The Pack’s Alpha Chapter 13: Preparations

Yorick

I had to work hard to focus the rest of the afternoon. My mate wants us to get naked together tonight, and now that’s all I can think about. How far does she want to go? Is this just us getting to know each other? Skinny dipping somewhere? Or is this everything? Marking, mating, making her mine?

I force myself to focus, especially in Art of War, where we learn that we're not only going to learn to fight, but learn to fight with different weapons: bows and arrows, knives, and whatever we can find around us if we’re caught off guard and taken down by our opponent. We’ll also be learning different hold techniques and how to get out of holds.

After that class, there was Battle Strategy. The coursework looks just like it sounds. It’s how to plan an attack and win, when to decide that you can’t win, and how to protect yourself if you are the one being attacked. Knowing the history of my brother’s pack when my father was Alpha, I’m not surprised that this is a class. The packs still fight each other, just not in our area. There is still violence among the packs, and things like the alliance bond that Cyra has been thrust into still happen. Alphas are attacked and killed, females are kidnapped or killed, pups, especially Alpha pups, are kidnapped. Joining a group for hire to rescue kidnapped victims is a career choice that I’ve been considering.

Dinner is fun, and Chase joins us again. This time, Katelynn asks to join us, and we take the time to introduce ourselves and get to know her.

“So, what’s everyone doing after dinner? Just studying?” Chase asks.

“That’s what I’m planning,” I say, looking at Cyra, who nods in agreement.

I suddenly realize that I need to make tonight special. If she is willing to go all the way, or even if she isn’t, it’s our first time together. No matter how far she is willing to go tonight, I want her to never forget our first night together.

After dinner, I walk her to her room. “Hey, I need to go out for a bit, but I’ll be back. I’ll come get you later?” I say.

“Oh, okay,” she says.

I can tell she’s surprised, like there might be something more important for me to do than be with her. Rather than let that thought fester in her mind, I take her face in my hands and kiss her dominantly enough that she knows I want her. I don’t release her until I hear her soft whimper, then I pull back, realizing I’ve once again pressed her against the wall. “Can’t WAIT to spend time with you later,” I tell her.

This time when she nods, there’s a soft smile on her lips, and I know whatever second thoughts were bubbling to the surface are gone now.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I wait for her to go into her room, then I rush to mine, grabbing my car keys, my wallet, and my phone. On my way to the car, I dial her number.

“Yorick, if you tell me you’re already coming home, I’m going to kick your ass,” my sister says by way of greeting.

“Wendy, I just got here! Why would I be coming home already?” I say.

“I don’t know. Why else are you calling me? Don’t tell me you missed me already.”

“Of course, I miss you. You’re my sister, and I love you. I’ve already mailed you a letter, but I know you haven’t gotten it yet.”

“You already wrote me a letter? And now you’re calling me? Bro, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?” she asks astutely. “Listen, I don’t have time to go into the details, but I need your help. I met my mate…”

“HOLY SHIT! Yorick, that’s amazing!!! I’m so happy for you!”

“Her father signed an alliance bond a year ago, so she is unwilling to accept me as her mate.”

“The fuck you say?” she growls, and I frown.

“Have you been spending time with Connor? Since when do you curse this much?”

“Since my brother found his mate and her father signed her life away before she could even come close to finding her mate. I’m assuming you’re not preparing for war, or you’d be calling Connor and Quirin, so what do you need from me?”

“She sort of suggested that she wanted to spend time tonight doing more than studying.”

“Good. Make her see that there is no one else for her but you,” she says.

“I intend to, but Wendy, how do I make tonight special? No matter what she agrees to, I need her to always remember our first night together.”

“Are you at least going to tell me about her, Yorrie?”

“I don’t have time, Wendy. I’m in a hurry,” I say, pulling into the parking lot of a grocery store.

“I need a name, Yorick.”

“Cyra. Cyra Teymoori,” I say, hearing my voice soften just saying her name.

“You’ve got it bad. Is she an Alpha?” she asks.

“Yeah. She’s so perfect, Wendy. Anyway, I told you all about her in the letter I sent you, so you’ll get the information about her, just not right now.”

“Where are you seducing her?” she asks.

“My room,” I say, not bothering to pretend that’s not what I’m doing.

“Candles are always good.”

“How many and what scent?” I say, grabbing a cart and looking down the aisles until I find candles.

“What surfaces do you have to put them on?” she asks.

I think about the set up of my room. “A desk, a nightstand, a coffee table, and two end tables on either side of a loveseat.”

“Two for the desk, three for the coffee table, and one each for the end and nightstands. I would go with something light, vanilla is always mild. Does she have a floral scent?”

“No, just the opposite. I would describe it as Oud.”

“What is that?” she asks.

“Earthy with hints of leather and smoke, bordering on masculine, but on her, it’s exotic.”

“Hmm, a strong Alpha then,” she says thoughtfully.

“Yeah, she is,” I practically purr.

“Do you know what your scent is to her?” she asks.

Shit! “No.”

“Well, to me, you have a woodsy scent, so you could go that route if they have it, or just go with something light and airy that would mix well with your woodsy scent.”

“Okay,” I say, collecting the candles and putting them in the basket.

“Is this a human store?” she asks.

“No, it’s by the Academy.”

“Okay then, strawberries and champagne. If they have chocolate-covered strawberries, even better, if she likes chocolate.”

“Anything else?” I say, grabbing a bottle of expensive, chilled champagne and two plastic champagne glasses that are hanging next to it before heading to the produce department for the strawberries.

“Maybe a ribbon to tie around your…”

“WENDY!” I am NOT talking about that with my sister. “Thank you for your help. I love you. You’re the best sister ever, and I’ll call when I have more time, I promise!”

“Let me know how it goes. And if you don’t have time to call, make time to write. I want to know all about her and if this works.”

“I will, I promise.”

There are no chocolate-covered strawberries, so I get fresh ones that look good. I pass by the flower section and grab a bunch of red roses. Then, I hurry to pay and get back to the Academy.

As I get to the hallway, I run into Zach. “What you got there, Shakespeare?” he says, glancing in the bag.

“Oh, I see. A different kind of studying tonight. Good luck, man.”

“Thanks!” I say, rushing to my room, lighting the candles, and putting flower petals around the floor and bed. I hope I’m not making too much of an assumption, but if we’re naked, I’m hoping she plans to be on the bed.

I take the strawberries to the bathroom, wash them quickly in the sink before jumping into the shower to wash off the afternoon and evening. I want to be nice and clean for my mate.

Once I’m back in my room, I set the champagne and strawberries on the desk, and then I take a deep breath. I really hope I haven’t overdone it, but I want it to be special. It feels romantic.

I go to Cyra’s door and knock. When she opens it, I can see that she showered while I was gone, too.

“Hey, would you like to come to my room?” I ask her, holding out my hand.

“I’d love to.”