A Gold Alpha For A Silver Alpha
Chapter 30

(...)

We kissed for what felt like hours. We couldn't get enough of each other, and for fear of breaking the magical moment we didn't get up from where we were. Occasionally we would stop and stare at each other, my fingers unrestrained and caressing her face, her arms, her neck. Rae would squeeze my shoulders, intertwine our fingers, and nuzzle our noses.

It wasn't until she accidentally turned her head quickly and let out a whimper that I remembered she was hurt. Not caring that she was mad at me, I got up from where we were and carried her to the bed. She saw me with a killing look that had made me tremble a long time ago but no longer had the same effect. I gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before pulling away.

-Don't look at me like that, the doctor's words are my orders, you're going to get better and then we can get on with it.

She snorted in annoyance, rolled her eyes, folded her arms and clicked her tongue.

I burst out laughing.

-I can't believe it, the great Rae McKensie is throwing a tantrum, the most feared Alpha, what would our enemies say to see you like this?

A lovely pink colour flooded her cheeks and I opened my mouth in disbelief.

-Did you just blush?

Before I could make another comment she used a nearby pillow and hit me on the head. I groaned and looked at her wrong.

-I'm just trying to take care of you so you get well soon and you mistreat me, you're really mean," I said.

My mate's eyes shine with my words, and with her hands she makes a sign as if she was writing on her hand, and with that I know that she wants the notebook so she can tell me something. I look around until I replace it lying on the floor, probably because of our scene earlier. I pick it up and give it to her along with the pen. She writes something, but I don't read it because I'm so focused on admiring her.

How lucky we are to have her Jason.

Yes we are, little wolf.

We'll have to stop fooling around if we want her by our side.

Speak for yourself Mack, I always behave myself.

Please...

Rae clears her throat and makes me pay attention, a simple question is written in her neat handwriting.

Do you really want to help me recover faster?

I watch her with an arched eyebrow and an impish grin.

-What does the Alpha have in mind, I'm at her beck and call.

I say in a flirtatious tone, which earns me another smack, she points a serious finger at me to take things seriously and I hold up my hands in peace.

Rae bites her lip and looks nervous, using an entire blank sheet of paper to write a single word in neat handwriting.

Mark me.

I blink rapidly and have to read it three times before my brain actually processes it. I turn to look at her, and she fiddles with her hair nervously, waiting for my reaction.

-Rae, as much as I want to do this, you're in no condition right now, your body needs rest.

I try to control Mack, who is dying to get out and obey his mate's request. But the rational part of me makes him think of her before me. Rae gives me a small smile and goes back to writing.

It's true my body is tired, it's been an intense few days, not just physically, my soul is exhausted, but Jason, you are my mate, if you mark me and the mate bond finally settles you will give me an energy boost so to speak. My wounds will heal faster, and we will finally be together, we will share the bond, and all the other things the mark represents.

I read everything, but I wasn't quite sure yet.

-Are you sure?

I asked him, and he quickly gave me an answer.

Very sure, I've seen it happen before, with members of my pack.

I nod my head in agreement.

She writes one last thing.

After you bite me I will be weak and sleep a lot, probably all day, so take the opportunity to go and sort out the pack's unfinished business. Remember we still don't know who took that woman. Also tell Logan and Dannia what happened between us. -All right.

I say as my eyes finish reading. And I calmly take the notebook from her hands with the pen in it. I put it aside. I slowly approach as I caress my female's bare legs. She shudders and I see her skin bristle, but she doesn't move from where she is. In one motion I pull her by her thighs to lay her down on the bed. A sound of shock comes from her throat and she swallows nervously.

A smile of superiority and pure male pride stretches my lips, I've never seen Rae in this position of vulnerability before, and I doubt I'll ever see her again. My mate was a f*****g strong woman, and irritatingly self-sufficient.

Careful not to crush her I move closer and closer, my hands brushing the hair from her face, and again I stand in awe at the sight of those silver orbs. My body leans in and my lips caress her cheekbone, just a light touch and she lets out a sigh. I turn my face and do the same on the other cheekbone. I spread the small kisses across her nose, her eyelids, and the corners of her lips. Rae moans when I kiss her lightly, and I just wink at her.

-Don't be impatient little wolf.

I lean in and whisper in her ear, then with my teeth I tug on her earlobe and she reflexively arches her body, my nose tracing the path to her neck, and I tense as I see the marks of my fingers there. Willing to correct my mistake I begin to kiss her skin at length, and explore with my tongue and then blow to make her skin more sensitive than it already is. Rae gasps and her hands squeeze my shoulders. Which turns me on. I pull back a little, and my pupils dilate as I watch her writhing beneath me, her face red, her lips parted, her eyes closed.

My hands caress her thighs and calmly move to the edge of my t-shirt that covers her body and begin to play with it, I use my thumbs to caress the skin of her hip and tantalise her.

She sees me in annoyance and gives me a meaningful look. Here was the Rae I knew and loved. With a wolfish grin I clasp my hands together in the centre of the T-shirt and without any remorse I rip it off with one tug. I remove what's left of the annoying garment and marvel at the beautiful sight of her naked from the waist up. Uncontrollably I lean down and kiss her navel. Rae squirms and my hands push her still. I nibble a little on the skin of her playful belly. And I leave a trail of kisses from that point to the middle of her breasts where I stop and look into her eyes.

My fingers brush against that sensitive pink flesh and Rae stirs harder, looking up at me pleading for my touch, but I shake my head.

-When you're healthy, there'll be plenty of time to have fun and show you how your whole body belongs to me.

I tell her, my voice hoarse with excitement.

I leave kisses again, from her heart to her left shoulder, my hands caress her waist up and down, and my lips along with my tongue play with the skin there, I tilt my head and move closer to the junction of her neck and shoulder, my teeth bite her gently and my mate gasps loudly, one of her legs moves and wraps around me in an attempt to pull me closer to her body.

I pull away and without thinking our mouths join. The kiss is different from the previous ones, it's raw, hard and purely territorial, without permission my tongue invades his mouth and runs all over it. I'm in control and it feels f*****g good. I pull away suddenly and watch her gasp for air. I give her a peck and then pull out my fangs. I finally get close to that spot that was irritated by my playful bite, with precision and gentleness I bite her. My canines piercing her skin.

Rae lets out a little cry and her leg pushes me further. I stand there for a few moments before pulling away. I lick the bite to help it heal and give her lots of kisses all around. Finally I pull away completely, and I watch as his eyes slowly begin to weigh him down. I feel that thread between us, the one that once almost broke because of my stupidity, grow strong and glow, as if it were something solid and tangible between us. A yawn leaves his lips and a shaky smile makes my soul tremble.

I love you.

I hear his voice in my head loud and clear. And I don't hesitate to kiss her again.

-I love you too, now rest, I promise I'll be here when you wake up.

She nods and a second later closes her eyes and falls asleep.

I stare at her for a few moments before getting out of bed, it weighs on my soul to leave her in this state, but Rae is right, I should take the opportunity to check on everyone.

My feet go to my wardrobe to pull out a pair of blue jeans, a grey t-shirt and a pair of trainers. I get dressed with no time to waste. I approach the sleeping body of my female and give her a chaste kiss on those lips that drive me crazy and then leave the room, closing the door behind me.

I trot down the stairs and am pleasantly impressed to see my mansion clean from all the wreckage. I approach the kitchen, as the dining room was temporarily closed.

Maybe we should tear down the building again and design a home from scratch with Rae.

Mack tells me over the link and I agree.

F**k, a home, a real home with her.

A goofy grin appears on my face and it doesn't fade even when I walk into the kitchen and see the Beta and Delta in my mate glaring at me while Noel looks at me with a raised eyebrow at my good humour.

-Good morning, I hope you all had a pleasant evening.

I say in a friendly tone, Dannia snorts and Logan nudges her. Noel smiles and replies.

-Not as nice as yours it seems.

-My night was good, but I've had the best wake-up call ever.

I say confidently, moving over and pulling a mug off one of the countertops and pouring myself some coffee.

I feel like I'm in heaven.

-By the way, Rae has asked me to tell you that she is well and that she has decided to stay here, in my pack, by my side, as my mate. I tell them with a beaming smile.

Logan takes a step back and falls over in shock, Dannia chokes on the apple she was eating and Noel has a coughing fit.

-She what?!

Beta shrieks. I shrug nonchalantly at her reactions.

-What you heard, we settled our differences and I marked her as mine, now she's staying by my side, they better get used to the idea of seeing me more often because I'm not going anywhere and she's certainly not going anywhere either.

Logan lets out a curse and stands up. He looks at me angrily, but I hold his gaze and subdue him like they taught me to do, he turns his head and nods. I relax my body realising I was in tension.

My eyes search for my Beta and I speak to him over the link.

Don't say anything about this, for there is nothing to discuss, he is my mate and he will stay by my side, full stop.

As Alpha says.

Now, what do we know about Alexis' whereabouts?

Noel clears his throat and speaks aloud, uncomfortable using the mind-link with others present.

-The guard his mate saved woke up in the middle of the night, and confessed to us that it was indeed vampires who attacked them and took the young lady against her will.

I nod seriously as I think about who might have taken her.

-Do you remember any details that might help us replace her?

Noel nods and answers.

-He said he was pretty sure they arrived after the battle was over, just minutes between the massacre in the basement and when the Alpha rescued him. Also that these vampires were dressed very formally and had a coat of arms sewn into some of their clothing. -What did the coat of arms look like," Logan interjects.

Noel sees me and I nod at him, prompting him to answer the question.

-He can't quite remember, but he's pretty sure it was in shades of green and had some sort of B in the middle.

Logan and Dannia share a look.

-You go.

Logan says firmly to Dannia and Dannia doesn't say goodbye before disappearing out the door in the direction of who knows where.

-You know who that coat of arms belongs to, so you know who took it, don't you?

I suddenly ask angrily. Logan nods and folds his arms before he begins to speak.

-Yes, we know, and you know them too, vampires are ancient and antiquated creatures, luckily for us they abide by the old ways, like the fact that each bloodline has its own coat of arms. The coat of arms that your warrior described, can only belong to one family, and that is the Blacks, maybe the surname alone doesn't tell you anything but maybe if you hear it with a name before you will recognise it easily, Maurice Black-.

Logan narrates and the colour drains from my face, with a demon, why can't we have a few moments of quiet, to my mind come Rae's voice awakening my memories. ...Lord Tantos, his wife Mireya, and their two sons, Peter, the eldest and heir and Maurice, the youngest and newly converted....

-Are you telling me that the family of the animal that has been chasing my mate for almost a millennium has now kidnapped the woman who has my puppy in her womb?

I say with fury marking every word. The male just shrugs his shoulders.

-They never got into Maurice's tantrums, as long as he didn't overstep his boundaries. But clearly they were closer than we thought, because apparently they didn't like the idea of their youngest son being killed.

He says, also annoyed, I think because he didn't notice the closeness earlier. I turn and look at Noel.

-Any wolf that can walk and isn't essential to the repairs is going to go and search the surrounding area for his trail.

I indicate decisively. My Beta nods but grimaces.

-I don't think there will be many, we have too many wounded, and they all want to cooperate with the rebuild, but I'll get a squad and get them on task right away Alpha.

I lock eyes with Noel, and a throat clearing makes us look at Logan again.

-Don't worry about it, our pack will split up, half will help you with the wounded and your city, and the other half will hunt down your aman... I mean, bloodsuckers.

I growl at his use of words but don't stop myself from asking.

-Why would they do that?

He gives me a wry look as if to say, "Are you seriously asking, a*****e?

-Now he's my Alpha's partner even if we don't like it, his people are our people, his family is our family, and we look out for each other, I know if she was in a position Rae would give the order herself.

I thank him and he says nothing more before turning and leaving the kitchen as well. Probably on his way to help organise everything.

-So, you marked her, huh? He says in a mischievous tone.

-Oh shut up. I say annoyed but in a good mood.

Noel just laughs.

-You can't blame me for being curious, how am I going to address her from now on, Alpha, Luna, Her Ladyship?

He says mockingly and I push his shoulder with my arm, he groans and is still recovering from the beating Rae gave him yesterday, which reminds me.

-Shouldn't you be resting, if I remember correctly, yesterday my mate beat you to a pulp in a melee.

He rolls his eyes as he hears me highlight the words my mate.

-Yes, I should, but I was going crazy listening to how everyone was busy helping and I was lying down, Lissa almost tied me to the bed, but she had to leave because of an emergency with a wounded man. -How is the herd?

I ask him worried about my people. He lets out a sigh before answering me.

-We're bad, I'm not going to lie to you, we had several losses, and we have a lot of wounded, many homes were destroyed, but things would have been very different if your mate's pack hadn't shown up to save our skins. So don't worry Alpha, we will come out of this victorious as always.

A proud smile shines on my face, my pack was the best without a doubt, always getting up after falling down.

-Tomorrow I will join the workers for the reconstruction of the buildings, I have to talk to Rae about what will happen to her pack, I have no idea if they will stay or go. But for now I'll grab some food and go back to my room. I promised a beautiful she-wolf that I would be by her side when she woke up and I'm not about to start this relationship by breaking promises.

Noel laughs at me and gives me encouragement, he also teases me that I have finally been tamed, I make some sandwiches and snack on some fruit, it was only noon and Rae told me that she would most likely sleep all day, but I didn't feel good about leaving her alone and helpless for so long.

I put everything on a tray and carefully made my way out the door towards my room.

-Seriously now, I'm glad you're happy with a partner again, you deserve it Jason, you have a mate who is scary as f**k but I'm sure she's going to love you just as much. Ana would have wanted you to be happy.

I feel something warm run through my body.

-Thank you.

And with nothing more to say, I walked out with the food in my hands.

(...)

I spent the whole afternoon in the room with Rae, while she slept I was watching her, taking a shower, tidying my wardrobe, among other things.

And it was because I was paying so much attention to her that I was able to see how the bruises around her neck were disappearing, how each wound closed without leaving a scar, I also saw how the tattoo she had, (the one she got when I rejected her), from a red moon changed to a silver one, and maybe it was just my imagination, but in my eyes her hair shined as well as her skin. Before where that feeling of emptiness and pain that you felt when you approached her now filled her with positive energy. However, the change that pleased me the most was her scent. Apart from her delicious scent that drove me crazy, now I could smell mine as well, both firmly intertwined. I growled like a dog out of pure male satisfaction, and Mack was more unbearable than ever. It wasn't until the sun was beginning to set in the sky that my mate decided it was a good idea to open his eyes.

I was watching the sunset through the window when her slight gasp made me turn to see her, Rae I know was moaning softly as she stretched her arms and legs, I moved immediately to get to her side, and when I did she had already sat up and was rubbing her eyes with one hand while holding the sheet against her chest with the other, depriving me of the beautiful view I had enjoyed and savoured hours before.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Was I out for a long time?

-All day, like you said, how are you feeling? She let out a sigh before answering.

-I feel like I'm not me.

I must have made a grimace that showed I didn't understand what she meant because it didn't take her long to try to explain.

-I mean, I feel different, as if all this time I've been living behind a curtain, one that didn't let me really feel everything, as if all my movements were once controlled like a machine and now I'm able to think for myself. And I think, I feel almost like the human I used to be, am I making myself clear or am I giving it too much thought?

He stuttered as he tried to explain and looked at me with those beautiful mercury wells in his eyes. Where now there was a precious spark of life that didn't shine before. I smiled to reassure her.

-Don't worry, I think I understand you perfectly, after doing what I did to you, and seeing the marks on your skin. I felt like my soul was breaking, I didn't believe that it was me who had caused you all that damage, as if all the anger I had felt before had just evaporated without a trace-.

She saw me cocking her head to one side, that movement of hers that reminded me so much of a bird.

-I felt exactly the same a few hours ago, when I realised what I was about to do if I had seen... that woman, I was horrified at myself, as if my ability to reason things out had been blocked before.

What she said made my head spin. Great, now on top of everything else we had to do we also had to worry about some kind of, virus, that was taking care of us losing our senses. I shook my head, convinced to leave that for later.

-Let's not talk about that right now.

I said with a wolfish grin as I began to approach.

-It's an important subject that we can't take lightly.

He answered but I watched as his pupils dilated and the room began to smell his pheromones and Mack demanded that I save the words for later.

-I'm not saying it's not important, it's just not on my list of priorities right now.

My hands began to slowly pull back the sheet. Rae moistened her lips before speaking again in a husky voice.

-Really, what's on that Alpha list, I mean, if I may ask.

I leaned over and kissed the place where my bite was.

-For example, first of all I'm going to replace out if the whole body of my mate is as delicious as the parts I've already tasted.

And to emphasize my point, my tongue licks the curve of my little wolf's neck. Rae moans.

-What are you waiting for to investigate Alpha?

She says softly, and I pull away and smile at her like a child before playing a prank.

-I'm waiting for her to give me permission, I don't want her to rip my head off later.

I say teasingly, and she lets out a little snort.

-Permission granted.

And she presses her lips to mine.

A sensual battle of tongues, teeth clashing and biting on both sides, Rae tugging hard on my scalp as my hands begin to pull my boxers down to leave her naked.

And that's when we both felt it.

A pair of scents rushing towards our location, and as if Lucifer himself had planned it, the door to the room opened with a clatter as a serious Noel and a sweaty Logan galloped in without asking permission. -Alpha, we have news of...".

But Noel interrupted as soon as he saw the situation we were in, his eyes swept over Rae's body and a blush covered his face.

-DON'T LOOK AT HER.

I roared at him and felt my claws and fangs come out, but three things happened that saved my Beta's life, the first was that Logan grabbed Noel's arm and turned him quickly to look in another direction.

The second was that Rae's hand grabbed my arm and with a strength I had forgotten I had, held me still in place, which only made me grunt more intensely.

And third but not least. At the same time my mate and I sniffed the air, discovering the tinge of putrefaction that now filled the air. And at the same time we also noticed the sheet of paper my mate's Delta was holding in his hand.

Before I could ask them to leave so Rae could put on some clothes and talk, she was quicker and wrapped the sheet around herself in a sort of dress as she shot off in Logan's direction and snatched the sheet from between her fingers.

Her eyes shifted from side to side as she read whatever was on that paper, and her once rosy cheeks paled. I wanted to scold her for being so unpresentable in the presence of other males but the look she gave them told me I should save the jealousy for another

time.

-Where did you get this?

-We were patrolling around the borders when a vampire approached. We chased him, but we couldn't catch him. He left this behind with a garment that the Beta's mate from his mate recognized as Alexis'. The missing woman," Logan answered.

He turned to look at her, and his eyes never left his Alpha's face as he spoke. Out of respect I guess, because if he'd already seen her naked and that's why he didn't care....

Mack growled, demanding blood, but I silenced him, this being an important topic.

-What does the note say?

She handed it to me without saying anything. Once in my hands I could see with my eyes how the problems only increased. The note was not very long, it read a simple sentence in the middle.

A son, in exchange for another son.

It didn't say who sent it, but a glance at Logan and Rae let me know that he was telling her about what he had told us in the kitchen. And that like everyone else, we already knew who was responsible for my missing son.

The Blacks.

We'll have to save the cuddling for another time.

Rae's voice rang in my head.

I'm sorry, but it's something I need.

I understand, and I promise we'll replace them safe and sound, both of them. Besides, if we've been apart this long, a few more days won't hurt anyone.

Mack growled as he listened to her. And Rae's she-wolf, Luna, growled in response.

It seems that not everyone agrees.

I said in amusement even though I felt fear and anger consuming me at the thought of those creatures in possession of my puppy.

Come on Alpha, we have a world to fix before we dive into our own.

Together?

Always.

And so after so long, so much hate with despair, so many tears and suffering I finally felt at home.

Things were bad, but as I watched Rae discuss with Logan the best strategy to track down the vampire clan no matter how unwilling she was at the moment, and Noel looking at literally any other part of the room other than my mate's body, I knew I'd go through everything I'd lived through in the last four years again if the outcome was the same.

The world could burn before I regretted claiming this beautiful female as my own.

And when she turned to me for an opinion I could see in her eyes the same feeling that burned in mine. That which neither of us had said, but which we both felt.

Love.

In his mercury-coloured eyes I knew the truth.

That a mere Gold Alpha had fallen to his knees before a powerful Silver Alpha.

Rae smiled at me as she read my feelings in my gaze.

With that smile alone, she turned my immortality into a promise instead of a nightmare.

A promise I planned to walk beside her.

Because for better or worse, we were both destined to be together.

And to think this all started because I talked too much when I was drunk.

I thought wryly.

I embraced my new future, which promised bright things together with the people I loved.