Welcome Home Mate
Chapter 82

TRIGGER WARNINGS

ROXIE

Malia stared at me.

"Malia," I whispered. "What the hell happened to you?"

I moved and knelt before her, placing my hand on her knee.

Malia started to shake but calmed down a few moments after.

Malia looked at me and gave me a small smile. "I met him," she murmurs. "He was charming and told me he would be my chosen mate."

I frowned.

Malia came to one of my fights last year and even stayed for a few days later. I only knew about her due to Alpha Gareth. He introduced us, and we became close, but she left after a week.

My mind was racing over what she told me the last time I saw her, but something came back. She was texting someone.

"It was Alpha Trevor," I said. "He was the one you were messaging when you came to see the fight."

Malia didn't say a word but nodded.

"He told me that I was pretty," she said. "He gave me his number and asked me to meet him after the fight."

Malia's eyes rounded, and a lone tear escaped. "Rox," she whispered. "I should have listened to you and returned home to my father's pack."

"He picked me up from outside Alpha Gareth's pack and took me here," she said as she placed her hand in mine. I gently squeezed her to let her know to carry on, and also t was there for her. "Alpha Trevor was charming for the first day," she said. "He made room for me and ensured I was fed."

She gave me a small smile, but it faded when the reality of everything came crashing down around her.

"Everything changed," she said and looked at me. "He locked me in that room for a few days, telling me that it wasn't safe, but after four days, he opened the door and walked in with three rogues. They beat me and threw me in the cells for a few days." Malia sobbed as she continued. I couldn't help but feel heartbroken for her.

People were around us, but Malia's eyes were on me as we talked. It was like no one else was there between us. She wanted to get her story out, and I was the one to listen to her.

"Alpha Trevor became obsessed," she said. "He was obsessed with replaceing what other alphas had and wanted everything they had, even if it was taking everything by force. He placed spies in amongst packs and started getting information against people. He wanted power, money, and all the women in the world."

Malia's eyes stayed on me, but they hardened, which made my stomach drop as she told me the rest. "Alpha Trevor found out that he had a sister, a mistress of his father's had a daughter, and he wanted her dead, but when he met her, she was as crazy as he was," she said. "She had this thing for an alpha of hers, even tormented someone that knew him."

I gulped but kept my face neutral.

I knew Bex was listening, but she never said a word. She wanted to know what had happened to her.

Bex and Malia's wolf were friends back then, but something was wrong, and I needed to know.

"That person was Roxie," muttered my father from the side, who pulled me from my thoughts. I looked at him and looked back at Malia, whose eyes widened. "I didn't know," she said. "Not at first. Alpha Trevor never spoke about Alpha Lex or you, not until a few months. He moved me from the cells and made me stay in his room. He had me there to keep my father in check."

There was a growl from the side from my father.

I turned and gave him a questioning look, but my father was pissed. "He knew that you were taking," he shouted. "We asked if he knew anything about Alpha Trevor, and he flat-out denied knowing anything."

I stared at my father and placed my hand on his, which made him look at me. "Take a walk Dad," I said. My father shook his head, but I let out a low growl. "Don't," I said. "She has suffered like all of them; this pack and everyone involved has suffered. We need to know so we can all move on."

My father stared at me and backed away slowly from us.

I turned back to Malia. "What did he do to you?" I asked but immediately didn't want to know. Her eyes glazed over, and she gripped the blanket, pulling it tighter around her. "I don't..." she said, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, regretting asking the question. "What else happened?"

Malia took a few deep breaths and stared at me.

"Alpha Trevor planned everything in his room; no one was to disturb him," she said. "I wasn't the only woman he had in there; he only took me as the last one who killed herself. She wanted to be with her mate, but he tortured her to death, and she was in pain. She couldn't handle it anymore and used the chains too..." she said, but she stopped and closed her eyes.

I could only imagine what that woman went through.

Malia opened her eyes, and a lone tear escaped. "I want to go home," she whispered. "I want to be with my father."

I nodded.

"We will get hold of him," I said. "But he needs to tell us what Alpha Trevor did to make him turn his back on us."

Malia looked at me. "Alpha Trevor threatened my life daily to him," she said. "He would make videos and send them to him, things no father should see."

Another lone tear escaped, and I felt pain in my chest.

"I'm sorry," I whispered and moved toward her, pulling her into me. Her head went to my chest, and tears fell as they landed on my top.

I didn't care.

This was all messed up.

Everything was a mess, and all because of one man.

I looked up and noticed a silhouette standing in the front doorway.

I stared at him.

Lex, his face was challenging but full of pain. He felt and saw so much; all I wanted to do was take everyone home and try to help them recover.

Lex's eyes bore into mine, but there was something there.

"Did you hear everything?" I mouthed, making sure no one heard my voice.

Lex stared at me for a few seconds but nodded.

I closed my eyes as I let everything flow through me.

I could feel Bex's pain for everyone.

I looked back at her, her eyes were ushering tears, but she never said a word.

I knew how she felt. I felt the same.

Everyone suffered, but now we have to help them move on.

I could hear movement, someone was walking toward me, and I knew who it was. His scent wafted toward me, making me open my eyes, and Lex was kneeling beside me.

I stared at him as he placed his hand on my cheek and stared at me. His finger moved over my cheek softly, even though the hardness of his finger made me want to move back, but I didn't want to.

Malia was still crying on my chest, but my mate comforted me as I held her.

Lex leaned toward me and placed a kiss on my cheek. He pulled back but leaned toward my ear. "We should go home..." he murmured but stopped.

I looked up at him, and his eyes were behind me.

I could feel eyes on my back.

I pulled away from Malia.

Malia looked at me. Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears stained her face. I kissed her head and moved back until I stood before her.

I slowly turned around and looked at all the pack members standing in a circle. Many were holding bags.

My eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on Lilly, who was walking with the girl and the others with us moments ago.

Lilly spotted me, but her eyes went to the side, and I knew it was her sister and Huw. She ran over as her sister leaped out of Huw's arms and ran into hers.

It was the happiest moment to witness as Lilly picked up her sister and swung her around, pulling her into a bear hug.

I gave a small smile.

I looked around, but Lex moved and stood in front. His eyes roamed over everyone before he spoke. "I know many of you have lost loved ones, families, and even mates," he shouted. "We will take all the dead with us and bury them in our pack, so you have a place to moan. They don't deserve to be here and rest in the place that caused them all to grieve."

I watched every person from this pack give a slight nod. But I could tell some still needed to figure out what they wanted. They were tortured by the person who was supposed to lead them, someone who cared about them. But instead, they had someone who was a monster and only believed in what he wanted.

"As your new alpha, I will make a vow and a promise which I will keep till my dying breath," he shouted. "I will give my life to protect you. You will have the final say in what you want to do, but I ask that you give me a chance to prove that I'm nothing like the alphas before me."

I stared at Lex, his eyes were full of pain, but there was determination for what he promised them.

"I will promise you a new life," he shouted. "There are no weak or ranked members in my pack that are better than anyone else, we are all the same, and we all fight together. My pack trains everyone, and even my Luna trains too."

Lex looked at me and smiled at me. He held out his hand to me, and I took it. I stood with him. "I have sent word to my Beta to send buses to pick us all up," he shouted. "You are welcome to our pack, and we will make you all comfortable." Many members were nodding, but my eyes went to where Lilly was.

I looked back at Lex, who was staring at me. "We need a place for the children to stay," I murmured. Lex's hand tightened mine, which made me look back at him. He smiled. "We will sort it all out when we get back home."

I was about to say something when three buses came to the pack house.

I looked at Lex, confused. "When did you..." I started to say, but he placed a finger on my lips. "I mind-linked Jason and told him everything. I asked him to ask Alpha Gareth and Nathan to stay; they will help us through everything. I am leaving my father and the Elder here to box everything up, but they should be back by tomorrow afternoon."

I stared at him, feeling dumbfounded.

Lex stared at me for a few moments but nodded over my shoulder.

I looked over to where he was looking, and there was Huw, kneeling with Lilly and her sister. "Huw wants them to stay with him," Lex muttered, which made me look back at him.

Lex smiled. “He wants to give them a good life," he said. "Besides, they will be living in the pack house with him, and I guess you will want Lilly to be near you since you will be training her."

My eyes widened.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Lex looked at me and smirked. "Come on, Rox," he said. "I want you to train all pack members. You can kick some serious a*s, and I want everyone to learn."

I stared at him, shocked.

"What about you?" I asked. "Will I train you?"

Lex chuckled.

"I won't mind you training me," he said. "But we both know I can take you down."

I frowned.

"You do know I let you will the last time," I said. "I think we should have a re-match."

Lex stared at me, his eyes round, but a mischievous grin was plastered on his mouth. Lex leans into my ear and whispers, sending shivers right through me. "I will take the re-match; only if you win, you go on a date with me." I moved back and looked at him.

I couldn't help the smile that formed. "Deal," I said, a little too loudly.

Lex grinned.

"Everyone start to load up onto the buses," he shouted and looked to the side. There was an SUV to the side; Lex placed his hand in mine and looked at me. "We are leaving now," he said, "We need to get to the pack house before the others as we need to sort out where everyone is going to sleep for tonight."

I nodded.

We both walked over to the SUV.

Huw climbed into the car as Lilly and her sister sat with me. Lex took the passenger side as he knew the girls would be a little afraid of him, as he was new to them.

I climbed in and sat next to Lilly, who had her arm draped over her sister's shoulder.

Lilly looked up at me and smiled. "We have a new family," she whispered.

I looked at Huw in the rearview mirror; he was smiling.

I have to admit this is a new start for everyone.

We all need it.