Save Me Mr. Alpha

The easel and sketchpad were partially covered and as I went to lift the sheet, Tyson grabs my hand and pulls me away from it, “Don’t...”

I had this sense of continuous Déjà vu filling me as I went about my duties as Queen Luna around the castle. I helped prepare for the upcoming ball, organized meals, served as a nurse down at the hospital, coordinated room changes, and more. Every day seemed like I was walking in a fog as I thought about the covered easel Tyson was hiding from me.

It was such a little thing but I was distracted by the mystery of the hidden sketches.

Tyson had been busy training the pack warriors and getting the non-warriors into shape to prepare for the war. I had barely seen him in the past week, only feeling the tingles up and down my spine when he was close a handful of times.

We stayed in contact via the mind link which was... strange, yet comforting.

A few times when Tyson had been meeting with some of his war counselors Tyson had linked me, joking and teasing, trying to escape the boredom of the monotonous meetings.

I remember asking if they were important given the war.

"Not really. Same info we covered in the last 6 meetings. This one’s going on two hours now and I’m starving. Besides, you’re more important..." he had teased. And while I know he was only teasing, the sincerity in his words was evident.

It had been two days since I had last seen him in person and I was surprised to admit that I wanted to see him.

I found myself wandering out to the garden and walking to the center. The closer I got to the willow tree, the more I found the fog in my head disappearing. I look up at the long branches descending from the tree and drifting down gently to the ground. I noticed that none of them touched the ground, stopping short a foot from the thick grass. As I near the thick base of the tree I notice that the knotted bark seemed to be twisting and transforming before my very eyes.

“What in the world?” I mumble.

I watch as the knotted wood transforms into the same picture as the crest on my suite door: a lone wolf sitting in front of a willow tree, the literal branches of the real tree hanging down and surrounding the wolf, making a crown around the wolf’s head.

“Wow...”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” A voice asks.

I turn and see a beautiful woman wearing a deep blue robe with gold embroidery lacing the sleeves.

“Hello...” I say, startled by the woman’s silent and sudden appearance.

“You are Queen Cassandra, words I never thought I’d be saying again,” the woman’s tone is amused. I look at her, trying to place where I know her from. Her light blue eyes almost appear purple and she looks strangely similar.

“I go by Cassie actually.”

“I see. Do you know who I am?”

“No, I am sorry, I don’t.”

The woman walks closer to me, her hands clasping behind her back as she walks. Her deep blue robes dragging elegantly behind her.

“You’ve met Cassandra,” the woman continues, reaching a hand out and touching the emblem on the trunk of the tree. She touches her forehead to the tree, a soft smile gracing her lips, but not reaching her eyes.

A deep sadness graced her eyes that was unavoidable.

“You’re the witch from the story Tyson told me,” I realize as I watch her stare at the tree with a sadness I understand completely.

“Victoria,” the woman offers, smiling at me. “Not many people can put that together on the first guess.”

She smirks, looking at me with interest.

“Not many people see sadness at first glance.”

“I’m sure Tyson told you the story about Cassandra.”

“He did.”

“Did he tell you she was my daughter?”

I let out a small gasp, my eyes widening at the realization.

“Tyson said she was a human...?”

“Witches pass as humans every day, dear.” Victoria chuckles. “We’re not wearing black, pointy hats and cursing local men into frogs.”

“But the man, Cassandra’s first love--”

“Ugh, Charles," she spits, distaste filling her voice. “The human my daughter tried to save who ran away and cheated on her. Humans, pitiful.”

“Hey!” I cry out, “I’m human!”

“Are you though?” Victoria smirks.

“What? I mean of course I am?”

“And your brothers?”

“They’re--”

“Mhm.” Victoria smirks, looking at me with a sly grin.

“But, Cassandra--”

“She did what she did out of love. I can’t fault her for that.”

“Your daughter died--”

“She’s still alive,” Victoria whispers, going back to the tree. “You know, people do crazy things for the people they love.”

“I know.”

“Even staying in a relationship to protect their brothers. Or maybe rejecting a handsome, young king because they were afraid of getting hurt again.”

“Victoria, I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

“I think you do.”

I sat in the garden, resting comfortably on a bench while I stared at Cassandra’s willow tree, trying to understand Victoria’s cryptic words.

Tingles run up and down my spine and I feel my cheeks warming.

“Hey, Gorgeous.” Tyson murmurs.

The smell of fresh doughnuts fill my nose and I smile as Tyson puts a pink box of fresh pastries under my nose. Tyson hands me a fresh doughnut with clear glaze and I happily accept it.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. I see Victoria was nearby.”

“Yeah, I was visiting Cassandra when she appeared. You never mentioned Cassandra was a witch. You said she was a human.”

“Technically half human, but for our history, half human was enough for her to be declared as the first human Luna.”

“I see.”

“Victoria doesn’t come around very often so I didn’t think it really mattered.”

“I see.”

“So, how have you been?”

I sigh, thinking about the stack of paperwork Katie had placed on my desk that was waiting for me.

“Busy, but nothing I can’t handle. Besides, I do have a degree in business that has more than prepared me for a busy role in leadership.”

Tyson chuckles, “True, but did it prepare you mates and marking and first shifts and war and--”

“Okay, I get your point!” I laugh.

“Anyways, I have one more meeting regarding defense strategies before dinner. Do you have anything coming up?”

“Not really, just paperwork.”

“Wanna get away for a while and check out the border with me?”

“That would be fine, after dinner or?”

“Why don’t we do it during dinner? That way we can avoid the pack talking about us--”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“7 o’clock?” Tyson confirms.

“It’s a date.”

The words leave my mouth without a second thought and a light blush tinges my cheeks. Again.

“It’s a date.” Tyson confirms, walking away with a slight tinge on his cheese as well.

While the pack cooks were preparing for dinner, I was trying to review the last few housing requests and attempt to distract myself from Tyson’s casual use of the word, “date.”

The word filled me with equal amounts of anxiety and equal amounts of hope. Hell, the last time I had actually been on a date was the day before my miscarriage when James wanted to take me out for food that fit my strange and disgusting pregnancy cravings.

I chuckle at the thought of James’ reaction to peanut butter and sauerkraut, but immediately guilt fills me at the positive memory of James.

Was I a terrible woman to still have good memories of the man I had once loved?

I mean, after the first time he had hit me, I thought it was a fluke. The second and third... the love slowly began replaced by excuses and arguments with myself on how I can make James love me again. Later I realized that it wasn’t me, it was him. I stopped trying to fix things but just last as long as possible till my boys were out of school and danger so I could finally leave him.

That was until Tyson had stepped in and saved the day...

A small smile graces my lips at the memory of Tyson and I hiding in a bathroom at the restaurant. I frown at the memory of beads ripping since I had actually liked that dress, but all in all that night had changed a lot of things. Not only for me, but for my boys as well.

I get up from my hunched position at my desk and walk over to my underused closet. I walk into the beautiful space and look around the room, touching the soft fabrics and clothes hanging. I sigh, unsure of my feelings regarding the whole “date” idea.

Do I not want to go?

Do I want to go?

I wasn’t sure what scared me more: the thought of a date or the thought of actually enjoying a date?

I met Tyson at the front doors of the main hallway. He was wearing dark jeans, hiking boots, and a dark maroon sweater that made his light hazel eyes bright. Ironically, I was wearing the same thing, only a black puffer vest to keep me warm in the cool night.

I guess Tyson didn’t have that issue being a werewolf and all.

“Hey Gorgeous,” he smiles.

“I thought you’re supposed to call me Your Queen or Majesty within the castle walls?” I joke, his compliment making me warm.

Tingles run up and down my spine as I get closer. We walk out the door and with Tyson’s arm rubbing against mine the tingles start turning into large fireworks erupting in my entire body.

“Yeah, I probably should but with no one around I’m not really worried about people overhearing and yelling at me about etiquette...”

“True...”

I don’t say anything regarding his compliment, not wanting to drag my embarrassment on any further.

“So...”

“So...” Tyson repeats, a sly smile on his face as we walk out the front doors and down the steps to the lawn.

We walk in silence, making our way beyond the gravel driveway of the castle and towards a mulch lined path that must lead to the borders.

“How has Katie been?” Tyson asks.

“Haven’t you talked to her at all?”

“Not really. Between war meetings and pack warrior training I’ve barely had time to sleep.”

“I see.”

“Plus, I probably would want to see you first before my sister. I know that sounds harsh, but--”

“Mate bond, I know.”

“Yeah...”

“Do you think if there wasn’t a mate bond we’d still be attracted to each other?”

“We?” Tyson asks, stopping ass he walks.

I blush.

“You know want I mean...” I lie.

“Oh, well. Yeah, I definitely think we’d still be attracted to each other. Maybe not as much at first and it would take longer to bond,” Tyson admits.

“True.”

“...would you still want to go out with me?” Tyson asks, smiling at me.

“Maybe, but it probably would’ve depended on your reaction to my brothers at the field.”

“That seems like ages ago, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed it does.”

“So why did you want to walk the border?”

“It gives me a nice break from paperwork, I get to spend time with you, and I get to feel truly involved with all levels of the pack hierarchy.”

I scrunch my nose at the word “hierarchy,” not enjoying how dispassionate it can sound. From Tyson it merely sounded like a war general organizing his troops, but in the wrong hands it definitely felt archaic and prejudice.

“Why’d you decide to join me?” Tyson asks.

I hesitate, the words “I missed you,” on the tip of my tongue as I continue to walk next to Tyson closer and closer to the border wall, but before I can speak the words that could Damn me or save me, I feel a link trying to form in my head. Based on Tyson’s face it was coming through to him as well.

Babe’s voice fills our head, panic evident.

“Alpha, Luna, enemy forces at the main gate; they’re trying to destroy the barrier. We’re under siege!”

With those heavy words, Tyson shifts, shredding his clothes and links me to climb on his back as he runs back towards the castle and our people who need us more than anything.

A/N: Next chapter to come soon! Like, comment, share, and review in the meantime!