The Alpha's Shatter Zone
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Chesca rolled over, and became entangled in streams of something silky and soft. A groan escaped her lips when her back ached and her limbs felt like unresponsive jello.

With bleary eyes, she tried sitting up and found herself wrapped up in her own bed, the sheets trapping her like a warm cocoon. An amazing smell wafted through the room, and it wasn’t just the Kaiden-scented sheets—although they did smell pretty good and had her wolf purring in contentment. Had her mate slept with her last night?

The idea didn’t seem to freak her out like she expected it would. Her eyes roamed the room and landed on his empty couch. Memories of the night before slowly poured back in like the dawn sunshine that tugged on the curtains. She remembered the storm, the intense pain at losing her parents even though it had happened years ago, and then the warmth and security of being in the arms of her mate. Her skin erupted in tingles just thinking about Kaiden. Where was he anyway?

Following her nose, his scent led her down to the kitchen where she found Kaiden bent over the stove. A plate of something fried sat on the bench beside him, while packets of flour, milk, fruit pieces, and eggshells littered the rest of the space.

Chesca wandered over and laid a hand tenderly on his back. “What are you doing?” she asked softly.

“Oh, good morning!” He spun around, nearly smacking her on the head with a spatula, and gave her a bright smile. “Did you sleep well?” he asked after placing a kiss on her cheek.

She smiled at the heart-warming gesture. “Very well,” she pulled out a stool from the bench and took a seat, watching her mate intently as he worked in the kitchen.

“I hope you’re hungry, because I made you a lot of food,” Kaiden beamed and placed a plate in front of her. She couldn’t help the look of surprise on her face at the delicious food he’d made. “We have fried eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes. Fresh fruit, and pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup,” he said with flourish as he placed a few more bowls and saucers in front of her.

“Where’s everyone else?” Chesca looked over her shoulder, expecting to see the usual morning crowd that hoarded on her kitchen to eat all her food.

“Hm?”

“I mean, for breakfast. You didn’t make this all for me…”

“Actually, I did,” he tried smothering a small grin on his lips. “I got rid of those hungry vultures half an hour ago. Didn’t want them devouring your breakfast while you rested,” he cut her off with a wink that sent her heart catapulting into overdrive.

“Really?”

He’d cooked her breakfast? He did this all for her?

“You don’t like it?” a frown crept over his expression.

“No! No, I love it, thank you,” and she quickly took a bite of the pancakes. They melted in her mouth. “Mmm, these are sooo good, where did you learn to cook?” Her surprise and delight at his cooking skills were genuine.

“My mom taught me,” he replied and began wiping up the mess on the shelf.

She ate quietly for a few minutes, watching him work and clean up the shelves. The tight grey shirt he was wearing displayed his muscles almost perfectly, and it didn’t take much imagination to appreciate his physique. The way his messy hair curled around his ears was perfect in her eyes, and the stubble on his chin looked terribly kissable.

“Enjoying the view?”

She was startled by his question, and the way his dark gaze caught her staring at him. A blush made its way to her cheeks yet she still couldn’t seem to look away from him. A certain strength in her Alpha genes kept her eyes riveted to his instead of backing down in embarrassment.

He was her mate after all; she had a right to admire him.

“Um, yeah…” she answered meekly and swallowed before taking a much-needed sip of her orange juice.

“Are you sure you’re okay? I could probably fry an egg on your cheeks, they’re so pink,” he joked and came around to stand behind her.

“Well, I could fry one on you, you’re so hot,” she replied, her finger poking his chest.

“Hmm is that so?” Kaiden leaned closer until his lips brushed hers ever so slightly. Then he pulled away, leaving her gaping and wanting more. “So I’m allowed to compliment you now?”

“You always were,” she grumbled and stuffed her mouth with some tinned peaches.

“That’s not what you said yesterday,” he leaned back against the sink and folded his arms across his chest. With his eyes regarding her intently, she squirmed under his scrutiny and tried to keep her mind on the conversation.

“About yesterday….” she began hesitantly, partly hoping he would be the one to bring it up. “Why did you do it?”

“Do what?” he suddenly frowned and stood up straighter, the joking mood switching to serious. She missed his smile already.

“Why did you save me? So many times now, you could’ve just let me die. Like... back at Alpha Jackson’s place, when I fell into the stream. And last night, lost in the storm. If I died, you could so easily have my pack—”

“Don’t say that, Ches. As if I want you to die! You’re my mate,” he growled and clenched his fists. “Of course I saved you,” he continued more softly, and with a sparkle in his eyes. “I will protect you for as long as I live.”

“So…” she pushed the blueberries around in the syrup on her plate, her stomach fluttering with a weird assembly of butterflies. “Are you saying you care about me?”

Wait, why was she even asking this? The last thing she wanted was to sound like an insecure girl craving the attention of her mate. If he wanted to give it, she’d accept it. But she wouldn’t go running after him for it. If anything, she was still running from him. But maybe she didn’t have to. Maybe his actions proved he didn’t want her dead after all.

“My dear Chesca,” he once more walked around to her, and slipped his arms around her waist from behind. When his chin rested on her shoulder, she couldn’t help the shivers that melted through her from the inside out. “Of course I care about you. Haven’t you seen that by now? When will you trust me?” he finished his gentle rebuke with a kiss on her neck.

She tilted her head and leaned back into him, allowing him better access to her mark. The feeling of his lips against the special mark was one she would never grow tired of, the tingles starting at the surface and running all through her body.

“I’m learning to, Kaiden.” She truly was, but she also couldn’t help wondering if his sudden show of affection was just the grief talking. His brother had just been killed, and she knew he was hurting. Being close to one’s mate was probably more soothing to him than to her.

“Do you trust me enough to tell me about last night? Like why you got stuck out in the storm?” he queried, his breath still hot against her ear.

“I hate storms,” she mumbled under her breath.

“Why?” He sounded like he was prying, but she understood that she owed him some answers.

“My parents were killed during a storm like last night’s,” she tried to keep the emotion from clogging her throat.

His arms tightened around her body. “I’m sorry, I had no idea.”

“It’s okay. I don’t normally talk about it, probably because everyone here knows anyway. They lived through it, too.”

She felt him nod his head, but kept it remaining in the crook of her neck. “You mentioned rogues…”

“Yes. It was actually an old ally of my dad’s. He’d gone off grid for awhile, becoming a rogue and hiding out after his mate rejected him. He’d done some awful things, but came back to our pack asking for forgiveness. My dad agreed to give him a second chance, but that very night he helped his fellow rogues sneak onto our territory. They tried…” her voice grew heavy with the weight of the memories. “They killed my parents and tried taking over the pack. Our warriors managed to stop them all, but it was too late. I arrived too late, only to hold my mom as she died, her blood soaking through my clothes along with the rain,” Chesca sniffed and refused to cry. God knew how many tears she’d cried in memory of that horrific night.

“Her last words to me were, ‘It’s yours now. Never give up control. Never share dominion.’ She didn’t want me making the same mistake they had. Over half of our pack were killed too that night. Trying to bring our tight-knit community together again after such a tragedy has been hard. Extremely hard, but we’ve managed. I was...I was never meant to be Alpha,” her voice dropped to a quiet whisper and she buried her head in her hands. “But I had to be, for my pack’s sake,” she mumbled between her fingers.

Silence settled over them when Chesca finished the story. Kaiden rocked her gently back and forth, and she relaxed in his arms. Afraid he’d let her go too soon, she entwined her fingers through his.

“So that’s why you don’t want me anywhere near your pack. You’re afraid as your mate that I’ll take it from you.”

“It’s nothing personal,” she turned and assured him quickly. “Well, maybe it is...because you’re an Alpha. But honestly, I have nothing against mates.”

“That’s good to know.” And this time, he kissed her on the lips. A slow, tantalising kiss full of promise and passion.

“So... you and Charles, huh?”

“What about me and Charles?” Lexi asked.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know I know,” Chesca gave her friend a knowing look.

“What? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Lexi skipped ahead on the path, but Chesca soon caught up.

They’d decided to go for a run together in the afternoon, and Chesca was in the mood for a tease. “Uh right, so there’s nothing you want to tell me? No exciting news you want to share?”

“Nothing that I can think of,” Lexi looked at the trees, the flowers, the birds that twittered and the stones on the path in front. Everywhere, but at Chesca.

“So not even— I don’t know,” Chesca shrugged dramatically, “—that your family might be expanding soon?”

“What??!” Lexi halted mid-stride and gaped at her friend. Her eyes went wide and she covered her mouth. As well as absently placing a hand over her stomach protectively. “How did you know?” Lexi managed to ask once she’d recovered from her shock.

“I am Alpha. I know these things,” Chesca tapped the side of her nose.

“But—but….” Lexi spluttered, but soon broke into an excited grin. “We were planning to tell you all soon, make a special announcement sort of thing. I wanted to have a party, but Charles doesn’t want anything fancy,” she clutched Chesca’s arm in her excitement. “But I’ve been planning something, and I was hoping you’d help?”

“Of course!”

“But how did you figure it out? We’ve told no one.”

“Honey, you don’t need to tell to be obvious. I’ve seen the soppy looks you give each other when you think no one’s looking, and the way Charles comes up and places his hands on your hips carefully, whispering something in your ear. The blush that steals across your face is so cute—”

“Stop it! He can make me blush, so what—” Lexi whacked her arm.

“Oh but there’s more. The dreamy look Charles gets on his face while watching the young pups play, and your mischievous giggles I hear whenever Kelli and her new pup come over to say hi.”

“He’s such a gorgeous baby, of course I’d giggle and blow on his little toes. His eyes just light up like birthday candles on a cake—”

“And besides all that, I can smell your complete change of hormones.”

“Ok, that’s just gross.”

“Oh, and the clincher was waking up last week to replace my secret stash of snacks raided, and all my Nutella cereal gone.”

“Maybe Kaiden was extra hungry one morning?” Lexi grasped at another possible reason with raised palms.

“Nah, he prefers crunchy nut. And I know you, Lex. You’ve always loved Nutella nearly as much as me. Think I’ll need to put my stash of jars under lock and key…”

“Hey, it’s not my fault Charles won’t let me buy any! He’s making me eat all this healthy stuff, saying it’s good for the baby,” Lexi pouted and crossed her arms. “Of course I get cravings for sweet stuff.”

“I wish I had a mate who cared that much,” Chesca sighed dramatically, trying to defend Charles. “Kaiden probably wouldn’t mind if I ate a toad and died of poisoning,” she slung her arm around Lexi’s shoulders and rested her head against hers. On second thoughts though, she doubted her own cynical words. After the amazing breakfast Kaiden had made her this morning, and the heroic way he’d rescued her on two different occasions, she knew he cared about her. Unless the pancakes were laced with something...

“Oh, come on, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He cares, he just has a lot of stupid pride that gets in the way. You know how males can be, especially when they’re trying to impress a girl with their masculine prowess,” Lexi puffed out her chest and swaggered to show her point.

Chesca began to giggle, “Yeah, like remember that time Kai—wait, did you hear that?” She stopped and flung out an arm to halt her friend.

“No, but I can smell something,” Lexi sniffed the air and frowned.

“Not a rogue, but definitely another wolf.”

The she wolves stood back to back and turned, scanning the trees with every sense alert. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as the sunlight filtered down through the branches. But the usual chirping of birds had hushed, leaving the forest blanketed in an eerie silence.

They heard a twig snap at the same time some leaves rustled, both not far but in opposite directions.

“You go that way, I’ll go this way,” Lexi whispered before creeping off.

Chesca ducked behind a tree and crouched, listening intently before moving forward a few feet. She crept like this, stopping behind trees and waiting, for a few minutes, watching all around, but she saw nothing. A shift in the wind didn’t bring the scent she’d smelt before, just Lexi’s from a few dozen yards away.

Turning to head back, she heard Lexi’s angry growl and it sent shivers down her spine. With her Alpha blood shooting through her veins at a heightened pace, Chesca leapt into action and raced toward her friend. It didn’t sound like she was in danger, and she knew her head guard could handle most anything, but she just wanted to make sure all was okay. They’d been visited by some pretty unusual trespassers recently.

Cresting a small gully, Chesca pushed her way through a thicket of ferns on the forest floor and saw a large man standing-off against Lexi. She barely had time to notice the rage on his face before he moved at lightning speed. His body crashed into Lexi’s, pushing her against a thick tree trunk before they both rolled to the ground.

Chesca’s increased hearing heard the whoosh of air from Lexi’s lungs and knew she’d been winded in the brazen attack.

Her feet moved fast and ate up the ground, and instinctively Chesca grappled the man off Lexi. With a heave, she wrenched him away and wrapped her legs around his back and her arms around his head. She gripped his head, and with a sudden jerk of her hands, the sound of his neck breaking echoed against the quiet trees. His body toppled at her feet, and she stood over him, panting hard.

Lexi gasped and pushed herself up, brushing the sticks and dirt from her face. “You didn’t have to do that,” she looked down at the man with a frown of distaste on her sweaty face.

“He could have killed you,” Chesca said gruffly, her wolf just below the surface, giving her strength.

“I had it under control. He just caught me a bit off guard, is all,” Lexi’s voice came off a bit shaky.

“I didn’t want to risk it.” Chesca clenched her jaw and breathed deeply through her nose as her heart calmed down from the spike of adrenaline.

“Well, it’s done now. He’s dead and we can’t question him or anything,” Lexi said flatly.

“We can still learn a lot from him.” Kneeling carefully beside his body, Chesca peered at his face. It wasn’t the first time she’d killed, but she usually preferred to give the responsibility to others when the situation permitted. However, this one hadn’t.

And as Alpha, she’d done her job. “He’s from Razestone Pack, I can tell by his features.” This didn’t surprise her much. In fact, ever since Elah’s death on her territory, she’d half expected a whole army to come marching over for vengeance.

“And a guard too, going by his clothes,” Lexi motioned to his camouflage fatigues and mud-encrusted boots.

Just then, a few of her own guards ran up, panting hard as if they’d just run a long way and fast. “Alpha, Lexi, we need to warn you— oh.” They stared down at the body. “You’ve already found the trespasser. I guess you’re both alright?”

Lexi snorted at the stupid question. Chesca guessed she didn’t realise the gravity of the close call. And as it settled into her own mind, her heart fluttered at the fear of nearly losing her best friend.

“Yes. Any idea how he got past the borders?” Chesca rose and placed her hands on her hips sternly.

“We were, uh..” one man started and faltered, shifting on his feet and staring down at the body nervously. He was a new guard and had not yet been initiated into the grim business the job sometimes entailed.

“We were running the usual patrol, north to south by the river valley, when this wolf just streaked right past us. We were following him for a few miles before we lost him,” the other guard stated carefully.

“And did you call backup?” Lexi quizzed.

“Yes, but I think everyone was busy down by the Pass, with the new development.”

Chesca sighed. The one day she tasked more men on the building project was the same day another intruder decided to show up and cross her boundaries.

“Bury him quietly,” she gave the orders. “And don’t let this spread. The last thing we need is for people to get scared.” And she didn’t want Kaiden hearing that she’d killed one of his pack guards. She’d tell him when the time was right and maybe after she’d figured out some answers.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“I’ll make sure more guards get on border patrol,” Lexi said stiffly, rubbing the back of her neck. Chesca could see the reddening scratches on her skin, and shuddered to think how much worse it could have been.

She didn’t regret doing what she did. She would do anything to protect her pack.