Chapter 4 - Alley shadows

Mina POV

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Mina isn’t sure how she manages to keep her composure on stage or stand beside her brother and Chloe while her mother closes up the formal part of the celebration. But she does it.

She has to.

What’s her other choice? To make a fool of herself in front of all their allies by running into the crowd after Alastor or immediately apologising to Owen? She isn’t even sure what she is even going to say to either of them. 

Without her connection to Owen, Alastor would be a fine match. He’s a warrior, a leader, attractive... But he’s never even been a consideration while Owen was around. Her mate was supposed to be Owen, and now her simple night of happiness has turned into a nightmare.

She looks to spot where he was standing before, waiting to be announced as her mate, but he’s gone. His dad is still there, staring at Mina with a look she can’t quite read, but it makes her uncomfortable. She flinches when a hand slips into hers behind their backs. Chloe squeezes it tight, making Mina’s throat feel thick, but she can’t ruin her friend’s happiness, nor her brother’s.

Finally, her mother finishes her speech, she pulls Chloe into a tight hug and congratulates her again. They’re going to be sisters, and Mina can’t think of a better wolf for her brother to bring him more out of his shell. She draws Sam in next, echoing the same, forcing herself to keep smiling while she crumbles inside. What the hell is going on?

The pair walk to centre stage, hands clasped, to another round of applause form a crowd who are ready to drink their inhibitions away and eat their bellies full. Mina isn’t sure she can stomach either, especially while hundreds of wolves watch her and whisper behind polite smiles. It isn’t quite a failure to be the next wolf in line to lead and not finding a mate at the ceremony, but it is rare. Little did they know that she has found her first mate, he’s just already promised to another wolf.

Goddess, she’s screwed.

Nausea churns in her stomach, burning the back of her throat. Her skin is clammy and heats with every passing second in the stifling hall. Under the scrutiny she can’t breathe. Every eye on her restrictive, intrusive, one glance away from seeing through her facade. 

She has to get out. 

To get some air.

Gathering her will power, she excuses herself from the stage, waving off Chloe’s suggestion to go with her, then heads directly for the exit. She ignores any attempts of conversation from wolves vying for her attention on the way out, striding past them all, through the foyer and out the large front doors of the packhouse.

The chilled night air brushes against her in a cool relief that allows her to take a sorely needed breath. Then another. And another. They slowly quell her anxieties just enough to keep her on her feet and push away her nausea. Some wolves file out the door behind her but she’s moving again, sneaking down the alley at the side of the packhouse, just like she had done earlier that day. 

Shadows cloak the thin cobbled path in a protective darkness, and she presses against the packhouse wall to hide among them. The cool stone against her bare shoulders soothes her and she leans against it like an anchor stopping her from floating away. What the hell was she going to do?

“Twice in one day, Princess? I’m starting to think this isn’t a coincidence.”

Mina starts at the voice carrying from down the alley and has to squint to see the silhouette of the elder Hayre brother amongst the shadows. 

It’s his hair that gives him away.

The streaks of blond in the brown catch the moon light, and she can’t help but wonder if that ever hinders him as a warrior. She doubts it though, she hasn’t heard anything but praise for his efforts. A warrior made to follow in his father’s footsteps and be the next Beta of Clear Blue. Well, until the Red Spire Luna spotted him and chose him to seal the final touches of the ally agreement.

“It’s almost like it’s fate or something.” She laughs, but it’s strained and the joke falls flat in the echo.

Alastor huffs a laugh anyway, but soon the silence between them feels heavy, as they both remain on their side of the alley as if the distance between them meant anything while the mate bond entwines their fates.

Mina has so many questions, so many thoughts and yet she’s sure the weight in her gut is just the knowledge she’s about to be rejected. It’s all they can do really. He can’t back out of his promise to Jade and Red Spire without a political fallout, and she can’t be seen with a wolf promised to another. The scandal will tar her name and reputation before they have a chance to explain they are fated for each other.

Did he think the same?

She glances at him, his head resting back against the wall, looking up to the stars as if they have the answers. It isn’t the look of a man happy with his situation.

“I suppose this isn’t what you had planned for the evening?” He asks.

“Hiding in an alley to avoid my mother and a party of strangers? It was actually plan B, so not far off.” She smiles, still watching him out of the corner of his eye. He isn’t moving from his spot, but he isn’t leaving either. “But no, not quite what I expected.”

“I’m sorry for causing you trouble, Princess.”

“Okay, what’s with the Princess? What happened to flea bag, or your royal pain in the arse?”

“I can still call you that if you’d like?”

“No.” She tries not to pout. “It’s just weird coming from you.”

“A good weird or a bad weird?”

The question sends a light hum over her skin, giving her the answer even if she doesn’t want to admit it yet. “I don’t know.” She huffs.

“Well until you do, I’ll stick with Princess.” 

Did she imagine the smile in his voice? He better not be teasing her. But the small twinge in her chest makes her confident that he isn’t. 

The darkness hides the growing flush of her cheeks, and Mina pinches herself to try and snap out of the giddy daze she’s slowly falling into. Is this feeling the mate bond, or is it just a natural growing interest now she’s actually considering Alastor as an option? She isn’t sure she’s ever had that giddy rush with Owen before, but she does love him, right? Or, at least, did?

Should she accept she shouldn’t be with Owen now his brother is her mate, even if he rejects her? Or should she stick to the original plan and ask Owen to be her chosen mate? And why the hell did the Moon Goddess do this to her? Has she really been so bad to deserve this predicament?

The itch in the back of her mind grows as she thinks, and she takes a breath as she faces the upcoming topic head-on. “I’m not sure Jade will like you calling me that.”

There’s a pause. A still pause, like they both stop breathing.

Then, Alastor stands, and for a moment she worries he’s going to walk away, but somehow when he takes a slow step closer instead, her apprehension kicks her heartbeat up a notch.

“Nice conversation steering, did you mum teach you that?” 

“Yes.” She watches his slow approach, wondering if she should be the one to leave, but her feet stay firmly rooted to the floor.

“So, what should you do if the wolf goes off topic.” His voice drops low as he gets closer, keeping their conversation private and his words to a deep rumble.

“Do... Do it again.” She stumbles.

“Go on then.” He stops before her, so close she can feel the heat of his body against hers and has to look up to meet his gaze. “Say it again.”

Her breath is light, a flutter in the top of her chest, but Mina is a Skye and can stand strong in the face of many a wolf. Even a strong warrior. “I’m not sure Luna Jade, your promised mate, will like you calling me Princess.”

A slow grin pulls across Alastor’s lips as he ducks his head to draw level with her eyeline. “I’m not sure it’s any of Jade’s business what I call you.”

Mina frowns. “But you’re promised to her.”

“That can change.”

“But the treaty...”

“Fuck the treaty.” His hand cups her cheek, drawing a gasp from her lips. “I’ve waited to find you for five long years, Williamina Skye. I won’t let any pack tell me to give up my fate to be with another. No matter the cost.”

He’s closer now, or maybe she is. When did she lift to her tip toes? 

His breath brushes her lips, eyes lingering on her every feature, capturing her in his presence and she can’t help but lean into it. A hand holds her hip to steady her, just like he did that morning, but now it feels like so much more than just a touch. It’s her mate’s touch and she feels a thrill at the pressure of every finger. 

He uses that light touch to guide her closer, until they press together, his body holding hers up as she fears the ground beneath will fall away.

“We should reject the bond.” She whispers as her body ignites in a wave of tingles that feel so right. Pain flashes in Alastor’s eyes, but he doesn’t let her go.

“I’ll accept your rejection, if that’s what you want, Princess." She takes a breath at the sudden sharp ache in her chest. “Or I’ll bare my neck to you now and accept your mark. Consequences be damned.”

His eyes stop on her lips then, as if willing her to say the right answer, but she doesn’t know what it is. It’d be foolish to succumb to the bond there and then, the backlash would be horrible for both of them. But surely something this big can’t be her choice alone. It’s his too. And they both have to consider the pack.

But in that moment, she wants nothing more than to just feel his kiss. As if the touch of his lips would confirm the feeling within her and seal their fate no matter what tries to keep them apart.

“I...” She leans in. “I...” 

“Williamina!” A shout beyond the alley has her pulling from Alastor’s arms and pressing back into the wall again. Her heart thunders and breaths come in short pants as she grabs the brick to steady herself against the waves of emotion rocking her.

It’s Owen, and he’s close. Should they hide? Go separate ways and pretend they never spoke? 

Her eyes fly wide and meet Alastor’s, and for a moment all her worries leave her as she meets his hard gaze.

“She’s down here.” He shouts back, smile gone, frame set as he steps away from her. He shakes his head as she starts to move toward him, his eyes closing for a moment as if to gather himself. Then, he whispers. “I made my choice the moment I knew we were mates. It’s time for you to make yours.” 

Before Mina can ask what he means, he turns and leaves the alley, not even bothering to look at Owen as they pass each other.