Alpha Elijah (The Crown Series Book 1)

by Tallulah Bell

  Before I could stop myself, my hand reached out and slapped him across the face. He growled before grabbing my hand just as I reached out to hit him again.

  While he was calming down I ran out of the bathroom slamming the door shut in this process. The sound echoing throughout the castle.

  "What's wrong..?" James came out of the dining room with everyone following trying to find out where that came from. But I ran straight past and out of the castle. I need to clear my head. I ran and ran. When I finally stopped for water I noticed I was at the borders of another pack. Being a Royal Warrior, I can pass through without the Alphas permission.

  I took advantage of these circumstances and continued my run. Next thing I know everything is pitch black. All that ran through my head was that he marked me without my consent. Hell, he said I wasn't his mate then he goes and marks me. Like wtf.

  All because he was jealous. The problem is it was his wolf who marked me, not Elijah. Then everything else, I am not a marked she-wolf. I am claimed, meaning I have to follow him to his pack. I can no longer be a warrior because now I am a Luna. I am the Luna to the strongest and most ruthless pack. I slowed my pace to a slow jog as I made my way back to the castle. When I finally arrived there was broken glass everywhere.

  "Where is she? Why haven't you found her yet? You know this is all your fault, maybe you should've kept your hands off my mate." All the guys are yelling at one another before the Queen shushes everyone and announces I have arrived back home safely.

  Instead of moving forward into the room, I ran up to my own room before anybody could come looking for me. I begrudgingly walk to the bathroom, stripping out of my clothes and starting a bath. I pour some rose oil into the bath. I wrap my hair into a bun on the top of my head, to make sure no water gets onto it. Can't have that now can I?

  I locked the bathroom door and turned on the wireless Bluetooth speaker on the wall. I reach for my phone, shuffling through the playlist. Once that was set, I climbed into the steaming hot rose-infused water. I needed this I said to myself, moaning when I felt the scalding hot water ease my muscles.

  I don't know when but I fell asleep in the bath, but I woke up when my head went under water. Woah! I thought. I quickly washed my body once again. The water was no longer hot instead it was like I was in an ice bath; that's how cold it was. Shivering, I step out of the bathtub and reach for my robe before wrapping it around myself tightly.

  I stopped and looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes zooming in on the mark that was placed beautifully on my neck. It was still sore. But it really was beautiful. No matter how much I hate Elijah right now, his mark is beautiful. I still can't believe he marked me without my consent. I couldn't stop myself from dragging my fingers across the mark only to send shivers shooting down my spine.

  I stopped when I heard what sounded like growls outside my bathroom door. I quickly unlocked the door and peeked out through the cracks instead of opening the door. All of the guys were there, including my Alpha mate.

  All growling at each other. I opened the door after making sure my robe was secure and wasn't going to open showing all my goodies. They all stopped growling, looking at me only to cause Elijah to growl again this time louder than before. As if to say, eyes off; Mine!

  "You all need to leave,"I said walking to my bedroom door and opening it. They all stood their ground staring at me in shock. "Now," I said gesturing for them to get the fuck out. "But Estelle..." James started to say.

  "Y'all have to the count of three to get out of my bedroom before I whoop each and every one of your asses out the door," I said. All the guys knew I wasn't playing. Liam ran out the door first along with Roan, Nick, and Tyler. James decided to take his sweet time. Elijah, however, stayed in his place. I raised my eyebrow.

  James noticed and stopped, turning towards Elijah and saying " Dude if I was you I would leave" Before rushing out the door.

  "Alpha, I need you to leave," I said, trying to not sound so rude. "I don't want you. I don't need you. You're not my mate" He says before walking out the door.

  "Well maybe you should've thought about that before marking me as your mate!" I yelled back knowing he heard me.

  I threw myself down on the bed after shutting the door, that he so rudely left open. I laid there for about five minutes before getting up and going to my closet to get some real clothes on.

  I grabbed James' white long sleeve shirt. It reaches mid-thigh, no bra, no pants, only a pair of blue boy shorts underneath. I climbed back into the bed, sighing when my head landed on my feather pillow. A couple minutes later and I was out like a light.

  I awoke startled the next morning when I felt someone's eyes on me one minute, then nothing the next. I opened my eyes and looked around my room for the intruder.

  I stopped searching after coming up empty. But the smell left in the room, I knew only as my mates still lingers. It was faint but still there.

  Why would he be in my room, after all, he didn't want or need me? I wasn't his mate. So why was he here? As I start to bring my toothbrush to my mouth I feel the sharpness in my chest.

  One I knew from the history books. He was with another woman. Was this his way of proving a point to me. I dropped my toothbrush in the sink. However, the pain didn't last long.

  7

  Alpha Elijah

  After she kicked me out of her room last night without even talking to me, I got angry and said some things that I shouldn't have. But it's too late to take them back now. I ran into Alex outside her door walking to his room. He must have heard what I said because the look on his face shows me that he may have heard some of the things I said to her.

  The look on his face was that of sadness and disappointment. He just walked off shaking his head. I stayed outside her door for another minute thinking about all the mean things I said to her, before walking into my room. I threw myself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, wondering if this is some sick game the moon goddess is playing on me.

  I have a 5 year old daughter at home waiting for me to return home. For hours, all I was able to think of was her and how much she is like Jen.

  Even her mannerisms remind me of Jen. Now there are slight differences. Estelle was more outspoken and blunt. While Jen was more on the side of quiet and shy.

  As I was laying there on the bed all I could picture was Estelle laying on her big king sized bed, curled underneath the warm blankets. She should be asleep by now.

  One little peek wouldn't hurt anything, my wolf Axel was telling me. So that's exactly what I did, I crept into her room and watched her peacefully sleeping.

  The t-shirt she was wearing rises and bunches up at her thick hips, as the blankets are kicked to her feet. The moon light glows over her pale skin, making her glow with the moon.

  Perfect, is the only world I could think of. I then noticed that she was wearing a pair of underwear that was accentuating her tight ass. It wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. Just right. I had to stop myself right now.

  I feel like a creep. I then turned and walked out when I started to see daylight peeking in. I walked back into my room before laying in bed waiting for sleep to take over.

  ESTELLE

  After walking out of my room, I noticed one of the help coming out of my mates room. The frightened look on her face when she saw me, gave it away that she went to sleep with my mate. I scoffed before walking downstairs and out the door for my morning run.

  When I arrived back at the Castle it was as if no one was awake yet. I went up to my room and went straight for the shower. I came out of my bathroom, steam following me out the door. I wrapped myself in a robe and then noticed the Queen sitting there on my bed patiently waiting.

  "Ma'am, what can I do for you?" I asked calmly though I'm sure she could hear the shakiness in my voice.

  "Go ahead and dress first and then we'll talk," she said with a soft chuckle. I looked down. How could I just forget that I am in my robe in front of the Queen herself.

  "
Yes ma'am" I said before rushing into my closet. I grabbed a pair of leggings and a sports bra to match with a plain black v- neck shirt. Once dressed, I re-entered my room.

  "Please sit," Queen Sydney says, patting the bed next to her. I sat next to her but at a safe distance. It was silent for a moment before she started speaking.

  "Estelle, why didn't you tell me your mate was Alpha Elijah?" She asked, grabbing my hands like my mom would to comfort me.

  I just shook my head before replying "My mate who doesn't want me is an Alpha let alone Alpha Elijah. The Alpha Elijah and he doesn't need me. He doesn't even believe I'm his mate" I said bitterly.

  She seemed to be figuring out what to say. "I shouldn't be telling you this. But it's not you Estelle. The reason he doesn't believe you're his mate is because he has already had a mate" She said rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand.

  "What do you mean had? Did she reject him?" I asked.

  "No, she was murdered. That is the reason he is the way he is. How he earned his title. He killed anyone and everyone he thought or knew was involved in the murder of his mate" She said with a look of sympathy on her face.

  "So if I'm his second chance mate, Does that mean my true mate died?" I asked curiously.

  "No not necessarily, either he died or he has already mated to another breaking whatever was yet to be discovered," She said.

  "Okay, so why are you telling me all this?" I asked. "Estelle, Alpha Elijah is leaving tomorrow for his pack." She said as if that answered every question I had.

  "Okay, but what has that got to do with me?" I asked not really knowing what that means and why she is telling me.

  "Alpha Elijah marked you the other day, you have two weeks tops till you go into heat. And Elijah has already put in for your transfer" She said with a small smile on her face, stopping to see how I would react.

  "The fuck he is!" I yelled, before running out of my room in search of that big-headed Alpha only to find him in the indoor gym. If I wasn't so pissed I'd stop and ogle his sweaty bare chest. Me being the stubborn woman I am, I went in hard, I walked right up to him and slapped him right across the face.

  "You don't get to decide my future. I live and work here at the castle. Why would you put in for my fucking transfer when you don't even fucking want me?" I go to say more but he wraps his hands around my neck once more before saying "Last time I checked I'm the Alpha, now that you bare my mark you will be coming home to my pack." He seethed in my ear blowing lightly, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

  He smirked against my neck before placing his mouth right over his mark on my neck, licking around it before kissing it lightly causing moans to slip out of my mouth. It took a moment for my brain to comprehend what just happened. So I pulled back and before I could stop myself, my hand reached up and smacked him across the face once again.

  A deep growl resonated from deep within his chest. “ You don't get to touch me, not with what you did this morning!" I yelled before walking out the door only to pause and turn to say "And for your information, I'm not going with you to your pack. This is my home. I am a Royal Warrior. This is where I belong" I declare before turning back around and leaving.

  8

  When I made it back to my room, I was internally grateful the Queen was not sitting and waiting for me on my bed. Instead, I was graced with five angry men pacing my room. They all came to a halt when I walked through the door. After I shut the door, that's when all the yelling started.

  "You're leaving?"

  "How could you?"

  "It was always us before everyone else"

  "We are your best friends, how can you just leave us?"

  "Guys I'm not leaving!" I yelled back. "E, all the guards and warriors know. We had a big meeting this morning. The King himself announced it to everyone." Roan said, shaking his head.

  "Well, I refuse" I replied back looking down and picking at my nails. Something I do when I'm nervous, anxious or uncomfortable. These five men kept me sane the past couple of years.

  "Estelle, that is your mate. You can't refuse" Liam said looking at me with hurt in his eyes. He is always the sensible one.

  "Yeah E, this is what you've always wanted, no matter how much that I wish it was me," Tyler said, winking at me.

  "I refuse. I do not want to lose y'all. Plus like I've said plenty of times he doesn't want me, so why give up my life here?" I asked, grabbing James and Liam's hands.

  "Estelle, you have no choice," James said looking at me in the eyes with pure love shining brightly. Why can't Elijah look at me like James and all the guys do.

  "I can not leave y'all" I forced out as the tears started streaming down my red, blotchy face.

  "We can always come visit you," Nick said, patting me on the back. "I'll go with you" Tyler yelled out excitedly.

  "Tyler no, you can't give up this because of me." Knowing Tyler he would walk away from his life here in a heartbeat.

  "Someone's got to protect you E," Roan said, only causing a shit eating grin to form on Tyler's face.

  "See they think I should," he said before running out of the room before I could protest again.

  "E, you know Tyler as well as any of us, so you know he is in his room packing. You might as well tell that asshole of a mate that this is the only way you are leaving this castle," Nick said, as a small smile broke out on his face.

  I thought about it and I knew I would like someone there with me. I nodded before walking out my door and straight down the hall to my Alpha mates room.

  I didn't bother knocking, I just barged in. There he stood throwing clothes into his duffle bag. He stopped when he saw me standing there with my hand on my hips. Total diva style if I must say so myself.

  "What?" He said, grabbing more clothes to throw into his pack. "Tyler is coming with me" I barely got out before he growled out, "No he is not." He stopped throwing the items and looked right at me.

  "Yes he is or I am not going," I said standing my ground. I was not about to let him bully me. Tyler is coming whether he likes it or not.

  "No!" he growled deep in his throat all the while holding eye contact with me.

  "Yes, because if not, I told you I am not going." I continue to yell back at him everytime he says no.

  "Estelle" He growled out.

  "Alpha" I replied right back.

  We had a stare down for what felt like an hour before he growled out once again. "Fine" and I just smirked knowing I had won this argument.

  I made my exit, all giddy inside. I made my way back to my room where James lays spread out on my bed like he owns the place.

  "JAMES" I yelled, running and jumping on the bed ever so gracefully. For minutes we laid in silence our breathing the only noise heard. We laid there just staring up at the ceiling, neither one knowing what to say.

  "E, you are my best friend. If this is not what you want to do, tell me now and we will run away tonight." James said rolling over and leaning on his elbows to face me. I couldn't help the laughter that spilled out of my mouth. Because I knew James and I knew that he meant what he said. I knew if he thought I wasn't safe or didn't want this, that he would have our bags packed and ready to go. To leave our lives here all for me. Hell, all the guys would. Just as I would for them.

  "I'll be okay, I will have Tyler with me. But you have to promise me that you will come to visit. I won't leave without knowing you guys will come visit." I said tearing up just thinking about leaving them behind.

  " I promise," He said, looking at me.

  "Pinky swear. You know me and my pinky swear. You can't break it because it's basically the law."

  I chuckled a little thinking about how I used to say it to my dad when I was little. "I pinky swear," He said, holding his pinking out while laughing.

  "Thank you" I whispered, pulling him into a hug. "I love you, James," I said kissing his cheek before pulling away.

  "Well, I guess I should start packing," I said sheepishly. I knew Tyler, without a doubt, already had a
ll of his belongings packed and placed in his pick up truck.

  "Yeah, that would be smart. We all knew you were the smart one" James said getting up and off the bed. "Well I'm going to go now. Got to shower and all," He said walking to the door.

  "You're not going to help little ol me pack my bags," I said, giving him the puppy dog eyes, just hoping it would work this time. "Nope" He smirked and turned back around and ran right out the door.

  Causing me to yell back "Fuck you James!" while laughing like a hyena. Well let's get this shit started, shall we?

  9

  I grabbed the three enormous suitcases from underneath my bed. In the first suitcase, I folded and packed all my jeans, leggings, shorts to one side and on the other side, I placed all my shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies. I even packed all the t-shirts and hoodies I rightfully stole from the guys.

  The next suitcase, I placed all my fancy and regular dresses. That includes my bodycon, cocktail, maxi, sundresses. I also packed all of my undergarments in this suitcase, as well. Including my lingerie and my socks. I had to practically shove all my cardigans in every nook and cranny I could in the suitcase.

  The third suitcase, I filled to the brim with all of my shoes. My heels, boots, running shoes and sandals. Once I had my wardrobe packed I made sure to keep an outfit out to wear tomorrow.

  I then grabbed my black duffle bag and stuffed as many books in it as I possibly could without ruining the books or ripping the bag. After all, a girl can never have too many books.

  After all three suitcases and my duffle bag were packed, I then moved to my backpack. I placed my laptop, tablet and my kindle. I had to make sure all my electronics were in one place. Including their chargers and all my important information.

  When the backpack was full and my purse was full, I couldn't help but need more space. As I was looking around my bare room, my eyes zoned in on my open door. I raced to Tylers room. "Ty!" I yelled banging on his door.