Alpha Bond

Ella’s POV

It has been almost two days since I haven’t really seen Oliver, nor did we get any chance to spend some time together so I could help him with his wolf.

Burton has burdened Oliver with so many duties, along with overlooking the training, which hardly leaves him with any free time. He doesn’t even have a proper sleep schedule as then we could have that exciting dream visit. He only sleeps for three to four hours, sometimes during the day.

Not being able to talk to Oliver is driving me crazy, but what makes me livid is how Burton keeps Oliver away from me by giving him so much responsibility.

I feel Burton is deliberately doing this, so Oliver doesn’t have any kind of interaction with me.

While on the other hand, some unusual activities are going on around the campus, which has created an air of uncertainty among everyone. For instance, today morning, the record room suddenly caught fire, and later when the high-ranking guardians were in the meeting, their room windows blew up, causing them to go into high alert.

Nobody has managed to find out who is behind these nuances.

All I can say is Elena is keeping up with her word to make sure these high-ranking bastards are occupied. At the same time, I am trying to find what secrets Burton has been keeping because my gut feeling is that something is going on that is being hidden from everyone.

That feeling of calling inside me intensifies whenever I think about these things. There is a strange pull, like someone is calling me for help.

I have yet to find out why the rescued captives were being kept here and what kind of so-called interrogation is being held by these guardians.

Oliver doesn’t have any information regarding any of these. Each group of guardians has their own duties, and no guardian or group interfere in each other responsibilities.

The hierarchy system is really strong in their clan. I feel often these high-ranking guardians misuse their authority, but no one questions them because of the fear of consequences.

So far, I haven’t managed to get anywhere, but I am not losing hope. I have already got myself in the good books of some of the guardians, and now I need them to trust me so I can get any kind of information from them.

As Steven and Brody had earlier said, not all guardians are bad. Actually, a few of them are warming up to me. Only the high-ranking guardians are the ones who seem like they have a stick in their asses.

Today as per my and Elena’s plan, we have decided to join guardians in their training. Elena wants to evaluate their strength, so we would know whom we are competing against if it comes to fighting. While I want to see what powers these guardians have which they utilize to defeat their opponent.

When you have powers, then knowing or unknowingly, you tap your powers when you are afraid of losing. And I will be able to sense them because, along with spells, I can feel others’ powers.

It’s not like I can tell what powers anyone has, but I can judge the strength of their powers. But if they are directly being used against me, then it makes it easier for me to feel those powers. Just like when Ambrose tried to use compulsion on me, I had instantly felt it.

“Mom and dad aren’t happy, Ella.” Elena stands beside me as she looks straight at the two guardians involved in sparring. “They want us back home.”

Silently, I nod my head because I know they wouldn’t be pleased to know that we are planning something against the guardians and not involving them. I don't want mom and dad or my pack to be directly involved in all because if anything goes wrong, I will take the entire blame so that no action is taken against our pack or them.

We haven’t told mom and dad about Oliver, but we have shared our suspicions that the guardians are hiding something big. I have even told mom about the calling, which I feel around here.

Mom told me that she could feel the danger lingering near us and wanted us to return home. She said we would figure it out in other ways to find out the truth, but she doesn’t want us to stay here any longer.

“I know, but I can’t.” Crossing my arms, I shake my head.

I will not leave because there is too much at stake, not just my mate bond. Just like Oliver, we don’t know how many other guardians are suffering at the hand of these high-ranking guardians. I can’t turn a blind eye when I know there is something big going on here, which can put every one of us in danger.

“C’mon, let’s show these guardians what real training looks like.” Elena cracks her knuckles with a smirk.

I read the silent message clear in her eyes, which says that she is with me and even she is not going anywhere.

Smiling, I raise my hand in a high-five which she returns with an excited twinkle in her eyes.

“Do you mind if we join your training sessions?” I ask Oliver, who is luckily overlooking this training session.

“We don’t train with females.” Without even looking in my direction, he replies, and then he continues to talk to the other guardian, “If you want to train, you can join another session which is for females.” His voice is void of any expression, as he dismisses me when he notices I haven’t moved from there.

Oliver is being Lord Emerson to me, I know all this is a pretense, and honestly, I am finding this quite interesting. Even he seems to be enjoying this pretend game.

“Why are you guys afraid to get defeated by females?” Elena smirks as she taps Oliver's shoulder.

“You are no match for the fully trained Guardians.” Oliver turns to look at Elena, “I think it best that everyone should know their place and stop interfering in our matters.” He glares at her and pushes her hand away.

“What’s going on here?” Burton’s voice causes everyone to stop and look in our direction.

“Hello, Guardian Burton.” Elena squares her shoulders and extends her hand when he reaches us, “I am Elena Whitmore, daughter of Ivory and Donovon Whitmore.” She looks directly into his eyes, showing nothing but confidence.

“It seems like another Whitmore sister is trying to create chaos here.” He shakes her hand and scoffs.

“Don’t belittle us, Sir.” She smirks, “Because we are known to stir storms, creating chaos is not our thing.”

“Would you like to tell me why you are interrupting our sessions?” Ignoring Elena, he looks at me.

“We just want to train, and your guardian is not letting us.” I nod my head towards Oliver.

Burton looks at me, and I can practically see the gears in his mind shifting. After a moment, he turns to look at Oliver.

“Let them train.” He surprises me with his reply, but I am sure there is something more to it, “But before that, she has to fight with Guardian Alto. If she manages to survive against him, then let them train.”

“I hope it is okay with you, Ella?” He raises his eyebrows as my eyes move to Guardian Alto, who more looks like a bear in human form.

I share a look with Elena, and she gives me a subtle nod. Then abruptly, my eyes shift to a few female guardians standing on the other side of the training ground. And instantly, I know what I have to do.

“Okay, but I have one condition.” I look at Burton, “If I defeat Guardian Alto, then not only us, but all the female guardians will be allowed to train like the rest of the male guardians.”

“Okay.” He nods his head, sounding overconfident.

“Please clear the mat, as a fight between Guardian Alto and Ella-”

“Hold on.” Elena interrupts him, “May I know Alto’s rank?”

“It’s Guardian Alto.” Burton narrows his eyes at Elena, clearly offended by the lack of respect.

“And it’s Alpha Ella.” She holds his gaze unflinchingly as she corrects him.

I share a look with Oliver, and I swear I can see a hint of a smile on his lips.

“What’s your rank?” She shifts her gaze to Alto.

“I am a Guardian.” He states.

“Alpha Ella is not going to fight with him because he doesn’t share the same status as hers. In our pack, we only fight with our equals.” Elena stands beside me but slightly behind me. “So it’s me who is going to fight.”

"This motherfucker wants to figure your strengths and weakness. He is clever, but we will defeat him in his game." Elena mindlinks me.

Even though there is no such rule in our pack, I nod my head playing along with her.

“Why is she not capable enough to fight?” Burton mocks, but before I can answer, Elena replies.

From our bond, I can sense her anger and desire to separate his head from his body. Quickly, I send her calming vibes as I have seen mom doing the same numerous times because, knowing Elena, I know she will not think twice before acting up on her wish. Thankfully, it works as some of her anger simmers down a bit.

“If you want to get into the ring, then I am sure you will find out firsthand how much she is capable or not.” She raises her eyebrow while nodding her head, “But since it is Guardian Alto, not any one of the heads, so I will be with the one who would go against him.”

“And it’s final.” Alpha power seeps into her words, and the authority in her voice is loud and clear. Before Burton can say anything else, she steps into the fighting circle and motions Alto to come forward.

I steal a glance at Oliver, and for the first time, I see a shadow of nervousness on his face. He is worried about Elena as it is clear that Alto is one of the best fighters of Burton.

Oliver’s eyes meet mine, and I blink at him in reassurance because I have full confidence in my sister and her skills.