The Wanted Alpha

Chapter 13 - Locating

April

How in the hell had my mate found me? Why had he even tried to track me down?

If Ethan thought he could just take me and lock me away in a cell again he had another thing coming. I had lived that life and I wasn't about to live it again, I was no Alpha's property to own!

I dove into the woodlands, flitting between the trees. The trees and foliage were bare of leaves so there was nothing to obstruct his view as he pursued me and I could feel he was slowly gaining on me.

"Just…"

"...Wait!" He shouted, between breaths and avoiding branches that twanged back in his direction.

I ran down a small dip, heading towards a huge maple that had uprooted. There was a small gap I could slide under that certainly wasn't big enough for this Alpha's bulky frame and he would waste time trying to climb over it or go around. I skidded under it, rolling forward to stand and run again. After a few minutes I realised I could hear nothing behind me. I stole a glance over my shoulder and saw nobody behind me...had I lost him? No, I could still feel him nearby and wafts of his wonderful peppery citrus scent were swirling around the forest. But where was he? I started to back up, looking around me. I headed towards the hill that descended down towards the river, it would be freezing but maybe he'd lose my trail if I crossed it. 

I started to run and slide down the steep side, I was half way down when I spotted his figure emerge from the bend in the river. I tried running in the opposite direction but my feet slid from under me, causing me to tumble and roll straight off of a short, rocky cliff...and right into my mates outstretched hands. The fall knocked us both to the ground, sending us rolling a little together but his arms kept me securely in his embrace. He landed on top of me and I immediately started to push him off and hit his chest, in some vain attempt to escape him. He gently took my wrists pinning them on either side of my head to halt my thrashing, but it was the sparks from the mate bond exploding through my skin that stopped me. I turned my head away from him, unable to look into his eyes and shut my own tight. I felt my lip betray me as it trembled, fearing whatever may come.

"Please don't be scared. I'm not gonna hurt you," he uttered, softly.

I felt him release my wrists and his hand tenderly stroked my cheek, turning my face up to his, encouraging me to look at him. I tentatively opened my eyes and was met by his deep brown ones peering down on me, a beautiful small smile gracing his face. Goddess, he was so handsome, far more so than the image that would flash in my memory or dreams. I noticed his other forearm was by my head, bracing his body above mine. I realised how intimate this position was now that I had stopped resisting and I couldn't stop the heat radiating from my cheeks. My reaction must have been evident on my face as his smile morphed into a small smirk. I averted my eyes again, now for a whole other reason, feeling a little embarrassed. He pressed his forehead against mine, nuzzling his nose against my own; a deep sign of trust and adoration for one's mate.

"I have to know, what's your name? Please, it's been driving me insane," he breathed against my lips.

It was something I had told virtually no-one. Outside of my family, the Monkshood Moon pack and that rogue who had helped me, I was simply a nameless figure. Which is what I wanted...until now.

"...April," I whispered.

He hummed my name, repeating the syllables, as if it was the most perfect word he had ever spoken.

"I'm Ethan," he whispered back.

"...I know."

This was the most I had actually spoken to him, besides the two words I had barely croaked out on our first meeting. He raised his head up to look down at me again, continuing to stroke my cheek.

"I'm so sorry, for everything I did, for everything I put you through, for ever hurting you," he paused to wipe the tear that had slipped from my eye at his regretful apology. "I don't want to ever see you cry because of me again."

I offered him a small smile which seemed to transform his features from pained to elated. He knelt up pulling me with him, his hands circling my waist and cheek to keep me close.

"Will you come with me?" He asked hopefully "just to talk" he rushed out.

"If afterwards, you still want to go...if you want to leave…" he looked pained at just the notion that I would leave him again and seemed unable to finish his sentence.

I wanted to ask my wolf what she thought, if she felt anything off. But she had been silent from the moment Ethan's arms had circled around me. I wondered whether she was linking with his wolf as she had never ignored me like this before. If she was communicating with her mate, then I suppose I should with mine.

"Ok," I agreed.

His smile broke across his face, revealing little dimples I hadn't seen before that in turn made my own smile breakout. He stood, holding my hands and pulling me up but only released one of them, lacing his fingers through my own. Without thinking, my free hand came up to run through his hair and remove the couple of dead leaves. He seemed to sigh at the contact, grasping it as I caressed his cheek and placed a chaste kiss on the back of it, making my own stomach flip and heat pool in my cheeks.

He led us up the river then up the incline, heading back towards the human town he spotted me in. As we walked amongst the trees, I was reminded of the dreams I had when I was in his pack, where we stood beside a lily pond...just like this. I looked down at our joined hands where his thumb gently rubbed circles on the back of my own, smiling at the memory.

"What is it?"

I looked up at him, seeing that same expression from my dream, the one I never thought I would ever actually see.

"It's nothing, really," I was too embarrassed to say I'd dreamt about him to his face.

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly disbelieving that it was 'nothing'. I pursed my lips together already feeling my cheeks heat with what I was about to say.

"It was just a dream I had a few times...in your pack…where we held hands like this," goddess, I felt so silly admitting all of this to him.

His brows furrowed as though in confusion. Great, did he think I was some weirdo now?

"By a lily pond?" he asked.

...How did he know?!

He must have read my wide-eyed state as confirmation to his question.

"I had the same one...each night."

How was this possible? Was it the bond? Urging us to go to each other, showing us a glimpse of what we could have?

"I can take you there, if you want? That pond isn't far from my pack house. I go there sometimes on my own, it's where my mother's ashes are spread...and my dad's," his eyes held a rueful sorrow at the mention of his parents. He had lost his too.

"I'd like that," I didn't know whether I should be going back to his pack, but the notion of me returning with him brought that light back to his eyes.

"Wait, what is your pack? I never did get its name?" I asked

"White Tree."

"Oh" I said with a small smile, what a coincidence.

The look he gave me prompted me to continue.

"My pack's name was White Leaf, it's just a strange coincidence is all."

"Almost like it was meant to be...wait, 'was'?" His smile faltered, as he registered my words.

I nodded in confirmation. That was a long story, one that was probably not best suited to have in the middle of the woods. He seemed to understand that here was probably not the best place to have this heart-to-heart and didn't ask about it further.

We walked hand in hand back into the town, heading towards the large Inn at the edge of the settlement. In the few days I had been here, I had become quite fond of the place. It had that old, American charm and because it was a human town, it was all decked out in lights and decorations for the upcoming holidays in a few weeks. Wolves didn't celebrate things like Christmas as the humans did, although we did observe them as many of our packs contained human pack members. We had our own holidays, the one that was fast approaching was Winter Solstice - our version of Christmas. The shortest day of the year marked the longest period that the moon would shine, providing it didn't fall on a lunar eclipse. And for us wolves, it was our chance to give thanks for the blessings our moon goddess bestowed upon us. 

I had passed the Inn before, it was a grand building, built in wood paneling and stone and was covered in lights and Christmas trees with immaculate grounds. It was a place I could never afford to step inside let alone stay the night and now I felt incredibly self conscious at my scruffy state. Ethan was unperturbed and stepped straight up the staircase, the doorman hurriedly opening the door for us both with a friendly smile.

"Thank you," my mate uttered to the man as we passed by.

We headed straight for the grand, central staircase by the reception but before we could take a step, a hotel receptionist briskly walked over.

"Alpha Bowman, you had a few messages while you were out," she said as she passed him a small card, she looked to me giving me a small smile before looking back to Ethan. "Is there anything I can get you and your guest?"

"We'll be ordering room service soon."

"Absolutely, I'll make sure it's started on and brought up as soon as you place your order sir. You two have a nice afternoon," she left after that to go back to her desk and other customers.

Bowman, that must be his family name. Ethan Bowman, I liked it.

As we walked up the stairs he turned his head to ask, "can I ask your family name?"

"Brooker."

"April Brooker, it's a beautiful name," he had that dreamy smile on his face, the one that drew his dimples out.

"I like yours too," I admitted, returning his smile.

We reached the top floor a few flights up and headed to a set of large double doors. He opened the door for me, allowing me to step in ahead of him and my jaw dropped at the beauty of the room.

"I don't normally care about the room I stay in, but I was hoping to find you...and I wanted the best...for you," he had a slight pink hue to his cheeks as he spoke.

He did all this for me?

Chapter 14 - The Wanted Alpha