The Alpha's Broken Mate

Chapter 13

Roe's P.O.V

Damn that man. We nearly kissed. Again! How does he keep pulling me in? It kept replaying in my mind all night so I hardly slept at all. I probably should have just taken the painkillers. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up and checked the time. Seven AM was far too early but I doubted that I'd get any more sleep, so reluctantly I got up. After a quick freshen up I changed into a grey knitted jumper and dark blue jeans before I headed for the kitchen, because I was in desperate need of chocolate to distract from the pain.

The place seemed so quite while I sat alone at the breakfast bar, making my way through a tub of ice cream, when three of the boys burst into the kitchen laughing raucously. Where was Alec? They were all wearing only a pair of shorts, sweat dripping down their chest along with blood and bruises. My eyes quickly locked with Damien's as they all froze mid step. I tore my gaze from his and checked his body for injuries. His black eye seemed to be his only injury but I couldn't stop my eyes from lingering on his muscular chest.

"Roe, what are you doing up so early?" He asked as he cautiously came to stand in front of me. His voice forcing me too look at his face again.

"I couldn't sleep." I muttered, digging my spoon back into the tub. "What on earth have you lot been doing? Your eye Damien!" Guilt crossed his face as he looked down. I turned to face Warren and Jace, who suddenly found the floor very interesting. "And you two look even worse!"

"We were just sparring, Princess." Damien responded softly.

"We do it every morning." Jace spoke up and received a whack to back of his head from Warren. "What? No point in lying." I narrowed my eyes at them both before turning my gaze to back to Damien.

"You guys beat each other up every morning?" I asked incredulously. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Roe, it's fine. These wounds will heal in a few hours." Jace spoke again, earning himself another whack from Warren and a growl from Damien. Seriously, what was with these guys and growling.

"Really?" I questioned Jace, who again refused to look at me.

"Boys just heal faster then girls." My head snapped to Damien and he held up his hands in surrender. Standing from the stool I slowly stepped closer to him.

"Are you saying girls are weak?" His throat bobbed at my low tone. Did they really think girls were weak?

"Princess, that's not..." He began in a gentle tone but something in my snapped. Anger rose in me so fast as I glared up into his eyes. How dare he! How dare he think girls are weak!

"Is that why you call me Princess? Because I'm a weak damsel who always needs rescuing!" I yelled, my finger prodding his chest. Before I could react, he had grabbed me and pinned me against the wall with his lips pressed roughly against mine. The shock of his actions made me gasp and he quickly plunged his tongue into my mouth. His taste, his scent, the feel of his hand against my waist and the other on the back of my neck was drowning the anger in me.

"You are the strongest person I know." He mumbled against my lips. "Nothing about you is weak." Hot lips trailed down my neck and back up, igniting a trail of sparks that made my knees weak. Why did he have this power over me. "You deserve to be treat like royalty." His voice was husky as he made his way back to my lips again. A gentle kiss before he pulled back slightly to look in my eyes. His warm breath fanned my face as his eyes trapped me in their gaze. "My warrior Princess." That strange emotion was in his eyes again along with another I didn't recognise. My heart was pounding in my chest and I desperately tried to regain control of my breathing. Slowly I lifted my hand to his cheek and lightly traced under his black eye, remembering why I was angry in the first place. His eyes closed and he leaned into my touch.

"Does your eye hurt?" I asked softly, feeling the anger rise again. Why does he keep doing this to me? Why do I want him to? He called me his, but I'm not.

"Not at all." He mumbled, slowly opening his eyes.

"Good." Before his gaze could drain my anger again I pulled my hand away from him and quickly slapped him. "Don't get hurt again and stop kissing me!" I yelled, avoiding looking at him. "Stupid boys, beating each other up like it's a game. Utterly ridiculous!" I muttered as I stormed out of the kitchen and out the front door. I needed fresh air to calm down. 

Sitting there listening to the birds in the forest was calming. Really I wanted to go to the baths but it would be too hard with the cast and my back. I don't know how long I was sat there before Warren appeared next to me. Thankfully he was fully clothed this time. Sighing I turned to face him. I had to apologise. For the second time I didn't know what had come over me.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped. I don't know what happened." His head tilted slightly telling me he thought it didn't matter. "It does matter Warren." I protested but he just looked at me softly.

"You care." He said and held my hand.

"It can't feel like that when I have these outbursts. I slapped Damien." I sighed looking down at my lap. Surely he'll hate me now. Warren turned my face back to him and his look told me he knows my feelings for Damien. "That has nothing to do with it." I mumbled, feeling my cheeks growing hot. Suddenly he stilled for a few seconds before the alarm rang aloud. Tornado.

"Shelter!" Warren barked before rushing off. Jumping up from the porch step I headed to the basement at the opposite end of the mansion. Women and children came down here, while then men made sure everyone was safe and everything was tied down. There had been three tornado alarms while I had been here but they all proved false. Nothing ever happened. Once at the bottom of the steps, I counted the children. They had a nursery just above the shelter, so that they were close incase of danger. Five. There should be seven.

"Where's Annabelle and Gabriel?" I asked them as they huddled together on one of the beds, waiting of their parents.

"They were playing in the garden." Candice answered. s**t! I told them to stay there before I ran back into the house. Even if it was another false alarm, I was wasn't about to risk it. I could only imagine their fear if it was real this time. I sped through the house and out the back door only to find the pair backed against a tree by a huge wolf. Annabelle was crying, Gabriel was standing in front of her trying his best to protect her. That brave boy. My feet didn't stop until I was in front of them both.

"Are you injured?" I asked breathlessly and they shook their heads. Gabriel now at her side holding her while I stared down the brown wolf, trying to stand my ground as it snarled. "Good, now when I say 'run' I want you two to run as fast as you can back to the house and to scream as loud as you can. Okay?" From the corner of my eye I saw him nod again. "RUN!" I yelled and charged at the wolf, hoping that they were running and that wolf would focus on me instead. The beast was quick. A sharp pain sliced through my back as I hit the floor before the world went black.

I stood there, breathing erratically as the wolf stood back up. Unable to bare weight on it's back leg. What had happened? The last thing I remembered was landing on my back. There was no one else around. We stared at each other, both breathing heavily when an earth shattering howl broke the silence. My head turned just in time to see an even bigger, black wolf lunge at the brown one and swiftly snap it's neck with it's teeth. The sound was sickening and I felt the bile rise up my throat. Quickly I ran back into the house, praying the black wolf was too distracted to notice. I had to check on the children. Had they made it back? Were they okay?

"Roe!" Damien yelled from behind me. Stopping me halfway through the dinning room and I span around to face him. I hadn't realised how close he was until my view was blocked by his bare chest. I stepped back and he stepped forward as I looked up into his eyes. That was a mistake because even now, with his muscles visibly shaking with anger, all I wanted to do was collapse into his arms. s**t!

"What?" I snapped as I took another step back. What was his problem today? I need to check on the kids and he won't leave me alone for two minutes!

"What were you thinking? Running out there like that!" He said through his shaking as he took a step forward.

"I was thinking that the kids weren't safe." My voice came out shaky and I took another step away from him.

"Goddess' sake Roe! You weren't safe!" He said through clenched teeth. The muscle in his jaw twitching as he stepped towards me again. 

Damien's P.O.V.

"Their lives matter more!" Roe yelled at me. It was clear she meant it.

"Not to me!" I growled and pinned her against the wall between my arms. How could she put herself in so much danger like that! She was too important to me. She winced as her back hit the wall. f**k! I felt the anger drain out of me. I forgot about her wounds or maybe she had a new injury. "You're hurt" I said softly as I moved to touch her.

"I'm fine" She gritted out, slapping my hand away. Was she really going to keep fighting me, even now?

"Roe, you just took on a wolf! Let me see." My voice was stern as her eyes searched mine. Sighing, she reluctantly turned around and I gingerly pulled the jumper up to check her wounds were okay but instead I see a big bruise forming in the middle of her back. Gently, my fingers traced the edge of the bruise, letting the bond dull the pain. She took on a wolf and this was her worst injury? My little fighter, but she shouldn't have had to. "I'm sorry. I didn't get there fast enough." I whispered as I placed my hands on the bare skin of her waist and moved closer, being careful of her back.

"I told you, I don't need you protecting me." Her voice came out breathy as her heart beat picked up and she leaned into me. I loved that I had this effect on her. She might not ever need me, but she wants me and I will always need her.

"I know, but I will always want to protect you." I sighed, slowly snaking my arms around her. Giving her the chance to stop me. She didn't, so I rested my head on her shoulder and breathed deeply. Goddess her scent was divine. She fit so perfectly in my arms. She turned around to face me, her hands pressed against my chest, those enchanting hazel eyes held mine. She was stunning. My eyes flickered to her plump lips for a second before I pressed my lips to hers. It was a gentle kiss this time. Our lips moving tenderly together. I wanted to show her how important she was to me. How much I needed her but she pulled back, her cheeks flushed.

"Will you stop kissing me." She whispered, but it didn't hold the same conviction as before. She half heartedly hit my chest before she hastily ran from the dinning room. I couldn't help but smile after her. She was stubborn, but I knew she felt it too. I just have to find a way for her to trust me because her running away every time we get close was starting to hurt.

Jace's P.O.V.

Fucking rogues. They were starting to become a real problem. We were all in Damien's office discussing what was going on.

"We have a few minor injuries but no casualties to report. We still aren't sure how they managed to get past the patrols." I reported.

"Nine months with no attacks and now we've had four in two months." Rob said as he turned to his son. "We have to assume that this is somehow linked to Roe."

"I won't let anyone near her!" Damien growled from his desk, shaking the room. No one threatens an Alpha's Mate. No one smart anyway and no one would be stupid enough to target Damien's Mate with his reputation. 

"No one's doubting you, son" Rob placed a hand on the Alpha's shoulder. "All of us want to protect Roe, but this can't be a coincidence." He was right. This wasn't a coincidence.

"The trouble is that we still know nothing about Roe. I've rechecked everything with her full name, but still nothing. It's like no ones missing her. There are no missing reports here or in the U.K." Alec spoke up for the first time. He looked pale. He was working himself to the bone to makeup for his mistake. As he should. I still couldn't believe it.

"How? Someone has to be missing her" Damien snarled. His eyes flickering as Demon fought for control.

"Add to that the fact Cora still has no answer as to why they were injecting her antimony." Rob added.

"Or why her body isn't reacting to the poison the way a humans should." I said. "Are we sure Roe is human?" I mumbled more to myself. Damien eyes flashed to black as he stood up, slamming his fists onto the desk.

"Keep searching and double the patrols." He growled before storming out of the room.