Beyond Fate

Pathetic little wolf

(Alisha)

Where were they, I knew they were here somewhere. I reached around in the darkness feeling for the ceramic jar I’d hidden on the high shelf back when Mina found her feet and I realised she’d gotten wise to where all the treats were hidden. I groaned feeling exhausted and the pain in my body was radiating, taking over.

When Lucas had come charging into the room grabbing Nathan I’d been mortified. Not because Lucas would hurt Nathan but because he had heard Nathan and Kelly talking and he now knew what a pathetic little wolf I was. I’d had to get out of there, it had taken everything in me not to cry out in pain when I’d stood for the first time but I managed to limp past Colton undetected and made it to the pantry in the pack house where I hidden my most prized posecion. The thing I always needed when I was too upset to deal with the outside world.

Giving up my search for the treats I slumped down on the floor too exhausted and too emotionally drained to do anymore. I pulled my legs up to my knees trying to pull down the thin hospital gown I was still wearing. I pulled my head further into roses hoodie inhaling trying to calm my raging nerves.

It was one of the few things I’d been able to swipe of hers when her parents had come to take away all her things, I’d managed to make away with her favourite hoodie with a worn out university logo on it and her signature rainbow jumper that she had wanted me to keep for Mina when she was old enough. When Rose first died I would wrap Mina inside it, swaddling her. It was the only thing that soothed her in the first few weeks. This as crazy as it sounded was my safe space sitting in the pantry at the pack house with rose’s hoodie and eating her cookies. The scent on the clothes had long since gone and I knew it was probably all in my head just as I knew it was unhealthy to cling to things like a security blanket but whenever I put on the tatty old red jumper it felt like rose was sat in here with me, hugging me like she always did whenever she found me sobbing over one thing or another.

The pantry was always where I came to hide when I wanted to escape. It never occured to anyone to look in here for food. Everyone always went to the omegas when they wanted to eat, like getting off your arse yourself was a forbidden thing to do.

I sat there in darkness, the cold tiled floor biting into my exposed skin adding to the pain in my already aching body. In all the excitement I still hadn’t had time to asses my injuries. I didn't even know how long I’d been out for, now I had to face the mortifying reality that people knew I was Nathan’s mate. The look on Lucas' face had shattered me; he'd been so angry. I felt so completely ashamed that he knew how low and unworthy I truly was. I hadn’t wanted to stay to see the look of disgust in his eyes. Getting to this point in the pack house had been agony, every time I moved I felt like my insides were being torn apart. It hurt so much I had almost passed out from the pain.

Now I had no idea how I was going to get back. Did I even want to go back? Nathan would probably use my moving as an excuse to have me taken to the blocks immediately. wouldn’t it just be better if I lay down here and allowed myself to slip away, it wasn’t like anyone would come looking for me. My family would greve and then move on. Everything would be better then, this pack would never stop hurting me anyway, I could recover from my injuries but they would find a way to get to me again.

I had more reason than ever to escape this place now. They had won. I was beaten, destroyed, I had nothing left to give, but I would be damned if I allowed Nathan to turn me into his w***e to better this awful pack.

I heard a shuffle around the kitchen, holding my breath I wrapped my arms around myself hoping to just once be left alone. As usual my prayers went unanswered as the pantry door opened revealing the one man I never wanted to see again. Alpha Mitchell.

(Mitchell pov)

She sat curled up against the shelves like a wounded lamb, her long legs pulled up tight against her chest as she sobbed into the giant red hoodie I knew all too well. The last time I’d seen it, it was surrounding my mate's beautiful naked body after we had conceived our little girl. Rose had called me a couple of weeks later to tell me she was pregnant I’d never felt so happy in my life, I found out later she had stolen my hoodie on her return trip to the pack, she had kept it because she said it always smelled like me, probably because up until that weekend I’d never taken it off. The alpha school logo was worn, the red had faded so it wasn’t bright anymore and there were thumb holes on the sleeves Alisha had her own thumbs through right now. It had fit Rose perfectly just resting above her thighs, with Alisha it drowned her. She had long legs but she was still petite in comparison to Rose.

The moment she noticed me, she scooted back in fear. She was afraid of me. My wolf whimpered at the fear I had put into her. She had suffered so much because of me. I tried to reach for her gently but she flinched as if I’d hit her, scooting backwards knocking her head against the shelving behind her.

Without thinking I grabbed her head to steady her and she whimpered. I couldn't tell if it was me touching her or the pain in her head but she was tense under my touch. I stroked her hair letting her know I meant no harm, her once golden blonde hair that had looked so much like silk when I’d first seen her that day in the nursery now stood out at all angles matted and stained with dried blood I noticed something in it and automatically pulled it out thinking it was a wood splinter from the shelf but it was old pieces of hay, I cringed to myself thinking about what she must have gone through that day, suffering alone in that barn with no one to save her. I had put the pack in its place and dealt with the guilty parties but it hadn’t helped Alisha. She was still alone as far as she was concerned. she relaxed after a moment but she wouldn’t lift her head to look at me.

“ I’m so sorry Alisha” I had said it so many times to her since the attack but this was probably the first time she had heard it. She lifted her head slightly but not quite looking at me as if she had misunderstood my words.

“ I know everything Alisha” her head shot up momentarily, shock crossing her face and some other emotion that was gone when she quickly lowered her head again.

“ I know you saved rose” Alisha sobbed trembling into her knees, her head shaking almost violently as if shaking away awful memories. I put my hands on her shoulders wanting to comfort her but scared if I pushed my luck I’d scare her again.

After a moment I couldn’t take it anymore and risking her screaming or crying more I scooped her up maneuvering us so I sat on the floor with her in my lap. I was surprised that she barely reacted other than to curl into me sobbing on my shirt, her bare legs were freezing and it occured to me she probably wasn’t wearing much but her hospital gown which wouldn’t be doing much to warm her, at the very least with her in my lap she wasn’t sat on the cold floor anymore.

I pulled the hem of the giant hoodie she was wearing down over her knees, she now looked like a swaddled baby.

“ it’s roses, it smells like her” she whispered, not looking up at me. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was actually mine from alpha training and Rose had claimed it because it reminded her of me. There was no lingering smell of rose on it any more. All I could smell was Alisha’s fruity scent. But she clearly needed the comfort from the only person that had ever been there for her. It was obvious Alisha still clung to Rose as an anchor. I felt like a monster thinking about how much losing Mina would have sent her adrift.

“We should get you back to the hospital, you still need to heal” I whispered trying to coax her out of her cocoon.

“ I can’t go back there, they will send me to the blocks, they will hurt me, everyone always hurts me” the blocks? What was she talking about, who was she afraid of, the pack most likely.

She didn't feel safe anywhere, that's why she was hiding. I remembered now why I came in through the kitchens, she used to hide in here when she was little and she’d gotten in trouble with Johnny or her parents over something or nothing. I’d come in from football practice one day when I was about thirteen and come in here looking for a snack. I had scolded her because she’d made me jump and I was a bit of a hot headed alpha wannabe back then and was embarrassed for letting a little girl get the jump on me. she’d cried in a similar way then too until I’d grabbed the stash of popcorn for her. We had sat side by side in the pantry stuffing our faces until Johnny had mindlinked me looking for her. That was about the only memory I had of my best friend's little sister, well ex best friend now.

“ I promise no one is going to hurt you again Alisha, I don’t expect you to forgive me for the part I played but I am truly sorry” I rubbed her back gently.

We sat there for the longest time, no one said anything only the sound of Alisha’s sobs could be heard but after a while they stopped too. I wasn’t sure how long we sat there but Alisha had long gone silent by the time I tried to move, she jolted slightly and I realised she must have fallen asleep. I was about to scoop her up and carry her back to the hospital, when I heard movement by the door moments before it creeped open ever so slightly.

I watched with an amused expression as I saw tiny little bare feet padding into the pantry with a pink bear being dragged close behind. I watched the little form of my sleepy pup rubbing her eyes, yawning as she padded her way towards the shelving just to the left of me, in the darkness she hadn’t noticed me yet.

I didn’t say anything to draw her attention, watching her with curiosity as she dropped the bear before reaching up and began climbing the shelving with ease like she had done it a million times before. I had to hand it to her the pup was resourceful, moving various object to the side creating her own little pathway to her destination, once she reached the second shelf from the top I watched with a stupidly ground grin as she opened up a jar towards the back taking out a cookie, placing it in her mouth before scaling back down leaving everything as if she had never been there.

“ What are you doing, sneaky monkey?” Alisha’s voice drifted through the darkness just as Mina’s foot hit the floor. Obviously she’d been watching too.

Mina squeaked looking in our direction giving us a cheeky grin uncaring that she’d been caught sneaking treats. As soon as she saw Alisha her little face lit up like a Christmas tree and she dived at us.

“ ALI!!” Mina jumped onto my lap slamming into Alisha’s chest wrapping her arms around her neck, I heard Alisha wince for a second before she hugged Mina back.

“ Easy Mina we need to be gentle remember” I’d already explained to her that Alisha was in hospital but Mrs Clayton had advised I just say Alisha was sick so not to scare Mina, I had a lot to learn about shielding a pup from things. I had been grateful for Mrs Clayton’s input considering how much I’d hurt her family of late.

“ you not better ali?” Mina pulled away looking sad stroking Alisha’s cheek.

“ Well I haven't had enough of your special hugs to make me better” Alisha tried to sound upbeat but her voice was cracking and I could tell she was trying hard to be brave for Mina’s sake but she was struggling. I needed to get her back to the pack hospital soon.

“ hey why don’t we get you ladies back to bed so you can rest” I began to move off the floor with them both alisha still in my lap and Mina wrapped tightly around Alisha’s body.

Suddenly it was as if alisha realised the position we were in and stumbled away from me trying to get up with Mina in her arms still but she moved too fast in her condition and almost fell to the floor before I caught them both wrapping my arm around Alisha’s waist to hold her up right and taking Mina from her with the other.

“ ali stay in my bed, I make her better daddy” Mina stated wrapping her tiny arms around my neck. It warmed my heart how kind and caring she was just like her mother.

“ Alisha has to go back to her bed so the doctors can give her medicine to make her better, but maybe when she’s better she can stay with you” I smiled up at Mina who beamed at me but glancing back at Alisha I noticed she just gave a strained smile not meeting my eye.

“ hey give me a bite sneaky” Alisha suddenly changed the subject, nodding her head to the cookie Mina was still holding. Mina held out the cookie without hesitating and Alisha took the tiniest bite. Mina offered the cookie to me next but pulled it back at the last second giggling as she shoved the rest in her mouth. I faked being hurt but couldn’t help smiling at her cute face. Her pigtails hadn’t been taken out before bed and were now all lopsided and her little pink pyjamas had images of princesses all over them. She was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen, I couldn’t get over how much my heart swelled with love for this beautiful little pup.

“ Come on, let's put you back to bed little princess” Alisha chimed, I was about to protest and mindlink one of the omegas to come take mina back to bed but Alisha seemed to have the determination to do it herself and I didn’t want to stop her. Mina pushed herself back down to the ground, scooping up her abandoned teddy bear and taking Alisha’s hand with the other. Alisha slowly moved out of the pantry into the kitchen struggling to walk, every couple of steps she would wince in pain. Mina patiently waited, going at Alisha’s pace but we barely made it to the door at the other end of the kitchen before Alisha struggled again. Having seen enough I pushed forward taking Alisha’s waist again and scooping her up bridal style. She didn’t look at me but I saw the red tinge to her cheeks and could tell she was embarrassed but at least she wasn’t squirming in fear.

Mina began jumping with her arms in the air. I bent down and the monkey that she was scrambled onto my back with ease. I was worried about her falling but she had a surprisingly good grip just like when she’d climbed the shelves in the pantry. Standing up I made sure she was secure before I moved at my inhuman speed through the house and up the stairs. We were in her room in seconds and Mina was giggling. I bent down but she had already jumped off my back landing easily, clapping at us.

I stood in the background while Alisha tucked Mina back into bed letting the two of them have their time together. They sat together on the bed chatting for a moment and they laughed and talked about Mina’s day like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Watching them together I was in awe of the bond they seemed to share. Alisha was more than just a caregiver to Mina; they were as close as two people could be but Alisha never acted like she was something she wasn't. I wasn't entirely sure what you would call them in terms of a title. They had found a beautiful balance that most people never found with their own children, one that I hadn’t found with my child yet. Alisha wasn’t trying to be a substitute mom for Mina; they were simply…..family. They loved each other unconditionally, there was no need to put a label on that. I felt a strange sensation inside my chest like warmth being wrapped around me. My wolf was more content than he had been in years like the gaping hole that had been ripped open was finally beginning to heal after all these years, was this what love for my pup felt like. I wasn’t sure what it was but knew now I had felt it I didn’t want to let it go.

(Lucas pov)

I waited patiently in the clearing growing more agitated by the second I couldn’t be out here. Someone might see me and then I’d have to think of an explanation for being out this far away from the pack territory, but it was necessary for who I was meeting.

“Well this is a surprise I have to admit I wasn’t expecting your call, especially a summons in person to this backwards place” the sultry voice of the female to my left Q made my eyes roll before I turned to face her. She stepped out of the shadows wearing a long heavy black cape her equally black hair hidden under the extravagant layers revealing only her beautiful face.

“ trust me if I could risk the cell phones I wouldn’t have summoned you here, do you have what I want?” I stated formally best to make sure this meeting is all business. Nerva was a spirit Fae, very powerful, which meant it was their nature to be arrogant and look down on others, Nerva was no different. She would look at a place like this and not see it for its natural beauty and peaceful simplicity, all she would see is that there was no starbucks.

Her cape slipped open slightly revealing she wasn’t wearing much but a red slip under her extravagant cape. She came towards me her hands resting on her slender hips, making the cape gape more.

“ What no pleasantries, If I recall we used to have such fun…” she reached out stroking my chest but I grabbed her wrist halting her, not in the mood for her mind games. she had clearly mistook my summons for a booty call.

“ careful Nerva I can easily send you back” I said sternly making it clear I only wanted the information I’d asked for. I should have tread more carefully with my words, Nerva wasn’t a woman who took rejection well and she could get pretty vindictive to get what she wanted.

If she wanted something she had it end of story you didn’t want the woman’s wrath coming down on your head. I had learnt that the hard way in the past but she had already made me stand around for almost an hour out here and I still hadn’t heard from Mitchell, my concern for alisha was growing by the second.

“ You could but then if you upset me what’s to stop me from telling them where you are” she grinned evilly thinking she could threaten me.

“ you say it like I’m hiding, do you have what I asked or not because your becoming an irritation” that was a lie she had always irritated me it was just fortunate she was mildly pleasing for the eyes, she had deflected my attention for a time once but she overestimated her powers of seduction like a lot of females who thought they could get by in life by spreading their legs. What they didn’t realise was if that’s all they had they were easily replaced.

Nerva's expression changed to one of anger and snatched her hand back. Clearly not impressed with my indifference, she retrieved an old book that was half falling apart shoving it angrily at my chest causing me to growl at her. She backed up immediately while I inspected the leather book.

“ that’s it?” I asked not believing she’d made the trip for this tatty old book that I’d be lucky to be able to read before the pages disintegrated.

“ Well what were you expecting at a moment's notice and could you have given an easier topic?” She said flatly wrapping her cape around her body finally covering up.

“ So there's nothing?” I growled at her not feeling tolerant of her time wasting. Not when Alisha was still in danger.

“ Well not nothing but your options are limited” she said almost smugly examining her perfectly manicured nails.

“ cut the crap and just spit it out” I grew tired of her games she wasn’t the only low source I had but others might ask too many questions Nerva was spiteful and vindictive but if it didn’t revolve around her she dismissed it quickly and moved on which came in useful.

“ Well if you're going to be mean maybe I won’t” she pouted like the child that she was.

“ I’m warning you!” I growled low in my throat losing patience fast I could feel my claws extending and I had the odd feeling on the back of my neck of being watched. I knew I needed to leave soon.

“ the bond can only be broken when both parties cooperate, if one or both aren’t willing then nothing can be done” Nerva sighed like I was stupid and needed stating the obvious when mates rejected each other the old fashioned way.

“ that’s it? there’s no spell or anything to remove it” this was pointless there had to be another way to remove the hold the Beta had on Alisha. I wasn’t even sure why I felt so strongly about this.

I had questioned if I was falling for her, she was a beauty, There's no doubt about that. I feel my c**k twitch every time she smiles at me but it was more than just attraction, I felt like our paths were meant to cross somehow. I was supposed to help her.

“ Your dealing in matters of the goddess not man, it’s beyond even your abilities” Nerva smirked suggestively but I just rolled my eyes at her.

“ So it's hopeless?” I couldn’t hide the disappointment in my voice. Nerva smirked slightly as if she’d caught onto something.

“ well there maybe another way, you can’t remove a mate bond if one isn’t willing but you could remove the bond between the human and wolf, break the bond that way” without warning I grabbed her by the throat shoving her backwards into the tree she was caught completely unaware not even having chance to use her magic on me. Nerva was a spirit fae which meant she had power of the earth's elements around her. Most fae had a dominant power over one element, maybe two but spirit fae had powers over all the elements but it was all linked to emotion and right now Nerva couldn’t get a handle on her fear let alone her power.

“ do you think me a fool that would kill the wolf, what the f**k are you playing at?” I growled squeezing her neck slightly Nerva choked grasping at my arm trying to get a grip.

“ hey it was just a suggestion you asked for my help remember, you could just mate her yourself” she choked out barely audible and I realised I’d revealed too much in my anger Nerva had clicked that I was enquiring for another female. I released her and she clutched her throat gasping for air.

“That’s not what I asked” I wasn’t fooled by her. She was fishing to see if I had found my mate. That would put Alisha in even more danger if I allowed someone to make that mistake. Besides I wanted to free Alisha, not bind her to one mate in order to partially free her from another. The mate bond wouldn’t be severed, just the mark would stop them from being together in the literal sense, it wouldn’t do anything to take away the Beta’s hold on her.

“ then I suggest you kill the unwilling mate” she said dismissively clearly she hadn’t gotten what she wanted out of me and was now bored.

Ignoring Nerva not giving her the reaction she wanted, I pretended to be engrossed in the book's cover until she eventually got the hint she was dismissed, disappearing as quickly as she’d come into a cloud of smoke, ever the theatrics with that woman.

It was unnecessary because she was a teleporter so the smoke was just for effect. I scanned through the tattered old book feeling it fall apart in my hands as soon as I moved the pages, frustrated I threw the damn thing against a tree. Nerva had been wasting my time. never mix business with pleasure. It was a lesson I’d learnt years ago, unfortunately not fast enough with that Fae b***h.

As much as I hated to admit it, she was wrong , killing the mutt would make me feel better but would cause problems for Mitchell and more than likely kill Alisha’s wolf anyway, if it didn’t she would probably go insane shortly after. I’d seen it enough times to know, killing the Beta was not the answer. There had to be something, I just had to keep looking.