Mated To The Beastly Alpha
(Book 2) Chapter 2

Garret was now long gone and so was the content of Nicole's coffee mug.

She gazed at the empty doorway through which Marisol had exited a while ago with a forlorn look, a sigh leaving her lips.

Her wolf had become more protective of Marisol recently. It was like it could tell that something was wrong. She felt it too, but Marisol continued to prove stubborn.

A shudder runs through her as she recalls the terror that overcame her whole being just a few hours ago, threatening to rip her heart apart when she'd felt Marisol's fear and distress through their bond.

It felt like a cry for help, desperate and loud. The feeling threatened to shut her airways and she wondered just how terrifying it must've been for Marisol at that moment even though she refused to admit it. With another sigh, she rose from her seat, going to the sink to rinse her used cup and setting it to dry. Had it really been nothing to worry about? Perhaps a teenage tantrum?

Marisol had always been mature for her age, and a teenage tantrum when she was turning 21 in a few days was very unlikely. With the younger child's continuous refusal to open up, she would need to come up with some sort of plan with Liam to get her to reveal what it was she was obviously shielding from her parents.

The crisp morning air clung to Nicole's skin as she left the otherwise warm kitchen and made her way towards the pack training grounds. The scent of damp earth and pine filled her senses, a familiar fragrance that brought back memories of countless days spent in the heart of the werewolf pack she now called family. The early sunlight painted the landscape with hues of gold and amber, casting long shadows across the terrain.

Her mind echoed the recent conversation she had with Garrett, the Beta of the pack. The weight of the discussion lingered, and she couldn't shake the feeling of dread.

The bond between mother and daughter was strong, woven with the threads of love, care and understanding. It was a connection that transcended the physical realm. Which Marisol had somehow found a way to shut her out of.

With a nod of determination, Nicole reaches out to Liam through their bond.

'We need to talk.

'I know. He replies almost immediately. 'But I'm at a meeting at the moment. We need to consider the expansion of the northern border. We're going over the details again!

She nodded at the information even though he wasn't seeing her.

Those types of meetings always took a lot of time, needing appropriate detailing and tying of any possible loose ends. Everyone wanted something from the Dark Moon pack. Expanding the border is currently a delicate topic because there is a high possibility of encroaching on new territories.

The last thing she needed at the moment was unrest of any kind. They'd been blessed with peace for more than two decades now, the trials with the witches, Lillian and Asha seemed like a distant memory, a chapter closed with the promise of a brighter future, and she would do everything in her power to maintain the tranquility they'd experienced.

After all, she was Luna and, alongside Liam, their reign had blossomed into a tapestry of love and prosperity. She had a responsibility to keep it that way. Together, she and Liam would protect everyone.

They'd been doing just that for a while now, the trials and challenges that arise every once in a while, a subtle reminder of just how fragile the amity was.

If only Marisol would open up so that they could solve whatever the issue was together as a family.

A warmth enveloped her heart as she reminisced about the birth of Marisol. The Moon Goddess had blessed them with a child whose beauty rivaled the moonlit night. Marisol had grown into a captivating reflection of her mother, with a heart that radiated warmth and a spirit that mirrored the strength of the pack's Alpha. She was her little miracle.

As Nicole approached the training grounds, the rhythmic sounds of claws against the earth and the occasional growls of exertion reached her ears.

The sight she was greeted with brought back a lot of memories from when she was younger. Werewolves of varying sizes and coats moved with purpose, their muscles rippling beneath their sweat-soaked clothes as they practiced combat maneuvers and honed their instincts.

Some were in wolf form practicing animal combat. It was these training sessions that made them unstoppable as a pack. Sharpening their skills together and devising new and swift strategies that complimented the other's strong points.

She could sense the energy and dedication that permeated the air as the pack members engaged in the rigorous exercises that made up the entirety of their training, and on instinct, her eyes searched for Marisol, locking in on her and following each of her every move. Tall and resolute, swift and precise with her movements, Marisol had a presence that commanded attention, just like her father.

Her movements were a graceful dance of power and precision. Each step, each strike, resonated with a natural talent that bespoke her lineage. Nicole couldn't help but marvel at the fluidity with which her daughter moved.

It showed just how powerful the blood that currently flows in her veins was and the amusing, but not so shocking part of it all was the fact that she had yet to completely manifest her powers. James seemed to be doing a wonderful job with her. Marisol wasn't just any hybrid. Her father was a hybrid from the mountains, but he'd only inherited his wolf abilities and Lilian was able to harness witchcraft.

Nicole was a powerful witch bane as well as a powerful wolf. Marisol, being their only child, inherited both qualities. She was destined for greatness.

Yet, beneath the pride that swelled within Nicole's chest, the nagging worry persisted. Something felt off. It was an instinct, a mother's intuition that whispered of unseen troubles. Nicole observed Marisol's every move, scrutinizing for any hint of distress or anomaly.

The pack members around Marisol displayed a mixture of admiration and respect, their eyes reflecting the pride they felt for their future Alpha. Marisol, aware of her audience, performed with a confidence that bordered on regal. She was not just a leader in the making; she embodied the qualities of a queen destined to guide her pack with wisdom and strength.

The training session ended, and the pack members dispersed, acknowledging their Luna with waves, hugs, and cheers. Nicole, on the other hand, approached her daughter with a bright smile.

"Marisol, you were remarkable as always," she praised, eyes squinting with traces of her amusement.

"Thank you, Mom," Marisol replied, grabbing a bottle of water to chug down its contents.

There were a few bruises on Marisol's body that were healing slowly. Nicole ached to tend to the bruises, but she'd learned the hard way not to smother Marisol.

"Stop looking at me like that," Marisol murmured like she could hear where her mother's train of thought was headed.

Nicole sighed, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes at being so easily read by her daughter. "What? Are you going to give me a lecture on my overprotectiveness now?" Surprisingly, Marisol burst into laughter at the comment, her hazel blue eyes dancing with mirth. Nicole felt

her own smile grew impossibly wider at that, feeling relief and joy at the sound of her daughter's cheerful laughter, like the little jingles of a bell, reaching her ears.

It'd been a while since anyone had made Marisol so amused to the extent of uncontrolled laughter. However, there was a flicker of something indefinable in those eyes, a fleeting emotion that once again, wriggled away before Nicole could begin an attempt to decipher it.

"Mom, stop staring at me like that." Marisol groans after her laughter dies down, "Always so sentimental." She adds and Nicole actually rolls her eyes this time.

"The list of things you will not let me do seems to be growing. So now I cannot smile at my daughter who's making me proud?" She muses, earning a huff.

"You know what I'm talking about," Marisol replies, already walking to stand next to her mother and together, they silently begin to walk, leaving the training grounds behind as they did.

Although the silence was comfortable, Nicole internally debated rousing the topic that had been a cause of worry for a while now, not wanting to disrupt the tranquility of the moment.

"Okay, I've got to go prepare for the ball. I'll be meeting with Estella and the team to discuss other things next." Marisol said now that they were out in the open again, turning to face her mother with a loud clap of her hands.

"You sound like you'd rather do something else," Nicole quipped.

Marisol sighed, "There's a concept called rest Mom. You know, resting after such an intense session?"

Nicole raised a brow at that, "But you arranged your schedule yourself. And I seem to remember you brushing me off when I complained about how tight and unflexible it was."

Marisol purses her lips at that before nodding reluctantly, "You have a point there."

"Is everything alright, sweetheart? You seemed upset earlier." Nicole asked in a heartbeat, jumping at the slight opening in worry.

Marisol hesitated, her gaze momentarily darting elsewhere. "It's nothing, Mom. Just pack matters and responsibilities."

Nicole stays silent for the next few moments as she studies her daughter, recognizing the familiar deflection. She was her mother's daughter after all. Marisol had inherited not only her physical traits but also a knack for shielding her emotions. That trait had served her well a few years back, but it had also been toxic and had denied her a few things.

"Marisol, you can always talk to me. You know that, right?" Nicole reassured tone almost in a whisper as she reached out to gently cup Marisol's cheek, still a bit damp from the proof of her hard work.

Marisol nods, the mask of composure slipping for a moment as she breathes out a smile. "I know, Mom. It's just... I've been feeling different lately, and I can't quite explain it."

Nicole's concern deepens, brows creasing as she steps even closer. "Can you try and explain just what you mean by 'different'? Is it physical? Emotional?"

"It's hard to put into words, Mom. Like something is changing somewhere in me, but I just can't put a finger on it." Marisol admitted, her voice a whisper carried by the wind.

Nicole's mind is immediately thrown into a whirlpool, considering the possibilities. Werewolf physiology was complex, and subtle changes could indicate various things. Were her powers coming to light? She needed to consult with Liam.

"Let's replace your father. We'll talk to him together," Nicole suggested, keeping her tone as soft and comforting so as to maintain their little bubble of privacy and vulnerability, but something seemed to snap in Marisol as she was blinking and stepping out of reach the next second.

Her walls coming back up, if the way her gaze gardens before she masks it with an obviously forced smile was anything to go by.

"Ah. I'm running late, Mom. And so are you. Besides, I don't think it's that big of a deal. It could just be that I'm overreacting to the pressure from all the preparations. I'm sure it's that. But I'll talk to him later, I promise." Marisol rushed out. "But-" Nicole started to say,

"Bye, love you," Marisol interrupted, leaning in to leave a hasty kiss on her mother's cheek before dashing away.

^

"Something's amiss," Nicole starts the second she steps into Liam's office, their eyes locking as she walks further in.

"Mhmm," Liam hummed absentmindedly, pulling her into his arms. "I've missed you." He rasps against her ear and Nicole giggles, his breath ticklish as she melts into her mate's warmth. All the weight on her shoulder dissipated to nothing. He pulled away too quickly for her liking, holding her face between his palms and planting a kiss on her forehead.

Nicole's wolf purrs in satisfaction, wanting nothing more than to remain in his arms. They'd been mates for a little over two decades now, but it never felt like that with the way his touched always seemed to make her body tingle in the newest ways. Liam holds her gaze, eyes unbelievably soft and full of love like he had read right into her thoughts. The woman who held his heart in the palm of her hands, whom he would be ready to give it all to in a heartbeat.

In a swift movement, he sweeps her into his arms, gently depositing her on his desk before diving in for a much-welcomed kiss. Their lips slot together with the precision of a puzzle piece falling into place and Nicole sighs into it.

Her breath comes out heavy when she finally pulls away, smacking him on the chest quite weakly, "This is why we can't work in the same space," she chides softly, "you're so distracting"

Liam chuckled, his arms tightening around her, "but I missed you," he said, obviously not affected by her words, as he leaned in for another kiss.

Never one to not fall for his charms, Nicole welcomes him again this time, arms going to rest around his neck as his hands and tongue grow more demanding. She whines at the kiss, returning it with as much fervor. "Ugh," a voice groans loudly as the door to Liam's office flies open. "And here I was thinking you were discussing your daughter."

Liam replies with a loud instinctual growl as he breaks away from the kiss, keeping a protective hold on his mate as he shields her from the eyes of whoever dared to intrude on their moment, teeth-baring even without his fangs. Garrett raises his hands in surrender, shaking his head as Liam shuts his eyes in exasperation. He leisurely strolls to the couch in the office, taking a seat, his features still bright with amusement. James pokes his head in next. "Don't worry," Garrett laughs, waving him in, "We're all clear."

Nicole bites back an embarrassed whine as she buries her face in Liam's chest. She could never get used to their intrusions.

After a few minutes pass, she clears her throat and tries to pull away from Liam, who growls lowly in his throat before pulling her even closer. Without much of a fight, she gives in, staying perched against him. He hums in satisfaction before regarding his two closest people in the world.

"Why are you here?"

Garrett smirks and James shrugs, his usual disinterested face on.

"Marisol," Nicole spoke up, and he nodded, his expression morphing into one of seriousness.

"I've sensed it too. Is that what's troubling you?"

Nicole swallows before replying, "Yes. She's been.... different. I don't know how to explain it. It's like... something's coming, like a storm is brewing within her."

Liam's brows furrowed. "I understand how you're feeling. James, how was training today?"

James shakes his head. "Whatever this is, it's not physical. She's in top-notch form."

"I'm not surprised." Garrett adds immediately, "She's a lot like Nicole. She is determined to hide it till the end."

They all looked pointedly at Nicole, who rolled her eyes at the accusation.

"She's been avoiding me lately," Liam supplies.

"And that's another thing," James sighed.

"Well maybe, if you weren't such a helicopter parent, she would've come to you." Garrett laughed.

"Yeah. Marisol's smarter than all of us put together. I think she believes that we'll make a huge fuss out of what she's trying to convince herself is nothing." Nicole says, lips downturned.

"Or she's avoiding her father because she knows that he'll get the truth out of her," James said, and before they could all reply with sounds of agreement, the door swung open once again to reveal Marisol. She looks around the room before crossing her arms over her chest.

"Aren't you all supposed to be busy?" She hissed.

They all looked away as guilt threatened to eat them up.

"Once again, you are all gathering and worrying over nothing. I'm sure there are more important pack matters to worry about, you know?" She says, making a beeline for the cabinet and pulling it open to grab some files out of it.

"Prove it then." Garrett suddenly says, nobody misses the way Marisol immediately spins around to meet his eyes, but he is unrelenting, "Prove to us that there's nothing to worry about."

"How, Beta?" She asks, voice tight.

"Restore your link with the pack."

"I will. But only after the ball." She replies without missing a beat.

With one final look around the room, Marisol rushed out of the room, her heart pounding. That was close. They were onto her, and it looked like they now only needed something to prove their suspicions. And it was all because of her recent nightmare. If they were reacting this way after getting just a glimpse of the emotions that tumbled through her each night, what would they do if they were to replace out the whole truth?