Running From The Alpha

chapter 6

Emily pov

I'm standing in the doorway of the playroom guarding my children from this man.

I don't know how he found me here. What am i going to do, how am i going to get us out of here? How could I be so stupid to bring my babies here into the belly of the beast. I'm a horrible mother. What have i done? I said to myself in despair.

stop that, you are a amazing mother. You love them more than anything. He isn't the man who bit you, he is our mate.

What the fu*k is a mate? I yelled back to Clarissa.

He will love us, keep us safe and our children. He won't hurt us.

I don't believe you, you saw what he did, he pinned me up against the wall just like that man. My eyes start to water up as Kate walks in. I immediately get into a defensive stance, she stops, puts her hands up like she is surrendering.

"I'm not going to hurt you or those beautiful kids, no one here will. I promise".

She is telling the truth. Clarissa reinforces

I stood up straight and let her in. I started pacing. " who is he?" I all but yelled, startling my own children. 'sorry loves, keep playing, everything is ok". I wait until they are playing again.

I took a deep breath and looked at Kate.

"who is he? Is he the one who bit me? Is that why I was drawn here?"

"No, he was not the one who bit you. Why would you think that?"

"he pinned me against the wall the same way .. from the alley when he was assaulting me"

She covered her mouth with her hand with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry Emily , I didn't know you were assaulted. she took a few steadying breaths before she spoke again.

"The man down stairs is Ryder, he is not the man who bit you. He is the beta of the pack or second in command. He is your mate. When he smelt your scent, his wolf got excited and surfaced, he pinned you to inhale your scent further not to assault you. Your mate's scent is the most amazing smell to you. It's intoxicating. He just reacted that way, we all do. "

I looked at her with you cant be serious face.

she continued, "when Jason first smelt me he tackled me, to the ground, started kissing me.

in front of my parents." she blushes a deep red.

I chuckled, I can imagine the scene. Kate visibly relaxed at my laugh. " in front of your parents? What happened next?" I asked.

she smiled "Well, we can find our mates from 18. My parents were ecstatic that I had found mine. We had a party, introducing me as the next gamma mate". I raised my eyebrows.

Wow, that is so odd. My parents would not be happy to have seen that. A party? This is so weird to me. My parents would have been horrified by a man tackling me and kissing me in front of them, I think to myself.

"Kate, exactly what is a mate? Why is it such a big deal to find one?"

Kate smiles fondly like she's remembering her favourite moment.

A mate is a gift to our kind from the moon goddess. A mate means you a found your other half of your soul. Two halfs make a whole. Like a soul mate, but more. Everything about them is made to attract us. Their scent is meant to calm us but also drive us crazy sexually. Your bodies fit together like puzzle pieces. They are meant to love you unconditionally and there is no second guessing its fate."

I don't know about this mate thing. I'm not sure i like the idea of fate..as if no one has a choice about their own life. Am I meant to be happy that i lost so much and had to be assaulted to bring me here to meet my mate? Because of fate? Was I fated to have to suffer?

dont think of it like that clarrisa said

How else am i meant to think of it?

Think of it as a second chance. After everything you have suffered, fate is giving you a second chance at happiness and love. It's giving your children a second chance of a loving family, not just with Ryder, but with a pack of 350 wolves that will love and protect them like family.

I don't know Clarissa. This is a lot to take in. I'm not sure a pack is the right place to raise human children long term.

I didnt realise I had been silent outwardly for almost 5 minutes at that point until Kate put her hand on my arm.

" its alot i know... would you like me to show you to your room to settle in?"

Yes, I think i need some time'.

she sadly smiled " alright".

She leads me and the kids to the room at the end of the hall. I can smell him. Well, I smell apple crumble, which i guess is what his scent smells like to me. Maybe i should ask for a different room. I don't want a repeat of downstairs, especially in front of my kids. Kate opens the door to the room. The first thing I saw was the huge wooden king bed with a woven-looking headboard-it's beautiful. Then i see Drew running. Next to the king bed is a bright red race car bed. He is in love right away. On the other side of the bed there is a cot for May.

This room is huge, with three beds. There is still room for a three-seater couch and flat screen and a small round dining table. It doesn't even look crowded. I cant believe how light and airy it is, a shade of white and light blue. There are two doors to the left of the room. I assume to a bathroom and closet. This place is incredible.

"Kate" I say, "this is too much, i dont want to take the biggest room and be an inconvenience". "pshhs, girl your not, an inconvenience , this is just a spare room there are 6 more spares like it on this floor". my jaw drop, wow this house is huge.

"I'll leave you to settle in. An omeaga will bring you three dinners up here. We usually eat together downstairs but Ryder will be there. I'm guessing you would prefer to eat up here with the kids?"

Yes please" I said shyly. She nods, gives me a small smile and walks away, leaving me watching the door. I stood there watching the door for a full 60 seconds before I looked around the room. I can't believe how beautiful it is, I walked out across to the doors and took a look inside. There was a big walk-in closet, empty. Next was a bathroom, a huge shower and a claw foot bath. I'd love to take a bath in that, I think alould. I walked back into the bedroom to where my rugrats are now climbing and starting to jump on the bed. I chuckle and swoop up May while laying down onto the bed.

I just need some space to think or like right now with my kids, space to not think.

Ryder pov

After leaving David's office, I decided to go for a run and take Troy out. I go off the path into the forest, take off my clothes and shift. I pull back my conscious and let troy take over. He starts running through the trees ,dodging rocks, he leaps over a fallen log, we run for 20 minutes like that. He slows down at our usual spot, a large rock that has a shape like it could hold a cave under it but it doesn't, he lays down on his paws.

Ryder, do you think Emily will accept us? He pauses then continues

after everything she has been through, she loved another and was assaulted. Maybe she won't want us

I dont know Troy all we can do is be there and help her through all of this. Maybe once she has settled in here and feels safe we can slowly start wooing her. I think it will take some time, especially if she thinks her children are in danger. That would be her first priority. We need to make them feel safe before we even think about anything romantic. Plus, she is probably used to the way humans date, not the way wolves mate.

Do you think she will let us meet the kids?

Yeah I think so, probably not right away. I hope, eventually, once she understands our way of life... maybe. I cant wait to meet them. I think they will like us.

They will be frightened of me.

Maybe, but only at first , but you're just a big fluff ball so they will love you eventually.

We should go back. I haven't eaten since breakfast. I'm starving.

i want to see mate.

I sigh, me to bud. I will talk to Kate to see if it's a good idea to go by her room tonight. I don't want to push her. We need to follow her lead here. Troy deeply signs and slowly starts to walk back to the pack house.