Beyond Fate

A eventful stroll

(Alisha pov)

“… a bunny with a rainbow and a doggy” Mina continued to reel off the list of animals on her latest beautiful artwork. Like her mother she seemed to have picked up the love of drawing, more specifically painting at the moment. I was almost certain that was why she loved the nursery so much they got to paint as much as they wanted.

Alpha Mitchell had been caught in another meeting so Mina and I had arranged to meet up with Johnny after school. We walked through the streets of the pack heading towards the training ground. People that crossed our path always smiled at Mina but they never quite seemed certain of how to react to me now. Many just kept their heads down avoiding my gaze, I know you probably don’t believe it but I almost miss the scowls at least I knew where I stood then, now I didn’t know what people were thinking some would smile and make polite conversation but I found it hard to decipher if it was genuine or out of fear for alpha Mitchell, others seemed to be set in their resolve of hating me, most just find my existence hard to bare like I was a constant reminder of the shame they all now had to face. I guess having to face up to how much of an arshole you are, knowing you willingly took part in destroying an innocent girl is a hard pill to swallow.

Mina and I kept walking, seeing the training ground in sight, as we walked across the yard several young wolves were training with Colton barking orders at them all. They were all wearing basketball shorts but not much else, obviously from fighting in wolf form, now they were all in human form sparing one on one in a large group listening to Colton’s instructions. It was different to see him showing some authority, in recent weeks I'd started to see him as nothing more than Nathan’s lap dog. I felt like maybe I was being unfair to him. I was angry at Colton for aiding in Nathan’s bid to control me but really did he have much of a choice? Nathan was Beta at the end of the day and I didn’t know the full story. From the corner of my eye I saw several heads of the warriors turn to look in our direction before hearing Colton barking at them to pay attention. I didn’t turn my head, just kept heading with Mina towards the offices where I knew Johnny would be.

As we walked into the small brick building on the edge of the training grounds I could hear raised voices. I slowed my steps clutching Mina’s hand she must have heard the arguing too because she was silent looking at the closed office door directly opposite a distinctive high pitched female voice yelling and the occasional male voice. It didn’t take a genius to see that it was Tammy and Johnny arguing once again but I’d never heard them shouting at one another before.

I was about to turn around and go back to the pack house when the door at the far end opened and closed revealing Colin stone with a young girl in his arms. I knew from being at the school she was Lilly stone Colin’s eldest she was a beautiful little redhead the same shade as her mothers it was always platted in pigtails like Pippy long stocking she was a lovely little thing too, a few years older than Mina but I had seen them running around together at play times.

As soon as he looked up and saw me I could tell Colin had been upset, his eyes were bloodshot and he held onto Lilly like she was the only thing preventing his break down. He didn’t say a word walking towards me he kept his head down like so many others who had tormented me in this pack Colin had favoured the denial route. He just wanted to pretend I wasn’t there. It was his younger brother William that had been killed at the border with his friend the night of the rogue attack, every time I thought about that night all I felt was how I hadn’t been strong enough to save them, every time going back to that dreadful night all I saw was that poor boys blood on my hands while I clutched his hand on mine as he lay dying on the cold ground.

I stepped to one side not wanting to make the moment anymore awkward for him, I could see he was suffering in the wake of his brothers death. He moved to pass us and Lilly gave us a sad wave of her hand as they moved through the door.

“ I was just collecting the last of his stuff..” I looked over my shoulder to see Colin was talking to me, I wasn’t sure if he was expecting me to answer he still hadn’t lifted his head he just chuckled dryly to himslef” he’s a messy fucker… was” he corrected, the realisation on his face when he uttered those words was hard to watch, I think about how I’d feel if I was sent to pack up what’s left of johnnys stuff if he were to die in battle, completely broken. That’s the only way I could describe the shell of man in front of me, his hair looked shaggy and unwashed, his normally well groomed beard was longer than usual and unkept, the dark circles under his eyes made him look ten years older and he smelled strongly of liquor.

“ I’m so sorry Colin” what else could I say, I was sorry. I was sorry his brother had died, that I couldn’t save him, that I had lived instead. I didn’t even know him but he hadn’t run away from the fight when he’d had the chance to run, that showed a lot about his character, he hadn’t been a weak wolf and had he lived I’m sure would have been a great warrior just like his dad had been.

Something banged loudly, drawing our attention back to Johnny's office and the shouting increased.

“ they’ve been at it for a while, feel bad for the guy” I heard Colin whisper I faced him and he had finally lifted his head to look me in the eye. He gave me a sad smile before turning to leave.

Seconds later the office door flew open and Tammy came storming out, her fiery red hair flying behind her like she was on fire as she slammed the office door. She scoffed at the sight of me not breaking a stride in her walk when she stormed out of the building in an angry whirlwind.

I sighed heavily looking down at Mina who just pulled a face at me. “ you have any idea what’s going on?”

“ nope” she shook her head.

“ Good,” I said before heading to my brother's office door. Johnny was sat at his desk, his head in his hands. Across the room there were papers and what I’m to assume was a potted plant before it was thrown across the room now the floor was covered in soil and leaves along with the odd bits of crockery.

“ hey everything ok?” I asked awkwardly Johnny knew I’d heard him and Tammy arguing, I was pretty sure the entire training ground had heard. It killed me that there was no way for me to help him with this whole Tammy situation.

Johnny just sighed looking up at me then back down at the remaining paper work on the desk, placing it back in his draw like he hadn’t just had a tornado pass through his office. A second later he leapt up over the desk without answering my question and went towards Mina crouching down in front of her with a huge genuine smile on his face.

“ Hey beautiful girl, wanna go for a run in the forest?” Mina chuckled at him wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. Johnny scooped her up into a hug winking at me sadly. I decided not to push it. My brother was someone who closed up the more you pushed when he was ready he would talk to me but that time wasn’t right now.

As we headed out towards the forest Johnny put Mina on his shoulders carrying her. She clapped and giggled for him to go faster and it warmed my heart at her ability to always be able to cheer my brother up even when he had felt so low.

We passed Colton walking back to the offices but as I tried to pass him to follow Johnny he grabbed my arm pulling me back. I was about to shout at Johnny who was just in front of us but Colton must have sensed it, his eyes looked genuinely hurt for a moment. I didn’t think Colton would actually hurt me he’d never been the type that’s why I’d been so shocked to find out he was in league with Nathan but I didn’t like being manhandled it was part of my fresh start here in the pack that I wouldn’t take anymore physical abuse.

The silence stretched out as he just stared down at me looking for something I wasn’t sure what, then I felt him shove something into my hand, closing it around the object with his own almost pleading for me to take it, then his eyes flashed to something over my shoulder and he quickly stepped back sheepishly. I didn’t have to turn to know Johnny had come back towards us.

“ Colton don’t you have a mate to go find instead of bugging my little sister” ugh I always hated how Johnny emphasised the word ‘little’ he had always done it especially around the males of the pack. I had picked up on it at a young age. I wasn’t sure why even before my life went to s**t guys never used to hang around me, except of course when it was to hang out with Johnny.

Colton didn’t say anything, he just looked back down at me sadly before walking back into the offices. I felt Johnny's arm on mine letting him turn me to face him. “ you ok did he hurt you..did he say anything? I kill him if he did…”

“ Johnny it’s fine he didn’t say anything to me I don’t know what he wanted” Johnny was all riled up and I didn’t want him to run off fighting Colton when he technically didn’t do anything but stop me. I clenched my fist around the item in my hand, shoving it discreetly in my jeans pocket.

“ shall we go” I said cheerily, as if the weird Colton moment never happened. Johnny nodded stiffly and turned to start walking again.

We carried on walking towards the forest for a while but the atmosphere was now tense because of Colton’s actions.

“ you’d tell me if someone was hurting you again wouldn’t you?” Johnny said out of nowhere, breaking the silence.

“ no one’s hurting me Johnny i…” I tried to reassure him but he grabbed my hand squeezing it tightly.

“ please Alisha promise..no swear, swear if anyone Is hurting you you’ll tell me, I hate that the pack was doing that right under our nose this whole time, I’m head warrior It’s my job to protect and I couldn’t even protect my own sister” he frowned looking down at the floor I knew Johnny took his role as protector seriously he worked tirelessly to make sure our warriors were well trained, I knew losing the two recruits had hit him harder than he was letting on. I couldn’t let him worry about me too, not now that everything was finally looking up. I rubbed his arm with my free hand hoping to soothe him. Mina must have picked up on how tense Johnny had become too because she started cuddling his head.

“ hey it’s ok, I promise I won’t put up with it any more, the whole reason for me agreeing to stay was that things changed and they are” and I really believed that, ok no not everyone was suddenly greeting me with a smile and wanted to be my best friend but I wasn’t having to hide bruising or the occasional trip to the pack hospital anymore.

My resolve must have convinced Johnny I was sincere because he smiled at me and went back to trotting along in front of me with Mina on his shoulders. When we got to a familiar section of the forest near the stream Johnny shifted into his wolf. He was a similar sandy colour to my own wolf though johnny’s was slightly darker and his paws were black whereas my own wolf was all over golden. I decided not to go for a run today using the excuse that I didn’t want to leave mine and Mina’s stuff out in the open so I sat against one of the nearby tree trunks watching Johnny's wolf jog about the stream with Mina on his back he didn’t even mind her yelling “ giddy up” constantly. The truth was my wolf and I hadn’t been getting along at all the past month. She didn’t like me being without Nathan and she definitely didn’t like me sleeping with another male. I had secretly wondered if Nathan had this much trouble with his wolf but there was no way in hell I’d ever ask him.

Hearing Mina’s soft giggle brought me back to the moment and I smiled seeing Johnny jumping from one side of the stream to another. I was about to tell them to be careful when I heard a rustling to my left I turned my whole body on high alert seeing the cruel face of the last person I ever wanted to see.

“ oh I thought I could smell trash, hiding again I see mutt” Kelly stood just over my shoulder smiling smugly at me with her arms across her chest pushing her cleavage out more stretching the child’s sized baby pink tank top she had on, she wore it with an equally tight tutu style gold sparkly skirt, and pink heels, I think the outfit was somehow supposed to look classic or sexy it was certainly expensive from the look of it but in reality she looked like a slutty ballerina, it was tacky and desperate.

“ Kelly, what do you want?” I looked back towards the lake trying to ignore her, she was alone which was a first, she usually had her gang of bitches around her if not Nathan.

“ from the likes of you nothing…..well nothing I haven't already taken from you” she chuckled taking a few steps towards me, I growled and she paused mid stride. Not as cocky without her back up bitches.

“How is your hunky bodyguard, he's not gotten sick of you already?” She cooed mockingly as she edged closer. I caught a whiff of some scent other than her sickly sweet one she’d probably just come from screwing Nathan but I didn’t feel anything from my wolf which was a first.

“ don’t even try anything kelly I’m not taking your s**t anymore” I wasn’t too worried she wouldn’t attack without backup but Kelly’s full on laugh threw me so much I had to turn to see her to know it was real and not a figment of my imagination.

Kelly was clutching her stomach almost doubling over when she was finally done I was scowling at her “ it really is pathetic how you think you can climb out of the gutter” she edged closer finally catching sight of Johnny in the distance, he and Mina were still playing blissfully unaware of what was going on. Kelly took a seat beside me and I actually looked at her like she was insane. I shuffled away from her but she leaned close so she could whisper to me the whole time keeping her eyes on Johnny.

“ you really think one guy keeping you as his little s*x toy for a short while is gonna to change things for you?” She sneered spitting venomous words. I looked towards the stream hoping Johnny might have heard. Nope nothing, Mina’s squeals we’re too loud.

“ you’ll always be weak and unimportant Alisha, not even your own mate wants you, he just needs to f**k you once in a while to keep his wolf happy. He still always come home to warm my bed” I hated that her words hurt me so much I could feel my wolfs pain and it took everything in my not to rub at the knot in my stomach. I wouldn’t give Kelly the satisfaction. The wind blew towards us and I caught a whiff of something, a male but the scent wasn’t Nathan’s. It was faint but it was defiantly there. I smirked thinking about how saint kelly couldn’t keep it in her pants. Nathan was on borrowed time.

“ from the stench of you it seems you're warming some other males bed” I snickered , unable to help it. Kelly’s face momentarily dropped but she didn’t react other than that, it made me wonder what kind of f****d up open relationship Nathan and her had.

“ he’ll never love you, you know, no one can, he might try but pretty soon he’ll throw you away just like the trash you are, who knows maybe I’ll take him off your hands too, he is quite…. Something” she smiled mischievously and I growled at her again wanting to rip her head off.

“ he wouldn’t go for a slut like you” I said through gritted teeth, this b***h was pushing my buttons and I hated that she could. She couldn’t help but stick the knife in deeper, always wanting to bring me down it was never enough I’d lost my mate to her she wouldn’t be happy until I was completely destroyed.

Kelly just laughed as she finally stood up looking down at me like I was dirt “ you’ll lose him too soon enough, it’s hilarious really you think he actually cares for you but your just his w***e, I heard him telling the alpha he’s heading back home to his pack soon” my head shot up towards her in shock. Kelly dramatically feigned shock, mocking me once again.

“ woops has he not mentioned that to you, obviously he’s not planning to take you with him, what will happen to you then?” I turned back towards the stream, my eyes becoming blurred from tears I prayed wouldn’t fall until after the b***h left. Was it true, was Lucas planning to leave?

“ shall I tell you mutt” she didn’t wait for my reply leaning back down her voice filled with malice“ the alpha sees you as nothing more than the slut that drove his friend away because he couldn’t stand to be around you anymore and you end up in the blocks till the end of your days spreading your legs like the w***e you are” I closed my eyes trying not to let her words hit home but as usual they struck me right in the heart. She was right if Lucas got board and left Mitchell would more than likely blame me for it. after all it wasn’t like he hadn’t jumped to conclusions about me before and with people like Kelly around to help it along I’d soon be exactly where Nathan and Kelly wanted me, in the blocks out of sight and alone.

“ You can leave now” I whisper without looking at her, feeling the sting of tears in my eyes, damit I didn’t want to cry around her, I didn’t want her to have the satisfaction but from her smug chuckle on she had got what she wanted.

“ So pathetic” she chuckled again, flipping her fake blonde hair over her shoulder, whipping me slightly with it.

I sat there on the cold stump thinking of Kelly's words. I knew she was trying to hurt me,I knew her words were poison, I knew she was more than likely lying about Lucas but what if she wasn’t. Did it really matter? It wasn't like Lucas wasn’t going to one day meet his mate. As soon as that happened he’d be done with me for sure. I couldn’t stop the panic rising in me. I felt bile rising into my throat suddenly feeling too hot.

I jumped out of my skin seeing something move out the corner of my eye thinking Kelly was back but Johnny’s wolf came trotting up to me with a very excited Mina. She was breathing heavily and laughing away when they reached me. I got up quickly wiping my face so they wouldn’t see my tears that had fallen. I helped Mina slide off the back of Johnny's giant wolf she was watching in awe as he shifted back into his human form, I threw him some spare shorts out of my bag so he could cover up. “ you ok?, was that kelly just now?” He said breathlessly as he slid on his shorts.

“ she just wanted to ask me about the bridesmaid dresses is all” I lied smiling like I wasn’t crumbling inside, I felt terrible after promising I would tell him everything but then I would have to tell them about Nathan and with Lucas so sure we could find a way out of the mate bond I had been firm in my resolve that the less people that knew about Nathan the better especially if soon this could all be over.

“ oh yea they are going to the boutique in a couple of weeks, it’s great you're going with them” Johnny smiled genuinely happy and it was almost like an invisible weight dropped off him, he suddenly looked like a carefree teenager again. Despite the slice of pain from Kelly’s words I couldn’t help but smile back at him.

Mina started tugging on johnny's leg” again! again!” She shouted excited I looked at my watch seeing it was almost five thirty. Crap alpha Mitchell would be wondering where we were. I was surprised he hadn’t mindlinked me already.

“ Not today beautiful, we need to get back daddy will wonder where you are” we had been out here for two hours already and I was sure we would get into trouble.

“ yay daddy daddy, Johnny come see daddy wiv us pweessee!!” Mina jumped up and down in front of Johnny giving him her best puppy dog eyes. She always tried to get Johnny to see Mitchell but after weeks the most they had hung out was when Johnny walked us back to the pack house and Mitchell was waiting for Mina.

“ I cant beautiful girl, I gotta get home but I’ll see you tomorrow at nanny kats and grump grumps” Mina looked momentarily sad but began to beam once she knew she was coming to mom and dads for her usual Friday tea. Johnny bent down to her level curling her brown hair round his fingers.

“ Give uncle Johnny a smooch then monkey” Johnny smiled, Mina opened her arms without hesitation cuddling into him, kissing his cheek. Moments like this I could see how Johnny would be the most amazing dad, he always had time for Mina he never said no to play time no matter how busy or tired he was and even though I’d rather him having a pup with literally anyone else in the pack I knew he was going to be the best dad he could be.

After we left Johnny, Mina and I walked back towards the pack house she was lagging a little now obviously worn out from playing with my brothers wolf, I’d offered to carry her but she had just shook her head saying she wasn’t tired, while she let out the biggest yawn imaginable and I hadn’t been able to hold in my laugh.

The streets were now quiet which I liked though the darker nights were beginning to set in now and the street lights were already on when we got back to the front of the pack house.

As we rounded the corner to head up the steps a figure appeared out of the shadows startling me. Instinctively I grabbed Mina pulling her behind my back. She didn’t say anything but I felt her little body tense against my leg. The person stepped out into the light of the moon illuminating his face slightly he was young maybe a little older than me but not much but then that never meant anything to me I was always terrible at guessing ages and werewolves age was always so hard to tell when we were basically immortal compared to humans and other species.

“ sorry didn’t mean to scare you” the stranger said, almost amused that he had gotten the jump on me. I was a little pissed but I didn’t want to make anything of it in front of Mina especially considering we were already late and I had startled her as well.

“ No problem, have a nice night” my words were polite but I eyed him with suspicion when he seemed to be watching my every movement as he lit a cigarette inhaling deeply like someone who'd been doing it for his entire life. He was dressed all in black from the little I could see of him in this light, he was a typical build for a werewolf male, he seemed more muscular than most however, he looked more like a bodyguard or a bouncer outside a club his blonde hair was shaved so close to his head I could see his scalp and he had a scar running the full length of his face. Everything I could tell from his appearance screamed danger. I pretended to ignore him, scooping Mina up in my arms and carrying her up the steps to the front door, she must have sensed my unease because she buried her face in my jacket to hide.

“ Do you need some help?” He called as I struggled for a moment carrying Mina along with both our bags.

“ No thank you, I'm fine” I said, trying to hide my breathlessness. I didn't want this guy coming too close, I didn’t know him and something felt off about him, something about the way he was watching me. It didn’t help that he was sticking to the shadows so I couldn't make out his entire face either.

“ Are you Alisha by any chance?” Ok, what the f**k. Now I was moving up to shitting myself.how did this guy know my name. I turned back to the guy, noting he’d moved out of the shadows and was stood leaning against the window just to the left of us. His gaze drifted the length of my body, eyeing me like I was a snack, he could see my unease and just smirked. I put my hands against the handle of the door opening it up slightly so the light from inside illuminated the porch, I could hear chatter inside so I knew all I’d have to do is scream and someone would hear. I didn’t want to make a bigger deal of things if it was all my imagination, doctor Wez says I have trust issues. No s**t Sherlock.

“ Do I know you?” I asked frowning, I was trying to get a better look at him but Mina tightened her hold on my neck. “we go now, Ali?” she whispered into my chest, almost nervous. The guy grinned wickedly, taking another step closer as I took one back.

“ not yet, you are exactly how Lucas described you though he said you were a beauty”I blushed at the complement unable to help it the thought of my boyfriend telling people I was beautiful, it wasn’t something I was used to“ and an amazing f**k” the guy sneered.

I pulled a face in disgust covering Mina’s ear with my one free hand, having been completely offended and with no excuse to be polite anymore I turned to leave. I wasn't going to waste another second on this creep. Clutching Mina closer to me I pushed the door open with my hip so I could get inside. Then I felt a body at my back and the stench of smoke became significantly more potent. The creepy guy had his arm raised above my head holding the door open so I could get inside.

“ here let me get that, wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you two lovely ladies now would we” he said too close to my ear and I hurried inside to get away from him my stomach was in knots at the interaction I’d just had with that guy could he really have been a friend of Lucas. I couldn’t imagine it but then there was a lot about Lucas’s life I still didn’t know anything about. I stumbled through the door shaking slightly reeling from so many horrid interactions how crappy could one day get.