Loved By The Alpha Leader

by Anastasia Chase

  “Look, I miss you, you should just come home. I know you ran to Myre Falls but your Gramps is going to be fine. You said so yourself. Let’s work things out,” he said matter of factly.

  “Did you want to work things out with me before you slept with Saran Wrap? How is she by the way? Still pregnant?” she fumed.

  “Sarah, is doing fine and yes, she’s still pregnant,” he told her reluctantly.

  “So again, there’s nothing to discuss outside of how much of a disgusting vile sad sack of human flesh you are to treat me this way when I did nothing to you! I didn’t deserve this Terry. I didn’t deserve to find out like I did, and more importantly, I didn’t deserve to share in your community penis without full disclosure! So forgive me if I’m a bit short and not wanting to discuss some magical reunion between you and I that’s never going to happen!”

  “So you’re still angry I see,” he huffed.

  “I’m tired of being angry, Terry. I need this space and time to think. But before I end this conversation between us, let me ask you something, and it’s not about her,” she promised.

  “Yeah, what is it,” he mumbled.

  “If I came back to Willowbrook pregnant, would you take me back?”

  “Wait a minute, wait a minute, are you pregnant? That means you were the one cheating on me!”

  London sighed, “No doofus. I’m asking you a hypothetical question. If I told you right now that yes Terry, I think you’re right, we belong together, we should make things work. Then when I get back home in a few months, I’m pregnant with another man’s child, would this even be a discussion? Would you call me like this?”

  “No, probably not,” he admitted with his voice full of sadness and sorrow.

  “Fine, then why are you asking ME to do that? What makes you think that you can go make a happily ever after with another woman while we were together and then expect me to forget that? I wish you two nothing but the best, a happy and healthy baby, and an even better life,” as she said her farewell the piece of paper she was looking finally caught her eye, “Terry I have to go. I loved you, but that’s over.”

  She hung up refusing to hear anything else he had to say. There wasn’t anything left for them to discuss as she grabbed the directions and headed downstairs where Tina was still waiting. Her eyes were darting all over the place while she kept rubbing her left shoulder.

  “You okay?” London asked. There was a softer tone in her voice as she’d just given all of her hostility to Terry.

  “Yeah just an old injury,” she smiled shyly, “Are you okay? You look flushed and a bit red in places.”

  London walked with Tina over to her Jeep where the two got inside and drove off toward the town of Allendale. It was only about forty minutes away, but it gave London plenty of time to vent to Tina, the woman she barely knew, about her ex-boyfriend who got one of her friends pregnant. It was a mess of a story that left Tina watery eyed and ready to weep.

  “I can’t believe you’re still standing,” she said, “The last relationship I had ended because I wasn’t outgoing enough and I was in my room for days, balling my eyes out. I wish I could just pick up and move on like you did.”

  “Oh don’t get this cheery demeanor confused,” London laughed, “I’ve done plenty of crying and yelling, and eating over this, but when Grandpa had the stroke I used it to get out town for a little bit. It didn’t make sense for him to hire a nurse or anyone to come look after him when he has me.”

  “So you don’t work, or go to school?” Tina asked.

  “I just finished school back in January. Got a degree in business and sociology of all things, but haven’t landed a job I want yet. I know my folks were antsy to get me out of the house for a bit. It sucked that he had to have the stroke, but his recovery came at the right moment. We both need a bit of healing, you know?”

  London softened to the idea of her and Tina being friends. The more they drove, the more they talked. By the time they reached the hospital they were far better off than where their relationship began.

  Clark Sawyer was a tall, thin framed man, with a head full of white hair and the bluest eyes London had ever seen. She often wished she had eyes like his. He was sitting up fussing with the remote for the TV and joking with the nurse. Once he turned to see who was coming into his room, his eyes lit up, and his face beamed, “Well if it isn’t my favorite grand daughter. Ava this is London, London this is my favorite nurse, Ava.”

  “I’m only his favorite because I bring him extra juice,” she chuckled. The nurse was an old woman with a Hispanic flair. She was gorgeous. Another reason London thought she was Grandpa’s favorite.

  “And I’m only his favorite because I’m his only granddaughter,” London laughed. Tina smiled warmly at the old man as she clutched the book she’d tried to return to his shop earlier.

  “Well what do we have here?” he asked peering over to her.

  Tina walked closer to him. She waited for London to hug him and step away before she held the book out to him. It was thick, with a dull burgundy color. There wasn’t a title to the book, only a gold leafed border around the edge with the name, Farkas, scrawled in script along the spine.

  “You have to tell her what you know,” Tina said to him with her eyes watering again, “She’s been talking to Paxton. That’s the only reason I came here. Is for you to tell her. She’ll believe it coming from you.”

  “Believe what?” London’s eyes darted back and forth between them, “What are you two talking about?”

  Clark waited for the nurse to leave the room before he let his enthusiasm fade, “This is why I never wanted you to come to Myre Falls. Tina, just forget about it, London, you need to pack your things and leave. Go back home. If Paxton gets his hands on you, I’d never forgive myself.”

  “Gets his hands on me? He’s done nothing but help me. I know I don’t know him well enough, but you two are talking about him like he’s some sort of monster!”

  “He is the worst kind,” Grandpa Sawyer told her, “The kind you’d never, ever, imagine in your wildest nightmares. You mustn’t see him. Just close up the shop. I appreciate you coming down here for me Sweet Pea, but you can’t stay. I told your mother this was a mistake.”

  “She told me that too, but no one can tell me what to do or what not to do. I’ll do my best to stay away from him Grandpa, but only because you say he’s a monster. I’ll finish cleaning up the shop and I’ll stay until you’re released. I’m not going home any sooner than that. Besides who’s going to take you home and up all those stairs?” she chuckled trying to lighten the mood.

  “Fine, that’s in a few days, you should be safe until then. Just please stay away from him and his clan. They can’t be trusted.”

  Chapter 6

  The words of Grandpa Sawyer rattled in London’s mind long after they left the hospital and even into her dreams. She tossed and turned for what seemed to be hours thinking about the stories. They sounded ridiculous. None of it was concrete. All Tina and Grandpa could tell her were about attacks that happened and then Paxton, or his brother Cameron, would be there. There hadn’t been an attack in years, and the last sighting of any creature… well was hers on the road into Myre Falls.

  It wasn’t Paxton either, as she clearly remembered swerving into the guardrail and seeing him on the other side of the street seconds after the beast leaped into the woods. Its eyes were what she remembered the most. The snarling grin as it leered at her from the road, brought her right out of the nightmare.

  London sat straight up in her Grandpa’s bed. It was old, a bit lumpy, but very comfortable. The sound of the fan helped steady her racing heart as she listened out into the night. There wasn’t anything. There weren’t any people outside. There weren’t any cars driving by. The only noise that London could hear was the subtle hum of the fan.

  With her stomach in knots and her mind going a million miles a minute, she got out of bed and headed to the kitchen. The bedroom opened up directly into the liv
ing room and the first thing she saw was the moonlight beaming on the rifle. Its matte black color glowed with a hint of blue as she shuddered thinking about ever having to use it.

  A part of her wondered if her grandfather was taking his own tall tales too serious. But as she poured herself a glass of milk, she heard something rustling behind the building. Peeping through the window, she tried her best to keep herself hidden as she looked down to the alley behind the shop.

  “Okay, deep breath in,” she inhaled as much air as her lungs could hold. Blowing it out slowly, she steadied herself and looked out the window again. There wasn’t any way for her to see directly below her but she knew there was a back door for deliveries down in the shop. However, the only way to get down there was through the outside staircase.

  The rustling echoed up to the window once again. Curiosity was getting the better of her as she glared down at the rifle. Grabbing the broom instead, she hoped it was just a raccoon or something smaller rummaging through the trash. With nothing but fuzzy slippers and her Grandpa’s navy blue robe over her T-Shirt, she headed toward the door.

  “This is stupid! This is stupid! This is stupid!” she scolded herself over and over again taking a deep breath with every step she took down the stairs. Her body was trembling as she stared toward the back alley. Fear got the best of her and instead of heading toward the noise, she went to the front of the shop. The chiming of the bell as she stepped inside sent her leaping into the air. She landed, hopped around to face the closed door… There was nothing, no one was there.

  London’s heart pounded against her chest and beat loudly in her ears. Her slippers swished over the floors as she neared the back door hoping that whatever was out there was gone. Just as she was about to give up, she heard the shuffling noise again. Something was sloshing around in the gravel of the alleyway. Her hands trembled so much she had to hold herself for a minute while wrapping her fingers around the doorknob. It rattled so loudly against the silence of the night she was sure that whatever element of surprise she had on the vermin was surely gone.

  “You’re brave! Be brave!” she yelled to herself. Turning the knob, she pulled the door open and hopped into the alleyway swinging the broom wildly. She could have sworn she heard a chuckle of some sort, but that was quickly gone as the glowing eyes of something much larger than a raccoon lingered in the shadows. It’s breathing was heavy, its growl much larger than anything she’d ever heard. She was frozen in fear as it came out of the shadows to pounce on her.

  *****

  Paxton couldn’t help but laugh as he watched London jump out the back door of the shop in nothing but her robe and bunny slippers. He was doing patrol on his half of town like he and Cameron agreed. It was nearly three in the morning when he heard her step out of the apartment. No one in town was ever out this late. Even the bars shut down at two, and those were on the weekends. It was the middle of the week and London Sawyer was the only human outside in Myre Falls.

  It was his duty to protect them and when he saw her creeping down the stairs with the broom, he knew he’d be needed. But it wasn’t until he got closer to the building that he smelled him. The rogue wolf was near. He was in the town now. He was stalking London and that was something Paxton would not stand for.

  The wolf was bracing for its attack when Paxton took off running. By the time he’d gotten to London, she was paralyzed with a look of horror on her face as the wolf leapt through the air toward her. Paxton got in the way as he yelled to her, “GO INSIDE! LOCK THE DOORS!”

  London snapped out of it and did what she was told, slamming the door behind her.

  Paxton shifted immediately to fend the rogue off. The wolf sank his teeth and claws into Paxton’s arm, tearing into his flesh. But Paxton wouldn’t go down that easily. He gripped the creature by the throat, clamping down tighter and tighter with every passing second. He didn’t want to kill one of his own, but if he was going to attack people of the town, it would start a war. The internal battle raged on within him, distracting him long enough for the rogue wolf to free himself.

  They were about to engage in battle once again when Cameron showed up. Cameron’s ash gray wolf shined differently than the black coat of his brother. Standing side by side next to his alpha, Cameron poised himself to attack. The rogue backed off and ran away.

  Paxton shifted back immediately to tell him, “Go! Follow him! Try to capture him, I know he’s hurt. We need to find out what he wants! I need a minute or two for this to heal.”

  Cameron whimpered at the sight of his brother’s wounds but quickly turned to track the other wolf into the night.

  Paxton sat against the back wall, sweating profusely, and struggling to catch his breath. The tear was down to the bone, but the longer he sat the more it closed. He knew it would take a while for it to completely heal and by the next day, there would be a mound of scarred flesh to prove he survived.

  The creaking sound of London opening the door automatically made him draw his wounded arm into himself. He didn’t want her to see it.

  “Oh my goodness, you’re hurt! And your clothes must be in shreds around here,” tears welled up in her eyes, “Here come inside! Let me help you for once.”

  Paxton knew he didn’t need her help. He didn’t need anything from London other than her vow to be his forever. But he broke all laws of the pack, letting her help him up and into the shop. He’d have to tell her the truth eventually. That would be the test.

  “Um, wait right here,” she told him disappearing around a book case. When she came back there was a first aid kit in her hand. She took the robe off to give her room to work. Motioning to his arm, she demanded, “Let’s see it.”

  “It’s fine, London. I’m going to be fine,” he told her wincing in pain.

  “No you’re not! Let me see it!” she yelled.

  It made him smile, and it was then in that moment he knew he’d never be able to ignore his urges. He let her treat his healing wound, pouring some liquid into the cut, and then wrapping it with a bandage. When she was done, all he could do was gaze into her eyes. Stroking her face, he whispered, “Thank you, London.”

  Paxton refused to hold back anymore leaning in close to her face. He looked to her lips and then to her eyes. She hadn’t stopped him from getting that close, so he went for it. He could have sworn his cock jumped under his briefs as he held her face delicately at first. When she probed his mouth with her tongue, he showed her why he was an alpha, pulling her in close to him. He hiked up her shirt, palming her ass and tonguing her down with an unbridled passion. Their hands were all over each other. But it was too much.

  Paxton pulled away, “I’m sorry, London. I want… I can’t… We shouldn’t. You’re not safe around me. We can’t do this.”

  He left the same way he came in, shifted and ran into the night. Even though he was near the edge of town he could still hear her standing by the back door of her grandfather’s antique shop letting a tear fall to the ground as she whispered into the night, “But I feel the safest when I’m with you.”

  Chapter 7

  The sun finally rose as London dragged herself out of bed. She got dressed for the day, reminiscing on the wild night before. Not only had Paxton saved her, but he kissed her. In fact, she wasn’t sure but she knew if he’d given into the passion between them they would have fucked on the counter in the shop. The very thought of her bent over while Paxton dug himself deep inside her walls made her pussy quiver. It also sent a wave of anger through her body too.

  The more and more she thought about it, the less it made sense. She couldn’t understand why Paxton lost his clothes fighting with whatever that thing was. And she couldn’t understand why he’d want to wrestle with any kind of animal at all. The words of Tina and her grandfather rang loudly. Perhaps there was more truth to what they’d told her than what she originally thought. However, wolf or not, Paxton had started something with her and never finished. And what he said to her would stay with her.

  There w
as something going on with him and until he gave her a proper date and attention for them to discuss the questions she had, she vowed to stay away from him. She wouldn’t call on him. She wouldn’t even think about him.

  There was nothing else for London to do but focus on the shop to get Paxton off her mind. So that’s what she did. She opened the door and left it open. The shades were up and the sun was beaming into every corner. It brought a smile to her face as she grabbed a rag with some polish to start glossing over the items in the shop.

  There was an antique radio against a wall. It was a rich mahogany color, but the size of a wine cabinet as she wiped it down. Switching it on, she was surprised to see it still worked pumping out a local station. She swayed her hips side to side, dancing and mumbling words to a song she didn’t know when she felt an ominous presence in the shop.

  Turning around to the door, a man stood there with a sly grin plastered across his face. As handsome as he was, there was an air of danger around him. She didn’t feel safe like she did around Paxton, but she was intrigued, “Sorry about that, I didn’t notice you there. Good morning, Sir. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  The man was tall, lean, with a haunting look in his deep brown eyes but as soon as he smiled the entire feeling around him changed. It relaxed her, “My apologies, I was enjoying the performance. You’re a marvelous dancer.”

  London blushed something awful as her eyes shot down to the ground, “You’re not serious.”

  “Oh but I am,” his raspy voice certainly held her attention as he got closer and closer to the counter. It made her nervous, but curiosity once again ruled her every move. The man extended his hand out to her, “Maddox Grey. I would love to show you something unique for your shop here. Perhaps over dinner, we can discuss the finer details.”

  He brought her hand up to his lips, kissing the top gently, making London’s blush turn an even deeper shade of red. Thoughts of Paxton kissing her and then running away suddenly flashed through her mind. Here was a perfect stranger willing to take her to dinner, while she waited for Paxton to get over whatever his issues were.