Chapter 2: Chapter 1~ Working On It

Two years! It’s been two years, and he has decided to put his search on hold. Heading to the northwestern edge of the country to Cedar Springs. A small town made up of humans and shifters…whose only claim to fame is a five star Michelin restaurant making news in every travel brochure on the planet. He’s heading to meet with the Alpha to the north of the town. They want an alliance with him, for his strength.. and He is looking to put down roots to grant his pack the stability and security..the land is prime property and large enough to settle his people on.

Heracles has been mostly silent the last several months. They constantly argue because his wolf thinks he has given up the search for their mate. He hasn’t…but he has other priorities right now…primarily, locating a forever home for their pack.

“Tell me again…what is this alpha’s name..and why are we meeting at this restaurant? And why in the fuck is his daughter going to be there?!” Orion snarls out.

“His name is Lionel.. and apparently, this restaurant has the best cuisine this side of the world. His daughter, Alicia, is along as the icing on the cake of this alliance. A packaged deal. And snarling at me isn’t going to make this day any better” Abraham responds.

“And why, pray tell…why would I care that his daughter is being offered as a sacrificial lamb? I just want this deal agreed upon and done! Heracles needs his mate and I am fighting him every step of the way to get this done! He’s the snarler..not me” Orion replies. Abraham just shakes his head, as they pull up to the restaurant.

Walking into the restaurant, Orion steps to the hostess podium, telling her which party he is there to meet. She looks him up and down..saying she gets off at 5. He says happy for you..now my table? She huffs..but leads them to Alpha Lionel’s private dining room.

After introductions were made and hands shaken…Lionel said “My daughter has been most excited to meet with you”…to which Orion merely grunted. Abraham shakes his head and links 🐺 play nice for an hour. I will have what we need 🐺 If she brushes against my thigh one more time, she’ll be hopping out of here on a stump 🐺 Try not to break her until he signs, at least 🐺 Not promising shit!

“Lionel, we are here to discuss an alliance..not for your daughter to seduce my Alpha” Abraham starts.. Lionel responds..”Oh no.. she’s just excited to finally meet the BlackAlpha”

“Yes..be that as it may…we are prepared to offer our protection. Along with ten residing warriors, for a period of 6 months to train your own warriors…in exchange for the rights and possession of the eastern and southern properties, including the town of Cedar Springs…as well as allowing any hellhounds in your pack to be released to Orion.” Abraham summarizes.

“I have no say in the town. It is run by 9 council members that make every decision regarding their community. As for south and east..you are welcome to it…my pack isn’t large enough to develop it anyway. There is an abandoned campground on the south side…A large lodge and about 20 cabins and outbuildings. They aren’t up to code…and I’m sure the cost to bring them up is astronomical. I would amend the agreement to 20 warriors and to extend their time with us to a year” Lionel replied.

“No! The deal stands. We will find what we need to about the town on our own. And girl! DO NOT rub my leg again!” Orion retorts! Heracles is growling 🐺 She touches us again..snap her neck! ‘Orrr you could eat her’ I’m not eating skank! It leaves a bad taste in my mouth Everyone glances at Orion when he chuckles..Abraham shakes his head.

“I can agree to your demands..on the condition we revisit the warrior training in six months” Lionel says. Abraham slid the documents over in front of him and he signed. Then, over to Orion…once the documents were signed, he handed a copy to Lionel and placed the other in his briefcase.

“The food here is to die for! The chef is a mousy little thing..but she can cook! Wait until she delivers the dessert. You’ll see what I mean..” Alicia says..as she rubs his forearm.

🐺 Break her hand off. Only mate touches us! Do it! Or I will lick our balls! ‘ 🐺 As entertaining as that sounds, I have no desire to taste wolf ball sweat, Heracles! And I can’t break off her hand, in public! However, if you enjoy this beef wellington with me, I will let you kill stuff tonight’ Fine! But I want to kill a bunch! Orion sighs and Abraham says “ he giving you fits? Artemis is grumbling too!” Orion just nods!

“Is dessert coming soon? I have another meeting to attend in an hour. I would like to set up a definite time to meet at your pack house to search for any unshifted hounds.” Orion tells Lionel.

“I would like for you to be there no later than 5? That way we can meet with and settle the warriors in to their quarters. And perhaps you might join us for dinner?” Lionel responds. Orion looks at Abraham, who nods and then shrugs.. Orion links him 🐺 What the fuck? Dinner? And you nod? 🐺 We have to suck a few lemons to get what we need 🐺 Hah! You suck lemons !

Orion looks up to see a tiny woman…pushing a teacart towards their table..” Welcome to Renata’s. I hope you enjoyed your meal.. dessert is on me “ and she lights a pan on fire in front of his eyes. Renata grins “Cherries Flambé …. Enjoy “ and she places a cloche over the flames..

As they were walking out 🐺 Stop! STOP dammit! I smell magnolias. ‘I can’t smell anything over the food..Are you sure? All the way across the country? Seems implausible’ I’m not wrong! I smell her! Your sniffer’s broke! ‘My sniffer is fine, hairball!’ Artemis pipes in I’m smelling magnolias too. Why don’t we go to the lounge and have a drink? Maybe we’ll figure it out!

Grabbing stools at the bar, Abraham orders a scotch, while Orion asks for whiskey. “Busy little place. I can understand it though!!My chicken cordon bleu was melt in your mouth perfection!” Abraham remarks. The bartender jumps in with “That’s all Reni…every recipe is hers..and she oversees the chefs to make certain they follow them to a tee! She’s magical, that little girl!”

“She owns the place?” Orion asks…and receives a nod. Abraham mumbles “talkative fella..” Orion chuckles. He hears a sweet little voice saying “Levi…I got the bar…take your break” and the bartender nods and heads to the back. Renata turns to the patrons..checking everyone’s drinks. She looks at Orion and asks “Refill? Your glass is running dry!” And she smiles.. Not just any smile..one that could stop time! He reached across the bar and touched her hand.. she snatched it back…saying “sorry..I don’t like to be touched..sorry” and walks down to the other end of the bar

“It’s her! I don’t know how..but it’s her. I felt sparks…Her scent is surrounding me now and Heracles is beating a hole in my head with his tail!” Orion whispers to Abraham.

“She’s human.. I’m not smelling wolf. This opens up a whole can of worms for you. Does she know about wolves? How will you even approach this? How do you tell her, if she doesn’t?” Abraham asks

“I don’t know, Abraham! I know I am not letting her go again! Heracles really will find a way to bite me! What are the odds? That the very day I decide to postpone my search…here she is! It doesn’t seem possible! Find out where she lives..what time she gets off work! Her last name! Everything!” Orion says

“Already linked Brian to get on all that…and any background on her aversion to touch…there’s a story there..for certain!” Abraham responds….

“Refills are on me, gentlemen! I must apologize for a few moments ago. It’s not so much the touching I abhor..it’s the suddenness..being startled. Allow me to start again…Hi! Renata Reynolds! A pleasure to meet you” she says, holding her hand out… Orion takes is..holding it lightly and says “Orion Demeter…at your service.” She giggles…and says “why do they call you the BlackAlpha?” 🐺 Rainbows up your ass! She knows about wolves! 🐺 How do you know what they call me? …he asks her. She smiles sweetly saying “Alicia has done nothing but talk about it all over town.. she appears to be your biggest fan..which makes sense, I suppose…she said you’re her mate?”

And whiskey is spit all over Reni’s face, and draining out of Orion’s nose. Abraham just gapes… “She is not my fucking mate! I just met her less than two hours ago! I have a mate! I’m looking at her!” Orion says and watches panic overtake her lavender eyes

“What? No! How do you know? Are you going to reject me too? How many mates does someone get? I’m..ah…excuse me” as she runs to the back.

“What in the fuck was that? Reject her TOO? I want information NOW!” And he storms out of the restaurant with Abraham on his heels. Climbing into his truck…Orion slams the door..trying to get his breathing under control. As Abraham says “I have her address…Bryan has some information..not much yet..and Aaron has run out to that campground to see if anything’s salvageable.” What? I want information on Her! Not everything else right now! “Working on it, bossman! Let’s just get to the hotel and we can figure this out together “ comes back at him. Nodding, he starts the truck.