The Rejected Traitor

Chapter Four

*LAZARUS*

I have this deep, gut-wrenching need to completely take care of her... From packing her things for her to checking every gash and wound to make sure it has been bandaged and properly taken care of and I honestly have no idea why. I told Malcolm it was because doing the right thing is what everyone should be doing. I have defended her honor since the moment I found her half unconscious on the concrete sidewalk of the school.

I watch her face as some sort of realization hits her.

“Did you say you’re the son of the Alpha?” She asks absentmindedly as I open my car door to help her into the passenger seat. I can’t help the chuckle that vibrates across my lips.

“That was a little while ago, but yes. Did it just hit you?” She nods but doesn’t look at my face directly. She has to be the cutest thing. I lean over her body and I tell myself I just have to see what she smells like as I am buckling her in her seat. Warm apples, caramel, and a cool fall morning. I quickly move and head to my side of the car to get in. I grip the steering wheel so tight, turning my knuckles white and squeezing my eyes shut. I need to think about anything but her. I need to get her off of my mind like this. There is always a possibility she will want her mate. Even if he is a big f*****g dumb ass.

“I will run you to your house to grab the things you wanted to take to the city, and then we will stop at the packhouse and I’ll grab my stuff.” I smile, and she instantly blushes. I wonder what would have happened if she were my mate.

She nods but doesn't say anything. What could she say? Here is the son of the Alpha, the man who has labeled her something without her even doing anything, taking care of her in her time of need. Which she probably hasn’t had in years. I look over at her and she has a few stray tears falling down her cheek, making my heart clench at the sight. This girl has been through too much. “What’s wrong?” I whisper, so as not to frighten her.

“Just thinking. I usually don’t cry when I think but it’s probably from the pain in my head or my side.” She’s lying. That’s okay. She doesn’t have to tell me. Only when she’s comfortable.

“Why is your last name different from your father's?” She asks me, and I can feel the corner of her eyes on me, but she doesn’t make me super aware that she is staring. Cute.

I can feel the heat creeping up my neck into my ears.

“Ahhh. It’s funny I haven’t been asked that. Everyone just assumes Axel is my middle name. How did you know that Axel was my last name?” I ask, never peeling my eyes from the road. Stalling from answering the question.

“Well, I don’t know to be completely honest. But the way it is said it just kind of sounds like a last name.” She shrugs, causing me to laugh. No one has ever paid much attention to the little details. “Well, I’ll tell you one thing about me Melanie, if I get to know one thing about you?” I c**k my eyebrow at her and she just rolls hers seemingly chewing on the inside of her cheek.

“Depends on what you want to know?” She giggles dryly. Prolly thinks I’m one of those dumb jocks that like to hang around me because I’m the Alpha’s son. She probably thinks I’m going to ask her about her virginity, or why she’s not chasing after her mate. I mean I’d like to know if there is a chance she is going to take him back but that’s not what I want to know. “I’ll ask and if you don’t want to answer, I’ll ask something else.” She nods.

“Why do you want to switch packs after graduation?” That question catches her completely off guard. I turned to look at her slightly but she whips her head too quickly, She groans in pain. I park the car on the side of the road, hearing her groan like that causes so many things to swirl within me. Fear, worry, anger. I’m going to f**k them up for what they did. All of them.

“You okay?” I ask, removing her seatbelt, and start to check her over to make sure there is no blood or further pain for her.

“I’m fine.” She sighs, but there is just an overall sadness in Melanie. “But to answer your question. I am the rejected traitor of the Blood Stone Pack. I want to make a name for myself that doesn’t involve being considered trash or a traitor. I want to be considered trustworthy because of who I am, and not be judged for something I didn’t do.” She laughs as if it were a funny, unobtainable dream. I am sure it was news throughout the werewolf world that her parents tried to take out the Alpha of Blood Stone Pack and died in the process. But I am not going to tell her that. No need to add salt to her wounds.

“Well, I don’t want you to go but it does sound nice.” I pause, realizing I just asked a stranger to stay in my pack just because I want her to, and then I decided to answer. “But to answer your question. I decided to make a new name for myself. Something that doesn’t tie me to my father. I took my mother’s maiden name. When I become Alpha of the pack through inheritance I will make so many changes that my father just might die of a stroke.” I laugh, but it sounds fake. She reaches and grabs his hand and rubs it without uttering a word.

“You don’t have to stay with me, Lazarus. I am sure your girlfriend would hate that. I can handle myself, the doctor gave me meds and everything. I don’t want to be a burden to you.” She says lowly as we pull up to the small one bedroom and one bathroom house, or shack to be completely honest. I can’t believe this is where she lives, even people who have committed crimes and come back have nicer houses than this.

She doesn’t give me a chance to say anything to that, but it was cute to watch her wounded scurry out of my car and into the house to grab her things. What is she going to say if I tell her I don’t have a girlfriend? Or that I am staying with her because I want to. Plus no one deserves to be alone through losing their mate, I know that all too well. I see a few people walking by looking at my car. They know it’s mine. They are just wondering what I am doing here. Suddenly my phone dings.

Sorren.

Cute the eyeroll.

‘Some best friend you are. You’re taking my mate out of town? You need to stay as far away from her as possible. I mean it Lazarus’ I growl slightly as Melanie climbs back into the car. And she watches me for just a second as I text him back.

‘A mate you don’t want. And I’m still your best friend. but you’re an i***t for letting her go. And as a free man, I will do whatever she asks me. Even if that makes you mad at me. You don’t know what it’s like to be blessed with a mate and then have them die before you can give them the world. And here you are with a living, breathing, beautiful and strong mate, and you’re throwing her away. So continue to worry about Serafina, and stop texting me about Melanie.’

I throw my phone into the center console and look at Melanie.

“A text from Sorren. He is NOT happy about me taking you out of town. Even tried to order me to stay here and stay away from you.” I chuckle and put the car in drive. Not a chance in hell am I doing that.

“You laugh like it’s the most preposterous thing you’ve ever heard” She giggles.

“Because it is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard.” I feel myself becoming hot all over. Good Goddess. This is going to be one long ass week with a girl who I barely know, who is insanely beautiful and troubled. I am so f****d. I am trying not to like her but every second I have spent with her is proving that impossible.

When we pull up to the packhouse, none other than my best friend is standing at the front with his arms crossed over his chest. The moment that I put this car in park, Sorren is at her door, almost snatching the door from its hinges.

“Get out of this damn car, Melanie. You aren’t going anywhere with Lazarus.” I could feel the anger boiling through my body, setting me on fire. I let out a growl next to her in warning to Sorren but he doesn’t back down. Dumb ass. But fine, we can do this.

“Lazarus, please go and get your things. I will be fine.” She says sweetly. I hesitate but eventually sigh and agree and exit the car, glaring at Sorren that tells him to watch what he does.

I run inside and find a bag and start shoving all of my clean clothes in it. Anything I think I will need for a week. As I walk out of my room, I see a letter on my dresser.

“Not sure why you are taking a liking to a traitor of your own family. But you need to watch your back… Or next time it will be you that is in the hospital. Or worse, with a tombstone matching your mothers.”

I ball up the letter and shove it in my pocket. I don’t have time for this. Sorren is probably harassing Melanie... But as soon as I walk out of the packhouse, I hear her say one last thing through a cracked window.

“One more thing, Sorren. You need to know that you can’t just disregard someone that you know nothing about, off of rumors of events you weren’t there to witness. I am my own person. And I determine how I live my life, not my mate, not my Alpha. Just me. So, remember that the next time you come looking for me. Cause I think this will be the last time we are face to face.” I hear her groan in pain through gritted teeth with tears streaming down her face. Sorren looks defeated but backs away from the vehicle as I climb in with my gym bag.

I reach into the plastic bag the doctor gave us. “Here, take your medicine and lay back and rest. I’ll drive us to the city.” I quickly pull us out of the packhouse and I watch the rearview mirror as Sorren rubs his temple in frustration.

"No one is going to break your heart ever again as long as I am around," I whisper as I see her tear-filled eyes close completely to rest.