Chapter 4 | It's A Pleasure

Riley

Harry and Todd talk animatedly as we get to the bowling alley. I smile watching the two of them interact, I’ve always been a people watcher and I can tell most of my night I’ll be observing others.

The boys don’t know how to react around me because they know I still feel sad. They don’t know how to handle my sad times because if I’m ever sad I normally try to hide it from them. But right now, it’s weighing me down so much that I don’t feel like I can.

As we walk up to grab our shoes I hear Harry gasp as he says, “Oh my, Taylor’s here.”

I glance in the direction that Todd is looking while Harry tries to hide himself between us. I smirk, how cute, he’s got a crush.

Once we get our shoes we walk to our lane and I pull my hair up as I begin to make a game plan on how I’m going to embarrass my brother. As I do this someone bumps into me causing me to stumble backward.

I quickly realize that I can’t catch myself and brace myself for a fall whenever I feel strong arms catch me. I look up to see the strong jaw of the man who caught me. He lifts me back up as if I weigh nothing and chuckles, “You gotta be more careful.”

I’m awestruck by this man. I don’t think he’s much older than me, but his dark brown hair is ruffled with that perfect ‘just rolled out of bed’ look, his warm brown eyes flash to black and I stumble out of his arms as I realize that he’s a werewolf. I gulp and say, “Uh, thanks for catching me.”

He grins, showing off his picture-perfect smile as he says, “Not a problem. I’m Archer, what’s your name?”

“I’m Ri-” I don’t get a chance to finish my sentence as I hear a loud growl and then Todd’s voice as he yells, “Don’t go near her!”

I watch in horror as Zane pushes Todd to the floor and gets prepared to stalk towards me when Harry runs in his path and pushes him back as he yells, “What do you think you’re doing, Zane?!”

One of Zane’s friends grabs ahold of Harry and holds his arms back before Zane punches him in the face. This action snaps me into reality, and I run over there, quicker than a human would be able to, but I wasn’t thinking about that. No one was going to hurt my brothers!

Zane raises his fist again and I rush in between the two of them as I yell, “Enough!”

His eyes are cold and dark, and I know his wolf is in control. Stupid temperamental Alphas.

I spit out, “You will not hurt my brothers.”

He growls lowly, just low enough for werewolves to be able to hear, but no humans would be able to hear it.

I notice the commotion around us. The owners of the establishment are wolves and are rushing to get any and all humans out of here. Except for me, they know I’m too deep in this, and I can see the fear in their eyes because they think I’m human.

They think that the werewolf world will be revealed to me. They're scared I'm going to get hurt or die in this altercation. But I know Zane won't hurt me, I'm sure his wolf is angry since he rejected me.

Once the humans have left, the owners attempt to get the wolves out, but that’s harder to do. In a small town like this where only 2 packs are, everyone wants to know the dirt of what’s going on.

Zane’s eyes slowly lighten, but I can tell his wolf is still right underneath the surface, begging for any excuse to be let out.

I’m surprised when Archer walks over and he says, “This isn’t the place for this kind of behavior.”

Zane’s eyes narrow at Archer and he says, “Archer, you’re back.”

Do they know each other? I’ve never seen Archer before, so I was surprised to see him at all.

Archer nods and says, “Let these kids go.”

Archer sounds calm and determined. He wants to help settle the situation, meanwhile, Zane is the opposite. He looks erratic like he wants an excuse to blow up and start a fight.

Todd walks towards us, and I hold my hand out to him and I say, “Stay there, Todd.”

He presses his lips in a firm line and nods his head. I appreciate that he doesn’t argue with me right now. I see a blonde guy walk towards us and he says, “Zane, these are just kids and you’re scaring them.”

Zane’s eyes flicker behind me towards Harry and he tells him in a low voice, “Don’t get in my way again.”

I don’t turn to look at Harry, but I can hear his feet scuffle on the floor as he gets let go. He spits out, “Don’t fuck with my sister!”

I snap, “Harry!”

Zane growls louder and his eyes turn pitch black, and I know his wolf wants to attack. I get slammed to the floor and I look up seeing Archer on top of me and in front of him, there was a black wolf now standing in the place where Zane was.

I whimper softly seeing the massive wolf stalking towards my brother. I’m surprised when the blonde man runs in front of him to protect him and then is joined by another guy with reddish-brown hair. The other guy pushed Harry towards us, and Archer pulls him to the floor to sit beside me and Todd rushes to my other side. Archer stands up in front of me.

His confidence doesn’t waver as he guards us, the other two men only dodge Zane’s attacks until one gets smacked by his large paw and goes flying across the room.

Zane turns towards us and I gulp, feeling fearful because there’s nothing that I can do to protect us. I don’t have a wolf yet or my Gemstone abilities.

Suddenly I hear a booming voice, “Zane, shift back now!”

Zane has no choice but to listen as his father comes into view, his face is beet red. Zane stands up, naked since his clothes shredded when he shifted. His father’s aura is demanding and suffocating because he’s letting his Alpha presence and command surround the area. He smacks the side of Zane’s head as he says, “You’re the next Alpha! What the hell do you think you’re doing behaving this way!”

His father’s eyes meet mine and he groans loudly. He asks, “What do I have to do to keep you quiet, Riley?”

Before I can speak, he notices Archer and his eyebrows raise as he says, “Well, well, Mr. Archer, you’re back home.”

Archer snaps back, “That’s Alpha Archer to you.”

That explains his confidence, he’s an Alpha too. I didn’t realize till this moment that he and his friends are the only ones in the whole bowling alley not baring their necks to Zane’s father in submission. Zane’s dad nods then looks back at me and questions, “Riley?”

I shake my head, “You don’t have to do anything. I’ll keep quiet.”

He smirks, “Good girl.”

I want to snap at him for treating me like a dog. But with Todd already trembling in fear beside me and Harry wanting to get up to defend me, I know I need to keep a level head. I pat Harry’s arm hoping it’s enough to have him stand down.

Zane’s dad commands for him and the others from his pack to leave. All that’s left is me, my brothers, Archer, the other two men that were defending us, and the owners. Archer breathes heavily and says, “I’ll pay for any damages.”

The owner speaks with an accent as he shakes his head, “That’s not necessary, Alpha.”

He nods, “It is. You’re one of mine and I will look out for you.”

Archer looks at the reddish-brown-haired man as he says, “Brandon, check in tomorrow and bring them a check.”

Brandon nods at Archer’s command. Archer asks, “Do you mind if we still bowl?”

The owner’s wife comes forward, “Anything you want, we appreciate your assistance.”

Archer smiles and nods showing his gratitude. He looks back at me and my brothers and says, “Well, I’m Archer, these are my friends Brandon and Caleb. Would you guys like to bowl with us?”

The boys look at me waiting for me to make a decision. I sigh as I shrug, “Mom and dad did tell us to bowl.”

They both smile and Todd asks, “Can I get some sour gummies?”

I open my mouth to answer when Archer says, “Get whatever you want, it’s on me.”

Both of the boys run off to the snack area and I look at Archer and say, “That’s not necessary.”

He scoffs waving his hand in dismissal, “With all you’ve been through tonight, it’s the least I could do.”

I nod slowly and he says, “You never said your name.”

I chuckle, “You heard my name from Alpha Jackass.”

He laughs and I’m caught off by how nice the sound is. He says, “I want to hear it from your lips.”

I press my lips together as I feel heat rush to my cheeks and I say, “I’m Riley… Riley Ford.”

He walks closer to me and lifts my hand to his lips as he kisses it. He tells me, “Well, Riley Ford… it’s a pleasure to meet you.”