Rogue Wolf

Ch 59 getting organized

Surprisingly, it was Michael who ended up with a solution for me. The girl had come out of the shower as I finished getting myself under control. I think there was something about getting a glimpse of me being so vulnerable that softened her up some. I had managed the rub-down, working her muscles as if I was giving her a professional massage. She had seemed more at ease after she was dressed once more in a scout's red and black uniform.

"Put her clothes on the bed and sleep on them," Michael had suggested, "that way she'll smell of you. I'll wear whatever you sleep in. And let her keep using the same shampoo you use. Make sure you're the only one to use that kind, well, you and me, so I smell of you too."

I looked at Michael, amazed at his simple solution. He seemed to be adjusting to what was needed to living with werewolves. He had only been irritated at the four guards who stayed around him when he was taken to the roof, not afraid. My guard had knelt before me, explaining that the other guards had said they would watch Michael while my guard took care of my female, bringing her to me. The poor guy had been terrified he'd screwed up and I'd be mad at him. I left him kneeling in the middle of the roof while I took Michael to the far edge so he and I could discuss things.

It felt good to be able to just talk, trying to figure out how to do all that needed done. We worked out duties and scheduling, having short, regular meetings with the guards for communication, so all the guards would be on the same page. Michael was practically a genius at organization. We worked out shifts for the omegas so they would get some free time. He understood that there would be guards around him probably all the time. He told me he was looking forward to working with the omegas. It was at that point I had to stop him.

"Are you really looking forward to it? I know a lot of what I'm having you do is almost busy-work. I don't want you coming across to the guards as an omega, so you have to be careful about what you do."

"Look, I wish I was home doing whatever I wanted, but while I'm here, yeah, I'm looking forward to doing whatever I can to make things better for those kids. I don't mind instructing their workouts. I need to get back into a routine myself. And the girls... her name is Leah, by the way. How come they aren't with everyone else?"

Max approached us then, Leah behind him, two guards behind her. She went to her knees when Max stopped.

"My Ma...lord Maximus," I said, slightly embarrassed at my almost slip. "Michael and I were just discussing why the girls weren't with everyone else. I'm afraid I don't have an answer for him."

"Females are always to be kept safe," Max answered.

When Michael started to say something, I stopped him. "You ain't heard the story yet," I told him. "Why don't you take Leah down, show her about the place, explain what we've worked out so far. You can take her shopping," I added with a grin.

"Do you know what it's like, shopping with a female?" groaned Michael. "The endless waiting, the trying on dozens and dozens of outfits? Torture, your torturing me for calling you an ass, proving me right, ahhhhh, pure torture!"

Max looked bemused at Michael's obvious theatrics, taking in Michael's deliberate wink.  Michael laughed as he turned toward Leah, giving her a exaggerate bow with a sweeping hand gesture. He offered her his arm as he said, "My lady, I'd actually be honored to take you shopping, means I don't have to hang with.. a..." he paused dramatically, "our lord Beta Scout."

She took his arm, throwing me a glance.

I just grinned and gave her a nod. "Only a few outfits for now, give you a reason to do more shopping later," I called out after them. Michael waved and I heard the girl giggle, which gave me real hope for her. I turned to Max. "I'd like to fill you in on what Michael and I were discussing, my lord." I waved the guards away, taking Max's hand. I led him in a leisurely walk around the roof, enjoying the sun and slight breeze, explaining to him about how people in the world worked in shifts, how that related to the three guard halls, and about what I wanted to do with the teen omegas.

I didn't see the older omega much after breakfast these days. I left him to Alpha, knowing Alpha needed some outlet for his rage. I figured the guy could take it, knowing the two teens he did his utmost to protect were getting treated decently with us.

Max listened to the plans I'd made for his pack, asking the occasional question. He seemed content to let me do whatever I thought best, promising me he would support me. I explained how I would change things slowly, so everyone could adjust, introducing one thing at a time. Max only nodded, smiling. I had a feeling he wasn't thrilled, that his smile wasn't real. When I stopped and took his hand, going to my knees, begging for his real opinion, he looked distant.

"Do what is necessary, my Scout. I know Alpha had us doing things wrong. I trust you to teach us."

I got a glimpse then of the pain inside him, hiding behind walls of his own. He just admitted he had been doing things wrong. All of the grief that everyone had gone through, all the pain the crude one had cried about, he carried on his shoulders. I stood, kissing him gently. "You did what you could," I told him in sympathy. "And together we'll make it all right."

"While Alpha is still..." he stopped talking, and I saw the misery in him he didn't dare show to anyone else. He always had to keep up a front for everyone, my Max. I realized I wasn't the only actor around here. I smiled at him, knowing that for that little moment, as small as it was, he let me into his heart.

"We'll figure him out," I said with more confidence than I felt. Max looked at me like he knew it wouldn't be so easy. Alpha was feeling more and more like a ticking time bomb . He'd taken to pacing the omega hall on occasion. I didn't dare keep the doors closed because that meant never knowing what was on the other side when we opened it to go out. At some point, I was afraid he would challenge Max.

"If he ever comes after you, my lord," I whispered in Max's ear, "he'll have to face my fangs as well."

Max gave me a troubled look, but nodded, leaning against my shoulder briefly before tugging my hand to take us back in.

"I'll make an announcement before dinner about some of the changes you want to establish. Which ones do you want to do first?"

"Names of course," I said thoughtfully, "we're still not really using them... and a schedule. Setting up actual work shifts will lead to almost everything else naturally. There will be some free time for everyone to play. The guards need to start working on their schooling too."

I gave his hand a tug, pulling him to a stop. "If I play around with you, do you promise not to get mad?"

Max took a deep breath before answering. "You want me to accept disrespect the way you do from Michael."

I couldn't stop my hand from stroking his face. I wanted another round of scent-covering foreplay. I was hungry for him, my Max. I closed my eyes against my surge of passion. How was I going to find a way to undo everything Alpha had taught him?

"Michael and I spar with words instead of fangs. We both know we're just playing, and all it takes is a real growl, so to speak, to let him know playtime is over. He lets me know when I've gone too far too. We both understand this, so neither of us take offense," I explained. "I wouldn't even try it with the guards. Someone would be disrespectful on purpose and try to claim they were only playing. I'll try to come up with something."

Max took my hand from his face. I couldn't decipher the look he gave me. I don't think he was looking forward to whatever I came up with, despite the nod he gave me.