My Ruthless Alpha

We need her

Ezra's pov

“You should have kissed her on the lips so she never utters such nonsense again” my Lycan said, quite pleased with the little contact we had with Jazmine.

“I won't waste that chance again” I said, my lips still tingling from the kiss.

“And you better not take your sweet time, I want her beside us” he growled, making me sigh.

“I won't, I'll talk to her tomorrow” I said, feeling determined to make things right with my mate.

“You better, because if you don't, I'll just take over and go to her myself!” He threatened, feeling quite smug that he could do that after my shift tonight.

“I'm not so weak that you could easily take over my body” I said as I approached my family, who were eagerly waiting.

“You're not, but you will fall asleep” he said with a sly, wolfish grin.

“You'd take over my body while I sleep?” I asked, a little surprised he'd go to such extreme lengths.

“Anything to be with her” he said, retreating to the back of my mind.

I shook my head and braced myself for the questions, hoping they hadn't heard us arguing.

“How is she? Is she alright?” Mom questioned first before I could even settle in my seat.

“Yes, she's fine, just needs a little break” I said, hoping that was enough to settle her worry so we could talk about something else.

“Who is she? Do you know her? You took a while to come back so you must know her” Eleanor said, her pretty little eyes twinkling in wonder, causing my stomach to twist.

“Yes, I come here a lot and I've gotten to know her quite well” the lie left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“You don't do getting to know people well, what's so special about her?” Lin asked, lifting one of her eyebrows in question.

Fuck me!

“And you really ran to catch her” Eleanor added, making me wish the ground would open up and swallow me that very second.

“Good afternoon your highnesses, I'm Kristen, and I'll be your server today. Can I get you anything to drink” that girl that tried to flirt with me the first day we got here, thank the moon, interrupted, making all eyes on the table turn to her.

“Mom?” I said, gesturing for her to order for the table like she always did when we ate out.

“When will order for yourselves? You're grown!” Mom laughed shaking her head.

“Never” I said with a smirk, making her squint her eyes in my direction.

“Dido on that” Lin said with a cheeky grin.

“I don't know what dido means but yeah, dido three” Eleanor said, making the table erupt in laughter while she looked at us confused.

Mom proceeded to order all our favorites and we got to talking about the pack and Kingdom at large.

I was halfway through my burger when I noticed Jazmine approach a car I didn't know.

An older man, who resembled her a little stepped out to hug her, giving her a once over before leading her to the passenger side.

Must be her dad.

“Are you going to eat or stare at the girl drive away?” Mom asked through the link, making me shift my gaze to hers.

And the smirk on her face told me she knew who Jazmine was to me.

I went back to my plate without responding, forcing the rest of the food down my very dry throat.

I knew she'd question me, maybe not right now but she would find the time to get me alone.

“And I won't lie to her” my Lycan said, laughing as he left just as fast as he came.

Just perfect! How was I going to explain making a mess of the best thing that's ever happened to me?

I messed up, big, and I hope Jazmine can forgive me.

…

The Sun was setting and my body felt like it wasn't mine.

My Lycan was getting restless, impatiently waiting for the moon. And I could feel him much stronger, I could feel us becoming one in a way I'd never experienced before.

There was a gentle hum buzzing through my body, getting stronger with every passing minute, causing a chaos within me that made me want to scream.

I'd been in the woods surrounding the pack for about an hour.

Being inside had become unbearable, and I could, thankfully, avoid being questioned about Jazmine.

“You must be going haywire right now” dad chuckled as he came to stand beside me, startling me a little.

I hadn't heard him approach.

“Yeah, my body doesn't feel like mine, and everything in me tells me to fight it” I said, releasing a shaky breath.

“I know what you mean, and you shouldn't fight it. Embrace it, it's easier that way” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“I'm trying” I said, looking up at the fading light through the trees.

“How much does it hurt?” I asked, feeling a little nervous.

“On a scale of one to ten? I'd say ten thousand” dad laughed but I didn't find it funny.

“But honestly, it depends on how strong your Lycan is. The stronger he is, the more pain you'll feel and yours is very strong” he continued, making me gulp.

“I shouldn't have asked” I muttered, feeling defeated, not at all anticipating my shift.

“But the presence of your mate takes half the pain away” he said, making my body still in horror.

If course he knew, even if mom didn't say anything to him, he'd know. He always knew.

“How did you know?” I asked after a beat of silence.

“The way you ran to her, the fear and anger in your eyes when you caught her. As if you were ready to wage war with whoever had hurt her” he said, shocking me.

Had I really made it that obvious?

“Only your mate can make you react like that” he continued, forcing a chuckle out of me.

“I am curious to know why you didn't introduce her” he said, turning to face me.

“I messed up dad, I messed up with Jazmine” I said in deflated huff.

“I hurt her, I walked away. I couldn't accept her because of my vow to Rowena. And when I realised how stupid I was being, I couldn't bring myself to face her. For two whole weeks I couldn't talk to her” I sighed, my chest tightening as I admitted this to my father.

“Hmmm, I see. So what will you do?” Dad asked, surprising me.

I thought he'd be mad at me.

“I don't know yet” I said, feeling like just talking wouldn't be enough.

“How about opening up to her, completely. Tell her everything, I'm pretty sure she'll understand why you walked away. And then beg like your life depends on it for avoiding her for two weeks” dad laughed at the end.

“Yeah, I guess I don't have much of a choice” I chuckled nervously, scratching the back of my neck.

“And the pain you'll be feeling in a few hours will be your penance” he said, making me sigh as my shoulders fell.

“Come on, you need to fill up on as much meat as possible” he said, turning to head back to the pack house.

…

I was quiet throughout dinner as my family talked and laughed, enjoying the food. I desperately wanted to join in but there was drumming in my head that started off as a soft thump.

I didn't know whether my head would cave in or blow up, all I knew was that the pain was getting worse.

“Are you okay honey?” Mom asked softly, making me nod softly, even though I was far from okay.

I have no idea when my body started heating up but now I was full on burning, every single cell in my body ablaze, begging for something to cool it down.

There was a deep craving scratching at every centimetre of skin on my body, even though I tried to pretend I didn't know what I was craving.

And the absence of the person that would satisfy my craving was like torture, spreading through every part of me agonizingly slow, taking over me with every tick of the clock.

“How about we head on outside? Ezra doesn't look too good, and the moon will peak soon” mom said, hearing my name bringing me back to the table where everyone was sending worried glances my way.

“Excellent idea” dad said, clapping my shoulder, causing a loud growl to fly out of me.

I had no idea where it came from but he didn't seem offended, and I was glad because I couldn't understand the rage his touch had ignited.

…

It feels like it took forever for us to find a secluded spot since wolves loved being outside on a full moon.

“Are you ready baby?” Mom asked, her voice sounding worried and excited.

“I think so” my words came out a rough and low groan, like I was in pain.

“Good, because it's almost time” mom said looking up at the moon as it rose higher and higher, it's soft glow feeling like a glare, it's brightness was almost blinding.

“It will hurt like crazy, but don't fight it, let it hurt, let it break you” I felt a wave of pain wash over me, digging deep into my bones at my mother's words.

It was excruciating, making my skin tighten as it washed over my body.

“Relax Ezra, it's a little easier when you do” dad said standing beside me, his voice too loud for my super sensitive hearing, and I growled in response.

Low and dangerous.

The pain intensified, my body feeling like it was pulling heat from everything around us, the earth, the trees, the moon; even the people that were surrounding me as my body tore itself from the inside out.

Every wave of pain met with my body tightening, as if refusing to let it in, rejecting it.

And Goddess, it hurt like hell.

I felt my bones shake, rattling as they fought to break and transform but everything else in me fought against the transformation, sending me into blinding waves of pain.

“Aaaahhh” I tried to bite my tongue but dammit! The pain coursing through me felt like death, maybe even worse.

I'd never felt something like this before.

“Something's wrong” the whisper reached but it didn't click until a few seconds later.

“What.. do.. you… mean” I was panting, unable to control myself.

“You should have already started shifting by now Ezra, but it feels like something's blocking you” mom said, looking at dad before looking back at me.

She kneeled before me and held my face, her gaze boring deep into my soul, while her touch felt like an inferno, scorching every inch of me she touched.

“Let me in Ezra, let me see what's wrong” she said softly, hoping to calm me enough to link our minds.

I couldn't have predicted what happened next, not even in my wildest nightmares.

“Nooooooooooooo!” My Lycan roared, sending a powerful shockwave that sent everyone flying away from me like a bomb had just exploded.

“What the hell was that?!” I asked, furious, now firmly pushed to the back.

“I .. can't.. control it!” He growled, loud and fierce, chasing away every animal in the vicinity.

Another wave of pain took over every part of me, pain all I could conceive.

I didn't understand anything, this wasn't like any shift I'd heard or read about.

What was wrong with me?!

“Her… we need her!” My Lycan growled loud and long, the sound echoing through the woods like a signal.

A beacon, for her to find us.