The Reluctant Cougar (Rise of the Alpha King's Heir)

The Beast Within (part 2)

"BENJIIIII!" 

Ben groaned as he slowly woke up, glancing around the darkness for his alarm clock. 

5:15 am. 

He fell back against his pillows with another annoyed grumble. 

How he hated Saturdays. 

When he was younger he had looked forward to them every week, knowing he would be able to spend the whole day with Eileen.

Now, however--

He drifted somewhere between sleeping and waking, wondering if there was any way to get out of the meeting today. 

"Benji! Get up! We have to leave in ten minutes!" his mom called up the stairs.

He sighed heavily, dragging his body out of bed and over to his dresser.

He was dressed and downstairs two minutes later, running his fingers through his shaggy hair. He needed to get a hair cut soon or Coach Stout would shave his head. 

"Ben Jermin Cougar," his mother admonished. "Go brush your hair!"

"Yes, ma'am." 

He sighed heavily before stalking back up the stairs to do as ordered. Then he brushed his teeth, knowing that would be the next fight. He was so tired of living with his parents, so done with having to answer to them.

"Something else to look forward to on my nineteenth birthday," he whispered, thinking about the tradition of Weildon kicking out their sons on their nineteenth birthdays.

His father was already waiting in the car when he and his mother walked outside, drumming his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel.

"We're going to be late," he griped, climbing out of the car and circling it to open his wife's door.

"Sorry, dear," she said, moving past him to sit in the passenger's seat. She pulled her long skirt out of the way as he closed the door.

"Boy, you're old enough to get up on your own," his dad growled. "Don't be troubling your mother anymore."

"Yes, sir," Ben said automatically, slipping into the backseat.

They rode to the meeting place in silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts or, in Ben's case, half-asleep.

Ever since Alpha Leonas had taken over as their alpha four years ago, he had a mandated weekly meeting hour for every district under his rule. Unfortunately for Ben, their district had pulled the 6am card. 

Ben's father parked the car, circling it to open the door for Ben's mother. He offered her his hand, pulled her to her feet, and held her hand as they walked into the large building.

Ben trailed behind his parents, wanting to be anywhere but there today.

A loud yawn from behind him made his steps pause.

"Mornin', Ben," Dustin said over a second yawn, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand. "Man it's early."

Dustin's mom popped him in the back of the head, "Early? We're late. Get your culo inside before I beat it!"

"Listen to your mother," Dustin's father growled, stalking up behind them.

"Can I sit with Ben?" Dustin asked quickly.

" Pórtate bien," she said with a warning look.

"Yes, momma," he said, giving her his famous puppy dog look.

"Aye, you," she shook her head and walked in the building hand-in-hand with Dustin's father.

"Ben and Dustin sitting together?" they heard Ben's mother ask after greeting Dustin's mom.