A Beta Before An Alpha
Chapter 21

Lauren's point of view

I put on some black high-waisted leggings, a black form-fitting racerback tank, and I pull my hair into a ponytail. Add some tinted lip butter, and mascara, and I'm ready. Zac has to get back to work today, and I need to keep busy because the second I stop, I'll just start to worry about Julien and my Mom. I have to meet with a contractor after breakfast for my Mom's house, then I'm going to head to the gym, and then I'm meeting with Peggy for lunch.

I am going to talk to Peggy about everything going on and also about quitting. I hate to leave Peggy, but I have a plan. I know how anxious my Mom is to get a job and get settled here so I am I'm going to suggest that Peggy hire my Mom to take my place at the pub. My Mom would love it, and I'm sure Peggy will too. I'll stay on until my Mom is ready to start. Hopefully, I'll just have a few shifts left.

Three birds, one stone. Mom gets a job, Zac stops worrying so much, and Peggy isn't left stranded. Zac's made a really big compromise for me, in not attacking Claw Moon, and it's the least I can do to alleviate some of the stress for him. Plus, I really am looking forward to getting to work with the kids at the daycare again.

I am going to be gone all morning and into the afternoon. After yesterday, I really don't want to be away from Zac that long, and I can tell he feels the same. It might be good for him if I get out of here for a few hours though. Then he can get some work done without distraction.

"Ready ba-... Are you wearing that? Out of our house?" He leered.

"Yeah? Why?" I ask, looking down at myself.

"You look so sexy!" He answers.

"Well thanks... but this is athletic wear. Almost my entire body is covered, aside from my arms and there's not even any cleavage," I point out.

"Everything is so tight it looks painted on. I can see the entire shape of your body, and there is cleavage," he answers and pokes the small bit of cleavage to prove me wrong. A line appears between his brows. Oh my gosh, he's so cute. "You train a bunch of female warriors who are dressed in similar clothing," I counter.

"It's not like I ever check them out... even before I met you. And I don't care about them. I care about you. I don't want anyone looking at you like that... you're mine," he answers softly. Pulling me close and nestling into my neck. "Let's go for breakfast," I chuckle and grab his hand.

"Lauren..." he whines. "You're not even going to be on pack lands," he reasons.

I roll my eyes, "Just because I am going to be off of pack lands," I warn as I walk into my closet. If he would have been demanding I would have stood my ground, but he was so cute, with his broad shoulders slumped, and his pleading eyes. I pull the tank top off, and pull a light pink athletic t-shirt on.

"I'm not changing my pants," I demand, as I step out.

"Thank you," he beams. He picks me up bridal style.

"What are you doing?"

"I told you that I was going to carry you because you're sore," he deadpans.

"Well I'm going to be going to the gym, I think I can walk downstairs," I point out.

"Nope," he smiles and I can't help but laugh.

"Let me down," I laugh.

"I'm carrying you to breakfast," he demands playfully and starts walking.

"Okay, wait. How about a piggyback instead then, if you insist?" I try and compromise. I'd be so embarrassed, him carrying me bridal style into the kitchen with a few hundred people.

"Okay, because you changed your shirt for me, I'll compromise too and piggyback you," he smiles.

He lets me down and squats down so I can get on his back. He carries me down, and I take the opportunity to plant kisses on his cheek, and neck. I can't get enough of him. When we get outside of the kitchen doors, I tell him to let me down. "No, I'm carrying you to your chair," he says playfully.

"Babe," I start laughing. "People are going to stare." "Let 'em."

"Put me down," I whisper and giggle, as he carries me inside the kitchen. He looks back at me and smiles. That damn smile. When we get to our table, he finally puts me down, and everyone is staring at us. Malcolm and Jenny, the only mated couple at our table are smiling at us, and everyone else is looking at us like we're crazy.

He rests one hand on the back of my chair, and one on the table as he leans down and gives me a sweet chaste kiss, and then takes his seat beside me. I feel Jessica's eyes are burning into me. Zac hasn't noticed, but I get this all the time from her. She doesn't want to piss him off, so she only gives me dirty looks when he's not looking.

I've had enough though. "Is there a problem, Jessica?" I ask calmly.

"What? No." She answers and looks at me like I'm crazy.

"You always seem to be giving me dirty looks," I ask, still remaining calm. Zac looks at her, and her face looks innocent suddenly, and she acts as if she has no idea what I'm talking about.

"I wasn't!" she responds.

"Really? You scowl at me constantly when Zac's not looking. Did I do something wrong? Or do you just think you have some sort of claim to MY man?" I ask. I'm not a warrior and not a fighter, but suddenly I want to fight. I want to rip her throat out.

Zac's hand comes to my back and Jessica doesn't have a chance to answer me, and Zac is cutting in, "I thought I made myself clear from the day she got here. Show her respect! Is that so hard? Respect the woman who is going to be your Luna!" Zac raises his voice. "What did I tell you when you threw yourself at me?" He asks, anger laced in every word. Her eyes widen, and her mouth falls open. She did what? When? She doesn't say a word, just stares at him, cheeks flush.

"I said I don't fool around with the women in my pack, because when I replace my mate, I wanted her to feel comfortable here. Do you think you're making my mate, and your Luna feel comfortable?" he finishes. She lowers her eyes and shakes her head. "I'm sorry Alpha," she whimpers.

"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to her, and hope she accepts it because she only has to say the word, and you'll replace yourself out of this pack. You try disrespecting any Alpha's Luna, and see where that gets you," he seethes. I was very angry, but hearing Zac protectively take my side and put her in her place had me feeling all sorts of lusty thoughts about my sexy man. My mom was right, I am bad.

"I'm sorry, Lauren. I let my emotions get the best of me. It won't happen again," she apologizes. I can see her eyes are full of fear; Zac threatening to kick her out of the pack scared her.

"Thank you, Jessica. I hope we can move forward, and put this behind us," I state while resting my hand possessively on Zac's arm.

To say the silence at our table was awkward is an understatement. The cook starts serving us, and Zac looks to me and mind-links me,

-Are you okay?-

-I'm good. I feel great now- I smile at him, and he smiles back.

-Thanks for having my back- I add.

-Always. You should have told me. That pisses me off. Anyone else pulling that s**t?-

-I think word will travel, and it'll stop after hearing you threatened to kick her out-

-So there is? Who?" He asks, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.

-Let's see if the problem corrects itself. Plus I don't even know their names-

-I'll take care of it.- he smiles.

-Please don't- I beg.

"Okay," he says out loud and smiles.

We eat our breakfast mostly in silence because of the awkwardness created by me.

"Malcolm and Paul, I would like you both to give up your training sessions today and take Lauren into town. She's going to the gym, and then to lunch with Peggy," Zac says.

"I don't need a security team yet. They wouldn't have..." I stop myself. I mind link him,

-They wouldn't have found me yet. I reasoned

-I'm not taking any chances. No compromises on this-

Paul and Malcolm are looking at both of us, clearly knowing that we're mind-linking and they're waiting to see what their orders are going to be.

Zac breaks the silence. "I don't want you to let her out of your sight," he says but waits for their response. "Of course, Alpha," they nod.

"You're going to the gym in town?" Jenny asks, and thank Moon goddess she did. She seemed to break the tension a little.

"Yeah, have you been?"

"No, I haven't. How is it?" She asks.

"Oh, it's awesome. You're welcome to join me if you want."

"Really? I'd actually love to. I'll skip my warrior training classes today," she offers.

Jenny is always pleasant with me and has always made an effort to talk to me since we first met. Hopefully, we really hit it off. It would be really nice to have a girlfriend here. Although having Julien here will be amazing, I want to make friends here. I get along great with most everyone so far, but it's just a hand full of un-mated women that seem to resent me for taking what they wanted. "Why are you going to the gym in town, when we have a gym here?" Paul asks.

"Well the gym in town has a lot more equipment, and the atmosphere is great, plus I know everyone there."

"You're going to have to help me design our gym once the warrior building is done," Zac says.

"Oh that sounds so fun," I beam.

"Are you a gym rat?" Paul asks, with a chuckle.

"Well gym rat sounds so negative... so no... but kind of," I smile.

"Why don't you train with the warriors. That's a great workout," Paul offers.

"No, she likes the gym," Zac cuts in quickly.

"You don't want me to train? Wait, I remember you mentioned before that you liked that I wasn't a warrior, why?" I ask.

"Alpha's always talk about wanting a strong fierce fighting Luna, but Jack, the Alpha to the pack I used to be in. His mate is badass. Best fighting she-wolf I've ever met. Anyways it was all fun and cool until there was an actual battle. Jack loves her, so he didn't want her fighting, but she wouldn't give in. She had a point too, the fact that she was such a strong fighter, it didn't make sense for her to sit it out. What's the point of her intensive training schedule if she can't use it? Anyways, it was hard for Jack. It ended up working out, but I remember not envying him, and the position he was in. When you said you had no desire to be a warrior, it was such a relief. I don't want a warrior, Luna. If s**t hits the fan, I like that you won't be fighting beside me. You can be with all the kids, keeping them calm and reassuring them the way you do," he explains.

I nod, "That makes sense."

"Hey if you guys are forced to babysit me today, you might as well bring some workout clothes and work out too. You'll have more fun, AND you'll blend in better," I offer. They look to Zac and he pauses to think it over, and then nods. Paul fist bumps me, obviously happy to not just have to stand there and watch me all day.

"I'll bring you to my contractor, and then when you're done, you can come and get Paul, Malcolm and Jenny at the warrior training class, okay? It might take you a while, so they might as well train while you're busy," Zac explains.

I nod, and say goodbye to everyone, and then Zac squats, waiting for me to get on his back. "I'm walking," I laugh, and start walking ahead of him. When he starts to pick up the pace chasing me, I do too so he can't grab me, and pick me up.

He laughs, as I squeal when he gets closer. Finally, I'm laughing too hard to even dodge him. He scoops me up and kisses me. Finally, when he pulls away, he rests his forehead on mine.

"I have so much fun with you," he smiles.

"I love that we have so much fun together," I admit. His lips curl up into a smile.

"Me too," he agrees.

"I'll miss you today," he says with a frown.

"I know. Me too, it'll just be a few hours."

"Come see me as soon as you get back. I should be in my office all afternoon," and I agree.