Sold To The Alpha
Hated Ties That Bind Chapter 14

Looking around the room, Rowan walked over to the sofa and dropped his bag onto the cushions, 'I'll take the sofa' he mumbled.

'Hey, why do I have to share with him?' Landen growled, hiking a thumb at Nathaniel who looked over at him in surprise.

'What is wrong with sharing with me?' he demanded.

'You don't lay still' the warrior retorted, 'last time I had to bunk with you, I woke up to your leg entwined with mine and you hugging me to your chest!'

The Alpha blushed, 'don't lie! That never happened!' he refuted.

'Oh really? So Gabby didn't burst in and take a photo of us and then make fliers that she sent back to Red Moon before we had to return for training after our break!' Landen asked, 'and they were not plastered all over our room by the other warriors? Nor were our beds pushed together to "make things easier for us" he added making air quotes with his fingers.

Nathaniel's flush deepened as he threw his bag on the bed, ignoring Rowan who was trying to keep a straight face.

'I am definitely taking the couch' Rowan said as he sat down and began to remove his shoes.

Grumbling, Landen made his way to the opposite side of the queen sized bed, sitting down and removing his own trainers, placing them beside the small bedside table before rummaging in his bag for some food. The others followed his lead, each pulling out wrapped sandwiches that the Green Vine omega's had prepared for them that morning, devouring them ravenously before throwing their rubbish in the small trash can in the corner of the room.

Standing up, Nathaniel stretched before heading to the door, 'I'm gonna go wash up boys, I'll be back in a few minutes' he said as he opened the door and stepped outside, shutting the door behind him.

Turning toward the bathroom he came face to face with Alessia who was walking toward her room, wearing a camisole top and pyjama bottom, a towel scrunching her wet hair. Swallowing hard, the Alpha dragged his eyes up to the she wolf's face, giving her a weak smile as she beamed up at him in pleasant surprise.

'Hey, you OK?' she asked quietly, 'if you are having a shower, let the water run a few minutes, I made that mistake and nearly jumped out the window in my birthday suit from the cold' she laughed.

Blushing slightly at her words, the warrior scratched the back of his head nervously as he laughed weakly. 'I'll be sure to keep that in mind' he replied as he shifted from foot to foot.

'What, me in my birthday suit? That's a bit familiar don't you think?' Alessia asked, raising her eyebrow quizzically, her face breaking into a mischievous grin as she watched the Alpha's face blanche, 'I'm teasing you Alpha' she snorted, 'oh my Goddess, your face was priceless,' shoving his shoulder gently she gave him a quick wave before side stepping him and heading to her room.

Once she disappeared inside, Nathaniel let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding, running his fingers through his hair distractedly before turning his back and striding toward the bathroom, pushing open the door so that he could step in, locking it behind him.

In her room, Alessia rubbed her hair vigorously with one hand whilst she rummaged through the vanity for a hair dryer, replaceing none, she let out a disgruntled huff before digging through her bag for her brush and a hairband.

Dragging the brush through her wild curls, the she wolf pulled her hair back into a ponytail and tied it up out of the way.

Throwing the brush onto the bed, the she wolf pulled out her sandwiches that she had been given by her pack omegas and delved into them with a groan of pleasure.

'Goddess, I would marry Keeley just for these sandwiches she makes' she mumbled to herself as she ran her tongue around her mouth, swiping the brown sauce from her lips.

Throwing her rubbish into the bin, Alessia climbed under the covers, pulling the blankets up to her chin, snuggling down into the warmth as she prepared to sleep.

A soft knock on the door had her sitting up again, throwing the covers back from her body, she padded to the door and pulled it open to reveal Landen who was checking the hallway while he waited.

'Hi, what brings you across the hall?' the she wolf asked with a smile as she stood back and held out her hand to indicate an invitation to the warrior to enter.

Stepping inside, Landen fidgeted slightly, rocking back and forth on his heels as Alessia sat down on the bed, looking up at him expectantly.

'Uh, I just wanted to pop over and have a chat' the Beta started, grabbing the small wooden chair that was in the corner of the room and bringing it in front of the she wolf, turning it backwards before sitting down so that he was leaning on the chair back, facing her. 'OK, what do you want to talk about?' she asked curiously, studying the warrior's stiff posture.

'What do you want from my Alpha?' Landen suddenly blurted out harshly, stunning the she wolf as she flinched back.

'Um, nothing? I just wanted protection while I travel' she replied hesitantly.

The warrior shook his head, 'you keep flirting with him, and it's confusing, he is looking for his mate Alessia, he can't be distracted from that!

Alessia wrapped her arms around her stomach, trying to protect herself from his bitter words. Slowly she met his gaze, her own filled with uncertainty, 'I... I don't mean to be distraction, I didn't know I was flirting' she whispered mortified, 'I was just being friendly because you all are helping me. The she wolf dropped her gaze back to her lap, 'I can head out on my own tomorrow, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you all problems..."

Landen's expression softened as he reached out, placing a hand on the she wolf's shoulder, 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so blunt' he replied, 'it's just, you have your own past, just like Nate, and I don't want you to give your heart to him only to have him replace his mate and leave you. It would kill him to hurt you just as much as it would kill you to be hurt' he added sadly.

Sitting straighter, Alessia stared at the Beta for a moment before she said, 'Landen, I am not interested in the Alpha like that, he is not my mate. I carry a hope that I will replace my second chance mate, but right now the only thing I care about is replaceing my brother. I'm sorry if you thought I was flirting, and I really hope that Alpha Nathaniel didn't see it like that as well, this is just how I am, I like to tease my friends, but you are right, I don't really know you all that well so maybe it's a bit too soon to show you all the comfortable me. I promise that I will keep myself professional from now on to stop any further miscommunications.

The Beta nodded, his shoulders relaxing, 'thank you Alessia, and I'm really sorry for what I said, I'm bound to protect my Alpha and that includes protecting him from possible pain that he can't even see coming!

Alessia chuckled softly, 'it's fine Landen, and please, call me Lessi, you sound like my mother, she was the only one who called me Alessia. I do think you are worrying over nothing though; Alpha Nathaniel has never given me a vibe that would make me think that he was interested in me.'

Standing up, Landen placed the chair back by the wall before heading toward Alessia's door. Hesitating slightly, he turned back to face the she wolf who was still watching him blankly. 'He's a good guy Lessi, I just don't want to see either of you hurt' he said softly before walking out and shutting the door behind him.

Crossing the corridor, the warrior stepped back into his own room to see Rowan laying on his back on the couch, his legs up on the arm, a blanket thrown over his body. Looking over at the door, the ex Rogue grinned over at him, 'soooo, how did it go?' he asked curiously.

'How did what go?' Landen asked evasively as he headed to his side of the bed and sat down heavily.

Shifting his weight, the warrior glared at the Beta, 'please, you went to warn that poor girl away from Nate' he growled in annoyance.

Turning to meet the older man's gaze, Landen shrugged, 'I may have popped over to make sure that our newest group member was OK' he replied evenly.

Rolling back onto his back, Rowan shut his eyes, 'whatever dude, but know that if Nate replaces out that you upset that girl, he's going to have your balls' he murmured. Looking away, Landen muttered, 'you heard that growl just as loud as I did, he's walking a dangerous line right now, I'm just looking out for everyone!

'I get that mate, I really do' the warrior replied, 'but you can't save him from every mistake he'll ever make.'

Stripping out of his jeans and top, the Beta lay down on the bed, as he huffed, 'I can try.

The door opened, cutting off their conversation as Nathaniel walked in, looking between the two suspiciously. 'What are you two talking about?' he asked. 'Nothing mate, just shooting the breeze' Rowan replied cordially, folding his hands over his chest.

Turning off the light to the room and making his way over to the bed, the Alpha climbed in, rolling onto his side so that his back was to Landen.

'Stay on your side handsy' the Beta grumbled as he wriggled around to get comfortable.

Trust me, you don't have anything I want to grab' Nathaniel growled back as he pulled the covers tighter around himself, uncovering the warrior as he did so. 'Stop being a blanket stealer!' Landen moaned as he pulled them back again.

'I'm the Alpha, you stop bitching, you don't get cold' Nathaniel retorted as they began to fight over the covers.

'Boys! Just share the damn covers and quieten down, some of us are trying to sleep' came Rowan's voice testily immediately shutting the bickering warriors up.