Alpha Orion’s Wolfless Warrior

2| BLOOD RED

HAYLEE

I turned my back to the doorway faster than the speed of light, my ribs slamming into the edge of the dining table as a result. My heart hammered in my chest as his scent got closer, and I kept my head down, twirling the food on my plate nervously.

Oh my goodness… Goddess, why was he here?! Perhaps, the groom’s friend?

Memories from that night crowded my mind, and all I could do was clamp my thighs together. I’d had dreams of him, and sometimes when I ran in the woods at night, I hoped to see him again.

I never crossed our boundary again, but somehow I hoped that he would do the crossing, just to find me.

I heard them chatter around me, his deep, velvety voice standing out easily. A single bead of sweat rolled down my temple, and my hands shook as I struggled to stay composed.

“Haylee!” Dad’s voice thundered. I jumped in my seat, realizing that he’d been calling me for a while.

My head snapped up, my eyes locking with Alpha Orion’s inquisitive ones. Three older people—two men and a woman—had come to stand beside him.

I glanced around to see everyone on their feet. I scrambled up, linking Piper,

“Why didn’t you tell me to stand?!”

“Girl, you were blocking all my links! I tried. What’s wrong? You look really pale.”

“I’m fine.” I ended the link, forcing a smile in the Alpha’s direction.

“Uh… hello, Alpha Orion. Hello everyone.” I chirped. It was a little high-pitched, but Orion didn’t seem to mind. He smiled casually. I was hyperventilating, and he stood across from me with a plain expression, like he had no care in the world.

“Hello dear.” The woman responded, but the men stayed silent.

“Hello, Haylee.” Aloha Orion spoke with the same casual tone, even if his eyes shone with recognition. “Please, call me Orion.”

I nodded once, saying nothing else.

“I assume she’s the one I’m set to marry?” He spoke again, causing me to freeze up where I stood. A frown took over dad’s features, and mom shook her head no with her hands in front of her.

“No!” She said. “No. It’s my second daughter here, Piper. Piper, come up and let him see you!”

I bowed my head and stepped aside for Piper to go through, my fists clenching by my side.

“Second daughter?” I heard him ask with distaste in his tone. “And why am I getting married to your second?”

“Alpha, I—” Mom started, but dad cut her off,

“Because Haylee has no wolf.” He told him, breaking my spirit like he always did. A cold shiver ran down my spine, and I struggled to keep my eyes dry. I was sure as hell not about to cry in front of them.

“She’s not fit to stand by your side as a mate. My second daughter on the other hand, Piper, she’s a true warrior. She has a strong wolf, strong abilities as my beta heir, and she’s fit to stand beside you as your wife.”

I bit down on my tongue, blocking off all Piper’s attempts to mind-link.

“Is that so?” Orion spoke with a steely tone. “Haylee.”

I screwed my eyes tightly shut and took a deep breath, before glancing up at him.

“Yes?”

“What do you want?” He demanded, slipping his hands into his pocket. His expression was rigid, his eyes filled with anger.

For me?

The room fell quieter than it already was. This time, anyone could hear a pin drop.

“Alpha. What do you mean?” Dad asked, vividly ticked off.

“Son.” The woman, who’d now been established as his mother, nudged him. “What are you saying?”

The other two men subtly glared at him.

“Haylee.” Orion called out to me again.

Dad scowled at me. He poked through our link, and when I accepted, he warned sternly,

“Do not do anything stupid. We’re risking a war. They have the upper hand in the war too, do you see our pack and how underdeveloped it is? The Alpha has given me this task. Don’t let us down!”

My throat bobbed. I finally held Orion’s gaze, saying the next words with a heavy heart, “I want you to marry my sister. It’s the right thing to do.”

He watched me in silence, like he wanted to say something… scandalous, but he eventually turned away.

“Alright then. Shall we begin?”

Dad broke into a grin.

“Yes! Sure. Please have a seat.” He replied.

“Thank you.” Orion spoke gruffly, as he took a seat beside dad. His parents and whoever the third wheel was were shown seats as well. I was the last to sit, my leg bobbing under the table as I tried to keep my nerves in check.

Piper squeezed my hand under the table and I turned to her with a forced smile. She smiled back, and I even noticed a blush spreading from her neck to her cheeks. My jaw clenched.

“He’s so handsome, sissy.” Piper linked.

I looked up at Orion again. He was engrossed in the conversation with dad. His long hair was packed in a man bun, enhancing his sharp, beautiful features. I fidgeted with my fingers, realizing that this man couldn’t be mine. Not in this lifetime, at least.

So, I smiled sadly at Piper. “Sure he is.” I linked back.

“I’m sorry.” She linked again. I raised a brow at her.

“For?”

“I know he should’ve been yours.”

“Piper.” I groaned through the link. “Let’s not focus on what should’ve been. I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m happy, you’re happy and there’s no war in sight. Isn’t that all that matters?”

She smiled widely.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Right. So, congratulations. Now, let’s focus on dinner, shall we?”

“Thank you. We shall.”

Orion’s mother, and former Luna, was speaking now. “I want a large wedding. One for the books. She’s very beautiful and has all the qualities that my son would need for a wife. I like how educated she is, too. And wanting to become a pack doctor, even as a Beta’s daughter, is impressive. Girls of your rank would prefer sitting around and getting things handed to them.”

“Thank you for your compliments, Luna Holt. I’m so honored.”

She grinned. “You’re welcome.” Her eyes drifted to me, “it’s quite unfortunate that you had to have a wolf-less daughter. She’s truly so beautiful. I know how much it must pain you, Beta Graymore. I’m sure she’ll have some use someday.”

“I hope so, too.” Dad replied. Piper straightened.

“Luna—”

I pinched her thigh, cutting her a glare.

“I can’t let her say that to you!” She linked.

“Let it go.”

“Yes, love?” Luna Holt waited, her eyes on Piper while her lips were pulled up with an oblivious smile. I shook my head.

“It’s nothing. Please don’t worry.”

She nodded, then turned to her husband. I chanced a look at Orion, just to see him watching me like a raging hawk.

I gasped and diverted my gaze at once, abruptly standing up.

Dad glared. “What is it?”

I opened my mouth, but my brain wasn’t fast enough to come up with something. So, I shut it. Then opened it again,

“I uh… I want to use the restroom. I’ll be back.”

I didn’t wait for dad’s response, turning to bolt towards the restroom.

I didn’t need the restroom, not really. I just needed to be out of there. I needed a private spot to get myself together.

I briskly walked towards it, only a few more steps away when I was hit by a gust of wind and slammed into a broad chest.

“Ow!” I yelped, then recognized the scent and jumped back. Glancing up at Orion, I frowned.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered, looking around.

He shrugged. “I missed my mate. I’ve been searching all over for you.”

He was? I shoved the thought at the back of my mind at once, glancing around the quiet hallway.

“I’m not…” I paused, realizing my voice was raised. Bringing it down, I continued, “I’m not your mate. You have to get out of here. Why would you even leave the table after me?”

He didn’t give me an answer to that. He didn’t look as hurt as I thought he would, either.

Instead, he said, “You’re not useless.”

His words made me pause.

He went on, “I saw your skills firsthand. You managed to strike me twice. Only a few people can boast of that level of speed. All that, without your wolf.”

I swallowed the huge lump of emotion stuck in my throat. He took a step closer, and caressed my chin.

I felt my eyes and entire body burn hot from his touch. My eyelids fluttered shut as I leaned into his touch, my mind drifting off to the very first time he’d touched me.

“I couldn’t stop watching you. You’re perfect. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

My eyes watered, while my chest grew fuzzy with warmth. In that moment, he was all I could smell… all I could feel. His lips pressed softly against my cheek, disappearing almost as soon as they touched my skin.

“Haylee?”

My eyes snapped open at the sound of Piper’s voice. Orion was no longer standing in front of me. With my stomach twisting in disappointment, I whipped around to face my sister.

She gasped and took a step back, her hand trembling as she pointed at me.

“Haylee?”

My heart skipped a beat in response to the panic in her eyes. I stepped forward, looking around a bit before facing her again.

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

“Your eyes…” she stammered, with a hand clutching her chest.

“What is it about my eyes, Piper?” I was almost screaming now.

“They’re… They’re red.”