ALPHA

-ADIRA-

I watched from the other side of the room as Lucas questioned Rhys. I felt my wolf stir at the thought of her mate. I looked away when I felt his intense gaze on me. It was almost too much.

“So Rhys.” Lucas begins reversing his chair and sat down back on it. I rolled my eyes at his action.

‘This isn’t some action movie Luc. Get on with it.’ I say through the mind link.

Luc didn’t reply but I could see the smirk on his lips “Do you remember what pack you come from?”

Rhys seemed to ponder for a moment and his brows furrowed in thought. “Crimson Pack.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise, the Crimson Pack? How the hell did he get all the way here? The Crimson Pack was located in Colorado at least a thousand miles away. It was easily one of the largest packs in the US, not as large as Windpaw but it was at least the second largest pack.

For a larger pack they were reserved, not many Alpha’s have had the pleasure of visiting the Crimson Pack. They normally kept to themselves and rarely had any problems with any of their allies. From what I heard from my father they were an ally of ours as well.

Lucas hid his surprise and cleared his throat “Well you’re in luck, the Crimson Pack is an ally of ours. We can ring the Alpha up and get you back home.”

My attention was on Lucas in an instant and I gave him an incredulous look which he couldn’t see. What was that little shit doing? Was he trying to send my mate away? What about that damn pep talk he gave me.

A growl left Rhys’ mouth “I’m not leaving my mate.” His intense gaze met mine “Besides, there’s no one to call. The pack is gone.”

“What do you mean the pack is gone?” Lucas demands with a risen brow. My stance grew ridged Goddess above please don’t let him be the cause of that. I did my best to keep my mouth shut knowing Lucas could handle this. Besides with Rhys’ eyes still on me, it would be hard to form proper sentences.

“There was a fire or something of that sort. I can’t remember.” Rhy’s forehead creased once more as he tried to recall what happened “All I know is that the pack is gone and I’m the only one left.”

I felt like the breath was knocked out of me. The Crimson Pack was gone? Why was no one talking about this? Wouldn’t someone know? I knew the answer to that, no. With a pack as reserved as them, no one would know if something tragic did happen.

“What about your Alpha? Is he gone too?” Lucas questioned, his eyes were hard. The thought of losing a pack that large frightened him, who or what could have done it?

Rhys’ eyes moved to Lucas with a hard glare “I'm the Alpha.”

I paced outside of the room Rhys was kept in, Natalia, Selene, and Lucas watched me warily. “Are you sure?” I asked once more.

Lucas sighed “Yes Ad, he is the Alpha of the Crimson Pack. All his information is in here” He had a file in his hand and held it out for me. I snatched the papers from his hand and began to read through.

Alpha Rhys Carson

Age: 27 Years

Mating Status: Unmated

There was more background information that I didn’t bother reading. I had everything I needed. I groaned at the realization of my situation and shoved the papers back at Lucas who took them with a glare. “What now?” Natalia asked holding her clipboard to her chest”He’s your mate Ad.”

“I know that.” I snapped back earning a scowl from my sister. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. My mate is an Alpha. How was I supposed to handle this? Was it even possible for two Alphas to be mated? These questions ran through my mind before I let out a growl of frustration. “He’ll stay here until he recovers, we’ll figure out the rest later.”

“Let him join the warriors.” Lucas suggests “It’ll help him build his strength back up and maybe he can help train.”

“That’s my job, Luc.” Selene scowled in his direction.

Lucas chucked nervously “I’m just saying, having an Alpha might help with training.”

Selene glared in his direction “Oh so my training isn’t good enough?” She demanded. Lucas began to sputter out words trying to dig himself out of the hole he just created. Selene merely rolled her eyes and turned to me

“I think you should go in and talk to him Adira.” She suggests making me raise a brow “The poor guy must be going crazy.” So my sister who still didn’t accept her mate was trying to make me accept my mate. Typical Selene.

I frowned but agreed with a sigh “Fine, but you all stay out here and I come out.”

Not waiting for a response I blew out a breath and turned and made my way into the room my mate awaited me. I felt my heart begin to beat wildly. ‘It’s alright Adira, you can do this.’

The first thing that hit me was his scent. Pure masculinity and a bit of pine. It was mouth watering. My wolf yipped in my head, I could feel her happiness at the thought of our mate. We both have waited so long for him. Would it be worth it? Would he see me the same way my father did? Would he accept me as an Alpha?

“Adira” His deep voice made a shiver run down my spine. I gulped and looked over to the bed where Rhys was now uncuffed. His broad shoulder took up most of the width of the bed and his legs laid over off the edge. He was massive.

His long blonde hair seemed to have a little more life to it and his beard was a bit more tamed but not by much. He still looked weak. My eyes trailed over his face admiring his strong facial features from his chiseled jawline to his full lips. There was no doubt that he was handsome, way more attractive than I could have pictured my mate to be. The epitome of a man.

“Come here, mate.” He gruffs out offering his hand out to me.

Without a second thought, I put my hand in his and gasped when I felt the small shocks as our hands connected. I knew he felt it too because a low growl escaped his mouth and he tugged me closer.

“I have waited so long for you.” He says quietly looking at me as if he couldn’t believe I was really there.

You and me both buddy.

His hands moved up to push a piece of hair away from my face and cupped my cheek “Mine.”

I leaned into his large hand feeling comfortable with his touch. This was so unfamiliar to me. I was never one to be affectionate with the opposite sex, to be fair, I never had time for relationships. My teenage years were full of training and lessons. A part of me wished I was able to experience what it was like to be a normal teenager and get some experience but the other part was thankful for my training. It made me who I am today.

“You are so beautiful.” He continues never taking his eyes off of me.

I felt my cheeks redden at his words. Beautiful. It wasn’t a term I was used to hearing but to hear it from my mate was heavenly. I think I could do this.

“How are you feeling?” I question moving to side on the side of the bed but kept our hands intertwined.

“Better.” He simply replied, “Your sister is a good nurse.”

“She is. She cares for her patients very thoroughly.” I say feeling a bit distracted by his touch. I cleared my throat nervously “So it was decided that you can stay here. We need more warriors and Lucas thinks you’ll fit in well.”

“I was planning on staying regardless.” The amusement was evident in his voice “I finally found you Adira and you won’t get rid of me so easily. Will you have me?”

I smiled back and nodded my head shyly. I internally groaned. What the hell was this man doing to me? I wasn’t a shy girl by any means but here I am sitting at his side and batting my eyelashes like a damn fool.

His lips twitched up and he leaned forward bringing our lips together for a quick kiss. My eyes widened once again before I began to kiss back. Rhys leaned back in his bed with a satisfied smile before his face turned serious again “Now where is your Alpha, I’d like to thank him for allowing me to stay in the pack. What was his name again? Lucas?”

I chuckled and shook my head “Lucas is the Beta, my Beta in fact.”

Rhys rose a brow in confusion “Your beta?”

I tilting my head up in confidence I nodded “I’m the Alpha of the Ash Pack.”

I was expected to be met with a look of pride on his face, for him to be excited to have such a powerful she-wolf as a mate. Except I was met with laughter. I felt my heart shatter at the deep chuckles that escaped his mouth. “What’s so funny?” I demanded with a glare.

His laughter ceased and he looked at me in amusement “Little one, you cannot be Alpha. I know of the Ash Pack’s leader, Emilio Angelo has led this pack for years.”

Sadness came over me at the mention of my father, it was always painful to talk about him “He was my father. He passed a week ago.”

“I’m sorry.” He apologizes putting a hand on my cheek trying to ease my grief. “So you are truly the Alpha?”

“Yes, I am.”

Rhys nodded and thought for a moment before a look of determination came over his face “Very well mate. I will take care of this, you will no longer need to carry the weight of the pack on your shoulders.”

Alarm bells went off in my head and I stood to my feet in utter shock. “Wait. I’m sorry, what?”

He rose a brow “Adira, being an Alpha is a difficult positioning requires to be led by an Alpha male. You will serve as my luna as all she-wolves do.”

This fucking asshole.

“I don’t think you understand Rhys.” I sneered in his direction. He looked taken back for a moment before his face hardened “I am the Alpha and I don’t plan on relinquishing my title any time soon.”

Rhys glared “I don’t think you understand the qualifications it takes to run a pack Adira, all the pressure and the weight knowing an entire community is under your leadership. I have done this for years. You will do as I say Adira.”

Oh hell no.

“This was a mistake,” I muttered in anger stepping back away from the bed. Rhys’ glared faltered before it was replaced with a look of fear. I couldn’t sympathize him though, he was the one who started this. He didn’t believe in me. “You’re just like the rest of them. A sexist bastard who can’t even give me a chance.”

I turned around and stormed out of the room slamming the door behind me. I could hear him shouting my name from inside the room. I could feel my heart shattering the further I walked, I was able to push away the anger I felt towards my pack members who didn’t believe in me. But having my mate not think I could handle this hurt to no extent.

“Woah, Woah, woah, Ad, what happened?” Lucas race over to my side trying to get me to stop for a moment. I was too angry and heartbroken to deal with this.

“I was right as usual Luc. He laughed in my face when I told him I was the Alpha.” I halted my steps and felt my eyes water in anger but blinked back the tears. No, I would not cry. Not in front of Lucas.

Lucas put a hand to my cheek, I frowned realizing it didn’t hold the same sense of comfort that it did before. Before he touched me. “I’m sorry Adira. Maybe it was a misunderstanding?” He tried to reason. Sweet Lucas always trying to see the silver lining in mates.

“It wasn’t” I replied stepping away from him and tilting my chin up. I am an Alpha, a leader, I cannot show weakness. “Get a room ready for him, he will be joining the warriors once he recovers. I will be in my room, do not let anyone up there.”

With that, I raced upstairs to my room. The instructions were clear, I wanted Rhys as far away from me as possible.

This mate thing was utter shit.