An Alpha’s Revenge

Chapter Four

Eleanor’s POV

I stepped out of the car as Ryan opened it for me and saw that the pack house was bustling with activity. In all honesty, the house was gorgeous. It had to be three stories tall with big oak doors, white trim against a slate grey wall color and tall vertical windows covering the outside with climbing vines at the corners of the house. Warm light seeped through the windows and was very inviting. We walked up the well-manicured pathway and through a small rose garden to the wraparound porch. We were greeted by none other than Alpha Alexander himself. Within the last year, he had taken over the pack, and I had never met him as a full-fledged adult before. Not one rumor had prepared me for this breath-taking sight. He hadn’t nearly been this attractive back in high school. I couldn’t have been that blind, could I?

Do you really want an answer to that question? Rae asked sarcastically.

I ignored her instead of answering, while trying not to stare at the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. Not even Charles could compare to him.

Alexander was tall, not Charles tall, but a good 6’2” tall. He had his black hair braided down his back and forest green eyes shown against his olive skin. Stubble was beginning to grow on his chiseled jawline and tattoos peeked underneath his white v-neck t-shirt. His arm had a sleeve of tattoos as well. They looked like tribal tattoos, and if I could find my voice, I would ask him about them one day. Alexander was clearly muscular, his shirt and tight jeans left nothing to the imagination. I swallowed nervously. I had never seen such a beautiful man before.

“Greetings Alpha Eleanor and company,” Alexander said in a deep baritone. “I believe you have your Beta Angel, her mate Max, and your Gamma Ryan with you this weekend. Is that correct?” He smiled the most brilliant smile at me-I mean, uh, at us.

I tried to smile back, but I was certain it looked like a grimace. “ Yes, what a good memory you have, Alpha Alexander,” I replied.

“I try,” he winked. “Please, come in and get settled in. Nothing is planned for tonight except resting, since it’s rather late.”

As a group, we followed the alpha into the house, and I took note of the cologne trail he left behind him, which was a soft, smoky smell.

“As an alpha, you’ll be staying on the third floor, and your team will be on the second,” Alexander said to us as we began climbing the stairs.

He dropped off my companions and then continued up to the top floor, walked down the hallway past several doors and stopped in front of the last door on the left.

“This is your room,” he pointed.

“Thank you,” I said. “Are all the other alphas on this floor as well?”

He nodded and named off the other rooms. He then pointed to the room across from mine. “This one is me. If you need anything, just let me know,” he said with a charming smile.

I blushed and immediately chastised myself. He was just a man. A gorgeous man. But just a man! I heard Rae howl in laughter at me.

“Thank you, Alpha Alexander. This place is beautiful.”

“Just Alex is fine,” he smiled again and handed me a key to the room. “And when I have exquisite company, my standards must be kept high.” And then he turned and left, and I breathed in the wood smoke smell he left behind.

I opened the door and tried to convince myself that not only did he do this to all the women, which I’m sure he had his choice, but that he was just being nice. I set my bags down and fell into the most comfortable bed I had ever felt.

I didn’t remember falling asleep. But I remember the flash of silver. The pain in my chest. The burning sensation. I looked down at myself and gasped at the blood that covered me. My blood. Their blood. I saw those eyes, so full of glee and hatred and greed. Those eyes that burned a hole into my brain and never let me forget. The voice that said he’d take everything from me: my family, my wolf, my happiness. I woke up screaming, his laughter still filling my ears. Sweat covered my brow and soaked through my clothes. I heard pounding on my door.

“Alpha Eleanor! Are you alright?” I heard Alexander say.

I got up from the bed and stood there shaking for a moment. I couldn’t let him see me like this. But I couldn’t shake the images out of my head. That voice…

The door burst open, and I barely reacted as Alexander searched around the room and then came over to me, where he bent down in front of me.

“Alpha,” he said soothingly. “Answer me, are you alright?”

I looked up at him and into his deep green eyes. I felt comforted, and yet, he didn’t even touch me. I smelled his smoky scent, and began to calm down.

“You’re all wet. Do you have something you can change into?”

I nodded slowly and went to grab my bag, but he rushed to grab it.

“Here,” he said and turned around and closed the door. He continued to face the door.

“Th-thanks,” I said weakly as I stripped to pull on dry clothes. I felt weird taking so long to rummage through my bag, so I simply put on the first shirt I found, which happened to be Angel’s.

“Great,” I murmured. I shook my head. Angel was always trying to spice up my wardrobe. The top was rather low cut and was such a pale shade of mint green that one could say it was practically sheer. I shoved on sweatpants as well.

“Okay,” I mumbled and crawled under the sheets of the bed. “You don’t need to stay. I appreciate your help, but I’m okay, really.”

Alexander turned around to face me, and I swear I saw his ears turn red as his eyes took in my new attire and cleavage, but who could really say in the darkness.

“Are you sure you're okay? No one attacked you or anything?” he asked, concerned.

I rubbed the side of my head. “No,” I said awkwardly. “No, sometimes I get realistic nightmares. I’m sorry for waking you and causing concern.”

“Nonsense,” Alexander said and sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m just glad you’re alright. I’m sorry you have to endure that.”

“It’s okay, really. No big deal. I don’t want to keep you.”

“It’s not a problem. Like I said earlier, if you need anything, please let me know. And, if you don’t mind me saying it, I think it is a big deal. If you think of anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.” He smiled softly at me.

I nodded slowly, again and watched him stand and bow his head to me. “I hope your dreams get sweeter,” he said and left the room before I could say anything back.

It took me a little while, but I finally fell back asleep wondering what it would have been like to feel his touch. I woke up and stretched, and then turned the clock and realized I was already running late and hopped into the shower.

After coming out of the shower, I went over to my luggage and found suitable undergarments and put them on. I grabbed another baggy t-shirt with a Paul Simon album cover on it and jeans and threw them on the bed. I turned and looked at myself in the full-length mirror. All I saw were the flaws of my body. A little extra fat here, not toned enough muscle there, my round face and chubby cheeks. I sighed. But there on my chest, just above my left breast was the mark. The mark that evil man gave me ten years ago. The mark he carved into my flesh with a silver knife so that I would always remember him and what he did. So that I would always hear his voice in my nightmares say that he’d come back for me when I came of age. I shuddered at the memory and jumped when I heard a knock on my door.

“Umm, hello?” I asked.

The door opened and Charles stepped in along with a whiff of cookies. My eyes bulged and I grabbed my oversized t-shirt to hide myself, and then mentally slapped myself for standing in front of a mirror!

Charles’s face turned bright red, but he didn’t avert his eyes. “Oh! I’m so sorry. I thought-“

“Turn around!” I yelled.

He did immediately, and said, “I thought I heard you say come in.”

“Well, I didn’t. Hold on!” I quickly put on the rest of my clothes. “Okay, what do you want?” I asked in an exacerbated tone.

He faced me once more and the redness still covered him. “Can I come in?” He asked timidly.

I shrugged. “I guess.”

He gave me a quick smile and closed the door behind him and took a few steps toward me.

“You know, you really don’t have anything to be ashamed of.”

“What?” I asked. “What are you talking about?”

“Umm,” he started, looking awkward. “You, uh, in the mirror…”

I put a hand to stop him. “Please. We both know I’m nothing special. I’m not your type. Just tell me what you want.”

He looked confused as I said that, but I chose to ignore him and continued to glare at him.

He cleared his throat and said, “I wanted to address last night. At the park. Surely you felt it too.”

“Felt what?” I asked, crossing my arms across my chest and thinking playing dumb would be the easiest option.

“The mate bond. Your smell. It’s intoxicating. You’re mine,” he said with a lustful smile.

“Oh, that…” I trailed off.

“Yes,” he said with a husky voice.

I looked at his eyes and noticed how black they had become as he inched himself closer to me.

“Listen Charles,” I began, “are you even sure-“

I was cut off mid sentence by his mouth on mine. His greedy tongue pushed my lips open and filled my mouth exploring all around. I felt his hands on my waist and lifted up my shirt. Charles began exploring my stomach and inched up quickly toward my bra. His touch brought slight tingles to my skin. He kissed me fast and hard. I pushed him away, trying to clear my head and assess the situation.

“Charles,” I said breathlessly.

“Ella,” he said into my neck, his tone was deep and full of lust. “Don’t deny me. Let me have you.” He kissed my neck and my jaw. A small moan escaped me. One of his hands groped my breast under my bra, squeezing hard.

I snapped out of the fog and pushed him hard into the door. His eyes cleared instantly as he looked at me in shock.

“Ella,” he said, hurt laced in his voice.

But I wasn’t having it. I glared at him and yelled, “No, Charles, you listen to me. You don’t get to ‘have’ me or whatever the crap. If I’m a part of this too, then I get to decide for myself what I want. And if I even want you. I didn’t ask you to come here, to kiss me, to touch me. You will never do that again without permission. Do you understand?”

Charles looked like a wounded puppy and stepped toward me again. “Please, Ella, baby, listen.”

“No!” I shouted again. “I’m not your baby! Gah!”

I slipped around him, threw open the door and ran out of my room. I headed for the stairs and looked behind me as I heard footsteps following me.

“Ella!” I heard.

I hit what felt like a brick wall on the stairs and quickly turned to see an astonished Alexander holding my waist, almost too tightly, to keep me from losing my balance.

“What seems to be the issue?” He asked with concern.

He looked from me to a huffing Charles and back again to me. I was stunned to see him, and what was that smell, smoke?

“I don’t need a savior,” I shouted at both of them and wiggled out of Alexander’s grasp and escaped into the main hall.

What the hell is with men, Rae? Do they have superpowers that signal if they think a lady is trouble to just come to the rescue? That she’ll fall over him in praise for saving her?

I could feel Rae’s amusement, and she laughed.

It’s not funny!

Oh yes it is. But let’s talk about how we felt when Charles touched you.

Don’t get me started, Rae. I don’t have time to think about that. I can’t believe what just happened. I have to focus on finding out who could be my parents’ murderer. Besides, you’re the one who said we had to be careful and not give in!

But I want to.

I barely heard Rae’s response.

What did you say?

I felt Rae huff at my question and leave me alone. I did not want to dwell on whatever had just occurred in my room. I was here to find information, not make out with Charles Gibson.

I walked over to grab breakfast and sit in silence while I processed the events that took place.