I will be back
4. Alpha gala

Aleida’s POV

My time is up. It’s time to go to the alpha gala. The time has passed quickly between our preparations and the present. My puppies are now almost two months old. Despite the short time, they’ve grown significantly, and so has my pack. 150 members now! All in all, it’s been a couple of good months. The only downside is that time has passed, and now I have to face all my old demons. My wonderful mates will be there, and even if I’m terrified, my heart is pounding by just the thought. They’ve probably gotten over me by now. There are so many other amazing she-wolves out there who can give them everything they deserve. I can live alone for the rest of my life, provided that my mates will replace happiness with someone. Even if I wish that person were me... I have no right to hope for such a thing when it was I who hurt them. I stand in front of the body mirror and look over myself. A while ago, I dyed my dark brown hair raven-black. The hair is longer than ever, and now also corkscrew curled with a big tiara on my head. Black sparkly eyeshadow surrounds my blue eyes, with long and thick false eyelashes sticking to my eyelids. I’m wearing a royal blue long dress and a pair of soaring heels. All in all, I’m really hot! A knock comes from the door, and I open it. In front of me, Michael is ready to escort me out to the black car. His eyes slip over me.

“You are a beautiful sight, Aleida.”

“Thank you, Mickey,” I answer and loop my arm through his.

He walks me down the stairs where Luis and the trio are standing. They gawk at me because I never wear heavy make-up, dresses, or heels; this is obviously a shock to them. I clear my throat with a smirk, and they all come back to reality.

“You’re magnificent, hija,” Luis says and kisses my forehead.

Yes, he calls me his daughter. Since I freed him from the cells and brought him here, he’s been like my father, always being there for me, and I know that my real dad would approve.

“Thank you, papá.”

“We’re going to push a lot of alphas away from you tonight!” James exclaims happily.

“What, why? I thought you were prepared for that already?” I ask, dumbfounded.

“Yeah, but now it’s a completely different story,” Ashton says.

“Huh?” I ask, still not understanding.

“You’re unmarked, mateless, an alpha, the werewolf queen, and beautiful,” Hannes explains while counting the reasons on his hand.

“Yeah yeah, that’s enough, boys. I look nice for once. Can we get a move on now?” I ask tiredly while they all just laugh at me and my embarrassment.

When we arrive, it turns out that we’re the last ones to appear, except for my mates, but they’re not here yet and probably won’t show up, all the other parking lots are busy, and those remaining are for us. We jump out of the car and walk towards the building. It’s old-fashioned at these galas. They call out the names of the people who enter the room, and I’m nervous because Luis will go in first, then Michael, and lastly, me with my guards. My hands are sweating. I close my eyes and breathe in deep. When I open them again, I have my cold and disinterested alpha face on. We stand outside the big entrance to the ballroom.

“Luis West, gamma,” the announcer declares, and Luis walks inside the room. “Michael Hill, beta.”

He walks inside. Oh, moon goddess, now it’s my turn. Michael walks up to the announcer, probably to change to my real name. He looks at me and gives me a thumbs up. No other alpha knows that I exist; they’re waiting for Ade.

“And last but not least, alpha Aleida Mendez of the blood fangs also called the werewolf queen.”

Showtime! I walk inside the room with my bodyguards, and the whole room gets silent. Literally, everyone is staring at me. I’m not ugly naturally, and now when I have make-up on, I’m gorgeous. I ignore everyone and walk up to a server to take a glass of champagne. Michael and Luis are standing beside me. I didn’t particularly appreciate how the other alphas are looking at me, and that’s why I use my alpha aura in full force. They all look away, and I walk further into the room. The orchestra has stopped playing, making Luis walk up to tell them to start playing again. Everyone relaxes after a little while, and one of the snarky alphas walks up to me.

“Hey, you!” he exclaims, walking fast, and my guards don’t like that, standing in the way.

“It’s queen or alpha to you, mutt!” Michael growls at the alpha; the man looks furious for a moment before his eyes land on something behind me and then walk away; that’s not good.

“Aleida?” a voice says; I turn around slowly and come face to face with my big brother; his eyes hold tears, and he looks like he can’t believe his eyes.

“Hello, Nathan,” I say coldly, and he winces at my tone; I use it on almost everyone outside of my pack; it’s safer that way.

“It’s really you!” he exclaims, trying to come up to me, but all my guards growl loudly at him. “My queen, is it too much to ask for a hug from my little sister?”

I pat James’s arm, and they all back off in unison. It looks like some real military shit. Nathan holds me in his arms and cries silently. I don’t move at all, just hug him back. After a little while, he lets go, and I back away to my guards, who surround me from all sides.

“Do you have to keep the guards around you all the time? I’m your fucking brother...” Nathan says irritatedly.

“Watch your tone towards our alpha!” Luis growls.

“It’s okay, Luis. Be close but not this close; he won’t hurt me,” I answer, making Luis nod and stay away for a bit, not close enough to hear what we say, but not too far away to not be able to protect me.

“I’ve missed you so much, Aleida! What happened to you? Why did you leave!?”

“Because it was time to leave,” I answer calmly.

“Aleida, what has happened? You’re different...”

“Mate rejection changes you.”

He winces all over again. I’m not his cute and innocent little sister anymore. I have killed many wolves to protect my pack, and I would do it all over again if I needed to.

“How are you then?” he asks; I’m about to answer when the door opens with a bang; I turn and freeze.

“Oh, for fucks sake!” I huff, annoyed at the sight before me.

My mates are here along with their betas and my brother Jason. They all run toward Nathan but don’t even get close before my guards surround me again. They don’t recognize me anymore. Michael is standing before me.

“Michael, you fucker! You are a traitor!” Kian growls at him.

“Fuck that shit, we can deal with him later! Nathan, where is she!?” Miliano exclaims.

“No, I’m not. I pledged my life to my alpha and followed all the way to our home,” Michael interrupts, growling.

“And what alpha is that then?” Kian asks.

Michael gives me a look over his shoulder, and I nod my head; I have to do this. He moves aside, and I stand before my mates. They don’t recognize me at all.

“Meet the alpha of the Blood fang pack up in the north, my alpha,” Michael says.

“Yeah yeah, where is she!?” Miliano exclaims, which makes me give out a humorless laugh; they look at me like I’m dumb.

“Oh, so now you don’t recognize your ex-mate anymore?” I ask coldly.

They just stare at me with open mouths. No one says a word. Thank goddess, some alpha who wants to talk to me rescues me. I follow him with my guards and leave my mates.

“It’s nice meeting you, alpha, or do you prefer queen?” Paul asks; I smile at that; he wants to show me respect.

“Neither, Aleida is fine, alpha Paul,” I answer politely.

“Aleida it is. If the rumors are true, you are looking for a sponsor for your company, is that true?”

“Yes, in fact, it is.”

“I always look for new places to invest my money, and from what I’ve heard, you have rebuilt your parent’s company on your own?”

“That’s true.”

“I’m interested and will send over a proposal. How does that sound?”

“It sounds like there’s a catch.”

“Nothing goes by you, does it?” he chuckles. “We’re the closest pack to you, and we need your help against the rabid rogues who are beyond saving.”

“Send the information, and I’ll decide next week.”

“Certainly, thank you for your time, Aleida.”

“The same to you, alpha.”

He walks away, and I turn to my other brother Jason. He’s crying, and I open up my arms to him with a small smile; he runs, and I catch him. But he backs off very fast.

“I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you? Are your p...” he begins, but the words get caught in his throat when he looks down at my flat stomach.

I give him a sad smile, not for pretend, no. Because I’m sorry that I can’t tell him the truth yet, he hugs me, and it almost feels like he doesn’t want to let go; he has to in the end. My mates and their betas are still staring at me. Miliano is the one who breaks the silence.

“Aleida, my beautiful love. I’ve missed you so much,” Miliano says.

“We thought you were dead,” Kian says with a broken voice.

“That was the whole point,” I answer coldly.

“What? Why!?” Miliano exclaims.

“Because this is my destiny. I’ve built a whole pack that continues to grow each day and is already one of the biggest in town. I’ve given them all the chance to restart their lives; that’s what my pack is all about,” I explain.

“And what is that?” Kian asks.

“A pack for everyone who is mate-less,” I answer, and they look sad.

“We never agreed to the rejection,” Miliano points out.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m the strongest werewolf alive, and I rejected the both of you to keep you safe. What I say goes, remember?”

“You can’t make that decision for us!” Kian exclaims.

“Watch me!” I growl, beginning to get frustrated.

“You have no idea what we’ve been through all this time, looking for you!” Kian continues.

“This isn’t always about you two drama queens! You’re not the only one who is hurt and in pain. Don’t you remember who took your pain away?” I ask; he looks down at my answer; they both know that I’m the one with pain; even if it’s self-inflicted.

“Aleida, I’m so-”

“No. Don’t even start because I seriously don’t care anymore. I’m numb from everything I had to do to be where I am. All the scars that never will disappear. We’re competitors in the corporate world, nothing less and nothing more.”

“What?”

“I’ve restarted my parent’s company.”

“What’s the name of the company?”

“Midea.”

“Hey, I got stocks in that!” Jason exclaims happily before he sees our looks. “Sorry.”

“So you never truly loved us?” Miliano ask.

“I never stopped and never will. But things are different now; I have other obligations than being your mate. I have a pack and a territory to take care of.”

“So you choose for us all over again...” he sighs; I just stare at him and am about to answer when Luis runs to me with a phone in his hand; I immediately take the phone when I see his expression.

“Yes, alpha speaking?”

“Aleida!” Clare exclaims.

“Clare, what’s happened!?” I ask in desperation.

“We’re under attack!”

“What!? When did this happen? Is everyone all right?”

“We’re fine for the time being.”

“How many are they?”

“I don’t know, 150, maybe?”

“Then we’re fine; we have the best warriors in the city. Because I trained them myself.”

“We’re trying to hold them off, but you need to come here! Sam and Thomas are trying to fight them away, but they’re trying to come near the puppies.”

“Whom the fuck is trying to hurt the most important members in the pack!?” I growl loudly.

I ignore her answer, give the phone back to Luis, and shift mid-air. No one tries to touch my puppies without me doing something about it!