Fate of the Alpha's Mate

Chapter 13

Lucas

I waited for Esme to come home last night for hours. Kenzie finally showed up at their place alone sometime after midnight. Esme never came home. After the effects of the bourbon faded, I was left with nothing but shame and a headache. I owed her an apology for my behavior last night. I wanted to drive to Snow Moon, walk right into their pack house and demand Mason send her home. I wanted to tell her everything. I felt like I was completely losing it and I had no control of anything. Not feeling in control was not something I was accustomed to. Seeing her with him last night broke something in me though. I have to make a choice.

I thought giving her up was best for her, that I was doing the right thing for everyone. She would be giving up on her fated mate and I would have give up my title. It's the only way we can be together. I thought that I could live with letting her go, but I can’t. I don’t think that I can live in a world where she’s not mine. Now that I have tasted her, I don’t think I can ever go back. She's ruined me. Now, she's with Mason. I'm not sure how I can get through this. I tried calling and texting her several times this morning, but she refused to answer and I couldn’t blame her.

My father has been in his office for hours with Tasha, Esme’s mother, and his link is blocked. I need to talk to him. For the first time in my life, I'm seriously considering giving up my position as alpha and leaving the pack. Not being the alpha would make all of this so much easier. It could change everything for me with Esme.

“Lucas!” I heard my father roar as he rushed from his office. Then I heard the pack-wide mind link as I watched him rush to the door so I followed. Rogues attacked the southern border. All warriors take their positions. I ran behind him and saw Tasha come up right behind me. We all shifted right outside of the door and headed straight for the border. I pushed as fast as I could, pulling ahead of my father. I felt Jackson catch up with me. Jackson was the only wolf in our pack that could keep up with my strength and speed. Looking ahead, I saw a mass of wolves charging toward us through the woods.

I sat and sent a warning howl across the field. Kiko was ready for the fight. They crossed the wrong pack border. If they value their lives they will turn back now. They are obviously rogues. Their wolves are small and dull from lack of training, and they smell awful. But not one changed direction. So, side by side, Jackson and I charged into their masses. They have nothing on my power or size, so I tore through them quickly and saw Jackson doing the same. Even five to one, they didn’t stand a chance. It dawned on me that they came here knowing they would likely not survive, but I don’t have time to work through it.

I hear my father arriving with the warriors. They charged them as well. Keep some alive. I heard him mass-link us. I was confused by his command but obeyed and switched from attacking to kill to taking them down. Our numbers quickly overpowered the rogues, and many retreated to the border. The fighting died down as I saw the last of them being chased over the border. A few warriors began to take hostages among the lifeless bodies of many of the rogues. I looked for my father to find answers, but I didn’t see him at first. I walked through the field toward the packhouse, leaving the warriors to pile up the bodies and collect the hostages to find him. I spotted him shifted back to his human form, lying on the ground with a deep bite across his ribs and he was unconscious. Panic filled my body as I rushed to him.

“Jackson!” I called out. “Jackson, we need to get my dad to the clinic!” He had just barely recovered from the last attack, and I was terrified something was very wrong. I shouldn’t have let him come out here knowing that Josh wasn’t by his side. I should have stayed right next to him. I tried to lift him as Tasha rushed over. It’s striking how much she looks like Esme, and it takes me back for a minute as I stare at her.

“What happened?” She asked, concern lacing her voice.

“I didn’t see. I looked for him when they started retreating and found him this way.” I answered and picked him up to carry him as quickly as possible to the clinic. I linked ahead to let them know I was bringing him and that I was not sure why he was out. His massive body was limp in my arms and I tried to shut down the thoughts running through my head. I couldn't lose my dad, he was all I had left.

Lucas- I need you to come to our house as soon as possible. Kenzie linked me. Fear filled my stomach as her words came through, tears clear in her tone. Is Esme back? Was she hurt? My thoughts spiraled, and I tried to plan the best course of action as I got closer to the clinic. I have to take charge and show no fear to the pack of wolves needing my reassurance.

Kenzie, I’m sending Kyle now. I have to drop my dad at the clinic. Is everything okay? I replied before linking Kyle to head to his sister’s house. It made the most sense. Jackson needed to deal with the hostages and I needed to take care of my dad.

I'm fine but there's something you should see, she replied and relief flooded through me. But my mind wouldn’t stop spinning with possibilities of why she would call me to her house.

I dropped my dad off at the clinic and told Tasha to link me as soon as they knew anything before heading over to Kenzie and Kyle to see what was going on. Kenzie knew our borders had just been breached. So, if she was calling me to her house, I knew it couldn’t be good.

I had warriors linking me from the jail with the hostages. I need to get over there as soon as possible. Some of the information is just not making sense. These wolves came at us knowing that they would die here. One of them told one of my warriors that this wasn’t their first attack and that they would never stop coming. There are so many things that need to be figured out. Dealing with whatever Kenzie needs is not something I want to add.

I walked up to her door and went on alert, seeing the front door had been ripped from the hinges. Dread filled me as I walked up the stairs. This was worse than I imagined. Stepping inside was no better. The house was trashed, the entry table was smashed, and the couches were flipped. There was glass all over the floor from a broken vase and some picture frames. I looked up and saw Kyle and Kenzie coming down the stairs with some papers in their hands.

“What in the hell happened?” I asked, looking up at them coming down the stairs.

“I think the breach was a distraction,” Kyle replied, handing me the papers in his hand. I studied the pictures that filled the pages. They were all Esme. There are several shots of her face, some with her hair up and some down. They had been taken around the pack territory in the last few weeks.

“What is this?” I asked, reaching for the ones Kenzie was holding.

“Not really sure, but I think they were looking for her. Looks like they left in a hurry too.”

“Esme? Why would they want Esme?” I asked, anger building inside of me. “Call her now!” I roared, realizing she was unprotected and my phone was still in my office with unanswered calls and texts. I watched impatiently as Kenzie pulled out her phone and called her, handing me the phone.

“Hey!” I heard her cheerful voice answer the phone. I released the breath I wasn’t aware I was holding.

“Hey, yourself,” I answered, trying to sound as casual as possible.

“Lucas?” she questioned.

“Yeah, Esme, who are you with right now?” I asked, unable to keep the fear out of my voice.

“We can talk about this later. I’ll be home tomorrow,” she snapped, confusing my fear with frustration about her not being home.

“No, Esme. We need to talk about this now.” I rushed out before she could hang up.

“I’m with my grandparents. This is not the time for this conversation,” she replied, irritated. Relief flooded me that she wasn't with Mason but I couldn't allow myself to focus on that.

“This isn’t about last night. You are in danger,” I rushed out, worried she would hang up any minute.

“What’s going on?” she asked, confused, finally hearing the fear in my voice.

“Esme, we were just attacked by the rogues again.” My chest was tight with anxiety. She was too far away. Snow Moon borders my territory. I suddenly wished she had been there with Mason. Cold Moon is an hour away.

“Is everyone okay? Where’s my mom?” she asked quickly, fear in her voice now. I didn’t want her scared, but she needed to realize the severity of this situation.

“We’re fine, your mom is with my dad. He had to go to the clinic to get checked out. Esme, I’m coming to get you,” I pushed.

“What? No, I’m heading back tomorrow afternoon,” she answered.

“I can’t protect you there. I need you home today.” I demanded, irritated that she wanted to fight me about this.

“Lucas, I’m fine. You were attacked, not Cold Moon,” she replied, irritably.

“Esme, they were looking for you.” I finally told her. I didn’t want to completely freak her out until she got home, but apparently, this was the only way to get her here.

“What do you mean, they were looking for me? How do you know?” She questioned, and I heard the fear in her tone, but also the doubt.

“I’m not sure, but I’m damn sure going to find out. We caught a few of them and they are being put in jail right now. Jackson’s headed there to question them.” I answered, trying not to explain too much and scare her even more.

“Lucas, you didn’t say how you knew they were looking for me?” she questioned pointedly.

“They raided your house. We found pictures of you.” I finally answered honestly.

“I’m heading home now.” I could hear the tears and anger in her voice.

“No, I don’t want you alone. One of them said that this wasn’t their first attack. I think this is the same group that attacked before.” I admitted.

“Fine,” she said, defeated. “Lucas, I want to talk to them,” she added, desperation in her tone.

“I’ll see you soon. Don’t do anything stupid.” I handed Kenzie her phone back and headed out the door. The last thing I needed was for her to take off and head home without me which she was likely to do since she never knew how to just sit still and listen.