Chosen Alpha

by Rae Hendricks

  Annalise tried to get up and quietly leave the room, knowing that they probably needed some space. She had been trying her best to give that to them despite the fact that the only television in the cabin was in the living room. She would have to find a way to ask Isaiah if she could get one for her room, so it was no longer an issue. Then again, she needed some human contact. Lacy may have been okay with being silent and alone all day long, but Annalise was not. And still not feeling well, she did not think it was safe to venture out and make friends with anyone else in the pack. Things had calmed down now that Isaiah had done something they wanted, but that didn't mean they were going to welcome her with open arms.

  “Hey, Annalise,” Isaiah said, stopping her in her tracks, “would you like to have dinner with us tonight? I feel bad that you’re always having to settle for the junk that is lying around here or have Hector go and get things for you.” Annalise could see a deadly stare on Tamara's face that let her know what her answer had to be. It was hilarious that Isaiah could not see it. He needed some help and fast, but she didn't know if she would ever catch him alone again to give it to him.

  “No thanks, I am alright with my junk. The two of you should enjoy a meal together.” Annalise tried not to laugh as she noticed the satisfied nod Tamara gave. Why were men so clueless, especially the hot ones?

  Shaking her head, she left the room, hoping to settle down to one of the books Hector had grabbed for her at the local bookstore. She had to have something to do when she was locked up in her room for an indefinite amount of time, so she had begged him to go and buy a bunch of cheap ones. Hector was always so nice to her. It apparently took a teenager to realize that witch or wolf, it didn't matter as long as you were nice to each other.

  Annalise settled down into her book, placing herself under the covers and trying not to think any more about men she couldn't have.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Annalise was left to her own devices when everyone left the house the next morning. Isaiah, Tamara, and Hector had all gone to the store in town to get groceries. Tamara had insisted that they only bring one guard. She had said it was for the sake of Annalise's safety, but Annalise knew better. She wanted time alone with Isaiah because she thought that would make a difference. If they played their cards right, it just might have made a difference, but she doubted either of them was going to be on their game, so to speak, when they hadn't been so far.

  Annalise was sulking after reaching the ending of a cheesy romance book and not liking how it turned out, when a fervent knock came at the door. She looked back at Lacy, the silent fixture that was haunting the cabin, for comfort. Annalise wasn't even sure if she should answer it. Did the pack know she was alone in there, or was it someone there on official business? Either way, her answering the door felt wrong.

  Lacy rolled her eyes, the only form of communication the two women had since her arrival and strode towards the door with the clinking of her combat boots. She flung the door open to find that Roman standing there, breathing heavily and looking concerned. “The alpha and his mate are not here,” Lacy said, surprising both parties who were hearing her voice for one of the first times. It sounded gruff and angry. No wonder she didn't talk much. An eye roll served her well.

  Annalise glanced at her in annoyance as she took over for Lacy at the door and looked over Roman with her own concern. “Please, come in, Roman. I don't know when they will be back. They went into town for groceries with Hector.” She let him in, and he sat down on the couch while she got him some water. He was looking a little dehydrated to her. Once he had that in hand, his breathing slowed a bit, and he looked up at her. There was something in his eyes that held a sense of foreboding. He had something to say to her.

  “Lacy,” Annalise said, not taking her eyes off of Isaiah’s similarly attractive younger brother. “Can you go outside and take a walk around the cabin?” Lacy didn’t ask any questions, but she did slam the door on her way out. She wondered idly what Tamara would think of her guard’s attitude. But right now, it didn't matter. Something major was going on, and it involved her. She may not have the full use of her powers since being attacked by a werewolf, but she could still sense things rather well. “Alright, Roman, spill,” she ordered him.

  “I came to talk to my brother,” he told her. The phrase could have been construed as something rude, but it didn't come out that way. It seemed like he was only relaying that information to her. “But I think this works out a little better for now. I came to tell him that the coven is on the move and for sure looking for you. I heard them mention your name, Annalise.”

  Annalise sat on the edge of her seat wondering what else he had heard. She could only guess from the way he was looking at her. It was not going to be good for Isaiah or the pack if it got out. “I thought you said before that they were missing a few members of the coven, not just me.” She decided to dance around the subject until all other possibilities were eliminated. She didn't know if she was ready to talk about it yet and the reason she wasn't so keen on returning home.

  “I did say that, but it seems that there is particular concern about you. It also seems that a couple of the missing members have turned up without issue. Are you going to make me say it, or are you going to be honest about why they are so adamant on finding you, Annalise?” Roman asked, not beating around the bush. Roman was aware what he found out could be dangerous for Isaiah’s shaky position as alpha and for the safety of the woman sitting in front of him. He did not think she had meant anything malicious by hiding it. In fact, he figured she had good reasons, one of those being for Isaiah's protection. Since she had moved into the cabin and Roman had spent a little time with her, he had started changing his mind about Annalise. Witch or not, she seemed to be a good person. But even good people did stupid things like keeping secrets.

  “You heard who I was.” Annalise said it flatly. There was no question about that. The weird thing was that he wasn't calling for her head or anything. He didn't even seem to be that angry. Maybe Roman was really as calm as Isaiah always said. It was hard to imagine that when he was related to Orson, but if that was the fact, she was scared of what was building up on his insides.

  “Yes, I did hear. Does Isaiah know?” he asked. Annalise let a breath go she hadn't realized she was holding. She had a good explanation for that.

  “Of course, he doesn’t. I did not need to give him any more reason to be worried right now. Things are already rough with him and Tamara. He needs to focus on her and the pack right now,” she told him with confidence. That was the absolute truth. If she and Roman could agree on anything, it would be the alpha’s well-being.

  “I can see your intentions were pure with that, but by keeping it secret, you have caused more problems. If the coven gets too close, pack members will get hurt. It could be awful if they find out, and I think they will. They will never forgive Isaiah for keeping you after that.” Roman explained, with no sourness in his voice. He was being honest and concerned.

  “Then, Isaiah can kick me out. I will accept whatever it is that must happen. I just thought it was the best thing at the time. I honestly didn't know they would miss me so much. I thought they would figure I ran,” she told Roman. It was the first time she had admitted that out loud.

  “Why is that?” Roman asked her out of curiosity. He was sure she would have known, in her position, the coven would not stop until they found her. Why would they have thought she left? There is more to this woman than meets the eye, and Roman was curious to get to the bottom of it. Whether Isaiah was ready to admit it or not, Annalise had become an important part of his life. Roman doubted she was just going to be let go so easily, even with Tamara in the house. Their friendship was something different; something he had never seen his older brother have before.

  “I didn't want the pressure,” she said simply with a shrug. It was the absolute truth, and now she was going to have to spill her guts to Isaiah. She just hoped he didn't hate her afterward. “Will you be here when I
tell him?” she asked Roman, hoping he would at least be her ally in this.

  “I will,” he answered, making her feel less queasy. All there was to do now was wait for him to come back.

  A few hours later, Annalise found herself alone with Isaiah in her room. Lacy and Tamara had gone to Tamara’s father’s place. Roman was out in the living room just in case Isaiah decided to try and kill her after she told him everything. She just didn’t know or wasn’t sure what to say as she bit at her nails nervously. She needed to break the ice somehow.

  “So, how are things going with Tamara?” she asked, thinking she could go ahead and give him her advice before she crushed him by telling him she had not been one hundred percent honest with him.

  “It’s alright,” Isaiah said, not looking at her when he said it.

  Annalise nudged him playfully like she did when he was being uptight. “Hey, I know you better than that. Trouble in paradise?” she teased. He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to be annoyed, but he just couldn’t. “I have noticed some things. Can I offer some advice from a woman's perspective?” she asked, nudging him again.

  “Actually, I would usually turn that kind of thing down, but I am lost,” he admitted, throwing his hands in the air in defeat. He did feel defeated. How could he be almost 30 and still completely clueless about women?

  “Okay, well, don't try so hard. I know it doesn’t make any sense, but you’re both trying to force something too fast. You need to just navigate this new situation together and get to know each other. Forget about all that outside pressure and worry about each other. I chose her because it could grow into something special. Seeds don’t turn into plants overnight, unless a witch makes them.” She winked, trying to lighten the mood for her own sake. She could feel the confession coming like a monster looming over them.

  “I guess we have both fallen under that pressure,” he admitted. “Was that all you needed to talk with me about?” She shook her head, wanting to crawl in a corner or hide somewhere. She had never thought it would come to this moment, but it had.

  “There was something I didn't tell you about myself before. I didn't tell anyone in fact, and there was a reason, I promise. I was trying to protect you from more scrutiny by the pack, and in the beginning, I wanted to protect myself. I don't think it even matters now that my powers are practically nonexistent. I was so sure it would never come up. Did Roman tell you the coven was looking for me?” she asked, trying to go about it the right way.

  “Yes, he mentioned that on my way in. But I thought that would happen at some point anyway. What does that have to do with anything?” he asked, looking at her with concern. He could feel it coming too, the bombshell that was about to change everything. She was sure that his father hadn’t known either, because Hyacinthe had done her job so well.

  “I am not just any witch to them. I thought they would think I had run away from my duties because I just didn't want the honor. I haven't ever wanted it. You should know, Hyacinthe is not the true leader of the coven. She was taking over for me until I came of age and has been doing an excellent job. She was so powerful, I didn't think we should ever have anyone else. But it is supposed to be me. I am the true leader of the coven, though I have shunned preparations for a long time.” Annalise bit her lip, awaiting his reaction.

  “Annalise, you realize I am going to have to tell Tamara about this, and I can almost guarantee she will want us to be honest with our pack about this, especially since the witches are coming for you. I wish you would have let me know from the beginning.” His words sounded sad, and he refused to look at her. This was worse than any anger or hatred she could have expected from him. This was sadness and disappointment. She had brought him pain, something she never wanted to do.

  “I was trying to protect you,” she told him.

  “The sad part about all of this is that I know you’re telling the truth about that, but it doesn't change anything.” Isaiah stood up and left the room without another word. Annalise wanted to run after him and try to convince him that she did everything for him. All her decisions since she had arrived there had been about him. That was no longer her place. He had a mate for those things. It would be wrong for her to be so honest. Instead, she brought her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, buckling down for a good cry.

  Isaiah went right for his brother who must have known something about this and said nothing. He didn’t even seem to be angered by it. What was wrong with him? Didn't he care for the pack? “You knew,” Isaiah accused Roman, as he sat there on his couch so calmly. “You’re the one that told her to tell me.” It wasn't a question.

  “Of course, I was. I came here as soon as I heard, and you were gone. I thought it was the right thing to do. That woman cares about you, Isaiah. She meant well even if this is turning out badly. Give her some credit,” Roman ordered his brother, standing up to meet his gaze. Isaiah could be so blind and stubborn sometimes. He truly was the brother who was most like their mother. She had been blind of everything up until the very end. Not that she had shared that secret in her last days with anyone but him.

  “Secrets don’t mean well, Roman. They always turn out to be a disaster, and now the whole pack is going to see me screwing up yet again. What am I supposed to do when they call for blood? What are they going to think when they find out we have been holding the powerful leader of the witch coven here this whole time?” Isaiah's voice raised to a fever pitch. He wasn't usually the type to lose his temper in that way, but he could have easily punched a wall at that point.

  “Are you actually angry because of how this is going to make you look, or are you upset because you feel betrayed by someone you care about?” Roman challenged, narrowing his eyes at Isaiah. Annalise meant something to Isaiah, even if he wasn’t acting on it. He would probably never act on it, and that was fine. But it didn't change the fact that it had something to do with his reaction. It was one of the reasons why he was concerned about the arrangement with Tamara. Things were going to be tense. He had heard already that they were. He felt sorry for the both of them, but Isaiah was quick to get off that list if he was going to change his idea about Annalise just because she had tried to protect him from further scrutiny.

  “I don't know what you’re talking about, Roman. This is serious. I need to warn my mate.” Roman scoffed at his use of the word. He could tell nothing had happened between them yet. It was so obvious, it was like it was written on their foreheads. They would have to be more careful with that around the rest of the pack. They would have expected the two of them to go at it on night one. Roman knew better than that, but he was a little surprised that there had been no progress in that direction at all. Tamara was a beautiful woman and Isaiah a powerful man in need of an heir to prove his point. That should have been the perfect match. Apparently, it wasn't that simple.

  Isaiah grabbed his coat to shield against the chill in the wind that was coming. Snow would be on the ground by the next full moon. “Hold on,” Roman said, standing in his way. “You really don't have to say anything to the pack right now. Let us see if we can get any answers about the witches. Maybe I can even meet with them somehow and take this head on; see if they suspect us at all.” It was a crazy idea, but it might buy them some time if the coven wasn't hostile.

  “I don’t think that's a good idea; any of it. I can’t keep anything from Tamara, and she will not let me keep this form the pack. I know her.” Roman nodded because that part was true. Why was he so concerned about telling her, though? The alpha's mate was more of a figurehead position, meant to make heirs and care for them. She didn't have to be involved in any alpha business. Then again, he had a hard time not telling her things as well. It was something about the way her eyes looked through you, like she would pull out the truth painfully if you didn't speak it.

  “At least let her have her day with her father before you ruin it with this news. A few hours aren’t going to change anything other than make you calmer,” Roman suggested. Isai
ah looked down on his brother for a moment, wondering if he should push him out of the way and leave anyway, but then he thought of Tamara and her father. It would be cruel to bust in on their first day together after her becoming his mate. It would have to wait until she got home.

  “It’s not waiting a second longer than that, and I cannot guarantee what she will do next. She isn’t going to be happy about this,” Isaiah warned, but he was probably preaching to the choir. Roman knew just what it looked like when Tamara got angry.

  “I understand, but remember the whole reason you made that original decision, Isaiah. You are the alpha.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “You have got to be kidding me, Isaiah!” Tamara screamed despite Isaiah’s best efforts to have her keep it down. After he had calmed down, he realized he left Annalise crying in her room most of the day, and he didn't need her getting more upset than she already was. Things were going to be hard enough for her going forward. Tamara did not need to go making things worse than they had to be. “I find it hard to believe that nobody knew. I mean, she is the single most powerful and influential witch in the coven. You should have noticed something don’t you think?” Tamara was flying off the handle, and she knew it. She did not lose her cool very often, but she was furious. Anger was an emotion she didn't handle well. It was bad enough that she was sharing her new home and her new mate with a witch, but now she found out that witch had betrayed them. It was almost evil, keeping the most important secret possible. She was the leader of the coven instead of just another woman from the coven.