The Alpha's Guardian

"Stop fvcking around. There is no way you can know that."I say annoyed.

"Samuel told me. He told me that when you get out, you will know it too." Liam reaches for me, trying to pull me close. I feel sick and confused as I push him off. Liam is my mate? How would he and Samuel know this? How could Samuel keep it from me, and how long has he known? My stomach feels sick. Has he been lying this whole time to keep me as a guardian?

"Ali," Liam says softly, trying to reach for me again.

"Stop. Liam, that's enough!" I say angrily, my hands up defensively. Slowly, I back away from him and he stays rooted in his spot. I spin and run towards the woods as fast as possible, mind linking Wade. -Forest now. North of the training center-

Wade doesn't answer, but I know for a fact he will show up. I stop at a small creek that gurgles and bubbles over the large rocks, hindering its progress. Each ripple reflects the sun that refracts off its surface. This tiny little haven in a world that is feeling increasingly suffocating.

"Ali," Wade says from behind me and all my tension melts. I feel as though I can think and breathe again as I turn and find him watching me with worry.

"I needed some space to think. But I can't leave you unguarded." I lie. I needed him, his presence to help bring back my calm.

When I was with Liam, I learned to harness my anger, my skepticism. I hated the world and how harsh it was, so I was determined to be harsher. Liam thrives off being the toughest, fiercest warrior, and I learned that trait from him. Love was a weakness, and you are only as strong as your weakest point. So if you love someone strong, you are also stronger. But watching the others I protected over the years love on their mates made me think. Maybe there is more to the mate bond than love based on a mutual desire to be the best.

Then I met Wade. Admittedly, it wasn't a great first impression, even if he was poisoned and disoriented. But even in that state, he put others before himself. Everything he does seems so selfless because he loves so much, he feels so much. I glance at Wade as he saunters over to a tree and sits down, leaning back on its trunk. He looks so relaxed right now. Even with everything on his plate.

"It is so peaceful out here," he says wistfully, as he lays his head back on the bark and closes his eyes.

A content smile plays across his lips as silence follows his voice. The only sound in the forest is the forest itself and that of the nature which inhabits it. I find myself drawn to him as I walk over and sit next to him, resting my head on the trunk. "Aren't you going to ask me what is wrong?" I ask him.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"I'm not sure I want to talk about it," I answer. He chuckles softly.

"Then no, I will not ask what is wrong. If it's heavy enough that you need to share it, you know where to find me."

I laugh harder than I mean, too. I look over at him and he smiles, pleased with his joke. Of course, I know where to find him. We are attached. He gently reaches out and tucks a loose hair behind my ear, his thumb lingering on my cheek slightly before dropping it to the grass.

"I'm here if you need someone to listen, Ali. I know that I've been hot and cold lately. I don't mean to be, but if you need a friend. I'm here to listen."

I smile tightly and nod at him, trying to keep the tears at bay. I am so confused by him. But the more I am with him, the more I am beginning to understand why the council thinks he is so special. He is unique, empathetic, and genuine, and, from what I can tell, he has no ulterior motives or desire to move up in the realm of alpha-ships. He is what an Alpha should be.

"What time are we leaving?" I ask.

"It's an hour and a half drive. He is expecting us at five for a pack tour, dinner is at six, meeting with him and two other alphas at 8:30. I figure we will stay there and return early in the morning." "Good to know,"

"I asked Francis to get the vehicle ready at three for us to take off."

"We should probably head back and get ready then," I say, stealing another glance at him.

He is unlike anyone else I have ever met. Wade sighs heavily as he pushes himself to stand and turns around, putting his hand out before me, offering to help me up. I slide my hand into his and the tingles that once were shocking pop gleefully across our skin and breathe in relief.

I know they aren't the mate bond, but even the thought that I am destined to be with such a man makes me feel like maybe all this killing and fighting has been worth it to get where I am. I stare at our enclosed hands as Wade rubs his thumb along the top in circles and slowly moves to pull it back from my hand. Panic rises when I realize this feeling of comfort is only fleeting. I have never been one to run from my problem.

Hell, I'm stubborn enough to look at the problem and run full force towards it. But this problem, this claim from Liam, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid. Afraid because if he is right, and he is my true mate. Then I will be losing Wade, and what I feel for him in this short time, feels like more than a bond. It feels like life or death without him.

I crawl into the passenger side of the truck begrudgingly. It's strange how 2 hours ago we were in the forest and I was thinking about how much I care for this a*****e who refuses to let me drive. I usually like to trek through pack lands and get a lay of them before we go, hence why I walked to this pack and had my bike shipped. But with Wade's leg bothering him and the distance we had to travel, I felt it was best to drive.

And Wade has the coolest massive souped-up truck in a wicked cobalt blue paint job. I swear the moment he saw my happiness about it; he decided he would crush my dreams. The engine rolls to life, vibrating through my ribcage and I can't help the giddy grin that graces my face. I look over at Wade smiling and find him staring at me, laughing.

"I promise you can drive it on the way back." He says, and I roll my eyes.

Ok, maybe he isn't completely an a*s.

"Fine. But I get to pick the music." I say, and he chuckles as we back out and drive down the road.

"Ok seriously, this truck is insane! It has to be custom. I didn't think this pack had a big-money reserve?" I ask, running my hand along the dash and over the leather seats.

"My pack does well. We have investments outside of the pack. We are modest because pack money goes back to the pack. This truck, however, was a gift from my parents when I turned 18 and became the Alpha. My dad did a lot of the upgrades himself." This is the first time he has ever mentioned his parents. I look at him, feeling sad. And then he laughs.

"My parents aren't dead, Ali. You don't have to feel sad. My sister married into an international pack in Europe. She has 2 pups and my parents live there half the year and here the other half. Who knows if you stay long enough you may get to meet them." He slides me a reassuring smile and my stomach flops and then rolls.

I'm not sure how long I will be here and the thought of missing out on seeing his functional family makes me feel sick. Hell, just the thought of not being with him makes me feel sick.

"Ok, what's up. I can feel your panic and anxiety. It's not like you." he says, his eyes focusing hard on the road.

I hate that when he asks me my first thought is to open up completely and tell him everything from the beginning. I want him to get to know me. My past, my present, and my future that I desperately and trying not to envision with him. Because the more I envision it, the more I panic about what Liam said.

"Liam is my mate." I blurt.

My cheeks heat red and I can see his hands tighten on the steering wheel as his knuckles go white. A stab of heartache pierces my mind and then disappears within a moment's notice. I curse myself internally. Real fvcking great Ali. Super graceful nose dive into the sensitive topic surrounding your bond.

"How do you know?" he asks, staying calm.

"He told me," I say honestly.

There is a moment of silence, and then the heavenly sound of his laughter breaks the tension.

"I'm sorry." he releases one hand from the wheel and wipes a stray tear. His laughter is contagious as I laugh with him.

"What!" I demand, enjoying the lightness in the conversation now.

"He told you? What, he was trying to kiss you or something and you pushed him away and he just whipped out 'I'm your mate' and you believed him?” "Uhm..."

"Ali. You told me you can't find your mate and your mate can't find you when you are a guardian and wearing your amulet. So how would Liam know?" "He said Samuel told him.”

"And Samuel would know? That makes no sense. How could Samuel know who your mate is? And if by some miracle he deduced it, it doesn't speak highly of your fatherly figure, Samuel, to tell Liam and not you."

"Maybe I should call Samuel-" I am interrupted by the ear-shattering sound of metal on metal.NôvelDrama.Org owns all content.

Everything spins as broken glass floats around my head as I move in slow motion, looking over at Wade, who is reaching out for me. I feel his hand grab me and pull me to his body as we flip front over end several times and land with a thundering slam. My ears ring and my shoulder hurts. Blood drips into my eyes as I turn and see Wade wrapped around me in a protective barrier, unconscious.