The Alpha's Warrior Mate

Old Friends

“Anna! I’m so glad to see you! Carter has told me so much about you!” Sage’s voice was cheery as she opened the door.

“Alpha Ethan, thank you so much for coming.” Carter added as Ethan strode in behind me.

“Thanks for inviting us” Ethan exchanged the pleasantries with a wide smile.

Sage was beautiful. She was tall and had long brown hair, the kind that always seemed to be perfectly brushed. She would be the perfect Luna for any pack. My awkward middle height and dirty blonde hair paled in comparison.

“Come on in through here, Sage has dinner on the table. Great timing babe!” Carter said giving her a kiss on the forehead. I wondered what I would be like to not flinch every time someone came near me. We all sat at the table and began passing food before Carter broke the silence.

“I heard you were kicking some ass on the training field, Kitty! That’s awesome!” He used an old nickname of mine.

“Kitty?” Ethan looked from him to me with a confused expression.

“Katherine is my middle name. My brother, Jason, used to call me Kitty.” I said quietly, hoping he wouldn't be mad at the familiar was Carter addressed me.

“He would be very proud of you,” Carter added.

“Thanks, Carter” I smiled sadly back at him. “So tell me what it’s been like here for you. How have you adjusted?”

“Oh it’s been great! Alpha here runs a tight ship, but I learned the ropes. I trained with the other warriors for a while, now I do some training of my own here and there. Being here with Sage’s family is amazing.” He added that last part. I knew he loved the idea of a big family, his parents had died when he was young and he spent most of his time with my family.

“I’m glad you feel at home” I smiled sincerely.

“It’s definitely different, of course the women don’t train here, but it’s so big they hardly need to.” Carter continued

I raised my eyebrows at him. “You know I took over for Martha when she passed on, training our warriors?”

“No I didn’t, that’s amazing!”

“It was,” I said quietly sneaking a glance at Ethan.

“Maybe Alpha will let you help Ben out too!” Carter suggested. I looked at Ethan and saw the muscle in his jaw tick. Both Sage and Carter averted their eyes in submission. Under the table I touched my leg to Ethan’s to calm him and he let out a frustrated sigh.

“Sage, what do you do?” I asked curiously.

“Oh I work at the pack salon! I mostly do hair but sometimes if one of the spa ladies are gone, I fill in. You should totally come by! We can pamper you for a day,” she shook her shoulders back in forth in an excited way.

“I think that would be a great idea.” Ethan remarked warmly shooting me a look that said he thought so because it would keep me out of trouble.

“Uhm, I’ve never been anywhere like that. I’m not sure I would know what to do,” I said hesitantly, meeting Ethan’s gaze hoping he would get the hint.

“Oh it’s so fun and relaxing!” Sage continued but I didn’t hear most of it, I knew it was a losing battle. I shot her a smile and nodded my head when she said she’d make me an appointment for nine in the morning. Ethan smirked over his glass. The rest of the dinner passed uneventfully. We promised to do it again as Ethan and I left out the front door and headed towards the pack house.

“Why did you do that?” I asked him annoyed

“Do what?” He looked at me

“Volunteered me to go to a spa tomorrow?”  

“Uhhh I thought you would want to?”

“And why is that?”

“Because it’s a spa.. and it’s relaxing?”

“You don’t know the first thing about me.” I said lowly as I stormed into the pack house.

“I’m sorry for trying to do something nice for you!” He hissed looking around to make sure no one was overhearing our argument.

“I don’t need you to do something nice for me! If you want to do something nice for me, let me train! It’s all I’ve ever done! I enjoy it, I’m good at it, hell I could probably teach your guys a thing or two!” I yelled back in defiance. 

“I will not have this conversation anymore. Go upstairs and cool off.” He said as a dark expression overtook his face.

I threw my hands in the air. “This chauvinistic bull s**t has to stop sometime, Ethan.”

It struck a chord as he spun on his heel and grabbed my elbow. I immediately jerked my arm back but it was pinned in his strong hand. He led me upstairs and I had a terrible feeling for what was coming. He slammed the door open in our bedroom and shut it behind the both of us releasing my arm. I started backing up until I was cornered with no escape. His eyes were wild and he looked like he was ready to explode with rage. I closed my eyes instinctively waiting for the pain to come, but it didn’t. A soft hand rested on my cheek with familiar sparks as he traced down my chin.

“I. Cannot. Lose. You. I won’t survive it.” He said quietly leaning his forehead to touch mine. “I want to know everything about you. I want to hold you every night. God, I want to kiss you until you can’t take it anymore. But I know you need space and I’m trying my damndest to give it to you. I wasn’t there for you all those months ago, but I am now. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” He leaned down and put the softest kiss on my lips.

I froze for a moment before my body came alive at his touch. I hesitantly returned the kiss and took it as a good sign that his other arm snaked around my waist. I stepped into him and he took that moment to pick me up and carry me towards the bed. Setting me up right facing him he trailed kisses down my neck and then back up my jaw to meet my lips again. I could feel the excitement in my core as both of his hands cupped my face.

A flash of the guard at in my cell coming in to force me to kiss him ran through my head and I started to revolt. Backing up very quickly moving across the bed I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my head across my arms.

“I’m so sorry, Anna.”

“It’s not your fault,” I said after a minute. “I just need time to adjust to all of this,” I said gesturing around me. 

“I understand,” his voice came quietly.

I heard the door open and then click back shut, knowing he had left the room. My heart sunk at his absence and my wolf whined. I knew I had messed up. It wasn’t my fault but I definitely carried some of the guilt that Ethan had taken out the door with him. I slipped under the covers not bothering to take my clothes off, and relinquished myself to sleep and to the nightmares that haunted me.