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

Something Private

Ben watched Eileen walk away from him, feeling as if his heart was leaving with her.

It must have looked like it too.

"Damn, boy, it's not like she's going to be gone forever," Archie  laughed, slapping him on the back.

"She must have a golden pussy, huh?" P.A. grinned, elbowing him. "Does she do kinky shit? Maybe I'll see if she can teach me something. I mean you know what they say about Vampire wom-"

Ben had P.A. by the throat before he fully processed the words.

"You don't talk about Eileen like that!" he roared.

P.A.'s eyes grew fearful as his face rapidly changed colors.

"Dude, what the hell?!" Archie demanded, pulling on Ben's arm.

"Cougar, chill," Jessup was at Ben's side the next instant, voice calm. "You need to let him go."

"Eileen is off-limits, got it?" Ben growled, slamming the other young man into the wall before releasing him.

P.A. crumpled to the floor, coughing and breathing raggedly. 

Archie gaped at Ben, "What the hell?! Psycho--"

"Did you not hear that she was his Bloodmate?" Jessup rounded on Archie  and P.A. before Ben could. "She's not Marked him yet, and he's not Mate-Claimed her, so he's going to be extra territorial. Plus, dude, you just don't talk about another guy's girl like that--or girls in general for that matter. You see this, this right here, this is why the two of you can't get laid. All the 'game' and crap you guys always talk about is a bunch of shit. You should focus on being decent fucking human beings, and then maybe, just maybe a sweet girl will decide to touch those crusty cocks of yours. Ben, man, let's go walk, yeah?"

Jessup grabbed Ben's bicep, propelling him out the door with more force than Ben was prepared for, but he didn't fight him.

Once outside, Jessup let go, "This way. You need to blow off some steam."

Ben nodded, following mutely. Anger pumped hotly through his body, winding him tight. He felt shaky with the adrenaline, unbalanced, like he was getting ready to burst out of his own skin.

"Breathe," Jessup demanded. "Deep breaths, kid. It wasn't right for him to say that shit about Eileen, but you've got to get a handle on that temper of yours. That shit might be work in high school, but a grown ass man's got to have a bit more finesse. You think Eileen wants a rabid dog as a husband?"

Ben shook his head, mimicking the deep breaths Jessup was showing him. As they continued to walk, he found himself bouncing on his feet and shaking his arms, trying to burn through the last remnants of adrenaline. As he moved, he found himself considering Jessup's words.

When he felt like he was at least partially himself again, he admitted, "You're right. She deserves better than that."

"Damn right," Jessup nodded. "Let's run. Try to keep up, newbie."

At first Ben balked at the idea of falling behind the older male. After all, he'd always been the top of everything since he'd started school. Two hours of hard, all-out running, however, found Ben becoming increasingly humbled and out of breath. Jessup had easily pulled ahead, and from the looks of it he wasn't even winded.

"Let's go, Cougar!" Jessup demanded. "Push!"

Ben growled, throwing himself into the run, focusing on his every breath, his every heartbeat, his every step.

Eventually the world fell away, leaving only the sounds of his own body as he pushed himself one step more.

A hand on his arm caused him to flinch to a stop.