Sold To The Alpha
Chapter 34

Chloe had spent the last few days in a cloud of happiness, James had been literally dragged from her arms to train but other than that had never left her side. They had spent their time walking the grounds and learning as much as they could about each other. James and Lucian had another brother named Karl who was the youngest of the three. They were orphans after their mother died in childbirth with Karl, leaving them to be raised by their father who had been Marcus' Beta until he as killed 6 years ago in a battle with encroaching Rogues. As the oldest Lucian had taken up the Beta's role in honour of his father and James had used his grief to train as hard as he could to make sure no more of his family's blood was spilt in battle.

James told her how Lucian was mated to Jennifer and they had twin daughters, Karl had met his mate Beth when he went travelling after their father's death, and had left Red Moon to join her pack and they were now expecting their first pup in the next few months. James had meant to travel once he realised his mate was outside of his pack, but had always been too busy fighting and training to begin his search and he was amazed and thankful that the Goddess saw fit to hand her to him through the quest for the Alpha's heir. Chloe smiled to herself as the previous days fluttered through her mind, feeling arms encircle her from behind and a warm release of breath on her neck she turned slightly to see James stood behind her grinning happily.

'And what are you thinking about baby?' he asked huskily as he gently kissed her neck making her knees weaken and her heart race.

'You' she whispered as he nuzzled her neck and gently growled at her words. Running his hands up her body, James slowly traced her n****e through her white floral t-shirt as she arched her back slightly and released a soft moan. Pulling away slightly he grabbed her hand as she groaned inwardly at the loss of contact but allowed herself to be pulled along behind him as he headed out of the front door and across the expanse of grass to a small plot in the northern most corner of the pack grounds just shy of the tree line. Coming to a halt, James spun around and grabbed Chloe around the waist, pulling her close as he kissed her passionately, making her head spin and her knees weaken beneath her.

'Do you like it here?' asked James as he finally pulled away, looking deeply into her eyes.

Nodding, Chloe smiled, 'It's beautiful, so peaceful'

James grin widened at her words, resting his chin on top of her head he hugged her tight as he whispered, 'I thought this is where we can build our home once we become mated' he whispered. Chloe froze in place before slowly pulling away from his embrace, pain and sadness etched on her face,

'What's wrong?' asked James, worry casting a shadow at the look she had,

'I can't stay here' Chloe stuttered as tears started to fall from her eyes, 'my sister, Kimmy, she still isn't right since the Rogue, She doesn't sleep as her dreams are full of him, I promised her I would come back, she said she wouldn't feel safe till I came home, she's sleeping in bed with our parents while I'm away, she will only return to the pack house if I am with her, I can't leave her'. Tears were flowing down Chloe's face as she had given no thought to the fact they were of two different packs, her mind had only been filled with replaceing her mate and being with him.

Wiping the tears slowly from her cheeks with his thumb, James pulled her back into his embrace before kissing her passionately, putting every emotion he felt into it. After what felt like an eternity he pulled away from her, holding her gaze with his. 'I have to go, ok?' he said quietly, "I'll see you later' before turning on his heel and walking back toward the pack house without her.

Staring after him, Chloe felt her world crumble around her, she silently begged him to turn around and give her a look that said everything would be ok, but James carried on walking resolutely toward the mansion, leaving her alone and sobbing in the clearing that was meant to be their future home.

Once James had disappeared within the pack house, Chloe found her feet at last and ran as fast as she could toward the front doors, skidding across the foyer floor she headed for the stairs, taking them two at a time as she desperately tried to outrun her own grief. Reaching the third floor, she bent over the bannister gasping for breath as tears continued to blur her vision, making her way down the corridor she reached Charity's room and pounded on the door as if her life depended on it.

Charity pulled the door open immediately, her face full of concern at the desperation of the hammering she had heard, seeing her friends face she immediately gathered her into her arms, gently pulling her into the room and shutting the door behind her. Walking Chloe over to the bed, she sat her down, keeping her enveloped in a hug as her best friend sobbed her heart out, once the sobs became hiccoughs and finally silence Charity smoothed Chloe's hair away from her face.

'What happened?' Asked Charity, worry laced in her voice, 'is it James? did something happen to him? did something happen to you? tell me please' she begged as she grabbed a tissue with her spare hand and handed it to her best friend.

Chloe blew her nose before looking up at Charity with pain-filled eyes, she gulped back her tears a few times before finally managing to speak, 'I think James is going to reject me' she whispered before tears started to fall again and she released a noise from her body like a wounded animal while Charity held her helplessly unsure of what to say to make it better.