Chapter 32 Lessons
Diesel’s POV
It was just before dawn and the flames in the fireplace flickered. I sat quietly in the armchair in our bedroom while Lucy was still sleeping. She seemed a little tired last night, so we went to bed early after dinner to give the newly mated couples alone time.
I couldn’t have selected a better mate for my sister and was happy to have Max with us. They were the perfect fit for each other. I can’t help but wonder what Ranger’s reaction will be when he finds out. We haven’t always been like this. Growing up Ranger and I were close; we did everything together. On his eighteenth birthday, we got the same chest and arm tattoos, I was only sixteen at the time. After Ranger got his wolf, we grew apart and he became obsessed with the Alpha role he would soon inherit from our father.
Once I turned eighteen and finally had Duke, everything changed. I was not only stronger than Ranger, but also discovered my elemental gift. Instead of seeing me as a strong asset to the pack, Ranger became more and more insecure. My father helped me train my element and Ranger’s resentment continued to grow.
Obsessed with strength and power, Ranger pushed me away, just as he did our father and Lucy. I replayed the information over and over in my head that Max shared with us yesterday when the ladies went to the dress
fitting.
Ranger was still not able to shift, and Rex had cut him off after losing his mate. I’ve heard of this happening
mate. He was so desperate for before, but it’s rare, when a human and wolf do not feel the same about more power that he wanted a strong Luna. What he failed to see was that the Moon Goddess had already given him a mate even stronger than he was and he broke her. Ranger never deserved Lucy. Hell, I’m not even
sure I do!
His loss of Rex has consumed him so much he hardly leaves his office. Max confirmed that Ranger sent patrols out to look for her at other packs and as far south as California, but had no luck tracking her. Max had no knowledge of a million dollar bounty placed on Lucy and rogues hunting her. But it certainly doesn’t clear Ranger, he could have still been behind it and not told Max.
I filled him in on the unusual rogue activity in the area and the note left in my office. Security had been beefed up and even though I’m sure Lucy could defend herself; she was always with either my father, Payton or myself. I was not going to risk anything happening to my mate. Max had also given me greater details of how Lucy was abused and treated at Dark Moon. Most people treat dogs with more care than Lucy was given. I was personally going to pay Ursa a visit, she was not going to live beyond the new year!
I also considered challenging Ranger and overthrowing him. He does not deserve to be Alpha and with nex gone, he would soon have others challenging him. It might even be fun to watch Lucy challenge him for Alpha and take the pack. I decided to give this more thought after the new year.
I heard Lucy turning and tossing, she was mumbling in her sleep again. I walked over to the bed and she had her hand over her stomach. “Please be okay, please be okay.” She cried. She was having another nightmare about being in the hole. I laid next to her and held her to my chest, and she calmed right down. I stroked her beautiful long hair and inhaled her scent. Strange, the vanilla scent seemed to be much sweeter, not that I minded.
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Two hours later, we were seated at the breakfast table in the dining hall and Lucy sat on my lap. She hardly ate breakfast. Max was excited to see how far Lucy had come along in her elemental training, so she invited him to her lesson today with my father.
After breakfast we met my father at the northern end of our territory with Payton and Max. My father would light a match and with the single flame, she practiced her basic warmups. She casted tall flaming walls, large circle rings of fire and throwing large balls of fire. Her fire was hot enough to incinerate metal.
eaf on a branch without burning the Her lesson today was on targeted control, such as burning a single leaf on a branch without burning the whole branch. My father was instructing her on target focus when Max asked a good question. “If Lucy is also a descendent from Apollo, who is the sun God, could she possibly create a flame from within herself?”
“Excellent question Max, I’ve been considering the same!” My father said. “Lucy’s element is linked to her emotions, the stronger her emotions, the stronger her fire becomes.”
What an interesting idea I thought. I wonder how we could test the theory?
After the morning lesson, we walked back to the castle. Max and Lucy were talking about her escape the day she left Dark Moon. She was telling us about a mountain lion that Lia wanted to eat, and we all laughed at her first ambitious attempt to hunt.
“Laugh now, but my mate could char anything without even lifting a paw to hunt.” Duke reminded me. “Lia is great at catching fish.” Max told us.
Lia could swim well but I remembered that Lucy couldn’t. “Lucy, we’re going to skip training at the arena today and have a swimming lesson this afternoon instead.” I said.
“The only lesson Lucy really needs right now are dance lessons.” Payton said.
“Really?” I asked.
“I’ve never actually danced with anyone before, unless you count yesterday with Payton. Apparently, I’ve got two left feet.” Lucy said.
“You can always just stand on my feet and I will sweep us across the dance floor.” I told her.
“I’d be happy to give dance lessons in the ballroom today.” My father offered.
Lucy’s face lit up. “Oh, that would be great! Thank you, Alpha.” Lucy
said.
“Maybe we should join as well, I’m a little rusty too.” Payton laughed and Max agreed.
“I have a business video meeting with our branch in Japan and needed to head to my office, I’m going to have to sit this one out.” I said, feeling Dukes disappointment pulse through me.
“Easy boy, we’re still going to swim with her in the grotto today.” I told Duke to help calm him. He hated being away from our mate and so did I.
“Not to worry, she’s in good hands. My father said.
the
A few hours later, I was done with the business meeting and made my way over to the ballroom. I cra door open and stood quietly to observe for a moment. My father and Lucy were in the middle of the ballroom surrounded by a dozen other couples, including Max, Payton, Elliot and Megan. Our house manager, Tonia, was controlling the music and calling out the step counts “one..two..three, one..two..three, spin..two..three.. I stood there watching for a moment longer thinking about how everything has changed so much in the last
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two months. Lucy has changed everything for the better. Watching my father and Lucy dancing together showcased the special bond they had developed. She had seamlessly fit right into my life and into the pack. I’ve also never seen Payton so happy, first with the arrival of Lucy and now her mate and Megan.
The hair on the back of my neck suddenly stood up as the scent of fresh cut grass and oak hit my nose. It was faint, but it lingered in the hall where I stood. I walked around and ripped opened a large coat closet near the ball room entrance where the scent was strongest. Nothing. The closet was empty. The mystery scent did not belong to anyone in my pack and I was irked at the thought of anyone sneaking in and out of the castle. Maybe I had a traitor in the pack I wondered and made my way back to the ballroom door.
I heard Tonia call out, “Wonderful! You all look wonderful out there. Thank you for joining us and a special thank you to Alpha Knox for teaching today.” Everyone applauded and started thanking my father.
I walked over to Lucy who was smiling at me and kissed my beautiful mate. “How was it?” I asked.
“My feet are a little sore, but it was great. Your father is a wonderful dance partner.” She beamed up at me. “Would you like to go down to the heated pool and grotto? I could massage your feet for you or anything else you want.” I grinned.
“Sounds great.” She blushed.
Twenty minutes later, we were sitting in the cave grotto in the heated pool. I had locked the door in the basement that lead to the pool to ensure we would not be interrupted during Lucy’s swim lesson. I was teaching her how to float first and moved on to kicks and strokes. Once she was at ease in the water, she did very well. She picked up the doggy paddle first and was quick to learn how to swim on her back.
She tried to splash me in the face, but I quickly redirected the water back at her with my element. She also tried to dunk my head underwater and I was able to part the water. “No fair.” She pouted. She’s so cute, its fun watching her get all worked up.
“Little one, if you don’t behave yourself, I’m going to be forced to take you right here.” I’m sure my eyes darkened with desire.
I felt her heart start racing and heat climbing. I pulled her to me and started kissing on my mark. She moaned and started running her fingers through my hair. That was all I needed to come undone.
I had to have her. I lifted her out of the water and set her on the edge while I was still standing in the warm pool water. I peeled her swimsuit down and started trailing kisses down her chest. I took my time kissing and sucking on her beautifully full breasts.
I reached down between her legs and stroked her before sliding two fingers into her wet heat. The scent of her arousal hit me, and my hungry mouth moved lower on a mission to consume her. I trailed kisses down her stomach and just as I was ready to move lower, I heard the strangest fluttering sound coming from her. I laid my head on her abdomen and listened hard. Is that what I think it is?
Duke started howling with pride and joy as he understood what was happening.
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