Sold To The Alpha
Hated Ties That Bind Chapter 31

is a fact.

Pulling back, Nathaniel growled as he placed his hands on either side of Alessia's face, staring into her eyes. You stop that right now; do you hear me?' he demanded roughly as he held her gaze with his own. 'We are going to replace your brother alive and well and that Shaking her head, Alessia whimpered, 'you don't know that you can't know that Nate!'

Nathaniel frowned, 'I can, and I do' he replied sternly, 'your brother is fine, and we will get you back to him!

Terri looked up sadly, 'they took your brother?' she asked quietly as Alessia nodded, 'they took my brother too' she added with a small sob.

Detaching herself from Nathaniel, Alessia moved over to the human and sat down next to her, taking her free hand in her own, 'I'm so sorry' she whispered.

'I'm sorry about your brother too' Terri replied with a weak smile.

Looking up at Nathaniel, Alessia's face darkened, 'we need to replace them Nate' she growled.

The warrior nodded immediately as he turned to his dad, 'how are we going to do this dad?' he asked

Riley scratched his chin as he contemplated the problem, 'the best thing to do is to let them take one of us he said slowly.

'No! you can't do that, they'll kill you' Terri whimpered in fear, 'please, don't risk yourselves!

Daniel smirked as he replied, 'don't worry about us Terri, we are tougher than we look!

The human smiled shyly, 'you all actually look really tough, i'm just not sure toughness is enough against these guys, they literally hoisted some of the strongest men in our town onto their shoulders like they were nothing more than a sack of potatoes.' Landen tapped his fingers on his knee as his fell into thought, 'they don't turn up till midnight' he mused, so why are the streets empty now, the sun is still up!'

Terri raised her eyes to the warrior, 'people got scared' she whispered, 'they didn't understand why the clocks were different. Mechanics got inside, trying to fix them but nothing they did made a difference, they still run at different speeds. The first time that they aligned, and the night walkers came, they took people from their beds, mothers, sisters, brothers. The town panicked, thinking that these things were going to return every night, but they didn't and after a while everyone relaxed. About eight months later, the clocks aligned again, and the walkers returned, more people snatched from their homes.

Over the years, every time the clocks struck twelve, which is the only time that its chimes' she added with a weak smile. 'People would go missing, it became apparent that the walkers were particular in their prey, only those between the ages of eighteen and thirty were taken and only when the clock chimes, but the fear never left. The smartest people that lived here in the town worked out when the clocks would align, and everyone started to lock themselves in their homes before noon. I don't know why, it's never happened but its as if we all have this deep-rooted belief that if we don't hide, the clocks will chime at midday, and they will come and take all of us!

Sighing deeply, the woman shrugged, 'I know it doesn't make sense, but everyone has been terrified of that damn clock out there for years. Mothers tell their children that they can't play out at all on the day the clock will chime, heck some of them have built shelters in their homes and gardens to try and protect their loved ones! A child's eighteenth is no longer a celebration into adulthood, it's the day that they become eligible to be taken' she shuddered.

'Where are your parents?' Daniel asked softly, as he took in the woman's youthful features. He pinned her to be in her early twenties meaning she had been at risk for a few years.

Terri swallowed, 'my.. uh.. my dad' she stumbled hesitantly, 'he.. well he tried to stop them taking Steven, he was twenty four at the time. The night walkers.. they grabbed Steven and my dad grabbed his leg. They struck him in the head and when he wouldn't release my brother from his grip, they beat him unconscious.. he died in the square from his injuries' she mumbled as a tear ran down her cheek.

'I'm so sorry Terri' Alessia whispered as she pulled the young woman into her arms, holding her tightly.

'What about your mother?' Daniel pushed gently.

Terri laughed bitterly, 'taken, just after she gave birth to me, I was born an hour before the clock struck, they dragged her from the delivery room, my dad was left to raise us both, it's why he fought so hard to stop them taking Steve. He always said he failed my mum; he had gone to the hospital nursery to see me as they cleaned mum up. The two maternity nurses that were tending to her, were no match for them, they were both killed and mum was taken.

My dad always said that he was just so happy to see me as mum had such a difficult pregnancy and they worried a few times that she would lose me. She was on bed rest for the last two months, so all thoughts of the date left him, and he followed the midwife to the nursery to check that I really was OK. As the clock chimed, he turned back, ran for the delivery room to replace both nurses dead and my mum was gone!

Alessia's grip tightened on the young woman who shrugged as she pulled a smile onto her face, 'I'm sorry, I'm just pouring my life out to you all, you don't need that' she mumbled.

Daniel shook his head, 'we want to know Terri, everything you tell us helps us know what is coming, plus, we kind of forced ourselves into your life when captain heavy hand over there broke open your door' he added with a jerk of his thumb toward Rowan who just scowled in response.

'Do you know how many were taken last time?' Nathaniel asked quietly.

'Four' Terri replied immediately, 'it's always four.'

'Always? That's very precise' Landen mused.

Terri shrugged, 'ten to twelve of them turn up at the clock strike, and four people are chosen, they are picked up between the group and we never see them again' she mumbled.

Pulling away, Terri sat up as she wiped her eyes, 'would any of you like a cup of tea?' she asked with a shaky laugh, 'I feel bad that I'm not being a very good host.

'I'll help you' Alessia said as she jumped up, 'I know how they all take their coffee and trust me, you are going to want someone with you when you see how much sugar Landen needs in his coffee.'

Giggling, Terri scrambled up and led the way to a small kitchen, pushing the door open she ushered the she wolf inside before following, allowing the door to swing shut behind her. 'So, your name is Lessi?' the woman asked slowly.

Blushing, Alessia nodded as she stuck out her hand, 'yes, sorry! My name is Alessia, but everyone calls me Lessi' she said, 'we should have introduced ourselves!

'Well, me freaking out on you all didn't really open the door for introductions' Terri replied with a laugh. 'What about all the eye candy out there? What are there names and where do I replace one?'

Laughing, Alessia shook her head, 'sorry, they are all mated' she replied.

'Mated?' Terri asked, her brow creasing in confusion.

'Oh, uh, I mean, married, they are all married, well except Nate, but he has found someone special' Alessia corrected quickly.

'Which one is Nate? And now serious is the someone special?' Terri murmured with a wink, making Alessia giggle louder.

The gruff one that kicked your door in? That's Rowan, he doesn't talk much but if there's ever a fight, stand behind him, he's like a one-man tank. The older one who knelt in front of you is Daniel, and younger one next to him is his son Landen. The other older man is Riley and Nate is the last one' she added with a smile.

'Oooooh, the one who hugged you' Terri whispered, 'are you the someone special? I'm sorry! I won't touch, I was just playing' she said slightly worried.

Alessia's eyes widened as she shook her head vehemently, 'nooo! They are all my friends; they are helping me look for my brother' she replied.

Nodding, Terri filled the kettle, placing it back on its housing and flicking the switch before moving around grabbing cups and spoons.

Scooping out large teaspoons of coffee into each mug, the young woman moved aside as Alessia added sugar to three of them, Terri widening her eyes as the she wolf placed four large scoops into one of the mugs. Seeing her stare, Alessia smirked, 'I told you, guy has a ridiculous sweet tooth' she replied.

Grabbing a tray, Terri filled each cup with water and a splash of milk before placing each onto the serving dish and picking it up. Pulling the door open, Alessia stepped aside and allowed the other woman to go first. Walking back into the living room, Terri placed the tray onto a small coffee table as Alessia started to hand the drinks out to their owners.

Taking a sip, Landen grinned happily, 'Lessi, did I tell you today that I love you?' he asked.

Rolling her eyes, Alessia replied, 'you only love the last person who gives you coffee' she replied curtly, 'this morning you declared undying love for Nate!

Landen grinned broadly, 'true, but at this minute the key to my heart belongs to you' he said with a groan of appreciation as he took a second sip.

'You don't want to let Sierra hear you saying that' Nathaniel growled from behind them, his eyes on his Beta who waved his hand dismissively.

'Pfft, my girl knows that she's the love of my life and I would never pick anyone over her and our baby, but I can still show appreciation to someone who brings me caffeine' he retorted.

'Alessia said that you are all married' Terri started conversationally, 'you have a baby due?'

Landen nodded, 'in about a month' he replied enthusiastically, 'feels surreal to think I'm going to be a dad, even more crazy than the old timer here becoming a grandad for the first time' he added with a smirk toward his father who rolled his eyes. Terri smiled as she looked at the pair, 'congratulations, that's really exciting' she gushed.

Landen beamed, 'it is, though I'll miss my girl being pregnant, damn she is sexy as hell with that bump' he growled.

'Lan! Seriously! Too much information dude!' Alessia sighed as she shook her head making the Beta laugh.

'I love my mate, Lessi and I don't care who knows it' he replied easily.

'What is with the Mate thing' Terri asked curiously, 'Alessia said it in the kitchen too, I've never heard someone call their wife a mate before.

The men looked at each other uncomfortably, 'it's kind of a declaration' Riley finally replied, 'like a soul mate?'

Terri's eyes lit up, 'oh I love that idea, kind of like you found someone that you feel like you can't live without?'

Riley smiled warmly, 'exactly like that' he replied.

Letting out a sigh, the woman smiled, 'I would love to replace someone who thought of me like that.'