Alpha Zander
Chapter 44

Frustrated with everything, I try to think over and over again what the f**k I’m going to say to Ashleigh as I pull up to Liverpool’s border. I don’t have an appointment they know of. Considering Oliver and Ashleigh had a little over an hour’s head start, I hoped that this was where she would be instead of the cottage.

“What is your purpose for being here?” The warrior asked, eyeing me down and looking around in my car for any signs of danger. He could sense I was Charwood just as I could sense he was Liverpool, even if they didn’t know who I was.

I could see one or two pairs of eyes back in the woods surrounding the border before opening into the clearing where the main homes and packhouse were. It wasn’t just us out here. There were a few of them around but making themselves hidden amongst the trees.

“I’m here to see Beta Ashleigh,” I responded, looking at him directly in the eye, using only a little of my command, so he knew I was a ranked wolf.

“Beta Ashleigh does not have any appointments with Charwood.”

“Something came up,” I said.

“Something came up?” he mimicked back, almost mockingly. I healed back my snarl at the disrespect, he was starting to piss me off, and with the day I’ve had, you do not want to be on my wrong side. I took a deep breath and tried to explain without giving anything away.

“Alpha Oliver and Beta Ashleigh were just in my territory.

I still had a few things to discuss with them before I left for an appointment. I, unfortunately, didn’t make it back in time before they left.” I tried to sway this prick, reasoning with him to let me cross the border.

His eyes glazed over as he linked someone to check out my story and hopefully confirm if l would be allowed to cross.

“Beta Kylie is at the packhouse. You can speak with her,” he states before stepping aside and letting me through.

I opened my mouth to protest, but he had already turned around and headed back towards the tree line, shifting and running another border check. I sat there stunned at the interaction I had just had with their warrior. I wondered if that was normal behavior or because I was Charwood.

Her mother was the last person I wanted to see right now, especially if she knew we were mates. I’m sure Ashleigh would have told her what happened. I did not want to face an angry mother right now.

I guess I didn’t have much of a choice as they left me there. I knew they were still around, following me carefully but giving me space as I drove. It was different from the other weekend. Going through now had a more eerie. It was quiet, not the usual hustle and bustle. A few people were still around, the number slowly building up as I drove through the suburb. It was different from the nighttime. You could see the houses more prominently.

There was a park in the middle of the square with some children running around, and a small soccer game had started. I smiled at the innocence. As much as I had the Alpha b***d, I sometimes just wanted to be a normal kid and not have any responsibility, but I didn’t have that choice. I learned to love and enjoy it over time and gain respect from my pack members. Now l was happyish..

I’ve been sitting in the car in front of the Liverpool pack house for about 3 minutes now. I don’t know what to say to Ashleigh, let alone her mother, sighing before opening the door and getting out. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous. Even when taking my final exams in training, I wasn’t this f*****g nervous. I walked up to the packhouse door and tapped on it twice.

“Alphá Zander, Welcome. I’m Beta Kylie,” She smiled warmly, opened the door, and held an arm out, allowing me to enter the pack house.

“Would you like anything to drink? Coffee, Tea, Cookies?” she raddled off a few things as she walked me towards the kitchen. I smiled at the similar trait Ashleigh shared with her mother.

Their pack house was an older unique style compared to our modern style. We had ours re-done when mum died. I guess Dad wanted new memories rather than reliving the old ones. Liverpool still had some excellent modern finishes but a few nice old touches to complement.

“Umm. Coffee would be great, actually,” I said, sliding onto one of the bar stools.

Kylie nodded and started running around the kitchen, getting some things together. I couldn’t help but glance up the stairs and down the hall every few seconds, waiting if someone would come out any minute now.

“They are all out this afternoon, so it’s just you and me,” She smiled, passing the Coffee and putting a plate of biscuits and cake on the counter.

“‘Ashleigh?” I asked, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I wondered about my mate.

“Also out, said something about going for a run or training, probably both knowing her,” she responded, sipping her coffee and watching my reaction carefully. I nodded, sighing as I took a sip of the warm beverage, trying to think with my scrambled brain what to talk to her mother about.

“I’m sorry I put her through everything. I just didn’t know how to speak to her about it. If anything, I was worried she would reject me,” I said after what seemed forever. I’m sorry was a better start than any. It felt like a huge weight had lifted as I exposed my greatest fear to someone.

She nodded, “I know, or you wouldn’t be here. Tell me something, though. Do you expect my daughter just to stand around waiting for you while you have a child with this other girl?”

“She’s not pregnant,” I responded quickly, not wanting her mother to get any more wrong ideas. “And either way, if she were or weren’t pregnant, I would have tried to speak with her today about it all. I know my wolf wasn’t allowing it any longer, and I had a few more answers I was more comfortable giving after today’s appointment.”

“You really think Ashleigh cared about answers?”

She asked, tilting her head slightly and looking at me.

“I don’t know what she wanted, but I at least wanted to be prepared for something, to give her some answers for peace of mind instead of stressing about the situation.”

Kylie laughed softly at my response and sipped her coffee. “What?” I asked, confused.

“She didn’t want answers, Zander. She just wanted her mate. Answers would have come in time. But she just wanted you to choose her.”

“I chose Ashleigh. Why is everyone saying I didn’t” I snapped Kylie raised an eyebrow at my outburst. I sighed, scrubbing my hand over my face in defeat. “I”ll buy her stuff, clothes, handbags, jewelry, whatever she wants or needs. She can have it.”

“You really don’t know my daughter if that is your line of thinking on how to get her back,” Kylie said, shaking her head and sipping more of her coffee.

“Then what am I supposed to do?” I sighed, frustrated with this conversation. Before, women used to be easy for me. When they were pissed at me, I’d buy them something pretty or shiny, or l’d move on to the next one. With her, though, with Ashleigh, there was no next one. She was it. I knew in my heart, in my mind. She was everything.

“Be there for her,” Kylie responded so f*****g casually as if it was the most obvious thing to do.

I opened my mouth to protest, to explain I knew her and was there for her, but my train of thought was disrupted by voices outside getting closer to the pack house.

“I should get going. Thanks for the coffee,” I sighed before putting down my empty mug and out.

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” She asks as I move towards the door.

“Ahh, I think I should probably speak with Ashleigh before family dinners. I don’t know if she wants people to know she is my mate. Thanks for the invite, though, but maybe next time.”I nodded before opening the door.

As I headed out the door, Oliver, and Brent here walking towards the front of the packhouse in Gym gear.

I felt everything accelerate as I looked around frantically to see if she was near.

‘we would have felt her or scent her if she was near,’ Jace mumbled at my stupidness.

“You have some f*****g nerve showing up here,”

Oliver growled, his wolf flashing though projecting dominance.

Frowning, I started walking down the stairs and headed towards my car, which was unfortunately behind Oliver. Brent was cautiously looking between us, waiting for something to happen.

“Look, man, I don’t know what you are talking about,”

I mumbled, knowing that was a f****g lie. He either found out I was his cousin’s mate or that I f****d his girl a few years back, or maybe a few other things too, but those two were my top pick.

I moved closer to my car, but he blocked my path as I tried to move around him and Brent.

“Fine then, are we gonna hash this out, or are you gonna b**h like a little girl?” I sighed, folding my arms across my chest, frustrated with this stupid schoolyard play.

As if on cue, he swung back, clocked me right in the jaw, and shoved me into the car. Surprised by the action, I grabbed onto the hood for balance as my mouth pooled with b***d.

Oliver leaned in and whispered lowly, so Brent couldn’t hear, “If you ever hurt her again like you have this past week, your jaw won’t be the only thing you have to worry about.” His eyes flashed dangerously as his wolf pushed forward, delivering the threat.

Jace growled and shoved forward at the challenge, but I pulled him back down because I knew I f*****g deserved that, and if that’s all it took for me to get on Oliver’s good side, then Ill take that any f*****g day.

Because for her, anything was worth it.

He backed away and walked up the stairs and into the pack house as if nothing ever f*****g happened.

Brent stood there looking stunned and a bit out of place.

I got off the hood, spat the b***d out of my mouth, and whipped the excess with my sleeve, the pain had already stopped, and I could feel it healing. When I got home, there would be no evidence that he sucker punched me. I gave Brent a small salute as I backed out of the driveway. He shrugged and went into the packhouse.

I leaned my head against the headrest and sighed as I drove away from Liverpool, I know I didn’t see her today, but it feels like her family was slowly accepting that she is mine.

Surprise, another chapter this week, COVID isolation, has me bored, so I’m writing, writing, writing, so stay tuned!