Chapter Four - The Wrong One

Being Alpha wasn’t something he had been raised to do and the eighteen hour days felt like a curse. Yet, ever since a rogue killed Simon, his elder brother, there was no alternative.

Liam knew he was prone to blaming people for what he believed to be his inadequacies but he couldn’t help himself. The fact that he hadn't yet found his mate was another failing on his part. If she was anything like Pamela, the pack slut, who these days filled him with revulsion then he would have no alternative but to reject her.

In some ways he envied his Beta. Jack was settled with Louisa, though there was no sign of her becoming pregnant yet.

After a long day wading through paperwork and a tedious meeting about an impending shortage of gas, the Alpha decided to go for a much-needed run. He checked his watch. Nell would be back soon. He couldn’t help imagining the look on her face when he suggested a trip to the forest another time.

One thought led to another and he found himself standing outside the nursery listening to that endearing gurgle. Jack had caught him loitering once before with a stupid grin on his face. The Moon Goddess must have been watching over him because Henry would never have allowed the matter to drop.

On impulse he seized hold of the door handle and entered the room, only to find Louisa cooing to his half-sister who was partly covered in a fawn blanket.

“About time, Alpha,” she said, not bothering to hide her surprise. That was his Beta’s mate, bolder than she ought to have been in some ways.

Though irritated, he didn’t feel like reprimanding her.

“How’s she doing?”

“Great, according to Deborah. And it’s all thanks to Nell. Who would have thought it?”

He peered into the crib.

“She looks unsettled.”

“Maybe you should lighten up, Alpha. That frown scares me. Seriously,” Louisa continued, “I could be wrong but I think she’s missing her nanny.”

“Well, she’ll be back soon,” he said. “In the meantime, I’m contemplating going for a run.”

“Oh, Jack’s just mind linked me. You two think alike.”

So that was his companion sorted. He had probably had a frustrating day, too, negotiating with representatives of the small enclave of humans who lived just within the outer perimeter of Watertight.

Unrest was unusual but they were fired up about something and, sooner rather than later, no doubt he would learn what.

His wolf, Thom, was more than eager to be unleashed and he eased into the shift allowing his paws to connect with the fresh earth. Jack was just behind, having his back as always. They roamed for a while, keeping well away from the border with the Far Hills pack. Something always called faintly to him from there but he put it down to trickery. Still, the wind ruffling his fur made Liam uneasy and he turned for home earlier than he would have liked.

An unwelcome surprise awaited in the form of Olivia Field, who was draped all over his cousin, Henry. Her skirt was short enough to rival Pamela’s and those high heels were obviously new given the way she was tottering. Or was that just an excuse to have his Gamma’s arm around her?

“Where’s Nell?” he demanded, fearing the worst.

“Oh, she refused to return, Alpha. Will I do?”

“What do you know about childcare?”

He stormed off without waiting for an answer. This was intolerable. There was only one thing for it: he would have to go himself to fetch her back.

Jack could barely keep up with him. He was saying something no doubt placatory but Liam couldn’t hear him for the roaring in his head.

He gunned the engine like a much younger man, though didn’t object when his Beta swung his slighter frame in beside him. They were taking the jeep simply because he had been assured only yesterday the tank was full. Heads would roll if that wasn’t the case.

“There’s probably a perfectly good explanation,” Jack was saying, though he had to shout to be heard above the wind.

“Do me a favour,” Liam said. “Shut up.”

“But she’s bonded with Fallon. I don’t understand it.”

“It’s quite simple,” he stated. “Nell fooled the lot of us. She’s broken a vow she made to me and I’m going to make sure she never does anything like that again.”

His Beta shook his head, muttering something about a toxic family.

Liam closed his ears to that. He couldn’t afford to become distracted from his purpose. The little human had caused him to lose face with his pack and needed to be taught a lesson.

Just for a second the Alpha thought he heard strange, lilting voices coming from the direction of the forest. It made him feel weird and almost led him to question his own behaviour and motives.

Then he reminded himself he was the second son of Edward and Martha Marchant, from a renowned line of werewolves. Nothing and no-one would ever get the better of him.

He left it to Jack to hammer on the door. If it had been up to him he would have torn down the insulting sign and snapped it in two.

When the woman came to open up, he heard the sound of bolts being drawn back.

It was obvious to him that her smile was false. “Is something the matter, Alpha?”

“Where’s your daughter, Mrs Field?”

“But I sent her back with your driver.” She clutched her chest in dramatic fashion. “Has something happened?”

Sensing his barely controlled fury, Jack stepped in, saying “The Alpha is referring to Nell. They had an agreement. I trust your husband is recovering?”

Now the woman looked frightened. What was she hiding?

“Nell!” he shouted. “Come out here at once.”

The squeaking sound did not belong to the wretched sign but was the result of someone attempting to open a window on the upper floor. A head appeared and, just for a brief moment, he allowed the relief to wash over him.

“I can’t, Alpha,” she said. “I’m locked in.”

“Is this true?” he demanded of her mother.

“She kept threatening to run away, as well as refusing to return. What could I do?”

“Give me the key,” he insisted.

“It’s still in the lock.”

“I don’t have time for this,” he snarled, pushing past her and heading up the stairs.

Behind him, he could hear Jack trying to engage the woman in conversation.

In no time at all he was flinging the door wide only to see an apprehensive Nell clutching a backpack.

“I’m sorry about your credit card,” she blurted.

“Hand it over,” he snarled. “Or do you expect me to believe you lost it?”

“Liv took it. She’s far stronger than me.”

“A likely story.” He eyed the bulging backpack. “Going somewhere?”

“I was planning to come back. Honestly.”

“That’s not what your mom says.”

“So, you’re choosing to believe her over me? Typical. Why should you be any different from anyone else?”

“You haven’t even asked after Fallon.”

There was a softening in her face which told its own story. “How is she?”

“Fretful,” he said, and saw that he had hit a nerve.

“Do you still want me to be her live-in nanny? After all this, I mean.”

“That and so much more,” he replied. “I’m going to work you so hard you’ll wish you’d never been born.”