The Right Girl

NINE

LEONA

“Go on.” I ask, worry rippling through my body. No matter how many times I have told him we are better off alone, to just leave it be, move on and set yourself free of this hatred. It would seem my dear son doesn’t have it in him to move forward. It’s that damn Alpha wolf pacing around in there. Hot headed and stubborn. There is no telling him, once there is a thought in that head of his he just goes on his merry way with it. He can't see the pain and suffering it brings him. He only sees revenge. 

 I watch his eyes dart around and then land back to the table. “John, holding it in isn’t going to make it go away. What have you done?” I question him. He starts to speak, but the pattering of feel on the wooden floors capture both our attentions. Behind me stands a young girl, her mousey blonde hair tangled and matted, her cheeks were stained with tears. Most of all I was drawn to her honey colored eyes. Such a unique color, one that was strikingly familiar.

“ John, what have you done?” I whisper, getting up to walk over to the young girl. His reply is irrelevant at the present time. My concern is the tiny teenager standing before me. I reach to brush a small piece of hair behind her ear. She shudders as my hand brushes past her cheek. “What is your name dear?” I coax, running my hand down her face.

“ Audrey.” Her voice is barely more than a whisper.

“Audrey, who?” I question, shooting a heated glance back in John’s direction. I know damn well who this girl is; I just need to hear it from her first.

“West.” She breathes out with a gentle sigh.

“Well Audrey, I think you should go back to your room, John and I will be having serious discussion.” She turns and toddles back to her room, closing the door softly. I turn to face my son; he will be enduring the biggest mouthful I have ever given.

“Explain.” I stab.

“I was running the borders again.” He begins, my eyebrows shoot up, and we have spoken about this.

“ Before you say anything mum, just hear me out. She was there and I just.. it was impulse. I took her, she followed willingly.” His eyes are pleading with mine. I know he hates to disappoint me, but all this revenge business leaves a sour taste in my mouth. We have been wronged; there is no doubt about that. I Don’t believe it was truly intentional and the person who wronged John doesn’t even know he has done wrong by him.

“John, you are 38 years old. You are a grown man and I shouldn’t need to scold you or push you in the right direction.” My voice softens.

He stands tall and comes over to embrace me. He leans down and whispers in my ear. “I appreciate that you are not a fan of this, but it is how it is going to be. Audrey stays until I have a solid plan. I should be Alpha and I won’t rest until it is so.” His words floor me. This is not the John I know. He leaves me there, mouth agape, wondering where I went wrong. As promised, he heads towards to truck to unpack it for me.

I won’t stop him, but I sure as hell am not helping him. I will help this poor girl get home to her family, if it’s the last thing I do.

DILLON

I am feeling a strange anxiety build within my body. It is not uncommon, it is unsettling though. I walk past the Alpha’s office just in time to hear Graham boom. “AND WHERE IS THE f*****g MORON WHO LOST MY DAUGHTER.” My heart sank and the tingles of a mind link froze me to the spot.

“He wants’ to see you.” The Alpha chuckles through the link. I am growing tired of this man and the way he treats me. He seems to take pride in his ability to throw me into shitty situations.

I knock gingerly on the door and push it open.

“This, this is who you got to look after Audrey?” Graham laughs, as he sizes me up.

“ And this is who you are going to relinquish power to?” He questions with another sharp laugh.

“No, this isn’t on. I am having none of it; I am taking my rightful place here. I didn’t think it possible to choose someone worse than you to run a pack, but once again you surprise me father. This pack is a joke! I thought I was sending Audrey somewhere with discipline not a f*****g summer camp.” My mouth dropped at the orders dripping from his mouth. I bared my neck in submission, what else could I do. This was to be my next Alpha. Just like that Audrey had cost me everything.

“What wonderful news son.” Alpha Richard stands, extending his hand towards his son.

“Get your filthy paw away from me. This is not something I want! I have no choice; you have run the pack into the ground and lost my daughter. I can’t return home without her found and I can’t find her with a pack this useless.” He scoffs.

“Fair enough, I will make the preparations.” His smile makes me sick to my stomach. I have worked so hard for this man and he just shoves me aside.

“Dillon, lad, be a good kid and start the preparations.” His orders make my face flush red.

“ No sir, I don’t think I am going to be doing that.” I surprise myself with my burst of confidence.

“Oh, you don’t” His face is shocked and surprised.

“ No, that won’t be happening, I am not your lackey anymore. Nothing in it for me, I am not doing it for you.” I retort

“Leave!” He commands

“With pleasure.” I walk myself to my room, tall and confident, pack my items and leave Crystal Lake and head for the nearest town. I will not let this discourage me.

GRAHAM

I am finished arguing with this pathetic man, my voice is hoarse from all the shouting and my eyes are tired from the travelling. A disastrous combination it would seem.  I inadvertently just offered to take over as Alpha. I truly hope Mary is ok with this; she doesn’t fit into this world. My father made that abundantly clear when I bought her home. “A HUMAN?!” He had shouted for the pack to hear. Mary handled the embarrassment well and stayed for me. Her strength was astounding; the pack echoed my father’s judgments and made everything harder than it had to be for my Mary. The pranks were merciless and bordered on dangerous. The day she told me she was pregnant, was the day we decided we were leaving. I didn’t care for the Alpha life if it put her in danger and he couldn’t hand it over if the Luna were to be human. So we packed our things and left. My mother maintained contact and my father tagged along. The relationship had always been strained; however it soured when he asked me to accept the Alpha title 7 years ago. A short but ferocious argument ensued. We didn’t see them after that. And I should have kept it that way!

I follow the scent of my mate and make my way up to the Alpha’s quarters. My mother and Mary are sat on the couch talking. Mary stands to greet me, a warm smile plastered on her face. She melts into me and I relish in the tingles that erupt all over my body. I needed her touch to simmer down. I pull her away and capture her lips in a soft kiss. The clearing of a voice pulls us from our moment together. “Mother.” I greet

“My boy.” Her arms are stretched out. I reluctantly move in to her arms and embrace her. She is not as bad as my father, but she also did not step in and help put a stop to the torture Mary had endured.

“I take it we have a room on another floor.” I question as I pull back from her embrace.

“ Well, no, you will stay here with us.” Her reply not quite as confident as it should have been.

“ No thank you. We will be staying elsewhere until you and Dad have moved your belongings out.” Mary’s mouth drops open and Mum stammers.

“Wha... What do you mean boy.” She splutters.

“I am taking my place here, I will have accommodation built for you and Dad, you will not be staying here with us and we will not be staying here with you.” I state.

I watch as the color drains from Mary’s face. She didn’t expect to have to return here and she most certainly didn’t expect to hear that I am going to take over. Officially making this our new home.

“Now excuse us mother, while we find alternate accommodation.” I take hold of Mary's hand and tug her gently towards the door. We have some talking to do.

“ Graham! How could you do this without consulting me?” Her furious whisper came the moment the door closed.

“ The pack is up to s**t, we have no hope of finding Audrey if that buffoon is left in charge and his prospective replacement is the moron who lost her in the first place.” I answer her.

“Come on, the afternoon is still young, let’s go to the lake like old times, we can talk on the way.” I coax, trying to turn her mood. A small smile spreads across her plump lips; I assume fond memories play through her mind.

“ Come on you dag, but the talk is serious!” she quips. Throwing a slap on my shoulder for good measure.