The Lost Alpha

Explainable Anger

ANDY

Thursday morning found me in the kitchen, sitting at the island having some breakfast. I was reading a first-year medical textbook, which I know is kind of nerdy in a big way. I still had my cap on my head to avoid any questions. I heard someone come into the kitchen but didn’t pay much attention. People were always coming and going. It wasn’t until the other person spoke that I looked up.

“Certainly making yourself at home, aren’t you?” I to see Beta Theo watching me.

“I’m not allowed to be anywhere else.” I answered. “Alpha Morris has me under house arrest until he knows the extent of the rogue’s plan.”

“It’s strange how you aren’t referring to Alpha Morris as your father.”

“I don’t see how that matters.” I said, straightening up. “To you or anyone else.”

“It matters to those of us who are loyal to the pack.” Beta Theo’s voice lowered dangerously. “I will not let some scamp, some rogue supporter, come in here and destroy everything I have worked so hard to build.”

“That you’ve worked so hard for?” I raised an eyebrow. “You mean, that Alpha Morris has worked for, don’t you?”

“The Alpha is nothing without the Beta.” He snipped, his voice almost a whisper. “And I will do whatever I have to do to protect him, and this pack. Even if that means getting rid of you.”

“And what does that mean?” I asked. “I am the biological daughter of the Alpha. I am your son’s mate. So, what exactly do you mean when you say you’ll get rid of me?”

Beta Theo smiled maliciously at me and stepped back. The way he was looking at me was devious, evil. It made me feel like he was up to something.

“Just keep in mind that Alpha Morris will be looking for an answer soon. And if he doesn’t get it, he will not be happy.”

Before I could say another word, Beta Theo stalked out of the kitchen and disappeared, leaving me to consider what he had said. He had a plan for getting rid of me. I knew I wasn’t his favorite person, but I didn’t realize he disliked me so much.

I closed my book and rinsed out my bowl. I decided I should just avoid Beta Theo as much as possible from here on out.

I was heading back to my room, passing Michael’s room, when I was grabbed and pulled inside. I let out a yip of surprise and then his scent filled my senses. Michael.

The door closed behind me, and he pressed me against it, his body holding me there. I felt my hat fall off my head and heard it hit the floor. My hands moved up his chest, over his shoulders, and behind his neck. He hadn’t kissed me yet, but I could feel his breath on my skin, his forehead against mine.

“I need you.” Michael whispered. “I can’t stay away from you. I’ve tried to give you space, but I can’t keep doing it. I need you.”

I couldn’t respond. My heart was beating out of my chest, my breath was racing. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him until this moment, until I was near him again and could feel his hands on my body. I pulled him down until our lips met. My mouth opened to him, and in an instant, I felt his tongue in my mouth, entwining with mine. I could feel him growing hard against me.

Michael’s hand slid down my side and over my hip, grabbing my thigh and hitching it over his hip to bring our bodies closer together. His lips moved down to my neck, his hands made their way under my shirt.

“Michael,” I whispered. “Please.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.” Michael panted. “I might not be able to stop.”

“I don’t care.” All I could feel was his hands on me, his lips caressing my skin. I wanted this. Faolan wanted this. “I don’t care.”

Michael pulled away. I made a sound of protest, gripping his shirt to pull him back but his hands were on my face, making me look at him. He kissed me again in way of apology, to calm me.

“I need you to be sure about this.” He said. “If we do this, we will be bonded. Forever. I have to make sure you know what that means.”

I became frustrated. Angry even. I understood. I always understood, but everyone kept questioning my understanding. I pushed Michael away from me. The question was etched all over his face, but I couldn’t answer him. It all just welled up inside of me. I wanted to lash out. I wanted to scream. I stepped forward and pushed him again.

“Andy! What the-,“ Michael stared at me. I gave him a glare and turned and walked out the door. I strode back down the hallway looking for a door to the outside world. I decided the front door would be the easiest to get through and headed that way and out the door.

Outside, I took deep breaths of fresh air. The sun was shining, it was still cool out and I needed space from everything that was happening inside that house.

I couldn’t take this anymore. I was a prisoner in this house. All I wanted to do was go back to before I ever found out I was a werewolf. Literally, that moment before Faolan woke up when I was still taking the MCAT. That’s as far back as I wanted to go and forget everything that had happened since.

Everything was in conflict. Alpha Morris and my so-called father. Beta Theo. Michael. Ugh, Michael. Of all the other stuff going on, this one was ironically the worst. I put my hands through my hair in frustration.

Michael and I barely knew each other, but the pull between us was impossible to ignore. I wanted him to the core of my being. I wanted all of him. All the time. But that didn’t seem to be what he wanted, despite what he said. He was always stopping things from proceeding. It was infuriating.

I needed a release of all this energy, and every time he and I were close that energy only grew. I needed to do something.

“Are you okay?” A voice behind me asked. I turned to find a man standing behind me. He was tall, blond haired and fairly muscular. He was handsome in a very different way than Michael.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Thomas. I’m one of the guards here.” He said. His eyes travelled to my hair. I had forgotten to grab my hat when I left Michael’s room. Self-consciously, I ran my hand through my hair. “You seemed upset.”

“I’m fine.” I took a deep breath and turned away from him. “I’m just . . .” I waved him off. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem it.” Thomas tried again. “I’m a guard, so I hear a lot of what goes on around here. If I were you, I wouldn’t just be fine.”

“Look,” I turned to talk to him, surprised to see him standing so close behind me. I paused and took a step back. “I don’t need anyone else to talk to about this. I’ve got enough people talking to me about it. Really, I’m fine.”

“Maybe you don’t need someone to talk to.” Thomas stepped forward again. “Maybe you need someone to take some of the stress away.” I watched his eyes travel over my body.

“No. I definitely don’t need that.” I shook my head, putting my hands up. “And I’d like for you to leave me alone, please.”

“Come on, I’ll make it fun for you.” Thomas’ hand reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me to him and forcing a kiss on me. I ripped away from his grip and swung with my other arm. I was aiming for his nose but misjudged the distance. Instead, I hit him square in the temple. Thomas hit the ground and stayed there.

“Remind me to never piss you off.” I looked up to see Grant walking towards me and stepping over Tom’s prone body. “And if that’s how you react to being kissed, it’s a wonder Michael’s still alive.”

“Shut up.” I glared at him.

“Hey, I’m just saying.”

“You don’t need to say anything.” I walked towards the door, intending to go back to my room, but stopped and turned to look at Grant again. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“Michael asked me to check on you.” Grant shrugged.

“And of course, you walk in on some guy kissing me.” I rolled my eyes in frustration and started walking again. “I don’t need checking on.”

“I see that.” Grant caught up to me in a few strides. “So, where are we going?”

“Back to my room. Apparently, that’s the only place I don’t cause trouble.”

“I have a better idea.” Grant stepped in front of me. I glared up at him. “If you promise not to kiss me-“

“Gross.”

“- or knock me out, I’ll take you into town for lunch.” He finished.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“What’s in it for you?”

“I get to spend time getting to know my cousin.” Grant said. “I don’t have any siblings, and I don’t have any other cousins, which I’ve always wanted.” I considered this for a moment.

“Well, I can promise I’ll probably be a terrible cousin.” I told him. “I have no experience with it either.”

“We can learn together.” Grant smiled. “Let’s go get some food.”

“I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all week.”