"Five years later"
Dr Tala Rue finished making the sandwiches when her mate and husband walked into the kitchen with his easy stride.
"Hi, honey," he greeted eyes glinting at the plate of sandwiches and he reached out for one hand hesitating over the plate when Tala glanced over at him.
"Touch it and you will be sleeping on the floor tonight," Tala warned him turning back to what she was doing. "They are for my students who are coming over this afternoon for a study session."
Tony Rue glared at her while the members coming into the kitchen, catching her words, laughed. "Woman, do not be threatening me in my own home," Tony scowled at her although there was no heat in his words.
Tala looked over at him and seeing the laughter in his eyes along with a hint of concern before he strolled over to her lifting her up into his arms.
Trying to maintain her stern façade, but unable to, feeling his strong arms around her, Tala laughed wrapping her arms around his neck. She flinched slightly though when she added, "It was a last-minute request and I couldn't book a study room in time."
Tony nodded his head leaning down to kiss her and they both heard the excited voices of the unmated males at the news that there would be females coming over to the house.
Tala broke the kiss to glance over her mate's shoulder seeing their excited faces, but it was the masked face of Ethan luis that held her attention his cold blue eyes watching them with an unreadable expression leaning against the doorframe. He was the oldest of the unmated males at the age of 28 and she worried about him since he seemed to be drifting through women, a new one each week. Tala sighed leaning against her mate the concern, for her pack member filtering through their mate link.
< He will be okay.> Tony mind speak.
< I hope so although I wish he would stop going through women as if they were going extinct,> Tala replied feeling Trevor's chest vibrate with laughter at her thoughts.
She closed her eyes, but still could see the coldness of Ethan eyes and her mouth tightened in anger at why.
"I want you all on your best behavior this afternoon," Tony voice echoed around the room eliciting groans, but no one would ignore an order from their Alpha, the Alpha of the Phoenix pack.
They were one of the strongest packs in the world although they were also one of the smallest packs. They mostly consisted of males which was the reason for their excitement about the young women coming over today each one waiting to meet their mates except those who were already mated and of course, Ethan.
The pack was growing as each member found their mate adding to their pack with each new addition.
"So, how many students are coming over Alpha Female?" James asked eyes bright with anticipation along with a few others.
"Six," Tala replied kissing Tony before finishing up the snacks she made. "And no Alpha Female while they are here."
"Yes, Professor," they chorused getting a glare from her while Tony laughed folding his arms over his chest.
"Best behavior," Tala warned giving each of them a steady look. "Or there will be a penalty to pay."
Groans lingered out into the hallway and Tala grinned getting a wink from Trevor who turned dismissing them with a nod.
Kala sighed turning back to the food, but she knew this afternoon wasn't going to go smooth no matter what she said to them.
An hour later, all the young women were there, and Tala looked around at them with a little frow. She shook, feeling a little put out but can say exactly why. "We will study on the patio."
She winced even as she said it knowing that the dining room would be better, but right now the dining room table was littered with pack information that Tony couldn't get cleared in time for the session.
Tala showed the way praying to the moon goddess that her members would be wise and be inside as she had told them. But of course they were playing football! Tala's mouth turned down at the seeing about five to six of the unmated males playing football out on the lawn.
Kala's eyes narrowed at the scene especially when almost all of them had their shirts off revealing their muscular, and lean, physique.
She turned to her students and immediately caught the scent of lust drifting off the women, making the knot in her stomach tighten even more. She led the way over to the table which she had already placed the snacks with covers over them to keep the flies away.
"I made snacks for this session," Tala uttered waving her hand to the table. "So, let's get stared."
Turning to the women, she noted that they were more interested in what was happening on the lawn then in her words. Tala studied them, taking in there movement and how they almost drool looking at the men but then she noticed Ember.
Ember had glanced over at the men before she shifted her gaze back to the table, Tala watched while she took a seat along with the petite redhead, Tasha, who had been standing behind her.
"Can we get started, Professor?" Ember's soft voice caught the attention of the other students who glared at her before they sauntered over to the table.
Tala studied Ember while the others got settled and realized she couldn't read the look in the young woman's eyes compared to the other young ladies' present.Tala frowned, although she had Ember in her class since the beginning of the year, she knew nothing about the young woman. In fact, the only think Tala knew for sure was that Ember was human but stayed to herself and out of trouble.
"Now, we will be going over our notes along with some material I've made for the test," Tala said loudly opening her notebook where she kept all class notes along with copies of the slides she used.
Ember and Tasha had their books opened and waiting while the others took their sweet time eyes flickering often to the men on the lawn.
Finally, after some time , Tala got started going over material and answering any questions although most of them came from Ember and Tasha who were paying attention to what Tala had to say.
Then the men started coming up on the patio getting something to drink and although the cooler for them was on the other side, it distracted Tala's students.
Tala glared at them watching them smile ruefully before darting back down to the lawn, and yet they kept coming up onto the patio knowing that they were igniting Tala's anger but also knowing she wasn't going to do anything in front of her students.
Tala tried her best to keep the groups attention on the material, but every time one of the men came up her students would start whispering and giggling disrupting the session.
She opened her mouth about to say something when Ember slammed her book closed getting everyone's attention, and she started gathering her things putting them in her bookbag.
"This is ridiculous," she uttered under her breath, and Tala gave her a surprised thoughtful look noting Tasha startled look too.
Standing up and slinging the shoulder strap over one shoulder, Ember turned brown eyes to Tala. "Thank you, Professor, but I think it would be better if I study on my own," Ember said turning to the door. "See you in class tomorrow."
"Ember." Tala called out getting up from her chair watching the young woman turn wary brown eyes to her. "I'm sorry. If you have any questions, catch me before the exam tomorrow."
Ember nodded her head, and then headed into the house heading for the front door.
Tala worried that she wouldn't remember the way, but her eyes widened briefly when the sound of a car starting up echoed from the front yard driving away a second later.
"So uptight," one of the other young women said tossing wavy blond hair over her shoulder just as Ethan stepped out onto the patio.
Tala saw the heated glance the young woman and turned her head to see Garin respond to the look a smile drifting across his face, a smile that broke Tala's heart every time she saw it.
"Study time is over. I wish you the best on tomorrow's exam," Tala stated grabbing her things glancing over at Tasha with an apologetic look only to still seeing the look in the woman's green eyes who was staring out at the men.
Following her gaze, Tala noted how still James was and his eyes, which was turning black alerted her to the fact his wolf was close to the surface. It was the expression on his face that made Tala relax, and she grinned shaking her head turning to go inside. "James can you show the ladies out to their vehicles?"
Why are you all the way over there? Tala asked heading for the door passing Ethan who was talking with the young woman who caught his attention, and Tala felt a stab of pain but unable to stop Ethan from doing what he wanted since it didn't hurt the pack.
Tala went inside heading upstairs, she relaxed when she smelled Tony's scent coming from the dining room and entering their room a few minutes later, she tossed her things on the bed. She started toward the bathroom when an overly sweet smell drifted past her room, and she stilled listening to the sound of footsteps as they continued up to the third floor where Ethan and a few of the other unmated males stayed.
She frowned closing her eyes and shaking her head. She hoped Ethan knew what he was doing because in the end someone was going to get hurt, and she just hoped it wouldn't come back to bite Ethan later.