Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
Daddy’s Innocent Mate Chapter 4

Francine

So, hell existed. And I was right smack in the middle of it, wasn't I?

"It was the most miraculous thing, Elias," Troy explained while I stood aghast at my desk. "I heard your voice call out her name." He pointed to me. "As clear as I see you now, I heard you speak."

My eyelids batted furiously like they were trying to dash something out of my eyes. "You heard my name in his heart?"

I looked at Blake, who gave me a confident and quick nod.

No, it couldn't be real. It wasn't possible. Things like this didn't happen in lives like mine, especially for a woman like me who hardly had any experience at all that wasn't a tiny vibrating bullet. My throat dried up and my lungs burned like I had inhaled ground cinnamon. I tried to breathe but it only made the feeling worse.

Betrayal, irritation, indignation-I was going through the gauntlet of the feelings I should have been feeling. But there were other things in there too, things I didn't feel ready to discuss just yet.

If ever I got around to discussing them with anyone. Let alone myself.

"Why should I be expected to follow your lead?" I asked Troy, respectfully. "No offense, Alpha Troy, but I defer to Blake."

Blake stepped forward while scanning the group of kids playing on the equipment outside. Two of them had curiously observed the classroom for a few minutes until the alphas arrived. They were no longer interested in us or what was going on in here, instead getting back into a game of tag.

Through all the trouble Elias had caused, I was grateful he hadn't started anything in front of my students or his child. That would have been a nightmare to unravel.

Blake cleared his throat to get my attention. "I'm asking that you honor this decision, Francine. You've given us so many years of service. Let this be a payment to you for your time."

"A payment?" I scoffed. "That man is hardly a sufficient payment for the things I've done for this pack."

Elias growled. "I'm not something that can be bartered or bought."

"Trust me, I have no interest in buying anything from you." I looked him up and down. The more I checked him out, the more I wanted there to be something to purchase. I shoved the feeling down with all the others, hoping it would get swallowed up by the sea of emotions. "Not in this life or the next."

"Fine."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Great."

"Absolutely fantastic, Miss Elwyn."

Troy approached the desk with his palms extended. His expression spoke of peace and understanding. As odd as it sounded, I felt compelled to hear him out-regardless of what he said to me about Elias "Miss Elwyn, I understand this is a lot to take in," he said in a low, steady voice, "but it's important for our packs to unite as one."

"I don't want to be used for repopulation."

this strange setup.

He shook his head. "I wouldn't dream of asking any of my members to do such a thing. Blake wouldn't do it either. We're simply working together to make sure our members are healthy, happy, and protected." A sigh escaped me as I nodded slowly. "Right-the bond provides certain amenities."

"Amenities?" Elias repeated.

I rolled my eyes. "Wouldn't expect a mutt like you to understand that word."

"Hey, don't insult my intelligence. I'm perfectly smart with plenty of things." He cast a glance at his alpha who whispered the definition into his ear. After a moment, he nodded. "Alright, I get it."

It was hard not to laugh. But I held my chuckles in out of respect for my audience. Blake had always been my alpha, even before he became alpha. For a lot of us, that was one of the biggest signs that he would be the next leader after his father's reign. And what I felt for Troy was nothing short of obedience and respect. So, it was much the same albeit somewhat muted in certain arenas.

If I denied Troy's leadership, then I was basically smacking Blake in the face. That wasn't on my list of things to do with my life, if I was being honest, so I had to concede. If only for the moment to avoid more chaos in the classroom. Archie squeezed past his uncle and ran to his father who grabbed his hand.

In an instant, my heart went soft. The bond between them was unmistakable. It was like that with a lot of shifters and their children-and with their families as well. I sensed there was an undying trust between them, even if Archie hadn't exactly told Elias the truth about his behavior.

I wondered how much Archie had heard since the alphas had arrived. But those worries were put to rest when Archie hopped into his father's arms and wrapped his small arms around Elias's shoulders.

My gaze locked with Elias. We stood for a while, squinting, and examining each other in ways that we hadn't yet done. Oddly enough, I felt a stronger pull while he was holding Archie. Something about this kid made me want to protect him beyond this classroom. That strange sensation had never persisted past the walls of this school. What made Archie so different?

I tugged at the white lace collar decorating my gold blouse. The long skirt I wore tickled my heels every time I turned; it was my favorite shade of indigo blue that made me think of pastel skies and open country roads. I tried not to give in to Elias and his inquisitive inspection of my face.

My eyebrows rose suspiciously. If he has any ideas about us getting together before I'm good and ready, then he can-

Troy clapped his hands. "I suppose some reflection time is needed. My members seem to appreciate a day apart to get their affairs in order." He folded his hands behind his back, eyes closing to slits with his smile as he bowed his head slightly toward me. "Miss Elwyn, why don't you head home to rest? I'd be happy to take over your class today."

"Oh, but I couldn't. I-"

He held up his hand in the gentlest manner possible. "Please, I insist. I have Archie here, and Isaiah is great with kids. Elias will be sent home as well." His attention wandered to the book tower that had been toppled. "Oh dear, it appears we have much to clean and organize, isn't that right, Archie?"

The man who could have been a tank bustled out to the playground, making the kids rowdier than they had been seconds ago. My shoulders slumped in defeat. Troy's insistence was pushing me out the door before I could even protest. Elias released Archie and Troy guided Archie to the book tower mess. Within minutes, the two were cleaning it up. At least the Bravecrest alpha was receptive to the needs of my classroom.

Once I got to the hallway, I spun around to quickly run through the routine with Troy. He listened intently the whole time as he gathered books from the ground, repeating pertinent details back to me so I knew that he knew precisely what to do and when to do it. After frantically checking on my students, I grabbed my purse and teaching folder, hoping to get some extra time this afternoon for more activity planning.

It was odd heading home at this hour. Even stranger was the way Elias trailed after me. I felt his hesitance at the entrance of the miniature school and then felt the intensity of his eyes hooked to my back as I trailed off through the neighborhood. I was so alert to his attention that it stung me in ways (and places) that I wasn't sure how to handle.

I usually didn't feel that way unless I was climbing into the tub with one of my toys. And the worst part was how much I wanted the feeling to persist, how desperately I ached for its conclusion.

What kind of man was Elias when no one was looking? And I didn't mean when other adults weren't around. I meant when he was alone with someone without any possibility of interruption. Did he have a different mode of functioning without prying eyes? Would I ever be brave enough to discover that for myself?

My heart battered the inside of my sternum and then settled into its usual pace. For a few minutes, I thought I would hit the ground with a random heart attack. The way my blood rushed through my body and coursed through my center made my cheeks flush and my breasts tingle.

So, this was arousal when somebody else caused it. Despite the fact that Elias hadn't even touched me, my entire body felt like a thousand kisses had been placed in the spaces hidden by my clothes. I skipped a bit faster through the yard, popped the back door open, and lunged for my door with my key at the ready.

Incense swirled in the hallway. I swept my fingers through the delicious cherry scent and glanced up to where I knew Laurencia was probably doing something witchy and wild. She knew plenty of things about plenty of people. Maybe she knew plenty about Elias. It seemed to be a reasonable expectation since both her friends were now the proud mates of two Bravecrests.

Being matched with Elias wouldn't be that much different by comparison. She probably had more than enough insider information-assuming she was ready to share it, of course. I didn't want to make too many assumptions, but I didn't have that many options. I often kept to myself, and people got the impression that I didn't want to be near them unless I had to be near them.

I had to suppose that wasn't entirely off base to assume.

My feet moved without prompting, and I found myself knocking on Laurencia's door before I could even consider whether or not it was a good idea to call upon the makeshift magic practitioner. While mid-thought, the door opened, leaving my knuckles hanging in the air right in front of Laurencia's smiling face.

I retracted my hand. "Hi. I live downstairs. I just-"

"You have a question for me, don't you?"

Spooky, but expected. "Yes, I was going to ask about-"

"Elias, the Bravecrest. Right?"

"Getting weirder by the second out here."

She beamed and tugged me inside like one of my students when they had something particularly important to share with me. It usually ended up being macaroni art or a completed task. But for Laurencia, it meant touring me through her hippie den filled with cones of incense, bones, protection wards, and enough gigantic pillows to turn the whole floor into a sleeping space. Considering the placement of the sheets and floor mattress, I felt safe in assuming that was exactly the intention.

"Sorry, I noticed you were home," I expressed calmly. "I smelled the cherry."

Laurencia calmly led me to a table set so close to the floor that I had to remove my Mary Jane shoes and sit with my legs crossed.

"Is it bothering you?" she asked, nodding to the incense cone. "I can put it out."

She started preparing tea. Was she expecting someone? Maybe I ought to head out. "If you're having company, I can go. I just " "You are my company."

The statement stuck me in place, forcing my hands into my lap like one of my kids when they were fidgeting too much. "Sorry."

"No need," she assured with a gentle grin. "Just tell me what's on your mind while I pour the tea."

My nose twitched at the familiar scent of chamomile and lemon. Already it felt like I was being soothed by her company. Which was a nice change of pace to being alone. "You probably heard the news already about Elias and me, right?" She hummed an affirmative sound.

"He's just..." I rubbed my shoulder. "Well, he's a brute. He's annoying. He thinks he knows better than me, and I just hate that so much. I hate how much it makes me want to nail him down." "Literally or figuratively?"

I tossed my hands in the air in defeat. "Both! Or neither. I don't know. Every time I'm around him, I just feel this weird sense of agitation and arousal. Like he turns me on, but he also turns me off. I don't get it."

She smirked. "Sounds like he's doing a number on you."

"More than that."

"Bravecrest men have a habit of being annoying. Take it from Jada and Skye."

I studied her carefully. "What about you? Any experience with them?"

Her eyes went wide. "Oh, none at all. I was just speaking on behalf of my friends. I mean, not that I can speak entirely for them. I'm just saying that those boys have caused plenty of trouble with women over here."

I shook my head. "Is this Blake's idea of uniting the packs? Is that why he keeps setting these things up?"

"I was under the impression that Alpha Troy had announced your pairing with Elias."

"He did."

She sighed thoughtfully. "Maybe there's something to that."

"I'm not so sure."

"Are you listening to your heart?"

That inquiry made me rear back an inch. There was enough space for the reaction although there wasn't exactly anywhere else to go in the cramped apartment. Every bit of space available had been stuffed with something-a chair, a bookshelf, comic books, magic supplies, a giant cauldron-and I didn't think I would make it back to the door without tripping over one of those silky blankets or pillows. Or both.

I hung my head. "I've witnessed the miracle of those bonds, how they bring people together."

"Francine, do you believe yourself unworthy of such a miracle?"

"How can you ask me that?"

She touched my shoulder lightly. "Because you seem like you're doubting yourself."

"I'm not doubting me. I'm doubting him. How can he possibly make me happy when he's always criticizing my teaching abilities and my knowledge?"

"Do you do the same to him?"

Now that was a silly question. Because both packs were heatedly aware of how much Elias and I argued when important things were happening. Elias couldn't help himself either. He just had to insert himself in whatever project I was organizing. Whether it was a school play, a fundraiser, a presentation, or a new after-school club, he had his fingers in it.

Annoyingly enough, he was everywhere that I could be. Was that why Troy had chosen us as a pair? Because we were already together all of the time?

Laurencia slid a mug of tea over to me. "I'll take that as a yes."

"Well, I didn't say-"

"You didn't have to. It was written all over your face."

I huffed while lifting the mug. "I'm just annoyed by this whole thing."

"I think that's a normal reaction to have. Jada felt the same. And Skye after her."

"It's just...I can't imagine being with him."

She chuckled lightly. "At least your families aren't enemies or something."

"Do you think it's weird to be paired with someone?"

Laurencia sipped her tea with the same grace and thoughtfulness she'd displayed with everything she did-like yanking me into her apartment. Which I had to suppose was less about grace and more about timeliness.

She set her mug down and shrugged. "I think plenty of things are weird that other people think are normal."

"But what about the mate stuff?"

"I can't answer that for you, Fran."

I sighed. "Can you give me any advice?"

She hopped up before I could even finish the sentence and ran off to one of her many bookshelves. After sifting through a multitude of items that included a rabbit skull, she returned with a white candle and a piece of parchment that had a few sentences scribbled on it. "Light this candle for clarity," she explained as she set the items in front of me, "and then say this prayer."

"In that order?"

She smiled. "In any order you feel is necessary."

How about none of the above? I thought. Is there a spell to hide me from this whole situation?

She giggled and then helped me up from the ground. "Now I am expecting someone else soon. Let's get you back to your place so you can reflect like the alpha suggests."

"How did you know he-?"

"See you later, Francine!"

The door shut in my face and the smell of incense cut off just as fast as my conversation with Laurencia. She had given me her advice and then shoved me out the door-which I guessed was just her special way of awkwardly ending our time together. But if she wasn't worried about the mate pairings, then maybe I shouldn't worry either. Her friends had both been successful in obtaining happiness. I could do the same thing.

Right?