A/N: Special thanks as always to my editors jayknie and notsweetenough
*****
Knocking once, Lucas entered James' apartment. Suzy was sitting on the Alpha's desk. She glanced at Lucas and her smile dropped. She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek before walking out, not bothering to look Lucas in the eye. He wanted to throw her to the ground for her disrespect, but decided now wasn't the time.
"So the Leeds pack should arrive for their visit tomorrow evening. I've been told they're bringing forty-four members. It's going to be a full house. I'm asking all the apartment dwellers to let pack members stay in their spare rooms or couches for the weekend so the Leeds pack gets some space."
"Alright," Lucas said. "I'll double our border patrols too. The last thing we want is an attack while guests are here."
"Has Roxy moved back into your place?" James asked. "I'm only asking so I can give up her bedroom on the second floor."
"No," Lucas said.
"She's spent the night there every night this week."
"I'm a big boy, I can make my own decisions."
James didn't respond. Lucas thought he'd offer an olive branch.
"This weekend...we will refrain from any activities that might cause other pack members discomfort in front of our guests."
"Not necessary, Clara isn't coming."
Lucas' face dropped.
"Well, I still haven't told the poor girl about mates and seeing as how the point of this visit is to see if there are any between our packs it might get confusing for her."
Lucas nodded.
"I can't keep her in the dark forever. Once she figures it out, and she will, there's going to be some hell to pay. Since you're a big boy and all, what would your decision be regarding your little mate?"
"What do you mean?" Lucas asked.
"The entire pack knows you're sleeping with Roxy by now. So I can't figure out if you've rejected Clara and are back to planning on marking Roxy or if you feel like humiliating Clara without her knowledge and are still hoping to connect with her?"
Lucas glanced at the ground. He didn't know the answer to that question.
"This is my life. I should have control of it," Lucas said.
"You are playing a dangerous game my friend," James said. "Right now you're hurting two members of my pack and it is starting to weigh on me."
Lucas opened his mouth to speak, but James held up his hand silencing him.
"As your Alpha I have a lot of authority. I am aware this does not extend to mates, the moon goddess has that authority alone. I cannot and will not make you wait for Clara or punish you for being with Roxy. So I don't need that speech. But I do want to hear your plan. So which one is it? Be with your girlfriend or wait for your mate?"
Lucas pushed his lips together and looked away.
"Will you let me try and speak to Clara next time she is here?"
"Can you guarantee you won't force try to yourself on her again?"
"That's the problem. The only way I can satisfy my urge for Clara is to use Roxy."
James frowned and moved forward.
"I'll make you a deal," he said. "Stop fucking Roxy and the next time Clara is here I will organize a way for the two of you to talk. Bump into her somehow, casually, and see how she reacts."
"I can live with that," Lucas said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The run was coming to an end and Clara didn't see her friend from last time. She found out in the one weekend she was gone one pack member, someone named Brad left for another pack and a new member joined, a guy named Jason. Clara hadn't realized trading packs was an option, but then again still felt in the dark about a lot of things.
She trotted down the trail back to the lodge when out of nowhere the male wolf appeared. Clara couldn't help herself and didn't hide her excitement at his return. He started bouncing his legs out, signaling the game was on. Clara wasted no time taking off, going slow enough he could keep up. They continued their game among the trees. This time Clara let it last longer, not deciding to show off her speed just yet. After what felt like a few minutes the sky started to lighten. Clara didn't want to stop playing, but she knew it was time for their game to end.
She broke out in her sprint, losing her playmate in no time. Clara debated on sticking with him, wanting to know who he was in human form, but didn't want to risk having to shift in front of him and stand naked with a stranger. She made it back to her tree, threw on her clothes and started towards the house. There weren't any hook ups this time, Clara was sure they were already long in bed. She let out a yawn, glad she exhausted enough energy this time to go right to sleep.
When she lay down a smile spread across her face. This wasn't bad. Last weekend she'd had a good time going for drinks with her colleagues and vegging out in front of the TV. She'd even gone without any chest pains. The break made her appreciate this weekend. She did love the runs and did miss Suzy and James. Maybe things weren't so bad here.
Clara didn't get out of bed until five o'clock. She felt great. As she showered she wondered what to do this evening. She didn't feel like hiding in her room with a book and wondered about Roxy's offer last weekend to go to the lake. It still seemed warm enough out. That was one person who had been missing. Maybe Clara was too hard on her and she'd given up being friends. Clara made a mental note to find her and apologize later. When she got back to her room Suzy stood in the doorway.
"What's going on?" Clara asked as she opened the door and walked over to the bed, her choice of clothing already set out.
"The Alpha wants to see you," Suzy said.
"About what?" Clara asked.
"He didn't say," Suzy replied.
Clara felt a lump in the back of her throat. She remembered the sex talk Suzy mentioned. It was such a good weekend, the last thing she wanted was for James to tell her to start joining in the orgies. The thought made her cringe. She rolled her shoulders back and reminded herself when that talk came she would stand her ground. He couldn't make her participate.
"Wow." Suzy interrupted her thoughts. "I don't know what's going on in that head of yours, but it looks like you went through a whole bunch of emotions."
Clara gave a nervous laugh.
"Do you know where his office is or do you want me to take you?"
"Top of the staircase right?"
