The Alpha Wants Everything Book 1 The King's Queen
Chapter 31: For Luna!

Kane and Marco wandered around the town square in and out of the shops. Picking little things up here or there. They were currently in the jewelry store looking around and Kane was looking at a sun pendant, it was nice but it didn’t feel right to him.

“Scusa Sir, posso chiederti cosa stiamo facendo? (May I ask what we are doing?)” Marco asked, motioning around the store.

“As you know, my mate has had a hell of a past” Kane said,

“Sì, sir!”

“It has left her with the impression she doesn’t deserve anything,” Kane continued. Marco nodded his head

“La spesa di ieri con tua sorella.” Kane arched his eyebrow at him. Marco bit back a grumble as he struggled to replace the right words

“Sh-shop-ping…. she….un-want….your card. Hands scuotere….um….shake. Lacey….do it” Marco told him, Kane figured as much, he saw her resistance in accepting it.

“Well now those purchases sit on the floor untouched, she barely even looks at them. So I figure, for every outfit she accepts, she should get a gift.” Kane explained.

“Stai per….pagare?” Marco asked, holding back a smile. “Pay….her?” Marco added, when he saw the look on Kane’s face.

“I think you mean bribe Marco.” Kane corrected him, fighting back a laugh. Marco furrowed his brows and scratched the back of his head as he thought about that.

“Sì….bribe, scusa” Marco nodded agreeing, that was what he meant.

“Bribe is one way to think of it, I prefer incentive,” Kane smiled. Manipulative sure, but if that is what it took for her to understand she deserves the world, then he was not above doing it.

“Sir. Posso suggerire qualcosa? I….suggest?” Marco asked, holding up an white gold anklet with dangling stars and a full moon. Kane smiled bigger, now that said his mate. He made the purchase after adding a few other items to it, and they moved on to a bath and body store.

Like every other store Marco entered first, giving the store a quick once over before moving to the side and letting Kane enter. This store made Marco clearly uncomfortable, no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t hide the displeasure he felt about being in there. A lot of women were staring at them, ogling and whispering amongst themselves.

“Cazzo lordo! Questo negozio ha un cattivo odore. Cazzo! Non capisco! Come possono le donne sopportare di essere qui? (Gross fuck! This shop smells bad. Fuck! I do not understand! How can women bear to be here?)” Marco complained. Before Kane could say anything they were interrupted by a bubbly brunette wearing too much makeup and too little clothing.

“Hello!” She purred,

“Fanculo! Possiamo aiutarti? Help….you?” Marco said back at her furrowing his brows at how close she was standing to him.

“Hey that’s my line, I work here” she purred again running her hand seductively under her name tag over her breast. According to the piece of plastic her name was Mandy. Marco tried not to curl his lip in disgust at the way she was acting, but it was a failed attempt. Didn’t stop the sales associate from flirting with him.

“Are you shopping for someone?” She asked, in a sultry voice as she rubbed her hand up his arm.

“Non cazzo mi tocchi! (Don’t fucking touch me)” He stepped back from her fast and glared at her. “Cazzo ti fa pensare che sarei disposto a entrare in questo negozio se non avessi una moglie? (The fuck make you think I willing step in this store if I didn’t have a wife?)” Marco all but growled at her, his agitation had spiked and he was fighting to bite back the snarl that wanted to escape.

“Marco, you can wait outside.” Kane said with a crooked grin on his face. Marco looked at him, although he nodded he started muttering something in italian as he left the store. What did he say? Ky asked. I’m not entirely sure, I think something about a dirty fucking whore! Ky erupted into laughter in his head. Kane didn’t know much Italian, but he did pick up a few words. Yeah, the bad ones!

The sales associate, Mandy turned to Kane and her eyes widened and she smiled brighter, but before she could even utter a word, Kane held up his hand.

“Don’t bother, I’m not interested. I am shopping for my girlfriend” he stated straight faced and matter of factly. He shared Marco’s thoughts on being touched by women when he had a mate. Her face fell and she slumped her shoulders.

“What are you looking for?” She asked, curtly

“Bubble bath and essential oils,” he replied. Guess the dirty whore is done being polite!

“This way” she said and turned on her heel for him to follow. She stepped behind a counter and started gathering small bottles of essential oils. She placed them on the counter, there were many to choose from. She twisted the cap off one and offered it to him, he sniffed it and immediately recoiled.

“Smells like death” he shook his head,

“It’s roses” she scoffed,

“Were they dead?” He asked,

“No!” She was getting snippy with him

“My girlfriend has shampoo and conditioner that smells like orchids” Kane was growing a bit impatient with this little twit. When he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He turned around, what a pleasant surprise.

“Good morning Glenda!” He said with a smile on his face.

“Good morning handsome, what are you doing?” She replied with a twinkle in her eye.

“Trying to replace bubble baths and oils!” He answered not one ounce of embarrassment in his tone.

“Taking care of our girl?” Glenda asked, with a knowing look.

“She deserves the best,” Kane smiled,

“Then you need to leave this store. You want to go to Lydia’s” Glenda recommended,

“Lydia’s?” Kane arched an eyebrow.

“Yes, come with me, she will take care of you better, she’s more expensive, but her product is far superior, more subtle and has staying power.” Kane stood taller and was about to follow her out of the store, when Glenda turned to the sales associate.

“And Mandy dear, put your boobs back in your shirt, no ones gonna buy the cow when you’re giving the milk away for free.” Kane grinned, he liked Glenda. They exited the store and Marco immediately stood to attention.

“This one with you? He’s not from around here.” Glenda asked, looking Marco up and down.

“Yes, he is with me, he is visiting from New York” Kane replied, still grinning. He offered Glenda his arm and she happily accepted it, commenting on the gentleman he was.

“Him and the other gentleman in the high priced suit?” Glenda asked. Nothing gets by Glenda. “Small town, people talk, I listen” she proceeded to lead them away from the body shop to Lydia’s.

She stopped in front of a little corner shop, with an intricately engraved sign with a vine and flower detail surrounding the name.

“Like the sign?” Glenda asked, it was Marco that answered

“È bellissimo. Beautiful!” He said admiring the work. The sign had enough colouring to add small pops of colour and detail but the grains of the wood were still very visible.

“It should be, our girl did that. She did some of the signs in this area for free, it’s how she started her client base when she moved here. Which was very smart if you ask me.” Kane looked around at the other signs, all different, all with their own personalities, but all done with great care and dedication. He never realized how much of her was present in this town.

“Thank you” He said looking at her, she didn’t even have to ask what for, she seemed to already know.

“Murray and I never had kids, there’s nothing wrong with either of us health wise, it just never happened, wasn’t in the stars I guess. So when this little thing came into the diner three years ago, cold, starving and terrified, I knew I was given a chance so I took it. I have seen many sides to her, but today she came in with a side I have never seen before, and I think you have something to do with it.” Glenda looked at Kane, he could hear the adoration in her words when she spoke of his little mate.

“Just ease up on the animalistic sex, I saw the bump on her head” Kane went red, Marco had to duck his head to hide the ear to ear grin.

“Well you boys go in there and tell Lydia I sent you, I have to get back to the diner, I left Murray in charge” the glint in her eyes sparkling brighter. Kane and Marco smiled politely and thanked her for her help.

Walking into the shop, Marco seemed a lot more at ease in this one, it wasn’t overpowering like the other one. It seemed to be one scent that filled the air instead of every scent. There was a tall redhead talking to a customer, she looked over at them to give them a hello and that she would be right with them, when she straightened in his presence. She knew who he was, she bowed her head slightly, but continued helping her current customer. When she finished up and the customer had left, she turned to him and placed a gentle smile on her face, and bowed again.

“Alpha Kane” she spoke softly. He arched an eyebrow at her, she was not from his pack, but she had a familiar scent, she was about 23-24 years old with amber eyes. “I am Lydia Brennan from the Hillcrest Pack” Marco looked around the shop freely, he seemed a lot more at peace here.

“Lavender,” she said. “It calms the beast inside. It works better on some than on others. How can I help you today?” She added, referring to Marco.

“Glenda sent us,” Kane replied, Lydia smiled at the mention of the old woman’s name. Glenda seemed to be well liked around the whole town.

“How nice! Your visit here is for Luna then?” She asked, eagerly.

“Yes!” Kane replied,

“Ok, what were you thinking?”

“That’s the thing, I don’t really know!”

“Well what does her other bath products smell like?” Lydia asked.

“Her shampoo and conditioner smell like orchids and she uses an unscented body wash” he hoped that helped.

“Interesting, tame, light, floral, exotic, I have a few scents, please, wait for me at the counter I will be right back” She stepped away from him and headed to the back. The bell over the door rang and a familiar presence stood behind Kane. Fuck! He thought, but plastered a pleasant smile on his face.

“Good morning Mrs. Morganson! How are you today?” He politely asked as he turned around. Marco could feel the shift in the atmosphere and he tensed up, Kane subtly waved him off.

“Mr. McKenna!” She was down right bristly. Ok so we’re past pleasantries! Kane thought. Good to know! Ky snickered, he didn’t like being pleasant anyway. She pushed past him and stood in front of the counter where she rang the bell calling for Lydia. Kane looked at Marco who stood staring wide eyed, then his gaze narrowed and a scowl crossed his face. He was about to move forward, when Kane shook his head. When the clerk didn’t show, she rang the bell again. Kane could sense the older woman’s impatience, when she rang it a third time, Kane reached over and grabbed the bell off the counter.

“I think she heard you!” He said. “But she is busy with another customer right now and you will have to wait your turn” Mrs. Morganson glared at him, he narrowed his eyes.

“I have to pick up an order,” She said stiffly.

“That’s too bad, I was here first and seeing how I don’t know what I am looking for, it might take me a while. Why don’t you come back later?” He politely suggested.

“If you were polite, you would allow a lady to go first” Kane nodded and pursed his lips, if he were polite he would let the lady go first.

“You’re right it would be polite, if I were in the presence of a lady, I would allow her to go first. But you are not a lady, and I am not feeling all that polite today” he icily replied. She gasped at his comment.

“Well I never” she started

“What had to wait for your turn? Probably not. You’re too busy pushing people out of your way, with your fake moral superiority. However you will replace I am not easily pushed around and have a tendency to push back.” He stood to his full height and she could see his muscles flex under his shirt.

“What she sees in you I don’t know, Donny would be so much better for her” She snapped at him. He smiled a wicked smile.

“Again not having met your son, I can not determine the kind of man he is, but he comes from your stock so my hopes for his manhood are not that high and seeing that he needs his mommy to fix him up on dates further enforces that opinion.” Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth only to close it again. Kane could hear Marco snickering behind one of the shelves.

“You are not a pleasant man to talk to,” she finally said.

“You would be a pleasant woman Mrs. Morganson, it’s a shame about that tongue of yours, I can give you the number of a doctor who would be more than happy to cut it out for you.” He offered nonchalantly.

“You are an absolute beast, Mr. McKenna” She exasperated.

“You have no idea how beastly I can be, Mrs. Morganson, I recommend you run along before you replace out” he all but growled at her. She clutched her purse tighter to her as she rushed out of the shop.

Lydia emerged from the back with a tray of scents and a package, when she saw that it was just Kane and Marco in the shop she looked confused.

“I’m sorry, I thought Mrs. Morganson was here?” She asked, putting down the items.

“Left!” Marco shrugged, standing next to Kane.

“Might have been something I said,” Kane replied. Lydia just nodded, she had heard the stories that surrounded Kane. It was better to stay on his good side….assuming he had one. She set the tray in front of him and arranged the scents in order of what she thought her soon to be Luna would like to what she thought she might like.

“I also have these same scents in bubble baths and candles. I can also customize bubble bath scents if you want to mix.”

“I think we will be fine on candles, she makes her own. And I don’t think I will be picking anything rose, considering the last one I tried smelled like death.” Kane said, pushing that one to the back. She smiled nodding.

“You went to the body shop, they use artificial scents mostly. These scents are homegrown and made here in the shop.” She opened the rose vial and a delicate scent was released into the air. Marco perked at the smell.

“Il mio amore!” He said. Both Lydia and Kane knew what he was referring to. It was the scent of his mate, sadness crossed his face for a brief second and then was gone again.

“Call her,” Kane ordered. Marco bowed and nodded with a smile on his face, he pulled out his phone and left the shop to call the love of his life. Lydia looked at her soon to be Alpha, maybe the stories were wrong.

“They were right. I am a cold, ruthless, brutal savage, with a bloodlust the likes of which you have never seen. I would just as quickly snap someone’s neck for looking at me the wrong way, as I would in the field of battle. Loyalty deserves to be rewarded however, and Marco has been loyal for 7 years, he misses his mate, and I am not completely heartless.” His voice held no emotion, picking up one of the oils and smelling it, lilac. He picked up another one, cherry blossoms.

“I like these two,” he said, putting them back down. She stared at him wide eyed, blinking a few times she just nodded.

“I could put together a sample pack of the different essential oils, where she could mix and match as she pleases” Lydia offered, smiling weakly trying to control her fear.

“Don’t be afraid of me Lydia, you are not my enemy” he picked up another scent, rain. “I think this one in a bubble bath would be nice, maybe this one as well” he smelled winter pine.

“I could do the same for the bubble baths as well, if you’d like” she swallowed hard and looked down. Kane looked at her, she was trying to make herself small and appear weak.

“Tell me something Lydia, do you do this for all your customers?” He asked, rubbing his jaw.

“No, sir!” She replied

“So you are trying to get on my good side?” He asked, again.

“Yes, sir!” She replied again.

“I appreciate your honesty, a sample pack of the oils you picked out, except the lilac and cherry blossom, those I want in full size. And a sample pack of bubble bath in the scents you think she will like. Except for the full size of the rain and winter pine.” Kane said

“Yes, sir!” She moved with speed getting his items ready. He looked at the bottles again, they looked familiar to him.

“These are intricate bottles” he stated, noting the details on them.

“My supplier makes them, she also makes my candles for me. I supply her with the oils and she makes the most wonderfully scented candles you have ever had the pleasure of smelling. She likes to follow her own rules so I usually end up with a scent like lilac in every colour. She doesn’t understand why it always has to be purple. My customers love it though, they ask me all the time who my supplier is. I can’t tell them, she doesn’t want to deal with single orders, she only sells to stores.” She spoke as she was gathering everything. Kane looked at the bottom of the bottle and there etched in the glass, in the middle, was CC. He smiled, he knew he had seen these bottles somewhere.

“She sounds interesting” he put the bottle down.

“Oh, she’s a firecracker, the sweetest little thing you have ever seen on a good day, but don’t catch her on a bad day. The only thing quicker than her tongue is her fist. I watched her punch a guy twice her size in the throat cause he called her sweet cheeks and grabbed her ass, at the diner. I think there is actually a tally board at the diner of all the people she’s throat punched.” Kane chuckled, he’d have to watch his throat from now on around her.

“Is that so?” Kane leaned on the counter.

“Oh, Goddess, yes, it was the most badass thing I have ever seen, he went down like a sack of potatoes. I couldn’t help but think, I have to meet this girl. She’s awesome, but she’s so guarded, stays away from people. The whole town watches her like a hawk, they love to gossip about her. Especially Mrs. Morganson” she said, making a disgusted face. This caught Kane’s attention.

“Really?” He was intrigued, she looked over her shoulder towards the door to make sure they were alone before she proceeded.

“Oh yes, she’s such a nosy bitch! Has to be in everyone’s business, Goddess forbid anyone does anything she doesn’t approve of. Her fake superiority complex is off the charts, but she has her gaggling of followers that do whatever she says, she’ll make your life hell if you don’t. Mrs. Morganson makes it a point to know what she’s doing at all times. It pisses her off to no end that Dax, my supplier, just does her own thing all the time. Sometimes I swear she does it just to piss Mrs. Morganson off. She’s my hero, I wish I could tell that bitch to fuck off sometimes. Mrs. Morganson caught her on a bad day once, going at her about not going to church or something, Dax point blank looked her in the eye and politely told her that the only help she needed from above was a sniper on the roof, and walked away. My jaw hit the floor when I heard it. And I know gossip and rumours are usually blown out of proportion and I don’t participate in it but I have to admit I hang on every word when I hear it, and I can totally hear her saying something like that.” Funny Kane could as well.

“Dax is seeing someone now, at first I thought it was to get Mrs. Morganson off her back, that’s what some in the town think as well, I mean I wouldn’t blame her, Dax has told her repeatedly she wasn’t interested in her bastard son, but Glenda says it’s legit ‘got herself one of the good ones’ she said. Dax even went to the summer carnival for the first time in three years with this new guy. I heard there were some public displays happening. Of course Mrs. Morganson says he is all wrong for her, and needs someone to show her her place. Like what the hell does that mean? Glenda says he’s good for her ‘Brings out the best side of her’ and she doesn’t have a problem with the man and if Glenda says it then it’s gotta be true. She’s good at reading people, and half the town is rooting for the guy.” Kane nodded his head, if he did have a good side Lydia has definitely found her way onto it. Dax was her hero.

“Does Glenda ever talk about her?” Kane asked, he was hoping he didn’t misjudge the old woman.

“Goddess no, not like that, if she does talk about her it’s more like a proud mama bear. Most of the time she tells everyone to ‘mind their own fucking business and leave that sweet child alone’.” Kane smiled, relieved he was right about her.

When she had finished gathering everything, she packaged them up in two small crates. Kane arched an eyebrow, he has seen those before as well.

“Dax made them for me, aren’t they the cutest things ever, and my customers love them. They reuse them for baskets in their homes. Ok so this one is the oils, she will need three drops max, if she is mixing scents it’s a 2-1 ratio, no more than three drops. So the oil samples will last her a while. I have also included a list of all the scents for both the oils and the bubble baths so she can mark off the ones she likes. If she brings back the bottles she’ll get a discount. I also put in a few bath bombs and Epsom salts that I think she might like.” She started putting everything in a paper bag and slid it across the counter towards him. Kane smiled, thanked her and paid. He moved towards the door when he stopped.

“Lydia, you don’t have to worry if I had a good side, you would be on it” her face lit up.

“Uh, Alpha Kane” he looked at her waiting for her to continue “I can’t wait to meet my new Luna” Kane smiled a crooked smile

“You already did” she looked at him as confusion furrowed her brow “She’s the one that made your sign and yes she would totally say that” and he walked out leaving her wide eyed and surprised.