Silvers Alpha (The Silver Series)

by Samantha Bates

  "Why not?"

  With him so close, she couldn’t recall why it wouldn’t work. She was so caught up in his emotions she wasn’t sure what her own emotions were. "Ben you will want things from me that I can't give you."

  "I doubt that. I just want you, nothing more nothing less, but surprise me, what can't you give me?"

  "Children for one, you are the Alpha surely you will want children." She was clutching at straws, trying to grab onto anything that would make him see sense.

  "I am not going to lie to you Lucky, I do want children but it wouldn't be the end of the world. I am sure the thought of children must be scary though you would be a wonderful mother. We have all the time in the world to deal with these things."

  As Ben put his arms around her, she felt herself lean into him placing her head against his chest. "I am not scared Ben, and we don't have all the time in the world. I am human so I will age a lot quicker than you."

  "No you won't, when we are mated you will age as I do." Crap she hadn't thought of that, so now what did she say? He didn’t understand, he was seeing things through rose tinted glasses. He didn’t know enough about her to say these things.

  "The thing is Ben; do you know how I know I am not your mate? A mate would be ready for all of this and would be free to come to you. I am not."

  With a deep breath she could feel her frustration building. She had only just met him; she had not intended to tell him about her personal life. When she had left her husband she had made an agreement to herself, she would never let a man impact on her life.

  "God damn it Ben I already have children." It just came out, it wasn’t meant to; he had pushed her to this point. Smiling triumphantly she felt him stiffen, and as she looked up he looked down into her eyes. She waited for her words to sink in, his understanding of why this would not work.

  "Do you now?"

  Although she saw shock, after a brief period of silence he surprised her again. "That's okay, a surprise but okay. I have a little experience with the pups here. I am great with the boys; but only because we don't seem to have many female children."

  For god's sake, when would he stop? Her voice was getting higher with every minute.

  "Oh well that's just great Ben, I am so pleased that everything is OKAY. You need to realise that I love my children very much and there is no way I would keep this from them, nor would I make a decision like this without their input and agreement. They would have to want to be here and if you think that you are good with boys, you had better start getting in some practice with girls."

  She was angry now, although she couldn’t fathom why. No longer did she hear the birds singing, no more was she looking at this beautiful house, all she could hear was him not listening.

  She could hear Sylvia trying not to laugh; Ben looked over her head, frowning at his mother. "Sorry I know you probably want to be alone and I am trying to be quiet, but this is just too good to miss. I think Ben has forgotten to ask a few questions, like how many children, their ages and gender. You know how it is, just a few interesting ones?"

  "Mom, would you mind leaving?" Despite all of the drama around them, she quite liked Sylvia. She was honest and true, uncomplicated, a rarity in modern society.

  "I most certainly would and I couldn't do that to Lucky. Sorry Ben, but I promised to take her home if she wanted me to, so I really do need to stay." Lucky almost laughed at her, true and honest was one thing, someone who loved gossip was also a trait she could see in Sylvia.

  Ben knew his mother was enjoying this. He was normally calm and collected but right now he was starting to feel desperate.

  "Your mom is right Ben; you do need to know these things. I have four children, a 15 year old, a 13 year old, as well as 10 year old twins, and they are all girls. Me and their father are divorced but are still really good friends. Are you sure about the, ooooh lets all move in together? Can you imagine five females moving into your home, they would take over in a matter of minutes?"

  "I think its sounds fun." For the first time she saw anxiety on his, having felt the range of emotions coarse through Ben, she knew that he didn't doubt them as a couple, no that would have been too easy. Ben had no experience with teenage girls and that was his doubt. There was a loud almost deafening bang, which could only have been the front door falling off its hinges. No sooner had the thought occurred to her than a giant of a man came into the kitchen.

  "Damn it Sylvia what is going on, you said five minutes and then you would leave, that was forty minutes ago. Give them space."

  Sylvia burst out laughing while she stroked his arm. "I am sorry Ley but this is such good fun, come join me."

  "Mom." Ben's tone was trying to get rid of his mom.

  "Of course how rude of me, Lucky this is Leyland, Ben's father. Leyland this is Lucky." Ben looked to his father who seriously was a mountain of a man. Lucky was amused when Sylvia stopped him from interrupting her.

  "No don't speak Ben, let me please?" That was without doubt a rhetorical question because Sylvia barely took a breath before she continued.

  "Right Ley let me bring you up to speed. She is the lost mate and Ben made a mess of explaining it to her. I wonder where he gets that skill from. Anyway she is now explaining why she isn't Ben's mate."

  Leyland looked at Lucky and nodded; she couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated. That was until she felt the kindness that radiated inside of him. Lucky had no doubt that he could be dangerous, hell, the man must be closer to seven feet than six. His shoulders were the size of a bus and his ear length, long, brown hair which seemed to fall near his eyes drawing your attention. Whereas Ben had lovely sea blue eyes, Leyland's were such a light blue they were spooky, almost ghost like.

  "Nice to meet you Lucky and you are Ben's mate."

  "Wait Leyland it gets really good here, she is more than capable of taking Ben on. She has a job that I know nothing about yet, but we are going to get to that. She is divorced and this bit is marvellous, she already has four children and they are all girls. Can you imagine Ben living with teenage girls?"

  With his eyebrow raised in his look of surprise, Leyland looked from Lucky to Ben and then sat down at the kitchen table next to his wife.

  "Don't mind me, carry on." Already Lucky could see the devotion in Leyland's eyes when he looked at Sylvia. Seeing this Lucky questioned her resolve, could having someone look at her in adoration like that be that bad? Oh this was bad; she could feel her mind swaying with every tug of her heart.

  "Seriously dad, you're not going to leave?" Now Ben like Lucky was exasperated albeit for different reasons, well good for him.

  "I am definitely staying son. I need to keep your mother under control and it will be nice to see you flustered."

  "I don't know what you think is funny, I don't see a problem in any of this." Turning to Lucky he smiled and made his tone light. "So what if you have children. I agree they will need to agree to be here, they should be your top priority. Even if they don't want to come, I am sure that over time I can convince them to be here. If they are your top priority it just means that they are now my top priority, next to you of course. To make you happy I will need to make them happy."

  For Ben this is where his doubt came in. Would he be able to make them happy? He wasn't sure how you convinced girls of anything. Clearly if this conversation was any way to judge hom, he would need practice. Shopping he could take them shopping, but he wasn't sure that he could spend a day shopping? Or could he get away with just paying the bill? Damn other than his mother he didn’t even know who he could ask and judging by today he wouldn’t be asking her any time soon.

  "We don't need protecting Ben. They have a good father and I can take care of us all." She was not taking any crap from some Alpha male.

  "That remains to be seen."

  "And what does that mean?" Lucky was starting to get pissed off with him, what did it take to ruffle this guy, how was he always calm and in control?

  "Let's come to this j
ob of yours Lucky, you say you can protect them and you, well I am not the one with the split lip am I? So let's talk about that."

  Lucky was suddenly feeling apprehensive, for some reason she didn't think, he would like her answer. Well screw him, he would have to like it, but maybe she could deal with this later. "I think we should deal with the other stuff first, there's no point in getting off subject Ben."

  "Why does this feel like a distraction? What is it exactly that you do?"

  Looking at Sylvia and Leyland, she knew they were waiting. Mumbling Lucky slipped some words out. "I am a police officer."

  "Sorry did you say police officer?" Ben's heart raced at the mere thought. Why couldn't she be something safe say a florist, or a nurse? He was certain some god up there, was just sat laughing his socks off at his plight.

  No time like the present for an explosion, Lucky had never been one to take the cowards way out. Standing tall and proud she dropped the bomb. "I am a police officer in the Paranormal Task force."

  "Like hell you are…. Shit your serious aren't you?" Not waiting for an answer Ben started pacing the room.

  "Someone is taking the piss out of me, well not anymore. Let me think, we have lots of jobs here, pick one, any of them and it's yours, name the salary and it's yours."

  He was actually being serious; did he honestly think it was that simple? Was he honestly that much of a control freak? Well if they had any future he would need to change that attitude and quickly. There she went again, thinking of the possibilities.

  "I don't think so, I like my job I am good at it, and it's important to Me."

  Ben felt his heart rate increase, the wolf prowled inside of him with the need to protect her from harm. He started ranting at anyone listening to him.

  "There is no way you can stay doing that job, god damn it, it's too dangerous. Shit my closest friend is part of the PTF, they don't put safety first. I told Darius the same thing when he agreed to join them and do you know how safety conscious they are? They partnered him with a fucking human, Darius might be a vampire but how the fuck is a human going to protect him? No matter how good he says she is, she's a liability but will he listen? Fuck no."

  She turned to leave before she killed him and right now that was a distinct possibility. Ben put his hand on her shoulder to stop her, a big mistake. Grabbing his wrist she twisted it and flipped him onto his back, closing her foot over his neck, Lucky felt all her confusion and annoyance follow.

  "I am not a liability to Darius and never have been." Releasing him she turned to Sylvia. "I would like to go home now please."

  Ben was still on the floor stunned, as she left he wasn't quite sure what had happened? His father was laughing so hard that Ben was surprised that he wasn't on the floor with him.

  Chapter 11

  Lucky was seething for the whole journey back to her house. What sort of antiquated ideas did the ass have? She could see Sylvia stealing quick glances at her.

  "You do know that he is a good man, despite how much of an idiot he acts, he has always been very protective. I have to say you sure did handle him. I haven't had so much fun in a long time. The way you flipped him, well I don't think I have ever seen that happen. Damn you are going to have to teach me that, it might work on Nicky. Are you really partnered with Darius?"

  In spite of how difficult this morning was proving to be Lucky couldn't help but laugh. Sylvia was an incredibly likeable person, and Lucky knew where Ben got his unflappable nature from. It would probably take an earthquake to rile her up, in reality Lucky suspected that it would take something small but significant to rile Sylvia, if someone hurt someone she cared for, Lucky didn’t doubt Sylvia would be a ferocious adversary.

  "Sylvia I know he does not mean to be an ass. Believe me; I know exactly what he is feeling. That is one of the reasons that I am partnered with Darius."

  "I am not sure that I am following you?"

  "I am an empath, I feel what other people's emotions. I might be human but Darius and I work well together."

  "Oh I know that you and Darius work well together, he has been very complimentary about your skills. Wow an empath, I imagine it must be really hard to carry the burden of everyone's emotions."

  "It was when I was a child, as I got older it became easier to channel it. Now when I need to I can dampen it down, except when my emotions are heightened." Lucky had gotten used to her gift and by puberty she had managed to control her gift.

  "Darius has talked about you, mainly to argue with Ben but he respects you a lot."

  "How do you know…. Why?"

  "Oh didn't you know? Darius lives on pack land, he and Ben have been friends for a long time, at one time they actually shared a house, now that was interesting and dirty. Ah now we are here what will you do? You are going to speak to him aren't you? I think you and your girls will be a wonderful addition to the family."

  Lucky knew that Sylvia genuinely felt that and for some reason this made Lucky feel a little better. Sylvia would be a lovely addition to her own family; it was just the others that she wasn’t so sure about. The car was on her street, engine running while Lucky dropped her head into her hands.

  "I will speak to him but on my terms. I need to speak to the girls first and my ex-husband, we are still close and this will impact on him."

  Sylvia handed her Ben's mobile number. "For when you think he has suffered enough and just to help you, I will tell him exactly what he did wrong don't worry."

  "Thank you." As Lucky turned to leave Sylvia enveloped her in warm arms, it reminded of her of her mother who she missed so the hug was a welcome comfort.

  "I always wanted a daughter and grandchildren, I am sure you have your own mother but I really am excited at the thought of having you all in our lives."

  ********************

  As Lucky relaxed in a nice hot bath, her thoughts kept going back to Ben and last night. There was more than a spark between them, she wouldn’t try and deny that. When they were together it just felt right, but could she truly give everything up? Towelling off she heard the front door open at the same time that the shouting and arguing begin, hey the girls were home.

  Putting on her dressing gown Lucky decided to take the first step, in sorting out this mess in her head. It was time to talk to Phil, she knew they were fortunate to have had an amicable divorce, it was time to see how amicable. He had moved on so hopefully it wouldn’t be too difficult.

  Any decision she made about Ben would need his input, she could hear Amy down there talking to the girls. In her late twenties, Phil's new girlfriend was a fair bit younger than them both, she had her owned a beauty salon making her an instant hit with the girls, and also saved Lucky a small fortune in treatments. The arrangement seemed to work well, rather than have a set roster for their time with the girls it was quite flexible. Lucky had been surprised at how maturely Amy managed the arrangements considering how young she was.

  As usual chaos had descended downstairs, noise vibrating through what was tranquillity only a few moments previously.

  "Hey ladies how was the weekend?" Everyone started answering at once. "Woah give me a minute, can you all sort out your washing, give me and your dad a few minutes and then I am all yours?"

  "Do you need me to leave Lucky?" Amy was as usual looking flawless as only beauticians are, with her shoulder length, blonde bob there was not a hair out of place and her make-up was without a doubt amazing. Lucky didn’t know how she did it. "Of course not I am sure this will impact on you as well."

  She briefly explained everything that happened minus the sexual details. It didn't matter how amicable the divorce was, Phil was never going to be that magnanimous. However Phil was extremely nice about it, but then he was a genuinely friendly guy. His architecture company was doing well; he had Amy in his life and seemed genuinely happy, which made Lucky happy for him.

  "I am not sure what to say, I have worked with a couple of the guys in Silver Construction. They were good guys who worked hard,
and the pack is really important to them. I think it's a different way of life. The thing is I trust your judgement and will support you as long as you and the girls are happy. I wouldn't rush things though, and I would like to meet this Ben but if he is going to treat you all well, then I wouldn't object."

  Sometimes Phil was so sweet and she gave him a hug. He was one of her closest friends and she felt calmer knowing she had his support. If Phil hadn’t supported this, it would have given her an easy way out. At 6 feet, Phil was tall and thin, he had always kept his blonde hair short and he was as usual impeccably dressed. Theirs had been a close relationship but Phil was just not enough for her, she knew it was unfair to stay with him. There was no spark between them and eventually she had started to see him in the same way as she saw her brother. When she ended it, Phil didn't complain he just accepted it like everything else in his life. Phil liked to glide through life, everything needed to be predictable.

  Amy came to stand with Phil showing a united front, she was ideal for him. "Why don’t we step back a little to give you time to get to know this Ben guy, but we are there if you need us."

  After Amy and Phil left them the girls watched a movie while she read a magazine. Unbeknown to her the room went silent and she looked up to see the movie on pause and four expectant faces looking at her.

  "So spill, what's up with you mom?" Beth was the oldest and at fifteen she was looking more like her father every day, with her tall, stick like figure she was waifish, and definitely into her fashion. Beth was constantly having her already blonde hair streaked even lighter. She had Lucky's eyes and flawless skin which made her a striking girl. Lucky was proud of Beth, she was doing well at school and her current career of the week was Interior Design, although Lucky was certain this was yet another passing phase. Like her father she was an incredibly kind girl, she would always help others although she was a little self-absorbed at times. Unlike her father where Phil was predictable, Beth was lively and challenging.

  "Sorry sweetheart I missed that."