Breaking The Alpha's Command

Day 13

Sera was very surprised when there was a knock on her door, the only people who ever came to see her just walked straight in. The knock came again.

“1 minute please.” As she finished getting dressed, it still stung on her ribs as she lifted up. She opened the door not quite sure who to expect but definitely not Theo.

“Ahem.” He stood proud but rather awkwardly so. “May I come in?”

“It’s a free world.” Sera turned and heading to a makeshift kitchen area in the corner. “Coffee, tea?”

“Coffee please, milk and 2 sugars.” He made his way in; he had never really been in the infirmary rooms. As either son of the Alpha or the Alpha he was always taken to the Manor House, he looked round the barren room. Along the back wall opposite the door was the bed, with all manner of medical equipment. To the right was a door, which he presumed lend to a bathroom, and a large sofa that had seen better days. To the left was a counter where Sera had her makeshift kitchen that consisted of a kettle, a couple cups, the staples for making a hot drink, and a singular plate. And it was accompanied by a small table and 2 chairs. He was surprised by how bare the rooms sat, plain white walls but the signature light blue ceiling with subtle lights was one of his mother’s trademarks. He hadn’t thought about her a lot since her death, didn’t have time with trying to keep his pack together. Those days and weeks after his parents’ death hit the whole pack hard; they had overseen the Pack as Alpha and Luna for near on 60 years. Theo was barely into his 10th year and had one of the worse Guild crises that had occurred; the kidnap, imprisonment and torture of Lycans and the death of an Alpha Lord. A small part of him wishes his father was here to help with it all, for his father had heard the news of rogue Lycans attacking and stealing away Lycans but had never enough pieces of the puzzle to find out they were all rejected mates. How some of them were ever rejected was beyond him... Take for example the ones he housed currently:

· Katrina – she may come on a bit strong but according to her Kristopher Tyreen was her mate and she rejected him

· Molly – an ambitious girl, heard she was the mate of an Omega but he rejected her on the basis she was ‘ordinary’

· Zoe – a shy girl, didn’t say much but he got the feeling she wasn’t rejected by her mate but by her pack itself

· Amelia, Evelyn, Gianna, Isabella, Arabella, Lilly and Sophia – all shared a similar experience of their mates using them and then dumping them when they thought demesne better come along. These 7 had come from all over the world though and Theo couldn’t figure out how Tyreen would have found them all.

· Noah – quite unique as the only male there rejected, he didn’t say much about his experience but he was the newest arrival and had only been there 2 weeks before they busted out

· Clara & Helena – their mates simply just didn’t want them, no playing about just said no and let their pack exile them from their home

· Doc – not rejected but why was he there?

· Lucy – his mind boggled at the pure thought of someone not wanting her, he didn’t know her side of what happened and the version Katrina said was Lucy rejected her mate and left on her own

· Sera – as the only human there was the chance she was rejected but she wouldn’t have known why

His thoughts were disrupted by Sera placing the coffee on the table and Gesturing for him to sit down.

“You look like you were having some heavy thoughts there Theo, how can I help you today?” She sat quite comfortably down as if they were 2 friends catching up on old times.

“I was thinking about all the survivors.” As he sat opposite.

“I haven’t had a chance to check in on them yet, how are they doing?”

“Well, they were the least injured in the escape so physically they may be alright. Mentally... only time will tell but I will do all I can to aid in their recoveries.”

“What about the others, sent to Shadow Bane: Freya, Sienna, Evie, Penelope, Imogen, Harriet?”

“Colour me impressed Sera.” He took a sip and measured her response.

“That I know their names?”

“Mm-hmm. The way I hear it you didn’t want anything to do with them.” He heard her sharp intake of breath, she tried to hide it very well, and he got the feeling that she’s had to hide her emotions or many occasions.

“You hear wrong.” She took a sip. It felt almost like a standoff with who would fall first: the human or the Alpha?

“I also hear that you care about them. Deeply. And I haven’t quite decided which side is true.”

“I’ll give you a hint... the side Katrina isn’t saying.”

“Ah, yes. You’ve heard about that as well?”

“It’s not exactly a secret around here, especially after yesterday...”

Oh crap. Why was he surprised? Of course Sera knew about it, she’s Lucy’s closest confidant and that’s exactly why he was here.

“That’s ’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Theo braced himself, for either outright laughter or a slap. “I need your help.”

“In what regards?”

He wasn’t one who easily shared emotions, let alone with a possibly very dangerous refugee, definite killer, and a human to boot. “I know that Katrina has made the claim of being my Mate.”

Sera simply drank her coffee and waited.

“But you know that isn’t quite true.”

She waited again. He clenched his fist, was she trying to be this difficult?

“There is another who could very probably, actually, truly, be my Mate. But she hasn’t said anything to me, and I think she feels the same I do.”

She waited.

“By the Goddess!” He slammed the coffee down, smashing the cup, he noticed Sera didn’t even flinch. “Do I have to spell it out for you?! I’ve got the Guild on my case about all that’s gone down, 17 survivors to keep safe, 6 more of their way from Shadow Bane, and I’m currently caught between 2 women. One who has quite loudly, and proudly, proclaimed a bond. And the other who I feel has the same feelings I do but hasn’t said anything to me. When I’m around her my whole being wants to just pick her up and run away, the mere thought of her tingles my skin, a slight touch is like an electric shock to my system. I feel the bond but I don’t want to push her. I know she’s been through s**t, and I don’t know how to help or approach. I stop myself when people are around as don’t want any uncomfortable moments, when alone Katrina comes and screws it all up!”

“Hmm.”

“Oh she speaks! Would she like to contribute to this conversation?”

“I would, if I knew who you were talking about and exactly what you need my help with.”

“Lucy! I’m talking about Lucy! She is my Mate and yesterday she ran from me in tears.” He sat down again heavily. “I need your help with what I have to do to... win her over.”

Sera smiled broadly. “How did that feel?”

“Pretty good actually.” He chuckled slightly. “It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud. Lucy Barnes is my Mate.” A smile came across his face. Sera had clocked the small flash of blonde hair that quickly hid behind the entrance., Theo hadn’t.

“I needed to know. If you didn’t have the balls to say it in front of me, then what hope have you got in front of other people?” She picked up the broken coffee cup and started to clean up. “I’ll help you, if that is what Lucy wants.” The shadow by the door nodded. “And if you can figure out what do about Katrina. If she’s made a false claim that needs to be dealt with as can’t have her interfering. You deal with her.” She lent real close to him. “Or I will.” Theo could sense no lie in her words.

“I’ll deal with her. What do I need to do?”

“Nothing yet, but I’m sure that wasn’t all you came here for Theo. An Alpha doesn’t just walk into the infirmary room looking for relationship advice.”

“How did-“

“I hear things too.” She smirked, but the look in Theo’s eyes wasn’t a comfortable one. “I feel this requires privacy and scotch.”