The Wanted Alpha

April

I rolled over groaning, almost falling off the bed. I felt like hell.

Goddess, what time was it? The sunlight felt far too bright for morning. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed in an attempt to stand. I felt a little stiff, but not as bad as I’d thought I would. My mouth and throat felt parched, I really needed some water. Moving over to the sink, I splashed some water in my face and gulped some down too. As I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, I heard a voice at the door, one that I didn’t recognise.

“Sleeping beauty’s awake! You must’ve been hella tired, it’s already 1pm.”

The sudden outburst had made me jump, turning around startled. Wait, did he say 1pm?

“What?”

“It’s 1pm, sleepy head. I was starting to wonder whether you were gonna wake at all. Now that you are, do you want a shower or anything? I got some breakfast for ya too. I’ll have to nuke it, but it should still be good, how about it?” he asked, sounding quite chipper.

This guy was certainly more chatty than the other one. I felt my stomach rumble with the prospect of more food. I’d showered yesterday, but I suppose I could take advantage of this while I still could and I needed to brush my teeth before eating anyway.

“Ok, can I go for a shower first?”

“Sure! Got to ask you a couple of questions before I open the door though. First I need to see your boots and see the laces are still in” he asked.

I held up the boots so he could see that I hadn’t removed anything and that I hadn’t made an improvised weapon, these guys were thorough with their security.

“Ok, stand in sight and I’ll open up.”

I complied and the door opened, the guard motioned me to step out. Now that I was out I could get a better look at the new guard. Like the last one he was tall and built, obviously a warrior, with dark hair and eyes and a light, mocha complexion. He also bore a mark on his neck, he was mated too.

I saw him glance down to my neck frowning, but he said nothing about it.

“Why don’t I just leave these out here? You don’t have to check each time then” I asked, indicating my boots.

“Yeah, no problem. Just leave them down there. None of the guards here are gonna bother with them” he said, indicating the floor by the doorway.

“I’m Greer by the way” he held out his hand as though he was expecting me to shake it.

Why were these people so friendly towards someone they were clearly holding as a prisoner? They can’t seriously treat everyone like this. I just stared at his outstretched hand, I wasn’t about to start making friends with anyone here.

“… okaaaay then, this way” he instructed, wearing a small frown but he quickly recovered. “The Beta and Gamma already came this morning but you were still asleep, I’ll let ’em both know you’re awake and fine. You gotta be pretty important, even guests in the pack house don’t get this much attention!”

Lucky me.

We went to the same room as last time, everything was exactly where I left it last night. Also, like last night, the guard said he would stay by the doorway till I was done. He also indicated a pile of clothing that had appeared from yesterday and to help myself. I didn’t bother to wash my hair as it still looked ok. It looked better than ok. For the first time in years it looked shiny and lustrous, falling in long waves down my back. It’s b***d-red colour hadn’t been so vibrant in so long. I checked my neck, the deep purple bruising had faded to a blue-green colour. It still looked angry, but not as violent as yesterday. After I had finished and changed into a new hoodie and jeans that were still baggy on my skinny frame, I left the clothes and towels like I did yesterday and shuffled out in my thick fluffy socks.

He led me back to my cell and left me alone, but returned a few minutes later with a tray filled with bacon, pancakes and a jug of what smelt like maple syrup.

“Eat up, there’s plenty. If you want more, just say. Gotta get some meat on you, skinny girl” he beamed at me.

I felt myself blush a little and didn’t really know what to say in return, so I just shifted my focus to my food. I heard him chuckle and some rustling coming from his direction, so I stole a glance his way. He’d seated himself on the floor and had taken some food out of a bag.

“Hope you don’t mind me joining you, it’s either here or the hallway for me. We can talk as we eat if you want?”

…I think I preferred the other guard.

He babbled on about various things, projects he was doing at home, books he was reading. He seemed rather well read and was quite intelligent, it made me wonder why he was doing grunt work as a guard. He also talked about his mate heavily, a nurse in the pack hospital. The way his face lit up when he spoke about her made my heart break in pain once again and sent August back into her pity ball once more, I would most likely never inspire that same feeling in my own mate. I was too late to stop the couple of tears that slipped down my cheek, but I had hoped that I was quick enough to wipe them away before the guard saw. I was not.

“Hey, you ok? What’s wrong?” he said, looking concerned.

“It’s nothing, really, I’m just being…it’s…I’m fine” I said, trying to fake a smile and a light, breezy tone.

“Ok…ok. I just need to make sure you’re definitely alright. Alpha said he’d have our a*s’s if anything happens to you on our watch” he tried to laugh.

But this just made me snap.

“Why the f**k does he even care?!” I practically screamed, feeling new hot tears spill from my eyes.

Haven’t I cried enough over this man?!

I didn’t want to be one of those women that cried over her love that didn’t want her back. I just wanted to be free of this…of him.

I stood immediately, sending the tray and its mostly eaten contents flying and crashing to the ground. The guard stood too trying to approach me with worry painted on his face in an attempt to comfort me, but I just backed up into the corner.

“Please…just leave me alone” I whimpered, wrapping my arms around myself.

He stood, staring at me for the longest time before speaking “…he’s your mate, isn’t he?”

I didn’t say anything, I simply looked away.

“Look, I don’t know exactly what went down two years ago or how his father or mate really died, but…”

I cut him off “what?…his…mate?”

He had a mate before me? She was dead? Along with his father…

“Haven’t either of you spoken?” he asked incredulously.

I looked away again, grimacing at our first, last and only interaction. I saw him stare at my neck again, only this time he was scowling.

“I shouldn’t have said anything or blurted it out like that…I’m sorry” he said, rubbing the back of his neck “how about we go outside, get some fresh air. There’s a rec yard, I’ll need to stay out there with you, but it’ll be just you. How about it?”

I nodded, not really knowing what else to do or say.

“Come on then.”