Chapter 22

Lauren's Point of view zac introduces me to his construction guy, Georgio, and leaves us to it. Georgio takes me through the place that will soonbe my Mom's. I don't bother to call her because I know she only got to her hotel a few hours ago, and she’s sleeping. I knher style though, so I know she'll like what I pick. She likes the whole beach house vibe so I stick with greys and whites, aa little Navy blue. 1 go with greyish hardwood for the floors.

it only takes half an hour before I'm done, and I run-up to our place, grab my purse, keys, and a jean jacket, then headdown to where Zac is training the warriors. He stops to give me a kiss, and then I'm off. Jenny links arms with me, and wewalk ahead of the guys. “Lauren and I will drive in her car, and you guys can follow,” Jenny says and the guys nod.

When we get into the car, Jenny starts talking as if we are old friends, which I love.

“You should have seen the speech Zac gave at the beginning of class for you," she smiles.

“It's obvious he really loves you. I mean, of course, he does. You're his mate and all, but I liked seeing that side of him,”“Wait... What did he say? I asked him not to do anything like that," I groan.

“He just said, “It's been brought to my attention that some of the women in this pack have been unwelcoming and rude tcmy mate. Consider this the final warning. She is your Luna. The Luna ceremony date has been set. Get on board, or get ouShe has done nothing to deserve this. She is my mate, and I will not have her feeling uncomfortable here. She's thesweetest person you'll ever meet, and you'd know that If you gave her a chance. I don't know if there's a misconceptionthat because I'm social, and I joke around, that I will allow this sort of behaviour, but I assure you, I won't. If you have anissue, take it up with me, but back the f**k off of her, or deal with my wrath!" he snapped, and then he clapped his hands,and said “Got it?’ Everyone was all “YES ALPHA’ and then he was all serious when he said “Let's get to work! He was kindagrouchy the whole class until you showed up, and then you could see his anger just evaporated the second he saw you. Iwas kind of sweet,” She gushes.

“He's very sweet, but I don't want to cause a rift in his pack,” I admit.

“It won't. What kind of Alpha would allow that sort of treatment of his Luna?" she questions.

“Good for you for saying something to Jessica this morning, by the way. I can't stand her, but she sits at the table to beclose to Zac. She has it pretty bad for him. I saw how she looked at you, but you never seemed to let it bother you, so Ithought 1 wouldn't bring it up. On the inside, I was so happy to hear you call her out, and then Zac put her in her place. sIalways acts so sweet and nice around Zac, and the second he's not around, the true b***h comes out. She's been trying tctrick him into loving her since he got here,” she says and rolls her eyes.

“I had no idea. She better get that idea out of her head," I state.

The gym was great. For the most part, I worked out with Jenny, and the guys worked out together. I introduced them to allthe regulars at the gym. Paul asked if it was always such a “sausage fest’ in here, and I had to laugh. I explained how Marktrying to expand his clientele but for the most part, yeah. Mark was happy to see that I brought 3 friends with me today.After an hour and a half, we left. Since I had a little time before I was supposed to meet Peggy, we went to my apartmentquickly pack the last of my stuff up. Everyone came up and hung out while I packed.

Ring Ring, My cell phone goes off, and it's my Mom, Me: Hey Mom! How are you?

Mom: Hey Lo! I'm good. I woke up about half an hour ago, and I've walked all around the place, and I don't get any familiascents. I don't think they followed me.

Me: Really? That's amazing. So what's the plan?

Mom: I honestly thought they would have followed me. I talked to Julien he said he didn't get a scent either. I think theyprobably only noticed us missing at around breakfast, and by then, our scent wasn't strong enough to track. I am 6 hoursaway from you. I am going to drive 4 hours, and then stop for dinner. I'll stay for a few hours at whatever dinner 1 findmyself in, and see if after a few hours I get a scent on anyone. If not, maybe I'll make my way there, and be there tonight.Me: Sounds great. Keep me posted.

When I'm finished, the guys carry my luggage down for me, and we head downstairs to pick up Peggy and head to Pop'sdiner. At the diner, the guys sit at a table of their own, and I sit with Peggy and Jenny joins us. She swore anything saidbetween us would stay confidential. I tell them all about everything going on with Nathan, and that he’s sent out a searctparty. Jenny is very surprised to hear everything.

I tell Peggy how my mother and brother are moving here, and she’s so excited to have my Mom close by.

“50 Zac offered me a job at the daycare, and children are my first love. I told him I would stay here until you have areplacement though."

Peggy smiles, “Oh dear, you don't need to," and I cut her off.

“I think I have the perfect person for you... My mom!” Her eyes light up!

“Well if I have to replace you, your mother is the best option,” she admits.

“I thought you might feel that way,” 1 smile. We enjoy the rest of our lunch just having girl talk, and I had a better chance:get to know Jenny more. I really like her.

Zac's Point of View Knock knock “Come in," I say while doing some work for the accounting firm.

“Honey, I'm home," Lauren's sweet voice breaks the silence. I look up to see my beautiful woman, running to me with asmile. She reaches me and flings herself on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulls me into a kiss. “Mmm,”mumble.

“I missed you” she says as she pulls away.

“I missed you too,” I whisper, feeling in a little bit of a daze from her lips.

She hugs me for a minute, as I ask her about her day.

“I figured out the best solution for Peggy. My Mom can work at the bar; Peggy's thrilled about the idea, and I'm sure myMom will be too. My mom will be here tonight or tomorrow, I think. I'll let her get settled, but within a few days I should bable to start working at the daycare” she smiles.

“That's the best news. Mrs. Potter runs the daycare and does the scheduling. She said whenever you finish working atPeggy's to 20 and see her and you both can set up a schedule that works for you,” I explain.

“That's amazing!” she says, leaning in for another kiss. f**k I love her. When she pulls away she jumps off me. I groan at ttloss of contact. I want her on me, always.

“You have work to do. If I let you get distracted every day, the pack will be falling apart,” she reasons and arches a brow ame.

I smirk. “Such a good Luna,” I admit.

“Not yet. Okay, so I have about an hour or 2 to burn... put me to work. Do you have something I can help with? I'm a fastlearner,” she smiles while rubbing her hands together like she’s eager to get to work. I laugh out loud, and she smirks. “I'serious,” she booms. “Why?”

“I don't work for 5 hours, and I know you have a lot on your plate. If I can help, I want to. Also, then if I help you get workdone, it's not as bad if I stop by for a quickie once in a while,” she says while wagging her eyebrows. I find myself laughingagain.

“You don't need to help for me to stop for a quickie,” I assure her.

“In fact, I could go for a quickie... or head back home for a not so quickie?” I smile, and now I'm wagging my eyebrows.“No! You need to get some work done,” she laughs, and I groan.

I finally decide to hand her a large stack of papers that I've been meaning to file, but it keeps piling, and I keep putting itoff, and it's costing me time constantly searching through it.

“If it has a P in the top right-hand corner, its pack business, it goes in that black cabinet. If it has a Z on it, it's my businesand goes in the white filing cabinet. You'll have to go through them to see which file they go in," I explain. “Are you sure?”ask, giving her an out. It's the worst job, but it needs to be done desperately. I expect her to grumble but she smilesbroadly as she grabs the stack. She starts going through them, and working so I do the same, but I steal a glance at hermore than I'd like to admit.

After 20 minutes or so, she's finished. How did I get so Lucky to find someone who would gladly do filing, just to be able tchelp, and be near me?

“You did that way faster than I would have. That was actually extremely helpful. Thank you. You're the sweetest," I beam.“You're welcome. I'm glad to help. What else?" She asks while snapping her fingers. “You want to do more?”

“Yup, lay it on me,” she smiles. That fuckin’ smile. I just want to get out of here with her.

“Well I have something but I'm not sure you'd be up for it, but I bought an apartment building not too long ago. I had itrenovated a little, and now I have units available for rent. I have about 200 applications, and the building only has 48 uniI need to start checking references. First 48 with good references and a fully filled out application get a lease. Do you feelcomfortable calling the references people have listed, and asking about the applicant?” 1 ask.

“Sure,” she says and snatches the folder from me. “Am 1 going to distract you in here on the phone? I can take these homeshe offers. She called it home. I love that.

“I prefer for you to stay here with me."

She smiles, and then she leans down to give me a kiss, and then sits on the couch in my office and starts working. Afterabout an hour, I tell her to stop. I don't want her working all day. She has to work tonight at Peggy's, she'll be tired, but sh“Shh's’ me. Forty minutes later she stands up and brings me a stack.

“Here are your tenants, Alpha,” she grins.

“You should shred this pile; their references were not good. Maybe hang on to the rest of the stack in case some of thesefall-through,’ she suggests.

“You have 48 good references already?” I ask.

She nods and sits on my lap again. She snuggles close and I lean back, with her on my chest. After a few minutes, she getup and says she’s going to have a bath. I thank her profusely. I'm left in my office feeling the loss of her presence.

I'm so crazy about her, and I just want to drop everything and go with her. 1 force myself to get back to my accounting worbut just for a little longer. I'll cut out early soon to spend time with Lauren before she has to go to work.

Ring Ring Me: Hey Jack!

jack: Hey Man! How's it going?

Me: Good. Very good. You know that she-wolf I was talking about?

jack: Yeah you were talking about giving up on your mate for her?

Me: Yeah well it turns out, she was mated to another Alpha. He treated her like s**t, so she rejected him. We've realizedthat I'm her second chance Mate, so things have been great between us. We won't feel the full effects of the mate bonduntil after the full moon... apparently... but it's intense already. Anyways he wants her back now maybe. There may be sondrama. We will see.

Jack: s**t! Well, the drama sucks, but I'm glad she turned out to be your mate. 1 am so happy for you. You never realize homuch of a void you had in your life until you find your mate. So less than 2 days, and you'll feel it all. I'm curious if therewill be a huge difference?

[Jack and Lexi are talking]

Jack: Lexi said she’s so happy for you, and she wants to meet her. She wants to get together on Sunday. Why don't you bocome up for dinner?

Me: I want her to meet you guys too. I haven't met baby Enzo yet, either. I'm dying to too. I can't believe how much he’sgrown from the pictures in the last two weeks.

jack: Yeah I know. He basically doesn't stop eating. [He chuckles.]

Me: There's nothing wrong with a hungry boy. So how's Molly doing? Taking to the big sister role okay?

jack: She loves him. She's always doting on him. It's been great. Hold on... [he laughs]

Jack: Lexi wants me to tell you that if you mark Lauren without birth control, she’s going to get pregnant. We didn't knowthis, and that’s why we have Enzo a little sooner than planned.

Me: Really? I didn't know that. Good to know, I guess. Although we both want kids, and we're ready.

Jack: That's awesome. Crazy to think our kids will be playing together before you know it.

Me: Yeah, that's wild.

I talk to Jack for a while longer, touch on some business, and then hang up with the intention of getting together at hisplace in a few days. His pack is the closest to mine, and just a half an hour drive away. Lauren and Lexi will hit it off, I'msure of it. Lauren will be in her glory with their kids Molly and Enzo too.

I work for an hour and cut out early. Lauren should be done her bath now, and I'll spend an hour with her before dinner,and then after dinner, she has to get to work. I'll get back to work when she goes to work.

When 1 walk into our place, she’s at the island drinking a coffee, and talking to her mom on speakerphone. “Hi, joan!” I saand give Lauren a little kiss. “Hey, Zac!” “Where are you now?” I ask.

Mom: I'm about 2 hours away. I am at a restaurant, and I'll stay here for a few hours. At 6, I'l go for a nice long walk and sif I catch a scent, and if not, I think I might just head there. I'll make it there for 8:30-9 pm.

Lauren: I'm working tonight. Tl be at Peggy's until 10, so stop in there if you're not running too late. Peggy is dying to seeyou.

Mom: Oh I can't wait to see her too, it's been so long. I'l send you a text when I leave and I'm on my way there Lauren: Okay sounds good. Love you, Mom.

Me: Drive safe. See you soon!

“Are you excited to see your Mom?"

“I can't wait. Thank you for inviting them, and setting them up,” she says and pulls me into a kiss. “I want to show you jushow grateful I am. Right now,” she smirks.

“Mmm, that sounds nice,” I growl.

Nathan's Point of View “Alpha, you wanted an update on both Julien and Joan. Julien hasn't travelled that far. The phone tracker is working greatWe're keeping a 15-20 KM distance, so we aren't detected. Joan is at some restaurant 8 hours west. Julien 4 hours northeaI think he's trying to have us track him, to take the heat off of his mother. Regardless, we have a team following closebehind both. Wherever they go, we can see, as long as they have their phone with them,” Jake explains.

Wow, Joan has travelled far. I never would have found Lauren if it wasn't for Joan. “Good work”

“Thank you, Alpha. We'll get her,” he adds, as I start to feel a sharp stabbing in my chest. She is at it again. Today was abreak from yesterday. This is only the second time today. Maybe when 1 find her, she'll spread her legs like that for me. Ifnot, I'm taking it. It's the only way. She's my mate, I'm entitled to her body.