My Best Friend's Alpha

16.

Meela

Everything is dark, I'm trapped, imprisoned inside my own existence. It is such a terrifying experience to be betrayed by your own body, paralysed physically but mentally, acutely aware.

My heart clenches listening to the panic in Nial's voice. The mate bond prevents me from staying angry at him for too long, Karmen doesn't allow me to, she prances like a stripper around a pole when he's near.

Other voices echo around the room, the bed dips as someone lies themselves down next to me with a familiar spark tingling over my skin. The musky scent of Nial surrounds me, soon mixed with the scent of earth and pine as soft lips gently place a kiss on my forehead, Dad!

My Dad was here, but his voice fades along with the footsteps out of the room. I am left with Nial who cuddles me protectively, one arm wrapped around me. I don't feel in control of my body, but as my head nuzzles into Nial's chest, I am filled with excitement. A flutter of hope that maybe, finally my body is recovering from this sleep like state.

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Lana

'What do we have here then?'

I force open my eyes to find a half naked blonde haired figure hunched over me.

Panick rushes through me as I remember who's territory I'm on. Leaves shuffle behind the blonde guy, two others stand back eyeing me suspiciously.

Long arms snake their way behind my back and under my legs, the blonde guy carefully lifts me from my cramped hiding place. Not many leaves remain around the opening of the tiny cave, the wind must have blown them away, exposing me to patrolling guards.

My head slumps into his shoulder, I'm too weak to even hold it up.

'She's in a bad way'

I hear blondy announce to the others.

'Run on ahead and have a bed made up in the infirmiry' he commanded.

Maybe the stories were false, they certainly didn't seem cruel. I thought to myself.

The others ran off, leaving me in the arms of the big burly blond guy. He cast his eyes over me greedily with a smirk.

'Alpha Raife is going to love you, great timing too' he chortled.

'We've just buried his last slut'.

A wicked glint flashed in his green eyes before he injected me with a clear liquid that burned.

The last thing I saw was his smirking face before everything went dark.

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Nial

Two days, two f*****g days she's been in this infirmiry. My sleeping beauty continues to slumber, her gentle breathing, the rise and fall of her chest helps to bring peace to my impatient wolf.

The doors to Meela's private room swing open, Magnus sighs at the sight of his daughter.

'Still no change?'

I somberly shake my head.

'When was the last time you ate anything?' Magnus eyeballed me quizzically.

How long had it been? My stomach rumbled right on queue.

'Go eat Nial, I'll watch over her for a few hours while you clean yourself up' he insisted.

My mouth opened to argue.

'You don't want her waking up to you looking like s**t do you?' he chuckled.

Touché

I nodded in agreement before vacating the bed.

'Link me if she wakes, the moment she wakes' my eyes scowl with a warning.

He nods once as I leave the room.

My mother is wrapping up a phone call when I enter the cabin, she smiles sympathetically.

'Thanks Ruth, please call if you hear anything'.

She sets down the handset and squeezes me tightly.

'Meela still unconscious?' she asks, pulling her head away from my chest to study my expression.

I just nod and sigh, I'm exhausted mentally and physically.

'Go shower, I'll fix you something to eat' she pushes me towards the bathroom.

The water runs over my body, an experience I usually revel in, but today I just feel numb. Making quick work of washing myself, I dress and plod towards the living area where my father now sits. He looks crazed and dishevelled. I overhear him tell Mom that they followed Lana's scent to the border of Red Moon pack but they couldn't find her.

'We need to find her, it's not safe out there Tobias' my Mother, the voice of concern.

'I know, we've been searching all night, I'll set up a meeting with Alpha Raife in case she crossed the territory line' he sighed.

'Have you spoken to Nial? We need to tell him before it's too late' she reminded

I stepped out into the living room.

'Tell me what?'

Two pairs of eyes darted towards me, my father patted the seat on the sofa next to him.

'Son, it's time you knew the truth'

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Lana

The beeping of the SAT's machine stirs me. When I open my eyes, I realise that I'm alone in a bed in a hospital room. It is a clean white room with three other beds in, thankfully all vacant. A saline bag is connected to the back of my right hand while my left is handcuffed to the bed.

What the f**k?

Flashbacks of the three guys who found me flooded into my head as I hear footsteps approaching. I close my eyes, pretending to still be asleep.

'How's she looking Doc?'

A familiar voice rasps, it's blondy!

Someone carefully examines my ankle, it no longer throbs.

'Healing nicely Braydon'

An older man replies.

Braydon, Blondy's name is Braydon

'When will she wake?'

I feel a finger softly caress my cheek, my eyes fly open instinctively as I flinch away from his touch.

A wicked smile creeps onto his face like he is enjoying a private joke.

'Hey there little one, how are you feeling?' his face is polite but his eyes hide a glint of malice.

'Better' my voice rasps

'Good, how about you get dressed and I'll take you to get some food at the pack house?'

Sensing my apprehension, the Doctor suggested bringing food to me in the infirmiry and smiled at me sympathetically when Braydon shot him down.

'Get dressed' he snapped, irritated. 'Alpha Raife is expecting you'

My eyes fall to the handcuffs, he sighs before fishing the key out of his pocket and releasing my wrist from its metal confines.

He stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The Doctor handed me some clothes before scurrying out after him.

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I manage to stand, legs shaking; a mixture of nerves and food deficiency. I dress quickly before shuffling towards the door, still uneasy on my feet.

Two heads snap in my direction as I struggle to pull open the door. Pink blush creeps onto my face, inwardly cursing myself for being so weak as the doctor helps me pull it open the rest of the way.

'I'm ready' my throat still raspy, in need of water.

Grabbing hold of my arm, Braydon drags me out of the infirmity onto a gravel path. In the distance stands a large grey stately home. My feet struggle to keep up with him as he drags me faster towards the big house.

'Please' I plead 'Please slow down'

He stops abruptly and eyes me in disgust.

'You are so weak' he spits 'What's your name?'

What is his problem?.. He's always so angry.

'Lana, I'm from the Black Orion Pack' my eyes fall to the floor under his intense gaze.

'Lana' he repeats my name like he's trying it out, tasting it on his tongue.

'Move it, Lana, before we miss lunch'

He continues on his quest, dragging me behind him. Silent tears stain my cheeks as I try desperately to keep up.

We reach the steps to the front door a few minutes later, my legs are shaking beneath me, body exerted of all it's energy. The house is enormous, over fourty windows span five rows across the front of it.

How many rooms does this place have?

'This is the pack house' Braydon explained. 'We live differently to your pack, all of us under one roof'

My eyes drink in the vast stone structure with a gasp.

'Come'

He pulled me inside. I'm greeted with a wide cream entrance hall, the light bounces off the pale walls and floor making it feel warm and inviting. Three walkways break off from the hall way, to the left stands a grand wooden staircase, a dark chestnut colour.

We followed the cream walls along one of the walkways. The sound of chattering and cutlery scraping on plates grew louder the further we walked. Pulling me behind him, Braydon stepped through a doorway to the left. A large table lay in the centre of the room, six even larger tables lay in a circle surrounding it.

Braydon cleared his throat, over a hundred pairs of eyes shot in our direction, a mixture of men, women and children scrutinise my frail form before redirecting their gaze to the middle table. My eyes followed, there at the centre of all of them sat a strong and serious man. Hard muscles rippled from his broad shoulders into his bulging biceps. His tshirt clung to his perfectly sculpted body like a second skin. His eyes met with my gawping gaze. Deep pools of steely blue bore into my soul. Crimson flushes my cheeks under his intense stare. His hard chiseled jawline that hides beneath a two day stubble clenches as he asses the scene before him.

Stepping forward he addresses the stoney-faced man.

'This is Lana, the girl I told you about Alpha,'

Alpha, now it all makes sense.

As I'm tugged forward, pulled into view, I notice the subtle change in his posture. His back straightens, nostrils flare and his chest puffs out with a deep inhale. His fists ball up tightly on top on the table and a flash of onyx dances in his blue eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

Raking a large hand through his black tresses, he composes himself before speaking.

'Get her some food' he commands, his voice deep and gravely. His eyes travel the length of my body once more before returning his attention to Braydon.

'Bring her to my office after lunch'

And with that he continued eating along with the rest of the pack.

I sit in my seat quietly assessing the wolves around me when a plate of macaroni clatters down in front of me.

'Eat up, you'll need your strength' Braydon smirks as he takes a seat next to me.

In an attempt to ignore this feeling of apprehension, I force down the food. The hair on the back of my neck prickles like someone is watching. I peer over my shoulder to lock eyes once again with the cold Alpha who continues to feast his eyes upon me.

My body begins to shiver and I turn away to continue eating. The apprehension is replaced with impending doom as Braydon chortles a wicked laugh.

If only I'd have stayed and faced the consequences at Black Orion.

Oh Lana, you've really done it this time haven't you?

I have a feeling that I'm in way more trouble now than I would have been before.