The Alpha's Guardian

Ali POV

Wade must have snuck in early in the morning, as I can see the calm rising and falling of the blankets on the ground. I have a strong desire to go over to him, crawl in and just be next to him, but I know it's inappropriate. Not that blurting out to him I love him was all that appropriate either, but it happened, so there isn't much I can do about it now.

I quickly get dressed in my usual guardian attire, loading my vest and holsters with their trusty steel companions. By the time I walk out of the walk-in closet Wade is up and moving swiftly as folds his blankets. When he notices me, he offers me a tight-lipped smile. "Kane just linked me. Corbin is already at the border. He would like a moment to speak with you before the committee arrives." He informs me.

I can see his hesitation at Corbin's request. The question he asks with his eyes but verbally remains silent. A question I've been trying to avoid answering. Why would Corbin request to talk to me? I know it has everything to do with who I am to him. But I have left Wade in the dark about that identity of who Corbin really is. Now is not the time or place to call into question my actions and loyalties.

"Where should I meet him?" I ask, knowing full well Wade already has a plan formulating in his brilliant mind.

"I am having Kane bring him to my office since it's soundproof and already prepared for the meeting."

My head is whirling with all the things that Corbin might say. The high probability that it will be things that will leave me shaken to my core about my family and everything I grew up believing about the man I convinced myself to hate. What if my anger and hate have truly been misplaced? Is that something I can handle with grace?

"Ali," Wade says as he crosses the room toward me.

He braces my shoulders with his hands, the tingles from his touching quieting my noisy mind.

"Yes?" I say, already feeling shaken.

He moves his hand from my shoulder and gently car3sses my cheek. I close my eyes and lean into his touch instinctively, searching for the inner strength I know I have. His other hand cradles my face and my eyes flutter open to see him so close. We have kissed a few times before, but instead of moving the last three inches, he lingers just out of reach. He offers me an encouraging smile and leans in, dropping a kiss on my head.

"Everything will be fine." He breathes, taking a step back. "I'm going to go get dressed. I will be downstairs with Francis right outside the door if you need me. And please be careful. I don't fully trust Corbin."

"Ok," I say as I amble towards the door. Wade close behind me, heading to his room.

Francis waits for me by the office doors, looking disheveled at best. I want to ask him about Sammy, but I know asking him such a personal question on such a high tension-filled day is not wise. "Be careful," Francis says, looking away.

"Keep your eyes peeled," I tell him as I open the door, leading me to the answers I have been waiting for.

Corbin sits at the end of a long conference table that had been brought in for this meeting. His usually unruly brown hair is styled and presentable as he sits in a crisp white button-up shirt. I can see how anxious he is as he twiddles his thumbs on the table, stilling when he sees me.

"Aliauna." he smiles.

"Let's get this over with," I say, taking a seat a few feet away from him.

"Where to start." he jokes uncomfortably

"We don't have much time before the committee shows up, so maybe start with why you left us to receive your punishment."

"I didn't," he says calmly. "Gail and I were mates. Alpha and Luna knew that, but there was a peace treaty on the table and the Beta's Son of the other pack lost his mate. He wanted Gail. Gail and I already had her parents' blessing, but they didn't want to announce it until after the peace treaty meeting." He pauses and takes a deep breath.

"Gail and I were already mated. We had our own ceremony in private and we were expecting a pup." I can see the ghost of a smile on his face from memory.

"Why did you kill her then?" I ask.

"I didn't! I would never." His voice cracks at the accusation. "She breathed life into me. She and my pup were my reason for living." "Continue." I urge him, feeling aggravated.

"I found Gail like that. I have no idea what killed her, only that I felt the bond sever, and it knocked me over. When I found her, she was in a pool of her own blood. I clung to her, hoping that my being near her would help heal her, but she was already gone. When the guards from the visiting pack showed up, they kept claiming they saw me do it. I fought them and I ran. I would not lose my chance at vengeance, and I couldn't get vengeance without my wolf."

"They said you killed her when you found out that she wasn't your mate,"

"No." he shakes his head. "She was my true mate. We were meeting in the woods to run away together. To be a family. Your father was the only person who knew our plan."

"Are you trying to say that Dad sold you out?" I ask, aghast.

He shrugs. "I'm not going to accuse a dead man. But he was the Beta."

His words feel like a blow. A mar in the perfect image of my father, who I loved so dearly and thought could do no wrong. He had been perfect in my eyes. A loving father who did everything to protect his family and his pack. The same pack that betrayed him. And now this unanswered question is placing doubt in my mind about who he is. "He defended you until the end," I whisper.

"What?" Corbin says in shock.

"He kept saying you were innocent. That you had been set up. When Mom begged, The Alpha got mad and took all of our wolves." Tears brim my eyes.

"He spent the rest of his time begging for me to be spared."

I remember the breaking of his voice when he sobbed for me to be left alone. How they put silver chains around his wrist as he tried to fight to get to me. His wrists were bleeding as he thrashed, trying to make them stop. I still remember the pain as if it were yesterday. The way the tendrils of my little mind ripped after they forced the tincture down my throat.Content © NôvelDrama.Org.

I remember the feeling of my wolves claws ferociously flailing inside, searching for any way to cling to me. I was lucky. They couldn't tear her away from me completely, otherwise, I would have died. Mom and Dad were not so lucky. I remember mom passing out from the pain while Dad gritted his teeth and bore the pain as a badge of honor, even if it was the stark opposite.

"He believed I was innocent?" Corbin asks, shocked.

"I don't know," I answer honestly. "Who believes a man who is about to lose a part of his soul? Mom blamed you, though. Until her last breath, she cursed you."

"And what do you think?"

"I think they would still be here if it weren't for you."

"What if I told you I knew who killed your parents? The person who pulled the trigger?"

I freeze at his words.

"Who?" I ask, my gaze snapping to meet his.

Corbin opens his mouth to speak but before he can form the words, the door opens, and in strolls Samuel and Wade. Samuel's eyes land on Corbin and he freezes. His eyes flit from me to Corbin. "Well, well. Isn't this interesting?" Samuel says, smiling.