My Best Friend's Alpha

14.

Lana

The cabin door squeaked, my parents must be home. I doubt they're happy with how I behaved. What fickle people they are to go from being overjoyed at the prospect of me becoming the next Luna, to annoyed at how I have handled things. It's not like I can just switch my feelings off overnight, but apparently I should be happy for the pack that our Alpha has found his mate and Luna.

It was unlike my parents to return home and remain so quiet. As I approached my bedroom door I saw the tall shadow of a man in the hallway. Instinctively my hand flew up to cover my mouth as the breath hitched in my throat. I was trying desperately not to make a sound. How had an intruder walked straight into my cabin with the guards outside?

The intruder spoke and I had my answer.

'Lana, we need to talk'

The velvet tones of Nial carried along the darkened hallway.

Oh s**t.

I hadn't thought this through properly yet, I'd wanted this to happen so badly, but now it actually was, words failed me.

My heart raced with each approaching footstep until I thought it would explode out of my chest as he finally reached the door. His grey eyes, filled with purpose locked onto mine. We stood motionless for what felt like eternity until he eventually broke the silence.

'Lana, what the f**k?'

Oh

I saw it now, the look in his eyes that I had mistaken for purpose was actually anger. This man stood before me was now the Alpha and a furious one at that. My body betrayed me, remaining frozen to the spot. The girl who was once so confident in her plan was running for the hills, leaving me a weak cowardly mess, and what's worse is he could see it. The look in his eyes softened to that of pity as I suddenly became aware of my trembling hands. Stinging tears brimmed, threatening to fall at any moment.

'Walk with me' he gently commanded,

I submitted and followed him quietly out of the cabin, towards the forest.

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Nial

The trees swayed gently in the breeze as we followed the path through the forest to a hideout we built when we were eleven. Brushing the curtain of leaves aside revealed the entrance to a small hut that I now had to crouch under to enter. Three crates sat untouched, gathering dust in the exact position we had left them. The one on the far left with the initials NB scratched into it creaked under my weight as I lowered myself down, my long legs folding up against my chest. Lana watched me in silence, fear written across her delicate face.

'Sit'

She immediately complied. Her legs trembled as her teeth anxiously grazed against her bottom lip.

With a deep breath, I began what would turn out to be one of the hardest conversations of my life. Her eyes remained fixed to the ground.

'Is it true? Meela told me you're carrying my pup.'

She feebly nodded in response.

'Deep breaths Nial, deep breaths.'

Alistair's words echo through my mind.

The Alpha power that now courses through my veins has been known to take a while to settle, causing even the calmest of wolves to suffer with a short fuse.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I listen to Alistair, close my eyes and breath in deeply. When I opened my eyes I saw clearly the scared 17 year old girl sat before me. With a sigh, I reached out my hand for Lana to take it, which he nervously obliged.

'Please talk to me Lana, what are you thinking? I don't understand how this happened when we were always so careful.'

After a minute she cleared her throat to speak.

'We were careful, but accidents happen.' she smiled apologetically, a glimpse of the girl I once loved twinkled in her eyes.

'The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes Nial, she has sent us this gift for a reason' her other hand softly rubbed her stomach as she spoke.

I could feel Alistair pacing back and forth. I have always been a strong believer of faith, but right now my faith is wavering. Why would the Moon Goddess bless me with the most perfect mate but not allow me to be with her? Is this my punishment for not waiting for my mate, for starting up a relationship before I turned 18?

'So you're keeping it?' all emotion now lost in my voice.

The hurt washed over Lana's face and her eyes widened in surprise.

'Of course we're keeping this baby Nial. Why wouldn't we?'

I dropped her hand and Wiped my hand across my face in disbelief, exhaustion hit me like a bus. I cannot believe this is happening.

'So what's the plan here Lana? We're just going raise this kid together, play happy families? What about your mate, are you really going to reject him just like that?'

Biting her lower lip, I can tell she is considering it all, so I continue.

'What about my mate? Meela never asked for any of this. To lose her best friend and now her mate in one go? Do you not care for her feelings at all any more?'

I'm struggling to keep calm as the anger raises in my voice.

The tears are starting to pool in her eyes again.

'But, I love you' it came out as a whisper as she looked down at the ground, the tears dropping to the floor in front of her.

A pang of guilt pulled at my insides. I still cared for Lana, just not in the way I once did. The mate bond severed that connection. Crouching before her I reassured her that everything would be okay as my thumb rubbed circles on the back of her hand.

A war battled on inside of me, my head told me I need to stand by Lana it's the right thing to do, but my heart needs Meela now and forever.

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Meela

My parents silently exchanged nervous glances, a secret conversation happening with only their eyes. I had just spilt all about Lana and the baby and how I had told Nial that he must do the right thing by her.

'Okay, what am I missing here?' I ask, impatiently. The glances continued for a minute longer until my Dad cleared his throat.

'Do you have any idea where they might be now? Sweetheart, it's important we get to Nial before he does something to ruin both of your futures'.

Worry washes over me as it dawns on me that there's more to this situation than they're letting on.

'I'll call Deena while you tell your father anything and everything you can think of' my mother states as she reaches for the phone.

'Dad, what's going on? What aren't you telling me?' I plead with him.

Mom chatters away frantically in the background.

'Please pumpkin, I'll explain after we've found them'.

I watch him shift impatiently on the sofa before getting to my feet.

'Follow me, I think I know where they could be. We built a hut in the forest years ago, hidden away in the cluster of oak trees.' I turned to my mom who was now listening, with Deena still on the other end of the line. 'Tell Deena and Tobias to meet us there'.

My Dad darted off towards the forest with me trailing behind. The cool night air burned in my lungs as I struggled to keep up with him. The familiar scent of musk invades my nostrils as I shout to my father to continue straight ahead. Pounding footsteps echo through the forest as Tobias catches up to us. My Dad falls back and let's me take the lead, following the delicious scent of my mate to the hideout hut.

Nothing could prepare me for what I saw when I pulled back the curtain of leaves. The breath left my body so quickly, winding me completely as I saw Lana cuddled into the nape of Nial's neck. His arms wrapped protectively around her, making the vomit rise into my throat.

'Nial stop!' Tobias shouted as the trees began to spin and the contents of my stomach spilled out onto the forest floor. My father caught me just in time before I passed out, walking me away to sit on a nearby tree stump.

It sounds like I'm under water. I can hear the voices around me but I have no idea what they're saying. Suddenly Nial is before me, hands either side of my face with his face only inches away from mine, his smokey eyes frantically searching mine for a response but I've got nothing. My heart is breaking, Karmen is distraught, her agonising howling bounces around my mind. Nial is pulled away from me just as quick as he arrived, that's the last thing I remember before the darkness pulls me under.