The Merciless Alpha(erotica)

“Susan wants me to move to Minnesota to be with her Pack, while Luke wants to stay here until after he graduates,” he said. “I don’t know what she’s thinking. I’ve seen the weather reports! It’s like a hundred degrees warmer here in the winter.”

I had to laugh at that. “True, but our wolves love the snow, the forests, and the deer. Our bodies run hotter, and our wolves don’t like hot weather. It will be difficult to stay here.” I summarized what the territorial arrangement was with the Los Angeles vampire. “If you are changed, I’m sure your wolf will be dominant. You’ll be in a better place around our kind.”

He nodded to that. “We are going back over Thanksgiving. I need to decide by the end of November; the dojo lease is up at the end of the year, and it’s a year-long commitment. I’m thinking I’d be better off relocating to the Twin Cities and opening in the spring. We could live at her place until we sell both homes. We should have enough equity to buy land adjacent to Leo and build a nice place.”

I thought that would be an excellent plan. California real estate prices were much higher, so he’d do well. “Don’t worry about the four of us. We could be anywhere by the spring, and I’ve got my security team. Hell, we’ll be gone filming at least half the time anyway.” Susan came out to join us, and we spent some time just enjoying the trip back to the marina.

The next week went by quickly, as we made final preparations for the tour. Linda’s team worked closely with the Bodyglove representatives, ensuring we had flights and hotels and activities scheduled. Diving opportunities were limited, so we found local experts in each area and made arrangements to dive with them. We’d spend more time traveling and doing events than diving, though.

I was nervous as we pulled into the marina in Coronado on Friday afternoon. I had a dozen single females from the two Packs on board, all hoping that they’d find their mate among the warriors like Kai and the twins had. Some were already calling me ‘The Love Wolfy’ after all the people who had found mates around me. “Not funny,” I replied. “I think Luna is trying to piss me off with all that.”

“She owes you a good one,” Amy replied. “You have to admit this is more fun that the Scratch n Sniff. Now relax and enjoy yourself.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I went down to the dining area by the gangplank; Linda’s camera operators were there with the release paperwork. As people came on board, the team would ask them to sign a release. If they refused, we’d take their picture so we wouldn’t show their faces in any video we used. Everyone knew we were filming a reality show, so I didn’t anticipate any problems.

A dozen beautiful young women were waiting for us on the pier, all in heels and swimsuits with cover-ups. I welcomed them all on board and let the staff take care of getting them comfortable. Music was playing upstairs, and the place was rocking by the time the guys showed up. When we pulled in lines, we had fifty-eight guests and eight crew on board.

I made sure Lynette passed as close as allowed to the Amphibious Base, ensuring the sailors got a good view of the bikini-clad women lining the rails. Kai’s classmates were having a great time getting to know the girls as we motored out of San Diego Harbor.

The food, wine, and beer were flowing as we made the turn, heading south around Coronado Island. The class was lining the rails, alternating spots with the gorgeous women as we slowly passed the beaches where they suffered through their training. I was pretty sure the guys on shore could hear the music as we cruised by. On the return trip, just after dark, we sang “Happy Birthday” to Amy as we passed it again.

The guys only had a few months of BUD/S left, and training was difficult for the two dozen men left. I wanted them to have something different to think about on that beach, or when they were paddling rafts or swimming out to sea. I wanted them to remember tonight.

We dropped most of our passengers at the dock just before midnight, taxis waiting to make sure they got home safe. It was a fun night; none of the werewolf females found their mates, but a few of the humans left with sailors they met.

The next night, our flights left for Hawaii, and the first leg of our tour.

*********

“On Tour” was a euphemism for “working your ass off.”

Hawaii was a good example. We were all sitting in business class, the twins and Amy in the row with me. We worked on our coursework, preferring to do this when we weren’t in paradise. Mercedes was along as the Bodyglove event coordinator, Linda had two camera operators with her to handle the filming for the show, and Fiona and Carly were running our security. Our flight left at dinnertime, and with the time changes, we arrived at our hotel in Honolulu about ten PM local time. “Get some sleep because we start shooting at seven.”

Waking early, we ran the beach together before breakfast. Mercedes wanted to get shots on Waikiki Beach, with Diamondhead in the background, before the beaches got crowded. It didn’t matter; word spread, and the police and our security had to work to keep people back. The photographer started with us on the beach. He shot some basic poses, playing on the same side in a simulated volleyball game, sunbathing in matching chaise lounges, and walking towards and away from the camera. Two male models were also here, and they were in and out of the shoot. When Mercedes rotated us out to change clothes, the photographer kept going with other models.

By the time we finished at this location, it was past noon. Lunch was small and not filling, as apparently my “barbecue gut” wasn’t a good look for the cameras.

Mercedes loaded everyone onto buses to head to the next place, which was at the top of Diamondhead. Celebrities didn’t get a free pass from the long hike up the trails and through the tunnels to the rim of the extinct volcano, but at least I didn’t have to carry any equipment! It was my first time up here, and the view was amazing. Mercedes wanted shots with Waikiki in the background. “It’s all about local ties,” she told me. “We’ll pick a half-dozen or so shots out of today and use them for the local advertising.”

After we got down from the summit, we loaded into cars and headed for the North Shore. Getting out at Sunset Beach, we walked down to where the HIC PRO surfing competition was going on. “The next two hours are about meeting people and getting organic photos of you interacting with fans and surfers,” Mercedes said. “Don’t hang out together, mingle. Social media is our friend here. Every fifteen minutes, you’ll change suits in the bathrooms. Three of the surfers endorse Bodyglove, so make sure you’re both seen with them a lot.”

“I got it,” I said as I tossed my cover-up into the van. Linda handed out necklaces that doubled as microphones, so the cameras wouldn’t need to be so close and could still pick up the sound. Fiona was going to keep an eye on me, while Amy was with Carly, and the twins would link if they needed help. I’d never been to a surfing competition, and it was awesome. I was recognized immediately, and fans soon surrounded me. I signed autographs, took pictures, and spent time talking sharks with fans young and old for the first hour. Coming out after a bikini change, I spotted Todd Kanoheh, one of the Bodyglove surfers who had just finished his heat, coming out of the water with his board. He was young, only seventeen, but he was making a name for himself. He was only five-feet-eight, but his curly black hair and wide smile had me relaxing immediately.

He’d finished second in his twenty-five-minute heat, riding five waves, the top two scores counting. He smiled waved at me, then told the security guy to let me through into the contestant area of the beach. “Vicki Lawrence,” I said as he invited me to sit by him on the bench.

“Todd, I’m your date tonight,” he said with a smile. My eyes widened, as I hadn’t known who, just that I would be having a public date with one of the Bodyglover surfers. “You won’t have problems with me, Vicki. I’ve seen the videos, and I like my arms the way they are.”

“Oh, God,” I said as I sat down next to him. “You know we’re going to have cameras and everything along.”

“Yes, but it’s all right; we do what we need to do and try to have fun doing it. Life is short, enjoy the hell out of it, that’s my motto.”

“No jealous girlfriends to crash the party?”

He snickered. “I’m a little like you; I’m too busy to be messing around with the pro hos on tour.”

“And my boy is a gentleman,” a Hawaiian woman in her early forties said as she handed a bottle of water to him.

“My mother, Malia,” Todd said. “Mom, this is Vicki Lawrence. Mercedes asked me to escort her tonight.”

I held out my hand to her, but she pulled me into a hug instead. “You do good things for sharks,” she said. “I like you.”

“Thank you,” I replied.

“Where are you taking her,” Mom asked as she fixed her glance on her boy.

“I was going to find out what she liked to do before I made plans,” he replied.

“I like to eat a lot,” I said without thinking, then put my hand over my mouth when I realized I’d said that out loud. Todd started laughing, and Malia was trying not to.

“Seriously, you lead with that?”

“I’m sorry, they barely feed you on these shoots, and I love barbecue,” I said to defend myself. “I love to dive and swim, of course. Dancing can be fun, but I’m not very good at it. I don’t like to drink, and I’m not a party girl unless it’s on a beach or at a pool. I’m kind of boring.”

“Do you surf?”

It was my turn to laugh. “I grew up in Minnesota, a thousand miles from any ocean. I’ve never even tried.”

“You bring her home, Todd. I’ll feed her, and then you can teach her how to surf.”Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.

“Oh, you don’t have to cook for me,” I said. “You should know I’ll have a director, two camera operators, and a security guard with me.”

“They can eat too,” she said as she stood up.

“I hate to ask this, but,” I started nervously. “I know my friends would love to try surfing, but Amy is married, and the twins have serious boyfriends. Mercedes won’t arrange blind dates for them.”

“My family will help teach them, and I don’t mind,” Todd said.

Mom put a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll invite more family, and we’ll make a party of it. I’m sure they would love to meet you and your friends, and they don’t mind going in the water. I’ll let everyone know and get started on dinner while you two go meet the fans. Sponsors are an important part of your job, Todd.”

“Yes, Mom,” he said as he flashed that smile again. He was a good kid. Todd held his hand out for me as he got up, and I held it as he walked down towards the water. We let the camera people take some photos before we spent time together with our fans. Mercedes loved the idea of surfing lessons, and the girls were excited about having a home-cooked meal.