2: Arrogant Alpha

FEYRE

“What is going on?” The new man speaks, his voice is cold, deep and soothing all at once. He averts his gaze from me and something settles in my lower stomach. I can’t take my eyes off him, his dark hair that is slightly messy and the deep frown set in his lips. “You said it was an emergency.” He isn’t talking to me, his voice still retaining the coldness.

It makes a shiver run down my spine.

Surely, he felt what I did. I saw his eyes dilate before his gaze returned to their cold gray. Cool and mysterious, like the night sky. Can’t he see that we’re mates? Why isn’t he recognizing and acknowledging that?

“Her friend got injured, they said around here and it was a rogue.” A hum rumbles from his throat. My body warms, though he isn’t referring to me. He is not even looking at me but I’m almost melting from just his presence.

“And how sure are you that she is telling the truth?” my eyes snap to his, gray eyes stare back at me with no ounce of warmth or emotions in sight.

“I wouldn’t lie when my friend is badly hurt. I can’t get back to my pack until I’m sure she is going to be alright, so, either you help me or you can let others do it.” I hear a soft snicker that gets swallowed down by a cough.

I look at the man that is supposedly my mate and his jaw is clenched, he looks even more angry if that is possible.

“Have someone check around the borders, don’t stop until you find that rogue.” He commands, completely ignoring my comment. “Search her and bring her friend to the infirmary, then message her alpha. He shouldn’t let his members get far from their nests.”

My jaw clenches and I glare at him, the insult refusing to simply roll off my back.

“I have called my alpha and I can handle myself pretty well,” you annoying arrogant prick. I don’t add that part of course.

The man, who I realize I still don’t know the name of, pauses, he stares at me with an indecipherable expression on his face. I ball my hands into fists, in an attempt to stop it from shaking. My heart thankfully is on board with me, keeping a steady beat. It wouldn’t have been exactly savvy if they all could hear how unsteady it is beating.

“Call the alpha.” He gives that command, his eyes still on me, daring me silently to defy and talk back at him again. And I want to, I so badly want to. The weight of Cami’s body on my thighs draws my attention back to her and I decide to let it go and be the bigger person.

I hear his retreating footsteps, along with two of the other men. I don’t look up, my shaky fingers brushing the hair that is matted with blood away from my friend’s forehead.

“Let me help you,” before I can argue, large arms cover mine and pick Cami up off the floor and from my thighs. He doesn’t look like he is lifting a person as he turns over his shoulder and nods at me. “I’m Dylan by the way, I’m the beta.” I nod, though it was already obvious from his aura. “That is our alpha, Zade.”

I don’t say anything because the name somehow fits him. Not very welcoming and cold.

“We should get her to the infirmary, I’m guessing you want to stay with her?” I nod and quickly follow behind him, getting in step with him.

There’s a car waiting when we reach the end of a trail, it’s a very short trek. I climb into the backseat and he lays Cami beside me, her head on my thigh. I run my hand through her hair, assuring her silently that she’ll be fine although I’m not sure she can hear me.

Dylan hops in the front seat, one of the other men he first came with settles in the driver’s seat and the car begins to move. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, feeling grateful that they are at least helping us. Even though their alpha is a big douche.

I can’t think of one excuse why he would refuse to acknowledge that we’re mates, I tried to convince myself that I probably just confused the feelings for something else. Except I know it wasn’t like that with the other man. He is my mate!

Why didn’t he accept it?

Dylan gets off first when we reach their pack’s hospital, two nurses and a doctor are already waiting for us out front with a stretcher. The process of rushing her in and checking her vitals is quick.

“Why isn’t she healing?” Beta Dylan asks after she is taken into the emergency room and we’re settled in the reception.

I look down at my fingers that still have Cami’s blood on them. I think of telling him she is a healer and thus can’t heal herself. That is a major downside of having the healing ability. You don’t heal yourself like normal wolves do. Most of our pack members are healers, it’s why we have healing potions. Since there is nothing they can do for themselves.

“She has a slow metabolism,” the lie easily rolls past my tongue. He looks skeptical but only nods.

He knows the pack I come from and it’s not exactly a secret, but I choose to rather be safe than sorry.

The doctor comes out to tell us that Cami is fine and she is currently sleeping, I ask if I can see her. The yes doesn’t make it past his lips before I’m up on my feet and running toward her room. Dylan is hot on my heels and he steers me in the right direction.

My heart breaks when I find Cami looking frail on the bed, with a bandage wrapped around her hair. I run my hand over the back of hers and sigh.

“You’ll be fine,” I whisper quietly, low enough that the man behind me doesn’t hear.

“The rogue got caught.” Beta Dylan says from behind me a few seconds later, he nods toward the door. I quietly follow him, thoughts of possibly seeing my mate has the hairs on the back of my arms rising. I wrap my arms around me to warm myself, the sudden chill in the air makes me feel uncomfortable.

“It’s a short walk,” I shrug. The fresh air might just be what I need before I’m forced to be in a space with my mate that refuses to act like he is my mate.

We walk silently, I’m not even in the right space of mind to look around the pack. I’ve heard of its beauty, it is one of the biggest and strongest packs around America. Which makes a thought come to my head and I frown.

“Everything okay?” Dylan notices and asks.

“How did a rogue get past your security if you so easily caught up to us?” I ask the one question that is bugging me.

“Oh, he wasn’t trespassing. His link hasn't been severed from the pack,” I stare at him, waiting for him to elaborate because that doesn’t make any sense. He sighs and runs a hand through his short cropped blond hair. “He attacked a teenage girl a few days ago, he didn’t hurt her, thankfully. So to avoid a repeat, the alpha banished him this morning after a trial.” I nod in understanding, a cold shiver running down my spine.

“Oh, that’s bad.” He shrugs.

“Well, now he is definitely not just getting off with banishment.” He cocks his head to the side, my eyes following where he is pointing at.

There is a small crowd gathered, and my heart skips a beat when I find the alpha—Zade—my mate, standing on a makeshift podium in front of about a hundred or more people. He is speaking to them in the same voice he’d used earlier. It is like it would kill him if he sounded anything but bored and cold.

“On his third offense, the verdict has changed from banishment to execution, as he poses a threat to our families and pack.” As soon as the word is out, I watch him take out a silver knife and walk toward the man on his knees. There is a cold calculated look in his eyes and I hold my breath, waiting for his next move.

He slits the man’s throat, without even blinking. There is no gasp of surprise or shriek of horror, the whole place is as silent as a graveyard as the man’s choking stops. He wipes the blood off the knife with a rag handed to him by one of his warriors, most probably. He turns and addresses his people.

“This should serve as a warning to you all. Disobedience and any act or insubordination will not be taken lightly.” He walks off, they part as he passes, his steps gentle and unbothered, like he didn’t just kill a man. A terrible man, but still.

“Why are you still standing?” he says to Dylan, not even looking at me. His beta nudges me to keep walking and I do so, wordlessly. “Escort her and her friend back to their pack. I want them off my land as soon as possible.” I glare at his back as he turns and walks off.

I glare at his back, feeling anger burning up my throat. I ball my hands into fists to stop myself from doing anything crazy or dumb, like following him and punching him in the jaw. That wouldn’t be very smart of me.

“A car is ready, and I’ll drive you back to your pack once the doctor is sure your friend is safe to travel.” It is a short drive, I know how uncomfortable it might be for Cami to get in a car without proper care, so I don’t argue.

“Are you ready to go back?” Beta Dylan asks, sticking his thumb out and pointing behind him at the direction we came from. I look at where my mate disappeared through. I shake whatever dumb thought I’m having and nod at the nice man who is still waiting for my reply.

We turn and head back to the hospital, true to his word, Cami is already tucked into a hospital van and they ask if I want to join her, I nod eagerly. I’m surprised when the beta slips in after me but I don’t say anything. The ride back to the border is silent and I’m not surprised when we meet a fleet of cars waiting.

“Guess your alpha is here,” I hum in response as the doors get opened and he steps out first. He gives me his hand which I take gratefully. I’m surprised by how he is very different from his alpha.

I don’t wait for anyone to talk when I get down from the car, Asher is getting out of his SUV at the same time. His footsteps are hurried when he sees me and I throw my arms around him the moment he comes close enough.