Trouble Brewing

SPENCER

“You ready to go, cowboy?”

We were getting ready for another game, and domestic life was suiting me well. It was like everything was slotting into place, and I was excited.

Levi had been training as hard as usual, but it was his trick shots that he found pride in, always looking at the how-to videos on my phone, then practicing until he mastered it.

He was just as driven as my sweet cheeks. Harper came screaming into the room; she had awoken late due to last night’s strenuous activity and was flustered and rushed.

“Have you seen my bra?” She had a fluffy towel wrapped around her top half as she raced around my kitchen searching for her clothing.

“I think I threw it behind the lamp,” I replied with a goofy smile on my face.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Don’t look at me like that. If we are late for his surprise birthday party because we were late to the game, I’m blaming you.”

“Sweet cheeks, you don’t need a bra. You know I’m just going to rip it off you later.”

“Rip what off?” Levi comes waltzing in with his shoes on the wrong feet.

“Nothing,” we chimed back at the same time.

“Cowboy, your shoes are on the wrong feet.” He looked down and then slapped his forehead.

“Oh, I didn’t know I had done that.”

I helped him right them before buckling Leivon in my truck.

I whistled to Rusty, who came bounding round from the back of the house and leaped onto the tray of my pickup. I clipped his leash on so he couldn’t jump off and started the car.

Harper flew out through the front door, before halting and turning back to lock it. I laughed at her frazzledness as she jumped in. “Don’t…,” she warned, “it’s your fault I couldn’t find it.”

“Couldn’t find what, Mommy?”

Her eyes grew wide and her shoulders raised.

“My socks, honey.”

I chuckled as she slapped me playfully on the arm. “C’mon, let’s go, we have a game to win.”

***

Everyone had taken a shine to both of them. Dad and Mom had started coming to Levi’s games and Clade would alternate between dates, bringing a different woman every time, to show off how good he was at soccer.

We had been staying at my house a lot and Mom had asked if she could watch Levi for us tonight, so we could have a chance to be alone.

I wanted to be honest with her and tell her what I was, tell her that I loved her, that I loved Levi and hopefully, by the end, she would be marked and officially mine forever.

Well, that was the dream, let’s hope it actually goes as smoothly as I wanted.

Dad’s phone chirped. I focused my hearing and listened in.

~Beta, I know you’re at the game right now so I’ll make this quick.~

~We have trouble. Pack meeting at four. I know you three have the little human’s birthday today. Use your job as an excuse for an early exit.~

Alpha hung up as Dad and Mom both turned in my direction. I nodded in understanding. Shit, this couldn’t have come at a worse time.

With The Fast Feet on the field, and Harper none the wiser next to me, I was mentally going over every possibility in my head.

Trouble… trouble usually meant Hunters in our vicinity. They were murderous bastards, the reason behind why so many wolves remained mate-less. Their need for blood was merciless and I had to protect my growing family.

The problem with Hunters was, they came from a distinct human bloodline. They were bred for the eradication of my kind and they didn’t care if you were human or not.

They would kill on sight, no questions asked.

This would arouse suspicion within Harper, disappearing before our date, but I had to trust the bond we had been creating, trust that it was stronger than my withholding the truth.

“Hey, you okay?” She knocked my shoulder with hers, gaining my attention. “I feel like I can feel your mind ticking over, weird huh?”

I smiled at her unconvincingly and she frowned back. The etheric strings were already woven. If she could sense my feelings already, then our mate bond was definitely taking effect.

“What’s wrong?”

I turned away, looking out over the field to Levi, who was running for the ball. I collected her hand in mine and ran my thumb over the back of her knuckles before bringing her hand to my lips and kissing it gently.

“Spencer?” I could hear the tone of worry in her voice. “What is it?”

I looked over to her. God, she was beautiful, her light brown orbs would shine in the sunlight, her dark blonde hair was so soft, like silk, and she always smelled like honey glaze.

Her body, both naked and clothed, left me weak and yearning to touch, to glide my fingers over every inch of her.

My silence as I stared at her in awe had her eyes tearing up.

“Don’t cry, sweet cheeks,” I said softly, wiping away a delicate tear with the pad of my thumb.

“Are we over? Is that the reason for your sudden mood change?” I had to hold back the smile trying to break free.

“Oh god, I knew this was too good to be true,” she yanked her hand away from me, trying hard to keep her voice low and her emotions under control, so as not to cause a scene.

All of this was highly amusing to me, she jumped to conclusions without me saying anything.

“I fall in love with you and you do this, on my son’s birthday…at his fucking football game…”

All blood suddenly drained from my face.

“You love me?” I whispered.

Her face scrunches as more tears fall from her breathtaking eyes before she closes them and shakes her head side to side indicating a no.

I smile watching her bottom lip quiver. I move so fast she has no chance to get away, forcing her body back on the bench seat.

“Get off me,” she spits.

“Harper Maddox, do you love me?”

My sudden movements had caused heads to turn, but I couldn’t care less, she had just told me she loved me.

“Not now I don’t.” I smile widely, “stop fucking smiling you asshole.”

“I love you too.”

“But-but-you were just…”

“No, you jumped to that conclusion on your own. I was actually just thinking about when the right time to tell you how I felt.” I bit my bottom lip harshly, wanting to kiss her so badly.

“We’re not over?”

“No. You love me?” I pushed again.

She huffed, rolling her eyes and then she covered her face with her hands, “oh my god.”

“Harper Maddox, I am going to ask you one last time… Do you love me?”

“Yes,” she cried out from behind her hands, dropping them exasperatedly, “Yes, Spencer, I love you.”

I smashed my lips against hers with feverish need, devouring her as though I would never get another opportunity like this again.

I pulled up and held my forehead against hers, wisps of breath fanning our puffy lips. “I love you too, sweet cheeks.”

***

As we entered Mom’s diner after The Fast Feet lost their first game, Levi was feeling pretty bummed.

I know we aren’t meant to keep score but he did, in his head, and I felt awful about it.

Rusty technically wasn’t allowed in due to food regulations, so he sat just inside the doorway with a bowl of water and some treats. He was very well trained and knew who was in charge—me and my wolf.

Once we were inside, his whole team, Clade, Dad, Mom and some of the other townsfolk, jumped up from their hiding spots and yelled, “SURPRISE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Levi’s little face lit up like fireworks, his solemn mood well forgotten and in its place stood the face of the happiest eight-year-old in the world.

My heart swelled, this was exactly what I had been wanting, he was my pup, no matter what the DNA stated, I made a promise to myself right then and there that I would be the name, under father, on his birth certificate.

He would no longer be Leivon Maddox. No, he will be Leivon Marcelo.

“You got it, Mom?” I questioned as the kids munched out on party treats. The music was blaring, so I had to somewhat raise my voice.

“In the kitchen, son,” she hollered back.

I made my way into the kitchen. When I poked my head out through the doors, Dad was the first to spot me. “Okay Levi,” he bellowed, gaining everyone’s attention.

“Cowboy, Spencer has a surprise for you. Close your eyes.”

From the first time I met them, I had noticed how his eyes lingered on other kids with bikes.

He asked Harper once. It was heartbreaking to watch his mom explain to him they couldn’t afford it and she was sorry.

That night, Harper left the bed. I watched as she went over their budget, and when I asked what she was doing, she replied, “trying to figure out how I can afford to get Levi a bike for his birthday”.

It was sad to witness the way she tore herself apart over simple things she simply couldn’t afford…but I could, and I was going to make damn certain our pup got everything he wanted in life.

Harper had a curious face as she watched me walk out from the kitchen. It was something so simple and so small, but it meant the world to him.

He was a great kid, he deserved to have some happiness in his life. Her hand went to her mouth as she gasped, tears gathering in her eyes. “Alright, cowboy, this one’s from your mom and me.”

Levi opened his eyes and there in front of him stood a Wethepeople Arcade Black and Green BMX.

The little lad squealed, placing his tiny hands over his eyes, rubbing them as if he wasn’t seeing what he actually was.

He jumped up off the chair and ran into me, “Thank you, coach, thank you so much.”

He ran into his mom, who was sitting there like a stunned mullet, “Thank you, Mom,” he screamed, before coming back and hopping on top of it.

I walked over and sat beside Harper with a smile as big as the ocean— it felt so good to see how happy he was, it felt good to make my family happy.

“What did you do?” she was choked up and the teardrops littered her cheeks.

“I told you, you’re mine, you and Levi. I take care of what’s mine.”

She leaped into my arms and smashed her lips against my own— a growl erupted from my chest the moment her tongue slipped into my mouth and caressed mine gently.

“I love you, Spencer, I love you so much.”

“Just remember these words, remember this feeling, because if I ever do something you don’t like or disagree with, I want you to remember you love me.”

She slightly frowned. Yes, it was an odd thing to say under the circumstances but when I show her the other side of me, I want her to remember I am this man, no matter what form I take.

“Mom…” Levi knocks into us at full speed, “I’m so happy we moved here, I’m so happy we found Spence. Thank you, Mom, thank you for the best birthday ever.”

As he ran away, Harper didn’t care who was in the room, or who was watching. We had kept most of our affection private, but today she had been more than willing to show everyone just how much she cared.

Harper swung around, her legs astride my hips, and ground her denim-clad pussy into my awakening soldier as she kissed me with fervent needy lust, sending the tongues of the other soccer moms wagging.

She was ready to fuck, and so was I, my lips nipped and suckled at her throat.

“I want you, right now, right this very second,” she sensually purred in my ear.

The only problem was, we were in broad daylight and at her son’s eighth birthday party.

We hear a deep clearing of the throat, and both of us look up to see Dad standing there with an amused look on his face.

“Sorry, Harper, Deputy Spencer and I have some sheriff business to attend to, you understand.”

She paled, looking back at me flashing her an apologetic look. “Today?”

I ran my fingers through her hair. “Sweet cheeks, I’m sorry, something’s come up on a case we are working on, I’ll be back in time for our date, I promise.”

She just nodded and slid off me, I could see the disappointment on her face, “Harper…”

“Go, just go, the quicker you go the faster you’ll be back, right?”

I stood up, adjusting my front, then leaning over and kissing her cheek.

“Wear something sexy,” I whispered before falling into step behind Dad as we exited.

Shit, this better really be trouble—because if it isn’t, I’m going to be pissed.