Rising Alpha

12

At that thought, my wolf whimpers and loses some of its gusto. That's what it needed to hear to allow me back in control, even though it's hard for both of us. That jackass got away with stuff too long and if he thinks he's going to hurt her... I'll kill him first.

My phone rings, piercing the silence outside. I grab it from my back pocket and see that John’s calling me. I'm surprised it took him this long, but maybe he can provide some insight on what's going down. "Hello?"

"What the hell, man?" His voice is low and there's the trickling of the creek in the background. "Why did you go and get involved? They’re giving me a hard time since I brought you here."

Shit, I hadn't even considered the consequences for him, but it wouldn't have changed anything. That prick can't touch her. There's only one way for him to understand. "He was trying to bond with my mate."

"You gotta be shitting me right now." He sighs loud and groans. "Okay, but what about the other women? Kevin lost it."

"If you saw them, you would have done the same thing." I glance back at the house and through the window. Savannah’s hovering over the women and taking care of them. We don't even know each other that well, and she's already my undoing. "A pregnant woman has a black eye, a young girl's clothes are in tatters from a man trying to do...." I say, unable to finish the words. No woman ever should have to experience what she did. "inappropriate things with her, and her mother has a broken arm from trying to fight the attacker off. They were with Savannah, and all of them were sneaking out the back anyways. I had to help."

"Yeah, you did the right thing. Hold on a second." The sound becomes muffled and I hear another voice speaking to John. The words are all mumbled, but within a few minutes he comes back on the line. "Dammit, Dom." His voice is low and angry. "Kevin picked up her scent somehow. They’re tracking you. I've got to go, but get out of there quick. I'll call you back when I can, just take care of those women." The phone line disconnects and there is silence once more.

It takes everything inside me to not throw the phone on the ground. s**t, this isn't good. I'd hoped we could stay here at least overnight. The sun is now setting and I've got no clue where to go.

All right, enough venting. I take a deep breath and count. She wants me under control before I go back inside.

When I enter, four pairs of eyes look in my direction. Savannah crosses her arms and arches an eyebrow.

"Kevin has somehow picked up our trail." I'm not going to throw her under the bus. She was trying to save herself and was smart, but somehow her scent must still be out there. "We need to leave now. They’re on their way and could be here any moment." I open the door, but no one gets up and now the three women's eyes are on Savannah.

"How would you know that?" She lifts her chin and meets my gaze head on. "Why should we believe you?"

In one sense, I'm glad she's wary, and not blindly following someone, but on the other hand the indirect accusation hurts. Does she not realize we're mates? She didn't pull away as I held her hand in the car, and the buzzing connection that I had been told about when finding your fated confirmed everything for me. "My friend called me. He's the reason I was at the ceremony."

"What? Your friend knows that you're with us?" Her eyes flash with anger and she jerks her finger, pointing at me. "Did you tell them where we are?"

"No, of course not." We don't have time for this, but I've got to calm them down. "Why the hell would I help you to just turn you over?"

"Because then you could help them punish us?" Savannah tilts her head to the side and scans me from head to toe.

The three women on the couch huddle together and watch the show. I hate that this is even a question. "I would never want to punish you. That's why I'm saying we need to go and find somewhere safe. You won't be safe much longer."

"And your friend just volunteered this information?" Abigail's voice is almost a whisper.

"Yes, he doesn't agree with how Kevin treats you all." Dammit, how can I make this all better? I don't even know if there is a way. "Look, I'm sorry for blowing my cool earlier."

Savannah drops her hands to her side and watches me. "And? Why did you get mad?"

She's testing me. "It's just that I've never seen anyone treat their pack members like Kevin. An alpha is supposed to support them and nourish their well-being. He and the other men seem to do the opposite to y'all." I have to be honest with them. It's the only way to build their trust.

"So you take it out on us?" Savannah steps in front of the women with her hands on her waist and her legs shoulder width apart.

Her protective stance turns me on. Dammit, I'm going to get blue balls if this keeps happening. Her alpha will is strong and she's made to be a pack leader. She could have one of her own and not have an ounce of trouble. "That wasn't what I meant to do." My wolf urges me forward and before I

can stop myself, I'm right in front of her. Her scent engulfs me, and I'm at her mercy. I always thought that finding your mate would make you weak, but it's doing the opposite. It made me step up and save them. "Realizing what each of you have been through hit me harder than I ever thought possible."

"Don't feel obligated to help us." She steps into me and our bodies are touching. "We can make it on our own."

My eyes focus on her lips. They are pink like the sky when the sun rises and I bet they taste as sweet as candy. "I want to help you." My hand reaches out and my knuckles brush her cheeks.

"Uh... guys." Abigail laughs and points to the women on both sides of her. "You do realize you aren't alone, right?"

Savannah's cheeks turn a scarlet red, and she takes a step back, putting distance between us. "Uh, of course."

My wolf howls in victory. She feels the pull as well, even if she's trying to fight it. Granted, if I had been treated like she was, I'd be the same way. "I'm offering to help you all get your freedom. We're going to have to run until we figure out a plan. Staying here right now isn't a very smart option."

I glance out the window and note that the coast is still clear; for now.