The Doctor's Alpha Mate

Chapter 11 Compromise

Max

Tracking came naturally to me, the subtle details and intricacies involved in tracking a man down. Or a werewolf.

And why not, I scanned the empty driveway of the motel. I'd been a man on the run myself. I bit back a wince as I stretched a little, the stitches on my back still sore.

I'd tracked down the man to this motel, it wasn't much for a motel I thought, glancing at the near-empty driveway. It was a small town.

Who knew I'd find her here? My thoughts strayed, like they'd been straying all evening and a beautiful face appeared in my mind's eye.

Sophie.

My mate! I still felt a sense of incredulity at the thought. I'd come here to lie low, hide away from the claws of Jamal. But somehow, they'd found me.

The thought of my estranged brother who hated my guts made my stomach curl. I'd left the pack for years now, yet he wouldn't stop scheming against me.

My eyes became chilly with cold rage at the memory of the werewolf who'd cornered Sophie back at the hospital. I didn’t think it was any coincidence.

They were after me. But I wasn't going to take any chances. I'd texted her, I only hoped she'd follow my instructions.

I was going to keep her safe, I thought, a wave of protectiveness coming over me. No one was going to harm her. Not if I had anything to do with it.

There he was.

My gaze sharpened when I spotted a man walking into the motel, he was the man who'd cornered Sophie. He was the one I was looking for.

My footsteps were light as I stepped out from behind the trees. I didn’t spare the surroundings a gaze as I strode in, following the man silently.

He'd barely registered my presence when I gripped his neck, strength coming easily to me.

“I…” his eyes widened when he saw me.

“Who's giving you orders?” I snapped, my eyes chilly as I stared at him. He was just an underling, he couldn't help me.

The man’s eyes widened with fright. “No one,” he shook his head hurriedly. “I'm on—”

“If you don't spit it out,” my hands tightened around his neck. I glanced around, thankfully the surroundings were quiet.

“If you don't…” My hands tightened even more until his face was red with sweat popping out on his forehead.

“I didn’t take an Alpha's son for a bully,” a voice rang out at that moment, piercing the air.

I turned to see the man who'd appeared a few meters behind me, my eyes narrowed immediately. “What are you doing here, Silver?” I stared at him, my eyes poking holes into him.

I knew him. He was one of the commanders in the pack, Jamal had backed him. My expression became grave, it spelled trouble if he was here.

“I didn’t think you'd stoop so low to chase after a wounded man,” I sneered, letting go of the man in my grasp. He fell to the floor, gasping and coughing with his hands still curled around his neck.

I didn’t spare him a glance.

“It doesn't have to be this way,” Silva opened his arms, his manner was casual but his eyes were grave. “I'm just following orders.”

My throat tightened, and I tensed slightly. “Who's orders?”

“I…” Silver was about speaking but the sound of a door opening cut his words short. A man walked out of a room, his eyes staring at us curiously.

Silver glanced at him, waiting for him to move out of earshot before he spoke. “Let's talk inside.”

I stared at him for one long moment before I nodded. “Okay,” I followed him down the corridor and into a small room.

“You said you were under orders,” I repeated, crossing the room to open the shutters, lighting up the room.

“Your father's,” Silva met my gaze. “Your father wants you to come back.”

“Father?” My brows shot up and I gaped with shock. I vaguely heard his last words to me before I'd left the pack.

‘Can't you learn from your brother?... you're a disappointment… your lies…’ I shook my head, clearing the thoughts away.

“Is that so?” I stared coldly at Silva, not believing a word that came out of his mouth. “If so, why…”

“It's not my fault,” Silva interrupted me. He glanced at the man, “excuse us,” he waved his hand, dismissing him. The man walked out without a word.

“You know the situation between you and your brother,” Silva began, his face looked conflicted. “I can't disobey direct orders, so I'll…”

“You'll not do anything of the sort,” I took a step forward. “If you so much as breathe a word of my whereabouts to Jamal, or my father,” I paused. “I'll skin you.”

Silva's eyes flashed with a grave expression, he looked like he wanted to refuse but he thought better of it.

My heart thudded as I stared at him. Father had sent him to find me, but Jamal had also sent him to make sure I wasn't coming back.

“I can't do that,” Silva's first words sent a bolt of anger whipping into me and my eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Wait,” Silva chuckled dryly and he forced a smile. “I can't atone for my actions. But we can come to a compromise.”

“Hmph!” I snorted, still distrustful. “Go on.”

“Perhaps It'll be in our best interests if I head further south,” Silva said suddenly, his eyes holding many implications.

My eyes flashed as I stared at him, weighing his words. “Father and Jamal?”

"I'll head south. I'll keep searching for you—officially."

I stared at him, weighing his words carefully.

"And why should I believe you?"

His smirk deepened the flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. "Because it’s in both our best interests."

I didn’t reply, my fists clenching at my sides as the room seemed to shrink around us. Silva turned to leave, pausing at the door, his back to me.

"Think carefully, Max," he said over his shoulder, his voice low, almost mocking. Then he stepped out, leaving the weight of his unspoken condition hanging in the air.