Alpha Nicholas
Chapter 28 –

Alpha Nicholas

As soon as we hit the forest I stop and curse myself. What the fuck am I thinking only having Lottie with Bonnie? Yes, she is more than capable of protecting both her and Bonnie and when it comes to my pack both of them couldn't be any more safe but I still have Bonnie's father and sister on my land and I don't fucking trust them, not one bit! Those 2 girls are the most important women in my life and it's my job to protect them. Of course, I love my mom but my dad always has her protected so I don't need to worry too much. Luckily for me, I have Will here with me and as my Gamma, it's his job to have control over the warrior's patrol shifts. "Will, do you know if Ryan and Tony are on patrol today?" He stares up at the sky as he thinks before shaking his head "No, they are on the night shift tonight on the East border." One thing about Will is his incredible memories of the patrol rotas, rarely, he doesn't know who's on patrol and when. We have a lot of warriors and for him to remember all those details is mindblowing. "They're both on the way to the hospital. I'll have Gary and John cover them tonight." While I was lost in my head he'd got shit organized without me even having to ask him. How he knows what someone wants before they even ask him amazes me "Are Lottie and Bonnie ok?" Tony's voice rings in my head sounding out of breath and panicked and I'd bet any money that he's running to the hospital as he's linking me. I've told him all about Bonnie and he knows she's in the hospital and I appreciate his instant concern for her. "They are fine don't worry, Ton. I just need to go for a run and want them protected."

"We'll protect your girls with our lives, Nick." My girls... Fuck, I love hearing him say that! "That's why I have you both there. Oh, and Tony, don't let her father or sister in there without me present." Both Tony and Ryan have been my best friends since we were in nursery and both treat Lottie like she's their own daughter, and with both of them standing guard outside of Bonnie's door I can completely relax and focus on me and Storm for a little while.

It's not long before we go back to running for the woods and before I know it storm has taken over and I finally feel some of my pent-up frustration and anger simmer away as he runs with all he has. Maybe he needed this just as much as me.

After an hour of running, we all slow down and stop beside the lake that we have running through our land and after lapping up some water we shift and sit on the grass bank to take a break.

"So what's going on with your wolf, brother?" Shane asks Will taking the words right out of my mouth. He looks pretty lost right now and I instantly want to kick myself. I don't feel bad for giving my undivided attention to my mate these past two days but I do feel bad for not noticing how down Will is looking. He's usually the happy cheeky go lucky one of us but looking at him now you wouldn't think it.

"I have no idea. He was fine until a few days ago."

"Do you remember exactly when it happened?" I ask as curiosity rises inside of me. "I reckon it was during the ball but I don't know why. He seemed fine for the most part but then seemed to kinda shut down towards the end and hasn't been the same since." "And I'm guessing you've already tried talking to him?" Robbie asks as he quietly observes him. Robbie is the quesiest of us all but he's an intelligent man and knows way more than you could ever imagine. "Yep!" Will nods as he runs his hand through his hair. A trade all of my brothers seem to share with me when they are stressed. "He won't tell me. Says he can't, that I need to replace out on my own but he won't tell me when it will happen. He's quiet and withdrawn and I hate it!"

"The only time I've heard of a wolf reacting like this is if they have suffered a recent loss or the loss of a mate, but you haven't suffered any losses recently, and I'm guessing you didn't meet your mate at the ball or we would know so it can't be that he's missing his mate either."

"No, I didn't meet my mate. You know I would tell you guys, even if it had ended badly somehow, I would still tell you. Fuck, I don't know what's going on but I hope it's sorted soon because right now I can feel how miserable Theo is and I hate it." "I know there's not much we can do until you figure out what's going on with Theo, but if you need anything you know where we are." He gives me a small smile and nod before Shane being Shane decides to start spilling out his newest jokes and despite both Wills and my situation, he has us laughing in seconds. I may have my hands full right now but I'll always have time for my brothers and I just hope that we can figure out what's up with his wolf soon because I hate seeing him struggle so much.

By the time we get back to the edge of the forest, We have spent way longer in the woods than I had originally planned but I must admit that I feel so much better and so does Storm. As we arrive back at the hospital I feel lighter than I have in days which is perfect considering the conversation I'm about to have with my mate. I already know that I'm going to need another run once I've told her but it doesn't matter because she deserves the truth and as painful as telling her will be, I want her to know, I need her to know. The moment I step inside her room my heart skips a beat when I see both of my girls smiling while chatting, they both look so relaxed that it's as if they have known each other for a long time. I push down the negative thoughts about them being a similar age and how my mate probably has more in common with my daughter than me and just take in the sight in front of me. Fuck, seeing them like this just melts me. Alpha or not I feel like a goddam puppy right now.

We all chat for a few seconds before Lottie makes her excuses and leaves us alone and instantly I feel nervous as I head over to the chair that's next to her bed. "How are you feeling, darling?" She gives me her gentle smile and I must say she is looking a little better than she did earlier. "Pretty good all things considered. Are you ok? I could sense something was up earlier but I didn't want to prey, although I guess that's what I'm kinda doing now." She lets out a little laugh and I swear it's the sweetest noise in the whole goddam world.

"You're fine. I'm ok, sweetheart but you are right, I wasn't myself earlier. I'm so grateful that you told me everything. Both my wolf and I needed to hear it, but it was hard to take in, and honestly, it just made me so angry, not at you but at your family. I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold in my anger and I wasn't willing to let it out in front of you. I hope you don't mind that I sent in Lottie to sit with you and the guards outside your door. Thinking about it now, I should probably have sent someone else in with you. Waking up to my daughter must have been a shock." I'm such an idiot sometimes.

She gives me a gentle smile as she adjusts herself on the bed. "No, really it's ok. At first, I was a little surprised but she is an incredible girl, and I'm glad that I got to meet her in person and talk to her for a little while. But can I... can I... Can I ask why you had guards outside of the door?" If this was any other situation I would replace her stuttering cute as hell but knowing that it's more than likely coming from fear of speaking freely I just feel angry.

"While I trust my pack and have no doubt that you both are safe with them, I don't trust your father or sister and I don't want either of them in here when I'm not. I'm sorry if that offends you but that's just how I feel."

"I understand and I appreciate it." She doesn't seem phased by my words, if anything she seems relieved which tells me just how scared of her family she really is. "I'm sorry that you felt like that earlier but I'm glad that you feel better now." This girl's heart is way too big and there's no way that I deserve it but one way or another I'm going to have it and I'm going to spend every day cherishing it.

I'm not saying it's going to be easy, I'm still struggling with my past and our age gap but whereas before my determination was to stay away from my mate, now it's to keep her and never let her go. It's not easy to switch my mindset so quickly but I know that it will be worth every single second. Only this girl could get me twisted up so quickly and yet, I don't even care, not one single bit.

"Ok, darling. You were open with me earlier, more open than I could have ever wished for, and it's time for me to return that to you. It's time you were given the chance to understand the way I am and why I acted like I did. You shared your pains with me and I'm going to do the same with you. It may take me some time to get it all out but I want you to hear it, I need you to."

"Are you sure? You don't have to, it's ok." She gives me a sweet smile but I shake my head. "I do, darling. I do." Suddenly she leans forward and shocks the hell out of me when she takes one of my hands in hers and just silently waits for me to start talking while tingles run up my arm and straight to my heart. Let's just get this over with!