Chapter 6: A date.

**LUCIEN**

After Monica, Angelina and Lincoln left the shop the amount of dirty looks I received from she-wolves and human females alike were crazy. Like they thought that I would give them the time of day. Most of the she-wolves are what we call “warrior and rank whores”. Will bed anyone with a rank or is a fighter. I don’t see what the appeal is. 

“Alex, I’m leaving for the day. Let me know if you need anything. Also, I will probably be taking a trip to the back house this weekend.” He nodded and smiled and wished me luck on wooing my human. All I could do was laugh. 

Leon won’t quit texting me telling me he needs me to come to the pack this weekend. That he needs to talk to me about this situation with Carrie.

‘Me: I have a few things to handle tonight but I can come back tomorrow.’ I quickly shoot a text to him.

Immediately I get a response. Which is REALLY unlike my brother. He is almost ALWAYS too busy to check his phone. 

Leon: Okay, that’s good. I’ll make sure there are fresh clothes and bed linens in your room and we will have dinner. And then you and I need to talk.’ Always with the fu.cking talks. I am over talking. 

I quickly make it home to pack a bag before heading to get something for dinner at the restaurant Nicole and her mother owns. I haven’t had much time to think from the last texts I received from Leon. Carrie is pregnant. Well, we definitely know it isn’t mine. We never mated, not even once. 

So, it’s either my brothers or someone else's. I wouldn’t put it past her to have slept with someone else and claimed it to be my brothers. Everyone wants an Alpha, to stand next to them and lead the pack. To have the power over the man that is in charge of countless people. It’s always about the money and the power….

I wonder why he would want to talk to me about it though. I am sure Carrie never told him she was my mate before now. Leon might’ve unknowingly taken the Alpha title from me. But I don’t think he would’ve ever knowingly taken my mate. But with no one but Ezekial knowing the situation, and I know he wouldn’t tell anyone, I don’t understand what could be going on that he needs to talk to me about it. Carrie is his problem now. Not mine. But I do want to see my mother.

If it were my mother’s health, Carla would’ve texted me before now. She wouldn’t let me worry over that. She has become a good friend to me. Always checking up on me, making sure I am okay and constantly updating me even when Ezekial does.

So many scenarios running through my mind, I have absentmindedly walked all the way to the restaurant. Well damn. I hope I didn’t leave anything on. Catch my damn house on fire cause I can’t properly think. 

‘MAMMA IN CUCINA’ - Mom in the Kitchen. The name of the best Italian place I have ever been to. Spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmesan. And the homemade pizza. To fu.cking die for. The smell of fresh sauce and dough being hand made in the back gives me chills. I feel like a fat kid but oh well. It’s either food or alcohol. I choose food at this point.

When I walk inside I am hit with that tropical scent that puts my whole being at ease. Which is usually what a mate's scent is supposed to do. I shake off the thought of a mate. For me a mate would be more of a curse than a blessing at this point. If I would’ve felt the sparks coming from Monica, I would’ve tucked tail and run. 

‘P*ssy.. ‘ Ragnar laughed in my bed. 

I heard my phone ding right before I walked into the restaurant. 

A private number has sent me a message. I am fixing to walk to the ordering bar for the to-go orders when I pull my phone out to read it…

‘Unknown: Stay away from Monica, or I will make your life a living hell, little Alpha…’

 What in the fuck? How did someone get my number?

A roar escapes my throat and I feel like I want to shift. Who the fu.ck would threaten me? Is it the person she is running from? I swear if someone has hurt her, I’ll rip anyone who has ever hurt her to fu.cking shreds… Wait.. They called me little Alpha. So they know I am a werewolf.. 

But Monica is human.. Maybe she knows about werewolves but because she is human she doesn’t know how to point them out? No.. If she knew, she could spot them right?

I try to take a few deep breaths…. Ragnar is calming down but he is still pacing a trench inside my mind. ‘I don’t care who it is or what Monica knows. The one thing we aren’t going to let happen is someone threatening us to leave her alone. I feel the connection you keep talking about, Lucien. It’s not a mate connection but it feels like something deeper. And we will figure that out. But right now you need to mind link a few warriors to start following her stealthily so she isn’t attacked or taken. The kids too. And tonight, have a talk with Klaus and Nicole. The top warriors of the pack will be a big help. This person knows about wolves, either because they are one, or they hunt them… Neither are good at this point. Especially if she is running away from them..’ Ragnar finishes. He is a wise wolf, and without the alcohol tainting my mind, I am more inclined to listen to him now.  I nod and see Nicole approaching me now.

‘Lucien, is everything okay? We heard your roar… I had to tell Monica it was probably the AC kicking on.’ She said with concern. I chuckled, comparing my Alpha roar to an AC. I smiled. 

‘I am okay. But I need to have a meeting with you and Klaus. Someone must be following Monica. I just received this text..’ I quickly showed her my phone. I watched her body start to shake. She is pissed. She must instantly have felt a connection to Monica and already cares about her.

‘No one is fu.cking touching her, Lucc. Or Angelina and Lincoln. I’ll rip their throat out myself.’ She growled through the link. I feel butterflies at how Nicole is already ready to protect the girl I am swooning over and her cute and sweet kids. The more people that want to protect her, the better I will feel. 

‘I will mind link Klaus to meet us here. And when Monica goes to leave I will ask her how big her house is. I know there is a little cottage next to yours. More bedrooms, bigger kitchen. We can have her move in there. So she is close to you and we can have warriors protect her without her knowing so she isn’t scared. I have this deep seeded feeling she has already been through too much..’ Nicole finishes her eyes darting back and forth as she gathers some plans together.

‘I have to go to the pack house tomorrow. I’ll need you to look after her if you can. I should only be gone for the day and as soon as I come back, I’ll get with you and Klaus and make sure nothing has been reported. I’ll let Alpha Leon know that we might have some issues here so he is ready in case of a wolf attack.. As far as I know Monica doesn’t know about our kind.. And I’d like to keep it that way until I can tell her when she isn’t in danger.’ 

Nicole smiles and nods. I look past her and see Monica sitting with Nicole's mom, Renee, and Angelina and Lincoln and Cooper. The baby is sitting in Mrs. Renee’s lap.  

I can’t help but stare at her. Long brown wavy hair laying to one side of her shoulder. 

Those Blue green eyes shining through, and they have landed on me with a blush gracing her cheeks. She waves at me and my heart skips a beat. I make my way over to her. Stopping only slightly to greet Lincoln and Angelina. 

“Hello to the cutest group around. Linc, looking dashing. Angel, quite princess-like of you. And the beautiful and astounding Monica. What brings you here?” I said, causing Linc to puff his chest out, Angelina giggled and Monica turned a shade of red that I thought was the cutest. 

“Nicole invited us here. She has offered me a job here and is letting me meet her mother and staff for me to be comfortable..” She said, lowering her gaze. She is wondering why everyone is being so nice to her. 

“Must be that million dollar smile. She knows it will bring in the customers.” I said with a wink. 

“Is it okay if I talk to you for a minute?” I asked her. She looked at me a little shocked. She didn’t seem scared, just surprised. 

“Uhmm, sure. Can we stay inside though? I don’t want Angelina and Lincoln out of my sight.” So she is really worried about someone. 

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I said, extending my hand. She took it and it gave me a warm feeling in my chest. Like her hand was supposed to fit in mine. 

We walk back over to the bar. Nicole is sitting with the kids and Mrs. Renee is carrying on a conversation so no one eavesdrops. 

“So, what would you like to talk about?” She said, not looking at me. 

“Oh. I was wondering.. If there was any way… Maybe tomorrow night. When I get back from visiting my mom.. If you’d like to have dinner with me?” I said. I constantly stumbled over my words trying to get that out. 

She giggled. Which is a good sign right? 

“I would like that, Lucien. I really would. But I don’t have anyone I trust to keep my children, and I only just met you today… “ She said, sounding disappointed in her answer.

I took her hand in mine again.

“What about a day date, the four of us. Out and about in public places with Angelina and Lincoln with us. You won’t have to leave them anywhere and I know a cute place to go.” I said. My heart is beating a mile a minute.

She huffs. That doesn’t sound good. 

“Lucien, you’re being very sweet. But I can promise you, you don’t want to date someone like me.” She goes to walk away. I lightly grab her hand. Not with force or harshly. 

She looks at my face in surprise. 

“Please don’t try to make that decision for me. I’d like to find out for myself. If you’ll let me. I am already smitten by your beautiful kids. And your presence brings me an immense amount of joy. At least give me a chance.” She rubbed her fingers across my knuckles. Contemplating my words. But I don’t say anything, I want this to be her choice. At least the choice of giving me a chance. 

She sighs, shutting her eyes tightly. Which I didn’t think was a good sign, until she looks at me under her thick black eyelashes.

“So, Sunday? A day date. Angelina, Lincoln and me. We will see you then?” She said with a small smile and a twinkle in her eye.

I nod with a huge grin on my face. “Can I have your number? Maybe we can conversate more before then?” She smiled and another blush graced her cheeks. I am feeling like a kid on christmas. She quickly put her number in my phone. And we headed back to the table. 

“Hey Monica, I know you just moved here. But I know of this beautiful 4 bedroom house that is being sold. We know the owners and think it could be the perfect forever home. Plenty of yard for the kids to play. I think we could swing you a great deal!” 

Monica looks uncomfortable. She’s not used to people helping her.

“Honey, look. We don’t want anything in return for helping you. You are a part of this town, which basically makes you family. Let us help you..” Nicole said to her, feeling her discomfort.

“And it’s near me. So if you ever need anything I am right next door.” She blushed again.

“Well maybe you can take me to look at it tomorrow.” She said shyly with a smile on her face. Ragnar is purring in my head. I want us to always keep that smile on her face… 

“Yayyy!! I’m telling you you’ll love it. “ Nicole said.

I sat down at the table across from Monica but next to Lincoln. He talked to me about monster trucks, and cars. He loves things with wheels. Which is great cause my father has a couple of classic cars. I’ll have to show him sometime.

Every chance I got I stole glances at Monica as she talked to Nicole about her new job and going to see the house. She looks happy but guarded. 

‘We will tear that wall down. No matter how long it takes.’ Ragnar said confidently in my head. 

‘I’ll give my soul to be on the other side of her wall, making her consistently happy. All the time.’ I said, smiling at her.

‘Please never say that to her face.’ Ragnar said, rolling on his back laughing at me. 

‘Dumba.ss. You know what I mean.' I said with a laugh..