The Forbidden Alpha

Odis

I struggled to pull myself together as I tried to hear Adea on the other end. It was only after I ordered the Deltas to rush to Olivia’s, that I wondered why I hadn’t asked about Alpha Ethan.

I shook the thought from my mind as I took off in the direction I knew she’d go. It was the only answer I could think of. I ran towards the forest where she went missing, it was the only place that she could make it off the territory without being noticed.

As I turned the corner, I spotted her and panic kicked it as she took a step towards the spot we hadn’t known was a way out. I wouldn’t let her go this time.

My chest rose and fall as I struggled to catch my breath. I should have shifted but I hadn’t been thinking straight. As if sensing my presence, Olivia turned back to face me.

Her eyes stared at me and this time they finally held more emotion than I’d seen since she’d come home. Pain. A sea of unspoken words hung between us as we stared across the field of green.

This is my fault. I’m the one who failed. I failed to protect her, failed to ensure her safety, failed to keep the territory safe. I fucked up. If I’d done my job this wouldn’t have happened. If I’d kept my promise she wouldn’t have turned out this way.

The wind blew around us, threatening to rip the branches off the trees but doing nothing about the storm of regret and self-pity within me. The open wound on my heart would never heal and the burden of my failure would never lift.

We stayed staring at the other. I couldn’t let her disappear from here, I couldn’t let her leave. I wouldn’t.

Fuck you, Shane. Fuck you right up the fucking ass for all that you’ve done to her, to her mate, to me, to this pack.

She took a step back.

“Don’t you fucking dare Liv,” I growled, and prepared to dart forward.

She gave me a small smile, “Are you going to tell me everything will be okay O?”

I shook my head, wishing I had an answer, wishing I could fix this.

“I won’t,” I sighed.

“Then what?” She asked. “Are you going to tell me you’ll protect me?”

“What happened with Gabe?” I asked, my voice low.

She cocked her head to the side as her eyes searched the sky for the words to explain whatever it was that was going through her head.

“He’s gone…,” she said.

“You stabbed him?” I ask.

Olivia nods.

“Why, Liv?” I asked as my heart started to splinter. Her eyes remained on the stars so I took a few steps closer.

“If I didn’t… he would have come for me,” she answers like that was good enough reason to stab her mate.

I slowly advance closer.

“But doesn’t it hurt?” I ask. I let my eyes wander down her face to her chest. “Your mate is hurt, you should feel the pain yourself, Liv.”

Olivia’s eyes follow my hands and I raise them cautiously so she knows I’m not going to do anything hasty. My mind and heart are clashing and I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m doubting every course of action.

Her eyes found mine and a hint of the dullness slid over her gaze. “I don’t hurt anymore O,” she said.

I swallowed.

“What do you mean Liv?” I asked with a frown pinching my brow. “I don’t understand.”

“I mean what I say,” She stated as she looked into my eyes. It felt like she was looking into the windows of my soul. She said it like she wanted me to believe her.

I moved to stand in front of her and let out a sigh of relief when she didn’t attempt to make a run for it. She let out a warning growl as she watched my movements calculatingly.

“Liv,” I said seriously, fixing her in my gaze. “I vow on everything I am, if there’s a way to fix you, I’ll find it. I won’t let you go back to him and I will fight against whatever hold he has on you.”

Even as I said the words, I knew I may not be able to keep my vow. If Ethan ordered me to kill Liv, I would. My heart would splinter into a million pieces and the fire to my soul would burn out but I would follow Ethan to my grave.

Her mouth twitched and her eyes widened, but I could see my words didn’t give her any hope. She knew of my loyalty and knew it held priority over my feelings for her.

Nonetheless, she didn’t pull away and let herself go when I drew her into my arms and held her as the sunset painted the sky above us.

I tightened my arms around her as she struggled and thrashed. I looked ahead at the trees and focused on the branches as they swayed with the wind.

She punched and fought against my hold but eventually as nightfall came, the moon hung in the sky, and the owl threw out questions she stopped fighting. She slumped against me and I grabbed her body before she could crumble to the floor.

I let go of the breath I had been holding when I felt her low and steady breathing as her little body moved up and down.

I lifted her into my arms and turned away from her escape route. Something would have to be done about the road in and out. We had a weakness and an easy access point near the packhouse.

I made my way to the packhouse. I would take her back and force Alpha Ethan beside her. Whatever his decision, I would obey and follow his command.. I avoided looking down at the one woman I’ve ever loved in my pitiful excuse of existence.