The Alpha's Guardian

"And what would you do once we take the committee down? I suppose you would proclaim yourself the king?" I ask, not bothering to veil my contempt for him.

He shrugs with a wry smile. And I run my hand over my face, chuckling.

"No." I shrug, feeling lost for words. "No, I will not help you."

"I know we have had our differences in the past, Alpha Wade."

"Differences? DIFFERENCES? Poisoning my pack for years, killing my pack members in attacks, attacking the children? That's what you consider a difference of opinion? You're fucking crazy." I bellow. Corbin sighs and leans forward, resting his elbows on the desk in front of him.

"I can assure you, I seem like the bad guy, but I am not. I understand my actions have spoken much louder than the words I am speaking. But I truly have the best in mind for the werewolf world." "Explain to me how attacking me and taking out my pack helps you achieve your goal."

"You are important," he says as if it's the clearest answer ever.

I groan in annoyance. It seems to be the only consistent thing in my life, hearing how important I am yet never being told why.

"I just want to protect my pack. I want no trouble from you or anyone else. So no. I will not help you take down the committee."

"I would recommend, for the safety of your pack, that you reconsider that position, Alpha Wade. There is a war brewing and your pack is at the center."

"I will take that as a threat."

"I suggest you do," he says, trying to maintain his composure, but I can see his anger slipping through.

I stand and stride towards the door with haste.

"Alpha Wade," he calls and I stop with my hand on the doorknob. "I am guilty of many things, but you are mistaken when you say that we have been poisoning your pack for years. That wasn't us." "Why should I believe you?" I scoff.

"I'm not sure you can in most regards, but I thought you should know. You are misplacing the blame when it comes to the poison."

I yank the door open, fuming and frustrated. Being cordial with the man who has led to the death of so many pack members may just be the hardest thing I have ever done. I am shaking with the urge to kill him, and my wolf is wanting to avenge his beloved members. A hand reaches out and takes mine and a wave of calm washes over me like water in the sea lapping over a shore. Each wave ebbing at the anger I so fiercely want to hold on to. I breathe deeply and look over at Ali.

Her eyes scan over me as she reads my expression.

"Drop the barrier if you need help," she whispers.

Simon's laugh rings through the room and he stands from where he had been sitting. Pointing at our entwined hands, and chuckles once more.

"She is your little girlfriend."

Ali stands stoically beside me, not bothering to acknowledge his comment. It's obvious that she is choosing to not respond because it's beneath her to explain the Guardian bond to someone like Simon. But I can't help but feel excited she doesn't deny it. My heart swells with confidence and I zero in on the lanky man.

"We are leaving," I say simply.

"Yeah, sure sure," he says smiling.

When we pass Simon, he reaches out, grabbing the crook of my arm.

"Hope your leg does ok with the long walk," and he smirks.

I pull my arm from his thin long fingers and toss him a snarl. He backs away, smirking.

Ali and I walked for an hour in silence. The only thing on my mind is getting back and getting hold of Alpha Nick and his group. The last thing I need to do is offend them by being a no-show. I slide a glance over at Ali and see her straggling a little behind me. I stop abruptly and watch as she walks past me in a daze. Her expression seems confused, and she seems to be working something out in her head.

"Ali," I call out to her softly. She stops and looks at me, concern crossing her brow.

"Alpha, are you ok? Is your leg bothering you?" she asks.

"No, I am fine. But you, however, seem to be lost in your mind." I crossed over to her and poke her forehead. She smirks.

"Sorry, Alpha. I'm just trying to understand why the Rogue King wanted to see you," she says. She looks around the forest, not making eye contact. "Who says he wanted to see me?" I scoff.

"Why else would he take us for a chat?" she quips, sounding grumpy.

"He wanted you, Ali. Not me." She freezes like a deer caught in headlights. I eye her up suspiciously. I can tell she is hiding something.

"What?" her voice sounds squeaky.

"Everything he said to me was just him trying to cover for something, pretending like he needed my help."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"Maybe he does?"

"Highly unlikely."

"You are important, Wade. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."

"So everyone keeps telling me," I grumble.

Silence falls over us again, but unlike our usual calm type, this one feels heavy and stifling.

"So Francis and Sammy are having a baby. That's cool." Ali says, trying to break the strange tension. I chuckle. She has no idea how bad of a subject change this is. "Yeah, don't congratulate Francis on it," I say curtly.

"What?"

I sigh heavily. Might as well tell her.

"Pansy can be fatal to wolf pups. Apparently." I say, trying not to be emotional.

This is my best friend's child, my niece or nephew, my would-be newest pack member. The possibility of its death weighs heavily on me for not doing enough to protect our pack. Also, because the woman who poisoned us did it because she wanted me. I know Francis and Sammy don't completely blame me, but I know Francis feels weird about it. "What?" Ali breathes out. "Have they gone to a doctor?"

"That's where they have been, Ali. The doctor said the child seems to be growing ok, but the likelihood of its wolf surviving is extremely low. And we know if the wolf fully dies in a child before their first transformation, that the human side also often succumbs." "Their baby is dying," Ali says, and I can hear the crack in her voice.

I stop and look at her. Her eyes light up with realization.

"That's why you didn't want to fight off the rogues, and why you agreed to speak with Corbin."

"I needed to see if he matches the description of the guy Trudy is claiming gave her the poison. Also, because I don't have a death wish and we were severally outnumbered."

"Liam would have fought to the death," she says and I freeze.

I hate when she says his name so informally. It only serves to remind me that their relationship is one that is very different than ours. Theirs is far more intimate and ours is merely a working relationship.

"Yes, well, I'm not Alpha Liam," I say, sighing.

She looks at me and smiles softly.

"I am well aware, and I appreciate your brains more than his brawn." She moves to me and drops a kiss on my cheek. She steps back happy with herself and my shocked face, I assume, and turns on her heels, trekking away. The tension has definitely shifted. I smile and scramble after her like the love-struck fool I am.