Quinn glanced around them, spotting a fallen log and walking over to take a seat, Hudson behind her.
Getting comfortable she glanced at her lap as she picked at her nails distractedly.
‘River . . he’s the son of the Alpha’ she said slowly.
Hudson frowned, ‘so he’s your brother?’ he asked, making the she wolf frown.
‘No, he’s the Alpha’s son, next in line, why would you think he was my brother? You know I’ an Omega’ she argued in confusion.
Hudson stared at her, his own expression one of bewilderment, ‘uh, I don’t know’ he replied honestly. Quinn was definitely not an Omega, she’d rejected him as an Alpha’s daughter and it had broken their bond.
Shaking her head, Quinn continued, ‘River and I have been friends for years, his mother, Luna Celeste has always been kind to me despite my rank due to his liking for me. Alpha Trent is not so keen, he has the same beliefs as other Alphas around here, about low ranks not mixing with high ranks’ she muttered bitterly.
‘So you and River . . you are just friends’ Hudson repeated slowly.
Quinn smiled, ‘it’s probably more like cousins?’ she offered, ‘we are closer than friends, but I wouldn’t say it’s the same as a sibling bond. He always wants to protect me and insists on being the only one to train with me. Comes to Omega training especially so he can partner with me, worried that the other warriors will hurt me most likely’ she added with a scoff.
Hudson took a dep controlling breath, ‘what is the name of your pack?’ he asked quietly.
Quinn hesitated for a moment as if unsure whether she should tell him, ‘The Crystal Eclipse pack’ she finally admitted nervously.
Hudson frowned, he knew of the pack, they were not alliance with Shadow Rock or any other pack in the area. The Alpha was known to be ruthless in battle and preferred not to rely on other packs to help defend his members. He was also the owner of a lot of businesses in the city, meaning the pack was well financed. Alpha Trent rarely attended Alpha meetings that were hosted by the Council, he had little fear of Rogues attacking with his numbers so little was actually known about the man or his pack.
‘How did you end up at our school?’ he asked curiously, all of the Crystal Eclipse pack were taught in their private school on pack lands, he had never heard of one of their members being taught in an outside facility, especially as the school had no affiliation to Trent’s pack.
Quinn shrugged, ‘it wasn’t my idea’ she replied cagily, ‘I was called into the Alpha’s office and told I was going to a new school and the next day I was pushed out the door with a note that allowed me passage through the two packs between us and the school.’
Standing up abruptly, Quinn beckoned to the Alpha, ‘come on, we need to get to the camp if we want Patterson to be able to set off tonight to collect Lilith.’
Letting the conversation lapse, Hudson stood up next to his mate, curling his hand around hers as she looked down at their joined fingers, but didn’t pull away.
Heading through the trees, they stepped out into the clearing, Hugh jumping up in defense of his family, his shoulders tense before he recognised the she wolf, his wolf receding from the surface, though he shimmered in Hugh’s eyes, watching the Alpha warily.
His mate looked up from where she was teaching her children from a book, a smile brightening her face, ‘Quinn’ she called out excitedly, ‘what a lovely surprise, you don’t normally come here in the week.’
Quinn gave the family a wave, moving quickly toward the children who were fidgeting on the grass, wanting to run to her but knowing they were still in lessons so had to stay still.
‘I thought I’d pop by’ she called back, tugging on Hudson’s hand as she turned to introduce him, ‘this is my mate, Hudson’ she said. Hugh immediately relaxed, stepping forward to offer his hand, ‘Alpha’ he said respectfully, with a small bow of his head, ‘it is a pleasure to meet you, if you are Quinn’s mate then you must be a good man.’
Hudson took his hand, shaking it firmly, ‘well they say you are mated to your perfect other half’ he joked. ‘Most people call me an asshole so that’s probably true with how wonderful my mate is.’
Hugh chuckled, ‘It’s true’ he agreed, ‘I’m a hot head, fight first ask questions later. My mate, Cerys on the other hand is a pacifist, always keeping the peace and believing the best of people.’
The two men took a seat by the children who had pulled Quinn down between them and were hanging off her arms, vying for her attention as they showed her what they had been learning that day.
Quinn glanced around them curiously, ‘where is Patterson?’ she asked, peering through the trees.
Cerys smiled ruefully, ‘he was accompanying Lilith and Esme to the nearest town so she could catch a bus’ she explained. ‘Lilith is going to try and take Esme to a human doctor, I don’t think it’s going to do much good but we are running out of time, Esme is getting sicker each day.’
The teenage she wolf nodded, ‘I was hoping to catch them before they left’ she murmured, ‘Hudson’s pack doctor has agreed to come and see Esme, take a look at her for us.’
The two Rogue adults looked at each other in surprise before turning their gaze toward the Alpha, ‘you would do that? Your pack would let your doctor come out to some Rogues?’ Cerys asked quietly.
Hudson grimaced, ‘let’s just say that it’s a covert operation’ he replied carefully, ‘but my doctor would like to offer her expertise if we can get Esme back here quickly.’
Cerys glanced at her husband who frowned, ‘I could run after them’ he said slowly, his eyes straying to his wife’s stomach, ‘but . . . leaving my family . . ‘
Hudson held up a hand immediately, ‘I understand sir’ he replied respectfully, ‘how long would it take to catch them?’
Hugh shifted nervously, ‘they’ve been gone a few hours, Patterson may already be heading back as we speak.’
Quinn kept her face neutral, ‘wait for him to return’ she said decisively, ‘then get him to follow her and bring her back.’ Rummaging in her pocket, she pulled out a few dollars and held them out to the werewolf, ‘give him this so he can take the bus instead of running. There should hopefully be enough for a return ticket.’
Hugh went to reach out his hand when Hudson placed his own on Quinn’s arm, reaching into his own pocket and pulling out a fistful of twenties, holding them out. ‘Get Patterson to take a taxi’ he said firmly, ‘get Esme and Lilith back as soon as you can.’
The Rogue flinched back, ‘you don’t need to do that’ he said gruffly, ‘we don’t really like taking money from Quinn but she’s . . ‘
‘A close friend’ the she wolf cut across him quickly, staring at the Rogue who nodded slowly, ‘a close friend’ he parroted. ‘We are not part of your pack Alpha, you do not owe us any form of charity.’
Hudson kept his hand out, ‘Quinn is my mate’ he replied, ‘her responsibilities are my responsibilities. She obviously classes you as important people in her life, that makes you important in mine too. Take the money Hugh, and get that little pup back here so we can try and make her better.’
The werewolf nodded as he reached out reluctantly, taking the bills from the Alpha’s hand. ‘Thank you, Alpha’ he said, bowing his head again as he shoved the money into the pocket of his faded jeans.
Giving him a grin, Hudson reached out and took Quinn’s hand again, ‘we need to head back’ he murmured into her ear as he leaned closer to her.
The she wolf nodded, straightening up and smiling at the family, ‘we’ll head back to school’ she said, ‘we’ll come back in two days, hopefully Patterson will have managed to get Lilith and Esme back by then.’
Cerys stood up, moving toward Quinn as the teenager clambered to her feet, pulling her into a hug, ‘it’s good to see you Quinn’ she said quietly as the younger woman returned her embrace.
‘You too’ Quinn whispered before pulling away reluctantly, ‘take care of that pup, you hear me, and I still expect first cuddle when it gets here.’
Cerys laughed, patting her almost flat stomach, ‘you’ve got a fair wait yet, but I promise to be on my best behaviour’ she replied.
Turning to Hudson who had clambered to his feet and was standing beside his mate, she nervously stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist. ‘Thank you Alpha’ she said sincerely, ‘for trying to help us.’
Hudson patted the she wolf’s back awkwardly, flicking his gaze to her mate who was simply standing back, watching the pair. ‘I’ll do everything I can to help Esme’ he replied, ‘I just hope I can save her.’
Releasing him, Cerys wiped her eyes with the back of her hand as she backed into her own mate who slid his arms around her, holding her back to his chest. ‘I hope you can too’ she whispered, ‘Esme is such a good girl, so brave, she doesn’t deserve to be so sick. I have prayed to the Moon Goddess for a cure for her every day,’ she tilted her head slightly, taking in the Alpha’s broad form, ‘maybe she’s answered me by sending us, you.’
Nodding, Hudson gave a small wave before allowing Quinn to pull him from the clearing, back the way they had come.
As they stepped out of the woods back into the town, Hudson stopped on the sidewalk, Quinn halting beside him, glancing over at him in concern.
‘Everything OK?’ she asked worriedly.
Hudson nodded, ‘I just wondered if you were hungry’ he replied, giving her a nervous grin, ‘maybe you would like to grab some lunch with me?’
Quinn blinked in surprise before a slow grin crawled across her face, ‘are you asking me on a date?’ she teased.
The Alpha laughed as he scratched the back of his neck, ‘would you be more likely to turn me down if I said yes?’ he asked.
Nudging his shoulder with her own, she tightened her grip on his hand, ‘I think I’d probably say yes if it was a date’ she admitted shyly.
‘Then I am definitely asking you out on a date’ Hudson replied fervently, his eagerness making the she wolf giggle.
‘Then I would love to have lunch with you’ Quinn agreed, her cheeks tinging pink.
His body relaxing, Hudson pulled his mate away from the truck, heading into the town and through the door of the small café he had visited all those rewinds ago.
‘Welcome’ the plump waitress called out from by the counter, beaming at them, ‘just pick a table anywhere and I’ll be right over to take your order.’
Leading the way to the back, Hudson pulled out a chair for Quinn to sit in before moving to the other side of the small round table and sitting opposite her.
Bustling over, the waitress pulled her notepad out of her apron, smiling brightly, ‘well aren’t you two a lovely couple’ she said warmly, ‘what can I get you two love birds?’
Hudson choked as Quinn laughed, ‘what makes you think we are a couple?’ she asked curiously.
The woman waved a hand airily, ‘please, I’ve been around long enough to spot two people who have chemistry, and you two are radiating attraction’ she replied.
Giggling again, Quinn reached over and entwined her fingers with Hudson’s, ‘I’m not sure we are a couple yet’ she murmured, ‘this is our first date.’
The waitress gasped as she placed a hand to her chest, ‘oh that is so sweet’ she said excitedly, ‘I hope that when you are older with kids, you’ll bring them here and tell them how you had your first date, here at Trisha’s Tearoom. How about I get you kids some milkshakes?’
Quinn nodded excitedly, ‘oh yes please, do you have cookies and cream?’ she asked hopefully.
The waitress nodded, ‘of course, what kind of café doesn’t do cookies and cream milkshakes’ she scoffed before turning toward Hudson. ‘let me guess’ she mused, ‘how about a chocolate fudge with whipped cream?’
Hudson nodded eagerly, ‘that’s my favourite’ he replied in surprise.
The older woman chuckled, ‘what can I say, I have a knack for knowing what my customers like’ she winked.
Jotting their order down, she bustled away, leaving the two teenagers alone again.
‘So’ Quinn murmured, her thumb rubbing over the back of Hudson’s hand, ‘our first date . . ‘
Hudson smiled, enjoying the sparks racing across his skin, ‘first of many’ he replied huskily as he tightened his grip on hers, savouring the feel of her skin against his.