Saving My Mate From The Rogue Alpha

Chapter 7 - Beth

“And that concludes the grand tour of the pack house.” Beck says a little bit too loudly as we walk back into the ballroom. Marie is waiting for us just inside the doors and she shoots Beck a death glare, then takes my arm and walks me away from him, towards a table of her friends and Tom. I look back and smile at him as he walks over to the person he arrived with, Dustin or Justin or something like that, and a group of other guys who are so well built they must be warriors.

“It’s none of my business but you and Beck?” She asks.

“No he was just showing me around.” I say as she raises her eyebrows. “Ok we kissed but nothing more. He isn’t with anyone is he?”

“No, but he isn’t exactly boyfriend material. He spends far too much time with Dustin.” She councils.

“You really don’t like Dustin do you?” I ask and I can’t help looking over at the group again and I notice that Beck is looking this way as well.

“No. He has slept with almost every she-wolf in the pack and he doesn’t treat them very well afterwards. I don’t like Beck hanging out with him, I don’t want him to act like that.” She asserts.

“That reminds me a lot of someone I know.” I say thinking about my former best friend, the future Alpha of my pack.

“The reason you are here?” She inquires.

“Yes. I don’t even know how to explain it.” I don’t want to explain it, even if I knew how to.

“You don’t need to. I have seen it a hundred times before.” She says reassuringly.

“No it’s not what you think, we didn’t.” I say blushing. It’s not like I have actually done anything with Will other than kissing, one time.

“Don’t worry about it. When I said Dustin had slept with nearly every she-wolf, that included me, but don’t say anything to anyone. Tom doesn’t know and it was a long time ago.”

“Really? How long have you been with Tom?” I ask hoping to change the subject.

“I found out he was my mate on my 18th birthday. I didn’t really know him well before that. We spent a few weeks getting to know each other then decided the moon goddess had got it right. That was about 18 months ago and it was the best thing to ever happen to me. It wasn’t the way I had expected it to go when I found my mate but it was right if that makes sense.” She explains with a smile that lights up her pretty face.

“It does. That’s fantastic. I’m really happy for both of you.” I say smiling back at her.

***

It’s late, so late it’s not even my birthday anymore. The bar staff left hours ago and slowly everyone has started to leave, some in groups and some paired up. I’m the last one to leave and I make sure all the candles are blown out. A dark silhouette appears in the doorway blocking the light coming into the now dark room.

“Do you need any help?” Beck asks in a quiet voice.

“No I’m finished now, thanks.” I reply.

“Can I walk you to your room then?” He asks. Do I want Beck to walk me to my room? I’m not so sure, I don’t know what to say, but I eventually nod. Hell, why not? It’s not like I’m going to invite him in.

“I hope you had a good birthday.” He states, taking my arm in his.

“I did thank you.” I smile at him. He really is attractive. His deep dark eyes are so big and expressive. We walk in silence to my room which seems ridiculously close to the ballroom right now.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask nervously despite my assertion that I wouldn’t invite him in.

“I better not. I have patrol soon.” He says turning me into his arms and holding me tight against his chest. I pull away slightly to look up at his face and immediately his lips reach down to meet mine. His kiss is hard and powerful and every bit as amazing as earlier. He quickly pulls away and smiles at me leaving me wanting more.

“Good night. Sweet dreams.” He says as he gives me a final quick kiss before walking away.

***

I wake up late, I never wake up late. I’m still tired and I’m desperate for a cup of coffee. I quickly throw a hoodie over my pjs, to head to the dining hall to get a drink. When I open the door, on the floor outside my room is a matt black travel cup with a note propped against it. I pick them up and take them in to my room, unfolding the note and reading the words.

I remembered no milk, I hope it’s still warm.

I take a sip from the cup and it’s my usual perfect black coffee and luckily it is still warm. It’s not hot, so it’s probably been there a while. I wonder what time Beck had to go on patrol if he left the coffee outside my room beforehand. It’s really good coffee too. I’m pretty sure it’s not the standard coffee from the dining hall. I finish the drink before deciding to get ready to go for breakfast.

The dining hall is packed when I walk in. I recognise a lot of people from the night before but I don’t see anyone that I spoke to much. Beck and Marie certainly aren’t here. I plate up some food and look for somewhere to sit.

“Hey Elizabeth, you can sit with us.” A deep voice calls from a table. I scan the room to find the owner of the voice and see Dustin stood up beckoning me to the table he is sat at with four others, who all look like warriors.

“Morning.” I say walking towards them and placing my plate in the vacant spot opposite Dustin. I would really rather not sit at this table after Marie’s confession last night, but I don’t know anyone else and I don’t want to seem rude.

“Great party last night.” Dustin states raising his eyebrows to almost make the statement into a question.

“Yes it was. I had a good time thanks.” I reply nonchalantly.

“Only good. You and Beck disappeared for a while. He didn’t rock your world?” Dustin smirks at me snidely causing me to take a deep calming breath.

“He was just showing me around.” I reply taking a mouthful of toast to stop me from saying any more to this i***t. I definitely don’t want to be sat at this table and having this conversation right now.

“Showing you around the inside of his pants.” One of the other warriors adds and everyone at the table laughs loudly at the crude, childish joke. I am now over not appearing rude.

“I better go. I just remembered I have somewhere else to be.” I say standing up and walking away from the table with my plate. I would rather eat in my room than with these idiots.

“No way is she going to give it up to Beck.” I hear one of the warriors snicker when I get to the door, and they all start laughing again. It’s all just a game to them. Joking about whether me and Beck will have s*x. I can’t believe how many men are like that. I just want to find a good mate, who will treat me right like the way Brody treats Tess. Thinking about my brother and Tess reminds me that I need to talk to them. I’m really hoping they know if they are mates now. I hadn’t been able to get hold of Brody last night so I still don’t know how everything went. I miss him like mad right now, he would never tolerate anyone being disrespectful towards me the way those warriors were. I’m not so sure I want to be here anymore. I might head back home soon. I need to face everything at some point anyway. I open my laptop and call Brody.

“Good morning. You look like shit.” He says grinning into the screen.

“Thanks, you don’t look so great either.” It was true he looked like he had been awake all night. He was shirtless and his always perfect hair was showing signs of bed head. “Late night?”

“Something like that.” He grins out of the screen at me.

“So, I can’t wait to hear all about your day yesterday?” I probe as Brody turns around and grabs something, pulling it towards the screen. “Morning Tess.” I say, realising the thing is actually a person. Tess looks a little worse for wear too this morning in one of my brothers large T shits. She sits down on his knee as he wraps his arms around her. “I take it things went well?”

“Perfect.” She responds running her fingers through her hair trying unsuccessfully to tame it.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your morning.” I say suddenly self-conscious about the fact that I have possibly disturbed them.

“Nonsense. We wouldn’t have answered if we were busy.” He replies with a mischievous grin.

“Ok. So how does it feel with your mate?” I ask but quickly regret my question when both beaming faces turn pink. “Not that part.” I add quickly. “I just mean in general. Can you both tell you are mates?”

“Not really.” Tess replies as Brody nuzzles into her neck. “Brody can feel the bond a bit, but I can’t yet. Well no more than I could before. I just feel like I’m meant to be with Brody.”

“How was the party last night?” I ask.

“It was immense. Oli and Jen ended up hooking up again.” Brody finally pulls himself from his mates neck to join in the conversation.

“Those two always end up together. Bets on them being mates?” I offer.

“I would definitely bet on it, but I don’t think anyone will give me very good odds.” Brody adds. “They would make a good couple if either of them would just admit that they like the other one.” I nod in agreement.

“Who did Will hook up with this time?” I know I shouldn’t ask. I don’t need to know. It’s none of my business but I can’t stop the question leaving my mouth.

“No one as far as I know. He sat in the corner scowling at everyone the whole night.” Tess says.

“Really?” That did not sound like Will. He always hooked up with someone.

“He has been miserable for weeks. I hope he cheers up before his birthday or it will be so freaking sad. You will be back for that right?” Tess asks.

“I think so.” I reply noncommittally.

“How was your party? Tell me everything.” Tess commands.

“It was great but there was no smoke machine or strobe lights, you know how Aunt Helen is.” I explain. “Just candles and quiet music.”

“You didn’t find your mate in the Black Moon pack?” Tess asks eagerly.

“No I didn’t, but I did make out with the Gamma’s son. He’s 18, so I know he’s definitely not my mate but he’s gorgeous.”

“Oh my goddess. Being away from here has been good for you.” Tess gasps.

“Yeah it’s been good to be away but I think I might be ready to come back soon.” I confess.

“Great, we miss you so much.” Tess says enthusiastically.

“I miss you too. I better go, you will have training soon.” I say reminding them that they need to get ready.

“Bye. Thanks for the reminder. See you soon.” They reply in unison.

“Bye.” I end the call and feel a bit home sick.

It is Sunday morning and although I am away I had promised my Alpha that I would still train as normal. That was one of the conditions for being allowed to leave the pack. I change into my gym wear and leave my room for the training grounds. When I get close I can see almost all of the pack are there training. I can see my Uncle, his Beta and his Gamma along with some of his warriors explaining what to do in their training to different groups. I recognise the warrior closest to me, demonstrating to a group of she-wolves with a beaming smile, as one of the warriors that was with Dustin this morning. I turn around quickly before any of them can call me over to join them. I can’t face training with them right now, so a long run will have to do this morning. I take off running towards the trees thinking about Brody and Tess. I am so happy and relieved that they know that they are mates already. They are such a perfect couple and the uncertainty was starting to put a strain on their relationship. I hope my mate is as good to me as my brother is to Tess, but I don’t think I will be that lucky. Until then I can have some fun though right? It’s not like I’m going to go sleeping around with just anybody, but it’s unlikely my mate will be a virgin, even if it’s not Will. I have been studious and sensible my whole life, it was time to let loose a little bit especially if I am going to have to settle down with a mate soon. I’m so deep in thought that I am not paying attention to how far I have run. I slow down to have a look around, I think I might have come to the end of the territory and wandered into the unclaimed land that surrounds the pack. There are no fences or walls to separate the pack from the outside world, just markings on the trees that are easily missed if you aren’t looking for them. The only points that are guarded are the roads into and out of the pack. There are regular patrols around the borders to identify anyone that has stepped on to pack lands that shouldn’t, although it is so far away from anywhere through thick forest that no on is likely to accidentally cross the border except in a vehicle. Anyone except for rogues. The dense forests are the perfect place for rogues to live away from the rules that govern the werewolf packs. I am not as familiar with this territory as I should be and I don’t know how big of a problem rogues are in this area. There are rogues in the unclaimed lands close to most packs but most of the time they aren’t a problem. Some rogues keep to themselves and just want to live their own lives without the rules of a pack, but some are dangerous and deliberately cause trouble for the nearby packs.

“Rogues.” Lara growls in my head, picking up the unmistakable stench. s**t. I stop running and look around finally realising I am all alone far from the pack and I have no way of alerting anyone through the mind link. I am going to have to take them on myself if they are stupid enough to try anything. I’m a Beta ranked wolf with lots of training so I’m confident I can take on a couple of rogues.

“You’re a pretty little thing.” An older male that looks to be in his late 30s or early 40s says stepping out from behind a tree. “And so far away from your pack.” He takes a deep breath. “So very, very far away from your pack.” I take up a fighting stance. I don’t know if he is going to cause me any trouble yet but I’m ready for him if he comes any closer.

“That’s not very friendly.” He says with a smirk. His clothes are a bit dirty and he doesn’t look like he has washed that recently but he definitely doesn’t look like he has been a rogue for long. He is very tall and well built and looks like he has spent the last twenty years training hard everyday. I may be a Beta’s daughter but I am no match for him in human form and he knows it. Antagonising him may not be the best course of action.

“Sorry.” I say relaxing my stance a bit.

“That’s better. So what is a member of the Blood Stone pack doing out here and all alone?”

“How do you know that I’m from the Blood Stone.” I ask, shocked that he has been able to work that out.

“I know the scents of most of the packs around here. So what are you doing here?” He asks again in a tone that expects an answer quickly.

“Visiting.” I reply deliberately withholding who I am visiting.

“Lovely. I mean it, you really are beautiful, you know that? I bet all the young wolves are chasing after you.” Lara growls in my head at his words. She is intrigued by the rogue but she isn’t liking the direction that the conversation is heading either. “I bet the Blood Stone pack would pay quite a bit for a ranked she-wolf to be returned.”

“No, I don’t think so.” I said hoping that will be enough to deter him. If I’m worthless to them they might just let me go.

“You’d better hope so. You won’t like what will happen to you very much if they don’t. He sneers.

I turn around. I can’t beat this man in a fight but I am fast, and I will have a head start.

“More rogues.” Lara snarls sensing more wolves close by. s**t. I don’t have a choice now. I have to make a run for it. I sprint as fast as I can through the trees back the way I came. I would be faster in my wolf form but I don’t want to encourage my chasers to shift into their wolves. I’m outnumbered and most likely out-skilled. I will be dead in minutes if their wolves catch up with Lara. Two men step into my path waiting to grab me as I run past, but I change direction at the last minute and just manage to avoid them but they follow behind me quickly gaining ground with every step. The closer of the two pounces and rugby tackles me to the ground. We both fall to the ground heavily as his head collides painfully with the back of my shoulder. I roll over kicking and mange to get my knee to connect with the delicate area between his legs. There’s not a lot of power in it but enough for me to wriggle free and scramble to my feet and continue running. A searing pain flashes through my right leg as I feel teeth sink deep in to my calf piercing the muscle and stopping my run, dragging me to the ground. I rotate as I fall kicking my free foot into the face of the large black menacing wolf over and over again until he releases me. The two men that had been chasing me are already grabbing me by the arms holding me down.

“That was not a good idea.” One of them says tightening his grip around my arm as I try to kick myself free with my uninjured leg. They haul me up onto my feet and a searing pain radiates through my leg causing it to give way. I twist and pull desperately trying to free myself but their grip holds firm.

“More wolves.” Lara exclaims at movements in the trees. It’s too far away to scent if they are reinforcements for my captors or potentially my rescuers. One of the men let’s go of my arm and I spin around trying to free myself from the other’s grip but an excruciating pain to the back of my head stops me, and I fall to the floor and into darkness.