The Rogue's Panther

Chapter 8

DREW

I wanted to go in there.

I wondered what Ebony would do.

Scout howled at the mere thought of joining her.

The way her ass swayed when she walked in front of me up the steps had me in a trance. I wanted to spank her ass and have her ride me.

Scout howled in agreement.

“We can’t,” I muttered. “Not yet, at least.”

Scout grunted.

“c**k blocked again,” he murmured as he walked back and plopped down. I sighed and turned around.

I walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind me.

I headed down to the bar to see how it was coming.

As I approached the bar door, it opened, and there stood my mum, who was frowning. I halted.

“What?” I asked. “I wanted to check on—”

My mum stepped closer to me and shook her head.

“Go up to the flat,” she said. “I have everything under control.”

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

“Why can’t I...” I muttered, but she growled.

I arched my eyebrows up at her.

“Really?” I said.

I could see a hint of amusement swimming around her eyes.

“Yeah,” she said. “I want Ebony and you to be surprised.”

I stared at her.

“Okay,” I murmured. “Mind link me when you leave, and we can come down.” Mum nodded as I turned around and walked back up the stairs.

I felt my mother’s eyes on me, but I didn’t look back. I opened the door and headed inside.

I should get ready.

I walked over to the bathroom and walked inside. I knew Ebony was getting ready as I heard noises from the bedroom. She sounded like she was trying on stuff.

I smiled.

I quickly got into the shower and washed. I had a quick one and switched off the shower once I was finished, wrapping the towel around my waist.

I looked around the bathroom and noticed some nice folded clothes on the set of drawers. I smiled, knowing my mum must have placed them there earlier. She mentioned she was going to do it earlier when she mind-linked.

My mind wandered to what happened, especially by the truck, before we left. I was mind-linking with my mum, but Ebony was staring toward the forest line when I returned to her.

I spotted someone looking at her, but he turned to stare at me. He moved away a few seconds later as if he had found out what he was looking for.

It was weird.

The way he was looking at my mate had Scout wanting to rip him apart.

I knew I couldn’t let him out as humans were around, and most in the town didn’t know about our kind.

I looked at Ebony as I cleared my throat to get her attention.

I wondered if she knew him, but she said nothing. She looked at the man as if she was afraid. Scout moved in my head as I stared at myself in the mirror.

“Mate,” he said as he plopped on his hind legs. “She didn’t know him.”

I frowned.

“How can you be so certain?” I asked.

Scout grunted.

“Mate has said little about what she has been through,” he muttered. “Maybe ask her tonight. The sooner we get to know her, the sooner we can claim her.”

I groaned.

“You’re thinking with your c**k,” I grunted, which made Scout chuckle.

“So where you were early!” he said, amused. “Her ass was good to look at too.” I said nothing.

“You know I’m right,” he chuckled.

I got dressed and made sure I looked the part for Ebony.

Once ready, I exited the bathroom and headed to the lounge to wait.

I looked toward the bedroom.

I wanted to be in there right now.

“We won’t be leaving,” Scout said as he laid back in my head. “We would have her pinned to the bed, moaning.”

I smirked.

Fuck.

I needed her.

I leaned back into the couch and placed my head on the pillow behind me. I stared at the ceiling and sighed.

*****************************************

Half an hour passes, and there is still no sign of Ebony.

My mother mind linked me a few moments ago to tell me everything was ready. She told me she even made lasagne for us and was already for us.

I heard the bedroom open.

I moved up quickly and stood as my eyes lingered on the door.

I watched as my gorgeous mate stepped out, and my mouth went dry.

Fuck.

Ebony wore the dress she bought first. It was a little black number that rested mid-thigh. She wore a pair of heels, which made her legs look longer.

I couldn’t help but rack my eyes over her body. She looked stunning.

I met her eyes as a blush spread across her cheeks.

I smiled.

“You look gorgeous,” I said, walking over to her and touching her waist.

Ebony’s eyes widened.

I leaned into her neck and inhaled her scent, which soothed me.

I pulled back and smiled.

“Shall we go?” I asked.

Ebony nodded as I placed my hand into hers.

We walked out of the flat and headed down to the bar.

I opened the door, and we walked in together.

I couldn’t help but admire the decorations.

I felt Scout come close to see, and he whistled.

“Mama wolf went all out,” he muttered.

I had to agree with him. My mum went all out on this date for us.

The room was decorated with fairy lights around to make the room more romantic. It still looked like the bar and would always look like it, as it was made for men. But my mum seemed to have made it more romantic than she could make it.

My mum had placed a table in the middle and removed the overs that would have been around, making the one look lonely.

I looked over at Ebony, whose eyes were huge as she looked around.

“Who did all this?” she asked.

“My family,” I said with a smile. “My mum made us some lasagne to eat.”

Ebony nodded and smiled.

“I haven’t lasagne in years,” she muttered as she looked at the table that was decorated in the middle of the entire bar.

I smiled, but I felt like there was something there in the meaning because of the sadness that appeared, but Ebony recovered quickly and smiled at me.

I walked over to the table and pulled out her chair. I waited until she sat down and made sure she was comfortable.

I was about to sit when Henry came out in a suit grinning at me.

What the hell?

Henry came over and looked at us.

“I have your food ready for you both,” he said.

I sat down and looked at Ebony, who smiled at him.

“Can we wait for a little while?” she asked, looking at me. “I worked myself up for this whole surprise. I think I will be sick.”

I looked at Henry, who nodded.

“Bring them out here in half-hour,” I said. “But we can have some drinks to start.” Henry nodded and walked over to the bar. He grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. “I will leave this here,” he said and stepped away.

I looked over at Ebony, who smiled.

“I thought he was the bartender,” she said, amused.

I chuckled.

“I guess he is our waiter for the evening,” I said. “Knowing my mother, she made him do it.” Knowing her, she forced him to do this.

Ebony stared at me and smiled.

I grabbed the wine and poured it into the glasses. I handed Ebony hers, and I took a sip of mine as Ebony looked at me.

“So,” she said. “I have to ask, are you in a pack or rogues?”

I stared at her as I arched my eyebrows up at her.

“You should have asked that question last night,” I said, making her sip her wine. I chuckled.

“I would say rogue,” I muttered, hating that word. I looked at her. “I hate that word; it makes us sound horrible when we are not.”

I sighed and kept my eyes focused on her.

“We are a family,” I said. “My parents were part of a pack for a while and had Brock and me, but there was an attack which we had to escape with our lives.”

Ebony’s eyes softened, but she said nothing.

“My parents turned to some packs to take us in,” I said, feeling anger sweep in slightly. “But we got turned away. They wouldn’t accept rogues. We traveled around for a while until my parents had Toby. My mother wanted to set roots for us, and they came across this little place.”

I smiled.

“The bar was here when we got here,” I said. “We added the store and motel a few years apart.” Ebony nodded.

“It’s nice,” she said, making me frown.

“It is,” I said. “My mum wanted us in a pack to be safe, but we made a home here. I didn’t work till I was eighteen in here.”

“Where did you go to school?” she asked.

I smiled.

“We were homeschooled,” I said. “My mum used to be a teacher in the pack. She taught us.” Ebony smiled.

“That’s nice,” she said.

I stared at her.

“What about you?” I asked. “What about your family?”

Ebony stared at me, but she said nothing.

I knew she was alone for a while, but I wanted to know more about it.

“I know you were on your own for a while,” I said and moved closer, placing my hand in hers. I gently smooth over her knuckles.

I wanted her to feel safe with me.

I wanted her to open up to me only when she was ready.

While I was talking about my family, Scout was settled in my head, but as soon as I asked the questions, Scout came closer to listen to her.

I stared at her.

Ebony looked at me and let go of the breath she must have been holding for a while.

“Okay,” she said. “I will talk to you about my family, but I will warn you it’s not happy.” I felt my heart break for her.

Ebony grabbed her glass of wine, down it in one, and looked at me. “You pour, and I will talk,” she said with a small smile.

I nodded.