Save Me Mr. Alpha

"Cassandra... her name was Cassandra."

“Oh, that’s a pretty big coincidence,” I mutter.

“She was one of the most popular queens of all time.”

“For obvious reasons. The story is beautiful.”

“Like I said, it was a favorite of mine.”

“Should we go and see the barrier and housing options for the pack?”

“That sounds like a good idea.” Tyson chuckles.

He leads me down the glistening castle hallways and to a set of thick wooden doors. After walking through them and finding ourselves outside the main building’s walls, we walk down a cobblestone path towards what looked like a village. A few children ran through the mostly empty streets as their mothers sit on patio tables in the square.

“I didn’t realize that people still lived here.”

“A few chose to stay and be responsible for the grounds and buildings. Mostly cleaning and that kind of thing. Some stayed behind for other reasons, but my old Beta was the one who kept track of things like that.”

“Who was your Beta before Babe?”

Tyson lets out a small growl and I look over to see his eyes flickering in between black and hazel. I roll my eyes at his childness. “Ty--” I stop remembering where we are, “My King, he is my friend. Yours too. I have called him that for years, and I’m not gonna change because of some claim you have over me.”

Tyson nods, his eyes still flickering.

“Your wolf, does it have a name?”

“Yes,” Tyson mutters.

I roll my eyes again, “Well, what is it?”

“I’d rather not say.”

I huff at him and he grimaces, “I do not select the name, it is his when he arrives. When I first shift I mean.”

“Just tell me.”

Tyson sighs, “His name is James.”

I suck in a breath and stare at him in shock.

“Oh.”

“It’s not like I chose it. When I found out about your former... fiancé... I was just as mad at my wolf and that stupid human.”

“I see.”

“Just because we share a name, doesn’t mean that we are anything like that beast.”

I chuckle at his words, the irony hitting me full force. Tyson lets out an awkward chuckle as well as he realizes the implications of his words.

“Let’s just focus on the matter at hand. We’ll need to get back to Northbrooke sooner rather than later.”

“Of course, My Queen.”

We continue walking into the town, Tyson pointing out different buildings as housing, the hospital, school, etc. As we walk, people nod and bow to us with Tyson nodding back in regards. I copy his head nods towards the women as they curtsy to me, feeling slightly awkward at the idea.

“If we were to return, My Queen, it is traditional to have a week of festivities announcing the new Queen.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, the whole town gets decked out in traditional European garb, gowns, the whole 9 yards. It’s a tradition called back to Queen Cassandra.”

I hum at the woman’s name, thinking about the implications behind his words.

“What does that mean I will be doing?”

“Traditionally organizing a luncheon with the higher ranked pack members, but the choice is yours. There are a few other details we would need to discuss that would need to be done. That might be a better conversation done in private though, My Queen.”

“And why is that, Your Royal Highness?” I ask dryly as I notice a few people staring at us.

Tyson shuffles awkwardly.

“To have the ball you have to be able to command the barrier.”

Something tickles in the back of my head, tempting me, testing me to remember what it was I needed to do to be able to control the barrier.

“Why does that matter?”

Tyson shuffles uncomfortably. “It means you need to be fully defined as Queen.”

“But the barrier let me into my room?”

“Yes, but--”

“Tyson just tell me.”

“I need to mark you.”

Tyson’s words haunted me for the next few hours as we finished up our more than awkward tour. I sat crosslegged on my bed while Tyson went to his office to “organize the move.”

It had been decided that we would be leaving Northbrooke permanently to stay at the castle and town inside the barrier. The castle was the safest place for us to be when a potential war was coming our way and it held the best strategic place for us.

After my legs went numb from sitting on them for so long, I started to pace the room anxiously. My mind was a mess. I wasn’t sure what was going on. Why was I so upset? It’s not like I HAD to marry the man. It was a mark. It was tradition. It would keep my brothers safe once they came inside the barrier. I could protect them completely, even as a human I could keep them safe.

Tyson’s hazel eyes flash through my mind and I feel a sense of warmth flowing through my chest as I think about him marking me. I look to my hand and eye the emblem burnt into it permanently.

The mark didn’t hurt. Even though it had hurt when I had been burned originally, the mark was no more painful than the tattoo hiding on my ribcage during my “rebel” time in college. I stare at the beautiful tree and the wolf intertwined and know that the barrier and all of its “intelligence” had given me this mark for a reason.

“I don’t love him,” I say aloud, imagining the barrier as a person standing in the room. “But I do love my family. And I’ve grown to love the people Tyson serves.”

No reply comes. Not that I was expecting one anyways.

“James was not the first love like Cassandra’s. Tyson is not my true love no matter what you think. I just-- I can’t risk the boys’ lives for my own peace.” I mumble.

I stop pacing and watch as the glass doors to the terrace open. I walk towards them, staring as the white curtains move softly in the wind.

I walk out onto the terrace and go to the edge. I look down and see a beautiful garden overflowing with bright flowers and luscious greenery. A few of the gardeners mill about, happily picking flowers and trimming hedges, but suddenly they all look to the east and make themselves scarce. I look over and see Tyson entering the garden from a partially hidden doorway. His face is sad, withdrawn. The gardeners leave as he enters the garden and I watch from my perch as he walks through the maze of hedges and flowers with ease.

It seems he spent a lot of time here before.

Tingles run up and down my arms, but I know it can’t be from him. He’s too far away. His body shudders suddenly and I’m surprised to feel his emotions in my body despite the distance between us.

Sadness. Grief. Joy. Love.

I shudder at the nearly forgotten feeling that had plagued me when I was engaged and almost married to James. It was a feeling I had carried with me constantly before the death of our child and the change James experienced with that loss.

I shake myself from my daydream and turn my attention back to the garden. Tyson looked around, expecting to see me, based on the tingles I’ll assume, before shaking his head and continuing deeper into the garden.

I realize he’s going into the center of the garden, an open space with two half-circle benches sitting on either side of a large willow tree. I nearly gasp as I question the tree’s existence. I look at the tree and notice a small, purplish thread of light ascending from the tree and going to the top of the dome, spreading out and creating the dome of light and safety that protected us all.

She was here. She was still alive. In one way or another. She was the barrier that protected us all. And she was trying to tell me something.

Tyson begins to speak, his words growing softer as he continues, but I hear his first words with ease, “Hello Cassandra, how are you my old friend?”

With that I run from the balcony, escaping from my past, but running towards something new.

“My Lady, do you need help?” A maid asks as I run down the stairs from my tower. I skid to a stop and eye the look of surprise on her face. She carries a broom and a Dyson vacuum, wielding them almost like weapons.

“Umm, yes. I’m sorry to have startled you. What’s your name?”

“Martha, My Lady.”

“Ok, Martha, how do I get to the gardens? The one with the big willow tree?”

“Follow me, Ma’am.”

Martha leads me down the twisting hallways to a door hidden behind a painting of a past Royal Family.

“Thank you!” I cry out, running through the door and into a dark, stone hallway which leads me to a gravel walkway in the garden.

I jog through the rows upon rows of flower beds and hedges as I advance towards my goal of finding Tyson.

I huff and moan as I struggle to find Tyson until finally I just give up and yell, “TYSON!” at the top of my voice. I hear the cracking of bones and a howl come from the distance. Suddenly I realize my mistake.

He probably thought I was hurt. Or scared. Or being threatened.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about being an Alpha’s Mate, they’re ultimately the most protective creatures on the planet and I’ve given the beast a reason to unleash and find me.

Tyson’s large brown wolf comes trampling over the garden beds, running to me, growling as he reaches me. He circles me, his back to me as he looks for danger or a threat coming towards his Mate.

“Tyson, I’m fine! I just--” The wolf growls at me, silencing me as he looks for danger. His eyes are pitch black and I realize the issue.

“James!” I snap. The wolf looks at me, the surprise on his face practically cartoonish. His tongue hangs out of his mouth as he continues to pant and look around.

“I’m fine, I just needed Tyson and I was lost and frustrated in the garden.”

The large wolf cocks his head at me and I chuckle at the motion.

“Can I have Tyson back?”

The wolf growls at the name and I roll my eyes, “Overprotective pain in the ass Alphas.” I mutter under my breath.

“James, please, I need to talk to Tyson. It’s important.”

The brown wolf just sits down at my feet, putting his head on his paws, staring up at me with his deep black eyes. Their appearance is definitely less scary on the face of what is essentially a large puppy, but I don’t tell him that. I sit next to him on the plush grass and he let’s out a hum that I can only equilvilate to the sound of a cat purring.

I think for a moment as I stare into the wolf’s dark eyes hoping to see a glimmer of hazel.

I stare at him before remembering the link.

“Can Tyson at least talk to me through the link?”

The wolf growls, but closes his eyes. A soft warmth envelops me and I know that Tyson is working to talk to me.

"Hi Gorgeous, sorry James won’t let me shift. His panic mode set in and until he calms down I won’t have access to my flesh side for a while."

I flinch at the words “flesh side,” but let it slide as I open my mouth to speak.

“Can you hear me when I talk aloud?”

"Yes, Cassie. I just can’t respond that way right now." Tyson’s chuckles fill my mind and I roll my eyes as I look at the wolf who seems to let out a gruff chuckle next me.

“I saw the tree. And I saw you talking to her and that you called her Cassandra.”

"What else did you hear?" He asks, his voice anxious.

“Nothing else, why?”

"Nothing. I was just curious. Anyways, why does that matter. I told you she was taken in by the tree."

“I didn’t realize she was still alive or whatever, or that she was here!”

"Well, she is. She’s--"

“The barrier, yeah, I get it. But I need to talk to you. The real... flesh you.” I shudder as I say the word.

"I think James will let me now. Turn around."

“What, why?”

"Unless you’d like to see your perfect specimen of a mate naked, you’ll turn around so I can grab some clothes from one of the bins around the corner."

I quickly turn and snap my hands over my eyes as my cheeks flush.

Obviously I had seen a naked man before, but that was not something I wanted to see from Tyson anytime soon.

I hear cracking of bones and shuffling and after a few minutes, Tyson comes back and places his hand on my shoulder causing tingles up and down my spine.

I turn around and see Tyson in a pair of gray sweatpants probably a size too small and a white crewneck t-shirt.

“Tyson--”

“Cassie--”

We say at the same time.

“Sorry.” We mutter simultaneously.

“I’m sorry if James’ appearance scared you. When I heard your scream I couldn’t control him and I had to shift.” He begins.

“It’s okay. Once I screamed and heard you shifting I realized what that sounded like and was prepared for him to come over and ‘guard’ me or whatever.”

“I see.”

Silence fills the air for a moment.

“What did you need?” Tyson asks quietly.

“Oh, that. Yeah. I-I realized that this whole situation isn’t smart or feasible and that we shouldn’t--”

“You’re rejecting me, now?” Tyson asks, his voice low and bitter, his hazel eyes growing dark with anger.

“What, I did--”

“After everything, you telling me you’d stay for the pack, you’re going to reject me now?” Tyson growls.

“Tyson, I--”

“What about the pack? They trust you! What about your brothers? What about their feelings? What about MINE?” He roars, his eyes getting darker by the second.

“No, I--”

“You’re MINE! And I love you, no matter if you can love yourself! I know you think you’re broken because you can’t have children, but I know that you’re not and I love you with all of my heart and I won’t let you--” his voice grows louder and louder until finally I let out a strangled yell.

“I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU TO MARK ME, YOU IDIOT.” I scream

Silence.

Dead silence.

Tyson’s eyes grow light again as he stares at me, his mouth open in shock. He stares at me, astonishment filling his face as he stares at me. I stomp my foot at him and knock him out of his shock.

“I--I, I mean, I didn’t think--”

“Yeah, I can see that.” I say cooly.

“But I, but you didn’t--”

“You didn’t give me a chance to speak. I was thinking about everything. The war. The move. My brothers, your sister, everything. I can’t protect them within the Castle if I’m not marked. I can’t be Queen or be recognized by Cassandra’s barrier or the people if I’m not marked. I stand by my word, Mr. Alpha. I am staying to be Luna and Queen Luna, I am not going anywhere. And if that means I need to be marked by you to do my duties, then so be it--”

“But--”

“What?”

“You want me to mark you?” Tyson’s confusion evident.

“Yes, I think I’ve made that clear.” I roll my eyes, giving myself a headache from the constant motion.

“You are sure you want me to mark you? It’s gonna hurt for a moment.”

I snort, “I’ve had worse I can assure you.”

“But--”

“FOR GOD’S SAKE, JUST MARK ME, DAMN IT.” I yell.

Tyson doesn’t hesitate anymore as his eyes grow dark and he lunges, his canines coming out and latching onto my neck.

The pain overwhelms me at first, my knees buckling from the weight, but Tyson holds me upright as the pain turns from overwhelming hurt to overwhelming heat and pleasure. Darkness edges at my eyes and I give in to the pain and close my eyes, passing out from pain and pleasure.

I wake up disoriented.

“What happened?” I moan, my head pounding. My eyes flutter open and I look around and see Tyson next to me, his face grim. He looks over to me and his stoic face relaxes.

“Hey, how are you feeling?”

“Like a truck hit me over the head and then decided we needed to go dancing.”

Tyson looks back at the road as I sit up from my spot in what I discover to be the front seat of an SUV. The SUV we drove to get to the castle.

“How’s your neck feel? The new mark should be healed by now.” He murmurs as he watches the road.

“It’s fine.”

“Good.”

“Where are we going?”

“Back to Northbrooke.”

“Already?”

“Something came up.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve ordered an evacuation of the town. Everyone is on their way to the castle.”

“An evacuation! What happened?” I ask, suddenly alert and wary of Tyson’s next words.

“Yakunda attacked. 6 are dead, 13 injured. Thankfully no women or children are hurt, but had we stayed in Northbrooke in the first place we never would have lost 6 men.” Tyson growls.

“It’s not your fault--”

“Yes it is--”

“No. It is not. We had to check on the castle to make progress for our people. We need to get back and help everyone pack up and evacuate before we go back to the castle and get everyone settled. It is not your fault. We needed to go and had we not this” I say motioning to my neck where I imagine a bloody gaping hole to reside is “may not have happened. Ever. So stop blaming yourself and let’s get to Northbrooke and help so we can get everyone home.”

Tyson nods, gripping the wheel tightly as he continues to drive like a maniac and I focus on the plan ahead.

I touch my neck, surprised to find the skin smooth and not raw. I pull down the visor and open the mirror to get a look at the mark on my neck, noticing Tyson looking at me as I do so.

The mark on my neck looks more like a tattoo than a scar as I see a bite mark on my neck. Upon closer inspection I see small rivets of gold shimmering in the mark, a sign of royalty I assume, and I am happy to see it has fully healed and is just tender to the touch vs a gaping hole.

“You are now officially royalty,” Tyson says softly.

I snort, “haven’t I always been seeing as you called me ‘Princess’ when we first met?”

Tyson hums in agreement.

“Now it’s official.”

But I knew what his words really implied, now I could never leave.

A/N: A long chapter with a lot of deep meanings and actions! I hope you guys enjoy this installment while I work on Chapter 19 to be released this next week! Be sure to check out my other book “Woodchester” my first (and completed!) novel while you wait anxiously for the next chapter!