Arlen's POV
Of all the second chance mates I could've got, I ended up with a human. A smart mouth one at that.
Those who know me know that normally, a sarcastic woman is not one I handle well. With Brynn, I get hard just thinking about all the ways I can keep my tiny mate preoccupied. She has awakened my repressed libido with a fire I've never known.

After I returned back to my office, I immediately got to work trying to figure out who my Queen is. Knowing Lorenzo as I do I have to approach this carefully and pick up the phone.
"Lorenzo, in the future you must make me aware of any changes with delivery drivers immediately." I gently reprimanded him. With Lorenzo, you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.
"I apologize for the oversight. It won't happen again." Lorenzo told me. "Are you satisfied with the delivery?"
"I am. The young lady that delivered the package was quite efficient. I want to have her last name so I can add her to our list in case she has to make a delivery for Grimes again?" I inquired. Jason raised an eyebrow at me in amusement.
"It's Greeley, Brynn Greeley." Lorenzo told me. I spelled it out and wrote it down for Jason to look her up. After I got off the phone, I looked her up on social media but found nothing. Which was alarming, as most young women have a social media of some form in this day and age.
"King Arlen, I found out who she is." Jason turned his laptop over to me with a BMV listing. "She changed her last name from Hunter to Greeley, and shortened her first name from Brynnlee to Brynn." And there my mate was, a somber BMV photo for her Washington driver's license. How I long to see what she looks like smiling.

"There's more, King Arlen. Brynlee Hunter is originally from Portland, Maine."
"How on earth did she end up out here?" I asked him. Jason took a deep breath and looked like he didn't want to tell me.
"Jason, what are you seeing?" I commanded him.
"Check your email for a news link." He whispered painfully and immediately got under his desk. I opened the email link he sent me and felt sick to my stomach. Brynn's abrasiveness towards me today made perfect sense. No woman gets that way unless they have been hurt, badly.

Attempted Rattlesnake M****r Trial Ends In a Guilty Verdict.
Eighteen months ago, Brynlee Hunter (21) was certain she was going to die. She laid on the floor of her apartment she shared with a man she once loved beaten, violated and near death. Then Patrick Jenkins coldly delivered a coup de grace in the form of a bite from a rattlesnake he kept in his apartment. According to the medical team at Portland Memorial who saved her life, Brynlee died twice that night and required over forty vials of antivenom and several months of procedures and recovery.
After a lengthy legal battle against her ex-boyfriend Patrick Jenkins, age 36, Brynlee Hunter has finally seen justice. Patrick Jenkins was found guilty of attempted m*rder, s*xual assault, and assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to thirty years in prison, with an attempt at parole in twenty.
"We feel that the punishment doesn't meet the crime in this case. Brynlee wouldn't be here if her neighbor hadn't paid attention and knew she was in danger. However, Brynlee and I'm sure many other women are sleeping better tonight knowing that Patrick Jenkins is locked away for a long time." District Attorney Tara Higgins told The Portland Sentinel.
T.E. Lioma, defense attorney for Mr. Jenkins, has already filed an appeal. "There are several issues we raised at trial regarding chain of custody in the evidence in this case. I am confident justice will be served and Mr. Jenkins can get a retrial."
I went into a rage and sent dust and light bursts all over my office. Then I broke down and sobbed. Jason came out when he heard me crying.
"How could anyone have done that to her!?" Jason came over and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Because he's a monster and needs to be removed from this earth. What do you want to do?" There was a darkness in Jason's voice I hadn't heard before. Why wouldn't there be? The future Fairy Queen was almost killed in a horrible way.
"You know where this piece of s**t is being held?" I asked him. He nodded.
"Let's monitor for now." As much as I wanted Jenkins dead, I had to be a King first and not draw unnecessary attention to me and my subjects.
"If I may make a suggestion King Arlen. We shouldn't wait long to end him. Jenkins didn't keep that snake in his apartment for s**ts and giggles. He was into wildlife trafficking and made his fortune dealing in venomous snakes. There are ties to organized crime we need to consider that can influence lawyers and judges to approve his appeals." I shook my head. How on earth did Brynn get mixed up with someone like him?
"And with the resources he has, he will find her even with the name change. It's just a matter of time. Get Brynn's address and keep a guard around her home at all times." I commanded. Jason nodded in agreement.
After today I needed to blow off some steam. "Hey Jason, want to bust out of here and grab a couple of beers?" I asked him.
"Old Port sound good?" Jason has an affinity for the chicken alfredo they serve there.
"Let's do it." After getting the office settled for the afternoon, we headed out to Port Angeles and got to the Old Port bar just before dusk. As soon as we walked in, I immediately spotted my mate at the bar with another beautiful woman. Suddenly Jason grabbed my arm and looked at me.
"That dark haired woman the Queen is with has the light on her. She is my mate, King Arlen!" He whispered to me. I studied the young lady and sensed she was a human. She was lovely, though in my eyes my mate is the most beautiful woman in the world. But when I used my fae hearing to tune in to their conversation, I knew I was going to have to make my move fast.
"It's him, Emma! The blonde hair guy!" Brynn whispered to her friend.
"Her name is Emma." Jason whispered to me in wonder.
"Girl...you were not kidding that man is HOT!! And he's staring right at the back of your head too!" We heard Emma say to Brynn.
"OK I am leaving. Can you help me sneak me out through the bathroom?" NO! She can't leave!
"What!? The black haired guy is checking me out! I want to get to know him!" Emma whined. Jason chuckled softly.
"They're psycho, trust me!!" Brynn hissed at her. I had to turn my back before I hit the floor laughing.
"Too late they're coming over." Emma told her teasingly.
"Good evening ladies. Well hello Brynn Brynn, leaving so soon?" I asked Brynn teasingly. Emma raised her eyebrows in amusement.
"Brynn Brynn?" Emma inquired, making Jason smile in wonder. He looked at her like she was the only woman in the room for him.
"Brynn apparently doesn't have a last name." I said, smirking.
"Oh she does, she just doesn't give it away to strangers." Brynn snapped back.
"Well, then I won't be a stranger." I sat down on the stool next to her. "I'm Arlen Miller. And you are..."
"Leaving! I have to get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Brynn jumped up, making Emma put her face in her hands. "Where did Gabe go, Em? I need a ride home."
"NO!" I jumped up and grabbed Brynn's elbow out of pure instinct. Too late, I realized I'd made a mistake when I saw the panic and fear in Brynn's face and dropped her elbow quickly. Even though my touch was brief, I felt her trembling. I stepped forward to hug her, but Brynn stepped as far back as I could get.
"I'm so sorry. It's just that I really want to get to know you, Brynn. Please stay." I begged her, feeling emotion creep into my throat.
"I don't do well with strange men grabbing my arm to make me do what they want!" She hissed at me.
"I don't know how to do this. Get to know a woman, like this. Please, give me another chance." Goddess Aine, if you can hear me please help me get through to her!
"I need to talk to Brynn a second. Can you excuse us please?" Emma spoke up.
"You're coming back right!" Jason asked her.
"Of course." She smiled brightly at him and walked Brynn to the ladies room. I waited until they were in there and went to the hallway, using my fae hearing to tune in.
"See, this is what I was talking about Em! That jerk pulled this crap earlier at that stupid town!!" I don't miss the anger in my mate's voice and immediately felt remorse.
"I agree he is very pushy and needs to take it down a few pegs. But the way he's looking at you...Brynn this is like love at first sight stuff! Arlen looks at you like he'd burn down the world to keep you safe!"
"The last time I loved a man who told me he was in love at first sight, I almost ended up dead!! I know the signs! The sweeping you off your feet, the over-compliments, then the subtle insults and 'you'll never make it without me' begin! Pretty soon you're huddled in a corner breathing into your knees praying he didn't break your nose with that last hit! I have been down this road before, and I will NOT go down it again!!" Brynn screamed.
Goddess Aine help me fix this. PLEASE!
"You went through something horrible. No one is saying you have to get into a new relationship, but just consider getting to know Arlen. Because as much as I hate to bring it up, your bat s**t crazy ex may get out. As proficient as you are getting with nunchuks, Patrick has years of prison under his belt now. You need to build your village Brynn. Arlen and his friend are big, they're strong, and they WILL help you. I know it." Emma assured her. If only she knew how far Jason and I would go to protect my Queen.
I heard Brynn's sobs and almost rushed in there, but Emma seemed to have it under control. She was definitely to my mate what Jason was to me. Goddess Aine knew what she was doing mating these humans with us.
"Dry your face, sweetie. There is a man out there who really wants to get to know you. And I REALLY want to get to know that man's friend." I went back to the bar where I had been with Jason.
"We're in. Oh and your mate really wants to get to know you." I smiled at him and he smiled back. Brynn and Emma returned a couple of minutes later.
Brynn's face had tear stains, but when she looked at me there was no fear in her eyes whatsoever. "You can't be pushy with me. I don't handle it well at all. Since you apologized I will give you another chance. But if I say no, I mean no. And don't ever, EVER put your hands on me like that again. Got it!" The minx pointed her finger right at my face, and I didn't know at that moment whether to laugh or cry. So I leaned in and put my lips close to her ear, praying to the Fairy Goddess for self control not to kiss her right there.
"The only time I will put my hands on you again is for yours and my pleasure, Brynn." I whispered in her ear. Brynn gasped and I sensed her arousal. I smiled in euphoria.
"Once again, I'm Arlen Miller. What's your last name, Brynn?" Even though I knew it already, I want to hear it from my mate. She has to learn to trust me.
"It's Greeley. Brynn Greeley."