Taken by the Alpha

My Day Outside

=Natasha=

There was a calming sensation that came over me as we sat talking. It wasn’t something I wanted to feel, but unfortunately my nerves were settling down. The way his mouth moved as he talked, sometimes his tongue would glide over his canines which were larger than the average person’s. The way he would reach up to rub his neck when he was nervous. He was displaying a little much of his softer side and I wasn’t sure if that was intentional or not.

Even when he ate his cheeks puffed out chewing the hamburger to one side. It was like a little chipmunk. 

I guess i was being a little too obvious because he finally spoke up about it, “Can I ask you to stop staring at me like that?”

I choked down my last bite of food before clearing my throat, “Wh-what do you mean?”

“You’ve been eying me like a slab of meat for the last two hours.” 

I took a long drink of the water hoping he'd forget about that, but once it was gone he smiled, still waiting for my cheeks to stop that reddish hue. 

“You’re allowed to like me.” He finally said as if he was giving permission. 

“Thanks I’ll keep that in mind.” I rolled my eyes thankful that my embarrassment was no longer being reflected on my face. 

When another knock came on the door I was so thankful it broke the silence. Alaric rushed to the door.

“It’s from Izzie” The voice sounded, “She said it’ll allow her to go outside.”

“How does it work?” Alaric responded.

There was no answer so I hope he was showing it to him, but Alaric turned around confused as he held up a bracelet and a very large collar.

“So I guess I wear the collar.” Alaric said but all i had was more questions.

“You guess?” I jumped up glaring at the thought of me wearing it. “How does that allow me to go outside?”

“It’s kind of a proximity thing.” He reached up putting the collar on, “You’re going to wear the bracelet and if you get too far away something happens.” 

“Something?” I raised an eyebrow with so many questions in my head.

“Don’t get too far away and you’ll never have to know.” he smiled back returning the eyebrow raise with a wiggle of his own. 

“Oh yippie.” I rolled my eyes holding out my hand. Expecting to place the bracelet on myself he took hold of my arm pulling it gently toward him. A sock went through my hand at the tough and I jolted back. 

“Oh!” He gasped, “I just thought-”

“No no-” I stuttered. It wasn’t a bad feeling at all, just different. Still I rubbed my hand trying to compose myself, “You’re fine. I was just shocked.”

“Shocked?” He withdrew trying to decipher my thoughts. “Good shocked?” a smile twisted at the corner of his mouth.

“Your hands are very warm.” I smiled back. Warm, soft, the kind of hands you’d want running through your hair. The kind of hands that you’d like to have wrapped around you. I would have never told him that, but I guess he already knew. 

“Do you mind if I put the bracelet on you?” He held out his hand this time letting me come to him. 

I had no reason not to let him, other than to avoid him touching me. I reached out my hand placing it in his. “Not too tight.” 

He pulled me closer to him wrapping the chain around my wrist. “You’ve got small wrists.” I whispered uncontrollably. 

“Thanks, I’ve been growing them since birth.” Hopefully that comment would break the tension. 

His hand lingered sliding up my arm to my elbow before I quickly pulled away. 

“Okay, so you can leave the room now I guess.” He shook his head slapping his head in his hands, rubbing ferociously, “Let’s go.” 

I jumped after him as he led the way outside. It would be the first time I was allowed out in over a week. I have no idea what to expect. 

We walked me down the hall as we came to a set of doors with wooden ivy stencils decorating across the glass of the door. I had a feeling I wasn’t in some trashy warehouse but a large mansion. Even the halls were tastefully decorated. 

“No offense.” I leaned forward grabbing his attention, “This doesn’t look like a place werewolves live.”

He turned back his hands going to his hips, “What were you expecting? Caves and log cabins?”

I shrugged walking past him before his hand gripping my shoulder stopped me from getting too far ahead, “Stay near me.”

His hand on my shoulder was a different feeling. I was overcome by some yearning to get closer to him. That feeling faded as soon as he let go snapping his hand back to himself holding it against his chest. “Sorry,”

I shrugged letting him take the lead again, “No reason to be.” 

He opened the door for me as my eyes adjusted to the light. There were pathways paved in the grass leading all over the sprawling campus. Buildings carved out of red bricks and concrete decorated the vast landscape. We were in the heart of everything, the flowerbeds were in full bloom and there was no shortage of people around. 

“So I guess everyone here are-”

“Werewolves?” He smiled leaning over me whispering in my ear, “Yes, they are and they are more scared of you than you are of them.”

I looked back returning the smile, “I highly doubt that.” 

He pointed in front of me at a group gathering at another house some yards away. “That’s Theo’s house, he and Bruno get together with their families.”

I looked back at him completely lost, but he already guessed. 

“Theo’s the guy we had watching you. Bruno is my gamma. Their wives are Sheena and Alex.”

“Ah” I nod recalling the sweet dog before completely embarrassed I had treated him that way, “So Theo’s-”

“The gorgeous silver and grey wolf that looks kind of like a well bred husky?” I could hear the annoyance in his voice. I had thought Theo was far too beautiful far too many times. 

“Well, good to know he told you everything.” I threw up my hands but was pushed out of the doorway finally. 

“Yeah, Sheena wasn’t too happy either.” I could tell I was being corralled to the group unwillingly forced to join in whatever discussion he was interested in. 

“So you told everyone about it?” Ugh! I was going to be the laughing stock of this place, I just knew it.

He shrugged, and then we were with the group. 

Theo turned smiling but then nuzzled the fair skinned woman next to him directing her to me. “Sheena, that’s Natasha.” 

She turned to me, her piercing golden eyes looking me up and down before a growl sounded over my shoulder causing her to drop her head. I turned back to see Alaric’s own eyes now glowing in a bright red. 

Pushing away from Alaric I reached out my hand to Sheena smiling politely, “Hi, I’m Natasha.” She studied me and then looked behind me before accepting my handshake. I turned back to Alaric who continued glaring, “Oh shove it.” I yelled back at him. If I was going to be around these people the least he could was handle my own against them. 

Theo and Bruno took it as a joke and bounded out a resounding laughter.

“Oh damn you are going to be so much fun.” Theo laughed patting Sheena on the shoulder.

Sheena smiled, finally untensing when she saw the apparent effect I had on Alaric, “Finally someone who can order him around.”

“Oh it’s not so easy.” I then nodded acknowledging her before turning to Bruno and a slender vixen dressed in what looked to be very expensive clothing. Another concept I thought would have been lost on werewolves. “Hi, you must be Alex.” 

“Must I?” she sneered, “Don’t think that alpha business will work so easily on me either.” 

“Excuse me?” I looked to Bruno and Alaric unaware of how I just offended this woman. 

“Alexandria.” Bruno growled, “You’re not officially part of the part darling.” He scratched his neck in that same awkward way I had seen Alaric do before. “It’s nothing against you.”

Alex rolled her eyes, “Isn’t it though? I mean really,” She chose her next words very carefully as she watched Alaric’s expressions the whole time, “When she is part of the pack am I going to be expected to follow her too?”

Bruno slapped his forehead stepping between her and Alaric just as he pushed forward his chest blaring as growls echoed all around. “Yeah,” turning to me Bruno laughed shortly, “They don’t like each other.”

Sheena laughed too, “At all really.”

I raised my hand hoping to get some clarity before jealousy decided to take root, “So are they exes or-”

“f**k no!” Bruno barked, “Alex is the daughter of an alpha from another pack.”

She peered around Alaric and Bruno smiling snidely, “I’m kind of worth a lot.”

My eyes popped open thinking about what she just said, “Sorry,” I laughed, “I didn’t realize you were a hooker.”

“Excuse me?” Alex barked, swinging around meeting a large arm of Alaric’s before she could reach me. “Your bith just insulted me!” She stomped on the ground and looked back to her mate, “Bruno!”

“Oh f*****g hell.” Bruno pointed to the house, “Go inside before you get me killed.” 

“You can sleep on the couch tonight!” She yelled storming off. “Don’t think this is over either!” 

Alaric glared at Bruno as if he had somehow offended me himself. 

“Hey!” I tapped his shoulder, “Alex was the one being-”

“Not another word!” he snapped, not taking his eyes off Bruno, “I’ll talk to Natasha, you get her under control or else!”

Bruno bowed winking at me before leaving. “Sorry for the trouble. She’s a free spirit.”

“Go!” Alaric barked turning to Theo and Sheena, “You two get home,”

Theo rolled his eyes wrapping his arm around Sheena, “I knew it was a bad idea bringing two alphas together.”

I let everyone leave before I turned to Alaric, though I guess he had a similar idea in mind as both our hands were on our hips.

“Let me start first.” My mouth twitched, “What the hell is her problem?”

He rolled his eyes taking my arm firmly leading me to a secluded part of the small town. “Her problem is that you are coming in to take her post of alpha female of the group.” His eyes narrowed on me, “You’re a human Natasha.” He said it as if I wasn’t aware, but he also said it as if it made him hurt inside. 

“Very good.” My sarcasm was rampant in my voice and I hoped he understood every bit of it, “Poor human me. But i’ll be damned if some b***h-”

“You can’t talk to her like that!” 

“She’s not here! Don’t defend the girl.” He was supposed to be head over heels for me, what had gotten into him? “What happened to you thinking I was where the sun rose and set? I said two words to her and she treats me like trash!”

“You’re a human!” He barked again pushing me up against the wall. His hands firmly placed on either side of my head, “If you challenge her position now she’ll kill you.”

“What position?” There was something political going on and while i had no interest in getting involved in pack politics this girl was clearly overstepping.

“She’s the daughter of an alpha.” 

“I don’t care.” 

“You should!” He growled, “She’s not my mate but she’s a strong alpha. She came here reluctantly and has been asserting herself as an interim alpha female. Bruno’s my gamma so she’s got the support of the pack, and it lets her get her way enough to keep her happy.”

I crossed my arms glaring back at him like I just caught him cheating on me, “So all that talk about me being important to the pack? That I was supposed to be something special?”

“That’s all true.” His voice was getting slightly happier at me acknowledging my upcoming roll. “However, you’ll have to earn that after you turn.” 

I pushed against his chest hoping to send him backward only to realize how weak I really was. He wasn’t phased at all by my attempt to create distance if anything he was happy I touched him. “Wipe that smirk off your face!” 

His smile grew larger the more he thought about what I had said, “Are you by any chance jealous of Mrs Alexandria?”

“Jealous?” I scoffed, “Jealous of what?”

“She’s Bruno’s mate.” He reassured, “There’s no chance she’ll ever try to take me away from you and Bruno is my loyal Gamma. She’s stuck where she’s at.”

“So.” Another grumble dismissing him.

He leaned away from me propping himself up against the other wall, “You’re kind of cute when you try and assert your dominance.” 

“I was not asserting!” I shouted, “Let’s just walk around some more.”

He shrugged, still wearing that cheeky grin like he had just won some argument. Unfortunately for myself I was kind of jealous of her. She was such a strong woman, how could I ever compete with her? Even with my insecurities I still looked at Alaric and found myself at ease. My feelings for him were changing and I wasn’t entirely convinced it was a good thing. Hell, I didn’t even try to run away from him the entire time we were out. Whatever my reasons for not running I got the feeling the bracelet had something to do with it. It was a light chain that didn’t seem to be too important, but it did give me the feeling of wanting to be near him as much as possible. 

Fiddling with it I found the clasp was gone. Funny. I knew he clicked it together. Then I recalled what Ada had said about vampires and witches. “Am I wearing a bewitched bracelet?”

He turned back to me like I had just discovered a dark secret. “Maybe.”