The Alpha's Warrior Mate

Revenge

Things seemed to be falling into place again. Ethan had started to let me train on days that Ben was with the pack warriors. The days were spent drilling and going over the obstacle course because very few of the other warriors would spar with me after poor Nathaniel. Nights were spent with Ethan, not getting much sleep at all. The mate bond was growing every day and it was amazing. I could feel my muscles starting to come back which made me happy. Where my skinny jeans used to hang off of me, they were filled out. One morning, Ethan walked in on me jumping around trying to pull a pair over my quads, they finally gave way and pulled up.

“What are you doing?” He asked with a glint of humor in his eyes.

“Trying to get these dang things on!” I huffed through several breaths.

“You know, we can go get you more jeans?” He faked a serious voice before cracking a heart melting smile. 

“It’s fine! I just... need... too...lose weight!” I said trying to button them. They would loosen up as the day went.

“No you don’t!” He looked alarmed. “You were skin and bones when you got here!”

“I know, I just need my... pants to fit.” I gave an accomplished sigh and stood up strait.

“I mean, if you’re looking for more exercise opportunities I can find you some nighttime options,” his teased.

I gave an eye roll and walked out the door to meet Emily and Jane for lunch.

...

After lunch I took a walk to the edge of the woods behind the pack house. My wolf had been slowly considering shifting for the first time since the battle. She was thrilled to be with her mate but she was still unsure. I took a moment to stare out into the trees. The canopy was so thick that light only began to shine through, showering the ground with small golden circles.

“I’m ready,” she said to me.

I peeled off my shirt and jeans and set them aside. I gave a couple of small jumps, shifting my weight from one foot to the other and took off at a sprint. I was running and could feel the wind in my hair until suddenly I wasn’t myself. I had expected it to take some time, like my very first shift but my wolf was ready. I let her take control. She took off to explore her surroundings and I sat back like a visitor in my own body. She reached a large cliff and stood at the very edge. Heights never bothered me and I peered off the ledge through her eyes. I could hear the water underneath before I saw it. The wake from the lake crashed against the bottom of the cliff and small sharp points peeked through indicating the presence of rocks underneath. My wolf took a deep breath of the fresh air and closed her eyes. It was truly peaceful.

She turned to head back to the clearing and I waited for her patiently to meander back. She was healing- slower than me- but she was healing. With the edge of the woods in sight I took over with a few bounding leaps and was back into myself. Putting clothes on, I made my way back to the pack house for to tell Ethan. I was giddy, hoping he would be as happy as I was and maybe we could let our wolves out together soon.

I stopped to grab a water from the fridge in the kitchen and headed to down the hall. I started to catch a scent that was vaguely familiar but I couldn’t place it. I followed the voices to Ethan’s office but stopped short of the door that was ajar. I saw him from my place at the open door. Ethan’s back was to me and next to him stood Jacob. The Red Aspen alpha stood with a glass of bourbon in his left hand and his right in his pocket. He seemed so calm.

“I will say, she was my capture first. We decimated their warriors and she was my only prisoner. I’m just here for what is mine.” He said casually

“I understand what you are saying, Jack.” Came Ethan’s voice. “I’m not done with her just yet. When I get the information from her, she’s all yours.”

I froze in my spot. What was he saying? My wolf whined in the back of my head, she wanted to run. I couldn’t agree more, but I had to stay to hear the rest.

“What’s your plan for her?” Jacob asked casually, bringing his own glass to his lips.

“Well, seeing as you murdered over half my warriors on your little rescue mission, I plan to use her to- create more.” A sly smirk played at his lips. “However, I understand you’re her mate,” his attention was back on Ethan.

“I’ll be rejecting her as soon as I’m done,” he said nonchalantly. “I won’t need her for much longer.”

I doubled over. My chest felt like a bullet had ripped through it. How could Ethan say something like that? What was his purpose of bringing me here and marking me? I had yet to mark him back, he said he wanted me to be sure I was ready. Was that just a reason for him to stall until he rejected me so he didn’t feel it? I ran soundlessly upstairs to our room. I was panicked. I was trapped. I looked around the closed and grabbed a sweatshirt because it was night time and starting to get cold. I looked at Ethan’s side of the closet and walked towards his row of shirts, grabbing one. I brought it to my nose and inhaled deeply. His scent was so fresh and familiar. Tears pricked at the back of my eyes and I solemnly placed his shirt back. I walked into the room and heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Frantic, I ran to the window in the bathroom and opened it up. I took one last glimpse of the life I thought I had before I jumped. My feet took me back into the woods and my wolf stayed silent. I knew this was too much for her. It was too much for me. I was in so much pain from the news of my impending rejection I didn’t realize I was back at the ledge from earlier. I stopped and heaved a sob. The pain kept coming as if the wake of the lake matched the overwhelming ache in my heart. I stood at the edge of the ledge and looked down. The wind had picked up in the short time I was gone. It was chilly and the water below was becoming more chaotic. Footsteps sounded behind me.

“It’s a wonder he can hardly keep up with you,” the alpha said behind me.

I took a deep breath. “Hello, Jack.” I said addressing pointedly by his first name I had recently learned. He scowled at that and I smiled.

“I can tell why he keeps you around, you’re a nice piece of ass,” he recovered as his eyes roamed my body.

“You’ll die for what you’ve done.” I said matter-of-factly.

“Who’s going to kill me, you?” He laughed.

That’s all it took. I unleashed the past year’s worth of rage, hurt and need for revenge. In three steps I was face to face with the alpha who had ruined my life.

“Yes.” I said lowly.

Channeling my wolf, I grabbed his head in both hands and threw my body into the air. My right foot landed on the bark of one tree and my left foot followed on the next tree. His neck made a chilling cracking sound as his body hit the floor.

“We should have done that a long time ago,” she said.

“I know,” was my reply.

“Anna!” Ethan’s voice came from the distance.

I slowly walked back to the ledge and took another deep breath. It was all too much to handle. I was the last surviving member of my pack and now the reason for that heartache lay dead on the forest floor.

“Anna!” He called again. His eyes looked from the dead alpha on the ground to me on the ledge. I didn’t know what he was thinking or wanted. My mate bond was closed off the moment he said he would be rejecting me.

“Baby, are you okay?” He asked, taking soft slow steps towards me. Both of his palms were facing me as if trying to calm a wounded animal.

I turned my back to on him to face the water.

“Yeah. I think I finally am,” I replied.

“Come on baby, let’s go home.” He begged, reaching his hand out for me to take.

I stared at his outstretched hand. I wanted so bad to take it. I had to actively force myself not to. I wanted him to pull me close and kiss my head and tell me I was okay, but I couldn’t. It hurt too bad to know that I would be walking back into my own rejection. I wouldn’t survive the mate bond severing. I knew that. If I were to go, I was going on my own terms. I sent a soft smile his way.

“I love you,” I whispered to him before taking a step right off the edge of the cliff.