Chapter 4 A game of chess

Third Person's POV 

“Ha,” Maverick chuckled and rubbed his fingers over his mouth, a sign he was trying not to laugh. 

“What?” 

“Oh, nothing.”

“Don't “nothing” me! What?” Coal said, his annoyance evident in his voice. 

“It's just, are you sure you want to make that move?”

“Yes! What's wrong with it?” Coal said. The Beta scanned the chess board again, trying to figure out what he did wrong.

Maverick chuckled and shook his head. 

“Just busting your chaps,” Maverick said. His smile fades as he scans the board. He rubs his fingers through his beard as he concentrates. His lips curl up on one side as he reaches forward. 

“Check!” Maverick said, and Coal scoffed.

He moved his piece, and Maverick called check again.

Coal's frustration is palpable as he moves his piece.

“Run, Queen, run, I'm gonna get ya!” Maverick said before moving his piece and calling check again.

The guard sitting at his desk shifted in his seat. He was ready to duck, waiting for Coal to get angry and chuck the board down the aisle like he did last time. Getting hit in the head with chest pieces isn't exactly fun. The guard thought as he watched Coal make his next move. 

A satisfied smile spread across Maverick's face. He reached his hand through the bars and made his final move. 

“Checkmate!” 

Coal glared at Maverick for a moment before growling and chucking the board down the aisle. The guard sitting at his desk quickly ducked down behind it as chess pieces rained down over his head.

“Seriously Coal! And you! Do you have to poke the beast!” Gary said angrily as he stood up and glared at Maverick and Coal. 

“He cheated!” Coal exclaimed, pouting as he folded his arms across his chest. Maverick threw his head back laughing and almost fell out of his chair. 

“You're such a sore loser!” Maverick said between laughter.

“And you're a pain in my ass!” Coal growled. 

Maverick shook his head as his laughter died. 

“So, what are you going to show me first? Are you going to take me on a walk through your little town or take me to the lake? I can't remember the last time I've been swimming,” Maverick said as he sat back in his chair. 

“I don't know. It depends on if you're annoying me that day. If you are, then you can stay in your room!”

“Oh, threatening to ground me, huh?”

“It's not a threat, it's a promise!” Coal said before they both laughed. 

“Do you think we'll still play chess? It'll be weird not having our chess games each week,” Maverick said, and Coal nodded. 

“Yeah, I suppose it would be weird. I'm sure we can find time. Your wolf must be eager to shift and run free. I'm looking forward to meeting him,” Coal said, and Maverick shifted uncomfortably in his chair. 

“He's fine. We never shifted that often to begin with. I shifted last night for him, and two minutes later, he shifted back. I doubt you'll see him that much.” 

Coal hummed in acknowledgment as he picked up the board and chess pieces scattered throughout the aisle. 

“Sorry about that,” Coal apologized to Gary when he handed him the pieces that landed around his desk. 

The guard shook his head as he walked back to his desk and mumbled under his breath. 

“All right, I guess I'll see you Sunday morning. Don't do anything stupid until then,” Coal said, giving Maverick a firm look that said he would kick his ass if he fucked up. 

Maverick laughed as he crossed his cell and dropped down on his bed. 

“Don't worry, I'll be on my best behavior,” 

Maverick watched Coal leave, and when the door shut, he laid down, looked at the ceiling, and let out a breath. 

“Leave me alone, Shade! I don't want to hear it.”

“Shade likes pretty little thing. Let's go find our pretty little thing.”

“No! Now knock it off and stop pestering me about it. It's not happening!” 

Maverick groaned as the stupid idiot in his head continued to mumble about his pretty little thing. He pressed the pillow over his head and growled into it. 

“SHUT UP!” Maverick yelled, and the guard looked down the aisle in his direction. 

“Ignore me. Just arguing with my inner beast.” Maverick said as he rolled over and faced the wall. He closed his eyes and hoped to get some sleep. The idiot in his head was giving him a headache. 

                               ~

“Now, I'm trusting your judgment. You've spent the past two years getting to know him. Whatever this feeling is you have about him hasn't wavered. Because of that, his good behavior, and the fact that he's claimed he's only killed two pieces of shit Alphas, I approved his release.

You are responsible for him. I expect you to teach him our rules and figure out what he's good at so you can find him a job.

Our biggest problem will be the Omega and Delta 3s if they recognize him from the auction, as well as their mates. I wouldn't doubt it if at least one of those mates comes after him. 

I've been weighing my options to try to prevent this from happening. I could bring their mates in, explain who he is, why he's being released, and warn everyone to leave him alone, or I could do nothing and hope no one recognizes him since he was a guard and not inside the building often. 

If I talk to the mates, it will bring attention to him, but that may not happen if I don't talk to them. This may cause more people to come after him than if I don't say anything. 

Because there's no sure way to tell how many people will recognize him, and because he was at the gate, I have decided not to talk to them and see how things play out. If too many people recognize him, I will call their mates in and have the talk then. 

Your job is to assign the right guards to follow him and stand guard at his door. These guards must be able to look for and spot these problems before they happen. And when you're with him, you need to stay vigilant. 

If anyone attacks him, he has the right to defend himself. Though if he severely hurts or kills one of them, things will take a drastic turn for him. He will automatically become the enemy, and it will no longer be just mates looking to take his head. He will either end up getting killed or chased out of here. I know you don't want either to happen, so I want you to keep a close eye on him,” Grayson explained.

Coal sat across from the Alpha in his office. His head nods as he takes in everything Grayson says. 

“I understand. I will make sure I have a team of guards briefed about him and ready by Sunday,” Coal said.

“Very good. I'll be seeing you at dinner tonight, right?” Grayson asked as he closed his laptop, stood, and stretched. 

“Yes. I already told Nathan, and he's excited. We’ll be at your place in two hours.” Coal smiled as he thought of his mate. He felt himself become excited at the thought of seeing his mate. 

He said his goodbyes to the Alpha and quickly made his way up the stairs, taking them two at a time.