The Mark of an Alpha
Chapter 58

A massive weight is lifted off of me. As I surface my wolf is there, she is trying her best to comfort me, to keep me company as I regain my strength. It is like an out of body experience and now I am being reunited with my physical self.

I held down the fort while you were gone.

Her voice makes me feel safe as if I am home once again.

What happened?

Nothing that you should worry about! But you have someone eager to see you so open up your eyes.

I surface as my body takes a sharp intake of air. The bright lights force my eyes open. With a few blinks my eyes take in a bare room for a moment I feel as if I am back in my room except the beeping of a machine. I groan and see Hunter sitting in the chair staring at me as if waiting for me to vanish.

“What?” My throat is dry so my voice comes out raspy.

“Nothing it’s just that it is you.” He smiles and I feel a pounding headache come on.

“Of course it’s me who else would it be?” I sigh and see that there are crumbs on my chest and a half-eaten sandwich sits on my lap. “Was I your table?” I look over at Hunter and he shakes his head.

He sighs in relief and his hands wrap around mine, giving me a gentle squeeze.

“Silver was eating.”

“Oh,” I shrug when I realize that I do not know who Silver is, “wait a minute who the hell is Silver?” Hunter sighs yet again and this time there is a smile that comes across his lips.

“She’s your wolf. We got to meet her while you were asleep.” He states calmly, he met my animal spirit.

Did he meet you? Silver, I like the sound of that.

And I like having you with me.

“Was she a talking wolf or what,” my curiosity getting the best of me. That would be something having a wolf inside a room confided.

“It was you but not you.” Hunter waves his hands around as if trying to explain it better.

“What do you mean,” my eyebrows pull together as I try to understand him.

“She was in your body but her eyes weren’t yours. She has brown eyes.” His gaze concentrates on mine as if waiting for my eyes to change color.

Brown eyes.

I wish I could meet you.

As do I. But I got to meet Hunter and well he is an amazing person.

I know.

Hunter wants to know if I am okay, physically and mentally. He demands the on-call doctor comes in to see me. The doctor walks in and checks me over. I have to ask Hunter to calm down as the doctor looks over me.

There is nothing wrong so I am allowed to leave. The doctor does inform us that he will have to give Derek my evaluation per his request. Hunter starts to object but I know that it is a losing fight. Derek gets whatever he wants from his people.

I wrap my arm around his arm as my free hand grabs his hand as well. "Let's go," I gently push him out of the room.

"I should give Derek a piece of my mind," he growls as we walk down the hall.

I want to forget about Derek in this place for at least a moment. I glance up at the man before me. Hunter should be my main focus at the moment.

“Thank you for taking care of me.” He stares at me lovingly with his soft golden eyes.

“No need to thank me I will always put you before anything.” His hand gives me a gentle squeeze and I relax and rest my head on his shoulder as we walk through the hallway. “Let’s go to the dining hall you have people waiting on you.”

“Okay.” I want to see them as well. Being homesick can be subsided with the right people by your side.

We walk towards the dining area. The chatter is loud even with the door closed. Hunter opens it up and as if it were the first day again silence falls upon the crowd.

This time I do not hesitate I spot Andrew and walk confidently towards them with Hunter by my side.

“She’s alive!” Andrew shouts as if he were talking about Frankenstein.

“Of course I am.” I snap at him giving him a playful shove.

“I was getting worried when I couldn’t talk to you…and Alpha Storm didn’t allow us close to your room.” His eyes dart to the head of the table and for the first time I look over in that direction and he is staring at me.

“Excuse me I need to talk to him.” I release Hunter's hands and he exhales loudly.

“Of course, but if he says anything...” Hunter sits down next to Ken muttering something under his breath.

“Oh look at my alpha," Ken elbows Hunter, "nice mark,” Ken says loudly and Andrew gasps.

“What the hell you’re marked.” I walk away quickly not sure if I want to stay for that conversation.

I can feel people’s eyes on me and at the moment I do not care. When I reach the front Zeke glares at me but Calvin's happiness radiates off of him in waves.

“Melany, you’re okay!” He pushes his chair back and gets up coming towards me. He surprises me by giving me a bear hug, “I’m so happy that you are okay.” I pat his back but when I hear him sob, I rub his back in a comforting gesture.

“I’m okay,” I comfort him as his body shakes. He is genuinely happy that I am fine. In the short amount of time knowing Calvin I never thought he would care this much about me. His hot tears seep through my shirt and onto my shoulder. I fight back my tears, something that hits me hard when a man cries. It shows me that he stayed strong as long as he could before his hit his breaking point.

“I know but I thought…” he hiccups and then pulls away, “excuse me.” He wipes away his tears roughly with the back of his hand and I see that Zeke is fuming in his seat.

“Excuse me alphas,” Derek nods his head and Zeke gets up and walks out of there as fast as he can.

“Alpha Blake, take a seat.” Calvin sits back down and for the first time, I see that they were holding a meeting there are papers in front of them.

“I’ll talk to you in a better time.” I turn to head back.

“This is fine.” His hand gestures for me to sit in Zeke’s seat next to him. I grab the chair next to Calvin and sit next to him. This does not go unnoticed. “What can I help you with?”

“Where were you? You vanished for two days straight.” This event is supposed to be your focus and yet you leave us unattended.

“I was training and I needed to clear my mind.” He seems impassive but I know better and he has something up his sleeve.

“I just wanted to know if you are seeking revenge on me for beating you in the arena because I am not going down without a fight and...”

He raises his hand for me to stop. I shut my mouth, “I am not seeking revenge you beat me fair and square in front of everyone. Plus, I don’t see myself like that type of alpha.”

I can see that Calvin is not comfortable being here and I know that he wishes he had taken off with his brother.

“What kind of alpha are you?” I challenge.

Without missing a beat he states, “A respectable one.”

“And I’m not?” I question.

“You are.”

“Then learn from another respectable alpha and give your pack members some freedom. Get out of their heads and let them breathe.” I throw a glance at Calvin and he is looking at the paper in front of him as if it held all the secrets of the universe.

“I don’t tell you how to run your pack so don’t tell me how to run mine.” I bite my tongue but suddenly I unleash it on him.

“I bet if you would have won you would have seen me as an unworthy alpha and you would tell me how to run my pack.” Calvin cringes and starts writing down on a piece of paper to keep busy. “Calvin, why don’t you leave?”

His eyes dart to Derek he has not given him the orders to leave. Derek looks at Calvin and nods his head. It is as if a mousetrap snapped on his butt he jumps out of his seat and leaves the dining hall.

“I run my pack the way I see adequate.” His jaw clenches and I see that his jaw muscle quiver as he bites back what else he wants to say.

“You’re suffocating.” I hiss.

“You think it is easy being me? They don’t have privacy. What about me? My every move is monitored, my every order is being evaluated, and the worst part is everyone is down my throat about my mate. So if they think they have it tough they need to suck it up or they know where the door is.”

I groan loudly, “What is it with you and kicking people to the curb.”

I slam my fist on the table causing more eyes to look my way.

“That is the difference between you and me. I had a father to look up to guide me and you have a father that looks down on you and shoots you down. Just thank your lucky stars that he is still here for you.”

I scoot my chair back and get up without being excused. I head back when I feel someone grab my shoulder turning me around.

“Don’t talk about my father like you know him.” His eyes are fuming and I know that I hit a nerve.

“I don’t have to know him to read you like an open book. You’re the Alpha of Alphas start acting like it.” I say through clench lips.

“Maybe I shall.” He turns around and heads back to his seat.

I turn around again and I see Hunter is standing looking at me for reassurance that I am fine. I give him a sarcastic thumb up and he rolls his eyes. I walk back to my table and Hunter stays standing waiting until I get to his side.

“Looks like you’re getting under his skin.”

“Good because I am about to dig deeper,” the doors open and Zeke and Calvin are walking back into the dining area.

My eyes lock on Calvin and he lifts his head a bit but whimpers in protest and lowers it again and walks past me.

“Calvin.” It is as if I did not talk to him he takes his old seat next to Derek and none of them look my way.

“And it appears that he is shaking you off,” Hunter says as he wraps his arm around me and guides me back to the seat.

Mark my words I will replace out why you are like this. What does your father have on you? Why are you so cruel to the people closest to you?

“Does he think that I come off that easy?” I say mostly to myself.

Andrew and Ken are happy that Hunter is marked and they ask when my turn will come.

“Soon,” Hunter says as he kisses my forehead. His scent calms down my riled up wolf and myself as well.