Alpha Nicholas
Chapter 14 –

Alpha Nicholas

After the shit show that went down between Sophie and that prick and all that business with meeting my mate, I struggled to get myself back into any kind of party mood which made things a nightmare. Add in the wanna-be future Luna's that I had to talk to and I think it's safe to say that the night was a complete right-off. I ended up being introduced to 23 She-Wolves open to chosen mates and not one of them did a thing for me. I don't want my own mate so why the fuck would I want a fake one? "You do want your mate, you're just being a stubborn prick about it!" Storm has been an absolute nightmare and I get it, I do but he's getting too much. "Not gonna stop!" I go to give him a shitty comment back but it's pointless, he's not going to quit. Although I will give it to the wolf, he was great at putting off the She-Wolves that we were talking to. We may not see eye to eye on the situation with our mate but we're definitely on the same page when it comes to not wanting any of them. He managed to scare off 21 of the wolves instantly. One of the women was more resistant but eventually, Storm got rid of her too so that just left 1 and holy shit is that girl a nightmare.

She's only 21 and hasn't even met her mate yet, she's more than happy to give up that chance to become an instant Luna. She was incredibly forward and honestly made my skin itch. Her look showed me that she loved herself and her body language screamed money chaser. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for women having confidence but what I can't stand is someone who thinks she is better than everyone else. No matter how pretty someone is, an attitude like that instantly makes them ugly.

I growl feeling frustrated as I drag my tired ass into bed. The moment the ball appeared to be somewhat over I got my ass out of there and to my floor for a shower and bed. I was going to head to Sophie's to check on her but Shane said he would and I was honestly too tired to argue it. I wanted to come back to unwind but my mate's face was all I could see the entire time that I was showing and now as I lay in bed I can't help but wonder how Alpha Stone will react to how Storm and I treated all of those see-wolves. Yes, Storm was the one to treat them badly but I didn't try to stop him either.

"Alpha, are you there?" A loud voice booms through my head making it rattle. It's 1 am and someone is mind-linking me... this isn't going to be good. Great, just what I need.

"I'm here." I sit back up knowing I'm going to be called to my duties any second. "Alpha, it's Maverick. I'm on guard duty on the north side. Lewis and I have just come across two women in the forest. They said that they were here for the ball but decided to head out to the forest before bed.

"Ok, so what's the problem?" Wolves often go for a walk or run during and after a ball to wind down. He's seen more here or he wouldn't be linking me. "Alpha, they are wearing leggings, tee-shirts, baseball caps covering half their faces and they both have backpacks with them." Great!

"Bring them to my office." He lets me know he's on his way while I drag my ass out of bed and throw on some gray joggers and a white tee shirt. I chuck on a pair of socks and then link my brothers to meet me in my office. Shane doesn't answer so I decide to wait and see if I need him first before calling him. He's with Sophie and she could still be upset and need him more than me right now.

Just before I make it to my office I receive another mind link informing me that one of the women has run away and is being chased down by my Warrior. Why run? There has to be something more going on here. I arrive at my office at the same time as James who is still in his clothes from the ball and smelling of alcohol. I don't mind though as the boy never goes past his limits and always turns up when it's needed. We head inside and he takes a seat in front of my desk while I sit in my large leather chair just as Will comes through the door. "What's going on, bro?" I quickly fill them in as we wait for the Warriors to arrive and thankfully, it's just a few more minutes until Maverick walks through the door pulling a woman behind him.

Before he even finishes opening the door I know who she is. What the hell is going on? Maverick finishes pulling my mate in through the doorway and a growl rumbles in my chest at the sight of him with his hands on her. He spins her around to face me and the gasp that leaves her mouth hits me deep inside my gut.

"Any update on the other one?" I ask all while never taking my eyes off my mate who currently has a fascination with my wooden floorboards. "No, sir. If you don't need me, I'll head out to help Lewis now." I excuse him and then pull out a chair for my mate. "Take a seat." I'm feeling so many different emotions right now that it is almost impossible for me to sound neutral and of course, my brothers instantly pick up on this.

"What's going on, Alpha? Who is she?" Will asks as he takes a step to stand at my side while James does the same thing on the other side of me. What do I say? Do I act like I don't know her? "She's your fucking mate and she's hurting. I can feel her pain and so can you. Stop ignoring it." Storm bellows making my head rattle.

"Shit!" Will grunts. I glance his way to replace his eyes zoned in on me. "It's her, isn't it? She's your mate?" This boy has an incredible mind and makes one hell of a Gamma but sometimes his incredible mind makes me want to throat-punch him. I know I'm reacting differently than normal but how the hell can he know this? Of course, I'm not quick enough to answer and that is all he needs. "She is, isn't she?" I nod because there's no point in lying here. They will replace out one way or another and right now, I need them here with me because I don't know what the fuck to do or say. "Fuck!" Bonnie

The moment I caught my mate's scent Lexi started going crazy in my head. I had expected our mate's rejection so as much as it's hurting me I know it's hurting her twice as much and it's breaking my heart. As if that wasn't bad enough, we got caught in the forest when we were just minutes away from freedom, I have no idea where Lily is and now I had to face my mate who was also the Alpha of the land that we got caught on, and then I will have to face my family. Part of me wishes that I had died out in the forest rather than face all of this while the other part of me wants to stay alive long enough to know if Lily managed to get away. I hope she did.

I'm sitting in a wooden chair staying as still as I can while keeping my eyes on my feet. I am afraid to move or look at anyone because I don't have the energy for any more rejection right now but more than anything I'm in so much pain that I fear that if I move I will pass out and that is the last thing I want to do when I'm in a room with strangers.

I'm trying to hold myself together but I can feel myself fading and have to grip the arms of the chair to stop myself from falling when I slightly sway. "What's wrong with her?" I don't recognize the voice but I do recognize the scent of my mate getting stronger as he approaches me. "Look at me!" His voice is gruff and slightly scary and in no way makes me want to look at him. Why do I need to see my mate's disappointed face when I already feel like hell?

Of course, he's an Alpha and doesn't like not being listened to. I feel tingles run through my face when his finger hocks under my chin and lifts my head until I have no choice but to look at him and I swear the moment I do I feel my heart crack open. I know I accepted that he didn't want me but being this close to him, having him touch me... It's too much! How could anyone not want their mate? Especially when they don't even know them.

His deep brown eyes bore into mine while my heart beats so hard it hurts my ribs. For a moment, it feels like we get lost in each other's eyes but then I watch as he shuts down and his eyes turn cold. "I won't ask again. What's wrong with you?" Not answering is only going to anger him even more but I can't tell him to truth so I make up a fake truth, one I already know he would believe. He's my mate and can no doubt feel my pain. He may not feel it to the full extent that I do, but he'll know that I am in pain.

"I'm just tired. I didn't sleep very well last night." As predicted the look on his face alone shows he doesn't believe me but he's stopped from saying another word when the door to his office flies open and a huge guy comes storming in holding a kicking and screaming Lily. Fuck no!