The Forbidden Alpha

Adea

I lowered a small bowl of oats and a plate of fruits in front of Gabe. A few Deltas greeted me and I smiled awkwardly. I snagged a few slices of toast and scrambled eggs for myself before dropping down across from Gabe.

“Ugh,” Gabe groaned.

I laughed around a mouthful of food, swallowing before I spoke. “We’re getting old Gabe, we may have to watch how much we drink. You know, maybe we could try a healthy approach by watching a movie next time. There would be so much less vomiting involved.”

Gabe closed his eyes but still had the strength to lift his hand up and flip me off and the deltas chuckled.

Gabe’s lips pursed and his spine stiffened as he looked across the room at something across the room.

I gave him a look before following his gaze to the doorway and watched as Odis walked in. As he grabbed a plate and proceeded to fill it, I gave Gabe a questioning look. His eyes lingered on Odis until he turned around and made his way towards us.

Gabe leaned over his bowl of oats and Odis sat down next to me and gave Gabe a disapproving look as he leaned his head into his hands. I’m not sure what’s been going on between the two of them but I’ve been catching some negative vibes from Odis. I thought it was one-sided but after what I just witnessed it clearly wasn’t.

I blinked, turning away from the encounter as I wondered what I was supposed to say. A little ache rose in my chest as I thought Ethan. I missed him.

“Good morning Luna,” Odis said.

“Morning Odis,” I said with a small smile.

“Morning Gabe,” Odis says before turning to his food.

Gabe grunted in response.

The dining hall was filled with chatter and I looked back and forth between Gabe and Odis. 

“Well this is awkward,” Kor murmured.

“I know, right?” I breathed. “I thought I was the only one who noticed.”

“No, I definitely noticed,” Kor whispered.

“They can’t hear you you know?” I laugh, “You don’t need to whisper.”

“I know!” She whisper yells.

I took a deep breath, trying to find a way to figure out what to say. I wanted to go with them on today’s run but I knew Odis wouldn’t let me. but the overriding emotions from Ethan being gone played a hand in me not wanting to stay home today.

“Look,” I began slowly, “I know that you and Ethan have this silent agreement on me staying in the packhouse, and me coming along on the run today goes against said agreement.”

Odis gives me a look and I continue before he can flat out deny me, “I know, but if you are trying to find Olivia then you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

Gabe and Odis were both staring at me like they couldn’t figure me out, but I pressed on for the sake of getting out of the house and more importantly, helping Olivia and doing something in the movement to get her home.

“So… I don’t want to hear that I need to stay home because it’s safer here. And I’m not going to sit pretty while you guys are out there doing what I, as future Luna, should be leading.”

Beta Odis raised an eyebrow at me, cutting a glance at Gabe for a moment before looking back at me.

“What do you think?” He asked Gabe.

“I think… I’m proud of my best friend for finally using her Luna balls,” Gabe says and gives me a wink. “And I’m grateful for any help in finding my mate,” Gabe says as he looks back at Odis.

Odis looks at me but before he can talk I speak first. “If you say no, I’m still going to go with or without you. So… for my safety,” I say and put emphasis on safety, “you should just accept that I’m coming along.”

“So when do we leave?” I asked as I smiled sweetly.

Odis looked mildly irritated as he stared back at me.

“Are you allowing me the chance to say something?” He said with a little bit of sass.

“Why Beta, if I didn’t know better I’d say you were sassing your future Luna,” I said jokingly.

He chuckled, “What I was going to say before my Luna interrupted is that I think you coming on the run with us today would be a good idea.”

I look at him in shock, my mouth hanging open.

He ignores my shock and says, “Gabe and I have been doing these runs every day and by looking at us you can tell we’re exhausted. Maybe having someone who hasn’t already been going daily might be able to catch something we’re missing.”

“Deal,” I deadpanned.

I blew out a breath and relaxed as I realized I wouldn’t be confined to the packhouse all day and could help in the search for Olivia.

Gabe and Odis were murmuring to each other in low voices and I turned to finish the last of my food. It was a quarter to 8 when we finished our food and Odis spoke again.

“Good,” Odis said, “Let’s head out.”

Gabe nodded and I nodded slowly as Odis gestured for the door. Gabe downed a cup of water before following after me. Odis led the way out of the packhouse and when we got outside we followed him as he headed towards the forest where she disappeared.

Before we went in I looked around and noticed that there weren’t many people out. Odis disappeared into the forest and I followed. We made our way into the forest until we found ourselves across from where we found her scent disappear.

Odis loosened his tie and threw it to the floor. He started unbuttoning his shirt and I looked behind me to find Gabe doing the same. Gulping, I gripped the hem of my shirt and started to pull it up when a figure appeared in the shadows.

“Someones here!” I yelled and the guys froze and leaned forward ready to shift without worrying about their clothes. A small familiar frame came out from the shadows. Her gray eyes were filled with tears. A painful cry filled the air as Gabe realized it was her.

Olivia was home.