Chapter Two

Rose

"Alaric, is that you in there?" I cautiously asked as I attempted to unlock the door.  My stomach did a small flip as it was already opened.  I wasn't reliving anyone's past, right?  This wasn't a premonition that I had accidentally slipped into?

"Who else would it be?"  The attitude and sarcasm hit me like a freight train.  Of course, it was Alaric.  Even after over a year and a half, his personality refused to budge or soften.  I appreciated it; you always knew where you stood with him.

"Did you pick the lock again?"  I groaned as I flipped on the lights to reveal Alaric sprawled out on top of my giant reception desk.  His dirty shoes dangled off of the edge as he grinned at me.

"What? Me? Never!"  That was a yes, but his eyes twinkled with mischievous joy.   This was definitely one of his habits that weren't as charming as he thought it was.  Goddess, give his mate strength whenever he meets them.  He was a handful...or two.

"Why are you in here already?"  I stepped into my little library, enjoying the smell of books.  It wasn't the main library in the pack, but it was mine.  Orion gifted it to me for my birthday.  Some women wanted diamonds; I just wanted books.

Since coming to the pack, I had dozens of premonitions about the past of the pack.  I even reunited a family member.  Somehow I became the unofficial pack historian.  It wasn't uncommon for people to come to talk to me.  It was unusual for anyone else but Alaric to break in.  Most people waited until I opened the drapes.  Alaric wasn't most people, though.

"Meh, bored?"  No, that wasn't the honest answer.  That was the typical teenage male answer.

"We both know that is not why you are here."  I went behind the desk and dropped my bag off my shoulder before sitting down in my chair.  I tucked my bag underneath the desk and turned on my computer.

Alaric slid off my desk and wandered over to a book-filled wall.  He pulled out a random book and skimmed through it before putting it back on the shelf.

"I dunno, boss lady.  Why can't I just visit you?"

"Well, generally, if you just want to visit, you won't break in at six in the morning.  You can always come and see me."  The sun wasn't even up.  Here I was planning on cleaning the library since Orion had to get up early this morning anyways for training with the higher-ups in the pack warriors.

"Is that so?  Not even seven, huh?"  Alaric wandered through the shelves aimlessly, randomly peeking at me through the gaps.

"Did you have the dream again?"

"Yeah...dream...nightmare..."

Alaric had been having the same nightmare ever since he came to the pack.  It always started the same; he relives watching Matt and his father fight with Pru and Heather.  However, as Alaric snaps the neck of Hodges, Hodges changes.  He turns into a faceless woman.  Alaric stumbles back to the ground as an invisible dagger impales his heart.  The faceless woman is his mate.  He killed her.  Then when he looks around to Matt, Pru, or Heather, they are all gone, and he is left alone with his mate's lifeless corpse.

"You aren't going to kill your mate, Alaric."  I crossed the room and reached through a bookcase to pat his hand.  My heart broke for him.  He was haunted by his father's actions, but he was already a way better man than his sperm donor had ever been.

"Can we not talk about it?"  Alaric shook his head side to side.  "How did the meeting go with the council the other day?"

I groaned out loud as I dropped my hand.  "Orion is going to rip their heads off soon."

"They still haven't given up on telling the Alpha to stop looking?"

"Nope."

"It's ridiculous that they keep suggesting it."

"You are preaching to the choir."

"Even I wouldn't suggest that, and I'm comfortable breaking into my Luna's library."

"Maybe not tell people you break in here."

"Scared I'll ruin your image?"

"No, I'm scared you'll get pee on my carpet if Orion ever catches you breaking into here."  I snickered as I went back to my desk.

"You have no faith in my bladder?"  Alaric dramatically clutched his chest as he rounded the corner of a shelf.

"No, not really."  I opened the door to the closet and grabbed a feather duster before throwing it at Alaric's face.  "Make yourself useful while you are here."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa.  I do not find this rudeness attractive."  Alaric shook the feather duster in my direction.

"What makes you think I am looking to attract you?"  I smirked as I rummaged through my cleaning supplies.

"Touché."

Alaric and I spent an hour cleaning up my little library.  He was a trooper for helping.  He kept me company whenever Orion, Harriet, Heather, Iris, or Pru were busy...or asleep apparently.  

"Come on, kid.  I'll buy you breakfast."  I dropped the cleaning supplies back into the closet and stretched.

"Hmmm, I shouldn't accept that, but the promise of pancakes is hard to say no to,"  Alaric licked his lips at the thought.

"Maybe if you are a good boy, I'll even invite your crush."

A crimson tidal wave crashed over Alaric's face as he stammered out,  "I...I don't have a crush."

"Don't lie to your Luna."

"I don't have a crush!  Stop making me sound like a little kid.  I am only a year and a half younger than you."

***Are you awake?  Alaric and I going to grab breakfast at the diner.  You wanna come?  My treat?***  I quickly sent out a mind link.

***Sounds good.  Meet you in a few.***

"Well, who did I just invite?"  I innocently batted my eyelashes at Alaric.

"Luna!"  Alaric chased me around the library with his fingers splayed.  He was armed and dangerous.  I had no desire to be tickled this early in the morning.

"No running in the library!"  I laughed out as I ducked behind a bookshelf.

"Then hold still and take your punishment!"

"Sorry if we don't go now; we will make her wait for us."  I gestured to the door with my own mischievous glint in my eyes.  "It would be such a shame to waste any time with her."

Alaric reluctantly followed me out of the library and across the street to the little diner.  I liked this place; it was in the heart of the pack.  It was always busy.  You never knew who you would run into there.  That made it an even more enjoyable experience, kind of like a game of pack member roulette.  As soon as we stepped through the door, the smells of coffee and breakfast meat greeted us.

"Morning, Luna!"  Marie greeted me with a huge grin.  Marie was a pleasantly plump older human who was mated to a werewolf.  Her mousy brown and gray hair was pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head.

"Morning, Marie,"  I smiled back as I pulled Alaric to an empty booth in the corner.

Alaric's leg wouldn't stop shaking as he tried to look over the menu.  I groaned slightly as I prayed that she would get her soon so he would stop.

A soft jingle of the bells on the door caused Alaric's eyes to soften as he looked over.  I smiled to myself as I scanned the menu.  I knew what I was going to get, but I let him have this dopey lover boy moment without me teasing him.

"Morning, Luna.  Morning, Alaric."

I finally peeked over my menu with an innocent smile,  "Good morning, Heather."