“Stop her!” someone yelled down the hall.
I didn’t give them a chance to take me as I pushed open the door. I was blinded by the sudden brightness of the sun as I took in my surroundings. The second I saw the forest, I took off as fast as I could.
Once I reached the edge, I disappeared into the woods as more rogues chased me. Before they had a chance to catch up, I changed into my wolf. I moved faster than they thought and ran away from the prison they had constructed.
I had escaped.
I’m coming for you, Zea, I call out to her in the link, not knowing if she will hear me, I’m coming.
* * *
Darkness took the forest as night settled in the air. The creatures that were hidden during the day started to emerge from their hiding places to enjoy the freedom of the night. I listened as an owl called out into the night, asking about who was crossing his path.
Running quickly, I flew through the forest. I have been running for hours before I finally spotted the sign I have been looking for since I left the prison.
The border tree still stood in majestic glory as the glow of night created a look of beauty for the old magical tree. Running towards it, I heard the howl of the rogues behind me. They have been on my heels for the last ten miles, not seeming to give up.
I pushed more until I felt the familiar tug of crossing line. I was back.
We’re home, Raelynn whispered.
This isn’t home anymore, I tell her as we stare into the forest, waiting for the sentries to pick up my scent.
I heard a snarl behind as the rogues crossed into the pack’s territory after me.
Without skipping a beat, I ran towards the pack house. I knew the patrols would pick up the rogue’s scent before ever finding mine. As soon as I thought it, I heard the fight break out. One loud howl sounded as they signaled to the rest of the pack about the victory of the rogues who crossed the border.
Knowing I didn’t have much time, I ran faster until the pack house was in my view.
It was the same as before. The old style three story building loomed over everything in sight. It’s oak structure and beautiful wrap around deck looked like the same perfect home as before.
Going to a nearby tree, I changed back into my human form before stepping in front of the massive house.
Once we go in there, there is no going back, Raelynn tells me.
Zea is here. We have to, I tell her.
As much as I know I need to go in, I just stand there and look at what the building is for me. It holds all my greatest memories and the one memory that changed my entire life. The one I wish I could forget.
I was about to step forward when I smelled him. The same scent from so many years ago. The one I had come to love. Fresh rain and honey.
“Ellie?” he called out to me. His voice sounded almost broken at my sudden appearance.
I turned to his call as I took in his appearance. He looked almost the same as the day I lost him.
“Axton.”
Chapter 8
Axton POV
I tried to press for more information about Zea’s mother, but Layla wouldn’t budge. She seemed to want to protect the woman, but I would do the same. I couldn’t understand why she would purposely withhold information that could be the key to finding this woman.
As I walked back to my office, I thought about why the rogues wanted the pack’s blood. Zea had found information about the warlocks that would make sense, but the warlocks and witches were mostly gone. They had been eradicated by the northern packs. The packs used humans to commit the actual genocide, but every wolf knew the truth about Salem. There were still a few covens around the states, but they were rare to say the least.
I was so lost in thought about the past troubles with the warlocks; I almost didn’t catch the light humming coming from behind my office door.
Confused on who would dare trespass into my space, I slammed open the door in a sudden surprise to the little girl sitting before me. Zea didn’t jump at my loud entrance, but instead continued to look down with drawn eyebrows at what she was holding.
After a moment, she lifted her head to meet my gaze. A small smile started to creep onto my face as I watch her look me in the eyes. Amusement filled me as her eyebrows slowly raised in a questioning expression.
The first thought I had was of how she reminded me of the one I lost. But the second the thought crossed my mind, I immediately pushed it to the back of mind before the painful reminder could be felt.
“Why do you have a picture of her?” she asked inquisitively. I could hear the tint of sadness in her voice as she pointed to the frame sitting in her lap.
I looked at her questioning before asking, “Who, Zea?”
Slowly lifting the frame into her hands, she turned the photo around and into my view. I felt my wolf start to stir in my mind as he whined and howled at what was in front of us.
“Put that down,” I ordered her, my alpha tone seeping in my words, “Now!”
Don’t hurt her! Knox yelled at me.
Her small form started to shake as silent tears fell down her face. Immediately forgetting my pain, I tried to comfort her. But the second I moved forward, she shrunk back into the chair.
“Zea I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-” I started but she bolted out of the office before I could even get a word out. I could hear her cry as she ran down the hall.
What did you do that for? Knox scolded me, We must protect her, not hurt her!
I didn’t mean to, I tried to tell him, but he just brushed me off and ignored me. I couldn’t understand why my wolf was acting this way towards this one little girl. What was it about her that he needed to protect?
Still thinking about Zea, I walked over to my desk. Slowly swiveling in the chair, I stared down at the lonely frame as her bright smile stared back at me. She was so happy the day I took this photo. She had it framed so I would always remember that day on the beach.
It was our first actual date since I had met my mate at my birthday party. We swam in the morning and then spent the entire day just sitting around and talking. Even though we had just met, it was that day I had known that I loved her.
I just continued to stare down at her face, completely surrounded in my past world.
A knock on the door drew me out of my thoughts. Quickly sliding the frame back into my top drawer of the desk, I called for the person to entire.
“Alpha,” Walker walked in, “I got a call from some of the scouts.”
“What do you have?” I ask him, devoid of all emotion and getting straight to business.
“The rogues are stirring and a big group of them are heading straight here.”
My wolf growled at the thought as I rose from my seat, “Double the border patrols. If a rogue is spotted, it dies. Understood?”
“Yes Alpha,” he nodded and walked out to enact my order.
I was about to sit back down when my wolf started to stir in my mind. He seemed to be crawling to be let out. Not wanting to deny him a run, I rushed out of the house and into the forest surrounding to the pack house.
Not carrying about my clothes, I jumped and shifted into my giant black wolf. Quickly scanning the area, I took off running. I felt liberated as I pushed my paws into the dirt around me, taking in my land.
Go to the north border! Knox growled at me.
Why? I asked him, becoming more confused at his recent behavior.
She’s in danger! Hurry up! He pushes, trying to take control.
Who’s she? I ask him, but he didn’t get a chance to reply.
The cool breeze picked up, carrying the stench of multiple scents close to my territory.
Letting out an angry growl, Rogues.
I sprinted in the direction of the familiar odor as Knox grew angrier at the thought of rogues on my territory. Coming to a clearing, I paused at the tree line, waiting for the rogues to cross my path. I pushed my body into the ground as I watched the two wolves come into my view.
&
nbsp; Without a second for them to process what was happening, I pounced from the forest bed. I swiftly dug my teeth into the neck of the first rogue, tearing out his throat before dropping him onto the forest floor.
Turning my attention to the second wolf, I took in his form. He had a brown coat and a small frame. I watched as he slightly shivered as he had watched his friend die. Taking pity on this horrid creature, I moved quickly for his throat.
Pushing my canines into his fur, I swiveled my head. The echoing snap sounded through the trees as his life disappeared from the rogue’s eyes.
Snouting in triumph, I threw the rogue’s dead body into the soil. Lifting my head to the stars, I released a howl into the night, signaling the rogues’ deaths.
The breeze picked up slightly, blowing the leaves about around me. Sniffing into the darkness, I smelt it. The one scent I have been begging to sense for the last 7 years. The scent I thought had been taken from me forever.
It was her, it had to be.
My mate.
Find her! Knox screams to me in need.
Stepping over the dead wolves, I set off into the forest. Running without watching where I was going, I pushed my legs harder to chase the fleeting scent. I had to find her.
The scent became stronger as I neared the pack house. Quickly shifting behind a tree, I grabbed a pair of shorts from one of the hidden spare piles and sprinted out of the forest and onto the path.
I lifted my nose again as I took in the perfect scent in front of me. Vanilla and honey invaded my senses as I took in the woman standing with her back to me.
She was covered in blood and dirt as she looked up to the house. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back as her scent was blown to me once more.
Mate! Knox called out.
“Ellie?” I called out, every ounce of hope I had seeped into my voice.
I watched as her demeanor stiffened slightly as she turned around to face me agonizingly slow.
The second her eyes reached mine, my heart lifted. She stood in front of me the exact same as the day I lost her. My eyes scanned over her petite frame as I took in every part of the woman I had lost.
“Axton,” she breathed out.
The second my name left her lips, my eyes went straight to her eyes. Her green hypnotizing eyes that I had spent hours staring into now held back so many secrets.
“Ellie,” I repeat as I make a step forward, but I halt as I watch her quickly raise her hands to signal me to stop.
“Don’t.”
It’s the only word she said. She didn’t want me to come to her. I don’t understand.
What is wrong with mate? Knox whines as he takes her rejection of our touch.
“Ell-” I try again but I am cut off by the sound of the front door slamming open.
We both turn to the little patter as Zea comes sprinting out of the house as fast as she can.
“Mommy!”
I watched the scene unfold around me as if I had stepped outside of my body. The word froze me in my spot as I watched her jump into the arms of my mate. Ellie lifted her up as she held Zea close to her chest, tears shining in her eyes.
Those secret green eyes caught mine as I silently pleaded with her to tell me the truth.
Was Zea mine?
Chapter 9
Ellie POV
“Ellie?” I hear Axton question.
My eyes connect with his before he looked at the small creature in my arms. I gently placed her on the ground behind me as I turned to face his wrath. His eyes continued to watch my movements before moving down to Zea.
I pull Zea closer to my body, trying to shield her from his glare.
Layla, get to the front yard now! I call out through the weak pack bond we had shared.
I look back at Axton’s shocked expression. He just stared at our little girl as if he never knew she existed. Well he had the chance to know her and I was not going to allow him to keep the promise he made years ago.
“Axton,” I say again. His eyes instantly moved back to mine as he stared deep into my soul. His gaze was the same one filled with love and longing I had seen when I first met him. If only I didn’t know it was all a lie, “I am only here to take Zea.”
“You’re alive,” he breathed out.
“Of course I am. I am not as easy to kill as you thought I would be,” I snap at him. I know my words would not affect the man in front of me, but they will injure his wolf.
He frowned at my words, “Where have you been?” he questioned, taking a step forward, “I tried to find you, but-”
I cut him off, “But I am very good at covering my tracks,” I said coldly, trying to hide my longing emotions of seeing the man who was once my mate deep inside.
He stopped moving for a second as he took in my words, “What do you mean? Why did you leave?” he asked as he shook with anger as he understood my meaning. He failed to find me and kill Zea, he failed as a capable leader.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, Alpha Knight, but I will not allow you to kill her,” I say strongly, pushing Zea more behind me.
It looked like he was about to say something when the front door of the pack house slammed open drawing both our attentions for a split second.
Reid came flying off the porch, placing himself between Axton and me, “Get away from her!” he growled at his Alpha.
I watched Axton closely as his wolf started to take over, his eyes turning into the dark pitch blackness as his anger controlled his body, “Get out of my way!” Axton shouted using his Alpha tone.
“I will not allow you to hurt her,” Reid said, standing his ground against his own Alpha for me. He was the Gamma; therefore, his job was to protect me from all danger, including my own mate. He knew what Axton had promised and he knew the risk of me being here would be, “I will not allow you to hurt her.”
“Do not test me right now, Reid!” Axton shook with anger as his muscles flexed threatening. He started to make his way to me, and he was willing to kill Reid if he didn’t move, “Now move.”
“No,” Reid said.
Before I knew what was happening, Reid was pinned to the ground with Axton’s hand around his throat. Reid pulled on his fingers, but Axton wouldn’t budge. Axton growled in Reid’s face, but Reid took it as a distraction as his fist connected with Axton’s chin.
They rolled over as they both threw multiple punches into each other. I watch the blood covered fists connect with their stomachs and faces when I heard Zea call out. I turned toward her to see she was watching the violence.
“Enough!” I called out to them.
Their fists froze mid-swing as they looked at me before turning back to glaring at each other. Anger was clear on both their faces. Reid’s protectiveness over his Luna and Axton’s anger over Reid’s betrayal.
“Reid!” I called out causing both of them to stop their staring contest as they looked to me, “Get Zea out of here.”
“Ellie, I can’t allow you to be alone with him,” he said, throwing his disgust towards Axton which caused him to growl lowly to Reid, “Not after what he did.”
“It was not a request,” I ordered, “Now.”
Throwing one last look at Axton he nodded his head at me, “Yes Luna.” He swiftly walked towards Zea and picked her up into his arms.
“Take her to Layla,” I tell him. He started to walk into the house as Zea stared at me over his shoulder. I gave her a loving look before calling out one last order, “Reid, if something happens, take her and run.”
He bowed his head slightly as they disappeared into the house. Now all that stood between me and Axton was about twenty feet of damp grass. I turned back towards him to see his broken expression covering his face.
THE ALPHA's MATE: A Romantic Thriller Page 5