren’t they?” A bit of the light faded from his blue eyes.
“Not always,” I said. It was the truth. Most trackers were out and about a lot. There weren’t many natural trackers around and the pack depended on us for everything from hunting trips and lost pups to darker situations like the one that had the whole territory holding a collected breath.
“But with the breeding farms. . .” Logan said.
“I’ll only go away when I have to,” I reached over and took his hand.
“I feel so selfish not wanting you to go away,” he said pushing his food around his plate. “People are in danger. An omega died, and I’m worried about you being too far away.”
“You’re not selfish. I think all true-mates feel that way. I don’t look forward to leaving you alone here under the circumstances if the situation arises.”
“Are there any new clues?” He asked changing the subject.
“Not that I know of. I might find out something at the meeting this morning, but I doubt it. If something big had happened it would be all over the pack link.”
“Will I be able to feel that too?”
“Once I claim you,” I nodded.
Logan blushed.
“But we don’t have to rush into that either,” I reached across and touched his shoulder. “Everything will happen in its own time. Patience is the first lesson of being a tracker.”
“I’d make a sucky tracker then. I’d be sitting there worried about when I’d find whatever I was looking for and it’d walk right by and I’d never know it,” he laughed.
“Nah, I’d be there and catch it for you.”
“So sweet,” Logan leaned over and kiss my cheek. “I usually wash up after breakfast, but it’s time to go.”
“Let me give you a ride,” I put our empty plates in the sink while he ran to grab his briefcase. “I know wolf-speed is quicker, but it’ll be nice to drop you off at work.”
“I’d like that,” Logan took my hand.
He locked the door behind us and I double checked it. It swung open.
“See, I did lock it last night,” Logan sighed.
“I’ll swing by sometime today and fix that. It won’t do to have anyone walking into your house at will,” I assured him as we got into the car.
The drive to the Juda Hall of High Education, where most classes were taught at Hemlock Academy, was shorter than I would have liked.
“I don’t want to go in,” Logan laughed when I pulled the car to a stop in front of the building.
“The car’s fast. I could speed away and they’d never catch up to us,” I winked at him.
“That’s a nice thought, but I think my students would be sad. I have some good ones this year and your sister has her first class this afternoon.”
“Eh, she’ll survive if it’s a day late,” I laughed.
“I’ll see you tonight, right?” Logan asked.
“I’ll come to your place after work. I’d invite you to the guard house, but that would definitely make you the center of attention.”
“No thanks,” Logan laughed.
Our lips met for what I meant to be a quick goodbye kiss, but Logan grabbed my shirt and held onto it. He was panting when the kiss finally broke.
“Kiss him again! Make sure he remembers it!” Someone shouted from in front of the school.
“I’ll see you tonight. I have to go kick Wrynn’s ass before class,” Logan said and darted out of the car.
Wrynn turned on his heels and headed into the grassy lawn in front of the school.
“Come back here and let me kick your ass!” Logan shouted dropping his briefcase on the sidewalk and darting onto the lawn after his friend. I watched them run circles around until Logan finally tackled him. They broke into a fit of laughter and helped each other to their feet. Logan collected his briefcase and waved at me.
I waited while they walked inside the building. Hemlock Academy was still safe, but my wolf didn’t believe the facts I knew. Logan was my omega and I’d do everything within my power to keep him safe and happy.
In the rear-view mirror, I saw Monta Gallagher walking up. He looked as smug as ever.
“Claw that look right off his face,” my wolf growled, and I pushed him back down.
“Hey,” he stopped beside the car.
I grunted in acknowledgement. Even at his age, I wouldn’t have turned tail and ran out on my true-mate.
“Ross wanted me to tell you that Logan’s door lock is broken or will break. Something like that. He’s not sure when, but he was positive I’d see you here today.”
“Thanks,” I grunted and drove off. I had more important things to do today than beat the shit out of Monta and start an inner-pack dispute.
***
I sent Ross a quick text to thank him for the heads up and he told me he would have the academy’s maintenance team fix it before the end of the day.
All Omega Liberation Front business was conducted at Darian’s house. He regularly swept it for bugs both tech and magical. Some of what we handled the national government should have authority over, but it’d been in decline for years. These days, even non-shifters looked to us for help and protection where they fell short.
The driveway was empty except for Darian’s car. I killed the engine and listened. The others hadn’t arrived yet. My brother’s heartbeat was the only one inside.
Usually, I arm up before leaving the house, but didn’t want to alarm Logan this morning. So, I stuck my hunting dagger in its ankle sheath under my pants and slid another
one into the sheath at my side. One advantage of wearing t-shirts was they hid weapons better. Sure, when shifted wolves have tooth and claws to fight with, but as a tracker I knew sometimes non-shifter weapons had their advantages. I was trained in multiple hand to hand combat techniques and was proficient enough in firearms, even if I didn’t like them. The stench of burning gun powder was only outdone by the scent of burning flesh.
I grabbed my brass-knuckles from the glovebox and tucked them into my pocket and added the last few smaller weapons into their own places. Guys I dated in the past said I armed up like an assassin. I didn’t have the heart to tell them some days, tracker is just another word for assassin. It does the pack no good to find a target you can’t take down.
I stepped out of the car just as the engine of another vehicle grew close. A second later, a black SUV labeled Hemlock Academy Campus Security pulled up beside the car. Everyone involved in the Omega Liberation Front knew that was just another name for our organization.
Blake, Joshua, and David, the brothers who I shared the guard house with stepped out of the vehicle. They were all younger than me, closer to Zoey’s age than mine, and wearing snide smirks.
“One comment from the virgin gallery and I’ll make sure Darian prints that information on your tombstones after I gut you,” I said and walked into the house.
“Give them a break,” Darian looked up from the map of the campus he was studying at the kitchen table. “It’s normal to haze true-mates a bit after their response.”
“They’re here to work not to make crude comments about my mate,” I joined him. “Where are your kids?”
“With Sophie. I asked her to watch them during the meeting.”
“Our mates were rough housing before school,” I said while we waited for the others to join us.
“That’s a normal occurrence. Soon Wrynn will be too pregnant to do that,” Darian laughed.
Slowly, the others joined us. It wasn’t just the brothers I shared the guard house with, but all of campus security that could be spared this time of the morning. Everyone crowded into the kitchen filling their coffee mugs and eating doughnuts that Wrynn had no doubt picked up the day before.
I grinned as I watched them eat the cold leftover breakfast. My days of snagging meals wherever I could without cooking were over. If breakfast was anything to judge by my omega was an excellent cook.
Darian howled over the clinking of mugs and chit-chat and the room fell silent.
“Thank you all for being here so early in the morning,” he stood up and walked to the center of the room. “We have a lot to cover and some hard days ahead of us. So, let’s get down to it. First, you will commit the official Hemlock version of the Academy’s map to memory. This isn’t the public map issued to parents, teachers, and students. This is the official map. You won’t show it off to impress omegas. You won’t leave it lying around for just anyone to find. Once you commit the true ins and outs of the campus to memory you’ll burn your copy of the map.”
“Yes, Alpha,” the others said in unison.
I nodded at Darian but didn’t speak. In silence, I watched the others. On any team, there was always a weak link. One that needed his hand held and to be watched so he didn’t fuck up the whole mission. Usually, they were easily spotted, but everyone looked competent. We’d just have to wait and see.
“Your presence here is to assure students and parents that the campus is still as safe as ever and with your hard work and watchful eyes it will stay that way.
You’ll all be assigned rounds and won’t work alone. Except for the trackers. Anyone else on duty at night is to stay with their team or their partner. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Alpha,” the chorus sounded again.
“Currently, there are no vampire students or faculty. If this changes you will be informed ASAP. I don’t see it changing in the foreseeable future, but vampires have attended Hemlock Academy in the past. For now, any vampire found on campus is to be apprehended and brought to the security building. Use force if necessary. Most likely, it’ll be a false alarm, but your job isn’t to think about that. Your job is first and foremost keeping this campus as safe as possible.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“When working the main gate check for student, faculty, or parent identification. If they don’t have it call the main building. No one gets inside without being verified.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“When enforcing the omega curfew don’t be jackasses,” Darian said.
A few of the guys in the back, Blake and the others among them, laughed.
“I’m being serious. If you find an omega out after curfew it isn’t your job to tell them off or berate them. Politely escort them home. You’re here to protect them not prove your cock is the biggest of them all.”
“Yes, Alpha,” most answered, but a few were too busy laughing.
“Is something funny, Blake?” Darian asked.
“Sorry, brother,” he said, and laughter died out.
Darian informed them of who they’d work with and where today. Wolves left in groups of three and fours and sometimes just pairs until finally I was the only one left.
“Anything new?” I asked Darian when the footsteps died.
“Nothing yet,” Darian sat back down.
“Has the map changed since last year?”
“No.”
“I don’t need a copy then.”
“I know. Mostly, you’re here for when shit does hit the fan and there is news. Jake’s ran himself ragged and I think a fresh nose on the case will help.”
“Where am I heading today?
“To the Juda Hall of Higher Education and before you say anything, yes, you’re there because of Logan.”
“I’m not going to complain,” I said as my wolf relaxed. He kept looking towards the door, but it wasn’t time to leave just yet.
“You’d be wasted on the stuff the rest of them are doing. You’ll be on the Hall until you’re out in the field. Sit in his classroom for all I care. Spend as much time with him now as you can, because when something does happen anything can happen.”
I nodded my understanding and stood to leave.
“One more thing,” Darian said. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I grinned.
“Take care of him. He’s been through the wringers, but you’ll find that out soon enough.”
Chapter Eleven
Logan
“So, how was last night?” Wrynn asked following me into my currently empty classroom. The smell of bleach and other disinfectants tickled my nose. At the end of each day the Hemlock Academy maid service cleaned each classroom to white-glove perfection. When I first started here, I took a few days to teach some of them how to properly clean supplies. It was tedious to teach someone who knew nothing about alchemy, but it was better than losing beakers and bottles to unskilled hands.
“Don’t ask me that!” I blushed and walked quicker. “Ask me what’s in my briefcase?”
“Lube in case you need it for a quickie?” Wrynn laughed with a hand on his belly.
“No!” I set it down gently on the desk. “The moon blossom petals.”
“You did it in the garden?” Wrynn sat down.
“No! We played around in the bed,” I said hoping that’d be enough to shut him up. I loved Wrynn, but sometimes my best friend was a nosy badger!
“So, how was he?”
“Pretty fucking awesome,” Jessie’s voice reached my ears before I scented him.
My face turned crimson. He was the last person I expected to walk into my classroom this morning.
“What are you doing here, Alpha?” I asked glad for a reason to end the conversation about last night.
“The Hall’s my post for today,” he said and gave me a quick kiss.
“Well, I’m off to teach omegas where babies really come from. Most of them don’t understand that they aren’t carrying pups around in their stomachs. We do have a birth canal that lead
s to our womb, but that’s the stuff they don’t learn until they get here,” Wrynn sighed.
“Good luck, Wrynn!”
“Thanks, I’m gonna need it,” Wrynn left and shut the door behind him.
“Gotta have this open or my students won’t come in,” I grinned and opened the door again.
“If you don’t mind I figured I’d hang out in here with you guys in between my hourly rounds,” Jessie said and stole another kiss.
“That would be fine, but no kissing in front of my students and look the first one’s here. Good morning, Leslie,” I spun away from Jessie to greet her.
I was happy to have him close by but wasn’t sure where the middle ground between mate and professor was.
“Did you manage to get the petals? If not, I’ll try to sneak . . .” She fell quiet when she spotted Jessie.
“Don’t mind him. He’s not a rat. He’s my true-mate,” I told her. “I did get them and they’re here. You’ll just have to wait on everyone else to see them.”
“Your true-mate?” Leslie’s eyes lit up. “You have to tell me where you guys met!”
Leslie was currently my only student majoring in alchemy. Since her core classes were out of the way, she attended all of my daily classes. Most of the time she was ahead of the curve and I let her conduct her own research. She hadn’t learned bottled flashlight and was understandably excited to participate with the class for a new potion.
Concentrating on class was harder than I thought it would be with Jessie there. He sat quietly in the corner of the room and didn’t disturb my lecture on the properties of moon blossom petals, but his scent was everywhere. My students didn’t seem to notice, but I did. I couldn’t ignore it. Even when he left for his hourly rounds it clung to the room.
My usual day consisted of three classes with two in the morning and one after lunch. No one in my first class managed to make their bottle glow, but I didn’t expect them to get it right on their first try.
Though, even with the null success rate they did better than my second class. Most of the students in my second class were Alphas and they were more interested in asking Jessie questions about tracking and our mateship than paying attention to my instructions.
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