I was talking to Alpha Roniston when a pitch-black wolf made its way through the front door of their pack house and outside to where we stood. The tension that vibrated between the pack members and this wolf could've electrocuted a slab of steak and cooked it perfectly. Her coat was beautiful, her eyes golden-amber, her stance proud and unwavering. Mate!
I blinked and she turned her head towards me, widening her eyes as the revelation hit her too. She took me in, assessing me like I had just done, then in one swift move, spun and took off back inside the house. I didn't miss the fear in her eyes or the panic in her footsteps. Something was wrong, and I didn't think it was me exactly.
"Who was that?" I ask the alpha.
His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were still fixed on the house where the she-wolf had disappeared into. "Someone who has learned her lesson, I think," he murmured.
"Lesson? In what?" I ask.
He shakes his head and smiles like nothing had happened. Gesturing to the girls standing before us, he said, "These young ladies are unmated and willing to be yours."
I cross my arms and pretend to assess the girls one by one then saying, "Not interested." I turn back to the alpha. "Who was the wolf?"
He hesitated for a moment before saying, "An outcast. An Omega. Someone you shouldn't concern yourself with."
I stare at him for a moment and glance to the house. Nodding, I clear my throat. "Do you have a bathroom?"
"Second floor, first door on your left," he explained, and I nodded. I run inside and quickly follow my mate's scent where it leads all the way to the fourth floor in the very last bedroom as if it was meant to be secluded up here.
I knock and hear a muffled sniffle before a shaky voice says, "Go away!" I knock again and she throws something at the door. "I don't need anything, you assholes! I didn't stomp! I wasn't even there for that long!" Her sobs break and in a weaker voice she hisses, "Just leave me alone."
I bite my lip in indecision. I finally, after about thirty seconds, knock again, not backing down.
My mouth curves up at the sound of her angry stomping footsteps as she storms to the door and wrenches it open. "What in the hell do you not underst—"
I raise a brow when she sees who it is and doesn't finish her sentence. Her eyes fill with fear again and I am shocked because I thought that was a fluke or something. "Hey! I'm not going to hurt you!" I try to whisper soothingly to her.
This worsens her fear. "G-go away!" she hisses.
"What?" I sputter.
Stepping back and shaking her head, she starts closing the door. "Please, just leave me alone."
I stop the door with my hand and narrow my eyes at her. "Do you know who I am?" She shakes her head slowly, fearfully. "Then why are you afraid of me?"
Her eyes roam my body once more, taking in my figure before meeting my eyes again. "Is it that hard to guess?" she says with a weird expression.
I look down at myself and shrug. "Yes, actually. It is hard to guess. Please, enlighten me."
I smirk when she crosses her arms and repositions herself into an offensive stance. "First of all, you're a giant! Second, you look like you could snap a spine with just two fingers. You are an Alpha, which isn't hard to tell considering your arrogance is off the charts. Would you like me to go on?"
"Actually, why don't you tell me about yourself, beautiful."
She flinches – flinches – at my request. "I can't…please leave before something bad happens to one of us."
Before I could react, she shuts the door and the sound of a click signals to me that it's locked. "Can I at least know your name?" I half shout through the door.
Soft footsteps pad over to the door and I see a paper slide underneath it.
I might as well, it's only good for one thing in your job description. I'm ready to hear it, too. Nice meeting you. –Simone
"Simone…" I say slowly. I didn't understand the short message about why she gave me her name, but I was going to ignore it. "I'll be right back, Simone. I want you cleaned up and downstairs in the living room in five minutes, understood?"
There was a muffled, "Yes," before I hesitantly move away.
I go back outside where the Alpha and the girls were still waiting. I take the Alpha away from the others and speak low and fast. "Simone is coming with me. I don't know or care about her past right now, but she is no longer your concern."
"No," he said flatly.
I blink. "What?"
"She's not leaving."
"Why the fuck not?" I hiss.
"I have been told not to let her out of my sight by her mother."
"Then let me see the mother and I will get her permission to let Simone come with me!"
He deflated a fraction before saying, "She's dead. Her last wish was for Simone to stay in this pack."
"I am her mate, Alpha Roniston. If you do not let her go, I will tear apart every pack member here until she's mine!"
For a moment, there was fear before there was determination. "I said she is staying. I'm not one to break my promises."
I glare at him and move away before I kill him. Simone is standing at the front door with a worried look on her face. Her eyes light up at seeing me, but then dim when she looks away, like she has doubts. When she glances back at me, she starts shaking her head and back up into the house. I pause but she continues. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Roniston's hard glare and I can't keep my control any longer.
"Simone!" I growl. She stops and looks at me as I slowly stalk towards her. "Come here!"
I stop a few feet from the door, letting her come to me. A war lights up in her eyes and I hear a barely audible whine come from her throat. "I can't."
In a softer tone, I say gently, "It's alright, beautiful. No one can intercept you, or they are dead."
Hope lights in her gold eyes and I nod slowly in encouragement. She takes a step forward, hands shaking slightly. "Simone, you're making a big mistake!" the alpha shouts at her.
Simone hesitates and glances at me before looking around. Another whine escapes. I turn to the Alpha. "Keep your mouth shut, or I swear I will do worse than rip you apart!" When I look back at my mate, she is staring at her shoes. "Simone, do what you want."
She looks at me surprised and seems to smile a little. After that, her steps are more confident and easier as she walks towards me. Alpha Roniston growls, and Simone is only a couple feet away when she stops. "What if I'm in danger?" she asks in a barely heard whisper.
"I'll protect you. My pack will protect you," I hold out a hand to her. "And you will do the same for us."
Those golden-amber eyes stay fixed on me and I somehow knew she was not weak like she was presuming to be. Behind her, a man about her age steps out of the house and smiles. "Go Simone! Take your life back!"
Simone looks back at him and smiles a little brighter smile for him. When she turns back to me, there's an air of self-confidence and a spark of life in her body. Before she can reach for my hand though, Alpha Roniston pushes her away and blocks her from getting to me. "Jerom, get her back into her room and keep her there!"
"But, he's my mate!" Simone cried out. "Please, don't keep me away!"
Alpha snapped his head towards her and said venomously, "You heard what your mother said, Simone! Get into your room now before I drag you there myself! You've already caused enough trouble for one day!"
This made me angry and I growled, "Simone, how old are you?"
"Twenty-one!" she gasps.
Jerom grabs her arm gently and whispers, "Come on, Si. There's no use in fighting Alpha Roniston. Let's just go."
"No!" she screams, and I lock eyes with her before locking eyes with the boy. He makes a slight gesture with his head towards the forest.
"Simone, maybe we can do something in your room for a while until everything calms down?"
"Jerom, I can't! I can't take it, Jerom! I should be with him!"
"Simone," I say firmly. She looks at me with pleading eyes and a tear-stained face. "Go with your friend. Do as you are told. I'll talk to your alpha and figure out how to get you into my arms and on my land. Just do as you're told for now."
She nods, calmer now, but still shaking. "What about you? What's your name?" she asks breathlessly.
I give her a gentle smile and say, "Alpha Reed. My name is Reed."
She mouths my name and starts backing away with Jerom. I nod to Jerom when he looks back at me before they both disappear inside. Alpha Roniston growls and turns back to me. "She isn't leaving!"
I hold up my hands. "I only said that to get her to shut up. I know when to test an Alpha and when to back down. I'm leaving now."
He blinks and straightens up. "You are?"
"Yes. I have a pack to get back to and a criminal to find. I can't spend all my time fighting for something I can never have." I turn and leave, linking Corey and Thrain to prepare themselves.