The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

"Ah, I needed that," I sighed, lying on my back on the ground after tossing Estel like a sack of potatoes over my shoulder. She was still winded, panting to catch her breath.

She got the best of me a few times too. Lenny, like the overprotective babysitter he is, even went to step in once when Estel surprised me by kicking my feet out from under me and slamming her elbow into my stomach. It hurt like a bitch, but I waved him off. After about the fifth time of waving him off, he stopped trying to intervene.

"You needed to kick my ass? Jeez, thanks," Estel struggled to sit up.

I laughed, shaking my head. "No. I needed someone that wasn't going to be polite to me. Even big brother over there treats me like glass most of the time." I pointed my thumb at Lenny, watching from a good distance away beside the warrior building. There were others loitering around now too, including Mick and Miles, but they were far away enough not to hear us talking.

"I don't know why," Estel groaned, rubbing her lower back. "You don't seem all too delicate."

"I'm not," I muttered. "You have no idea."

"I think I do now," she chuckled. "So, what was this? Just a stress relieving, clear the air type of ass-kicking? Are we good now?"

"You going to whisper in my mate's ear again?" I lifted an eyebrow.

She winced. "It wasn't like that. There was-"

"I know," I cut her off. I leaned up on my arms and offered her a sad smile. "Mick told me."

"Ah," she nodded. "So that's what this is really about? You're pitying me."

"A little, but not really. I think there is more to Boyd not accepting the fate bond than you think."

"What do you mean?"

I sat up, leaning closer, so I knew for sure that only she could hear. "I think Boyd is under the influence of black magic. I don't think he can sense you are his mate."

"Bull shit," she scoffed. "He just fucking hates me. As soon as he's recovered, I'm rejecting and leaving him as just a bad freaking memory. He's ruined enough memories for me already."

The pain in her eyes was so real. I couldn't blame her for feeling that way, but now that I have Mick and Miles, I believe in the mate bond again, and don't want her to lose hope just yet.

"I know he's under the influence of black magic, Estel. We can prove it. Please, just don't reject him or do anything hasty just yet."

Boyd POV

"You asked to see me?" I stood at the Alphas' office door, feeling awkward as I stared at Mick sitting behind his desk.

It's been a few days since I got back, and I've spent most of that time in my room, recovering and healing while Winnie and the others watched me like a hawk. It's been suffocating at times, so when a warrior came to get me, saying Mick was asking to see me, I readily agreed. Now, I'm starting to second guess that choice.

"Come in," Mick glanced up from his computer, then clicked his mouse a few more times before giving me his full attention. "Sorry. Trying to clear my inbox before lunch."

"Yep," I grunted, not sure how else to respond. He looked like he was a real Alpha now. I felt his aura at the hotel, but being across from it and his undivided attention on me had my nerves on high alert.

I hesitantly lowered myself into the chair in front of him, wondering what this could be about. His brother came to talk with me the day I got back, but I haven't seen Mick since we pulled up outside of the pack house. I thought he was avoiding dealing with me because of our history and the shit that went down because of Chloe. He looked all too authoritative right now. Too much to make me comfortable.

What the hell could this be about?

I told Alpha Miles everything I could remember from being at the hotel. Everything except the marking of Laura, but not from my lack of trying. I truly did want to figure out how to sever the bond, since she wouldn't allow for a straight rejection. The bond was starting to mess with Siruis too, making him act weird. I wanted to let someone know, so I could get rid of it for good. Every time the thought even came into my head to say something, no matter who it was to, a powerful headache would pound against my skull and I couldn't speak properly until I gave up the idea.

I've just been in this weird limbo with Laura ever since.

I tapped my feet nervously on the ground as the silence between Mick and I stretched and I worried about why I was there.

"I'm not going to punch you again," Mick smirked, and just like that, those old feelings of annoyance towards him rose up inside of me.

"Like I would fucking let you, asshole," I growled.

I winced, regretting the words as soon as they slipped out. I knew after what everyone told me that Mick was a big reason why I was saved. He stood up for me when his brother was on the verge of writing me off because of distrust. Mick called me family, according to everyone else, and I just called him an asshole.

Mick didn't look offended, to my relief. He just scoffed and smirked softly, sitting back in his chair and folding his hands in his lap.

"That's more like it. I thought you had lost all your fight. The douche gene disappeared with your balls at that resort."

"You wish," I huffed. "I got bigger balls than you have ever had. What the hell did you call me here for? To piss me off?"

He shrugged. "Not intentionally, Big Ball Boyd."

I growled, "You're just accidentally being a dick?"

"No. I'm intentionally being a dick. A big dick to go with your big balls," he shrugged. "That's just not why I called you here."

"Then why did you call me here?" Shit. Was I getting kicked out or something? Did they figure out I marked my ex-mate?

"Just to check on you," Mick surprised me, looking more sincere than I expected. "I know you went through a lot. You haven't been out of your room much. I know Winnie is taking care of you, but thought you might need someone with a lower pitched voice to talk to for a bit." "I talk to Beau every day," I muttered.

"Someone with a sexier voice."

"I got Alexi," I scoffed.

"Alright. Someone prettier to look at."

"Jamie is sitting in my room right-"

"The fuck," Mick growled. "I'm extending an olive branch, you douche bag."

"An olive branch?" I lifted an eyebrow.

"Yeah. I'm choosing to forgive you for all the shit with Chloe. You know. Take the high road and that good stuff."

"Wow," I said sarcastically. "You sound so sincere."

"Do I? I've been working on it for the last thirty minutes. I wasn't actually clearing my inbox, I was looking up how to tolerate a douche bag."

"It shows." I shook my head, "Step one; insult him. Step two; call him a douche bag."

He chuckled softly. "Step three; repeat steps one and two until they work."

"You should find better advice."