The Alpha’s True Love

Alpha Attraction

Alex POV

No matter how long Lily and I scanned the undergrowth for another hint of the heavenly scent, we couldn’t find a trail to follow. It was cruel, as though the moon goddess were taunting me, giving me the barest hint of a scent. Tail drooping, I returned to the pack house. I didn’t notice Beta Kyle until I ran into him.

“Oh, sorry,” I began before I looked up and recognized him. I regretted my apology immediately.

Kyle sneered at me. “Sorry? Are you sorry because you are hours late? Oh, no worries. No worries at all. It’s not like the Alpha himself took a patrol out to look for you. Not like you stirred up potential trouble with the feral wolves on the border, what with our Alpha investigating the situation.”

I stared at my paws, resisting the urge to slap him, or at the very least glare at him. But begrudgingly, he was right. I did put the pack in danger, all because I thought I smelled my mate.

“And you’re not even listening to me, are you?” Beta Kyle snapped, shoving me. “Morph back, you’re coming to talk to the Alpha’s father, and soon Alpha Aiden himself.”

I blanched. Was this a dressing down? Or something more sinister? “Can I have a moment to get dressed?” I asked.

Regret. Instant regret. Kyle smirked, “as though we have time for that after what you’ve pulled.”

I gritted my teeth. How about we liberate him from his skin and wear that as clothes?

I mused over her suggestion. A tempting thought. I revert to human form and feel the cold wash over me. Goosebumps formed on my skin. We walked through the pack house, Kyle certainly taking the long way around to ensure my humiliation was expounded to as many pack members as possible. I spotted Dalia. She looked helplessly at me, as though she was about to cry. Seeing that, tears pricked my eyes as well, but I quickly choked them down. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. We arrived at the office of the Alpha, and Kyle rapped at the door.

“Come in,” came a low, booming voice.

Kyle gestured to me to enter first. I lifted my head high and stepped into the room. Alpha Orion’s face blanched seeing me in a state of undress, but he controlled his emotions. “Could not even dress to see the Alpha?” He asked, deadpan.

I opened my mouth to respond when Kyle began to brief them on the situation. “Alex here decided it would be a good idea to volunteer to go to the south east border alone. Only to fail to return after her allotted patrol time, forcing us to send multiple search parties, one being led by Alpha Aiden himself—“

“He’s not an alpha yet,” Alpha Orion interrupted. “Not until I step down.”

Kyle continued, “now we are on the border of a potential skirmish with those ferals, and she comes with the smallest of apologies.”

I was seething. Kyle was intentionally misleading them. “I didn’t volunteer!”

“Quiet, you,” Alpha Orion barked. “You have put my son and the future of our pack in jeopardy! Do you even understand how dangerous that border is? I’ve half a mind to banish you for your foolishness!”

His eyes filled with rage as Kyle discussed the border. Almost as if his anger was entirely directed to Aiden being put in the presence of the ferals was all he cared about.

I bit my lip, stared at my feet, before being overwhelmed by the scent of strawberries. The door to the office opened before the sound of swift feet entering the office overcame my senses. Lily begged me to find the source of the scent and I paused, glancing quickly towards the door.

“You don’t deserve to look at him!” Kyle snarled, smacking my head back down.

I heard a growl rumble in Aiden’s chest as he approached. “Look at me, pup.”

I raised my eyes, meeting his, and a jolt of electricity came over me. He shook his head, “Father, no harm came of this. She is simply a pup who lost track of time, likely” he glanced me up and down, his eyes lingering, “because she had her first run with her wolf. We’ve all been there.”

Orion grunted. “What would you do, then, son?”

Aiden ran a hand through his thick black hair. “Give her patrol three times a day, strict schedules, with consistent supervision for the first two weeks. Then back off and allow her to lead patrols to indicate her responsibility. If none of that works, it might be time to let her go from the pack.”

My heart dropped and I felt Lily howl in pain. He would just toss us aside? Just like that?

Orion nodded thoughtfully. “Good plan, son. Carry it out.”

Aiden nodded and opened the door to lead me out. “Kyle, go prep the schedule for her.”

Kyle grinned toothily and gave a small bow, “my pleasure.”

As soon as Kyle took off down the hall, Aiden took off his jacket, laying it on my shoulders to cover my shaking body. It smelled of strawberries. Gesturing, he pointed me to the west wing. I followed, every instinct telling me to jump into his arms. When we reached the middle, he took a sudden left turn and we were in a secluded corner, no eyes could reach us unless they knew we were here.

He breathed in my scent. “What’s your name? What’s your rank?”

I shivered, “Alex, I’m - well, I’m an Omega.”

He shook his head. “This can’t work, Alex. My parents demand I take a mate, fated or not, from a ranked pack member.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Well, technically, I’m ranked. Just, rather low.”

He laughed lightly before nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck. I let out a soft sigh.

“This can’t happen,” he murmured. His lips felt the soft skin of my neck and he grazed me with his teeth.

“But, we’re mates,” I said, my voice breaking. My heart breaking.

Aiden POV

Hearing her voice stumble, I felt my heart squeeze. I wanted to make her smile, to make her happy. I put a finger under her chin, lifting her deep brown eyes to meet mine. “Alex, just, I don’t know. Let’s take some time, get to know each other, and I’ll try to find a way to make this work. I’ll talk to my parents.”

Her tear filled eyes blinked furiously, bottom lip trembling. I couldn’t help myself. I leaned down and kissed her, deeply. I felt her freeze for a moment, before relenting. Her tears slowed, her body relaxed. Even if I couldn’t make my parents see, at least I would have some time with her. Before, well, before I would have to reject her, I thought. Reject her? My wolf Rowan growled, why pray tell are we rejecting her?

You know as well as I do. She’s just not what we’re supposed to settle for.

He growled again. I let her go, gently kissing her face, her neck, almost wandering lower. She let out another sigh. It went straight to my chest and warmth bloomed all over my body.

I pulled away. “Not now,” I said, “it’s too risky. I’ll have Kyle put me as your supervisor in a patrol. We can … discuss… more then.”

With as much self control as I could muster, I tore my eyes from her lightly swollen lips, her soft brown skin panting from my manipulations. I let her go, and ran out of the west wing.

Alex POV

I sat there in silence. I had to talk to someone. This was insane. Me, paired with the Alpha? It’s not like he even likes me, I told Lily, I don’t know if I’m worth it for him.

Lily sat silent for a moment. We could always just be with him, just not as his Luna.

I shook my head vigorously, I’m not a plaything, I’m worth all his attention or none of it.

Lily settled, satisfied. Good. We are on the same page.

We both sat, overwhelmed by what had just happened. Processing. The moon goddess does make decisions we cannot always understand, Lily reminded me. Perhaps, if this does not work out, it was her path for us all along.

My heart felt like it was shattering, and Lily retreated to nurse her wounds as I did mine.

I stumbled out of the hallway, making my way back to the main part of the pack house, not noticing the marks he left on my neck.