The Lost Alpha

The Truth Comes Out

ANDY

“No.” I stepped back from the window. I wrapped my arms around myself. I was suddenly cold and shaking.

“Andy? What’s wrong?” Alpha Morris asked. I looked at him with wide eyes. His face was full of concern.

“It’s not possible. It-, it can’t be.” I shook my head. Alpha Morris gripped me by both arms.

“What is it? Tell me!” He commanded.

“I know that wolf. I know who he is.” I choked out.

“Who? Who is it?”

“That’s the human, Douglas Wesson.” I blurted.

Alpha Morris stared at me, mouth agape.

“The man who raised you?” He asked. I nodded. His eyes slid out of focus. The sign that he was communicating through the mind link. Movement intensified around the pack house. I went back to the window. Pack wolves had surrounded the brown one. As one, they attacked him, but not to kill, just to restrain. As I watched, a man rushed in and slid a needle into the brown wolf’s neck.

“Wolfsbane.” Alpha Morris said from beside me. “To neutralize his wolf temporarily. It won’t hurt him.” The wolf was subdued and covered with a blanket moments before he morphed back into his human form. “Is that him?”

“Yes.” My voice broke around the lump in my throat. It was in fact the man who raised me. The man I called Dad. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know, I swear.” I turned to Alpha Morris, tears in my eyes. “Please, I didn’t know.

“It’s okay.” Alpha Morris whispered, wrapping his hands around the back of my neck. “None of us knew. It’s okay. I believe you.”

“How did no one know he was a werewolf?” I asked.

“He’s a rogue.” Alpha Morris shook his head, releasing me. “He’s not registered to a pack. Douglas Wesson is not his real name. He hid in plain sight.”

“Excuse me, Alpha.” Grant spoke up. I had nearly forgotten he was still there. “Beta Theo is outside wanting to talk to you.”

Alpha Morris nodded.

“Grant, take Andy back to her room. Make sure someone stays with her.”

“Yes, sir.” Grant waved me over to him. His hand on my back as he led me out of the room. I went without argument. I was so hurt and confused. My entire life was turning out to be a lie.

Grant opened the door to my room for me to walk through, closing it, and staying out in the hall.

“What-,” I stopped because I smelled him. I spun around to find Michael standing in the middle of the room. I rant to him, throwing myself into his arms. Arms that wrapped around me and held me tightly as I began to cry.

Michael swept me up in his arms and carried me to the bed. He pulled my sneakers from my feet and helped take off my sweatshirt. He kicked off his boots, pulled off his button down to reveal a white tank top and laid down next to me. I curled into him, burying my face in his neck and in his reassuring scent. Michael wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly until I fell asleep.

MICHAEL

I woke up to her back against my chest. Her body fit perfectly with mine, like two pieces of a puzzle. Andy took a deep breath as she started to wake up and shifted against me. As her butt moved against my crotch, I felt myself start to get hard.

I buried my face into her neck, finding her sweet spot and lavishing it with kisses. Andy moaned and rolled to face me. Her eyes opened, already full of want. She reached up, sliding her hands into my hair and pulled me down to kiss her.

I couldn’t stop myself. The pull was becoming stronger, especially after spending the night holding her. I climbed on top of her, settling myself between her legs, supporting myself on my elbows.

My mouth moved to her neck, tasting her skin. I slid my hand under her shirt, gripping her hip, running my hand up her ribs, caressing the edge of her round breast with my thumb.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Michael!” A voice yelled. “Michael Thomas Hardwick, I know you’re in there!”

“Son of a b***h,” I growled, climbing away from Andy. “It’s my father.”

“Open this door!”

“I’m coming!” I yelled back. I threw on my shirt and grabbed my boots.

“Michael.” I stopped when she said my name. I would always stop when she said my name. She was my mate, but more than that, I was falling in love with her. I went to her, kissing her deeply.

“I’ll find you later. I promise.” I whispered.

“Okay.” She answered with a smile as my father started banging on the door again.

I opened the door just far enough to slip out and was met with the angry glare of my father.

“What were you doing in there?” My father, Beta Theo, asked, leading the way down the hall. “Clean yourself up.”

“The Alpha said she wasn’t to be left alone.” I answered.

“That’s a job for a lower-level warrior. Not the future Beta.”

“I figured because of her importance to the Alpha, he would want someone he truly trusted protecting her. Someone with exemplary fighting skills.” I argued.

“So, call Carson, or tell Grant to stay with her.” Beta Theo retorted. “Not someone with responsibilities that you are now late for.”

“Father.” I grabbed his arm to stop him and lowered my voice. “She is my mate.”

ANDY

After Michael rushed from the room, I got up and got into the shower. A nice cold shower. I had gotten aroused way too many times in the past twelve hours without release. I was wound up, and any time I got close to Michael, I got wound even more tightly.

I grabbed a pair of black leggings and a cream colored, oversized sweater. I put a blow drier through my hair, brushed my teeth and went downstairs. Halfway down, I was stopped by one of the guards.

“The Alpha wants to see you.”

I sighed and nodded, turning back around. By now, I knew my way to the Alpha’s office.

Outside the door, I knocked.

“Come in.” Alpha Morris’ voice sounded. I walked in, closed the door, and froze when I saw who was in the room.

Michael stood and came over to me, taking my hand.

“It’s okay.” He whispered. “Come sit.”

I let him lead me over to the couch. We sat across from Alpha Morris and a man I assumed was the Beta, and Michael’s father.

After a moment of silence, Alpha Morris cleared his throat.

“There are many things we need to discuss.” He said calmly. “And most importantly is – “

“The mate issue.” The Beta interjected.

“That has already been taken care of.” Michael growled. “That has already been discussed.”

“And I am not satisfied with your answers.” The Beta’s voice sounded dangerous.

“They are the only answers you’re going to get.” Michael said with a low-level growl.

“Enough!” Alpha Morris commanded. “Theo, I am satisfied with the answers and that’s all that matters.” The two men quieted, staring daggers at each other. “Most important is the man downstairs.”

“He’s here?” I blurted out. “In this building?”

“Yes. Chained up in the cells down below, sedated with regular wolfsbane.” Beta Theo explained in an unexpectedly gentle tone. “He won’t be hurting anyone anytime soon.”

“He never hurt me.” I clarified. “Up until last night I knew him as a very kind and gentle man. He was a wonderful father.” I didn’t know why I felt such a need to defend him, but I couldn’t stop myself.

“My apologies.” Beta Theo inclined his hand respectfully. “But on our side, he has killed his fair share of wolves.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“There is no way you could have known.” Alpha Morris reassured me.

“What was he doing here?” Michael asked, directing the conversation back to the point. “Who is he really?”

“The man Andy knew as Douglas Wesson is actually a rogue wolf who was banned from his pack many years ago. The only name we know him by is his wolf’s name – Bane.” Beta Theo explained. I looked at him thoughtfully. It itched at the back of my mind that there was something he was leaving out.

“And as for why he was here,” Alpha Morris pulled my attention. “He came for you, just as he came for your mother twenty-two years ago.”

“Why?” I asked. “What’s so special about me?”

“Everything.” Alpha Morris said. “Andy, you a direct descendant of the Moon Goddess, Selene, as was your mother and her mother, back for generations.” He must have seen the confusion on my face because he continued. “As you and your wolf bond and grow together, you will develop your powers, which will far outreach those of regular wolves.”

“I still don’t understand.” I shook my head.

“Legend has it that if those powers are stolen and put into the wrong hands,” he paused a moment. “It could be the end of our world. And it would mean the killing of your wolf.”

“Which would kill me.” I looked around at the men for confirmation.

“No, you can still live without your wolf.” Alpha Morris said. “And they would keep you alive because you hold Selena’s blood and power. But it would be torture without your wolf.”

“And that’s why they took my mother?” For her powers?” I asked.

“Yes,” Alpha Morris confirmed. “But they failed, and when they killed her wolf, they killed her.” The Alpha’s voice broke.

“We can only assume that Bane planned to raise you as one of the rogues so that when the time came, you would be more compliant to their plans.” Beta Theo took up, giving the Alpha time to compose himself.

“Stockholm Syndrome.” I defined. Beta Theo nodded. I worked this all over in my mind. “So, what do we do now?”

“Now, we need to talk about your future.” Alpha Morris sat forward.

“No.” Michael stood fiercely. “No, we will not talk about her future. That is for her to decide.”

“She needs to understand the ramifications of her actions. She needs to know what it all means.” Beta Theo tried to tell his son.

“And that will be a discussion when she asks. Not before.” Michael argued. The two of them were getting angry.

“We need to know now. This can’t wait. But you are too young to understand that!” Beta Theo stood and yelled. “You are both too young to understand the consequences!”

As they argued, I grew angry myself. Suddenly, I felt a part of my brain open up, and information and power flow out and fill my body. Things I had never known before suddenly revealed themselves.

“Stop it!” I commanded, jumping to my feet. “Both of you, sit down!” The Beta, and the future Beta looked at me in surprise, but sank back into their seats. “What sort of patriarchy is this that the men sit around making decisions for the woman?” I lectured. “I am not some little Luna that plans parties and manages the household.” I looked at Alpha Morris. “I have the blood of an Alpha running in my veins.” My gaze shifted to Beta Theo. “And I am the current, living descendant to the Moon Goddess who created us all.” My eyes rested back on Alpha Meyers. “I have already considered the consequences of whatever decision I may make. And when I have made my final decision, I will let you know.”

“We need to know sooner rather than later.” Beta Theo spoke up. I felt my eyes flash as I met his gaze, power gathering in my chest.

“I will make my decision when I make it, and not a moment before.” I growled, making Beta Theo lower his eyes.

Satisfied, I strode from the room, not bothering to close the door behind me.