The Huntress and her Alpha

Chapter Seven

Lip held my hand in his as we walked through the familiar woods that sat between his land and what used to be mine.

“So you said you just wanted to talk about a treaty.” Lip’s voice brought me out of my head, breaking the silence that we had settled into when our walk began. “What treaty were you looking to talk to us about?”

I sighed. “A treaty thats been honored for as long as my family’s been running the society. It’s the treaty that allows wolves to live close to humans. Your pack moved right up against our boundary and my father wanted to know why.”

Lip laughed. “We didn’t just move here, we've always been here. But my uncle handed the pack over to me two years ago and I decided to expand. We needed more houses for families. I didn’t think it was a big deal and he never said anything about a treaty.”

“I also thought it was stupid but my father insisted. It felt like a test for me and Travis. You see I was to take over for my father and step into his role. Equivalent to your role of Alpha. And Travis was to be my right hand man or Beta as you call them. Anyways this was our first ‘assignment’ give to us by our fathers. But when we went to check on the boundary Jack was there and then this human showed up. So we stayed.”

“Yeah he told me about Claire. I yelled at him for automatically attacking, because he should’ve called me when you stated you wanted to talk about a treaty. But he was angry that Claire threatened his mate and their happiness with her drama and he used that anger to fight you guys. It’s no excuse but we’re very emotional creatures.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that statement. “You’ve got that right. Very emotional.”

We got to the edge of the trees that opened to our lands before he could say anything back. He squeezed my hand gently, as if he could feel my anxiety, and maybe he could. I looked over to find his hazel eyes staring at me.

“I’m here for you, Max. Whatever you need me to do, just say the word and I’ll do it.”

I nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”

I pulled him over the line and we walked the run down path towards the house I had always called home. The house that no longer felt like one because my home was suddenly housed within someone I never excepted to find.

I open the front door and the house is quiet and dark. Which meant my father wasn’t home. I breathe a sigh of relief and pull Lip up the stairs towards my room.

“So this is my room.” I felt awkward now that we were alone. I dropped his hand and blushed at the mess I had left behind. There were clothes all over the floor, the chair was holding things I had deemed not worthy enough to wear to the bar.

This was the first time I was embarrassed about the state of my bedroom. There’s a first time for everything I guess.

Lip laughed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he looked around. “It’s cute. It smells like you.” He blushed this time and I realized he didn’t want to be creepy but he couldn’t stop himself from enjoying this.

He coughed and then looked towards my closet. “So what are we bringing with us? I guess it would’ve made more sense to drive over not walk.”

“I actually wanted to bring my jeep so I can drive us back. Um. I’m gonna grab my clothes and maybe you could load my books into a bag?”

He nodded, then headed towards my bookshelf. We worked in silence both of us focusing on our own task. Every once and a while I’d glance over and find Lip staring at a book for longer than necessary. At one point I saw him staring at a picture he must have found bookmarked in a journal. My chest hurt because it was the last picture I had of me and my mom. I turned my eyes back to my closet quickly, fighting off a wave of emotion.

Once or twice I caught him watching me sort through which clothes I wanted to bring. I offered him a small smile when our eyes met.

This felt right, even if my head was telling me I was crazy to agree to move in with him after only one day. But I wanted to be close to him. I wanted to get to know him without a forest between us.

We were almost done when the front door opened. I jumped, my eyes wide as I heard my father’s footsteps pound up the stairs. Someone must have told him they saw me come home.

I wondered if they’d mentioned Lip was with me.

“Max.” He pushed open my door, the smile fell from his face when he saw Lip was here with me and we were packing things up. “You shouldn’t be here.”

He voice lowered as he glared at Lip. I sighed. “He’s with me dad.”

He was quiet as his eyes scanned the messy room. After a moment his face rearranged from shock and hurt to anger. “You’re leaving? To go with him?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I didn’t expect to be upset over leaving my dad, but then again he was the only family I had left. He raised me, he took care of me after we lost her. I pushed past the tears and nodded my head slowly.

“He asked me to give this a chance and…. I really think I should.”

“So you’re just going to give up everything we’ve been working for? Everything I have sacrificed for you, everything I’ve been panning for it? It’s all for nothing because you think you fell in love with some wolf?”

He raised his voice slowly as he looked at me. I didn’t see Lip stand, but he moved between us and growled at my father.

“Don’t speak to her that way.”

My father laughed. “I am not one of you, I don’t listen to your commands.”

He growled again. I touched his arm lightly. “It’s okay Lip. Can you take your bag to my Jeep? Then I’ll bring my clothes.”

He nodded, his eyes never leaving my father as he grabbed the heavy bag of books. The tension left the room with him as my father kept staring at me.

“Why are you doing this Max?” He sounded hurt.

“Because I don’t want to be away from him. Because he held my hand while I was unconscious and you left me there. Lip might be a wolf, but he’s shown me more kindness in the last twenty four hours than you have in my entire twenty one years of life. I don’t know what I did to deserve him, but I want to explore this bond with him.”

Lip stood behind my father and smiled. He must have heard everything I said. I took in a deep breath tried to ignore the blush that bloomed across my cheeks.

“You’re a Hunter.” He stated. “You aren’t a wolf. What are you going to know about living with the creature you were raised to despise?”

“I never hated them the way you did. I never wanted to kill, just protect the humans. From the rogues. Those who run in packs were never our enemy, you made them the enemy. I refuse to be like you and hold a vendetta against them my whole life.”

My father laughed. “If you leave this house with him you’re never allowed back. Don’t come crying to me when he breaks whatever stupid bond he says this is and kicks you out. You’re a human, you’re nothing special. He’ll get bored with you.”

Lip took the bag of clothes from my hand and I offered my dad one last smile. I grabbed the other duffel bag filled with shoes and other random things like my laptop and little things to remind me of home that I wanted to bring along.

I touched his arm. “Thanks dad. I love you too.”

I walked around him and went down the steps. I felt some weight pulled off my chest as I handed the bag to Lip and he put it in the trunk of my Jeep. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to a stop before I could walk around to the driver’s side.

“You okay?”

I winced at the question. “I knew he’d be angry I just didn’t realize…. It still hurts to hear him tell me I’m not allowed back. That I’m not special.” I looked Into his hazel eyes. “That you’ll get bored of me and leave.”

“Never.” He whispered softly before leaning in. His eyes were staring at my lips. I wanted him to kiss me, I wanted him to close the space between us. But before he reached my lips he moved and kissed my cheek, getting the corner of my mouth.

I took in a deep breath. “I’ll be okay. Can we go see Luca before we leave?”

“Of course.” He offered me that crooked smile I was growing fond of and then we climbed into my beloved Jeep.

Luca lived a few streets away from us, so it wasn’t a long drive. I parked on the street and then glanced at her house. The door opened before I even reached for the door of my Jeep.

“Max!”

I jumped out and Luca ran to give me a hug. “Last time I saw you you were passed out bleeding. I thought you were gone. I was so worried and your dad… well he wouldn’t tell us what was going on because he just left you there.”

I pulled back and looked at her. “Yeah he’s mad. I um. I’m leaving.”

Lip shut the door loudly behind me. Luca’s eyes were staring at him as he came up behind me, his hands touching my waist. “Max?”

“Luca, this is Lip. My um… alpha mate.” I winced as her mouth fell open and she squealed.

He looked amused as Luca pushed me aside and hugged him. I glared, feeling a spike of jealousy as he hugged her back. Lip winked at me as he let go, grabbed my hand and pulling me back to his side.

“Lip this is Luca my best friend.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” He offered her a smile, thankfully it wasn’t the crooked one he always gave me. Instead it was his alpha smile, the one I saw him use with my father.

“Wow he’s handsome. I told you you would find yourself a hunk. And an alpha. Jesus.” She fanned herself. “Wait you’re going to live with him?”

I nodded. “My dad said I’m not welcome back here. I um. I want to give him a chance. You know I’ve never hated wolves as fiercely as he does.”

Luca nodded. “I know. So I guess this is goodbye?”

“Never. It’s see you later.” I pulled her in for another hug as the door opened and Travis came walking out.

He looked at Lip with anger in his eyes. “What the hell is he doing on our side?”

Luca grabbed his arm before he could attack Lip. “He’s here with Max. They’re mates.”

Travis’s eyes widened, but they didn’t lose their hatred towards the male holding my hand. “What? That’s possible?”

“I guess so. Which means you get to take over this place. I’m going with Lip. My dad said I’m not welcome back.”

Travis looked sad now. “I can’t. No not without you.”

“You can and you will.” I said pulling out of Lips hold and wrapping my arms around Travis. “There’s no one else better for the job. Take care of her.” I whispered before pulling away.

Luca was crying, Lip let out a growl as he watched me hug my best friends boyfriend. I laughed, knowing that feeling of jealous when he hugged Luca. I grabbed his hand and then fought back my own tears. I wouldn’t cry until we were gone. Until I was alone and there was no one around to witness my weakness.

“We should go.” My voice was thick. “I’m just a phone call away Luca. This doesn’t change us, you’re still my best friend.”

She smiled. “I love you.” She looked at Lip with hard eyes. “You treat her right, take care of her. She’s my best friend, she deserves the world.”

Lip glanced at me and then wrapped his arm around my waist. He pressed a kiss against my temple. “I know. She deserves so much more than this.”

We said one final goodbye and then Lip was pulling me to the Jeep. This time he opened the passenger side door for me. He went around and got in the driver’s seat. I didn’t fight him. For once I decided to let someone take care of me.