Chapter 2

(Euan’s P.O.V)

“Hit!” My dad says.

           I strike the punching bag in front of me, my chest heaving and sweat dripping down my body. This workout is more intense than the others he has put me through, and I know the reason is that I’m turning 18 in a few days. He and my mother want to retire from the royal life, and once I find my mate, they are going to hand the kingdom over to me. I graduated from high school early, even though I didn’t want to. Graduating early meant that Junie was left open to bullies. They never messed with her while I was around school because I’m the future Alpha King. My twin brothers, Flynn and Rory, are her age but they don’t protect her as I do. 

“Euan! Mind out of the clouds!” I hear my father yell.

“Sorry dad, was just thinking about my birthday is all,” I mumble, lowering myself to the floor.

“It’s not your birthday that has you all in your head. I know you better than that.”

“It’s just…I’m worried about Junie.” I murmur.

           Ever since Junie was born, and every year after, I’ve felt protective over her and a pull that I couldn’t explain. I tried to pass it off as just a pseudo-older brother’s protectiveness, but now, I don’t think that’s it. Her scent, roses, and sweet orange calms me better than my own mother’s scent, which isn’t normal for wolves that aren’t mates or family. 

“What’s got you worried about Junie?”

“The bullying dad. You know how the other pups and cubs can be, they have nicknames for her like chimneyfish and smokey. Rory and Flynn aren’t going to protect her because they don’t care. Sure, they will keep her from getting physically hurt but the words? Those hurt her more.” I say.

“Well, your mother is at the high school today, discussing the curriculum with the principal. She’ll keep an eye on Junie today. If you are that concerned, then I can have Rory and Flynn do more than they are now.”

“No, it’s my responsibility to protect her,” I whisper.

            My dad’s head rears back, and his eyes are wide.

“What?”

“I don’t know dad. Ever since she was born, and the older we both get, the more I need to be around her. Protect her. Her scent calms me better than mom’s does sometimes.”

“Interesting.” He murmurs, scratching his chin with his eyebrows furrowed.

“What?”

“Nothing, son. At least, for right now, it’s nothing. We’ll just have to see what happens when you turn eighteen.”

“You think Junie is my mate?”

“It’s a possibility. If she is, you know that you are not to tell her that you are mates.”

“I know the laws dad. I’ve only been studying them for the last six months.” I say, rolling my eyes.

           Seriously, if I could get away with only being a warrior Alpha King, I would totally do it. The studying and learning were boring, and it didn’t help that a lot of the time I would end up daydreaming about what Juniper was up to. The scent of my mother fills my nose, and my father’s face breaks into a broad smile when he smells her. When they are together, they are in a world of their own, full of love and rainbows. Insert vomiting noise here. I get up off the floor as they are lost in their own little world.

“Hello, my handsome men. How is training?” My mother says while embracing my father in a tight hug.

“It was going well until Euan started daydreaming about Juniper.” He says.

            This causes me to glare at him as my mother comes over and takes my face in her hands.

“Junie was having a tough morning.” She says.

“What happened?” I demand.

“Grant Howard was bullying her.”

“He had better be dead,” I growl.

“No. I assigned him detention for the week, gave him Omega duties for the next month and he had to write an apology letter.”

“That’s not good enough!” I roar.

“Easy son, that’s your mother you are yelling at. Watch yourself.” My father growls at me, pushing my mother behind his back.

           I stalk out of the gym at our house and walk into the main level before making my way up to my bedroom. I needed to shower and get to the school to have a proper conversation with Grant Howard. He’s not going to get away with bullying Juniper just because I’m not there anymore. I rush through my shower and throw on a pair of sweats and a white t-shirt, before slipping on my socks and shoes. I’m heading down the stairs as my mother and father are coming up, obviously heading to their bedroom based on the giggles from my mother. Again, please insert vomiting noise here. 

“Where do you think you are going?” My mother asks.

“To get Juniper.” I lie.

“Yeah, that’s not happening. You aren’t going to the school to beat up Grant. You are going to leave the situation alone, Euan. You are the future Alpha King, and you need to keep a level head no matter the situation. You will stay here.” My father says.

“Please, don’t make us command you.” My mother whispers.

           Stupid fucking Royal Command. I clench my hands into fists, my knuckles turning white before I turn on my heel and walk back to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I paced around my room, trying to control my anger about what my mother told me. I have always been protective of Juniper, even before the attack, that protectiveness only got worse after it happened. She rarely talks now, preferring to sign in case one of the other pups or cubs of the kingdom hears her. FUCK! I slam my fist into the wall, creating a huge hole in my wall, not caring that I would be expected to fix it. I didn’t care, I couldn’t punch that little fucking worm Grant, so my wall was the next best thing. I check the time, seeing that school is almost over, so I make the decision that I’m going to go pick up Junie myself. I take a quick shower and quickly get dressed in jeans and a plain black t-shirt, tossing on some Nikes and grabbing my car keys. I run out of the house. Hearing my mother call out to me asking what I was doing, I ignore her making my way to my car. I speed out of the driveway and to the high school just as the final bell rings. I get out and stand next to my car to make sure that she can see me.

            Girls are trying to catch my attention but only one tiny little thing could ever have my attention and she’s wearing a dark hoodie pulled over her beautiful blonde hair.

“Junie!” I shout, knowing she’s not going to see me since she’s looking down at the ground.

            Her head snaps up, and I see a small smile curling on her lips, which makes me sigh in relief. She makes her way over to me, as I open the passenger door for her, she sits down and puts her backpack between her feet on the floor. I walk around the back of the car before hopping into the driver’s seat.

“Hi Junie bear.” I say.

“Hi, Euan.” She says back to me, not signing her greeting.