The Duty of an Alpha (Book 2)

Cookout

Chapter 4

Roman POV*

It had been months since I had faced Arden on the steps of her packhouse and found out she was my second chance mate.

When she had first showed up in my life, Arden had so much going on, and I was still grieving from losing Alice. Alice and I hadn’t been mates long, but the bond we had was strong, and when she died, I almost lost myself.

Arden and I had brought change and peace into each other’s lives when we needed it most. Once we learned about the generational bond and what it did for us, we gave into the deep comfort that we felt around each other. Arden quickly became my closest friend, and we shared everything with each other.

However, when we stood across from each other, we both froze. Neither of us were prepared to face having a second chance mate. Alice had died when I couldn’t protect her, and Arden had to kill her mate to protect herself and her pack.

When we talked in her office, everything was awkwardly laid out in the open. I didn’t know how to look or talk to her, and it seemed like she was feeling the same.

I couldn’t leave my pack behind. My mother had built Silver Creek Pack from nothing and made it into what it was. So, leaving my pack, my legacy, was out of the question. And Arden had important changes to be made in Ash River. Changing the name was a start, but her pack members needed her to understand that progressive views don’t equal bad.

I left her, knowing it was for the best. No matter how much pain I had still felt over failing my previous mate, walking away from Arden hurt deeper than I could have ever imagined. The idea of rejecting Arden was unthinkable, and even the slightest mention of rejection sent Jaxon into a rage.

After getting back to Silver Creek, I had locked myself in my office for almost a week. Even when Sita returned and tried to get me to talk to her, nothing mattered. I knew my pack would be well taken care of while I sulked, and so I just threw myself into paperwork, ignoring everything else.

Jaxon had been withdrawn, occasionally entreating me to reach out to Arden, but no matter how much I cared and loved her, it was too much for me to even think about.

Every night, I ran the pack grounds, trying not to remember how often I had run and played with Arden. Over the last few months, I had found myself at the creek more often that I wanted, thinking of the first night I had brought her there. That was the night I shared the last of my secrets with her, the night I let her in completely. It was where I found myself this night. Thinking of how much I missed her.

You didn’t let her all the way in. Jaxon interrupted my thoughts. If you had, we would be with our mate. You would have accepted her.

It was a common occurrence lately. Jaxon was constantly pointing out that we needed her, that I was the one keeping us away from our mate.

I know you want her, but it isn’t the right time. I argued. Her pack needs her. I need my pack.

You NEED her! Jaxon urged, making me want to push him away.

I know, you jack ass. I need both my pack and her. I cried out. I need her more than anything. She is the one I have shared the deepest parts of me. I have bared my soul, told her everything, gave her my trust. But I can’t! I can’t give up my pack. I’m a damn Alpha, I have to be here. I have to take care of them.

She is more important. He urged, whining in the back of my head.

I was about to answer, but my phone rang from the pocket of the shorts I had throw to the side.

“Hello?”

“Alpha! They’ve been attacked!” Teo’s voice rang through in a panic. “Get here, please!”

**

Arden POV**

As soon as we arrived to the cookout, Teo ran off to find his mate.

I couldn’t blame him. He had always been such a romantic, and Ashton was 23, meaning he had been waiting on his mate for years. They were adorable together, and I wouldn’t ever want to separate happy mates.

I would have seemed ironic how much I respect their mate bond, yet shunned my own, but it was easier to ignore it. Instead, I just walked around the cookout, slowly siphoning off energy from the giddiness and joy that flowed around the packhouse.

I couldn’t help but be on edge, since somewhere in me, I felt that something was wrong. I thought that it would happen during the Gathering, but even after the stunt that the men pulled on Katie, my gut told me that there was something wrong.

I walked around, talking to pack members, and putting on a smile, despite how I felt. A lot of the she-wolves had warmed up to me. They gathered around, easing my anxiety by showing acceptance. Many of them had come forward over abuse that they had suffered, and I did all I could to help. Most of them still had a long way to go, but were making progress in the best way they could. It made me happy to hear that many of them were excited to start training with Katie.

The night progressed without too many complications. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and I rarely felt the normal animosity that I was used to from the older pack members. Once the food was done and the drinking started, it was hard not to succumb to the joy that was going around.

A bonfire was roaring, and there was music and dancing. Some of the pack had shifted and were playing tag or rolling around. I sat with my friends beside the fire, watching and laughing at the wolves as they played.

I had also completely relaxed, but the gut feeling hit harder. I jumped up from my chair, hoping to see what was wrong, and siphoned an extra boost of energy. My friends looked at me like I was crazy, until the link came in.

ROGUES! A voice rang through the pack link, instantly sobering everyone. East patrol is under attack! We can’t see how many there are!

The link broke off, and panic started to set in for the more unexperienced pack members. I drew power to my voice to call out and calm them.

“Families! Take your children home, don’t leave your houses!” I boomed in my Alpha voice. “If you don’t feel comfortable going that far, you are free to hole up in the pack house while we take care of the threat!”

There was a lot of movement as nearly all of them decided to stay in the pack house. Children were being ushered inside, and women who were clearly not used to being in this situation were holding back tears.

“I need any warriors who feel sober enough to fight!” I called out to the remaining people. “If you aren’t sober, don’t put yourself or others at risk by trying to fight anyway.”

I turned to face my friends, all of who had already shifted with the exception of Ashton and Teo. They were arguing about whether Teo should join or not.

“Teo you are staying here. We will need someone to stitch people up if anyone gets hurt.” I made the decision for them, and instantly shifted and took off for the eastern border.

Nearly 20 wolves thundered behind me, all prepared to fight to save our pack. It took 5 minutes at full speed to reach the patrol that was attacked. It was longer than I was comfortable with, and the reason became apparent when we arrived, seeing one of the patrol members torn to shreds, and the other barely breathing.

We pounced the second the rogues were in view, each person partnering up to take down a rogue. I could only sense 9 rogues in the area, and my pack was taking them down quickly. I went after the one who was about to tear the throat out of my patrol guy, quickly tackling him before he could sink his teeth in to his neck.

He was stronger than I had expected, since most rogues are scavengers who barely survive. But it was only a shock for a second. No matter how strong he was, I was easily stronger. I could feel the perverse happiness coming off him, having just killed one of my pack members, and I siphoned as much as I could take. Before he even knew what had hit him, I ripped his head from his body with my teeth.

I faced the rest of the fight, and could see that there was only one rogue left. Knowing he didn’t stand a chance against the number of wolves that had come with me, I shifted back and ran over to check on the surviving patrolman. I noticed it was James, one of the few in the older generation of wolves that didn’t hate me.

He looked bad enough for me to question if he would make it back to the pack hospital, and I was regretting not letting Teo join us. He had been studying under Nela at his pack for a while, and had a natural gift for healing people.

I heard the fighting stop, but I just held James’ hand. The overflow of energy that I had siphoned buzzed through me, and I tried to will some to him, hoping it would allow him to survive long enough to make it back. Half of the others who came with me returned to the pack under Andrea’s orders, while a few were directed to scout in different directions to be sure all threats were taken care of.

“Ashton!” I heard Teo yell, making me lift my head from the dying man in front of me. Teo ran past me, kneeling on the ground next to his mate. “I could feel your pain! How bad is it?”

Ashton had taken a swipe to his ribs, and was dripping blood.

“I’m fine, love.” He reassured him quietly. “Look I’m already healing.”

“Teo!” I yelled, dragging his attention away from his mate. “He’s fine, but James needs you. Come here.”

Teo sprang into action, shifting abruptly from doting, worried mate to medical professional. I stepped back and let him work on James. Looking around to make sure no one else needed any help, I tried to figure out what was next.

“Ashton. Who do you have available to take over patrol?” I asked, focusing on the most important thing first.

“I’ll call in Jake and Kyler.” He answered before mind linking them.

I was about to ask him to double patrols when my senses picked up another scent. Out of nowhere, a large brown wolf attacked Marcus from behind. On instinct, I pushed the excess energy straight at the wolf, and he disintegrated instantly in the purple and blue flames.

I ran over to Marcus, but it was too late. The rogue had snapped his neck before I could save him. Marcus may have been loyal to Robbie, but his loyalties were to his Alpha, meaning he had been extremely loyal to me since I had taken over.

“Shit.” I whispered and dropped my head. “Ok, as soon as the replacement gets here, I’ll take Marcus’s body back.” I stood up and dusted my hands against my bare thighs. “Everyone else, help Teo get James back to the infirmary. Ashton, double the patrols for the rest of the night. When the others come back from scouting, I’ll send them to the pack house. Andrea, take Amanda to my office. I know she felt the mate bond break, so she will be inconsolable, but I will handle it when I get back.”

Everyone jumped into action, following orders without question. I sat down next to Marcus’s body, and focused on the surrounding area, being absolutely sure that there were no more threats.

What had started as a fun night for the pack, turned into the loss of two pack members, and possibly a third if James didn’t pull through.