I will be back
23. Preparation

Aleida’s POV

Something is seriously wrong with Michael, and I have no idea what. He’s my best friend, and he knows that if he needs to talk, I’m here. I guess that he feels embarrassed about his own feelings, even though he shouldn’t. You can’t decide how or what you feel toward another person; the heart works in mysterious ways, and you can’t figure it out no matter how much you try. I’m not angry or frustrated with him; we have walked side by side for far too long for me to be that way towards him. I love him, no doubt. But not in the way I know he wants and should feel love from someone. I have never asked him if he has met his mate. If he hasn’t, that can be why he thinks that he’s in love with me. I’m not saying that he isn’t in love with me; I simply state that this can all be a side-effect of not replaceing his mate. It’s natural for a werewolf to seek out his mate; it isn’t ubiquitous that you don’t locate your mate. But sometimes, when you don’t, the person’s wolf becomes desperate and channels all the love they should have for their mate, onto someone else, in this case, me. The reasons why it may be hard to replace your mate can be various. They can be dead, not born yet, living in another continent or something else. Some wolves take up the offer of a chosen mate. That means that they choose another wolf from somewhere as they settle for. It isn’t the best thing to do, though, since you can meet your mate any day and if you already have a chosen mate by then, the situation will absolutely be even more complicated. I’m inquisitive about Michael, however. Something is up with him, and I can’t seem to figure it out. I’m down for some love from my best friend, yes, but not in the way he needs me to. I already have two mates that I love with all my heart, and they even gave me two beautiful puppies. Nothing and no one can replace these men in my life, and I mean it. I can’t blame Michael, though. Maybe it sounds like I’m bragging, but the truth is that I’m a very beautiful she-wolf. Plus, I’m an alpha and the werewolf queen, making my beauty even more visible. It’s just genetics, and I can’t help that. My personality, though, that I can take credit for. Since I always try my best to treat others right. Other people around me are more important in my world, and that’s why I put their needs before mine. This is also why I have these awful mood swings sometimes, considering that I don’t let my emotions show on the outside. It isn’t optimal, but it is what it is. I must do something about this, though.

Luis, can you please come to me in my office?

I mind-link the only person I can trust about something like this.

Of course, alpha. I’ll be there in a few minutes.

Thank you.

I wander back and forth in my office, worrying over something I can’t control. I’m an alpha by blood; my instincts tell me to handle my pack and the situations that arise. Now when I can’t do that, I’m going against every cell in my body—neither Lisa like that nor me. We need to have control to feel good because, without power, we can’t protect our members. You can compare it to a mother who can’t protect her children; I think you can see the picture.

“Aleida? Hello?”

A hand comes into my sight, and I jump from the movement. Beside me, Luis stands and gives me a look of worry.

“Are you all right, Aleida?” he asks.

“Yes... Yes, I am. I was just thinking,” I answer with a sigh.

“I can see that. What is occupying your mind?” Luis asks and sits down on the couch.

I sit down beside him with a deep sigh and put my head in my hands; I’m stalling because I don’t know how I’ll explain.

“Michael is apparently in love with me,” I state; silence follows for a long time before I look up at him and see his fists clenched.

“Did he do something to you?” Luis asks with a deadly look.

“No! He didn’t do anything, just telling me about his feelings,” I answer with a slight smile.

“Well, that complicates things,” he points out and scratches his forehead.

“You think?” I deadpan.

“What did he say?”

I explain the situation as detailed as I can muster. Luis doesn’t interrupt or give away anything with his face. All the time he’s listening, his face is blank and shows nothing. When I finish explaining, he sighs, and now it’s his turn to put his head in his hands—frustration and tiredness.

“What do you need me to do, alpha?” Luis asks.

“I need you to keep track of him and what he’s doing. I’m worried about Michael, and I don’t want to replace out later that he did something stupid. We’ve all been in love and knows how we act in desperation to keep those we love. I need him to prepare for whatever it is who’s coming here,” I answer.

“Right away, alpha.”

“Thank you, Luis. I don’t know how I would function without you.”

He smiles at me and walks out. Fucking hell, why do these things keep happening!? Why can I not have at least a few weeks of peace before everything comes crashing down once again? My body is sore from the sparring I participate in. I knock down over ten warriors in pure frustration, and they reward me with looks of awe. I’m strong, but not many know about just how strong I am. That’s why they look at me like I just solved world hunger. This is also the reason why all the other packs want me to train their warriors; I’m simply the best—not bragging, just stating facts. My mind is racing, and I don’t know what to do anymore. Michael isn’t talking to me and now also avoids me at all costs. This can’t go on. How can we keep this pack alive if my beta isn’t working with me to make it better for all of us?

A couple of days pass by since Michael told me his undying love, and no one has seen him much. Those who talk with him say that he just replies with short words or sounds. Something is clearly wrong, and we need to fix this before it’s too late. I miss my best friend, and I want him back. Kian and Miliano call me every night to talk. Our boys are good, and my mates are fine; they miss me a lot, though. But I miss them even more. At least they have each other, while I now have no one. Well, Luis is always with me. But he can never replace Michael in my life; I’m not even sure that anyone can do that. Michael is missing for two days back now, and I’m apprehensive about his well-being. King’s threats continue to come in notes my pack members replace. They always have similar writings on them about me being his soon, that I shouldn’t fight back and blah blah blah. The latest one baffles me, however. It isn’t the same threat as before; hell, it’s not even a threat this time.

Dear Aleida,

Soon we will be together, my love. I miss you so much and don’t know what to do without you here with me. Everything will be all right; I promise you that and to protect you from all sorts of harm. I love you, forever and until the end of time.

Yeah, that doesn’t sound like King, right? The only one I can think about that might write something like this is Michael. But on the other hand, he isn’t delusional and forceful. No, it can’t be him. Regarding his disappearing, I guess he’s keeping himself closed off to give himself and me some much-needed space. Sure, I want to be able to be with him every day like before. But it’s clear now that it isn’t going to work, not until his feelings get sorted out or disappears. He needs time alone, and we should respect that. This is the reason why all packs also have a gamma if the beta can’t help out. Luis is always there for me if I have to talk or just hang out. We can always be with one another even though it’s a significant age gap between us. Like I’ve mentioned earlier, at some point, he has become like a father to me and considering that he once was my dad’s best friend, I don’t think my birth father would mind. Luis makes me laugh when I want to cry and holds me when I break down completely. He and Michael is my rocks to lean on since we left all the bad behind us. Luis carries me when I no longer can walk on my own, and he loves me dearly like a daughter; I’m fortunate to have him.

“Alpha, there’s some disturbance at the west border. A man is asking for you,” a warrior shouts at me.

Behind a tree, I shift before running with the very same warrior to the troubles. It doesn’t take long before we arrive, and King is standing just outside our border. We can’t attack him until he crosses into our territory; right now, he’s standing in uncharted lands, which are free for all to enter at their own risk. He’s smirking at me and licks his lips. Two men are standing on his sides, ready to attack when told. They’re looking at me with anger. Apparently, they don’t know whom they’re facing. I growl at them, which makes them look worried. King is laughing at our encounter.

“She’s a force to be reckoned with, didn’t I tell you?” King asks the men while holding his stomach from laughing too hard.

I shift back in front of everyone. I’m not ashamed of my body. My guards don’t even peek at me; they have much more respect than that. King is still smirking at me while the other two are gawking at me like I’m the answer to their prayers. A warrior holds an oversized t-shirt that I put on my body before turning back to the disturbance.

“I thought you had trained your leeches better than that,” I snort at King.

“Shut it, dog!” one of them hisses but quiets down quickly when King holds his hand up.

“Now now, there’s no need for insults and name-calling. We’re just here to grab what’s ours without having to start a war,” King explains.

A big gray wolf comes up beside me. One look at the eyes, and I know that it’s Luis. He shifts and puts clothes on before glaring at King.

“What the fuck are you doing here, leech?” Luis yells with disgust.

“Are all wolves this stupid in your territory, Aleida?” King asks me and rolls his eyes in annoyance which earns him a growl from Luis.

“You won’t take her from her family! I don’t care about what others promised you; she has two mates and children who need her. I know that your species are cold sometimes, but dear goddess, this is heartless. How can you take a mother from her puppies!?” Luis exclaims.

“She will have new puppies to take care of. I will impregnate her, and we will create a whole new species; that way, I’ll never have to be alone again,” King states proudly.

“So, let’s see if I got it right. The only reason you want to have our queen is to make her your breeding dog to give you puppies because you feel lonely? Don’t you hear yourself how sick that sounds!?” Luis roars.

“It doesn’t matter what you think,” King snarls at him before turning to me. “Now, about us getting away from here...”

“I have conditions,” I say and cross my arms.

“Now you’re talking like a real queen. Please, go ahead and tell me your conditions,” King says.

“One, my mates remain unharmed. Two, my sons will be safe and live their lives with their dads without disturbance. Three, you’ll leave the blood fang’s pack alone. Four, your kind won’t ever kill one of my people. Break one of these conditions, and the deal’s off. You got it?” I declare and growl the last part.

“No, Aleida! You can’t trust him just by his word!” Luis exclaims in horror.

“No, she can’t. That’s why I consider making a blood pact between us,” King states.

“But that can only be broken if you break one of the conditions or—” Luis begins.

“By death, yes. That’s why I have conditions of my own. One, you’ll come with us without making any fuss. Two, command your pack not to look for us. Three, don’t leave our ground until I allow you to do so. Four, you will behave and do as I say,” King declares, and one of his goons is holding out a knife for him to take.

He slits his hand before reaching out the knife to me. I give Luis a sad last look before cutting my own and puts it in his.

“Deal. I, Aleida Mendez, big alpha and werewolf queen, promise to honor these conditions until death.”

“I, Victor Kingsman, hybrid king, promise to honor these conditions until death.”

A wind is flowing between us, and our wounds heal. I look down at my hand, seeing the letters ’BP’ over it. That stands for “blood pact.” It’s a magical ritual to make this pact, and that’s why you get marked when you’re in one because you can only be in one significant BP at a time.

“Excellent, my dear Aleida. Now, as one of my conditions said that you would do as I say. Resign from your place as alpha here,” King says with a grin.

“I, Aleida Mendez, resign from my rank as alpha in the blood fang’s pack and hereby give Luis West the title,” I say, making Luis gasp and me fall to my knees.

Usually, you can’t move a title from one person to another like that. There has to be more hand cutting and shaking and stuff. But, don’t forget, I’m the significant alpha. I crawl over our border. King picks me up bridal style and walks away while smirking at me.

“You did so well, my love. Now, are you ready to start our new life together?”