The Alpha's Guardian

Ali POV

For years, I had assumed my uncle just ran off and became a rogue. I could imagine him pillaging villages and leaving people for dead, much as he had done for my family. I can't say that I blame our old alpha for being so angry at Uncle Corbin. He ruined the largest peace treaty in the history of werewolves. I remember the whole pack was bustling with excitement, setting up for the ceremony that would unite the rival packs with ours through the union of marriage between our Alpha's daughter and the rival packs Beta's son. The only problem was that his daughter, Gail, never showed up. They sent every tracker to find her. What they reportedly found was her dead in the arms of Uncle Corbin. Uncle Corbin ran from her, and it was determined he had killed her in cold blood out of jealousy. My father, being the Beta and older brother, was given the punishment. When mom spoke up about how unfair that was, she and I were added to the sentence. 3 more innocent lives were ruined because of his delusional thought that the alpha's daughter was his mate.

I slam my sword on my desk, groaning in frustration. All my unresolved emotions from childhood are flying back at me from every direction. Relief that I'm not alone when it comes to family, hatred for what he did to our family, desire for revenge for what was not only stolen from my original pack but also from me.

Had he just not been so selfish, could I have lived out a good life? Maybe I wouldn't have had to kill and bond myself from alpha to alpha. Maybe I would have loved being a little housewife with the apron baking pie waiting on her doting mate to walk in the door. Ok, probably not all that. But it all could have been so different. I could have had a family. A proper home.

I groan again in frustration. I hate this train of thought. Thinking of the past gets you stuck in the past. And I can't afford to go back to being weak and whimpering. The morphing of me into a guardian was a good thing. Not to mention that I am excellent at it. I'm a badass omega who takes shit from no one. Well, other than the committee.

I pull off my tactical vest, tossing it to the side, and then gingerly strip off my tank top. I knew I would ache once we stopped moving, which is why I insisted on running back when Francis met us at the border with a truck. I had approved of Wade going with Francis as I actually trust him, and I was fast enough to beat them back to the packhouse.

Unzipping my pants, I step out of them, toss them to the side and step into the bathroom, turning the faucet on. I realize I left my towel in my room and turn to get it and notice my room is pitch black. The back of my neck prickles with awareness. Someone is in here. Using the light from the bathroom, I ease myself to my desk and reach for my sword, only to find it not there.

I have two options right now. I could call for help from Wade via the mind link, or I can murder someone in the dark while wearing only my bra and panties. Seeing as keeping Wade safe is my one and only priority, I'm going to have to suck it up and use my feminine prowess to the best of my ability.

Suddenly, the bathroom light flickers off and I sigh heavily. I hate fighting in the dark. Not that I'm bad at it. It just requires much more honed mental acuity and I'm already tired. I close my eyes and focus on my other senses. I hear a creak from over my left shoulder, so I duck and spin wide to my right, sweeping my leg out. A thud and a groan assure me I've indeed hit my target, and I leap onto my attacker's stomach.

Reaching out, I grab hold of what I hope is their collar and try to hold them still as I connect my fist glancing off the side of their cheek. A near miss. Suddenly, my body is lifting as a large hand rests on my waist and flips me with ease. The attacker, who based on the proportion of their hand size and their waist that is now firmly situated between my thighs, is very much a male.

A hand glides down my bare leg and I feel it. I'm not sure I would have noticed it had I not been forcing my other senses to be more prominent, but ever so slightly, I feel the dull pang of tingles across my skin. My first reaction is to freeze. And then at a moment's notice, I snatch the hand, yanking it across my chest, throwing my legs up and over the male's shoulders, and put him in a rear-naked chokehold. I apply extra pressure on their elbow, threatening to break their arm.

"Wade," I say calmly. "I'd really rather not break my own arm by breaking yours. Tap out."

"Wrong Alpha, sweetheart," he growls and at a moment's notice, I'm lifted yet again and slammed hard against a wall.

"Liam?" I choke out as he forces his elbow up into my neck, removing my legs from the ground.

"You thinking about someone other than your mate?" he seethes, his hot breath stinging my face.

He snuggles into the crook of my neck, searching for my scent. Groaning in anger he then, reaches up, tangling his hand in the chain of my amulet, and rips it from my neck. Tossing it into the dark. He nuzzles harder into my neck, then moves, resting his head against mine. I take the moment to pull my foot up against the wall and, pushing with all my might, I tackle him back and onto a soft landing pad. He rolls on top of me and I bring my legs around his waist, attempting to force myself under his shoulder and around his back. That's when I noticed it. Liam must have shifted on his way here. He is completely naked.

"Li-Liam." I stutter out, the first time in a long time feeling like the small stature woman I am compared to these alpha males.

"Mmm, you smell so good."

"ENOUGH!" I boom.

Liam freezes for a moment and removes his pressure from me. I kick his chest, pushing myself further up the bed, and notice a cool metal object with my fingers. I cling to it, feeling its oval shape, and breathe in relief. My amulet. I tie the broken chain and place it back over my neck, hoping it will help pull Liam from his lustful state.

The room lights up with a click of the switch and Liam goes rigid. Looking over relief washes over me as I stare at a worried-looking Wade.

"Ali," he says, looking from me to Liam, confused. "Am I interrupting?" he asks.

I can see the shock on his face as his eyes flit between Liam and me.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

"We are fine, Alpha Wade. This is an issue between mates," Liam says, annoyed.

Wade freezes and looks at me for an answer.

"He was leaving," I say, looking at Liam, who rolls his eyes, growing angry by the moment.

"I am your mate! We should be in the same room." He demands.

"I can't know my mate until I finish my mission here, Alpha Liam. So until they release me from my duties, you will remain away from me," I say, my tone cold.

"I want you off my pack lands," Wade adds.

Liam laughs and walks to the door, stopping to size Wade up.

"I'm here under committee orders. You don't have the authority to kick me off." he looks over his shoulder at me. "We aren't finished yet."

"That may be, Alpha Liam, but you are no longer welcome in or near my packhouse."

Liam saunters out the bedroom door, disappearing into the hallway. Wade then moves closer to me, reaches down to my bed, and grabs a throw blanket, wrapping it around me. His eyes gravitate to my neck and he reaches out, stopping when he thinks better of it and points.

"I'll fix it while you go get your shower?" he says.

Considering Liam just went all dominant male on me over my scent, I decide taking off my amulet probably isn't a big deal anymore. Sighing, I hand it over to Wade. Wade refuses to make eye contact and stiffly walks away from me to my desk and takes a seat to fix my clasp. I can only imagine how seeing me like this must upset him.

I take my time in the shower, rinsing the blood from the accident from my forehead and scrubbing my body harder than necessary. After Liam's touch, I feel grubby and dirty. I can't help but feel overwhelmed with disappointment at the thought that Liam might actually be my mate.

When I walk out of the bathroom, I find Wade waiting for me. He quickly tosses the amulet over my head and takes a deep breath of air. Almost like he had been holding his breath. I eye him strangely and step around him, my foot landing on a makeshift bed. "Uh, what's this?" I raise a brow. He smirks at me.

"Ok, I know you will tell me, no but, I don't like the idea of you staying in here alone when he is still on pack grounds and can get around undetected."

"Hmmm..." my heart clenches at his thoughtfulness.

"I mean, if you want you can have the bed." he smiles at me.

"Oh, you mean I can sleep in the bed that is mine?" I pretend to be flattered "My, what a proper gentleman,"

Wade smirks and crawls into his little nest of blankets.

"Hah! I'm already in bed, so you have to get the lights!" he smirks, looking like a giddy child and I chuckle at him.

I never know what to expect from him.