Beyond Fate

The kindness of strangers

There are some things you just can’t unsee. Things that completely change you, rip you apart so much that you can’t understand how you don’t die from the pain.This was not one of those moments. How could it be when I’d lived and relived this awful moment of seeing my fated mate with another woman so many times I had become almost numb to it. Almost.

But there had been times where seeing them together had broke me they seemed to feed off my misery. Making me wish with everything I had I could just run away and leave it all behind.

This moment. This pack.These two monsters that had been ruining my life for the past four years. I wanted to run away from it all every single day.

The only thing that kept me going was Mina and the love I was given from my family. Yet in this moment seeing these two pressed up against each other in the thrones of passion completely uncaring of the pain they caused me on a daily basis, I couldn’t understand why I stayed.

It was a car crash, it was speeding towards me. I could see the blinding lights knowing I should move, escape, but I stayed grounded to the spot. Like a deer in the headlights, transfixed and unmoving. In the same position I found myself in so many times over the years yet my self preservation never kicked in and one day it was going to kill me. I could only hope.

Kelly was pressed against the wall on the other side of the room with Nathan grinding against her, pressing himself harder into her till she moaned. His hands tangled in her blonde hair while his head was buried in her neck. Nathan’s other hand was under her naked thigh that was draped around his waist causing her tight pink skirt to ride up exposing her lace underwear. For a moment I could have sworn I caught the scent of something sweet but dismissed it when I heard Kelly moan again. Her one hand was around his neck pulling him further towards her while her other hand seemed to be between them. No doubt her hand was in his jeans caressing his hard on. His grunting that came moments later confirmed it.

Against my will my body flutters with anticipation at the sound of my mate’s excitement. I was disgusted by my body's reaction. He didn’t even need to be making those noises while I was touching him. Just hearing his excitement was enough to activate the bond.

My wolf had abandoned me, retreating into the back of my mind like she always did. In the last year she had chosen to retreat instead of whaling inside my head. Which I’ll be honest I wasn’t hating it was better than listening to her mourn for hours on end. I knew this was harder for her than me, her mate wanted to be with her, it was my human mate that was the issue. And me. Well I’d come to despise Nathan as much as Kelly with the way he’d treated me over the years.

The need to be sick was overwhelming and the pain in my heart still hurt even though now it was no more than a dull ache in my chest. Thankfully after three full moons had passed without the mate bond being sealed it began to disappear and after three years of Nathan and I not being mated our bond was practically gone. It was really only our wolves that now felt the need to be together.

Don’t get me wrong Nathan still affected me. No matter how much I despised him but we had to be in close proximity for that. I didn’t crave him when he wasn’t around anymore.

Kelly’s eyes suddenly snapped open, her expression being one of shock for once, she hadn’t been expecting me. It was a first for Kelly. She usually made extra effort to make sure I caught them in situations like this. I was just grateful I’d come in before they were both naked and in the thrones of passion already..yes unfortunately I had seen that before. Like I said some things you just couldn’t unsee.

“Ewwww perv!” Kelly glared at me causing Nathan to stop and pull away a little to quickly she almost fell on the floor.

“ What the f**k babe?” She exclaimed clearly not expecting to be dropped. She stumbled around trying to straighten her skirt while Nathan fiddled with the zipper on his jeans. I hadn’t noticed he’d had them half way down already. I came by just in the nick of time.phew.

“ Don’t worry I’m not here to spoil your fun,” I stated with conviction, rolling my eyes in disgust. Nathan actually looked hurt by the fact I didn’t care what they were doing. Was he for real?

“ So what are you doing here then Mutt?” Kelly spat, folding her arms, trying to hide her smug smile like she didn’t believe I was there for any other reason.

“ I’m looking for Mina, Luna Jamie wants to see her” I said not expecting them to assist me just giving them confirmation I hadn’t been in there to stop their little moment.

Kelly scoffed rather unlady like for the future Beta female. She and Nathan had made their intentions known to Alpha Felix last year that they were to mate but so far they had been putting it off for some reason. I got the impression Luna Jamie was pleased that Kelly couldn’t officially take over from my mother till she was marked. Mom had told me many times how frustrating Kelly was; she wasn’t interested in any real Beta duties beyond the official showboating in front of the pack and other visiting leaders, which was only about twenty percent of the job.

Kelly was used to being pampered like a princess and from what I’d heard Nathan indulged the spoiled little princess to no end . Her days were filled with shopping, spa days and pampering to perfection. There was never a hair out of place on her perfectly polished barbie doll body.

She also seemed to get off on lording it over everyone but that wasn’t what being a Beta was about. It was the Beta’s responsibility to make the pack strong as much as it was the Alpha’s.. You put the pack first and lead them to be better and stronger as a whole. The days were long and exhausting. It was a hard job even when you had a good mate by your side but I knew from my parents that it was also incredibly rewarding. Kelly clearly hadn’t read the job description when she’d stolen my mate from me.

“ Seriously, that’s the best you got…. Really mutt you are just pathetic how many times do I have to tell you to get lost, Nathan doesn’t want YOU!” She uttered the last part louder, snickering at me in complete disgust. As usual Nathan just stood there like the spineless moron he was when Kelly was around. It was no secret Kelly wore the trousers in the relationship.

I was about to say something back at Kelly when suddenly the door to the wardrobe opened and a whimpering Mina came running out heading straight for me wrapping her tiny arms around my legs.

We all stood there in complete shock at seeing the little pup emerging from the wardrobe. I felt disgust at the thought of what Mina might have witnessed if I hadn’t walked in.

Both Kelly and Nathan looked at the floor, their faces red with embarrassment as the severity of the situation clearly wasn’t lost on them.

“ Why the hell weren't you watching her?” Nathan said through gritted teeth clearly angry with me. He could get in trouble for this, we all could.

“ She’s the Alpha pup. She is free to go where she likes in her own home” I stated ignoring his question trying to pull back on the anger I was feeling, my wolf was already coming to the surface. She had always been very protective of Mina and right now she was ready to tear some heads from shoulders.

How could they be so careless and then blame it on me. Hadn’t they caught her scent when they had come into the room. I could smell it from outside that was the whole reason I’d entered, never in my life had I been more glad to have walked in on these two morons.

Kelly seemed to take a different tactic from

Nathan who was still glaring at me. She bent down toward Mina putting on her best fake smile that was creepy at best.

“ hey…..you, I’m a good friend of your daddy’s” kelly tried and failed to sound friendly waving towards Mina who burrowed even more around my side. kelly soon dropped her smile.

“ What's wrong with it?” She said to no one in particular her cruel word use making my blood boil even more and I knew then that my eyes were changing. Nathan moved slightly to hide Kelly behind him,I involuntarily growled at her causing another glare from Nathan but I ignored him.

Take her head off Alisha. my wolf growled inside my head. It took everything in me not to shift. It was only Mina clutching at my side that stopped me.

I took a few tense moments to calm myself. Reminding my wolf, neither of these two were worth my time. Eventually I felt my wolf calming and I was able to speak without wanting to take Kelly’s head from her shoulders.

“ She. Not IT….SHE!!” I growled through gritted teeth cuddling Mina to my side protectively before scooping her up heading to the door.

“ and there’s nothing wrong with her…she just doesn’t like you” I threw over my shoulder as I left. Slamming the door behind me.

I couldn’t believe those two didn’t they have their own room for all that. I wasn’t entirely convinced it wasn’t set up either, they just hadn’t expected Mina to be there.

It was one of Kelly’s signature moves. She would conveniently set up a situation where I’d catch her and Nathan together in an intimate position. I wasn’t gonna lie it hurt even now but in the beginning I hadn’t been able to hide my devastation and Nathan would at least have the decency to look guilty. We’d moved on since then though. They no longer got the kick out of me catching them together because it didn’t leave me blubbering like a pathetic little pup anymore.

If the fate bond isn’t completed within the first full moon after you find your mate the bond begins to fade, by the third full moon it’s as if it isn’t even there anymore. That’s why I was never in too much pain anymore when Nathan and Kelly were together. I mean don’t get me wrong the bond was there. My wolf still wanted him but my human side had grown to despise Nathan just as much as Kelly. I didn’t want this life of limbo. Nathan wouldn’t just let me move on and accept my rejection. I’d given him plenty of opportunities over the years to be the one to do it but he never would. When I’d finally worked up the courage to reject him myself he’d gotten so angry his wolf had come forward and almost forcibly marked me. He’d scared himself that day, he’d completely lost control of his wolf. I knew the reason he wouldn’t accept the rejection, the same reason he’d been so angry when I’d found an excuse to move back home. He wanted me close by so I was easily accessible . It was infuriating he had moved on. All I wanted was the chance to do the same.

After taking Mina to the living room to Alpha Felix and Luna Jamie to watch the movie, I left to go back upstairs to the nursery. I wanted to tidy up from this morning's activities before Alpha and Luna left for the crescent moon pack to pick up Alpha Mitchell.

I had noticed they both seemed on edge. I knew they were worried about Alpha Mitchell’s reaction to being back home. I’ll admit most of the pack had been feeling the same. There had been whispers of challenges from warriors of the pack, claiming Alpha Mitchell was too weak after running away when Rose had died. Most of them were just all talk, I doubted there was actually anyone that had the balls to really challenge the new Alpha.I was more worried about Mina.

I’d been preparing her to meet her father but I was worried about saying too much so I’d been vague on details. It wasn’t that I didn’t want her to know him. It was just I was worried for her, I didn’t want Mina to get her hopes up of meeting her daddy after all this time to then have those hopes dashed if he suddenly decided now wasn’t the right time to return.

I heard movement on the stairs above me. I looked up to see another omega, Heather was descending from the second floor balcony carrying a laundry basket.

Heather was actually one of the few pack members that acknowledged me as something more than a piece of dirt that’s been dragged into the pack house on the bottom of someone’s shoe.

“ Hey Alisha” Heather smiled brightly at me her dark hair and short choppy Bob gave her an adorable pixie kind of look. Unlike me she was pettie for a wolf, tiny in fact, even by human standards she wasn’t average height the basket of sheets she was carrying almost drowned her tiny form.

“ Hey Heather, you need some help?” I asked, watching as she repositioned the basket on her hip.

“ nah I’m good, just rushing, I totally forgot to do the extra bedroom ready for Alpha Mitchell and his guests” she huffed.

“ Guests?” I frowned.

“ Yea he’s got one or two people arriving for the ceremony, I’ve just seen one of them” she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“ girl or guy” I asked.

“ Guy. Oh my goddess he’s so hot too, total bad boy type covered in tattoos almost as many as Johnny” she smiled most of the females in the pack had a thing for my brother and Heather did love a bad boy.

“ I’m so hoping he comes knocking on my door in the middle of the night” she winked. I inwardly cringed at the thought of unmated males paying Heather visits in the middle of the night but Heather always assured me she enjoyed her active s*x life.

We parted ways, and as I got to the top floor I turned the corner crashing into a hard chest.

“ Watch it mutt!” I heard a rough male voice shout seconds before someone shoved me hard, sending me crashing into the antique table in the hallway. Pain shot through my hip as I hit the corner knocking whatever was on top of the table to the floor with a smash. I heard a couple of different voices laughing. I lay on the floor in a heap pretending to cry into the ground, they must have bought it because they all laughed harder.

Pulling myself up off the ground, I surveyed the damage. On closer inspection aside from my hip that was sure to be bruised I also had a slight cut on my arm. Then I noticed I was surrounded by broken glass and flowers, one of the vase’s had smashed to the ground when I had.

“ HEY..hey! Is that anyway to treat a lady!” A males voice I didn’t recognise came drifting from the other end of the hallway in the direction of the nursery. I looked up to see his silhouette in the shadows but his voice didn’t disguise the anger he clearly felt but I was surprised to see it wasn’t directed at me.

I looked back to see the three teens who’s anger the stranger was directing his anger. They all had their heads down in submission. I heard a ferocious growl from behind me making my own head bow in submission. I could feel the power radiating from the guy he was definitely high rank, whoever he was his power could rival that of even Alpha felix it was damn near crushing and it wasn’t even focused on me.

“W..W.we…s..she..” wow this pup was having more trouble than I was under his powerful aura.

“ explain yourself, what right do you have to treat a pack member this way” he growled.

“ sir she’s an omega” one of the guys said.

“ so?” The man growled again clearly not liking that explanation.

“ Our father told us we are to treat her like the mutt that she is” another guy stated, there was a sense of pride in his voice.

Parents were actually encouraging their pups to bully me now. I wish I could say I was surprised but I really wasn’t. Now it made sense they weren’t the ones doing it they wanted to save face infront of Alpha Felix so they were getting their kids to do it for them.

I felt a presence move forward seeing the man had moved closer. I could now see the top of his boots beneath my blonde hair that had come lose of the pony tail from the force of the impact.

I took a chance to glance up through my lashes seeing the guy leaning over me getting in the young adolescent pups face angrily. This must have been the guy that was ‘oh so proud’ to be ganging up on a young woman with his two other friends. Yea because three against one is a fair fight.

“ Well your father is a pathetic excuse for a wolf and a man if he’s telling you to bully young women..and you can tell him I said that” the guy whispered in threatening tone, the fact that he said it quietly made it sound worse, like he was seconds away from tearing your head off. I certainly didn’t want to be on this guys bad side.

“ Get out of my sight the lot of you”I watched in astonishment as the teenage wolves all scampered away. I'm sure I saw the ringleader was sniffing.

I was so fixated on watching the retreating backs of the pack members that I didn’t realise the guy had turned his attention on me.

“You ok miss?” I felt his hand on my shoulder. I looked up and was almost awe struck by his sheer good looks. He had warm blue eyes and short ash blonde hair that was still long enough to run your fingers through,his rippling muscles stretched out his tight black T.Shirt, it was simple yet looked like it cost more than my parents house. The guy screamed danger and s*x appeal. I could see exactly where Heather was coming from even I wouldn’t kick this guy out of bed if he snuck in.Wow, where the hell did that come from?.

We have a mate. My wolf growled in my head but I just ignored her till she blocked me out. The hot guy helped me to my feet. Then I just stood there staring at him like an i***t with my mouth agape as he examined the cut on my hand.

“ I think you’ll live sweet heart” he grinned looking up at me. He had a thick accent I wasn’t sure where from, it sounded American but I could be wrong. We didn't get many visits from the state packs these days. My only experience with Americans were what I saw in movies.

I noticed his arms were covered in tattoos, much like Johnny’s. However, my brothers were very unique designs with meaning..because I’d designed most of them myself. This guy’s tattoos were mostly tribal patterns though there were a few in the mix that looked specifically like ones you’d get in the armed forces or something. I looked closer at one seeing an infinity symbol overlapping the sign of a wolf howling at the moon. It was mesmerising, without thinking I reached out to touch it when his husky voice brought me back into the room.

“ See something you like sweetheart?” The guy gave me a seductive lopsided grin. I flushed bright red with embarrassment at being caught staring. What the hell was wrong with me? I was checking this guy out in the middle of the open hallway where anyone could walk past whatsmore was he was just standing there letting me. Ugh black hole swallow me up.

“ I..I..sorry” I stuttered, snatching my hands back and shoving them into my Jean pockets so I’m not tempted to touch him again.

The guy just smiled knowingly at me and I felt the heat spreading through my cheeks again. I was so embarrassed by my actions I looked everywhere but at him. I’d never been attracted to anyone other than Nathan before and even then I’d always been disgusted with myself afterwards.

“ No need to apologise, feel free to look and touch, in fact please do” I looked up shyly to see he was smiling wickedly at me letting his gaze roam over my body. I was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable by how much this guy was affecting me. Could this even happen when someone had already met their mate. Maybe it was because it had been so long without me and Nathan mating.

The moment was interrupted by someone’s phone ringing, I frowned, annoyed. The guys eyes hadn’t left mine. I was like a deer in headlights unable to take my gaze off him, his eyes moved down shamelessly roaming over my body again. He didn’t seem to be trying to hide it but I didn’t seem to care.

I had many unmated men do the same thing working in the pack house on a day to day basis, usually I hated it but this time heat pooled in my lower stomach. A reaction only Nathan had ever brought out in me before. His eyes met mine again and he had a knowing smile on his face now.

“ You gonna get that sweetheart..might be your boyfriend” he said and it finally registered. It was my phone ringing, I scrambled trying to get the damn thing out of my pocket seeing on the screen it was mom calling.

“ I..I..it’s just my mom..I don’t have a boyfriend” I said looking between him and the phone wondering if it’s rude of me to answer it.

“ Lucky me,” he smiled.

Errrr you do have a mate though. My wolf scaled and I inwardly rolled my eyes hating her at this moment.

You seem to forget Nathan is with Kelly. I regretted my thoughts as soon as I heard her whimpering in my head.

“ You should get that, If she’s anything like my mother you won’t want the wrath of ignoring her” he was right. My mom hates it when we don't answer even though she was one to talk. She always had her phone on silent so she always missed calls. I was actually surprised she hadn’t just mindlinked me.

I didn’t say anything else as the guy started to walk past me, then at the last moment he turned, grasping my hand, pulling me closer till my chest was brushing his. He pulled my hand to his mouth, kissing it gently, never taking his eyes off mine. My breath caught in my throat as I gasped slightly at the feel of his lips touching my skin feeling his mouth move into a sly smile at my reaction. This guy clearly loved the chase. It must be entertaining for him seeing as most women probably pursue him.

“ Anytime you need saving beautiful just give me a shout” he winked before walking away.

“ thank you by the way…” I shouted but then stopped when I realised I didn’t even know his name. He spun around before he reached the end of the hallway.

“ Lucas” he said with a smile that was filled with promises that I’d definitely be seeing him again before continuing round the corner out of sight.

I exhaled shakily. Wow. Who the hell was this Lucas guy? He was obviously the friend that was here for Alpha Mitchell’s ceremony. I was actually feeling excited at the thought of seeing Lucas again, though as soon as the pack started spreading their poison about me I’m sure that he wouldn’t want anything to do with me anymore. I had enjoyed our little moment non the less, it had been a long time since someone had intervened with the bullies of this pack.

It was kind of nice to be attracted to another man instead of pining after one I couldn’t have.

It gave me something to hope for. Maybe I could have a relationship with someone after all.

I quickly rang my mom back as predicted she didn’t answer, so I decided to go old school and mindlinked her.

Hey mom, you rang?

Alisha where are you? Why aren’t you answering your phone?

Sorry I was being saved by super hot Prince Charming with a dark side.

Huh? Oh baby don’t tell me pack members are picking on you again?

I smiled my eyes at her tone. She sounded like she was talking to Mina with the way she spoke. I never told my parents about the bullying. There wouldn’t be anything they could do and it would only make things harder for their reputation. Besides, it only ever happened behind my family's back. People would never have the balls to do it if my parents were close by.

Don’t worry this guy saved me.

Oh boy talk. Love it! ok baby I just wanted to let you know Alpha Felix and Luna Jamie are leaving the pack to collect mitchy now so just come straight home tonight.

Oh ok don’t we need to help with ceremony prep now?

No. Norma decided to go over everyone’s head and hire an events planner.

I rolled my eyes. Norma was Rose’s mother; she still thought it was her place to play the interfering mother in law. She and her mate Oslo didn’t really get on with anyone, especially me.

They hadn’t been as supportive of my involvement in Mina’s care but they had respected Rose’s decision. The reasons for their dislike of me was nothing to do with my reputation in the pack but more they believed only family should be caring for their grand pup.

Norma and Oslo smith were not bad people,they just, how do I put it..they were snobs. They had become accustomed to the finer things in life. They like fancy parties, drinking champagne and we’re always away on vacations, but they had been living above their means for many years and had raked up a lot of debt funding their lavish lifestyle. They were in danger of being bankrupt when Rose turned eighteen.

As you can imagine when Rose found Mitchell was her fated mate her parents were doing back flips knowing they would be taken care of for the rest of their lives, having their only daughter becoming the Luna of their pack.

You ok mom.

Events were supposed to be organised by the Luna and Beta females of the pack. Despite being a great warrior my mother was such a girl at heart and she had known Mitchell since he was in nappies as she always said. I know she’d wanted to be involved in the planning of his Alpha ceremony.

She had been helping Rose and Luna Jamie plan their mating ceremony before Rose had fallen pregnant with Mina.

Mom and Luna Jamie had thought it would be nice to use some of the decorations Rose had picked, so it would feel like a part of her was there for Alpha Mitchell too. I doubted any of it would be used now. No doubt this event planner would go all out, tacky, over the top expensive now.

I’m ok baby I promise…hey since the Alpha and Luna are away do you fancy bringing my munchkin over for dinner, your dad will cook her favourite. spaghetti.

I smiled, my family adored Mina as much as Alpha Felix and Luna Jamie. We would have regular Sunday dinners at ours all the time.

Ok mom we will be over about five. I ended the mindlink just as I came to Mina’s nursery. I was shocked to see the door was slightly ajar. That made no sense. I always lock it.

Alpha Felix and Luna Jamie didn’t like anyone in the pack house going into Mina's nursery so we all had a set of keys to lock the main door when we left. The only time it was unlocked was when one of us or Mina was in there.

Stepping forward slightly I tried to calm myself. It was probably just Luna or Alpha having come up for something. I tried to convince myself, not believing my own reasoning. I took a deep breath pushing the door open looking into the nursery seeing the dark figure just by the far window.

“ What the hell are you doing in here?”