Chapter I Need An Answer
My head began to ache as I thought about the pros and cons of this situation. Obviously there were no pros and a ton of cons but there had to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I didn’t notice I was pacing until I heard the leaves rustling behind me.
“What’s the problem?” He asked in a rough voice.
“Nothing.” I replied while biting my fingernails nervously.
“Really? Is that the answer your going with? Because you do know I can feel your emotions, right? And right now I feel like I’m about to puke.”
My eyes shot up as I internally cursed myself for not being more cautious of my feelings. Oh shit! Does that mean he can hear my thoughts too? Yes you idiot, he already marked you so I had to block them but at this point anyone could feel the wave of uneasiness bouncing off of you right now. Marked or not.
“I’m sorry. I’m just missing my family, that’s all.”
“Red, you suck at lying. Tell me what’s really going on.” He said in his most tame Alpha voice and no matter how hard I tried to resist, I couldn’t deny him.
“I have a problem at home that I don’t know how to deal with and if I don’t make a decision soon a lot of people could get hurt or my life will become more complicated than it is right now.” I blurted out quickly causing him to raise his eyebrows up and give me a curious look.
“So what’s this decision?”
“Let’s just say someone wants to take over my father’s pack because they don’t think I could have run it as well as them.”
He must have been satisfied with my answer because he nodded and I took a deep sigh of relief that I didn’t have to explain any further.
“Is that why you’re out here? I thought you decided against being Alpha? Isn’t that what you said when you agreed to be my Luna.”
Damn it, just when I thought I was in the clear. Now how do I explain this whole situation to him without him going all possessive Alpha mate on me?
I twisted my hands together as he stared at me intensely with more interest than before then I said “It’s complicated but it is strict pack business and I cannot talk about it with anyone other than my father and the ass trying to take over.”
He smirked that all knowing you’re-bullshitting-me look then chuckled. “Is this confidential business going to involve me in any way?”
I narrowed my eyes at the audacity of his response and said “No. I’m a big girl and I can take care of this situation on my own, I never should have come here!”
I turned on my heel and ran back towards Chase’s pack house with a feeling of uneasiness creeping into my chest. When I finally made it through the tree line I saw three black SUVs lining the driveway and my heart dropped to my toes. How did he get here so fast? I pushed forward running faster than I had ever ran before and burst through the front door like I was being chased by a wild animal.
All eyes were on me as Chase, Cole, Uncle Mark and Anderson all watched me as I tried to take in the scene before me.
“Anderson!” The anger in my eyes was evident as Uncle Mark came to stand besides me, resting his hand on my shoulder.
“We’ll leave you two to discuss this in private.” He said as he dragged Chase and Cole out the door to the front porch.
I turned back to Anderson still in disbelief that he was standing right here.
“Hello, sweetheart. I’m glad you could make it.”
“Cut the bullshit Anderson. Why are you here?”
He cleared his throat causing everyone in the room to leave then looked at me and said “Have you made your decision?”
I cringed as he brushed his hand along my neck and down the side of my body. “No.”
“And why is that?” He said started to get annoyed as I moved away from his touch.
“It’s complicated, Anderson. You’re asking me to give up everything I know, every instinct of my Alpha blood to lead, to become your mate and Luna of the pack I was supposed to take over! I found my destined mate right here in Tennessee and I won’t go against the moon goddess’s plan and reject someone that I love.”
He walked towards me and said “Think about it Ember, he can’t give you what you want.”
“And what is it that you think I want.” I said with my hand on my hip.
“All of this. All of me. Come on, you know how much your body craves the things that only I can give you.” He brushed my hair from my shoulders and placed a kiss on my neck. “How good I can make you feel.” He grabbed my hand and kissed it making me cringe. “Come back to White Shadow pack with me and be my Luna and I’ll give you everything you want, everything you deserve.”
I looked deep into his eyes and said “And I can run the pack?”
“We talked about that already, you aren’t strong enough to do that. Besides why would you want to worry about such masculine things when all you should be worried about is carrying your pups.”
I felt the rage burning my throat as the words left my lips “I’m not a baby machine and I WILL NOT sit around while a bunch of testosterone filled boys turn my father’s pack into a party house.”
“Where will you go? You haven’t been marked by this so called mate yet and your cousin hasn’t accepted you into his pack.”
I turned my head towards the door so he could see the mark I bared, showing I was indeed taken. His eyes turned a dark green and he snorted. “Marks can be replaced. Face it Ember, you need me.”
“I don’t need anyone. Not you or my mate. I will lead my own pack one day, just wait and see. And then when I’ve become the most fearsome leader out there, you’ll be begging me to come and help you.”
He scoffed and said “That will never happen, sweetheart. But if you think you can handle things without me then go ahead but you’ll be crawling back to me when you realize he isn’t what he seems.”
He pulled me towards him and gave me a rough kiss making bile rise from my stomach and threaten to erupt from my throat. Suddenly I heard a hurtful, deafening growl come from outside and I pushed him away swiftly as the tightness in my chest made my knees buckle.
He smirked and said “Seems your mate saw our little show.” He turned towards the door then said “By the way sweetheart, you are here by banished from the White Shadow pack and if I catch you there again, I’ll kill you myself.”
He walked out the front door as mad as a snake but I wasn’t worried about him, I was worried about following my mate and trying to explain what he just saw. Please moon goddess, let him listen to me.
Ugh why didn’t she just tell Bishop what’s really going on? He would have torn his ass from snout to tail and flipped him inside out.
That sly bastard just had to show up and had the nerve to tell her she needed him? Who in the hell does he think he is?
Uh oh, this won’t be good at all. Bishop saw them kiss. Do you think he will let her explain or will he trip out?