Alpha Loves Alpha

Chapter 14:

Xavier:

“Good Morning!” I groaned from the head of the dining room table as Strauss made his presence known. “Dude, you look like sh*t.”

I hadn’t slept well after my encounter with Alpha. My wolf wouldn’t stop pestering me to find her and mark her, but I couldn’t force our fates together because of one heated moment. It didn’t help that her scent lingered and seemed to be everywhere. I had to get up several times to take a cold shower throughout the night. I will have to tell Marvin to clean my room thoroughly before I returned home tonight.

“I didn’t sleep well. Don’t test my patience.” I gave him a stern look.

“You got it, Boss.” He took a seat to my left and started coating his waffles in whipped cream and syrup.

“Are you eight years old or something? What kind of breakfast is that,” Alpha chastised Strauss as she walked in. She gestured to the table full of eggs, bacon, toast, waffles, fruit, yogurt, assorted pastries, and toppings. “All these choices and you go straight for the sugar?”

“Hey. I’m going to put strawberries on top!”

“Yeah. That’ll make it healthy,” she said sarcastically.

Alpha sat to my right, but I didn’t dare glance over at her and she seemed to be avoiding me as well. I don’t blame her. I nearly claimed her without her consent. She probably hated me, then I thought back to our bodies pressed together. It felt so right, and judging by her moans, she must have felt the same way.

I chuckled at the fact that, despite her trying to push me away and reject me, she reacted to my touch so strongly.

I was pulled from my thoughts when Strauss asked, “What’s so funny?”

“Uh…” A slow devilish smile curved across my lips. This was a good opportunity to play my favorite game, ‘How Red can I Make Alpha’s Cheeks.’

“Something Alpha said to me last night.” I glance over to see her cheeks match her bright hair. Success!

Unsurprisingly, she gave me a death glare. “One word about last night and I will kick your ass.”

I gave her a teasing grin. “Relax. It’ll be our little secret.”

“Sorry I’m late, Alpha Xavier. I had to drop Zarik off at the orphanage,” Edgar said, bowing, before taking a seat next to Strauss.

“Why did you take him there,” I asked.

“To be frank, I don’t trust a teenager alone in my home. I figured he’d be more useful there than sitting around watching TV or getting into mischief.”

“Understood. I will pick him up later. I wanted to show the orphanage to Alpha anyway. I will be taking a tour of the territory with her today.” I looked to Strauss, “Did you compile all of the information from the archives?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“After breakfast, we’ll go to my office to look over the records.” I received a nod from everyone.

The rest of our meal was pleasant. Alpha teased Strauss about his choice in breakfast once again when she saw him pile a couple of chocolate chip muffins and an assortment of danishes on his plate. He sprayed more whipped cream on top till the bottle was empty receiving an eye roll from her.

Lidia placed another bottle of cream topping on the table, but Alpha swiped it before Strauss could grab it.

I could see Edgar roll his eyes at their childish banter. I chuckled at his ever-serious expression.

I could get used to this, but it would only be for the next four days, unless Alpha decided to accept me as her mate. After last night I knew she could feel the pull of the mate bond as much as I could, but I didn’t know if that would be enough for her to give up the life she knew. And I wasn’t sure if I wanted her here with me everyday when she could effect my temperament so easily. As an Alpha, I had to stay level headed at all times, and that was never the case when Alpha was around.

Alpha:

“The Sivika Clan tried to overthrow the Fire Pack?” I was shocked. I knew they had rogue problems, but I didn’t realize that the Sivika’s attempted to take over the pack.

When rogues attacked it was usually for food and supplies. Most of them disagreed with the structure of the six packs and the Moon Kingdom. There would be no reason to interfere, unless they wanted to destroy our hierarchy.

“Did they do any permanent damage to the pack?”

“They almost killed Alpha James, but Cedric died in his place,” Edgar pointed out to me.

“Who is Cedric?”

“He was my older brother. He was supposed to be the next in line to become Alpha,” Xavier said. He didn’t look up from the folder in front of him, but I can tell that he was upset by the tense muscles in his jaw. I wanted to comfort him, but after last night’s events I figured that it was best to keep to myself, especially in front of others.

I didn’t want to ask my next question, but I’m sure everyone was thinking the same thing. “Do you think that the Sivika’s are coming back to finish the job?”

Xavier looked at me with an intense look in his eye. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Their parents were killed at the hands of my father. I’m sure they want revenge.”

“And there’s absolutely no records of them having children?”

“None,” Strauss answered. “I looked through every archive that contains information on the Sivika’s.”

I looked at Xavier. “Would your parents know more information or any others that were in the battle?”

“Many died on the battle field, along with Strauss’ parents. My parents passed not too long after the incident.”

I looked down sheepishly. I knew so little about Xavier and his pack. “My condolences to you both.”

“I can ask my father what he knows, but he’s very bitter about the battle. I’m not sure I can pry much from him,” Edgar admitted.

“Do what you can. This is an important matter. I’m sure he doesn’t want history to repeat itself,” Xavier said.

Edgar nodded. “I can assure you that he doesn’t.”

“Well, now that we’re all briefed, Edgar go see what information you can get from your father. Strauss, talk to the guards that took part in the battle to see what they know about the event. Keep it discreet.”

“Yes, Sir,” Strauss and Edgar answered and left to follow Xavier’s orders.

Xavier made a few notes to one of the papers. He seemed calm considering the conspiracy that could be plotted against him.

“Are you not concerned about the Sivika’s plan?” The words seemed to fall right out of my mouth, but it bothered me how nonchalant he was being.

He continued to look down at his papers. “Am I supposed to cower in fear? Runaway? Yell at them to leave me alone? Getting emotional will not change anything.”

“I don’t mean it like that. I guess I just wanted to know what you thought of the situation.”

“I’m neutral. I don’t have any real information to go on at the moment. For all I know, the Sivika’s never had any children and the men from the forest are just followers that are resentful from the results of the battle.”

He was always so stone-faced that it was impossible to get a good read on his emotions. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t telling the whole truth.

“I’m sorry about your brother and your parents. I know what it’s like to be suddenly alone with the weight of an entire pack on your shoulders.”

He looked up at me with a subtle smile. “Maybe that’s why the Moon Goddess intertwined our fates. She thought we’d understand each other.”

I let out a small laugh. “Maybe.”

 I had never thought of that, but it gave me comfort that he could understand me on a level no one else could.