The Alpha's Guardian

The guard's body slumps to the floor with a wet thud. I step back to regain my composure, opening my eyes only to find a stunned Liam. Ali stirs, and I rush over to her, lifting her with ease. Without a word, I start down the hallway, Liam hot on my heels.

"Have to admit, I didn't think you had it in ya." Liam whistles.

I ignore him and walk on until we hit the door leading outside. Liam heads out first, peeking around to ensure the coast is clear. I steal a glance down at Ali while we wait, and I regret it. Anger floods back over me and the desire to go make sure all the guards are dead makes its way to the forefront of my mind. Liam pops his head back in, breaking through my burning fury.

"We are clear. Let's move."

I nod, and as quickly as my leg will let me, I run across the opening with Ali. Sweat drips down my face from the pain and I'm grateful the guardian oath was broken. It would kill me knowing she was getting my injuries while she is already in so much pain. We find Simon waiting for us on the edge of the woods, sitting nonchalantly on a tree stump, talking with Francis. The moment he sees Ali, he goes rigid and stands, moving over to us with speed.

"I was expecting someone who could walk." He breathed. "Shit, they did a number on her."

"She seems to be healing pretty well," Francis observes, sliding me a glance.

"Mason?"

"Ada and Isaac ran him to the healer. Robin can't know yet. We need her to spot Simon on their way out."

"She must be good," Simon remarks.

"Her eyesight is the best I've ever seen. I swear she is part Hawk." Francis responds.

Francis looks at my neck and sighs. I'm afraid to look down. My adrenaline is still pumping, so I know my pain levels will skyrocket the moment I get back to my room. Francis reaches out with both hands and I lean back slightly.

"She is healing fast because you are her mate and her body knows it. But she will heal faster if the bond is acknowledged, something her subconscious can pick up on."

Confused, I look down at my chest as Francis reaches around my neck and unclips the amulet I had put on before coming to rescue her. My heart pumps with excitement as he removes it from me and places it in his pocket. I look at Ali expectantly and frown when there is no change in movement.

"You two are mates?" Simon asks.

"Yeah,"

Liam growls angrily, but I ignore his displeasure at my declaration. The moment Ali recognizes me as her mate, he will know and have to back off. Then maybe we can understand why he thinks he is her mate. Because there is no way I'm sharing her. "We have to get to the border,"

"Right behind you,"

I switch Ali to the other side, placing most of her weight on my uninjured side and amble after Simon through the woods. I can hear the snarls of wolves fighting against each other as we run deeper into the cover of trees, the howling of the injured, dying out in its dense cover. It shouldn't take us too long to make it to the border unless we get intercepted.

-Francis, I need you to keep me posted on when they realize Ali is gone-

-Yes Alpha-

The moment Samuel realizes she is gone, he will want to verify it himself. And then he will storm after me and Liam. I know that I've been playing his game, but he isn't as dimwitted as I would have hoped. In fact, he is calculating and a manipulative genius. Which is why I don't trust a thing he says.

I know he has seen in my eyes how much she means to me. I will be the first person he expects to be getting her out. This is why I have to pick up the pace. I need to get back and shower the blood of his warriors off my face and bandage my wound.

Ali squirms in my arms, but I have no time to slow down. I can feel her arms move up and wrap around my neck, clinging to me for dear life. I steal a quick glance and see her eyes are still closed tight. Perhaps she feels me as her mate and that's why she is clinging to me. I attempt to step with more purpose and better footing, to not jostle her.

Simon slows before me as we reach the small decaying wooden fence that signals the end of our pack land. He carefully steps over it and turns to face me.novelbin

"Wait here for a moment. I need to grab a warrior who can carry her."

I grumble at the thought of her being in someone else's arms.

"Alpha Wade, you have a pack that needs you more than your mate. She is safe with us. I assure you, her uncle cares for her very much."

I nod, unable to form words without risking sounding like an angry, petulant child throwing a fit he won't win. When we are alone, I look down at her and slowly lower myself to a boulder by the fence, her still gripped in my arms as I groan in pain at the bending of my leg. "Ali?" I say feebly. When I get no response, I sigh in defeat.

"You weren't supposed to get caught, you silly woman. It was the only order I gave you. And you disobeyed. Ridiculous."

I laugh to myself at the absurdity of me talking to an unconscious woman and chastising her. But I can't help it. I want to chastise and be angry that they caught her, even though it wasn't her fault. She is hurt and I can't help but feel like I should have just gone with her. But then, where would my pack be? In the hands of Samuel. And as an Alpha, I won't ever let that happen.

Gently, I reach out and slowly remove the hair from her face. Her black locks are uneven and choppy, and I can only assume that it happened during the fighting. I loved her long hair, and how it looked when she would just toss it up haphazardly without a care for how it looked. But I could get used to it being short as well. Hell, she could be bald and still be fiercely stunning.

A smile forms on my lips as I scan her once swollen face and I am pleased that she is healing much faster than she ever has before. Her bruising is still prominent and deep, but her swelling is diminishing and her cuts are slowly scabbing over.

I reach down and gently pull aside her jacket and glance at her chest, surveying her collar bone burns and I'm relieved when I see the menacing pus-filled bubbles are decreasing in size. I hate how much torture they inflicted on her. A tear falls down my cheek as I look away from her and search for Simon, who should come back any minute. A cold slim finger caresses my cheek and I close my eyes, letting the tingles explode across my face as my tear is wiped away.

My eyes snap open in surprise, and I look down into her gorgeous eyes.

"Tears for me?" she asks hoarsely.

I sob out a chuckle as relief floods me and all my fears fade away. She is awake. She is safe. And now I have to leave her. I gently lower my forehead to hers and she gasps at the electric shock from the mate bond. Her eyes widen as she looks deep into mine. "M-mate?" she asks in excitement, tripping over her own words. I nod to her with the biggest grin.

"I am yours, Aliauna Fletcher."

I can barely get the words out before Francis links me.

-The rogues are retreating. Samuel is planning to check the dungeon the moment he can get away. You need to get back now-

I bite my lip in anger and look up to see Simon sprinting in our direction with a large warrior. I stand carefully and move to the fence, Ali still clinging to me.

"Ali, I have to send you with Simon."

She pulls back from me and looks at me with concern.

"Be careful with Samuel. I don't know what he is planning,"

The warrior reaches out for her, and hesitantly I raise her to him. She spins and shifts her weight so she is into my chest again and she grabs my face, bringing her lips to mine.

Everything fades to the background as we finally fully acknowledge the bond between us. The world swirls around us and I feel weightless like all my problems mean nothing and are nothing so long as I have her with me.

When we pull apart, she leans out and is pulled from my arms. I watch her for a moment before stepping back and turning on my heels and sprinting back to the packhouse. My duties are ahead of me and my heart behind me.