Sold To The Alpha
Hated Ties That Bind Chapter 43

The door swung open, revealing the stunning figure of her sister in law, 'Alessia! You came back already? You miss Esme don't you' Bree teased as she pulled the she wolf into the house quickly. Alessia giggled as she allowed herself to be guided into the house and toward an armchair. 'I did' she admitted, 'but this isn't just a social call, I kind of need some brotherly guidance' she admitted. 'OK, hang on, I'll get Alex' the vampiress replied immediately as she hurried out of the room calling to her match.

Soon enough, Alex appeared, holding Esme in his arms, smiling brightly as his gaze fell on his younger sister

'Hey sis, back so soon, you miss me that much?' he teased as he walked over.

'Nope, I miss Esme, now hand her over' Alessia replied with a laugh as she reached out eagerly for the cooing baby.

'Fine, here' the warrior huffed, 'doesn't see me for years, replace me and would still rather spend time with my kid'

'I can't help that she is so much cuter than you' Alessia replied with a shrug.

Laughing, Alex took a seat on the couch, Bree next to him, entwining her fingers with her match as they waited for Alessia to speak.

Taking a breath, the she wolf began, 'Nate has been taken' she started, 'his mate came here and when she ran he ended up going with her, I don't really understand what happened but the boys are leaving to go and replace him.

Alex nodded, his expression sad, 'when do you leave? I'm going to miss you' he replied softly.

Alessia shook her head, 'no, I'm staying here' she mumbled, keeping her gaze on the baby's face.

'Sorry what? You are going to stay here while your friend is missing?' Alex asked sharply, dragging Alessia's gaze to his.

The she wolf nodded hesitantly, 'yeah, umm, I spoke to Rowan, and it seems they all think that I should stay here, I mean once I leave I might not be able to replace my way back to you again. You and Esme are my family, so is Bree, they promised to help me replace you and now they have I can stay!

Alex growled in annoyance, 'Lessi, are you really going to turn your back on your friend when he needs you? he asked sternly.

Alessia's eyes widened, 'I'm not turning my back on him, I'm just being sensible' she protested, 'once they replace him, they'll take him and his mate back to Silver Cross, if I leave, I'll be alone again.'

Alex shook his head firmly, 'Lessi, I know you, and I can tell you now that not knowing what happened to him will eat at you' he argued, 'it may not be today or tomorrow, but one day you will leave here and go to replace Nate to make sure that he got back home safely. Why are you trying to put it off?' he asked in concern.

Alessia swallowed hard, 'I don't want to lose you again' she whispered, 'I don't want to lose any of you all three of you are all I have left!'

Alex moved from the sofa and sat down next to his sister, perching on the arm of her chair as he put his arm around her, 'you won't lose me Lessi, or Bree or Esme, we will always be with you' he replied hoarsely.

Looking into the tiny baby's face, Alessia sniffed sadly, 'but Esme won't know who I am, I'll just be some faceless aunt that she doesn't remember and got named after' she muttered.

Alex shook his head, 'she will know you Lessi because I will tell her all about you every single day, about her amazing Aunt Lessi who risked her own heart to protect her friends!

Alessia laughed as tears ran down her face, 'this is so hard Alex, Iwant to be with you, but..'

'You need to replace your friend, or you will never have peace' Alex replied fondly.

Alessia nodded reluctantly, 'I need to know he is safe Alex, I need to know they found him and he got home.'

Alex squeezed the she wolf into his side, rubbing his hand up and down her arm comfortingly, 'I know sis, I always knew from the second I saw you that this was just a visit' he consoled her. Standing up, he took the baby from Alessia's arms and placed her into her mother's embrace before pulling the she wolf to her feet and engulfing her in a tight hug.

Stepping back, he gave her a small push toward the door, 'go and pack Lessi, you have an Alpha to replace' Alex said with a soft smile.

Returning his grin, Alessia nodded, hugging him once more, then Bree and the baby before heading to the door and opening it. Waving once over her shoulder, she set off at a sprint toward the mansion to pack.

Rushing through the front door, Alessia barrelled into a solid torso, 'ouch' she grumbled as she stumbled backwards, halting suddenly as two strong hands gripped her arms.

Looking up, her gaze connected with Fabian's who was gazing down at her with interest, 'you are in a hurry little wolfie' he rumbled affectionately.

Alessia blushed as she righted herself and took a step back, 'I, uh.. have to pack' she said meekly.

Fabian frowned slightly, 'you are leaving?' he asked sadly.

Alessia nodded, 'I have to, Nate has been taken by his mate, I need to help replace him' she mumbled back.

The vampire's frown deepened, 'surely his pack is responsible for his safe return and if he is with his mate then he should be fine' he replied darkly.

Alessia shook her head, 'I know but.. he's my friend, I'll never be able to relax without knowing he is safe, you understand?' she asked as she met his gaze, her own pleading silently with him.

Fabian rubbed his chin with his palm as he sighed, 'I understand' he replied, 'I don't like it but I do understand your need.. I shall miss you little wolf..you.. are special' he added with a wistful smile.

Smiling back shyly, the she wolf stepped forward and gave the vampire a quick hug, 'thank you for not making me feel bad' she whispered before pulling away and resuming her sprint toward her room, leaving the vampire stood in the foyer watching her leave. Rushing into her room, Alessia grabbed her rucksack off of the floor and dumped it on the bed, spinning on her heel and racing around grabbing her belongings and throwing them onto the blankets. Running back, she stuffed everything unceremoniously into the bag and fastened it, slinging it over her shoulder.

Running out of her room again, she pressed her ear to Rowan's door, hearing him still moving around inside, packing his things.

Hesitating for a split second, the she wolf made a quick decision and headed back down the corridor, stopping one of the staff as they passed her and asking for directi ons before setting off again as fast as she could. Minutes later, the young woman stumbled to a halt, breathing heavily as she rested her hand on the wall beside the door. Catching her breath, Alessia straightened up and tapped the door smartly.

'Come in' came the quiet voice from within, pushing down the handle, the she wolf peeked around the door to meet the curious gaze of Terri who's face brightened as she focused on the woman's nervous face. Sitting up on the bed, Terri placed the book she was reading down beside her on the bedside table and patted the blankets beside her invitingly.

'Am I disturbing you?' Alessia asked as she stepped inside of the room and shut the door carefully.

The human woman shook her head, a wide smile on her face, 'of course not, Abel was called away by his brother so I was just passing the time with this book I found in the drawer while I wait for him' she replied. Walking over to the bed, Alessia lowered herself onto the mattress, a small smile playing around her own lips as Terri's happiness at seeing her bathed over her skin.

'So, I'd like to think that you are just here to see me because we are friends and you missed me' Terri started with a twinkle in her eye, 'but your face is telling me that something is wrong! Alessia nodded, 'I..well we.. she started sadly, 'um, we have to leave now' she finally said awkwardly.

The human girl's face fell slightly, 'really? So soon?' she asked, her whole body slumping.

The she wolf nodded, 'I'm sorry Terri, Nate has gone missing, we need to go and replace him. I wanted to stay for a bit longer, but I can't sit back while my friend is out there in possible danger.'

Terri nodded immediately, reaching out her hand and placing it on top of Alessia's, 'I understand Lessi, you need to go and replace him. All of you helped me when I was scared and I will always be grateful for that, I can't say that I won't miss you desperately, because I will, but you need to replace Nate.'

Alessia's face relaxed at the woman's words, 'what about you?' she asked softly, 'have you made your decision yet on what you want to do?'

Terri leaned back against the headboard, her hand straying to her hair as she nervously tucked a lock behind her ear.

'I've been giving it a lot of thought' she replied softly, 'my mother is here, and my brother, so, if I stay, I won't be alone anymore, but I don't really know Abel, can I tie myself to him for the rest of my life when I don't even know his favourite dessert?'

Alessia smiled understandingly, 'I understand, it's hard for you humans, with us and the Vampire's, we are raised with the knowledge that there is one true other half to our soul. It isn't strange to us to accept our mate as soon as we meet them as we have literally waited for them our entire lives. For you, this is all new, not only do you replace out that we all exist and unlike your crazy story books, we actually don't want to eat you, you also replace out that somehow you are destined to spend eternity with a stranger who has been looking for you for over three hundred years!

Terri laughed, her voice tight, 'yep, that about sums up my head' she agreed, running her tongue over her dry lips nervously.

'Do you like him?' Alessia asked as she raised her eyebrow questioningly.

Terri nodded, her cheeks flushing a pale pink, 'yeah, I really do, he's such a nice man' she admitted shyly.

Alessia shrugged, 'then give him a chance' she advised, 'you still have a few days before you need to decide, ask him all the questions that you want to know the answer too!

The young woman nodded slowly, 'you are right' she agreed with a small smile, 'I can ask what I want and then go from there, I still have time, though I wish I knew why I must decide in seven days, it's so quick!' she grumbled. Shaking her head, Alessia smiled as she leaned forward to hug the human, 'I wish I could stay and help you through this' she murmured into her friend's hair.

Pulling back, Terri giggled, 'I'll be fine' she reassured the she wolf, 'now go, before you get left behind' she added, giving Alessia a small push.

Grinning, the Green Vine she wolf jumped up off the bed and headed to the door, opening it, she peeked over her shoulder at the human woman who was watching her, 'whatever you decide, I know it will be the right choice' she said quietly as Terri nodded. Giving a small wave, Alessia stepped through the doorway, shutting the door behind her, and racing back to their rooms. Knocking on Rowan's door, she waited a moment before turning the handle and opening the door. Inside, she was met with an empty room, cursing under her breath, Alessia spun around and ran as fast as she could through the mansion to the front door. Wrenching the door open, she fled down the stone path to the faintly shimmering border, launching herself through and thumping her body against a tall block of stone.

Falling onto her backside, Alessia winced in pain, her eyes squinting as she looked up at the obstacle.

's**t Alessia! What are you doing?' came Rowan's anxious voice.

Clambering gently to her feet again, the she wolf brushed down her clothes before answering. Looking back up at the broad form of Rowan that she had cannoned into, she replied, 'I am coming with you!

Riley, Daniel and Landen stared at each other as the warrior shook his head immediately, 'Lessi, you can't' he reasoned, 'your family..'

'Are aware of what has happened and have told me to go' Alessia interrupted, 'besides' she added as she waved behind her, 'the town is gone. I can't get back to them now even if I wanted too, are you really going to leave me out here alone with no protection?' she demanded, arching her eyebrow.

Rowan looked back at the others in exasperation, raising his hands to silently ask the higher ranks what they should do.

Daniel smirked in amusement as he remarked, 'looks like our party of four just became a party of five.

Rowan growled, 'you cannot be serious? It could be dangerous, you don't know what Ariana is capable of.'

Daniel met the angry warrior's gaze easily, 'more dangerous than leaving a lone she wolf who has spent very little time out of her pack, alone in rogue territory?' he countered.

Scowling, the warrior muttered under his breath for a few moments before grumbling out, 'fine, she comes' before rounding on the satisfied she wolf, 'but you are to stick to my side, understand? I am not above gluing you to my clothes' he warned, pointing his finger at her aggressively.

'Yes Rowan, I'll not leave your side' Alessia replied sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

'Pain in my a*s' the ex-Rogue grumbled as he hiked his bag onto his shoulder and pointed to the spot next to him, glaring at the she wolf expectantly.

Meekly, Alessia sidled up to him and stood as close to his side as she could.

'OK' Daniel said jovially, 'lets go replace us an Alpha' as he led the way.