The Reedemed Alpha

Rage and remorse

~Enjoy~

Johnathan

Anger burned through him. The sting on his cheek where he had just been slapped was nothing compared to the burn of rage in his belly. He stood in the kitchen. His eyes fixed where she had just gone. Picking up the kitchen chair blindly he smashed with all his might onto the kitchen floor. His body still quaked not sated from the act of violence. Turning to the front door he threw it open and shifted.

This morning started off grand. He woke to new hope. Vena accepted! He could start fresh with his mate. He also finally got a call back from Rexton.

'Took you long enough to answer me back.' Johnathan answered after the first ring that morning when Rexton had called.

'From this phone call I assume you found her.' Rexton replied in a bored tone.

'Yes.'

'She has my sympathies.'

'Enough. Put me through to my brother.'

'My, aren't we impatient.''

'Would you prefer I talk to you, Rexton?'

Rextons tone turned dark. ''What I would have preferred is if you were sentenced to death after what you did to me and Cassandra. Not to mention my husband, and your brother. Let's not even think of what could have happened to your nephew who Cassandra was still carrying at the time.'

'Yes, Rexton. I know what I've done. I've had plenty of time to reflect and plenty of damnation has been suffered on my part for my sins. Now, put me through to my brother!'

Another bored sigh before a couple moments of silence.

'Johnathan.' James's cold voice came down the line.

'Hello brother.'

'You found her?'

'Yes.'

'Cassandra.' He heard his brother call. 'Its him.'

'Hello Johnathan.' Cassandra's light voice filled his ear. 'You've found your mate. Vena isn't it?'

'Yes. You've seen her?'

'I had a vision of both of you finding each other long before I released you.'

'And?'

'And the rest you'll just have to figure out.'

'Cassandra-'

James cut in.

'You've found her. What do you plan now?'

'It's simple. We’ll be heading there soon, after we’re married.’

'Your going to marry her?'

‘Yes, she agreed last night. I want everything binding and done right in both worlds.’

'The voices? How do I know you won't be a risk to my family again? Do you still have that urge to kill?'

He let out a frustrated breath. ‘No. They've been gone or silent since she showed up. Look, Cassandra said my mate was my cure. You said when I found her I could come home. Cassandra spoke the truth. Did you, brother?’

The coffee machine beeped. He rose to pour two coffees. He caught her scent before he saw her in the bathroom doorway. Her appearance was breathtakingly adorable. Sleepy eyed and disheveled.Unbelievably sexy. An unfamiliar tenderness swept through him everytime he looked at her. He could see curiosity in her eyes. The image of her being playful last night in her drunken state warmed him.

‘We'll speak again soon, James. I have to go.' Tearing his gaze from her he turned back to the coffee. ‘Good morning. Cream or sugar?’

‘Um…morning. Cream and two sugars…please. Who was that?’

The warmth turned to ice at the thought of James. ‘My brother.’ He placed the coffee in front of her.

‘James? From the story you told me?’

‘Yes.’

‘And?’

He shrugged. ‘He knows I've found you and after we exchange vows I'll be returning to my world with you.’

‘What about my family? Will he be assisting?’

The thought of asking his brother to defend Vena made his wolf feel territorial. ‘No. I want him kept out of this.’

She sipped her coffee.

‘But he is king. Right? Alpha.’

‘Yes.’

‘So wouldn't it be smart to get him on board? If he is king, that means he has an army at his disposal. If you combined your people that you said would help with his people, wouldn't that be the best move?’

‘No. He doesn't need to get involved.’

She took another sip while watching him.

‘He threw you out, this older brother of yours?’

‘Yes.’ The memory of the day he was exiled sent shame and anger through him.

‘Do you not want to ask him for help because of your pride or pettiness?’

Feeling her lack of faith in him, began gnaw at him. Glaring at her, he answered.

‘Vena, these are humans we will be wiping out. It won't take much. Even if this Victor had over a hundred men, it would only take less than half of that amount from my side to do the job.’

She sat back and he could see the thoughts winding through her mind.

‘This is my family we are saving. All the help, I think, would be welcomed. I just hope you are not letting your pride stand in the way.’ An after thought occurred she added, ‘Can bullets hurt you?’

‘Unless they're silver, no. It's more of an annoyance than pain.’

‘So once we get to this place of yours, what will happen?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Where will we live?’

‘In the castle. After all, it is my birth right as well as my brothers.’ The feeling of what was once his, taken from him in punishment only fueled the slow embers of anger in him.

‘You plan on living there? With your brother?’

‘Yes. Why wouldn't I?’

She shrugged. ‘After all you've told me, I assume there will be tension. Maybe some awkwardness. Why put yourself in that?’

‘Like I said, it's my birthright too.’

He smelled a hint of fear coming from her.

‘You…aren't planning to…do anything to your brother or his wife again, were you?’

His fists clenched. Was she ready to judge him by what he told her of his crimes?

‘No Vena. Why are you asking me that?’

‘Well, the story you told me, then the army that you're raising, that I'm also assuming you haven't told your brother, your eagerness to get home, and you are clearly holding on to some hard feelings. You don't strike me as the type to let some things go.’

He stood. Why was she acting like this? He saw another side to her last night. How could she possibly know what he was about or have any idea of what he had gone through in his punishments?

‘What are you doing, Vena?’

She held up her hands.

‘I’m just preparing for what's to come. With what you said your brother did to you last time, I'd hate to see what he does to me by association if he even thinks you're up to something. I’ve got enough problems to deal with. I don't need to be placed in some family melodrama.’

She would be his wife. He had imagined they'd work as a team and share their sorrows. He knew he was forcing this but he had hoped once she agreed and after last night she would give him less hostility and at least a little trust. The picture of a clean slate and a new future was slowly turning to ash.

‘You will be my wife. That means we'll be partners. I will shelter you and protect you but you will be part of this family and all that comes with it.’

‘No, Johnathan. I agreed to your terms. But this marriage will be one of convenience. That's it.’

The thought of her denying him everything she could offer.. everything they could have sent his anger and hurt to a boiling point now. ‘Didn't feel like that from your actions last night.’

Now she stood. Her cheeks turned red ‘That was a drunken low moment for me and kind of pathetic of you if you think anything different.’

She turned away and he couldn't have that. She needed to stop lying to herself and him.

‘Do you want to know what I think, Vena? I think you want me just as much as I want you. I think you know that too. Yes, your inhibitions may have been lowered last night, but that just proves it.’

She laughed at him. Laughed! ‘Inhibitions? You mean standards?’

His ego was now bruised. A new emotion was now there. Rejection? She'd rather have a stranger have her body in a restroom then him? The anger spoke for him before he could hold it back.

‘Oh right. You prefer strangers in a bathroom for a quick f**k!’

The slap stung but not as badly as her previous words.

‘Go to hell!’ She tore away and locked herself in the bathroom.

He was now hunting. Trying to calm down before he saw her again. He took all his rage out on a rabbit, a few coyotes, and a big male lynx. His wolf was In despair and Johnathan was still in anger. Anger at himself now. He regretted what he said to her. She told him what she had done out of spite and desperation against her captors. He knew she wouldn't have chosen that way to lose her virginity. He hated himself for using that against her. He'd apologize. On his knees, if that's what it took.

After a few hours of his rage-fueled hunt, he had finally calmed down.

Turning toward the cabin, he ran. As he got closer, he noticed Vena's scent leading away from the house. Was she running again? No. He knew they had a fight but he could see she knew this plan of his would work. Didn't she?

Quickly hosing off the blood, he shifted back again and grabbed a bag full of clothes he kept stashed outside with his teeth, then followed her scent.

She was a good distance away. Farther then she's ever gotten.

He was five miles out when her scent stopped. He saw her sitting against a tree. A small fire in front of her. He watched her watching the fire devour the pile of dried fallen leaves. She was rubbing her injured ankle that had to be throbbing at this point. But a small content smile was on her lips.

Approaching her cautiously, he stopped when a twig snapped under his paw. She turned her head and the small smile vanished.

Ignoring him, she looked back at the fire.

Ducking behind a tree, he shifted and put on the jeans and flannel. The socks and boots were worn out slightly but still durable.

Walking slowly to where she was, he leaned against the tree she sat up against.

'Vena-'

'Don't.' She held up a hand to silence him.

'No, Vena.' He squatted next to her. She turned her face away to stare at the ground. 'I'm…I'm sorry about what I said to you. I shouldn't have…I was angry and…I don't know. But, please forgive me.'

She still didn't look at him. He heard something drop on to the leaves in front of her on the ground.

'Vena?'

Tilting her chin, she tried to turn away but he held firmly.

'No…' Her voice sounded small.

Turning her to face him, he saw tears.

'Oh Vena.' Not knowing what else to do he gathered her to him. She was stiff at first but soon she melted into his arms.

Kissing her hair, he just held her in the quiet of the woods.

They stayed just like that with the scent of burning leaves surrounding them.

'What were you smiling about?' He asked, his chin propped on the top of her head.

She looked up at him. 'What?'

When I found you here, you were smiling. What about?'

'Oh. It's nothing. Just…stupid.' She sat up straighter.

'If it makes you smile even the tiniest bit, how can it be stupid?'

She looked at him, then at the fire. 'The fire reminded me of…my friends.'

He looked at the fire then back at her questioningly.

She sighed mournfully. 'I used to sneak things back to them whenever I could. Once an entire pie, a book, alcohol, but once I snuck a candle back from a lavish party at a hotel Victor was throwing with my soon to be husband. A tiny little candle. Half the size of an empty toilet paper roll. Lavender scented. It smelled up the whole room. All of us stared into the tiny flame. We were all talking and laughing. For the first time, it was as if we were all relaxed and…free. That one night we all had peace. Then in the morning, just like the flame it was gone.'