Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 38

It had been weeks, long weeks since Liam saw Nicole smile. Long weeks since she met his gaze. Long weeks since she was confident in him, and it drove him to the brink of insanity.

On another hand, there was Garrett, who seemed to have also lost his mind since his mate Lola was killed, while he survived with minor injuries. Garrett was the pack's beta and was supposed to be a rock.

He had been up until the moment the voice of reasoning stood between Liam's brashness and the pack duties. Just like Nicole, Garrett remained in an oblivion-like state and refused to communicate with anybody.

Liam was also trying, just like with Nicole, to get Garret out of his head, but nothing seemed to be working. Liam understood it. He felt he understood a teensy bit of what his friend felt.

He didn't think he would want to live if he lost someone so precious to him. Memories of fear that ate him up when Nicole was missing gave him an idea of what Garrett was going through.

Liam was standing in the open field that led into the forests, waiting for James and his team of warriors whom he had sent on a mission to replace out where their enemies were infiltrating from. It was a trap because he was certain that someone was helping the witch from within.

As he watched James and his team stumble into the one space in their wolf form, he hoped that his plans to catch the traitors would work.

His jaw clenched, and the muscles in his jaw jumped. He would have been out with James, had it not been that Garrett was in no position to head Dark Moon. "How's it?" He grunted as soon as James changed into his human form and approached him.

"Perfect," James said, patting his back and striding past him.

Liam swallowed. Everything about what they planned was deceitful. It had been one of his and James's best battle tactics to date, and he wanted it to work so badly. His eyes assessed the warriors who had followed James, hoping that somehow one of them would spread the information.

It would have been him in the forest setting traps with James if Garrett hadn't been hit in the worst way possible.

The worst part was that he was supposed to make decisions about Garrett. The beta position was not one to be left open for long. After staring into the open space for a long while, he turned and went back into the pack house.

The Council had convened and reconvened daily waiting for him to decide, but he found himself unable to make any decisions. Not when his heart was set on Nicole or when Garrett, his closest friend and best friend, was still alive, breathing, and struck with grief. Liam opened the door to his study and slammed it shut as he walked by. He didn't want to see anybody. Not even James, or Connor, the Gamma.

It was like his mind was being hewn to pieces, and he couldn't replace solace anywhere. He reached out to his link with Garrett but didn't tug at it. He wanted to be there for Garrett, too.

One thing that feared him the most was Garrett's possibility of turning into a rogue due to anger and grief. It was what happened when most lost their mates.

Then there was Nicole. Liam paced back and forth in his study, his mind consumed with thoughts of Nicole. He had to know what had happened to her, why she thought what happened was real.

He wanted to speak to her to make things right, but she refused to even acknowledge his existence. The pain and confusion were overwhelming. He felt like he was losing his mind.

Liam's frustration was growing as the days trickled by. He had increased pack training to ensure that the effects of the last sneak attack weren't repeated, but even as he worked himself and the park members hard, he couldn't fathom why Nicole was so unwilling to talk to him.

He had done everything in his power to protect her and make her feel safe. But now she had shut him out completely.

He understood her trauma or at least tried to and he longed to hold her, to tell her that she was safe now, but every time he approached her, she shied away, fear flickering in her eyes.

It hurt him to see her so scared of him. He wanted to reach out to her, but he didn't know how to make her feel comfortable around him again.

Liam knew that Nicole needed space and time to heal, but he couldn't help feeling angry and frustrated. His wolf was restless and on the edge, growling at the slightest provocation.

He had never been so disconcerted in his life. He felt helpless and powerless to fix the situation. Nothing seemed to be working, and with each passing moment, the angrier he became.

Liam tried to throw himself into his duties as alpha. He attended pack meetings, trained with his warriors, and went on patrols. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the thoughts of Nicole.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face, her smile, her eyes that used to shine with happiness when she was with him. But now, they were empty, cold, and distant.

As the days passed, Liam became more and more heartsick. He withdrew from his responsibilities as Alpha, neglecting his duties to the pack.

He spent most of his time locked away in his study, brooding over what had gone wrong with Nicole. He couldn't control the increasing rage and anger within him.

"Liam, we need to talk," James said, his voice serious as he burst into his study.

Liam looked up from his desk, his eyes dark and brooding. "What is it?"

Scowling, James clenched and unclenched his fist. "You can't keep doing this to yourself." He growled, "You're neglecting your duties as alpha, and it's starting to affect the pack. We need you to snap out of this and start leading us again." Liam's eyes narrowed. "Don't you think I know that? Do you think I enjoy feeling like this?"

James held up his hands in surrender. "I'm not accusing you of anything, Liam. I just want to help. We all do. But you have to let us."

Liam let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair. "I don't know what to do, James. I can't stop thinking about her. I can't eat, I can't sleep. I feel like I'm losing my mind."

James nodded sympathetically. "I understand, Liam. But you have to replace a way to keep it together. Nicole's actions have made it clear that she wants nothing to do with you. It's time to accept that and focus on the pack. Isn't that what you wanted?" Gritting his teeth, Liam ran his hand through his hair. His anger flared up at James' words. He didn't understand why no one wanted to understand what he was feeling.

"You don't understand," he said, his voice strained. "I need to know what happened to her. I need to help her."

James shook his head and then held the bridge of his nose.

"You don't understand it either," he said. "She's reliving the t*****e every day. She can't stand to be touched or even looked at. She's afraid of everyone, including you."

Liam's heart sank. It was the truth. The truth is that he couldn't stand it. How he missed her. Her smile, the way her hazel orbs darkened when she challenged him, the sound of her laughter. Everything about her. "What can I do?" he sighed, desperation creeping into his voice. Garrett would know, but he was also unavailable.

"Give her space," James said, crossing his large arms. "Let her come to you when she's ready. And in the meantime, pull yourself out of the slump you're in. Get Dark Moon together. Be Alpha. That's all you can do." Liam shook his head, "I... I just wish...." He trailed off. "I thought it would be better now that my bond to her seemed to be fading away. It's not. It's only worse. My wolf cannot stand it."

James frowned. "Liam, it's the separation. You're allowing your wolf's emotions to control you. You can let the bond between her go if you control your emotions.

Liam stood up, his fists clenched at his sides. "Don't tell me what I can and can't do, James. You don't understand." He growled.

James held up his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, Liam. I didn't mean to upset you. But you have to focus on the pack. We need you."

Liam stared at James for a long moment before nodding. "You're right. I know you're right. I'll try to do better."

"Good," James gritted out, "we should talk about Garrett now."

Liam fell back to his position with a loud plop and wiped his forehead.

"He's not showing any rogue tendencies yet."

Liam gulped,

"As a chief warrior, it would be stupid of me to disregard him as a possible threat. Even the witch can feed on his grief and attack us from within. Remember, like you, our beta has great power and sway over the people." Liam nodded, clasping his fingers together as he ground in his teeth. The vein on his forehead jumped.

"I know you're sentimental, but whatever we're doing has to be before the next full moon."

"I have two options... no three," Liam said finally. "I have a lot of options as Alpha, but all of them are damning. I can not send him away from the pack to heal because it'll alienate him. I don't want to remove him from his position as Beta. I want him to heal..." What are the options you are considering?" James asked, raising a brow and drawing out a seat.

Liam sighed deeply and looked up at the ceiling as if he were searching for answers.

"The first option is to keep a close eye on him, assign him a mentor or a counsellor who can help him deal with his grief and prevent him from going rogue," Liam said.

"But this will be a temporary solution, and it may not work in the long run. Especially since, like Nichole, he has refused to communicate."

James nodded, then stroked his jaw, "What's the next option?" He inquired.

"The second option is to give him time off, allow him to take a leave of absence from his duties, and focus on his healing," Liam replied. "This way, he can deal with his grief without the added stress of being the Beta.

However, this may cause resentment among the pack members, who will feel like they're being let down. The Council is restless. They want stability. Most of us haven't recovered from the attack." "And the third option?" James asked.

"The third option is the most drastic one," Liam said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can challenge him for the Beta position and win, or I can have someone else challenge him and win.

This way, he can take time to heal without the added responsibility and power of being the Beta. But this will be seen as a direct challenge to his authority, and it will cause unrest among the pack members." "I see," James murmured, processing the information.

"That's not all. It's going to backfire on Garrett's recovery if I have him fight and lose. It would seem like a betrayal."

"Have you considered discussing these options with Garrett and getting his input on what he thinks would work best for him and the pack?"

Liam shook his head. "I haven't. I don't want to burden him with these decisions, especially since he's already dealing with so much."

"Communication is key, Liam," James said. "It's important to involve everyone in the decision-making process, especially when it concerns the well-being of the pack."

Liam nodded, swallowing and inhaling deeply. "You're right. I'll talk to Garrett and see what he thinks, but that's only if he's receptive."

James raised a brow, "I don't know if everything happening has got your head messed up, Alpha. But you don't have to wait until he's receptive. You're Alpha. You should do it for Dark Moon." With that, James walked out, leaving him with a lot to think about.