Sold To The Alpha
Hated Ties That Bind Chapter 13

Nate was listening in on Rowan and Alessia's conversation, his cheeks flushing as the warrior regaled the she wolf with stories of him and his evilly minded sister.

Next to him Landen suddenly snorted with laugher, 'I forgot Gabs did that' he muttered to himself, letting the future Alpha know that he was also eavesdropping on the pair. 'It took a week for that rash to subside' Nathaniel growled in annoyance, drawing the Beta's attention to him.

'So, do you want to talk about what's going on with you?' Landen asked quietly.

'Nothing is going on with me, I'm searching for my mate, that is all' the warrior replied shortly.

Looking over at his friend appraisingly, Landen let the conversation drop, turning his thoughts to their direction, 'what do you think is ahead of us?' he asked.

Nathaniel shrugged, 'another pack hopefully' he replied, 'or maybe a town?'

Making their way southward, the six bodies struggled onward, the sun climbing above them until sweat was pouring down their backs.

'I need a drink or to jump in a lake' Alessia muttered as she wiped her sleeve across her forehead.

'Lets take a break' came Riley's voice from the front, the group dropping to the ground eagerly as they pulled out bottles of water and tipped them to their lips desperately.

Looking over at Rowan who was taking small sips of his bottle, his face cool against the rest of his companions who were flushed red with the heat.

'How are you not a sweaty mess?' Alessia grumbled disbelievingly.

'I just don't sweat much' Rowan replied with a laugh as the she wolf swatted his arm playfully.

'You are extremely annoying do you know that, you don't talk, don't sweat and always look so damn sexy, your poor mate must go insane' she teased.

A low growl interrupted her, the she wolf spinning her head around to Nathaniel and Landen, the latter looking over at the Alpha in shock.

'Uhh, sorry, I thought I saw something' the warrior said as he stared studiously into the distance, 'instinct' he added.

Nodding, Alessia smiled, 'well with you five here, I very much doubt we'll get problems, you all look like you can handle yourselves' she said before draining the rest of the water from her bottle and screwing the cap back on, placing it into her backpack and leaning back on her hands, gazing at the scenery around them.

'It really is beautiful out here isn't it' she murmured to Rowan who nodded silently, his own gaze drinking in their surroundings.

It's freedom' the warrior finally whispered, just as the she wolf was thinking he didn't want to speak.

Just as she was about to reply, Riley called out to them all to get them moving again, the six scrambling to their feet and setting off again.

As they walked, Nathaniel dropped back, raising an eye at Rowan who sped up to walk with Landen who was glaring back at them all.

'Hey' Alessia said happily, 'thanks again for letting me tag along, I do appreciate it!

Nathaniel nodded, 'sure, you need answers so if we can help you replace them we will' he replied.

Breathing in the fresh air, the she wolf closed her eyes momentarily, enjoying the sunshine as it started to sink behind them.

'Don't get out much?' the Alpha asked as he watched her smile in contentment.

Alessia shook her head with an embarrassed smile, 'we don't often leave the pack lands other than to go to the town to trade or work, we never just wander off into the wilderness like this, it's so beautiful out here' she said with a grin.

Taking in their surroundings, Nathaniel nodded, 'it is that' he agreed, 'I have never really stopped to look, I'm always trying to get to my destination, I've never just walked for the sake of it!

Tilting her head slightly, the she wolf studied her companion, 'that's quite sad if you think about it' she murmured, 'being so busy in your life that you forget to actually live, is that what being a future Alpha is like?'

Nathaniel chuckled, 'yeah pretty much' he admitted, 'I've been training to take over since I could walk. I have to be the fastest, strongest, most skilled warrior of the pack, constantly studying to make sure I have the knowledge to lead. Visiting packs to create and maintain alliances, then the last four years of searching.. 'The warrior's voice trailed off as his features closed down, brow furrowing as pain flickered behind his gaze.

Reaching out, Alessia placed a hand on the warrior's arm, 'you really want to replace her, huh?' she asked softly.

Nathaniel nodded as he met her gaze, 'I keep flickering between this hope that she's just around the corner, to wondering if maybe the Goddess is upset with me and that is why I can't replace her' he whispered so the others wouldn't hear him. Eyes widening, the she wolf gripped the warrior's arm tighter, 'don't think that Alpha, the Goddess doesn't punish us by taking our mates or hiding them! If that was true, what did I do in my life to deserve a mate who was already married?' The future Alpha gaped at her before flustering, 'oh my Goddess, Alessia, I'm sorry, I never meant.. I didn't mean.. uhh, I don't think you deserved what happened to you with your mate' he finished mortified.

Alessia smiled up at him, 'I know, and I didn't think you did, but if you did something to make the Moon Goddess hide your mate from you, that means that I did something to deserve a mate that I can't have!

Letting out a deep breath, Nathaniel gave her a small smile, 'so we are saying that we are both just unlucky in love?' he asked, making the she wolf giggle.

'Yep, maybe we have to suffer like this so that when you replace your mate and maybe I replace a second chance mate, they will be everything we ever wanted' she suggested.

The warrior brightened at her words, 'I like that idea' he replied before dropping his voice again, 'I hope you replace your happy ever after Alessia, I really do.

Alessia grinned, 'I'll take replaceing my brother for starters' she said, 'then maybe I'll go searching for that second chance mate, oh and Alpha? You can just call me Lessi you know, less of a mouthful' she winked. Laughing, Nathaniel said 'OK Lessi, but can you call me Nate, because being called Alpha all the time is making me feel weird!'

Joining his laughter, Alessia nodded, 'you got it Nate' she replied before pulling a face, 'ugh, that feels soooo weird and disrespectful' she muttered.

'Tough, if you call me Alpha, I won't reply' Nathaniel warned.

Giving a mock salute, Alessia whisper yelled, 'yes sir, Alpha Nate, sir!'

'***t' the warrior grumbled before chuckling.

'That's me, life is too short to be serious' the she wolf replied happily.

Ahead, they could see the spire of a church, showing that they were heading toward an area with people. Picking up their speed, the small group were soon entering the cobbled streets of a old fashioned town. Around them, small, whitewashed bungalows were squeezed together, their weathered front doors stepping directly onto the pavement that ran along side the road. Very few vehicles were parked along the curb and the few people who walked along the pathway paid no attention to the newcomers. Making their way down the middle of the road, the six visitors took in the quaint grass verges that were overflowing with flowers, a small stream that ran underneath them as they crossed a narrow bridge that joined the two halves of the town together. On the opposite side, they found a few shops selling necessities that had already shut for the evening, a small farm further down the road, that had a wooden cart at the end of their drive, loaded with fruit and vegetables. A small honesty box nestled in the middle, a small glass jar with a screw top that had a rough hole cut in the top, a few coins were sat in the bottom ready for the farmer to collect at the end of the day.

Walking over, Daniel rummaged in his pocket for some coins, dropping them in the jar before picking up some apples and a brown bag that held a collection of tomatoes, placing them carefully in his backpack and swinging the bag back onto his shoulder. Continuing the explore, they finally reached a tiny cottage that had a handwritten sign in the window saying 'Rooms to let'. Raising an eyebrow, at the others, Daniel pushed open the small white painted gate and walked up the paved path to the front door. Raising the knocker that was attached to the thick oak front door, he knocked twice before stepping back, the rest of his group waiting patiently at the gate so as not to alarm the owner.

Shuffling could be heard within before the door slowly creaked open to reveal an elderly woman who was bent over, leaning heavily on a wooden walking stick.

'Yes? Can I help you?' she croaked out, peering up at the warrior who gave her a warm smile.

'I hope so ma-am' Daniel replied, 'my friends and I are travelling through and we are looking for somewhere to spend the night this evening, we see you have rooms to let?'

The old woman slowly turned her piercing blue gaze toward the sign in the window, momentarily surprised before she looked back at Daniel and nodded, 'yes I have rooms, you want to rent some?' she asked confusedly.

'If it isn't too much trouble ma-am' the Beta replied, 'there are six of us but we can share if need be' he added.

Her eyes drifting to the others behind him, the frail lady frowned slightly before mumbling, 'I only have three rooms!

'That is fine, we can sort ourselves out among the rooms' Daniel replied hastily.

Opening the door wider, the woman beckoned them inside, waiting until they were all inside before shutting the door again.

'It's twenty dollars per room' she muttered as she led the way to the stairs, 'breakfast is at seven.

Following her silently, the six wolves listened to her talk to herself under her breath as she used the banister to haul herself up the stairs to the first floor. Finally reaching the landing, she walked a short distance along the threadbare carpet to the end where two doors were settled into the left hand wall and a third door was situated in the end wall. Turning to the visitors she frowned and repeated, 'I only have three rooms' her expression confused.

'Yes, it's OK we can share' Daniel replied again as he turned to look at Riley and raised an eyebrow.

'OK, well its twenty dollars.. ' she started to say again before Alessia interrupted.

'For each room, and breakfast is at seven, we'll make sure that we are on time in the morning and will pay you before we leave if that's alright as it's quite late now and I don't think any of us want to keep you longer than we need too!

The old woman nodded distractedly as she rummaged in her apron pocket and pulled out three keys, handing them to the she wolf she muttered, 'bathroom is the door at the top of the stairs, before turning and hobbling her way back to the staircase without a backwards glance.

Watching her leave, Landen murmured, do you think she'll even remember we are here tomorrow morning? I don't want her to die of fright.'

Daniel swatted his son around the ear, 'be respectful of your elders' he hissed.

'Ow!' the warrior grumbled as he rubbed the side of his head, 'I wasn't being disrespectful, I was being honest!'

'How are we going to split these rooms?' Alessia asked, interrupting the brewing argument between father and son.

'Dad and Daniel can take one room, Rowan, Landen and I will share a second and you take the third' Nathaniel offered immediately, the other men nodding at his proposal.

'I don't think it's right that I have a room to myself, I'm here because you let me tag along, I don't feel right about forcing the three of you into a room so I can sleep alone' Alessia protested.

The warriors shared a look before Landen cleared his throat nervously, 'we.. uh.. appreciate that Alessia.. it's just... we're all mated, and there is no description that we can give our wives that will make us sharing a room with an unmated female OK' he explained in embarrassment.

Frowning, Alessia turned to Nathaniel, 'you aren't mated, so you could share with me? One of us could take the floor, the other the bed.

Nathaniel's eyes widened as he looked over at Landen, 'umm, no that's OK, I should really stay with my Beta, he is under oath to protect me after all' he stuttered.

Shrugging, Alessia ceased her argument, 'OK, well shall we check the rooms out as these three will need the biggest room' she said as she handed keys out to Landen and Daniel. Keeping one for herself and stepping up to the numbered door and sliding her key into the old fashioned lock.

Opening the door, she revealed a small sparsely furnished room with a double bed, a wash basin sitting on a vanity in the corner.

Daniel's room held two single beds and Landen opened his to a queen sized bed with a sofa pushed against the far wall.

'OK, Lessi, you take the double, dad and Daniel can take the twin and we will take the big room with the sofa' Nathaniel ordered, the group nodding in agreement before they stepped into their appointed rooms, closing the doors behind them.