Chapter 9 ~ She’s a Smartass… Soooo…

Matthew’s POV ~

After dropping Ella off at the diner, I headed back home. She had been suffering a bad headache since last night. I wanted her to call off sick.. but she’s stubborn. I have learned if I push her.. she will dig her heels in, just to spite me. It’s frustrating.. but I always enjoy our give and take interactions.

Maverick and I were handling the Alphas we had notified weeks ago, about hunters in the area. Every one of the idiots had told us they can handle whatever comes their way. Now, they have found out differently. I have spent the morning deciding which warriors I was sending to what packs to train them. Goddess! I hate the paperwork!

Mom had come in.. going over a guest list. I told her Ella isn’t comfortable with huge crowds. I want to just keep it to our pack, and Uncle Damien.. and his circle. Mom nodded, but then asked “What about the Luna ceremony? Our Allied Alphas should be here.”

I sighed “Mom! I don’t even know if she will be ready.. or want to have her ascension ceremony. It’s her birthday! She’s never.. not once.. ever.. celebrated it. I want her happy! Not pressured!”

She sighed back at me “You’re right. You are absolutely right! How did you get so smart, monkeybutt? I am such a lucky, proud Momma!”

Maverick cracked up “Welp, monkeybutt.. we have to check the southern fences. Seems we have a couple hundred feet of fencing down or cut through.”

We headed outside and shifted.. Frost was excited to be out.. and he kept nipping Orden’s heels.. I sat back.. allowing him to expend some energy. He’s been cooped up too long.

He pulled up short.. sniffing the air. Growling he said “Rogues” and I linked Mom and Dad we were under attack. Orden and I separated and flanked the warriors lining up for the charge..

Twenty rogues charged out of the tree line.. I sent an order to ‘Hold, until they’ve crossed the border’. When they did, we attacked.. No mercy. My warriors never faltered.. and made short work of them all. I had just ripped the throat out of the last one.. when we were linked hunters were firing at us from the east.

Leaving our men to repair the fences, Maverick and I tore ass to the east. By the time we arrived, six men were shot and down. Frost concentrated on the trees.. outside our border.. locating each of the snipers. I alerted our marksmen where to start firing..

As soon as that little skirmish was put down.. the northern border alerted us to another attack.. upon arrival, Odin and Angel were fighting back to back, in perfect synchronized movements. I always loved watching the way they each seem like an extension of the other. I have always wanted my life to be like that!

Orden and I jumped into the fight.. ripping off limbs.. tearing through flesh.. Just as Frost severed a rogue’s head.. I felt agony flash through my left haunch.. knowing I had just been shot with silver.. it can’t kill me.. but it definitely slowed me down.

We heard “Retreat! Retreat! I took out the white wolf we came for!” My dad roared in the link “After them! Not one survives this night!” All the warriors that weren’t wounded, took off after the running dummies.

By the time we had gotten all our wounded to the infirmary.. and on their way to healing.. Mom and I took a minute to breathe. She checked my leg and nodded “It’s healed. Scared the shit out of me when I saw you go down! Don’t do that again!”

I grinned and said “No problem, Mom. Next time, I will tell my assailant that my Moommm said he can’t do that!” She giggled “Okay.. okay! Sounds stupid when you put it like that!”

Maverick walked up to us.. handing me my phone “I can’t reach Ella. She had texted hours ago.. asking if you were okay.. Now she’s not answering.”

I looked at my phone “She left work early.. her headache worsened. She’s probably sleeping.” I texted her.. and went to grab a shower. After I was done.. and Ella hadn’t answered.. I was starting to worry..

We called her phone.. each of us trying. We sent a dozen text messages. It was getting late.. and we decided we needed to get to town. Mom and Dad joined Mav and me.. and we headed out.

Halfway there, my phone rang.. and my whole body sagged in relief at seeing Babelicious popping up on my screen. I hit the answer button on my steering wheel, and said “Baby!”

She giggled “Sure! Now you answer! What happened? How hurt are you.. and don’t say you aren’t!? I felt it! Left leg.. upper thigh.. you better be okay! I have a wolf. Her name is Abalone.. like the shell but she’s not a shell.. she’s a wolf.. A snarky, sarcastic pain in the ass wolf! She keeps calling me defective. I’mma show her defective! She gives me a headache! I sure hope you’re headed to my house soon. I got two dead guys on my lawn.. and a pissed off one tied up in my kitchen. He keeps complaining he has a headache and he thinks his nuts are in his throat because he’s having trouble breathing..”

On the fourth attempt at interrupting her, I finally got her to listen “We are almost there, baby. I’m so sorry I left you alone. Can you get coffee ready? We have a lot to discuss.”

I hung up and Mom busted out laughing.. “She’s definitely a special one! I didn’t even hear her take a breath.. just spit that all out in one breath! Amazing!”

I laughed and told them “She’s excited about Abalone!” Maverick laughs “The wolf, right? Not the shell?” We all laughed at that!

I sighed.. took a deep breath “I could have lost her! They sent men for her and she had been left alone. Never again! Maverick.. clear Calvin’s schedule. From now on, he is Ella’s shadow. Where she goes.. he is right beside her. In two weeks.. I will bring her into the pack. A mind link will help.. I want her ascension ceremony done, as soon as she has shifted! I won’t survive another attack on her!”

Dad said “Her wolf is awake, son. We can bring her into the pack right now.. tonight! I want it done, as quickly as possible.” I wholeheartedly agreed.. just as I pulled into her driveway.

I was out of the truck and pulling her into my arms, before anyone else could undo their seatbelt. She giggled and told me she was fine.. but the dead guys were stinking up the place. Her senses were increasing and smells were bothering her.

I smiled and said “First.. I want to bring you into the pack. We can establish a mind link that way.. and it will set my mind at ease.” She nodded.. and walked back into the kitchen.

I hear her say “Shut up! I know he’s hot.. he says we are and I feel a pull… so I think so.. Stop! You’re embarrassing yourself!” I started laughing “You do know you only have to think what you want to say to Abalone, right? But, please.. continue talking to her out loud! Good to know you think I’m hot!”

She blushed bright red and said “Takes some getting used to. And she’s a smartass.. Sooo…”