My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 10

Future Beta Nate

I didn’t want to leave Ayla this morning, but Mitch kept calling me. When I finally answered, he said that the alpha needed us to get back to the pack. I pinned my location so he could pick me up and get dressed before sending a text to Ayla, explaining that I had to leave. I heard her phone ding, and I retrieved it, putting it on the pillow beside hers. The text went through to her phone and I was happy.

Before I left, I leaned down and kissed her cheek. She smiled in her sleep, which brought a smile to my face. A text from Mitch reminded me I had to go, and he was out front of her house. I hesitated before kissing her cheek again, and then I left. I made sure to lock the door behind me before meeting the guys out front.

I hopped in the front passenger seat and Mitch took off. Looking back, the guys were all sitting where they were when we drove into the city.

“What the f**k happened to you last night?” Mitch asked me from the driver’s seat.

“Ayla showed up at the club.” I sighed.

“Was this before or after you made out with Mitch’s sister?” David said from the back, and Mitch growled.

“Really, Nate!” He yelled.

“First, she kissed me and when my wolf pulled me out of my drunken brain, I pushed her away. Nothing else happened.” I confessed.

“So you were with Ayla, your mate?” Mitch sighed.

“I ran after her and we went back to her place,” I said.

“Damn, Nate. Finally popped his cherry!” Cole yelled from the back.

“Dude, shut the f**k up!” I huffed.

“Seriously? You didn’t get laid?” Mitch asked.

“We kissed. I’m not going to sleep with her until she knows I’m a wolf. It’s bad enough that I feel guilty for lying to her about it.” I breathed out.

“Did she ask?” David asked from the back.

“Yes, she asked if I was a werewolf. But that reminds me. Her friend came over, the firefighter, and he called me Wolf boy. How the hell would he know I’m a wolf? He smells human.” I told them.

“What happened?” David asked.

“Ayla told him to leave. He also confessed to blocking my number. So I’m not sure what’s going on with them,” I said.

“She’s already picking you over, her friend. It sounds like love.” Mitch teased and I pushed his shoulder.

“Shut up.” I growled out, shaking my head.

“What did the alpha say?” I asked Mitch, changing the subject.

“I’m not sure. He just called and ordered us back to the pack.” Mitch shrugged.

I wonder if he knew I was with his daughter and that’s why he didn’t call me. Why would he call Mitch and not me? I’m the beta.

“Probably because you’ve been an a*s all week,” Duke chimed in.

“Yeah, because of you!” I scolded him.

“Nothing can sour my mood. I got to cuddle with my mate all night.” He purred, his tail thumping in my head.

“It was a great night.” I told him with a smile on my face.

Looking out the window, I thought about my beautiful mate and how I was going to explain to her I’m a werewolf and she’s my soulmate. Even thinking about it, I felt crazy. How was I going to tell her and not sound crazy?

“Maybe she likes crazy.” Duke purred, and I rolled my eyes.

“But we sound insane. How can we explain we aren’t a werewolf without sounding insane? She’s going to get a restraining order when I tell her she’s our soulmate. We are destined to be together,” I said.

“You may want to show her what your d**k can do before you tell her all that.” He chuckled, and I rolled my eyes again.

“You are no help.”

“So are you just going to sit there smiling like an i***t, or are you going to tell us how it was to k**s your mate?” Mitch chuckled, and the guys in the back laughed.

“Picture the best k**s you’ve ever had.” I said.

“And?” David said from the back.

“And forget it. It’s so much better.” I laughed.

“Let me guess, holy boy, here took the couch.” Max said, and I pushed my lips in a line.

“You fucken did, didn’t you?” Mitch exclaimed, and I shook my head.

“She has a spare bedroom?” He asked, and I shook my head again.

“What?” All the guys exclaimed, and I laughed.

“You slept in her bed?” Mitch yelled.

“Bluey had the couch.” I shrugged.

“And you didn’t f**k her?” Cole yelled from the back.

“No Cole. Unlike you f***s, I actually wanted to get to know her.” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Getting to know her body is getting to know her.” Mitch shrugged.

“Thanks, a*****e.”

“Please say you are seeing her again. I don’t think we can deal with a*****e Nate again?” Max asked. Like on cue, my phone chimed. Pulling it out of my pocket, I found a text from Ayla.

I smiled as I read her message. She wished I was still there. I felt giddy inside when your first crush looks at you. This woman has completely brought me to my knees.

“From that smile, a*****e Nate is dead!” Mitch declared, and the others cheered. I shook my head at their antics. Crazy bastards. And I can’t wait to tease them when they replace their poor mate.

Before I could send her a text, we stopped at the entrance to our pack. My father and the alpha were talking to some warriors. Mitch threw the vehicle in park and we all hopped out.

“Alpha, dad, what’s wrong?” I asked when I was closer to them. Alpha looked at me and sniffed before he sneered.

“Why the f**k do you smell like my daughter?” He growled out.

“Why the f**k do you care?” I growled.

“Did you f**k her?” He roared, and my father stepped in front of his alpha and best friend.

“Atlas, calm down. She’s his mate.” My father said.

“It was a full moon last night. Did you sleep with my daughter?” He growled out.

“What the hell does a full moon have to do with any of this?” I asked, confused.

“Just answer the fucken question, did you sleep with my daughter?” He yelled. Everyone was watching us.

“No, I didn’t sleep with your daughter.” I huffed, and the alpha let out a breath.

“Atlas, what the hell is going on?” My father asked him and he turned his attention to my father.

“She will claim you under the full moon. Make sure she is what you want before you can’t take it back.” He said before he left. He shifted, ripping off his clothes and took off, leaving me confused.

“Dad, what the f**k was that?” I asked him, and my father just sighed.

“The rest of you report to the gamma for instructions. Son, follow me.” My father ordered.

“Dad, what the hell is wrong with the alpha?” I asked him. When I caught up with him, we were walking back to the pack house.

“Son, I know she is your mate. But is she really who you want? Are you willing to give up your entire pack for her?” My father sighed.

If he had asked me that a few days ago, I probably would have hesitated, but after spending the night with her and seeing how seeing me k**s another affected her. I knew the answer without thinking.

“Dad, she’s mine. And if I have to fight every day to keep her, I will.” I told him.

“Then your mother and I supported you,” he said. I felt like there was a but coming, but he said nothing more about me and Ayla.

“There were a few breaches along our south border. Three groups of three entered throughout the night. I’m not sure what they were doing, but it has the alpha on edge.” He told me.

“Was anyone hurt?” I asked him.

“A couple of our warriors, but nothing serious,” he answered.

“South-east corner, now!” The alpha yelled through the link. I looked at my father before I stripped. I could tell that my father was uneasy.

Duke shifted and before he took off, he grabbed my pants between his teeth before following my father’s wolf. After running for about ten minutes, the alpha came into view. It’s what else we saw that caused Duke to stop in his tracks.

I could hear the alpha cursing as Duke walked slowly up to the scene. I didn’t even know how to explain what I was looking at. The scene was horrific, and the alpha was shaking in rage. I shifted back and pulled my pants on before walking over to the alpha. My father was already standing with him and they were having a silent conversation as I took in the scene.

“Mermaid?” I muttered to myself. But how was this possible? Mermaids didn’t exist, well I didn’t think they did. But here I was looking at the tail of a mermaid, their pink b***d coated the forest floor. Someone had ripped most of the beautiful blue and purple scales off, but a few remained. They nailed the tail to a tree stump, full on display for all to see how monstrous this person who did this was.

“Nate, where is Ayla?” The alpha asked me, pulling me away from this horrible scene.

“She was at home. She rented a new place. Why, what does this have to do with Ayla?” I asked him.

“Call her and tell her to get here. Now!” He commanded. I pulled out my phone to call her to see that I had received a text from her.

“Alpha, she’s not home. Her boss and she are going to a coastal town to see a client.” I told him and he cursed.

“Atlas, what’s wrong? What does this mermaid tail have to do with Ayla?” My father asked, and I was also curious.

“They found her. Nate, give me your phone. I need to call my brother.” The alpha said, and I handed him my phone. Now I was panicking. What did mermaids have to do with Ayla? And who found her? I never should have left her this morning. Guilt twisted my stomach painfully as I thought about someone hurting my mate.

“Matt, it’s me. Where are you?” The alpha said into the phone. I could only hear Alpha Atlas’s side of the conversation.

“They found her.” He said, and I could hear yelling on the other side of the phone.

“I know. I’m trying to replace her! Her mate is Will’s son.” He said, and I heard more yelling.

“I don’t know what you want from me, Brother. Just replace her! She texted her mate, saying she was on her way to a coastal town with her boss. That can’t be a coincidence, since I just found a tail in my territory.” He growled out.

There was more yelling until the phone went dead. My mind was racing with scenarios of what could be going on.

“Alpha, what does this mermaid tail have to do with Ayla?” I asked him. He muttered to himself before he spoke.

“Go get a bag. We leave in half an hour. I’ll explain on the way.” He told me, handing me my phone back, before turning his attention to my father.

“Will, get Gamma Nick to get this moved to the morgue. And then go get packed, you are coming with us.” He said before he shifted and took off towards the pack house.

“I’ll ask mom to pack something for you.” I told my father before I stripped off my pants. Shifting, Duke picked up my pants before running full speed home.

I could feel his worries, as they were also my worries. What the hell was going on? Who the hell could be after Ayla? She’s a human, is she not? I was so confused about what had just happened and what I had seen. How can mermaids be real?

“Werewolves are real. Why couldn’t mermaids be real?” Duke asked me and I sighed.

“I’ve heard nothing about mermaids. I’ve heard about vampires and witches, but not mermaids.” I told him.

“They must be good at hiding,” he said.

Once we got home, I shifted and picked up my pants before rushing into the house. My mother was in the kitchen when I rushed inside.

“Mom, can you pack a bag for dad? We are leaving with the alpha soon.” I yelled to her as I ran up the stairs to my room.

I didn’t bother to shower as I pulled a pair of sweatpants on and a black t-shirt. Before I found a bag, I put on a pair of shoes and socks. I stuffed in some clothes. Remembering my phone charger, I stuffed it in the bag with my wallet. I pocketed my phone before I left the room to meet up with dad and the alpha.

My mom was just coming out of her and my dad’s room when I hit the main floor of the house.

“Nate, what is going on?” She asked me, handing me his bag.

“I’m not sure. All I know is it has something to do with Ayla.” I told her and her face fell. She really likes Ayla.

“Okay, son. Tell your father to text me all the details when he can.” She said, kissing my cheek.

“Be safe, Nate.” She said before I rushed out of the house.

I ran at full speed to the pack house, where the alpha and my father were waiting outside an SUV. The alpha was having a silent conversation with his luna. Jim came over to stand with us and I wondered if he was coming with us. We are going to his oldest son’s pack. I think anyway.

“Nate put the bags in the back and hop in the backseat with Alpha Jim.” My father said, and I nodded. That answers one question.

I did what he asked. After getting into the back of the suv, I was anxiously waiting to get moving. Whatever was happening to Ayla couldn’t be good if her father was on edge about it. And what was with sleeping with her under a full moon?

Jim sat beside me and he was just as anxious as I was. This is his granddaughter. It felt like hours had passed by the time my father took the driver’s seat and the alpha sat shotgun. My father started driving before he turned to his best friend.

“You need to tell them the truth.” Alpha Atlas sighed.

“Ayla’s mother claimed me under a full moon. She wasn’t my mate. I learned to love her, but she trapped me so she wouldn’t have to marry someone else. The claim is forever until death,” he said. But I’ve never heard of a claim like that, and what did it have to do with the mermaid tail we found?

“Melody was a mermaid. And when Ayla didn’t receive her wolf, I knew her mother had passed down her genes.” He continued.

“What?” Both Jim and I exclaimed.

“Ayla isn’t human. She’s a mermaid. Her grandmother wants to marry her off while others want her scales.” The alpha said.

“How the hell can any of this be possible?” I said out loud. How can my mate be a mermaid? Sure, human mates are rare, but mermaid mates. How the hell could this possibly work?

Alpha Atlas’ phone rang, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Matt?” He answered.

“Okay, we are almost there. Where are you?” He said to his brother, only hearing half the conversation.

“Okay. See you soon.” The alpha said before he ended the call.

“They found her.”