The Alpha's Guardian

I know Samuel isn't who I thought he was. He is clearly a seasoned manipulator and his soul is as black as they come. Yet, a part of me struggles to believe Uncle Corbin. I mean, this all happened because of him and his mate. But he didn't pull the trigger. He didn't deliver the sentence or beg for mercy for my father, which led to all of us being stripped of our wolves. No, those were all individual reactions to what had happened.

Taking a deep breath in, I look over at Corbin. I'm not sure what I'm hoping to find in his eyes. Perhaps I was looking for a trace of mistruths. Anything that would help lead me to believe that my hardships weren't based on the lies of other men. That all my suffering and loss was actually about me doing something wrong instead of just being caught up in someone else's misfires.

Instead, I saw the truth. Uncle Corbin had loved his mate, loved my parents, and still loves me. He can't make amends for the things that followed her death because what followed wasn't his fault. The fault of jealous and homicidal anger falls squarely on one man's shoulders. Samuel. The man who raised me made me who I am. In so many more ways than I could have ever understood. "Samuel," I repeat.

"Yes."

"I need more than just his name. I don't understand how he is tied up in any of this. It doesn't make sense."

Corbin sighs heavily and sits next to my bedside. He looks so drained. He takes a minute to reach out and squeeze my hand gently. Before removing it and leaning back in his seat. "There is so much that you don't know or remember. I don't know where to begin."

"How do you know Samuel?"

"I don't actually know him, per se. Uh. He was the beta's son from the other pack. The one who was supposed to be mated with Gail. The day of the ceremony was the day she and I were running away. But as I stated before when I found her, she was already.... well she was gone." He stops for a moment, clearing his throat.

"The day your parents got shot, you all were supposed to meet me. Your Dad found me and said he wanted to defect from the pack. I was waiting by the riverbed and you guys never came. When it got dark, I went searching. I came across a group of guys camping in the woods. They had guns, which was extremely strange since they smelled like wolves."

He is right, wolves having guns is very unorthodox, but it happens from time to time. I had always assumed they just didn't want to look at their beloved beta as they killed him for the crime of only wanting a better life for his family. Cowards like to have a barrier between them and the life they are taking. It acts as a buffer for their emotions. You can disconnect yourself from the crime if you don't have blood on your hands.

"How does any of this point to Samuel?" I ask, trying to make sense of his jumbled explanations.

"His name wasn't Samuel back then, his name was Silas, and he was known for his vibrant green eyes and hair so blonde you would almost think it was white. His hair was practically glowing in the fire's light. He had the rifle in his hand and was cleaning it. Your parents were shot from long range. A rifle."

"So when you saw Samuel in the meeting, you knew he was Silas?"

"I recognized him but his name change threw me off." he shrugged. "It wasn't until I realized he was the one who found you in the woods that it all came together. He killed your parents and hunted you for days before taking you in."Content © provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

My stomach churns at the thought. What kind of sick as*shole kills an innocent man and woman and steals their daughter. Was I some sick trophy for him to carry around? Does the committee know? Does Wade know the extent of the danger he is in?

"We have to warn Wade," I say firmly. "I don't know what Samuel wants with him, but all the other people the committee was looking at are missing. He has to be a part of it somehow. He is the one tasked to find them."

"Calm yourself. You aren't healed enough to do anything," He insists.

"Bullsh!t!" I say, swinging my legs to the side of the bed. "Pain isn't a stranger to me."

"Ali-"

"No! Don't Ali me. That is my pack that is in danger. My mate!" I stand gingerly on my feet, pleased to feel that I have more authority over my legs than I did when I got here.

"Tell me, what injury would keep you from saving Gail if you had the chance?" I ask.

"There is more happening than you know," he says, growing agitated.

"Then enlighten me! I'm not the child you left behind. I am a grown-a-ss woman, and a fucking warrior,"

"There are rumors that the packs whose Alphas went missing think it was Wade who took their Alphas."

"What?!" I ask in disbelief.

"They declared war on the Moon Shadow Pack."

"If they declared war, then it's not a rumor!" I say angrily, searching for my gear.

There is no way there will be a war on my pack and Wade. I will fight every single wolf alone if I have to, to keep them safe. Corbin groans angrily.

"You need to rest Ali!" He yells.

"You want to leave them to fend for themselves? They have people coming to annihilate them from the outside, all the while the enemy is living within their borders! No one will survive."

"It's not our fight," he says, rubbing his eyes.

"Ah, there is the uncle I know and remember so well. The coward who runs and leaves others to die!" I throw my words at him.

He takes a step back from me, my words hitting him as hard as I had wanted.

"I have my own pack to protect," he whispers. I chuckle at him.

"And who do you think they will come for next? You once said you thought you would be a good fit for uniting the werewolf community. Leaders lead!"

"When the time is right for them to lead, yes, but I will not lead them all to their death. Not everything has to be a fight to the death, Ali. We are trying to communicate with them! I am not sitting idly by waiting for you to experience the one pain that could break you." "Let me go to them. Let me be the courier." I demand.

"No," he shakes his head adamantly. "No, they would assume you are still just following your guardian duty,"

"Alpha Nick," I say, suddenly remembering that he is an alpha that Wade trusts. "Let me try to meet with him, to give him proof! I tell him he has to deliver it to Francis or Wade personally."

"Alpha Nick of the Blood Star pack?"

"I believe so. Look, he is the only chance I have at warning Alpha Wade without me running in there trying to fight everyone in my way,"

Corbin paces the room for a moment before giving in.

"You have to take someone with you," he says, giving in.

"Fine, anyone. Just, we need to leave immediately."

"I'll have Jacob meet you out front in 30 minutes. Get cleaned up. I will have someone leave you clean clothes and bring you some weapons that suit you."

He walks to the door, pausing for a moment.

"Ali, please be careful. I know I've been the root of all your misfortune, but I love you little Ali-bee." and he walks out the door.

I want to tell him I love him too, that I don't blame him and I can forgive him. But I can't bring myself to lie. Do I love my uncle? I love who he was before he fled, the man who played with me and babysat and got me ice cream. But that little girl died the same day that uncle did. We both were replaced with callous, colder versions. Versions who didn't have the luxury of unconditional love for a long time.

It's not that I blame him for the things that have happened. He more or less just seems to be the common denominator in all my sorrows without being the perpetrator. Forgiveness seems much easier than it once had. It seems more plausible than loving him through these complicated feelings. When I get to the root of the problem, the issue that remains is, I'm afraid to love him because my family tends to disappear.