Sold To The Alpha
Hated Ties That Bind Chapter 11

The meal passed amicably, Nathaniel spending time getting to know Alessia, replaceing out that her fathe search of his mate, he had not returned and the worry that crossed the she wolf's face briefly made th 'I'm so sorry' Nathaniel said after she spoke,

The she wolf shrugged, 'it's the way of life, you are born, you live and you die, to be honest, I am sligh Nathaniel swallowed hard as he nodded in agreement, 'don't you want to search for your mate?' he as Alessia shook her head with a faint smile, 'I already found him' she admitted, 'he was human and mar Landen spun his head round at her words, 'man, that is harsh!' he growled.

The she wolf laughed, 'yeah, it was like being stabbed repeatedly, but I can't blame him, he didn't eve 'How did you cope with it, I mean we are drawn to our other halves' Landen asked, horror written on h Dropping her gaze, Alessia mumbled, 'I stalked him for a few weeks, not my finest moment I admit, bu I bumped into him, and just as I knew he would be, he was so kind, asked me what was wrong, I said I comforting me, and I asked him if I could practice on him, he said yes. Alessia met Nathaniel's eyes, h Brownfield as my mate". He was surprised I used his name but still replied as I asked, I felt the bond b came back to the pack and put him away in the back of my mind.

The Alpha reached across the table instinctively, taking the she wolf's hand in his own as she looked 'What about a chosen mate? Would you consider one?' he asked softly.

lied a few years back from illness, her mother passing a year later from a broken heart. She also had an older brother who had set out a few years ago in or realise that she harboured concern for her brother's fate.

pus of my parents, to have a love so deep that you cannot live without them must be amazing!' sitantly.

wife was pregnant when I saw them in the supermarket whilst on a grocery run.

that our kind exist, his wife looked like a nice girl though and he seemed happy!

say, we can't keep away from our mates. I finally found him alone, he was coming out of a gym, I made myself cry, it wasn't hard as I knew what I had to do. und out that my partner was cheating and I was trying to build up the courage to confront him. Stuart, that was his name, he sat beside me outside that gym ks streaked with tears, 'I told him to just reply to me "I accept your rejection", and I asked his name before I said "I Alessia Crowford, reject you Stuart and I think he did too as he grabbed his heart, rubbing his chest as he looked at me in confusion. I thanked him and I ran before he could say anything else,

m with a sad smile.

Alessia looked down at their hands and then back at into the warrior's eyes, 'I don't know' she replied with a small smile, 'I haven't met anyone that I wanted to get to know better before! Coughing loudly, Landen pulled at Nathaniel's arm, 'I think we should turn in Alpha, we have to leave rly' he said pointedly as he stood up, picking up his plate and looking around for somewhere to dispose of it just as one of the Omega's hurried up to his side from the room and back up the stairs to their bedrooms.

and reached out for the crockery with a bow.

Releasing Alessia's hand, Nathaniel stood up reluctantly, giving the she wolf a wave before following

Following Nathaniel into his room, Landen shut the door behind them before spinning around to face, ha, 'what are you doing man? She is not your mate!' he growled in exasperation.

Nathaniel raised his eyebrow at the Beta's tone, 'I am being polite and talking to pack members' he replied evenly.

Scowling angrily, Landen shook his head, 'no you weren't, you were feeling her out to be a chosen mate and it's not right!

Nathanial scowled back at his Beta as he dropped onto his bed, 'what is wrong with keeping my options open? She is pretty, fun, strong and has no mate! She would be an excellent Luna to our pack' he argued. 'Because she isn't your mate! Your mate is out there, and you are going to replace her! And then what about Alessia? You just dump her after sitting there and dangling a possible future in front of her face? She's a nice girl dude, she doesn't deserve to be treated like that' the Beta shouted back, his temper rising.

The Alpha's temper rose as well, 'my mate? You keep harping on about her, but the truth is, some of us don't get our fated other for one reason or another! What if my mate didn't wait for me? What if she is married with a kid? What if she's dead Lan? How long do I keep hoping to replace her?'

Landen slumped at his words, flinching at the raw pain that laced his best friend's voice. 'I don't know man' he replied finally, 'I can see the appeal of looking at other options, I really can, but don't wave that option in these women's faces because there is still a chance that your mate will appear. Alessia had a really shitty hand, don't be another memory that she has to tuck away because it's too painful to think about. She likes you dude, I can see it, but she's also cautious, she knows why you are here and that she is not what you are looking for!

Nathaniel nodded, his temper receding as quickly as it rose, 'I don't want to hurt anyone' he mumbled, 'but I also don't want to be alone for the rest of my life either!'

Glancing at the ceiling, the Beta took a deep breath, 'I get you, I really do, and I don't want you to be alone either. You are my best friend, you think I like watching you looking at Gabby, Henry and me when you think we aren't looking? Do you know how much it kills me to see you wanting something so badly that we all have? And you never say anything! Never begrudge us our good fortune of replaceing our mates!

Nathaniel picked at his fingernails, muttering, 'why would I begrudge you, you are my best friend, Gabby and Henry are my siblings, I would never wish them to not have happiness!

Sitting down next to the Alpha, Landen sighed, 'and we want you to have the same thing, we don't want you to settle for the runners up prize when the gold medal is still out there somewhere. I know we can't search forever but please man, give me one more chance to replace your heart for you, let me do this as your Beta and your best friend' he pleaded.

Letting out a sigh of defeat, Nathaniel nodded, 'OK, one more chance, one more go at replaceing her and during that time I won't give any indication of looking for a chosen mate' he said. Looking up, he met Landen's gaze, his own hardening, 'but, if we don't replace her, you promise to back down and let me replace someone to spend my life with.

Landen nodded with a smile as he held out his hand for the Alpha to shake, 'deal' he agreed, the pair shaking on the promise before breaking apart and laughing.

'Well that got heavy real quick didn't it' Landen joked.

Nathaniel chuckled, 'well you are like a dog with a bone mate, can't let this go can you!

'Did you just call me a dog Alpha?' Landen growled, pretending to look horrified.

'Nah mate' the warrior replied with a smirk, 'that would be an insult to dogs' he added, laughing louder when the Beta pushed him hard so he fell off the bed.

'Who's the dog now Alpha?' Landen teased as he looked down at the laughing Alpha, 'there's a good boy, does Fido want a belly rub? Here doggy' the Beta called, patting Nathaniel on the head as the warrior swatted at his hand.

'Get off you weirdo' he gruffed as he clambered back to his feet and dusted off his jeans, 'go back to your own room, some of us need to sleep' he added. The Beta stood up, grinning widely, 'OK Sleeping Beauty, I can take a hint, you get your beauty sleep because we are rolling out of here straight after breakfast' he replied as he headed to the door.

Pulling it open, he gave his Alpha a wink before stepping out and shutting the door behind him.

Letting out a sigh, Nathaniel stripped off his shirt and walked into the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. Checking his watch he realised it was only 9pm, rolling his eyes the Alpha wandered around the room, digging out a book that was hidden under one of the nightstands and flicking through it before setting onto the bed and leaning back against the headboard.

Just as he opened the first page, a knock on the door attracted his attention, swinging his legs over the side, he strode to the door calling out, 'Listen mutt, you need to leave me the hell alone or I will never get any sleep!'

Pulling the door open, he came face to face with Alessia who's face turned crimson as she stared at him speechless, 'uhh.. umm.. I uh.. she started before gulping slightly, her eyes tracing over the warrior's muscular chest. 'I. uh.. didn't mean to disturb you, I.. uh.. can come back' she murmured as the Alpha's jaw dropped in horror.

'I am so sorry' he replied quickly, 'I thought it was my Beta coming back to annoy me again, I swear I was not talking to you' he stumbled.

Alessia smiled, 'OK, but I'm still sorry to bother y'all, I can come back if you are busy..she finished, giving him a meaningful look toward his bare chest.

Looking down the warrior inwardly cursed at again being caught by one of the pack females half dressed.

'Uh, no I'm not busy, come on in' he said as he hurried over to the chair where he had carelessly thrown his top and pulled it back over his head before turning back to the she wolf who had walked in, shutting the door quietly behind her.

'What can I do for you Alessia?' he asked as he indicated to the bed, inviting her to sit down as he sat down on the chair across from her.

Taking a moment to steady her nerves, Alessia looked up at the warrior and gave a nervous smile that went against her usually confident demeanour.

'You remember I was telling you about my brother? And how he went out to replace his mate but didn't return?' she asked.

'Of course, that must be awful, not to know his wear abouts' Nathaniel agreed.

'It is' Alessia replied, 'which is why I wanted to ask you if you would mind me tagging along with you on your journey, I have wanted to search for him for a while, but the wilderness is not safe for a wolf on her own. You said that you would be visiting many of the small packs, so I thought that if I travel with you, maybe I could replace out what happened to him.' The she wolf turned her pleading gaze to the werewolf, silently asking him to accept her request.

Leaning back, Nathaniel's eyes widened, unsure what he should do for the best.