Chapter Five: Rune

Rune

Willie Howard.

Damn.

She grew up.

I smirk to myself as I bring a glass of aged whiskey to my lips. I savor the amber liquid as is burns it’s way down my throat and settles warmly in my stomach. I never thought I would see that blue eyed spitfire again. She grew out of her baby fat and into the face and body of a woman. Fuck. I could feel my jeans tightening at the mere thought of her body. Her perfect breasts. Her round ass. Her pouty lips. Oh the things I can imagine those lips doing...

After the full moon, she will be mine. Mine to tease. Mine to hold. Mine to fuck.

After the full moon, Willie Howard will belong to me completely and I can’t fucking wait. Willie is a piece of forbidden fruit and I can’t wait to take a bite. My wolf howls in response, wanting to finally be able to taste his mate. 

I frown. Of course, there’s still the matter of her little puppy dog. He’s going to be a problem. He is challenging me for Alpha but that isn’t what worries me. No. What worries me is that clearly, Willie is in love with him. I slam my empty glass down on the bar and mutter a silent curse.

Willie is in love with Owen Peterson and that needs to be rectified.

When Willie becomes mine after the full moon, there has to be nothing holding her back. She will become completely mine, heart, body, and soul. We will be bound to each other in spirit and there will be no room for distractions.

Owen Peterson is definitely a distraction.

Speak of the devil. I roll my eyes as Owen strolls into the bar. His brown eyes lock on to mine as he begins to walk toward me. I turn to look at him as he takes a seat at the bar beside me. He waves to Artie and orders a water. I suppress a chuckle.

He lifted his glass of water to his lips and took a drink. He then placed it down on the bar and turned to me with intensity in his eyes. “I’ve been looking for you.”

I raised a brow. Why would he be looking for me? “Oh really?”

“Yeah. Figured I’d find you in a bar.” He grinned at his own little jab. I shook it off. His opinion of me didn’t matter.

“What do you want?”

“We need to talk.”

“Do we now?” I took another drink of my whiskey and let it burn my throat before turning to him. “And what do we need to talk about?” I’m pretty sure I already know but I want to hear him say it.

“The contest.”

“Ah. I see.” This is no surprise to me, of course. I knew he wanted to speak about the contest. He’s probably going to tell me to stay away from his little Willow.

How pathetic, my wolf leers baring his teeth. When she's our mate we'll protect her better than this poor excuse of a wolf. 

I don't disagree with him. 

Sure enough, he narrows his eyes and bares his teeth. It’s not very threatening to me, but it would be to anyone else. “Stay away from Willie. I won’t tell you again.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know I can’t do that.”

“Yes. Yes you can and you will. She is grieving right now and I won’t have you fucking up her life.” He growled and gripped the bar tightly.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again. He was right. The poor girl was in for a rude awakening in a few days. “Well, her life is gonna get fucked up anyway and you know it.”

I almost feel bad for her, my wolf echoes my thoughts. 

It's definitely a shame, I answer back. 

A look of guilt flashed across Owen’s face and he looked away for a second. “I know. That’s why I’m trying to spare her.”

I couldn’t help but snort. “Really? Spare her? It’s not like she’s going to be killed.” I laughed. “She’s just going to be mine.”

Owen’s lips pressed into a firm line. He shook his head. “I’m not going to let that happen.”

I rolled my eyes again and sighed. Here he was. Willie’s protector. Her knight in shining armor. It was always that way. Figures, he always fought for her, he’s gonna keep doing it now. I shrugged. “You don’t have a choice. I’m faster and stronger and I will beat you. Willie will be mine. Simple as that.” I turned away from him and took another swig.

“No,” he growled. “I will beat you and I will save Willie.”

I suppressed the laugh that bubbled in my throat. I was faster. I was stronger. I was a bigger and better wolf. This contest was a shoe-in. I was the given winner. I would be the next Alpha. “Keep dreaming.” I mused.

Owen rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his messy hair in what I assumed was frustration. He didn’t like me telling him that he was going to lose apparently. Well, too bad.

“Whatever. This is pointless.”

“I agree.”

Weak wolf, unable to fight for what is his. He deserves to lose his mate if he cannot protect her, my wolf snarls, gnashing his teeth. 

I hold him back. Fighting in this bar would be unwise. 

“You need to stay away from Willie. For her sake and yours. She is morning her Papa and she doesn’t need this bullshit thrown on her right now. You know it and I know it.”

He was right. Poor Willie was already hurt and confused. It will confuse her more to tell her what was about to happen and what she is. What she’s always been. “For once. I agree.” I had to force the words from my throat. “But it’s not bullshit. It’s Pack prophecy. On the full moon I will be Alpha and she will become my fated mate. The Luna. She’s going to have to deal with it, even if she loves you.” I said through gritted teeth.

“She does?” His eyes widened.

My wolf rolled his eyes.

Oh come on. Really? This idiot didn’t know that Willow is completely infatuated with him. “Grow the fuck up. This isn’t high school.” I growled. I don’t have time for this childish bullshit. “She may love you, but she is my mate.”

Owen seemed to shake the shock of hearing what is so blatantly obvious to everyone but him away. He crossed his arms over his chest. He was much larger and much stronger than he used to be but I wasn’t worried. “Not. A. Chance.”

A low growl erupted from his throat like last night. “As much as I’d love to kick your ass right here in this bar, Owen... I can’t. It would be unwise.”

If I wanted Willie to see me differently, I needed to refrain from beating up Owen, no matter how much I want to. Willie would never forgive me and she is about to be forced to spend the rest of her life with me, so I’d rather make it easier on her. She might hate me right now, but I’m going to change that. I’ve known since the moment I’ve laid eyes on her that she was bound to be mine. Wolves find their mates differently, and as the elders predicted, Willow and I are two souls bound together. I can feel our connection. What she has with this mutt is nothing compared to our soul bond. She isn’t going to like it but…

Mate, my wolf echoes. She will come to understand the bond, whether she likes it or not.

I smirk. She is going to be so much fun.

My little pet.

My little toy.

My future mate.

“What are you thinking about?” Owen pulls me out of my delicious thoughts as he stares at me with narrowed eyes.

“I’m just thinking about all I’m going to do with Willie when she’s mine.”

That really pissed him off as I knew it would. He lunged for me and grabbed the collar of my leather jacket. His eyes were blazing and his teeth we sharp. Wow, I really angered him.

He dare challenge us? My wolf growled. He wishes to die this soon?

He's just fueled by his stupid emotions. He doesn't know what he's doing, I calm him down. 

“Stay. The. Fuck. Away. I’m serious Rune. She doesn’t need to know the truth right now.”

He let go of the collar of my jacket and slumped back into his seat. He took another drink of his water and stared down at his glass. I agree with him. Willie doesn’t need to know because if she knew, she wouldn’t be happy. She might even try to run and that would be bad. Willow needs to stay in her little bubble of ignorance a little longer. Owen was quiet for a few moments as he kept sipping his water. I figured now would be a good time to try and get some information out of him.

“So, where’s Willie now?” I ask casually. Wherever Willow Howard is, Owen Peterson isn’t far behind. That’s how it’s always been.

“At the lawyer’s. Reading Papa’s will.” He said simply.

“Shit,” I cursed. “That’s tough.”

“Yeah.” Owen turned to me again. “It is. So she doesn’t need you prancing around saying she’s gonna belong to you like a piece of property.” He seethes. “Which she isn’t.”

I down the rest of my glass and stand up. I pat his shoulder like we are old friends he shifts away from my touch. “Good talk.” I turn to walk away but face him again. I still have more to say. “I will not go out of my way to bother Willie and I will not tell her. To that, you have my word. But she will be my mate and you must prepare her—and yourself--for that.”

Leaving him with those words, I exit the bar after leaving Artie a twenty dollar bill and a few singles for the drink and then a tip. I don’t give Owen a chance to respond. I don’t need to hear what he would’ve said anyway. He’s been so repetitive lately. Repeating the same words and phrases about Willie and the contest. It’s starting to get boring.

And I hate boring. Willie will never be boring, that much I am certain of.

No, mate will never be boring, my wolf grins. 

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the time. 12:40. I still had time before I had to meet with my father. My lips quirked. I wasn’t that far from the lawyer’s office and my dad was there now anyway... maybe I could stop by. It couldn’t hurt, right? Sure, I promise Owen I wouldn’t go out of my way to see her, she just a happens to be on the way. I smirked to myself as I set off down main street. The law offices were only a few blocks away from Artie’s. I still had time. Maybe if I was lucky, I’d catch a glimpse of Willow through the glass. Or better yet, maybe I’d run into her on the street. Her appointment had to be over by now and with Prince Charming still back in the bar, I had a chance to speak with her without outside influence. I can strike up a simple conversation. Maybe I should ask about the weather?

Fuck. No that’s stupid. Who gives a shit about the weather?

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. That wouldn’t work. I need to try a different, less forced, approach. Dammit. Why am I going through all this trouble for a girl? This isn’t me. Why should I care about being friendly to Willie? She’ll be mine in a few days anyway and she won’t have a choice so what does it matter if she likes me?

It doesn’t matter. I gritted my teeth and felt my fists clench involuntarily. This isn’t me. I don’t do romance and I sure as hell don’t do small talk. So why the hell am I trying so hard to impress her? I stared down at my boots as they hit the cracked sidewalk.

What the hell is wrong with me?