The Queen Of Tricks

The Alpha's Mate

She was infuriating.

From the moment I saw her I knew she was going to be trouble. The way she had moved between wolves, dodging their attacks, it made my heart stop in my chest. Yet, she had avoided every single one of them with a lethal grace.

It was the first football game I was attending since I had become Alpha. I was going to support my pack, but instead I was distracted by the smell of a summer breeze on a chilly fall afternoon. The smell had my wolf going crazy.

Then I saw her. She was small, smaller than all the other wolves on the field. Her body was toned, muscle that was earned. Her long shaded brown hair pulled into a loose ponytail. The almost pink glow of her skin. The small button nose. Her full lips curved into a wicked little smirk with blazing blue eyes.

I, and everyone else around, were mesmerised watching her play.

I never wanted a mate. Mates were too much of a distraction. I couldn't afford to lose my focus on the pack. I needed to focus on healing them, not wooing some female.

When I saw her, something changed.

I knew the mating bond would not be easily ignored, but she was even harder to ignore. I know that if we didn't have the mating bond I would definitely still be interested in the hotheaded female.

I had watched her from the tree line as she had gotten her first touchdown. I wanted to cheer for her, I was going to claim her right then and there. Then she hugged the other Alpha. I wanted to rip him apart.

It took all of my self-control not to go storming on that field to my mate. I tried to calm down before I went to talk to her. The last thing I wanted was to scare her.

But when she was tackled. My self-control was shredded as the giant wolf threw her to the ground. I was willing to kill anything or anyone that dared hurt her, and pulverise anyone that got in between us. Only to find that she was the one that would get in between us.

Her fearing me was the least of my concerns.

So far, every time we were close to each other she wanted to rip my insides apart. I could not understand why she was so stubborn about ignoring our mating bond.

Every chance she got she rejected the idea of us being mates. Running away from me by the hour. She was willing to jump out of a moving car just to get away from me.

I spent all night pacing back and forth in front of her door. When she was asleep or... awake. I stood in front of her door making sure no one entered. Not even me.

When she wasn't sleeping I heard her yelling, screaming, and cursing. Cursing at me.

It took every ounce of will power not to go charging into that room and demand she calm down and accept the mating bond. Something told me that was a bad idea.

I only left her door once. After our disagreement and her trying everything she could to convince me to let her leave. After I left her in the room. After she had swore and cursed me from the underworld and back. After I had thought she went back to sleep.

"We're here Cassar," Gage said through our pack link. He was having a hard time finding someone who knew and was willing to share information on my mate. He eventually found someone.

I glared at the door that was separating my mate and I. A necessary separation, but that did not mean I had to like it.

I turned around, giving a final look at Harlen who stood beside the door. One of the only wolves I would trust with my new mate.

"She'll be fine." Harlen's determined expression to protect my mate was the only thing that allowed me to leave the door.

Because of the trust that was forged between the two of us from many scars, but also because I knew Harlen had already taken a liking to my mate.

In only a couple of hours, my mate had been able to melt some of Harlen's icy walls she surrounded herself with. Doing something that took me years. She did it in one conversation, a head nod, and some fancy footwork.

Harlen chose the people she surrounded herself with carefully, and already she was putty in the small females hand. I knew it the second my mate gave Harlen a look of camaraderie. A look Harlen exchanged. A look I already feared. Who knew what my firecracker mate and the fierce warrior would be capable of together.

When I saw it I felt a pang of jealousy for my best warrior. In such a short time she had won a friendship with my mate. In an even shorter time I had won only hatred from her.

"Thank you," I said before I left knowing my mate was in good hands.

I left the house and quickly shifted. The sooner we got this over with the sooner I could listen to my mate through the door again.

I ran for 10 minutes before I got to my destination. No one outside my pack would be allowed to know the exact location of our packhouse. It was too dangerous. Every meeting I had was somewhere in my territory.

I shifted back into my human form throwing on a pair of pants that were hidden in various places in our territory. I walked out of the tree line seeing Gage with the female wolf and a few of the packs warriors. She was shaking in fear.

I had no idea who my mate was. She seemed to have appeared out of thin air. I kept tabs on all the important packs and the surrounding packs. Yet, she had completely avoided my knowledge. Until today.

My mate was not telling me anything about herself. If she wasn't going to tell me who she was then I would need to figure it out on my own.

I walked to the female with the two braids. She was the only one in her pack that would agree to meet with me. The only one brave enough to meet me even after hearing the stories my name brought. It was almost impressive. Even if she was shaking out of her boots.

I didn't bother with pleasantries. She knew why she was here. I refused to allow my pack to ask any questions for me. I wanted to be the first to know about my own mate.

"Who is she?" At the sound of my voice the girl visibly gulped, but she still held her head high. Or as high as an omega would dare in the presence of an Alpha.

"I-I don't know much about her Alpha C-Cassar." She stuttered.

Annoyance flared inside me. A deep growl releasing from my chest. "You said you spent hours with her today."

My voice came out harsh. The girl flinched.

"I'm sorry, I tried telling your warriors, but they didn't listen. I'm sorry." She quivered.

I took a deep breath. "What do you mean?"

"I tried to tell them that I don't know much about her-" I cut her off

"No. What do you mean you do not know." I knew my eyes were black. My wolf wanted to go to my mate. I wanted this meeting over. Who knows what my mate was doing behind that door.

"Oh, sorry." She looked down at the ground. "I mean, she talks a lot-"

I growled at the insult. She gulped nervously.

"It's not bad. I don't mean anything against her. She is very nice." She waved her hands showing she meant no harm. "It's just she talks a lot without actually saying anything. Just says words. No meaning behind them. I didn't notice until your warriors asked us who she was."

I looked her over. She was telling the truth. "What do you know about her?"

She took a big gulp of air, readying her information. My stomach tighten in anticipation. I would finally know who my mate is.

"Her name is V, and-" I growled cutting her off again.

"What is her name?" My eyes blinked.

"V." She dared to raise her eyes to me. As soon as she saw them she stared back at the ground. Gage stepped closer to our conversation sensing my irritation. He had been patiently listening a few feet over.

"That's it?" Gage asked from beside me.

She nodded her head. She looked Gage in the eyes. This was our trick. I played bad cop, he was the good cop. It was effective.

"I don't know what the V stands for. If I did I would tell you." She assured us.

I believed her. "What else do you know."

"She's from Ontario. I don't know what pack. She was thinking of joining ours. I don't know why. Her uncle is our Beta though."

My head perked up at that. "The Beta?"

"Yeah, but I don't know how. If it's from his blood or his mates. That's what I mean she talks a lot. Someone asked, but I don't remember her ever answering." That was information I could pocket away. I needed to remember that if I ever wanted to learn more about her.

"Is that all?" My voice was calm, but I was anything but. Thanks to the mating bond I could feel my mate stirring from inside the room.

"Last thing," The female risked another glance at my face. "she doesn't shift."

I didn't let the disappointment show on my face. Growing up whenever I had thought about my mate, I had pictured us running beside each other. In our wolf forms. Unfortunately I would never be able to experience that now.

It didn't stop me from wanting her as my mate. I knew that not being able to shift didn't make someone weaker. They just had a slight disadvantage which was easily worked around. I had seen that enough times from the females in my own pack.

Besides a mate was your perfect match. Your other half. Someone chosen for you by the Queen herself. A gift from the Moon Goddess. A bright light in the dark world of the Unknown. Your equal.

Only a few shifters had mates. The other shifters had something close to mates, but no shifters bond worked the same.

For wolves, we were given one mate. In our entire life you only had one bond. A lot of wolves never found their mate. When a bond was found, it was cherished, protected, loved. Respected by all wolves.

No other shifter had a bond that was so strong. So consuming. Only wolves could understand.

It took over all your senses. Your mates smell would be the most intoxicating scent. Every time a mate saw them, they wouldn't be able to focus on anything else. Their voice, would be so soothing and so maddening at the same time. Their touch, it sent shivers down a mates spine.

It was the feeling deep in your gut that blew it all out of the water. The feeling of need, want, love. A wolf would do anything to protect their mate from harm. Do anything to keep their mate happy. Do anything to keep their mate near them.

My mate, V, ignored the bond. Pretended like it didn't even exist. It was enraging. I did not care if it took a lifetime. I would make her acknowledge the bond.

"Cassar, You should get back here." I heard Harlen from the pack link.

Without goodbyes I turned around shifting while in motion. I ran back to the pack house. To my mate.

As soon as I entered the house I heard my mate roaring. She was pissed. I was thankful none of the wolves lived in the packhouse. I wasn't sure what my mate was capable of and I did not want them getting caught in the crossfire.

I ran up the stairs to the bedrooms that lined the fourth floor. When I turned down the hallway I saw two of my warriors barricading the door. As if she would break it down.

She was back to cursing and swearing, cursing me to a short life of misery. Along with everyone else that was forcing her to stay here.

For such a small individual she sure knew how to pack a punch. I knew from experience. I now had a scar to prove it.

"What do you want us to do?" Harlen asked standing in front of the door. She had a smile on her face as she eyed up the door that was being pounded on from the other side. Harlen was impressed.

I ran a hand through my hair. Truth was I didn't know what to do. Did I go in there? Ask her to calm down? Demand her to calm down?

I don't think demanding would help the situation. From previous experience it hasn't gone too well for me.

"Leave her." I finally decided. "She will calm down on her own. She can't do much damage from behind the door."

I had told her I would talk to her in the morning, what kind of Alpha would I be if I went against my word?

So we waited. For the rest of the night we listened to her rage. Every wolf that guarded the door was afraid of the little female behind it. Including me.

Eventually she did calm down. It only took three hours.

I continued to wait. I waited until sunrise. As soon as the sun had touched the top of the house, I bolted for the door. To see what my mate had been doing behind that door.

When I finally walked inside, there was only one thought going through my mind. "What the hell?"

Everything was destroyed. From the Queen sized mattress that was no longer a mattress, to the lightbulbs that used to be attached to the ceiling. Some of the walls had holes in them, parts of the floorboards were ripped up. I couldn't even find the remnants of the rocking chair. Even the bullet proof glass had a crack in it. Apparently she could do a lot of damage from behind the door.

I inspected the room when I smelt blood. I froze. Instinctively I started inspecting my mate.

She was sitting crossed legged on the ground in the middle of the mess. The only clean part of the room was the small circle she sat in. Her hands were balled resting on her knees. They were dripping red.

I ran over to her seeing the blood all over the ground. I grabbed her by the shoulders shaking her small body. She sat so still I wasn't sure if she was even breathing.

She did not open her eyes, but she did let out a soft growl.

She was fine.

I inspected her body to find where the blood was coming from. I picked up her hands. Cracked and bruised with little pieces of glass embedded in her skin.

I looked around the room for the source of the glass. The mirror that sat on the now demolished vanity was gone. Small pieces now littered the floor around us. She must have punched it when she was working.

I gently grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up. She swayed slightly on her feet. Her eyes finally flickering open. She was exhausted. Half asleep.

She had deep bags under her eyes. Her once clear sky blue eyes were bloodshot and cloudy. Her eyes kept drifting closed.

How much effort did it take to destroy a room?

I knew I needed to get her out of the bedroom. Away from something else that could hurt her.

Slowly I grabbed her around the waist and picked her up in my arms like she was a child so she couldn't step on anything sharp. Her eyes shot open as she growled in protest. She moved her arms to bring them down to my back hitting me. She was so exhausted her hits felt more like a pat on the back.

"I am getting you out of this room," I whispered softly to her half sleep-state. "Where did your shoes go?"

Her shoes and socks were gone leaving her in bare feet. Thankfully no blood dripped from them.

Either too tired to fight, or she was just happy to finally be out of the room she stopped hitting me. Resting her arms on my shoulder she gave me a weak smile. "Hell. Maybe you'll see them when you get there."

I rolled my eyes. Removing anything that blocked my path to the door.

"Don't touch my art." She grumbled at me.

"We have two very different ideas about art," I told her, still amazed at her work. She had been busy.

"That's what makes art so special, it's all about perspective." She closed her eyes as she spoke.

Walking through the door, I motioned for the guards to leave. Harlen was the last to leave. Looking between me and V's bloody hands.

"Get her stuff from the Algoren Pack house." I told Harlen through the pack link. I used the pack link so the female in my arms would not start fighting me on getting her things herself again. I did not feel like round five of embarrassment in front of my pack. "Take one of the fighters with you."

Harlen gave me a look, but nodded leaving for the front door. Harlen was my best warrior. She would normally not need any backup, but the Algoren Pack had a rogue sighting the night before, and they had not been able to take care of it. It was better to be safe than sorry.

At the sound of Harlen's footprints, V started to stir. She looked around with dazed eyes. "Put me down."

I wanted to growl at her for ordering me around. I had not known her long, but I knew that would be asking for a fight.

Setting her on the ground she wobbled again. I kept my arms on her shoulders to steady her. She pushed my arms away when she was firmly planted on the ground.

I saw her eyes slowly dart around our surroundings. I knew the look that crossed her face, she was looking for a way out. I put my hand on the small of her back trying to lead her to the kitchen.

Our packhouse was big. It had to be to fit so many wolves. Though most of my wolves lived in their own houses that were placed all around the territory, only Harlen, Gage, and I lived here.

I walked her down a couple of flights of stairs and brought her to the large marbled kitchen. She barely struggled against my lead, except for trying to wiggle out of my grip and digging her feet into the ground to stop herself from moving. But she didn't hit me this time.

I gently pushed her forward whenever she refused to move. I was a good foot and some taller than her, and twice the size of her. Between our size difference and her exhaustion it was not hard to direct her to the kitchen.

I walked her over to one of the silver stools that lined the island that was in the middle of the kitchen. I patted on the chair signalling for her to sit on it.

Of course she just crossed her arms and stuck her hip out, not listening to me. I rolled my eyes but quickly grabbed her around the waist and forced her to sit on the damned stool.

She shouted in protest, but she didn't move once she was sitting. I opened the first aid kit that was beside us. As soon as I had seen the blood I had ordered one of the warriors to grab it so I could fix her hands.

I grabbed some disinfectant, a towel, a pair of tweezers, some bandages. V watched me closely as I pulled out the supplies. I sat in the stool across from her, lowering it enough that I was at eye level with her.

When I moved to grab one of her hands she pulled them both away from me.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked me.

"Pulling the glass out, what do you think?" I tried to grab one of her hands again.

She pulled them out of my reach, linking them behind her back. "I can do it myself."

"How? Which bloody hand are you going to use to pull the glass out from the other bloody hand?" I raised an brow at her, putting my hand out for her to put hers into it.

She stared at me. She tried to decide what she would do. Eventually she rolled her big blue eyes and gave me her hands. My own hands looked giant surrounding hers. She squirmed as the tweezers came closer to her hands.

Carefully I attached them to one of the pieces that was embedded between her knuckles.

As I pulled it out she hissed in pain, and pulled her hand away. "That hurts."

"It wouldn't hurt so bad if you didn't move so much." I grumbled at her, pulling her hand closer.

"It wouldn't hurt so much if you let me do it myself." She grumbled right back.

"It's nice to know that exhaustion does not make you any less stubborn," I mumbled more to myself.

She frowned at me, her lips pouting, in defiance. "I'm not stubborn."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure you're not."

"I'm not." Her cloudy eyes still burned with fire.

"Then let me take these pieces of glass out without you complaining." I smirked knowing I had tricked her.

She huffed but didn't remove her hands, or complain about it. From the corner of my eye I watched she scan the kitchen. It was a restaurant styled kitchen, big enough to make enough food for my entire pack. For once, the kitchen was quite. Not another wolf in the house.

She was staring at something across the room. Staring long enough to gain my attention. I looked over my shoulder and cringed.

Across the room sat a set of butcher knives that were left on display. I couldn't imagine what thoughts were going through her head on how she would use them. On me most likely.

I turned back to face her. She noticed that I had caught her and in a blink, her scowling face turned into an angelic grin. Angelic fake grin I bet.

I needed to distract her before she decided to put her plan into action.

"Do you know what Viribus means?" I asked her. I wanted to tell her all about my pack, our history, the changes it had gone through, the changes we were going through. If she would let me.

"Strength." She answered quietly. "In the old language."

I was surprised she knew. Even more surprised that she chose to answer me.

"You know the old language?" I couldn't help but ask. Not many did these days. That was why it was called the old language.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Enough."

"Do you know what Algoren means?"

"Support." She looked like she was ready to fall asleep. Even through the pain as I plucked more and more glass from her skin.

"Where did you learn the old language?" I glanced at her face. Watching to see how much pain she was in. I did not want her to be in any. Even if I had accidentally pushed her into a rock.

She just shrugged her shoulders in reply.

"What does your pack's title mean?" I hoped she wouldn't notice the real question, what pack was she from.

She shrugged her shoulders again. Not bothering to answer.

I finished picking the glass out of her hand, putting disinfectant on her already healing scratches. They wouldn't scar. Shifters do not scar easily.