The Alphas Mate

7.

Layla'h

Hot and sweaty Lexi and I head back to the pack house after another good self defense class. We got a couple of the off duty pack warriors to train with us today so that the ladies to put what they've learnt to practice on a male rather then each other. There's a couple of ladies who have picked up everything we've been doing really quickly. I've recommended that they start coming to trainings in the morning to start learning to fight rather then just self defense. They weren't 100% sold on the idea but I've decided I'm going to talk to Chris about it and hopefully by the time I leave in a couple of weeks they will have joint. I think being able to take it a step further then just self defense would be good that way they can hold their own until help arrived.

We're laughing and chatting when we walk into the pack house. We can hear voices coming from the kitchen so Lexi starts to head in that direction.

"I'm gonna go find your brother, I bet he still in his office." I say to Lexi as I head in the other direction towards Chris's office while she waves me off and continues to the kitchen.

I don't bother to knock when I make it to Chris's office door as has become our thing, I just quietly open the door to slip in. If he's in a meeting with someone I just quietly walk in and sit in his lap not saying anything until his meeting is finished. We've been doing it for the last couple of months now that pretty much everybody is use to it that it doesn't interrupt their conversation like it did when we first started doing it. Only thing time when I open the door I'm frozen to the spot trying to get my brain to understand what my eyes are seeing. Instead of Chris sitting at his desk working while he waits for me. He's on the couch in his office with some she-wolf straddling him. I watch as his hands move up her back under her shirt as they make out. I don't know how long I stand there and watch them before Lexi's voice calling to me as she walks towards me breaks me out of my daze. I rip my eyes away from the site in front of me, spin on my heels and run back down the hallway brushing passed Lexi without stopping. I hear her loud "What the f**k Chris!" just as I make it through the front door. I don't bother to close it and don't stick round to hear what he has to say for himself. I jump in my car and am just pulling away down the drive when I see Chris running out the front door behind me. As I hit the end of the driveway I check the rearview mirror to see Chris standing in the middle of the drive feet from the house pulling his tshirt off looking like he's about to shift to come after me. Lexi, Luke, Rhys and a couple other people I don't know are standing by the door all watching me drive away. For once in my life I'm so thankful that my car is supercharged, I floor it as I hit the road I need to get home before Chris gets there. I don't think I can handle seeing or talking to him right now I'm barely holding the shape sting of tears back as I drive home. I don't want to be here right now I just need to get away from everybody. It's so stupid I knew we weren't mates but I didn't think he would ever do something like this. I make it home and inside with Chris nowhere in site. Slamming the door closed behind me I flick the dead bolt and make it three steps into my living room before it gets to much for me to keep in. Collapsing on the floor I finally let the tears come, sobs racking my whole body and I just let it go. I don't have the energy to try and stop it. I'm devastated I just don't understand why he would do this to me. I know we're not mates but we choose each other, we haven't mated yet because we decided we would wait until I had finished collage but we choose each other, nobody else. I don't know how long I'm on the floor for before I heard Chris at the door. I faintly hear him try to door handle and then start banging on the door calling my name when it doesn't open. Hearing his voice makes everything so much worse and I just can't handle it right now. Mazie takes over pushing me to the back of our mind and taking control, not that she's much better. She doesn't move from our spot on the floor just buries her nose under her paws whimpering. I can still hear Chris yelling through the door trying to explain, begging me to let him in so that we can talk, banging on the door pleading with him to understand and that he loves me, will always love me. The longer he goes the worse I get until I finally give in, shutting my brain off knowing Mazie will look after us.

The sound of fighting pulls me back to consciousness, I think it's Luke and Rhys but I'm not paying enough attention to know for sure. All I know is it goes on for a while before I hear the banging of car doors before it's quiet again. A few minutes later I hear Lexi knock on the door.

"Layla'h, Layla'h he's gone now. Let me in please, I just want to make sure you're alright."

Mazie is still whimpering on the floor and I don't have enough energy to shift back so I just ignore Lexi. I don't want to see anybody anyway.

"Come on Layla'h I'm your bestfriend. Let me in."

"Fine be like that!" She yells through the door. "I have a key, I'm coming in whether you like it or not."

Mazie doesn't bother to move as Lexi unlocks the door and lets herself in.

"Oh Layla'h, it's going to be alright." She says as she drops to the floor next to us, slowing hugging Mazie to her and rubbing her ears. We stay like this for a long time, Lexi softly whispering that everything is going to be alright and Mazie whimpering but not moving. Who knows how long passes before Lexi finally speaks.

"Layla'h we've been on this floor for two hours now you need to shift back. I want to talk to my best friend now."

When I don't move she tries again and again. Nothing works. I don't have the energy nor do I really want to shift back. I can see myself curled up hugging my knees right at the back of our joint mind with a big brick wall in front or me. I don't want to cross the wall, there's nothing but pain out there for me and Mazie doesn't seem like she's going to do it either. She's knows I can't handle this at the moment and she's going to stay until I'm ready even though she's in pain too at what Chris has done.

"Luke, no it's not good." I hear Lexi say, she must be on the phone because no one else has come into the house.

"Is my dad still there?.... I found her on the floor of the living room in wolf form, we've been sitting here for two years now and I can't get her to shift back.... Yeah I know, but there's no way I'm letting him in here at the moment so I'm hoping that because dad was the Alpha he will be able to get her to change back. Yeah I know. Yep the doors open. Thank you."

The silence creeps back in as Lexi sits next to us softly patting Mazie's back while she waits. She doesn't talk, doesn't try to get us to shift again just sits quietly.

"Lexi?" her name is called out just as the front door is opened and her Dad walks in. I can sense him move closer to us but don't see him because Mazie doesn't open her eyes.

"Lexi, what's going on?"

"I found her like this Dad and she hasn't moved and won't shift back. I've been here for over two hours." Lexi response.

"This has to do with Chris I take it? He's in a state too. The boys took him to the gym after leaving here, it took 6 guys to beat the s**t out of him enough to calm down. I've been having to deal with Alpha Wade and try smooth this all over. Chris won't talk to anyone or tell us what the hell happened. What a bloody mess."

"Yeah." is Lexis sad reply "Can you get her to shift back?"

"I can try Lex, but I'm not Alpha anymore and I'm not her mate."

I hear them both sigh before the ex alphas voice booms through the room commanding me to shift. The command shivers across my skin but Mazie move.

"Layla'h shift NOW!" he booms again causing Mazie's ear to twitch. I think they both noticed the twitch because he decides to do it again. This time though Mazie's head pops up and her lips pull back in a snarl.

"Dad stop, I don't think it's going to work. We're just pissing her off." Lexi says as they both slowly move away from us, once Mazie decides they're far enough away from us she drops her head back to the floor and puts her paw back over her nose. It's sort of weird watching through her eyes, hearing her thoughts on what she's going to do, giving her control over what we do and hearing the conversations going on around me but being completely cut off from it all. Safe, it feels like I'm safe here with Mazie in control that nothing can hurt me. I don't have to deal with what Chris did or my heart break I can just stay here.

"What are we going to do Dad, we can't let her stay like this."

"I know darling. I think you're going to have to call the boys."

"What if it makes it worse? What about Alpha Wade, he still an alpha, I know he's not her alpha but it could work. I'm worried that Chris will just make it worse." I hear Lexi's pleading to her father but I don't really compute what she's actually saying, like none of it effects me.

"Call the boys tell them to bring both of them but not to come into the house."

"Luke! We have a problem, I need...." the rest of what Lexi was saying is cut off has she walks off to somewhere else in the house. I feel Alpha Dan's hand run soft across our back, smoothing down our fur.

"Mazie, Layla'h I know your hurting. I know you and Chris have always loved each other and I know about what you have been going through the last couple of months, I may not know what he did to upset you like this but it's not good for you to stay in your wolf form for long periods of time while you're upset. I would really like you to come back to us Layla'h. I want to be able to hug you, like the daughter you are to me." Alpha Dan's words float to me back here behind my wall.

"It's going to be alright sweet girl. I promise everything will be alright if you come back to us." he continues on as I sense Lexi come back into the room. She sits down on the other side of us and rubs Mazie's ear between her finger without saying anything while they wait.

"Lexi, Dan. We're here!"

Chris

I've been going crazy still Lexi started yelling at me in my office hours ago and I realized that I was making out with Jenny and worse that Layla'h just saw us. All I was trying to do was explain to Jenny that I was continue involved with someone else and that I needed to talk to Layla'h first before I decided if I would claim the mate bond between Jenny and I. I tried to explain to Jenny that I had been in love with Layla'h all most all my life and then before I know it Jenny had touched me, climbed on to my lap and we were kissing, the pull of the still unbroken mate bond being so strong. I followed Layla'h, banging on her door begging her to let me in so that I could explain. I knew this would hurt her which is why I wanted to talk to her first I didn't mean to kiss Jenny, I planned on not even touching her until I had talked with Layla'h and we had decided what we would do. Instead the kiss happened, she ran from me, wouldn't talk to me and the guys dragged me away, had 6 warriors beat the s**t out of me before shutting me in my office for the last 4 hours. I don't know what we're doing back at Layla'hs' house or why Alpha Wade is with us. Luke gets out of the truck before locking the doors behind him before I could shake Rhys off me and get out too.

"Rhys get the f**k off me, I need to see her." I growl at him.

"No fucker. You've messed s**t up enough for one day just stay here while Luke sorts s**t out."

"I'm your Alpha!" I all but yell at him, this s**t is really starting to piss me off. They are all treating me like I'm a little kid.

"I f*****g know you are but this isn't about you, it's about Layla'h and what's best for her at the moment so sit your ass down and shut up for a couple of minutes and let Luke sort it."

Growling at him again for good measure so that he knows I'm not happy I swing my eye's back to Luke standing at her front door just as it opens and my dad comes into view, what the hell is he doing here. I fingered Lexi would be here but not him. He pulls Luke into the house before closing the door behind them. I'm antsy as we sit here waiting for goddess only knows what in the tense silence. I think Rhys knows what's going on but he's not saying anything to me about it, I'm not sure if Alpha Wade knows what's going on but other then looking slightly pissed off he doesn't say anything either. After what feels like an eternity the front door opens again as Luke walks out looking worried.

"Chris, Rhys you guys need to come with me. Alpha Wade if you don't mind waiting here we may still need your help." Luke says looking at each of us in turn.

That's all I need. I don't wait around, throwing my door open and race towards her front door but when I turn the handle it's locked. What the f**k!

"Chris!" Luke yells out behind me has him and Rhys make their way over. "You need to listen to me for a second." he demands.

"I don't care Luke, you need to let me see her. I need to know she's alright." I grit out between my teeth, they are all starting to really piss me off.

"That's what I'm trying to say to you Chris. She is not alright that's why we're here."

"What?!" Oh goddess what is wrong, this is a f*****g s**t show and it's my fault and now this something wrong with Layla'h and I need to fit it.

"Chris listen to me. She's let Mazie take over, she's been like this probably since she got home earlier, Lexi tried to get her to shift and couldn't so she called to get your dad round, he tried but Mazie just about attacked him so they called again wanting Alpha Wade to try being that he's an Alpha and your dad's not because we're not sure what's going to happen if you walk in there but I can't let Alpha Wade in there." He finishes still looking worried.

"She's been in her wolf form to long." I start to panic, if she's that upset and in her wolf form if she doesn't shift soon her wolf could fully take over and Layla'h has always had problems shifting. This is not good.

"What do you mean you can't let Wade in there?" Rhys asks from beside me "I don't think our best idea would be letting Chris in there to try, I think he should be our last option." I snarl at him again as his words compute in my brain.

"f**k that! I love her and I wouldn't hurt her, I just need to talk to her and explain everything."

They both ignore me as Luke answer Rhys. "Yeah normally I would agree with you but I don't think it's a good idea for Wade to see Layla'h in her wolf form, Lexi and Dan don't know because we haven't said anything so they idea to bring Wade seemed fine at the time but ummm Mazie's different." Luke says on a sigh.

"What do you mean different?" I ask, now getting really worried along with Rhys. I can see the concern take over his face. None of us have seen Mazie because Layla'h has always had problems shifting. The first time she tried to shift it just about killed her I found her in the middle of the forest passed out, she was in a coma for a week.

"Umm she's huge for one thing, like not normal she-wolf size and she's white." I can hear the concern oozing through his words.

"White" I stammer out, all Luke does is nod. "All white, all over?" I try again trying to wrap my head around what he saying. The rogues have been looking for an all white she-wolf between the age of 6 - 18 and now Luke is telling me Layla'h is a larger then normal she-wolf who is all white.

"All white with a single black line above her left eyebrow. Yes."

The three of us stand in silence for a while trying to understand what this means for Layla'h and the pack.

"I think we need to ring Xavier." Rhys finally breaks to silence.

"Yeah, lets sort this out first, get Wade back to the pack house and to bed, then we can ring him and see if he knows any more that might help us understand what's going on."

We all agree on the plan before Luke knocks on the door yelling to my dad to let him know we are ready for him to let us in. Dad opens the door letting Luke in first before glaring at me whispering "You better fix this" as he let me passed, Rhys comes in bring up the rear as Dad closes and locks the door again. Just through the door I can see her tail white and fluffy letting me know she's in the living room. I walk down the hallway towards her slowly taking in more of her fluffy silky pure white fur in as I get closer. Luke wasn't lying when he said she was huge. If I had to guess she is just about the size of a small Alpha wolf. I watch as her hackles rise the closer I get to her. Lexi slowly moves away from her just incase something happens. Dad, Luke and Rhys have stopped down the hall behind me. I check on Lexi making sure she backed all the way into the kitchen before I move any closer. Every step I take a low growl rolls from her throat. She still hasn't moved, she's not looking at me but she knows I'm here and she is not happy. Layla'h and I have never been like this before. We have never had a fight or disagreement, she's never been angry with me. I've seen her pissed off with Lexi after they've had a fight about something or pissed off at the world when she gets sad about her parents but that has always been in her human form and she's just not scary because she has always been so tiny. This, this right now is not tiny and if I'm being completely honest she's a little scary.

I move towards her again and am just about within touching range when her head suddenly snaps towards me lips pulls back teeth clamping together snarling. f**k.

"Layla'h baby, I know your upset and I know I hurt you, I didn't mean too" I say as gently as I can, hoping I can talk her gently into shifting back. I don't want to command her to do it because if Mazie as taking over it's gonna hurt like hell commanding her as her alpha to shift and I don't want to hurt her anymore then I already have. As the words come out of my mouth I watch as she rises on all fours from the floor and turns her whole body towards me hackles still raised, lips still pulled back. She's not backing down on this one and she's fucken pissed. I take a couple steps back from her to give her space and try again.

"Baby I love you..." before the sentence is even fully out of my mouth I she her hind legs compress before she springs towards me. Quick as lightening I shift, shredding my clothes in the process and dropping to all fours, because she was aiming at the human me and not the wolf her body skims over the top of mine before she skids across her hardwood flooring in the hallway just about taking out Luke who only just manages to move out of her way in time. She stops herself spinning back around to charge at me. I'm not trying to hurt her only defended myself so I take the hit making us both roll before I hit the coffee table in the center of the room stopping our momentum. I see Lexi from the corner of my eye take off out the back door as Mazie snaps her jaws towards my throat. I kick out my hind legs into her side pushing her away enough to stand, she pops up like she's half the size she is, we circle each other in the small confines of her living room, I would rather not be doing this here, it's too small and puts her at more risk of getting hurt. Deciding that I need to stop this before it goes on to long I dive for her side sending us into a roll again this time I land on top of her and clamp my jaws around her throat. I don't bite hard enough to draw blood just hard enough to hold on and let her know that I can. It only takes her a second to realize I have her beat before she stops and tips her head back further. I climb off her and shift back to my human form standing over her I command her to shift. I watch all the fur on her body twitch at the command but she doesn't shift.

"I am still your alpha and I command you to shift NOW!" I roar at Mazie. I don't want to be doing this, I shoudn't be having to do this but we have no choice Layla'h as let Mazie take over for to long. Mazie whimpers in pain has she shifts, It only takes a couple of seconds before Layla'h is lying on the floor in front of me, she cries in pain and as tear tracks running down her face. It absolutely breaks my heart seeing her this way. I drop to the floor beside her scooping her into my arms.

"I'm sorry baby, I'm so sorry. I love you. I'm so sorry." I whisper to her as I cradle her tiny body to mine trying to sooth her. Luke walks over and throws a blanket over her, so I wrap her up tight leaning my back against the wall trying to calm her down. I don't know how long I sit there with her before her tears stop and her breathing evens out letting me know she's asleep. I look up and find Rhys has left probably to take Alpha Wade back to the pack house for dinner, Lexi and Dad are cleaning up the living room around us while Luke stands leaning against the door frame watching me with Layla'h. I hold her to me taking comfort in the feel of her body against mine as I watch Dad and Lexi work. I know I need to get some clothes on her and that I should put her in bed so she can rest and I know that I need to find some clothes myself and I need to ring Xavier but I don't want to let her go just yet. Not that I would say it out loud but I'm worried that this is the last time she is going to let me hold her like this and it's almost like the others know too, no body saying a word as we all do what we do. Soon Dad and Lexi have finished and I know it's time to put her down. Climbing to my feet I head to Layla'hs room, I lay her down in bed before finding one of my tshirts I've left here at same stage and pull it sown over her head, getting her arms through the holes before pulling the blanket up over her. I lay down beside her wrapping my arms around her holding her tight before Luke comes in and tells me it's time to go. I give her one last kiss on her forehead telling her I love her and climbing off the bed following Luke out of the house. Dad follows us out while Luke tells me Lexi is going to stay with her. I nod before turning away and shifting back into my wolf. I need to run to try and clear my head. I did this to her, I did this to us and I have know idea how I'm going to fix it or if she will even let me fix it. I take the long way around the boarder back to the pack house. Everybody has eaten and gone to bed by the time I get there only Luke and Rhys are sitting there in my office waiting for me with a pair of sweat pants. Luke throws the pants at me and I pull them on none of us standing anything as I sit down reaching for the phone to ring Xavier. I notice that's it's after midnight while we listen to the ring tone.

"This better be good Chris it's after midnight."

"Xavier."