An Alpha's Charge

Hard Truth

She asked him questions about being a werebear shifter and what a mate is. She needed to know these things because she grew up thinking and living like a human being with other humans. She is grateful for the learning and the things she has worked for, but without living with other shifters, she knew nothing about this lifestyle.

“Could you please tell me what a mate is?”

“A mate is where two souls are bound together when the bond will then be complete. Our moon goddess creates our soul mates, and a bond is formed when we meet them. She picks the perfect person to help us strengthen, love, and cherish our other halves. Her name is Selene, and few people get to meet her, but some have. We are all her children, but unfortunately, some people or shifters do get rejected and choose a mate for themselves. Do you feel any pull towards me?”

“Yes, I do, but I do not understand it.”

“As I said, Selene matches our souls with each other, but as we grow up, we do not know who our mate is. That is until we turn eighteen; at that time, we can find our mates by scenting them. If our mate is not in our pack or near us, we can travel and see if we find them. Some do not find them for a few years as they may have yet to be born or turn eighteen. We can also feel our mates die; we may not get a second chance. If we do not get a second chance, we can choose a mate we like.”

“I understand, but when do we get our bears?”

“For bears, it is different than other shifters; usually, we shift when we are around the age of one or two then we will not see them again till we are between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. Some do not get their animals until later as they are not matured yet.”

“Do you think that is why I have not shifted yet? Snow told me I had locked her up, but I do not understand her meaning.”

“Let me ask you a question, what do you remember about your past? Where did you grow up? Who are your parents?”

“I do not remember them; I remember being put in an igloo by my parents, and they turned and left us there. We heard screams and loud, popping noises from the fire. We were taken to an orphanage a couple of days later.”

“OK, that explains why you have many questions. Who are we?”

“Steven, my twin brother, was adopted a year or two after we were in the orphanage, and I have not seen or heard from him since. I do not know if he is still alive or dead.”

“Where did you grow up, the city and state? Please tell me everything because the doctor has noticed that you have many broken bones that are old breaks.”

“I lived in foster care for many years, being bounced from one place to another. Nobody wanted me, so they abused me in every way possible. I got tired of it and had to hide my job and money so they would not know what I was doing. The people at the restaurant knew I was a foster kid and needed money, so they gave me a job, and I was good at it.

“I turned in all my schoolwork ahead of time and put money in a savings account under a pretend name so they would not find it. The customers knew what I was doing and helped me get to San Antonio, Texas, where I rented a flat, put myself through high school, had another job, and put money away.”

“You did have a rough life, but what else happened?”

“Ruth and John took me in as their daughter, were exceedingly kind, and helped me with everything I needed. They paid my college tuition and gave me all three of their businesses. My parents were killed during a robbery, they set the place on fire and burned it, but eventually, they got the robbers and sentenced to prison with no parole. I fixed the restaurant and sold it back to the bartender and other employees but kept the other two businesses.

“Now I am getting ready to sell those two off, and my attorney handles it. Now I am here.”

“Yes, you are here, but still, there is a gap; how long were you doing drugs and drinking?”

“Since I started college, I got tired of living that life, and Vye dragged me off to this resort. I saw what was happening and got scared and hated myself for even doing anything like that. I still had drugs in me when Vye had taken the island.”

“I have to ask this; I am not holding it against you, but were you ever raped?”

“Yes, the first time I started drinking and doing drugs. Vye’s brother and friend drugged my drink, and I did not know it then. I did not know what happened till the next morning. I was in a lot of pain, but Colin took care of me, and we started dating. Then he graduated and left for New York City, where he is now married with three kids. He got away from his sister and her drugs.”

“What is Vye’s last name?”

“Studebaker, all she cares about is the party life; I wanted to get away from it for a while; this was the opportune time, took a video and sent it off to a friend who sent it off to someone else, which brings me to you. Guess that makes me your charge?”

“OK, yes, it does make me your charge, but I get the best thing, you, my love, my mate, get some rest now. You will be shifting on the next full moon, and I will help you through it.”

He kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger; good night and left the house, locking it behind him. He saw Duke coming in after being gone for a few weeks. He needed to sit him down and tell him what had happened in the last couple of days.

He min-linked to meet him in his office; he had a few things to discuss with his warrior/interrogator. Thirty minutes later, Duke entered the office and sat across from Ramiel.

“So, you met your mate, huh?”

“Yes, smart ass, I did. But that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. Lane’s life was rough, and she never got adopted after her brother. She was sent from one foster home to another in Seattle. She left when she turned sixteen and moved to San Antonio, where Ruth and John had taken her in as a daughter. They left her with three companies, but she sold one after a fire, and her parents were killed. She is getting ready to sell the other two, but her attorney handles that.

“Vye’s last name is Studabaker, and her brother is Colin; he lives in New York City. He raped her with one of his friends, but she and Colin dated until he graduated and moved. Look into them and what university they went to. Check to see who her attorney is and who is Ruth and John.”

“Is that all? What are your mates name?”

“Lane Alexander, I also want to know who her brother is or was and who her parents were.”

Duke’s face fell as he paled; his tears started to form in his eyes when Ramiel looked at the man before him. He cleared his throat, trying to get his voice. He remembered his sister and her name, which means he is Alexander too. He was happy she was safe and could not wait to meet and talk to her.

“She is my sister; I am her twin brother, but I forgot my real name. What the fucking hell happened to her? Tell me, Rami, what happened to her?” he asked in a panicked tone.

“It is her story, but I will tell you this much, she was never adopted but severely abused and left Seattle when she was sixteen to move to Texas, where she thrived. That is why I want you to investigate Ruth and John. They are the ones who can lead to your old pack and your parents’ name.”

“I want to see her, please. I will let her figure out that it is me. I will tell her my name, but I will change my last name back to Alexander, as that is my given name and all I ever wanted.”

“Wait till tomorrow; she is sleeping now. According to the doctor, she has several broken bones; remember, she needs rest for a while.”

“OK, I will let her rest, but I must see her. It has been over twenty years since we last saw each other when our world was ripped apart; I never saw or heard from her since.”

“What happened to you, Steven?”

“I, too, was beaten, but it was bad. I was raped and molested by my adopted father, mother, brothers, uncles, and cousins. Nearly beaten to death, you name it happened. I left with the help of Garrett and his father. If it were not for them, I would have died. I got out when I was sixteen, finished school a year early, and did the same with college, but you know that already.”

“Yeah, it is ironic how you both changed your lives at the same age and time, but she fell for her rapist in college. Get some rest, and we will talk more in the morning.”