Be Mine, Alpha

Nine

Nikolai's POV

"And that's all you have for me?" I quipped at the young man in front of me. He spared me a glance, one I couldn't quite decipher what was hidden behind it before he continued again. "Nothing more? Nothing new, no?"

"I wasn't quite done." Xavier wasn't being rude, it was just how he spoke and I in turn loved messing with him. There was only so much an Alpha could do to entertain himself. "Are there any specifics you'd like me to focus on?"

"Tell me about the borders." I crossed my hands across my shoulders, pressing my back onto the exterior of my black Jeep. "The southern ones to be precise."

"Well, there haven't been any more attacks since the last time." I felt my jaw tick in annoyance. The bare mention of it felt like I was reliving the whole thing again and again and to say it was a sour moment wasn't just an understatement. "And to prevent any more mishaps, I doubled the number of guards at the border. I tripled their weapons even."

"Very good." I nodded. Xavier wasn't just only my best friend, he was the best Beta any Alpha could ever ask for and I wouldn't have chosen a better candidate than him. If it were up to me, that is. "Any more news on the rogues?"

" Nothing yet. We did successfully drive them back to their camps though." Xavier smirked and I allowed it because it was no easy feat.

Some rogues had been pestering our camp for a while so hearing that they'd backed down was a huge relief. "I doubt they'd show up anytime soon. Even if they do, we'd definitely be prepared."

"Good, good."

"Also the breeders might need to be moved soon," Xavier interjected. "They have been complaining for a while and I really don't think time is on our side any longer."

"I'll handle it." I shrugged. "But do make sure to get someone to tend to them for the meantime. We can't afford to-"

"Nikolai," Someone's cherry voice cut through whatever it was I wanted to say. Xavier's pout was a double confirmation of who I already thought it was. "There you are."

I watched as Harper bounced up towards me, her ponytail swishing behind her. In no time she'd gotten to me, bright and full of smiles.

"Nickyyyyy!"

Xavier's face always got me whenever Harper called me that nickname. I didn't particularly like it but Xavier's sour expression always made it worth it. "You ditched me this morning."

"No, I didn't," I smirked as my hands found their way to her waist. I slipped a few fingers by her side and she giggled. "Something came up."

"More important than me?" I watched as Harper leaned closer, our faces almost brushing. She didn't need to spell it out. I already knew what she wanted and I couldn't blame her, I was irresistible after all.

"Hmmm. Your words, not mine." I clasped my lips down onto hers. A smile crept up her lips almost instantly but it didn't take too long for a deep moan to replace it.

Dainty hands found their way to my scalp almost tugging at my roots. It wasn't a lot but it was definitely different from when Daphne did it.

Daphne. The mere thought of her was all it took for me and in one swift motion, I cupped both of her lower cheeks, pulling her closer to me.

"Ahem." Xavier cleared his throat, reminding us we weren't the only ones around. It took Harper a while to let go of me, but once she did, he replied. "Hi Harper, it's totally nice to see you."

"Hi, Xavier." She was still beaming. "I'm sorry I didn't see you there."

"Yeah, sure."

"Why don't you head on to class, Harper?" I turned to the girl. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Kay. Bye, guys." Was all it took for her to leave. "I'll see you later Nikolai."

"You know this isn't right." Xavier let out immediately the back of Harper's head disappeared. "Daphne doesn't deserve this."

"I don't understand what you're talking about." I pulled my face into a frown, making sure not to display any emotions. "I don't even know what you mean."

"I think you do, Nikolai. I met with Daphne and she really doesn't deserve this." Xavier repeated, ignoring my glare. "They're sisters after all. You shouldn't be doing this."

"Okay." I had nothing to say to him. I had other pressing issues on my hands and Xavier's concerns weren't a part of it.

My wolf was restless and the only thing that would help calm it down was a run. No, I knew what had to be done, but would I do it? Hell no. All this started ever since I found out Daphne was my mate and it didn't help that my wolf wasn't taking any of it lightly. "I need to shift and clear my head."

"Doing that every single time won't change anything, Nicky." Xavier was practically yelling as I walked away from him. "The earlier you accept this, the easier it becomes for you."

I was almost out of the parking lot when something reached my nose. It was a scent, a scent I'd involuntarily registered in my brain, and just like I had no control of my feet anymore, I found myself walking toward the direction it came from.

I hadn't walked a far distance when I caught sight of what was going on. Daphne was being stared down by the school's noisiest girls, Veronica and Bailey, Harper's friends. Although a small crowd had formed around them, I could make out their words and expressions quite clearly.

"Who do you think you are?" I massaged my temples at the sound of Veronica's voice. Loud, tiny, and deadly obnoxious. There was no way you wouldn't get a headache after hearing her speak. "Just answer me!"

"You have no shame you know?" It was Bailey's turn to speak. She moved a little closer to Daphne before pushing a pointed nail into the skin on her cheek. "Fighting over your sister's man. Are you that desperate and frustrated, hoe?"

"I really don't have time for this." I watched Daphne sigh. She looked genuinely tired, like none of the shenanigans going on weren't her problem. "Let me go. I have a class to catch up with."

"Is that true, or is it just a plan to meet up with Nikolai and try the pity card?"

"Come on, we can see right through you." Bailey spat, literally on the spot in front of Daphne. "You're a shameless b***h who just can't accept that your sister is better than you and is destined for the Alpha. Can't you just watch good things happen to-"

"Let me go." She cut them off, her voice rising a tad higher. "Let me go this instant."

"Or else what?" As much as I was enjoying the exchange, I didn't particularly like the gut feeling that was building up in me. "What are you going to do?"

" I…" Veronica didn't give Daphne so much as a chance to respond as she shoved her to the ground, hard. A loud thud filled the air as the group went silent, a couple of silent oohs and ahhs piercing through the morning.

"That's right."Bailey sneered in Daphne's face. Daphne said nothing, she only watched in shock as the two girls jeered at her.

"Come on, Daphne, what are you going to do to us? Will you…"

I was sure Veronica would have regretted asking that question after what happened next. It was all so fast, no one saw it coming.

In one swift movement, Daphne tossed her bag to the floor before getting up and slapping Veronica hard on the cheek. I didn't know which was louder, the slap or the silence that followed. Whichever it was, it was deafening.

"How dare you?" Veronica stuttered. She was at a loss of words and even I could understand that. Even Bailey was stumped on what to do. "How dare…you lowly piece of s**t. I-"

"Shut it," I found a smile making its way to my lips and I didn't know why. I didn't know a lot about Daphne but I definitely wasn't expecting it. The whole scenario was somewhat…hot.

"Look, it's the Alpha." I heard someone murmur, then another and another and that was all it took for a whole number of eyes to turn to my direction. I chuckled. Did they really just realize me now?

Like the ripple of voices had gotten to her, Daphne turned to me and we locked gazes. I had no idea what I was expecting but all I could see in her beautiful orbs was rage, fury and anger wrapped in one ball that looked like it would explode any minute.

Just as she'd set her eyes on me, she averted her gaze almost immediately. She grabbed her bag in one fluid motion before pointing to the girls.

"Touch me one more time." She enunciated each word, obviously to show she wasn't joking. "And I'll make sure I break all of your bones." Her next steps made it obvious she was leaving, so why was I about to do something my body was against?

"Daphne!"

She heard me, I was sure she heard me and even the number of people that turned to me was a good confirmation of that fact. So why she decided just a glance was what I was worth was beyond me.

Like I didn't exist, she walked into the school hallway, leaving the crowd to mutter even more loudly.

No one ever defied the Alpha, and she'd done just that. She would pay for this. I'd make sure she did.