Alpha Caleb and the Blessed Wolf

17.

CALEB

Bloodshot, itchy eyes greeted my reflection. The cold water I splashed onto them did not a damn thing. I had been so exhausted desperate for sleep but the events over the past week and the words Hendrix had spoken played on my mind. Awareness of every toss and turn from Nikita kept me in a state of shallow sleep. Only deep enough for my nightmares to torment me all night.

It started with running in the forest, running to or from some thing I wasn't sure, only something felt wrong. When I made it to a clearing covered in wild flowers Nikita was there. In the centre at a distance, head tilted back, the sun shining on her face with the look of pure bliss. She leant forward disappearing beneath the flowers. As I crept closer moans reached my ears.

Then there she was, lying on the ground with that blonde little fucker Ryker slamming his c**k into her. She moaned out his name. Rage boiled in my blood as my claws extended. He turned his face toward me eyes locking as he kept pumping deep into her. All while Nikita was blissfully unaware of my presence. The sound of slapping flesh infuriated me more and I slashed at his s**t-eating grin, the force of the s***h whipping his head to the side away from me. Slowly when his head turn back to face me and the scene had changed. This time it wasn't the same face. It was the face of my father looming over Nikita's body her heart ripped out still beating in his palm. The grin that adorned his face was sadistic, pure evil before turning to manic laughter. He held up his other hand holding a second heart that was also still beating.

Whose was it?

Looking around the clearing frantically I saw it. Another woman lay lifeless a few metres from Nikita. I knew who it was the moment I saw the same black hair as mine.

Mom.

Waking up sweating, heart pounding. Memories of my mother's face rolling in like a tidal waves. I hadn't dreamt about her in years shutting myself off to the pain of losing her. I guess after dredging up all the s**t from the past my brain decided to f**k with my dreams as well. Was it something in my gut that knew somehow my father was responsible for her disappearance, I just needed to find out the full truth.

The sun hadn't yet risen, I needed to go for a run. Walking past the sofa to leave, the bond called to me, drawing me back to stare at the sleeping girl. Tangled in a blanket, hair a mess, I was reminded of her room back at moonstone. My hand had a mind of its own, sweeping the stray clump of hair off her face. The pure white contrasted with the rest that was deep copper yet soft as silk. Pink lips were slightly parted and her gentle snores were hilariously adorable.

"Stupid mating mark" I thought huffing as I made my way down to the woods to shift.

I'd run several laps of the perimeter while my wolf whinged wanting to go back to his sleeping mate.

The training grounds were full and Hendrix had started taking the warriors through their drills as I came up to join him.

"How was your first night of operation 'Love Match'" he said.

"We are not calling it that" Boyd called out.

"Don't tell me you're on in on it too." I rolled my eyes at Boyd who is of my high ranking squad leaders, and close friends. He flipped and pinned one of the young trainee warriors easily before joining Hendrix and me at the front of the squad.

"Sorry Boss, but I was the one that called it remember. Annaliese is super excited to meet her, you know what she is like. Love's romance."

"Yeah then why is she mated to you." I said.

"I know more romance advice than Casanova over here." He said pointing to Hendrix.

"Hey! I'm good with the ladies."

"Swings and misses more times than he gets a home run."

I laughed at the look on Hendrix face.

"Doesn't matter anyway I've probably already f****d it up."

"In one night?" Hendrix laughed. Fucker.

"She saw the mark and started smashing all my s**t. Which was fine but when she went to throw the picture of my mom then I lost it. Called her a pup throwing a tantrum and that her boyfriend was s**t and probably dead." They laughed.

"Ahh the wise, romantic words of the Alpha."

"Not my fault. I hadn't slept properly in days and she was pissing me off ok. She slept on the sofa and my wolf whined at me half the night. And the rest of the night I dreamt about her."

"Dreamt about her ay" Hendrix winked at me.

"No, not like that. Plus I can't even f**k out my frustration thanks to the bond, I tried that already and it didn't work."

"Alright, so what's our game plan then." Hendrix asked. Beats me, I shrugged. We both looked to Boyd.

"First of all, don't go sleeping around. Your wolf won't settle unless your mate is close to you. She is already in your room so maybe start by getting her closer to you to feel the bond maybe try get her in your bed"

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about." Hendrix comment fist pumping the air.

"Not to get lucky with the girl but being closer to you will calm your wolf and help her feel the bond too."

"We hate each other how am I gonna get her in my bed."

"Remember she has the mark even without the full bond being in place she will still feel the pull."

"What if that doesn't work?"

"Ahhh, well when I'm in trouble with Annie, sometimes I just have to leave her alone, quietly tiptoe around her and wait for her to stop being angry at me." He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Usually takes a day or two then she's back to loving me. Sometimes a little bit of groveling."

Hendrix just laughed. "Yeah good luck with that Big D, I doubt that demon wolf of yours wants grovel. Let alone wait it out."

Scrubbing my hands over my face and pulling at my hair, I need ideas fast and not some s**t about waiting for her to get over it. I still wasn't sure about this whole make her love me s**t. It was hard to get over my own prejudice.

"I'm taking over training, these new recruits are soft. Can you get Annie to bring Nikita some breakfast and send the maids that tended to her yesterday to clean my room. I don't want anyone else in there that hasn't been commanded to secrecy." I said to Boyd.

"Hendrix, do you know if Val and the last squadron have returned yet?"

"Not yet, our border patrol knows to inform us when they arrive. I haven't felt the pack link break which is a good sign. I'll send someone out to scout for their return too." I nodded in agreement before turning back to training.

After putting the new recruits and myself through a punishing set of workout drills, it was mid morning. I needed a shower desperately but wanted to avoid the little spitfire in my room instead headed to my office to get some work in.

The rest of the morning seemed to drone on. My office is on one of the lower levels, I keep the door slightly open when I'm working incase I need be on alert. It also lets my pack know they can come to me to settle their issues and when the door is closed I'm either busy with someone or not there.

I hadn't done anything that I wanted to get done today. If I wasn't interrupted by pack members it was by maids constantly going up and down the stairs to my floor. I knew it was to my floor because my quarters have a direct stair case behind my office but to get there you have to pass my office door. The rest of the pack rooms use a staircase to the west.

Just before lunch I heard more shuffling of feet and some giggling. Gritting my teeth and storming out of the office I was about to ask what the hell was going on. It was the couple of omega maids that cleaned up Nikita and were commanded to keep silent. They were carrying sheets, a lamp, some pillows and a few other bits and pieces up the stairs.

Deciding against growling at them for disturbing me, I followed them. Using my tracker stealth to slide in silently behind them. Observing their activities.

"What's going on here?" I said arms crossed and leaning against the door. The maids quickly turned and bowed their heads but I never took my eyes off my ginger kitten.

Hands on hips she looked me square in the eye. Hostile as ever, at least she didn't throw s**t at my head. Arching an eyebrow to reiterate my question.

"Not that I need to answer to you. But since I am a prisoner in this room I decided to pretend YOU don't exist. This is my side and you can stay on your side. Got it"

"Oh really?"

"Yes really."

"Pretty sure this is my room, and you are my prisoner. Prisoner's don't get demands."

"Well I don't want to see your face and if I have to look at it every day I'm going to be sick. These lovely ladies agreed to help me. Don't you have work to get back to."

"Yes I do and so does everyone else. You two, out." The two maids quickly dumped the items in their arms and filed out leaving us to have a stare off.

Patience. That's what I was supposed to do apparently.

Alright sweetheart I'll play your little game. My lip pulled up at the corner smirking. It seemed to infuriate her more. Cute little red face all puffed up in annoyance, fists balled and heart starting to race. I thought she was gonna throw a fit on the ground like a child with how worked up she was getting. I decided to let her think she had won this battle.

Shrugging, I needed a shower after my morning run and workout, I'd avoided coming back afterward and had kept working but I was starting to stink. Stripping my clothes off in the middle of the room when I heard a shocked gasp.

"Urgh, what are you doing? Can you cover that up?"

"What sweetheart? I thought this was my side. I can do what I want I'm on this side." I stood there as naked as the day I was born.

"Gross!" She huffed turning back to whatever the f**k she was doing. Even though her hair was fluttering madly.

I couldn't help but chuckle quietly to myself before strolling to the shower. Once done I sat on my bed, back against the head board watching her activity. She was like a baby dinosaur stomping around, huffing and glaring.

The sofa had been turned around with the back toward the bed. Somehow she had gathered a lamp, some knick knacks, pillows, sheets and blankets. Just like a kid making a cubby house. Standing on the sofa edge precariously unbalanced trying hook the corner of a sheet up letting me admired the shape of her legs on tiptoes. Snickering when she couldn't get it to stay up.

"Need help?" The glare I got made me smirk again.

"No"

"Are you sure? You look like you need help"

"I did have help but you sent them all away"

"What about me?"

"I dont want help from you"

"Suit yourself."

"Why are you still here anyway?"

"I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and now that I'm here I get to enjoy the show."

I mind linked the kitchen staff to bring our meals up to the room. It wasn't long before lunch arrived. In that time however, she had managed to hook the sheets making a curtain blocking her from view.

"If you want you to eat you have to come out."

"I'm not hungry"

"You will be eventually" I ate in silence waiting. Once enough time had passed I pretended to opened and close the bedroom door. One of my best skills as a tracker was stealth needing it to creep up on my prey. Lowering my heart beat, slowing my breath, hiding in the shadow of my walking robe patiently I waited.

I don't think it was this kind of patience the guys meant but it was the only type I was good at. Within a few minutes her head peeped out of the opening. Seeing the coast was clear she tiptoed out toward the second plate of food on the bedside table.

Slinking out my arms wrapped around hers locking them in place.

"Thought you could sneak back into the wolf's den and not get caught little lamb." I whispered in her ear.

She struggled "I'm not your little f*****g lamb so stop calling me that."

Pulling her arms behind her back holding them in one hand with the other twisting and wrapped around her long hair I tugged her head back onto my chest. Lips parting, there goes that sexy little gasp again. With her mouth open like that I want swipe my tongue along her lips then tangle it hers.

"You're right, more like a little kitten." She smelt amazing "All sharp claws and teeth, but harmless" running my nose down from ear to neck along the mark watching her skin raise to goosebumps.

My wolf's ego swelled at her response to my touch. Holding her wrists in my grasp and releasing her hair. I grabbed a strawberry off the plate tracing it over her open lips before bringing it up to my own and taking a bite wishing I was biting that plump bottom lip of hers.

I was wrong last night I liked her in this position much better. Ass pressed against me looking back with that feisty glimmer in those deep ocean coloured eyes.

"I'll let you have your little fun but if you don't eat with me you don't eat at all." I said taking a gentle nip over the mark.

Letting her go abruptly again I left her standing there shock clear as day on her face. Taking the plate with me all except the bitten strawberry.

Her mind may hate me but her body sure is as electrified as mine is to hers.