The Wanted Alpha

Chapter 29 - Surprises

April

"...Lillian? Nina?"

This couldn't be possible.

I could feel the tears slipping down my cheeks as I looked at the pair of ghosts sat in front of me.

I saw the orphanage burn.

They had been locked inside.

"...How?"

I didn't even know who I was asking the question to.

How were they alive?

How did Ethan find them?

"Hey darlin', gosh you grew up so pretty" Lillian smiled tearily, with that thick Texan accent I remembered.

"Alpha Ethan here got in contact yesterday. We were a little worried at first, thinking he might have been with those awful men when he mentioned your name...but when he said he was your mate and you were safe with him...April I'm so sorry we couldn't stop them taking you" Nina sobbed, breaking down at the end and making my own tears fall harder.

"No, no, it's not your fault. They would have killed you...I thought they had…" as images of that day flashed in mind, I felt my own floodgates open and my face crumpled with the pain that I thought I had lost two of the most wonderful mother figures in my life.

Ethan raised himself up a little to engulf me in a hug, stroking my hair and wiping my eyes clear.

"Oh my! April...is this him? We've only spoken to him on the phone, but...wow, our lil' darlin' done good for herself!" Lillian laughed through her soft sobs and though Ethan smiled politely, I could see the little pink tinge to his cheeks.

I took a deep breath, calming myself a little "yeah, he's pretty terrific" I said softly, looking at him with such adoration at all the astounding things this man had done for me.

"How did you make it out?...did anyone…?" I left the question hanging. I needed to know if anyone did die that day...but I really didn't want to know if they had.

"No, we all made it out. The house was lost, sure. But we didn't lose the most important things. When those men barred the doors, they didn't do the attic. The kids were pretty shaken up, but all fine, no injuries either. We didn't know who'd taken you or why, it wasn't until Alpha Ethan here filled us in yesterday" Nina spoke now that her sobs had calmed down.

"I didn't actually know they were still alive, I just figured I should call the Alpha of Red Shield and give them some closure on why the orphanage had been attacked…so this came as a surprise to me too" Ethan said as his thumb slowly circled my hand 'I scheduled all of this for the morning, but I wasn't expecting to mate and mark last night, soooo…' 

I was glad he had said that last bit over mind-link, I didn't need the two women who had almost been like mothers to me hearing about me being mated...that would be mortifying. Although they may have already noticed the bright red mark on my neck, it would eventually fade to a pinky-silver colour but for now it would be highly noticeable. 

We spoke a while longer about how the other kids I had known were doing. Nina and Lillian were still taking in pups that needed a home, not that there were many these days but I was glad they were still putting their mothering skills to use. Lillian had enthusiastically asked how Ethan and I met...which had been a little awkward as it wasn't exactly the stuff of dreams. But Ethan was forthright in what happened and explained himself, despite the scrutinising looks of the two women in front of him. I tried to keep my time in captivity and as a rogue as vague as possible. They didn't need to know the horrible details, just that I was now safe and very much loved. 

Still, Nina had pressed about Monkshood Moon pack though.

"Oh, honey you must've been so scared. They didn't hurt you, did they? Or...touch you?" she whispered, barely containing her tears again.

"No never, the one guard that grabbed my arm too hard once...I never saw again. The few pack I saw were too scared to even look at me. I know this sounds weird, but, it was pretty uneventful there, I guess? If you ignore the impending doom. Really, nothing happened, they didn't touch me or starve me."

This seemed to ease her worries a little but she didn't ask further on my experiences as a rogue, those details I don't think she could take.

"When all this is over, when it's safe for everyone, I'll be sure to bring April to see you. Maybe even stay for a while?" Ethan offered, which made the two of them practically beam with excitement.

"You'd better bring my girl, Alpha. And when you do, I'll be sure to make my famous hushpuppies for y'all" Lillian enthused. 

Now I was excited. Lillian was an amazing cook and I remember her making a whole host of southern comfort foods, my favourite being her hushpuppies; I could probably devour an entire plate just to myself...and as a child I may have done that already.

With a long and as equally teary goodbye they logged off the screen, leaving me more emotionally exhausted than I had ever felt, more so than when I had woken late this morning. I dried the last of my tears, already feeling as though my face was a puffy mess and leaned back in Ethan's plush leather office chair trying to digest these last two hours.

"Hey, you ok?" My mate asked softly.

"Yeah...it's just...I thought they were dead, all of them, all because of me...a lot of things I thought were true don't actually seem to be the case these days" I had barely been in this pack four days and my entire perception of my life had changed.

"I'm sorry, I know how hard this has gotta be for you."

"No, don't be. Because of you, I know more about myself than I have my whole life" I said, leaning my forehead against his. 

My arms snaked around his neck, holding him close as I felt the tears I thought I had run out of slip once again.

'I don't even know why I'm crying again' I sniffled into his neck, I could almost feel his wolf inside my head nuzzling August in comfort.

'It's ok, I've kinda dropped a few bombs on you lately. It's just a little overwhelming is all' he soothed, stroking my hair.

'Do you wanna go back to bed?'

I removed my face from his neck "no...I really wanna go run. I need to burn all of this off" I gestured to myself and the angst I was still carrying, while my wolf practically vibrated in agreement "that's ok, right?"

When most wolves felt pent up, they were free to run but I had never had that freedom. I had spent so much of my life having to repress my feelings out of fear of being caught. But now I did have that freedom, I would seize it every chance I got.

"Yeah, of course. Sweet, you never need to ask for permission from me for anything. But I am hoping that was an invitation to join this time" he said with a sly grin.

"I'm pretty certain August would refuse to even shift without you" I half smiled at him, still feeling the sting in my eyes.

He took my hand after grabbing a bag for our clothes and led us out to the woods. Snow fell delicately, coating the landscape in a new, crisp, white carpet, my wolf already eager to roll around and leave her footprints in the fresh snow. And sure enough as soon as I shifted and gave her control she dove into the biggest pile of snow and proceeded to zoom around like a pup.

'You both feeling better now?' Ethan's voice chuckled in my mind.

'Just a little' I laughed back 'maybe we should just leave them to it...I think August wants to do more than play with Ezra' I could already feel my wolf growing excited with want, I had mated with my male so she deserved to mate with her's. 

----------

It was well into the night by the time we returned home. When I had shifted back, even my human skin had a sheen of sweat under the dim light of a cloudy moon. I felt exhausted but so much better...and also incredibly hungry. On cue my stomach grumbled loudly, now used to being fed regularly and plentifully. Ethan stepped up behind me, lifting me in surprise, bridal style.

"I'm not putting you down, so don't bother asking. You need to save your energy, all you've eaten today is mushroom omelette" he said, leaving no room for argument.

'And I need you with plenty of energy for later. If you think I can stand seeing my wolf have his fun without having a little myself, you're very mistaken' he smirked, eliciting an instant reaction from my body, one which he smelt instantly judging by his quiet growl and swirling black eyes.

The tail end of dinner service was concluding in the dining hall, but there was still plenty for the two of us. The pack members still lingering sent us warm congratulations on becoming a marked couple, news seemed to have spread fast. I had been welcomed almost unanimously, I hadn't yet met any resistance I thought I would with me being a former rogue. But then again if Ethan had the intimidating and hard reputation in his pack that I had heard of, maybe they just didn't dare voice their opposition.

After a quick shower and change into one of my mates' wonderfully soft and warm brushed cotton shirts, I laid on the bed waiting for him. He had to quickly go over some schedules, much to his chagrin at not being able to join me in the bathroom. I hadn't even noticed I had drifted off until I felt fluttering kisses on my leg, high up on my thigh along with the tingles of the mate bond now much stronger after being marked.

"Mmmm, that's a nice way to wake up" I murmured as I came to from a mild haze.

"And you were a nice sight to come home to, all naked in just my shirt, legs all sprawled out for me to kiss" accentuating his point with a little nip, sending a shiver down my spine.

Without warning his nose trailed along my inner thigh and along my slit, with his tongue in hot pursuit making me moan out his name. He gripped my hips firmly and plunged his finger deep and hard within me, while his lips nipped, sucked and licked my clit without rest until I trembled and cried out violently. His tongue took over his fingers, lapping all of me up and prolonging my climax. 

As I caught my breath from the sudden but very welcome intrusion, I felt my covering being quickly unbuttoned.

"A little eager Mr. Alpha?" I laughed softly at his impatience.

"Every part of you has been on my mind for weeks...so yeah, I'm kinda motivated" he grinned.

Just his hungry gaze alone on my skin made it buzz with excitement, as though it were his fingers grazing over my slight curves. 

'You should turn around, he'll love our submission as much as our dominance' my wolf encouraged.

I had to admit, the idea of him behind me...taking me…did send a thrill through my spine, though part of me wanted to face him and feel his skin upon mine as much as possible. I went to turn over but his hand caught my arm, pulling me back.

"Don't…" it came as a plea from him rather than a demand, with an edge of pain to his voice.

He pulled me to face him fully "don't turn away, I need to see you" he implored, stroking my face.

"Ok" I nodded with a smile.

He rolled us over so I was on top "this is the view I wanna see."

I was a little nervous in this position, I wasn't sure what I needed to do or how to move. Ethan's warm, reassuring hands gripped my hips moving me further down over his appendage, nestling it against my front. I ran my finger tips along its underside, loving the contrast of the soft, velvety feeling and the hard, rigidity of his skin. I could see he was getting a little impatient despite the fact he was obviously enjoying my teasing. So I guided his glistening shaft, sinking myself down onto him, the two of us groaning in pleasure at the contact. I felt a slight sting, but nothing as I had felt yesterday and the tingles from the mate bond already making my body shudder.

'Just feel your own rhythm, don't be embarrassed to try what you want' he mind-linked, as his chest rumbled in sensual growls.

Leaning over him with my hands on his shoulders, I found my own pace, his hands helping me ride his hips as he met my thrusts. As my moans grew louder and my thighs quaked with exertion, his own pace quickened, pounding into me with more strength. I felt his length hitting that sweet spot on every thrust, as my peak came within reach making me scream his name as I climaxed. With a final thrust, I felt a heat explode as he came, roaring. I collapsed on his chest, utterly spent, feeling him hug me to his skin.

'Goddess, I love you, sweet.'

'I love you, so much, too' even the voice in my mind sounded spent.

He rolled me gently, pulling out with a groan. I could already feel my eyelids drooping as he wiped me with something warm and damp. He pulled my body against his own, keeping me pressed against him with his spicy citrus scent burrowing into my nose, sleep claiming us both within seconds.

Chapter 30 - The Wanted Alpha