Controlled 2: Loving An Alpha Male

by S. K. Lessly

  Rinic paused and spread his arms in front of himself as if his words were on display. “Do you see the benefits of you waiting? If you wait, it will make both of you and this pack safe from enemies. And think about this. Someone has taken Nyla from her family. That we know for sure. So, this person is just waiting in the shadow for some clueless wolf to claim her. This is what I need you to think about. There is someone out there waiting for you to claim Nyla. It’s very possible that they are waiting for the moment you become too weak to defend yourself. That’s when they will attack you and this pack.”

  Silence enveloped the room after that. Everyone sat there deep in thought, each digesting Rinic's words in their own way. But it was Deacon who broke the quiet.

  “What will happen if AP claims Nyla during her transition? Like if she had already started shifting or something.”

  All eyes zeroed in on Rinic, waiting for the man to speak. Consequently, he didn’t right away. He had no clue how to answer that question. He had been trying to find the answer to that very question for days now. It had been the reason why he hadn’t come forward with what he knew about Nyla sooner. Hell, the only reason why he was here was at the insistence of Cedric. If he had any say in the decision, he would have waited until he had all of the answers to his questions before coming to Andrew with what he had.

  Rinic sighed, knowing that his silence was causing everyone to become even more on edge, especially Andrew. Rinic looked over at Deacon and shook his head. “I don’t know what will happen and it seems that I'm not the only one. I have asked around, hoping that someone had full knowledge of hybrids and their mating process and unfortunately no one knows for sure what will happen. Some say nothing and others say the hybrid would die from the venom of the bite. We just don’t know. This is why I only presented two options.” Rinic addressed Andrew directly. “Do you see why I caution you? You have to be smart about this—”

  “And wait to claim her,” Andrew finished.

  Rinic nodded. “Yes. Wait to claim her.”

  “But as I sit around and wait, she’s in jeopardy of being killed. Am I right? I mean, we don’t know when she’s going to shift. You can’t tell me when it’s supposed to happen. It could be today, it could be tomorrow or months or years from now. We don’t know. But when she does, she’ll be susceptible to anyone getting to her and harming her.”

  Rinic nodded solemnly. “Yes, you are correct. But that’s a risk you need to take. Let me stress to you, Andrew, that during her shift it will be nearly impossible for you to resist her. And you cannot claim her during her transition. There are just too many uncertainties that I haven’t had the chance to explore.”

  “Rinic, I don’t give two shits what you didn’t explore. It doesn’t matter if I claim her before, during, or after she shifts. I’m not leaving her for the fucking wolves. She has a daughter. If someone kills Nyla, Se’Nya would be all alone or she could be in jeopardy as well.”

  Rinic sighed. “I’m not saying leave her vulnerable, but you just can’t be involved. You already have your brothers watching her back and her daughter. Let them continue to do their jobs,” Rinic countered, but Andrew's head was already shaking.

  “No way am I going to just sit idly by or hide away somewhere like a coward while my brothers protect what belongs to me. What you seem to not understand is that Nyla is already bonded to me. I don’t need to claim her to know if something were to happen to her I would not only lose it, but I would rain fire and brimstone on anyone that laid a hand on her. Believe me, no one would survive and no one on this earth would be able to stop me. So, this bullshit-ass plan of yours to keep me away from her needs re-evaluated and now. I will not leave her side. That shit will not happen.”

  Andrew rested his monstrous gaze on each and every one sitting in his living room. He wanted them to know just how serious he was with his declaration. When he brought his eyes back to Rinic, his blood was boiling in his veins. His jaw muscles twitched uncontrollably, his body stiff as a board. The beast in him began to stir, his eyes evident of that fact as they began to turn to their natural color. The rage in him was threatening to suffocate everyone in this room if someone didn’t calm him down.

  Rinic, seeing the transformation in his Alpha, took a deep breath and tried to relax his own self. Andrew was a powder keg waiting for something or someone to light his fuse, which was why he hadn’t come here alone. However, the look in his eyes, the downright violent storm brewing in Andrew was enough for him to realize he needed to do exactly what his Alpha had asked of him.

  “All right, let’s do just that.” Rinic looked at Stevie. “Have you been able to locate her family or the woman she said was her grandmother?”

  All eyes went to Stevie, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during this whole time. Stevie cleared his throat and looked at his leader. “I have. The woman was actually Nyla’s paternal grandmother. She was killed during a home invasion, but the case was never solved. It stinks of something else, but I haven’t found any proof of that fact. I’m also looking for other relatives of Nyla’s grandmother to see if Nyla has any other living relatives out here. But so far, anyone I find has either died suspiciously or has disappeared without a trace.”

  “It sounds like someone was cleaning house,” Brody cut in.

  Everyone nodded and Stevie added, “Yeah. Apparently, whoever wants Nyla was thorough. They have potentially killed off anyone associated with the Montgomery family.”

  More mumbles of affirmation rang throughout the room then Cedric suddenly straightened as Stevie’s words hit a cord.

  “Son of a bitch!” Cedric yelled and then shook his head in frustration.

  “What is it?” Andrew queried, feeling bad vibes coming from his second.

  Cedric shook his head, still deep in thought. “I’m losing it. That’s what.”

  “What do you have?” Andrew asked him, coaching him along.

  “I don’t know. Maybe nothing. But maybe…” he trailed off and looked at his brothers. “I caught this case a few days ago that is currently becoming a pain in my ass. Do you remember Demond and Mary Hendricks? They were members of some pack that occupied the lower southwest side of the city.”

  Andrew shook his head in the negative then paused. “Wait, you’re talking about the one my father knew? He was a tall, dark skin guy that popped up on the reservation years ago?”

  Cedric nodded. “Yup, that’s the one. It was close to ten years ago. He was the one who told your father about the hit your sister helped orchestrate against you. She started running with some blood pack down south somewhere.”

  Andrew nodded and sat up. “Yeah, I remember. He was part of one of the packs that were obliterated by some rogue Alpha. But Demond hadn’t been seen since that day he came to my father. If my memory serves me correctly, he had managed to escape the slaughter of his own pack with his family. After he told us about the plot, my father offered protection for him, but as I recall he refused.”

  “Right, but your father still put bodies on him and protected him from the shadows for as long as he could until Demond and his family went underground.”

  “Yeah, okay, that I remember now. My father had sent out a search party for him too and couldn’t find him.”

  Cedric’s expression changed solemnly. “Yeah, well I found him.”

  Cedric went on to tell the group about the case and the crime scene he had witnessed. As he spoke, he could feel the apprehension, anxiousness, and rage from his brothers. He also told them about the big beast he arrested, conveniently keeping Theresa out of it. There was no way he was telling Andrew about her, at least not yet. The effects of seeing her again after all these years were still fresh in his mind. Andrew would see right through any denial on his tongue.

  “And you’re sure that this family was murdered by the same blood pack that Delilah ran with?” Rinic asked after Cedric was done getting everyone up to speed on his case.

  Cedric shrugged. “Not one hundred percent, n
o. But it fits. This family wasn’t just killed, they were tortured for a purpose. Blood was everywhere. It was a complete destruction of this family, Rinic. Demond was especially chosen and for a reason. And I know what you’re thinking. It could have been a revenge killing for snitching all those years ago. I’m not disregarding that fact either. I believe it was more to it than just revenge.”

  “What is the significance to Nyla?” Andrew asked him.

  Cedric held Andrew's gaze for a few agonizing seconds before he replied, “The older woman’s maiden name was Montgomery.”

  No one replied for a long time.

  Everyone looked around at each other, their thoughts eerily quiet. Andrew couldn’t breathe. Fear for the first time in a very long time started creeping along his spine. He could sense the danger lurking all around him. So many questions flooded his mind. Who ran this pack? Was the threat only with them? What about that night he had caught Darrius spying on Nyla? Was that tied to this? So many questions and not enough answers, which was starting to piss him off.

  Cedric, feeling the shift in the room informed them, “Look, is this case significant to Nyla? I can’t be certain and neither can anyone else in this room. There are too many unanswered questions and variables. We have to work the case. Now, from what I could surmise from the scene, whoever tortured Demond wanted something from him. And when torturing him didn’t work, his family was slaughtered at his feet. His wife was probably dragged into the next room and I won’t tell you what they did to her, but it wasn’t pretty. This family didn’t die for kicks, it was for information. Information that Demond was trying to take to his grave. But I don’t think he held out for much longer. Whatever information this blood pack wanted, they got.”

  “Fuck,” mumbled Stevie. Others shared his sentiment, but no one else uttered a sound.

  Andrew was deep in thought. He fell back against his couch and looked up at his ceiling.

  A fucking blood pack was in his city. The same one that had plotted to kill him when he was young; his sister’s new family. Andrew tightened his fists as the hatred for his sister began to grow. He should have killed her when he had the chance because he knew that letting her go would bite him in the ass later. She hated him that much, and quiet as kept, the feelings were indeed mutual. However, the thought that this blood pack could be after Nyla, changed his rage into something else…something that he could control and put his full weight into when necessary.

  Andrew looked at his second. “Ced, what information did you get from that guy you arrested? I want—” Andrew began, but he was interrupted by his cell vibrating. He knew who it was the moment it rang and he picked it up immediately.

  “Nyla, you okay? Where are you?” he asked instantly, connecting with her through the phone line and sensing her moods.

  “Yes, I’m okay. Just trying to lug this heavy baby up these steps. Goodness, either I’m losing my strength or this girl has gotten bigger.”

  Andrew grinned and relaxed, but only slightly, ignoring everyone in the room and fell back against the couch. He closed his eyes and allowed the sound of her voice to permeate his entire body, warming him with every syllable she spoke.

  “I take it you’re home now?”

  She grunted and blew out a breath. “Yeah, I’m taking the last few steps. I swear, my arms are going to fall off if I…I…what the…” Nyla trailed off and Andrew sat up, instantly on alert.

  He looked over at Cedric as he spoke. “Baby, what’s going on?”

  Nyla was quiet for a second then chuckled lightly. “Nothing, my brain must be fried.”

  “Why did you ask that?”

  Andrew stood. Something wasn’t right and he felt it. His brothers stood too, each feeling the growing trepidation from their Alpha.

  “Because I could have sworn I locked my door when I left. I mean the bolt is out like I locked it but—”

  “Nyla, listen to me. I need you to go back down the steps right now. Do not touch your door and don’t go into your apartment.” Andrew was already moving toward his front door.

  “Why? Andrew, there’s—”

  “Nyla, for fuck’s sakes!” he yelled exasperatedly. “Get your stubborn ass down those steps and wait for me inside your car. Don’t go anywhere else; not to your neighbor’s apartment downstairs or the laundry room. Go wait in your car with the motor running in drive, but keep your foot on the brake. If anyone approaches you, I want you to get out of there!”

  “Andrew you’re scaring me—”

  “Pull off before they get close. I don’t care who approaches you, baby, you get the hell out of there and call me back. Yeah, I know I’m scaring you and I’m sorry. I just don’t like what you’re telling me. I need you to listen to me and do what I ask, understand? Do it now!”

  Andrew didn’t wait for her to respond. He hung up the phone, jumped into his car, and practically flew out of his parking lot. He connected with his brothers, especially Edgar who had been trailing Nyla, to tell them what was going on, but realized he didn’t have to. He looked in the rearview mirror and found they were hot on his tail. One of his brothers then sped past him and moved in front, his lights and sirens blaring as they moved.

  16

  Andrew skidded to a complete stop in front of Nyla’s apartment building and surveyed the parking lot. He spotted her instantly a few rows back from him. He felt her fear and it was gripping his chest tight.

  Brody and Winston shot past him, guns out, as he made his way toward her car. He located Edgar in a black suburban behind Nyla, two spots over. He gave him a slight nod before Edgar emerged from the truck and headed toward Nyla's apartment.

  Nyla didn’t move when she spotted Andrew. She stared at him through the windshield, the whites of her eyes bright, overcoming her brown dilated irises.

  She followed his movements, never diverting her eyes from him. She kept a tight grip on the steering wheel as if it was her lifeline. When Andrew moved to the driver’s side door to open it, Nyla flung it open and jumped in his arms. He caught her easily and held her tight against him.

  “Andrew, what’s going on?” she asked before burying her face in the side of his neck.

  “I don’t know, baby. I’m sorry for scaring you.”

  Her grip on him tightened, and he soothed her as best he could, rubbing her back and whispering comforting words to her.

  When Nyla finally pulled back, she didn’t remove her arms from around him. She gripped his polo-style shirt tight in her grip and looked up at him.

  Andrew pushed her hair back from her forehead and kissed her there lightly. “Everything’s going to be all right. I’m here now.” He looked toward her apartment as more cop cars skidded to a stop in front of her building. Deacon already had his badge out and was pointing to Nyla’s building stairs.

  “What’s going on?” Nyla asked him. She rested her head on his chest and watched helplessly as more cops ascended to her apartment. Ironically, none had yet to emerge.

  Andrew, wanting to distract her, moved to the back door of her car. He leaned down and looked at a sleeping Se’Nya. “How’s she doing?”

  “She has a fever and she threw up all over me when I went to pick her up. I needed to change our clothes. I couldn’t take another second smelling like vomit.”

  “Is that why you went to Diane’s?”

  “Yes, plus I had heard on the news that a huge pileup was on the highway going home. I didn’t want to fight that traffic so I went over to Dee Dee’s apartment. I have her spare key, which was a good thing. I did not want to go to the diner to get hers. I looked and smelled awful.”

  Se’Nya began to stir and she blinked until her eyes popped open. Andrew opened the back door, released the seatbelt to her car seat, and hefted her up into his arms.

  “How are you feeling, princess?” he had asked softly.

  Se’Nya whined a bit and rested her head on his chest.

  “AP!”

  Andrew’s head swiveled to the curb and found Cedric
heading his way. Andrew laced his fingers through Nyla’s and headed to meet his brother.

  Cedric smirked and started to kid with his brother on how domesticated he looked, but then he froze. He looked at Nyla and felt as if he had been hit by a speeding train. The fierce need to protect her came over him instantly. At first, he thought he needed to protect her from Andrew, yet he surmised Andrew wasn’t a threat to Nyla. It was something else. He looked around the parking lot, trying to spot the threat he felt in his bones.

  Andrew picked up on what he was doing and tightened his grip on Nyla’s hand and the baby in his arms.

  “What’s up? You see something?” Andrew asked once they were a few feet in front of each other.

  Cedric, stunned at what had just happened, blinked a few times at Andrew and then looked down at Nyla. When the staring became too lengthy, Andrew cleared his throat, told Cedric to be careful in his mind, and looked at Nyla.

  “Nyla, this is my brother, Cedric. He’s a homicide detective. Cedric this is Nyla and Se’Nya.”

  A softening look cascaded over Cedric’s hard features for a split second before it vanished. It was replaced with his usual despondent look and coldness in his now dark green eyes.

  Cedric stiffened and regarded Nyla. He pushed out his hand to her in greeting. “It’s nice to meet you. Too bad it’s under these circumstances.”