Beyond Chosen: The Alpha Fated Mate

Tension Arises

~Elvira~

A low rumbling growl pulled my attention away from the blonde warrior.

Alpha Gabriel was glaring at me, a dark look of annoyance clouding his features.

My cheeks burned red...he had caught me looking at someone else, and the mate bond made it feel like a betrayal.

I dropped my gaze fidgeting with my fingers.

"Gabriel," the blonde called...his voice carried a smooth British accent. "What you asked for is ready."

"Hang on, Cole. I’ll wrap this up," Gabriel muttered taking a flash drive from the guard’s hand. He dismissed the guards with a nod, and they left immediately.

Gabriel plugged the drive into his laptop.

The room fell silent as the video played...proving exactly what I already knew.

I hadn't moved from the window...and I hadn't touched a single paper.

"Vanessa," Gabriel called, folding his hands under his chin as the video played. "She wasn’t sneaking around and she wasn’t stealing."

Instead of looking ashamed Venessa just smoothed out her hair.

"I thought she was snooping, Gabriel. I was protecting your interests. I’ve never seen her before...so I refuse to take chances." She explained in defence.

"I understand," Gabriel replied with a flat tone. "You can leave now."

I watched her go as my frustration boiled over.

She shot me a smug venomous look before the door shut.

I couldn't believe a simple dismissal was all she got after nearly having me dragged back to a cell.

"That’s it?" I blurted out.

"You’re just letting her walk away?"

Gabriel’s gaze snapped to mine, a warning flashed in his eyes. "What exactly do you want me to do, Elvira?"

"She lied!”

“She nearly got me locked up on a false charge, and you’re treating it like a minor mistake. Does she just get to ruin lives because she's a pack member?" My voice shook from a mix of hunger and outrage.

Gabriel’s jaw clenched...i can clearly see his temper flaring.

"Vanessa is a respected member of this pack. She was doing her job, which is protecting my interests from a trespasser who shouldn't even be in this room."

"Her job?" I laughed bitterly.

"Her job is to invent crimes? To frame me because I'm a stranger?"

The air in the office buzzed with tension.

Cole watched us...his eyes moved between the Alpha and me.

"Enough, Elvira," Gabriel growled standing up.

He walked around the desk until he was standing over me.

"You’re an outsider. You have no rank, no history, and no rights here yet. Vanessa was protecting me. I understand her motivation."

"Should I apologize to her then?" I snapped tilting my head back to meet his glare. "Should I apologize for her lies?"

A dull ache hit my chest. I wanted him to stand up for me because of the mate bond between us. But to Gabriel, I was just a problem in his territory and Vanessa was a pillar I guess...

"Careful," Gabriel whispered. "You are testing a patience I don't have. You should be grateful I left you in my office instead of a hole in the ground."

My eyes started to sting as the fear I'd been pushing down began to surface.

"Gabriel, that’s enough," Cole said stepping between us. He placed a hand on Gabriel’s chest and then turned to me. "Elvira, come with me."

I hesitated, locked in a final silent battle of wills with Gabriel.

For a second, his mask slipped... I saw a flash of regret before the ice returned. I turned and followed Cole out of the office keeping my chin held high.

Cole led me down a different wing of the pack house, He guided me into a small sunlit room filled with detailed artwork.

The air here smelled of lavender reminding me of the safety I felt at Lisa’s house.

"Wait here," Cole told me his voice was soft and calming...different from Gabriel's.

"Gabriel will come when he’s cooled down. I’ll send up some food. You need to rest, Elvira."

I nodded sinking into a soft chair as he left.

I felt tired...trapped...and completely alone more than ever.

But looking at the artwork on the walls, my stubborn determination returned.

Alpha Gabriel could push me away, side with Vanessa, and treat the mate bond like a curse....But I wasn't leaving. I would find a way to earn my place in Silverblade…