The Alpha's Mutt

He sat in the darkness of his office, staring out the window. The dark bags under his bloodshot eyes had never been more prominent. The five o’clock shadow that had graced his chiseled jaw, had begun turning into a healthy beard. His hair was left disheveled, he could not remember the last time that he had attempted to style it. He had lost his drive for most things, what seemed like, ages ago.

The heart in his chest was clenched tightly, squeezing him into submission. It had been hurt and it would ensure that he would suffer as well. Not that he would argue against it if he could. He deserved this pain, and he knew it. He had failed to protect his mate. He had allowed a conspiracy to grow against her which had led to her banishment. He had punished those responsible for the night of her disappearance. Yet, this did nothing to soothe the ache his chest.

More importantly, it had not returned her to him.

Worse still, he knew that any actions he had taken were too little, too late. He should have never allowed her to be treated as a second-class citizen in the first place. Instead of using his own mind and coming to his own conclusions, as a good Alpha should have. He had allowed the judgment of those who had come before to cloud his own mind.

He knew that even if he were to find her. Even if he was able to convince her to return. He would never be able to make up for the years of the mistreatment at the hands of his pack. He knew that nothing would erase the injustice that she had endured.

If he ever did have the chance to see her again, he would spend the rest of his life trying, and failing, to make it right. He would make certain that she knew how important that she was. How important that she had always been.

If only he had seen the light sooner. If only he had wrapped her up in his arms and claimed her as his the very moment that he found her. There had been a part of him that had wanted to, and he wished that he had just given in. Then all of this could have been avoided. She would be at his side, where she belonged, not away on some distant mountain.

He did not blame her for not wanting to return to him. He would have probably made the same choice had he been in her shoes.

His trackers had informed him that they discovered her, living amongst the newly formed, self-proclaimed, Pariah Pack. They said that there was more information that they had gathered, but they were waiting to deliver the full report to him upon their arrival. They claimed the news was a bit unbelievable, so they felt that it would be best to discuss it in person.

He was waiting, impatiently, as he watched the horizon for their wolves. He needed to know what information they had about his mate. He wanted to know how she was and what she was doing. He longed for her and would gratefully take any knowledge about her that he could get.

“Alpha!” A voice cried out, loudly, through the mindlink. “Wolves at the northern border! A lot of them!”

Farris huffed in annoyance. He really had no energy to deal with this now. But he knew that he had a duty to his pack. He had shoved aside many of his responsibilities during these past years. A lot of his duties had fallen to Deene and Alessa. Yet they had done them without complaint. He could not allow this to fall on their shoulders, alone, as well. So, he forced himself out of his chair and began to hurry in the direction of the call.

“Deene, wolves at the northern border! Looks like we’re under attack!” He called out to his Beta.

“Understood. I will meet you there.” Deene replied.

“Code Red: All pups, she-wolves, sick, and elderly need to report to the pack house now! This is not a drill!” He called out to the entire pack, the first time that he had addressed the entirety of the group in months.

The closer that he got to the northern border, the stronger the scent of unknown wolves was becoming. He began to pick through the scents as he went, attempting to determine how many wolves that they may be facing. It smelt as though they were facing a small pack, rather than a group of rag-tag rogues like usual.

Then one scent jumped out at him in particular. An aroma that he had longed for since the last time he caught a whiff of it, honey and lavender. He felt himself perk up instantly as he quickened his pace to meet the group. He did not know why she was here or why she had come with such a large group, but he did not care. He intended to fall at her feet and beg for her forgiveness. He would explain the misunderstanding with Sauda and hope that she would take him back.

He had never felt so desperate in his entire life. He knew that it was unbecoming of a strong, proud Alpha, but he did not care. He had played the aloof Alpha role the last time around and he had lost her. He would not make such a mistake again. He would do whatever she asked of him if it gave him even the slightest hope for another chance.

When he arrived at the clearing where his guardians, warriors, and trackers were beginning to gather at the border line, the other group lining up just across the territorial marker. That was when he spotted her in the center of the group, her silver-fur sparkling against the light of the setting sun. She had never looked more regal or more powerful. He made his way to the front of the group, never taking his eyes off his mate before him.

He was in complete awe of her.

Without a sound, the pack stopped, lining up behind her. Yet she continued, taking several graceful steps forward. Once she had come to a stop, she looked over their group before her eyes finally settled on his. She gave him a cold look, causing the wolf in him to whimper.

Just as the sun set below the horizon and the last of its light faded from view, the only light filling the clearing being that of the full moon. She shook her head, shaking out her fur, before transforming before their eyes into her enchanting human form.

She was more breath-taking than he had remembered. As she stood, proud, in all of her glory before them. Clearly not the weak-willed female who had left this place. She had changed in the time she was away. He took a few steps in her direction, unable to stop himself from wanting to go to her.

“Hello, Alpha Farris.” She growled.