The Alpha's Daughter (Book 1)

Chapter Nine

My heart burned. It happened all over again.

I let myself fall for someone who wasn't my mate and they found theirs. It wasn't me, it would never be me.

"Blake?" I heard a whisper but he wasn't whispering because we needed to be silent, no. He was whispering because my heart was broken and he didn't want to disturb the shattered pieces.

"Don’t." My voice was strong. I wouldn't let him see me cry.

"Blakely, you don't understand. With Lilliana there's, uh, there's history. My parents-" 

"I get it, she's your mate. You love her. You choose her. Blah blah blah i've heard it before." I cut him off turning to face him and revealing my tear stained cheeks.

"That's not it." 

"You said you wouldn't leave." I screamed. My emotions took over no matter how much I tried to control them. "You looked me in the eyes and promised me you wouldnt leave me." Hot angry tears rolled down my cheeks as my voice cracked.

"I'm sorry." Was all that came out of his mouth.

I scoffed in response. "It's a good thing sorry means nothing to me anymore."

I turned around and walked out of his house. Out of his life. Dylan is nothing more to me than a wolf I train.

The walk from their pack house to ours was long but only because i made it long. I sulked the entire way home and took the smallest steps possible because in all reality I didn't want to see anyone let alone my twin who would know instantly what happened. I reached the bright red door leading to my house and took a deep breath before opening it but as if I couldn't be more surprised I saw someone I never thought I'd see again.

"Austin?" I stopped dead in my tracks as my voice broke at his name.

Before he could respond I ran and jumped into his arms letting all of my tears fall. He was my security blanket, my best friend, my home. We stayed in that position for a few moments more before I realized everyone was surrounded in the living room.

I slowly pried myself off of him but I didn't let go, I held onto his hand like he'd disappear as we walked to the couch.

“What are you doing here?” I spoke with true happiness in my voice. Austin was one of the only people left who could evoke that emotion from me with just so much as being there.

“Can’t I just come visit the girl I love?” He spoke playfully. “Noah told me you were having a rough time so I thought I was due for a visit. Is that okay?”

“It’s more than okay.” I whispered into his neck letting his arms envelope me into another hug that was well needed.

“Wait. You missed my birthday!” I pulled away from him and punched his arm.

“Okay, you need to remember you’re still a wolf and I’m still a human. Ow!”

I waited a second for him to rub his now bruised arm before expecting him to speak.

“I know, I had planned to come out a little after so I could show you something.” He trailed off leaving me confused.

I glanced at Austin skeptically before realizing our entire pack had been standing there watching our encounter, not long after my realization and the awkward silence Olly made his debut.

“What is it doing here?” He glared at Austin.

“Wow so original.”

“Oliver, leave.” My brother ordered. Bless the Alpha. 

“So Austin, how is your mom?” My mother sat across from us on the loveseat with my father.

“She’s well, she misses our brunches though. She doesn’t get to cook as much as she used to with just me and Beau.”

“Oh how I miss Allysa’s cooking.” She reminisced.

“How is Beau?” Amy grinned. She always had a thing for Austin’s big brother, he just smirked in reply.

“How long are you staying?”I looked up to my best friend.

“As long as you want, princess.”

“Gross.” Oliver commented as he walked upstairs from the kitchen.

“We’re leaving.” I stood up dragging Austin behind me before anything else could be said.

Luckily since we were together for so long he spent a lot of time working out to keep up with me. We walked through the woods in comfortable silence, just having Austin near me changed my entire demeanor.

“Where are we going?” He quizzed as I pushed some trees away.

Instead of answering I pulled him a few steps further to reveal the hidden waterfall I had come to love so dearly. I watched Austin’s face as his mouth hung open at the magnificent sight. No words were exchanged for at least ten minutes while he took in the breathtaking view.

“Now I think I have to move here.” He chuckled jokingly.

“I wish.” My smile was genuine but sad.

He cupped my face with one hand to reassure me before stripping to his boxers and jumping into the crystal water. I followed suit, wearing only my underwear but it was nothing he hadn’t seen before.

We spent what felt like minutes splashing and enjoying each others company but it was probably at least two hours. I missed him so much I never wanted him to leave. We continued playing until I caught a whiff of something that made me go tense. I could smell him from a mile away but he was much closer than that.

“Hey, what's wrong?” Austin came close to me but before I could respond Dylan and Lilly made their way through the clearing.

Instinctively Austin put his arm around my shoulder seeing how uncomfortable I was, which Dylan didn’t like.

“Why is he touching you like that?” He sneered without introducing himself or his obvious mate. I could see the hurt in her eyes that he was so worried with how Austin was touching me.

“Who is this?” I asked, completely ignoring his question trying to speak as sweetly as I could. It wasn't her fault.

“This is Lilliana.” 

The beautiful girl waited for him to continue but when he didn’t, she spoke for him.

“I’m his girlfriend.”

My heart broke. It shattered and I don’t even know why it hurt so bad when I already knew that was coming. I don’t know why it stung like a thousand shots of vodka all at once but it did and it wouldn’t stop. It physically hurt.

“I’m Austin.” He spoke up trying to turn their attention from me because I’m sure I looked like I was dying. “How about you join us for a swim?” 

I turned my head toward him so fast I nearly got whiplash.

What are you doing? I shouted through the mind link.

Since he was human he couldn’t answer me back but he definitely heard me loud and clear by the soft smile he sent my way.

“Sure, we’d love too.” 

After Lillana said that Austin’s face showed it all. He didn’t expect them to say yes, and judging by Dylan’s expression he wasn’t going too but Lilly got to it first. It was obvious they came to swim since she was wearing a sheer cover up over her bikini and he was wearing swim trunks with a shirt so why wouldn’t she say yes.

They both started to strip before jumping in the water sending a splash and small wave my way. I completely ignored the actions and just swam closer to Austin. He was about to whisper something my way but I gave him a look that told him not too because as a wolf Dylan and Lilly both had fantastic hearing. Actually, I don't know if Lilly is a wolf or not. It was possible to have a human mate, almost unheard of for an Alpha but still possible.

Lilliana had gorgeous fiery red hair that bounced with curls when it was dry but even matted around her face it was still beautiful. I couldn’t help but admire her and wonder how long Dylan had known her. He said he found his mate but she didn’t find him, whatever that means, but she obviously found him.

“How are you Blake?” I felt Dylan’s breath on my ear making me jump and swim away while Lilly looked pained and uncomfortable.

“I’m fine Marshal.” He cringed at the use of his last name.

“Babe?” Lilly asked meekly. 

He just shook his head at me before swimming back to his mate. He looked happy with her but I couldn’t help but try to decipher the hidden emotion behind his eyes. For a second, just one second, I could have sworn I saw sadness but it was gone before it was even there and replaced with a breathtaking smile.

“It’ll be okay.” Austin whispered, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I instinctively laid my head back on his chest enjoying my best friend's arms around me which Dylan obviously wasn’t okay with but he didn’t say anything this time. 

The rest of our time swimming was spent with Austin and I making our own conversation and playing in the water while Lilliana and Dylan did the same on the other side. 

“How could you do that to me?” I screamed to Austin as soon as we were safe in my bedroom and out of wandering ears.

“I didn’t think they would actually join us. He seemed just as uncomfortable as you were so I thought I could be polite and they would decline.” He put his arms up in defense.

2 hours.

Two hours.

“ You made me swim with them for 2 hours! I literally feel like I want to throw up.”

“What’s with that guy anyway? DId you see how angry he got when I was near you? If looks could kill.” He muttered the last part but I still heard him and he knew it.

“I don't know. We were getting close and I was stupidly letting my guard down then just like always he found his mate and left me without another thought, and honestly I don’t blame him. I feel like I’ll never find my mate. I wish I could choose because if I could I’d choose you.” I walked toward him and buried my face into his chest.

My being 5’9 I stood taller than most girls but Austin matched my twin brother's height at 6’2 so I could still put my head in his chest pretty easily.

“I-” Before he could finish what he was saying Sebastian ran in my room in a fuming rage.

“Blake.” He spoke low and slow, making me understand what was happening.

“I love you.” I gave Austin a swift kiss on the cheek before grabbing Seb’s arm and running outside.

We were barely out the door when he shifted and I stood in front of his large white wolf. He ran without a second thought while I shifted into mine, it had been a few days since I had shifted so it stung a little but nothing I couldn’t handle. I caught up to him easily but he was going fast, he was angry.

What happened? I mind linked him.

I found her. I found my mate and she rejected me! He was practically screaming in my head.

What? Who is she?! I shared his anger at that moment. Sebastian was one of the most amazing men I had ever known, how could someone reject him.

A human.

That’s how. Humans don't understand the wolf world, they don't understand mates, they don’t understand the pain of being rejected but rejection is rejection and there is no turning back.

I didn’t respond to the mind link, we just continued to run for hours. By the time we stopped and shifted back it had to at least be 3 in the morning.

“Blake it hurts.” Seb looked at me like he was broken. He was broken. 

I was about to say something to comfort him but it was like something in my brain clicked. A flip switched and I saw him for the first time. 

Mate.