The steaming couple was either having sex there or had finally left, so either way it should be fine to walk by there again. I was perfectly fine being the person to tell them to behave and put their clothes back on.
I’d gotten enough practice it didn’t feel awkward any longer.
“Of course.” Braun kissed my head, letting me process my options but not looking stressed enough about the situation for my liking.
After a few minutes, I found at least a few thoughts and questions. “I know it sounded like I was teasing before…and probably judging…and I might’ve been doing both, but we’re going to come back to it logically. You’re…some kind of word like excited…about the idea of confronting him. I think that’s a biological difference between us and also has something to do with being Alpha.”
He nodded.
Good grief.
I’d mated an Alpha from a romance novel after all.
“I understand it’s not something you’re familiar with, but think of it like a very well-trained soldier getting to use his skills.” Braun’s cautious response said he’d used his time wisely. “We’re wired to be more aggressive which is why we try to burn off energy in more productive ways…like Emeric running around all the time and why the high school has a ton of extra gym classes kids can take.”
That made sense.
“Some of the kids stay after the regular hours to take additional gym classes. I’d thought it had something to do with Southern competitiveness when it comes to sports, but this makes sense.” And probably explained why some of my students were wigglier than even ADHD could explain.
“Some of us just need the extra movement to make sure we behave.” He flashed me a grin as he started swinging my hand like he was a kid. “Like going on walking dates with our mate.”
Trying not to laugh, I raised on eyebrow. “So moving the rest of my stuff this morning wasn’t enough exercise for you?”
He shrugged.
Okay, mental note…Braun needs more exercise than he’s been getting lately.
“Part of your training to be Alpha was fighting?” It seemed obvious in some ways but it was so removed from my life it was almost like a fantasy.
But he nodded.
“And logically I think part of you would like to handle this now so we don’t take it back to the pack and Emeric.” We’d managed to keep a lot of it from him, but if this kept up it wouldn’t be possible.
“Yes. Having more of the pack around would technically make a bigger impression on him, but it’s not necessary. He’s not Alpha and he’s not that bright.” Braun was smart enough to wince when I shot him a look. “It’s not rude if he’s stupid and evil. It’s only rude if he’s a nice guy.”
That was terrible justification.
“We’ll come back to that.” Because I’d never thought of the problem before and wasn’t prepared for a moral debate on it. “I think I need to leave this decision up to you, but I need clear instructions about how to stay out of the way.”
I was not going to be one ofthosecharacters.
“Alright, then we’re going to turn right up at the next intersection. Do you remember that green space we walked past that I said was up for sale?” When I nodded, he continued to talk through his plan. “Remind me later to ask what kind of shops we might need that you haven’t seen because I could get it for a good deal, but we’re going to stop there. You’re going to stand by one of the walls with a friend of the pack who’ll keep you safe.”
My life had gotten very strange.
“The guy will only intervene if the idiot does something stupid like come after you. He’s not supposed to attack you if he’s using actual pack law, but he doesn’t seem to know the laws.” That seemed to bother Braun more than the actual confrontation.
“Thank you for planning for his bad decisions.” The man from the other pack wasn’t making good ones already, so we could probably count on him making more bad ones. “Your goal is to get information and to make him leave?”
He wasn’t going to kill that idiot in the middle of town, was he?
“Ideally information and him leaving, yes.” Braun would’ve made me happier if he’d have still been grinning. “I’m not going to limit myself to what might happen, though. He’s come here to take Emeric. If he’ll kidnap a child, what else will he do?”
“I agree but playing Devil’s Advocate…do you think he actually understood he was going to kidnap Emeric?” His behavior had been odd, but how much did that excuse?
“That’s what’s giving me pause about saying what I’ll do.” Braun stopped as we got to the green space and kissed my head again. “I don’t want to kill him if he’s been lied to and can be reasoned with.”
But…
