Page 18 of Alpha Bride
It’s my fault. I never should have let her out there without a full patrol. It was supposed to be a quick job: replace the runes. Now we have missing villagers, including Samuel, a weak temporary border, and I nearly lost Emily.
I nearly lost Emily.
Along with Ryan and Kris.
I glance back at Emily. She passed out after Malik gave her a knock. I’m not sure if it was from the impact or stress; given his supernatural strength, it could have been much worse. Her breathing is steady, and she seems a bit more lucid now. I bring up Marian’s number on the screen in the truck, calling her as we pull into town.
She answers on the third ring. “Marian, we need a group of witches to accompany a large patrol back to Samuel’s village,” I tell her. “Emily and my betas met Malik. They’re okay, but the villagers are gone, and the border is barely secure. The patrol is already on its way.”
I hear Marian’s sharp intake of breath as she considers the ramifications of what I’m saying. “Emily is unharmed?” she questions, and it almost takes me by surprise. I think it’s the first time I’ve heard her show any kind of concern or interest in Emily.
“She’s okay. A bit beaten up,” I reply.
“Mmm,” the witch replies thoughtfully. “I’ll come myself with some of the others now to secure the border with your patrol. Tell your men we’re on our way.”
Despite my feelings about the witches, Marian is a leader, and I knew she’d step up where Malik is concerned. I thank her, but a thought occurs to me before I hang up. “Malik wanted Emily,” I blurt out. “Ryan said he specifically wanted her. Do you know why?”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Marian actually cackles. “Goddess knows she has no useful magic. Her mother was one of the most powerful sisters our coven has ever known,” Marian says, almost wistfully. “But Emily is not. Malik must know she is your mate, that is all.”
My mate.
We hang up, and I concentrate on the road ahead, my mind running in overdrive.
“Kris,” I say, turning my head slightly. “What exactly did Malik say about Emily?”
Kris sighs wearily, rubbing a hand over his stubble. “It was odd; he zeroed in on her. Something about her being rare.”
“Not because she’s my luna?” I push.
Kris thinks for a moment but shakes his head. “Nah, it was about her,” he confirms. “You know, if it weren’t for Em and her runes, if they’d just attacked, we’d be dead.”
I nod grimly as we pull up to the clinic, with more questions than answers dominating my thoughts. Molly, our pack healer, and some of her nurses are already standing outside the clinic as we pull up, ready to receive Ryan and the other injured betas. I’m almost relieved to hear Ryan’s complaining as he’s helped from the truck—if he can complain, he’ll probably survive, even if the injuries look bad now.
“What about Emily?” Molly asks as Kris and Ryan disappear inside. I look back at Emily, who appears to be stirring. My wolf rages within me, desperately needing to get her home, away from everything and everyone.
“If she needs checking over, I’ll bring her back,” I say, climbing back into the truck. “She took a hit, but that’s it.”
Molly looks slightly disapproving, but she’s not going to argue with me. I can sense my wolf is already in my eyes, and I need to get out of here to coordinate the patrol at the border. I might be a selfish bastard and want to get Emily home, but I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t put her in danger if I thought she needed help. Knowing my men are getting the medical care they need, I slam my foot down and get back to the house as quickly as possible.
Taking the steps two at a time with Emily in my arms, I ignore my phone ringing in my back pocket until I get her settled on the bed. On my bed. I set her down and then stand back, watching how she seems to instinctively turn her head into mypillow, her hair fanned out around her on my sheets. My hands ball into fists at my side as I’m confronted with how close I came to losing her—if we’d arrived any later, they’d all be dead.
Like Samuel and his family? Are they dead?
I know my work is far from over today, so I turn away, heading toward my office next door to coordinate the border reinforcement and call my brothers for an alpha update. The words I have to deliver are already sticking in my throat.
Hours later, and with the border finally secure, my patrol and the witches have returned home. The news regarding the villagers is more mixed. They were clearing debris from the first attack when the rogues came. Most escaped into the forest, were tracked to neighboring houses and villages, and brought down to the town to be looked after. Samuel made a stand with two of the other men to give the others time to escape. Their bodies were retrieved from behind what was left of the houses.
I only hope they knew their sacrifice meant their families survived.
Standing at my bedroom door, I lean against the door frame and watch Emily sleep. She looks far more peaceful now. Not wanting to wake her but feeling drawn to be close, I move silently to the side of the bed and sit back so I’m resting against the pillows. If she’s aware, she doesn’t object. In fact, she sighs in her sleep, turning toward me slightly.
I study her face in the half-light, the beauty of her pale skin and pink cheeks despite the scrapes and cuts from the fight. She was so brave, laying out the runes and not cowering away from Malik. My wolf urges me to rest now that I’m close to her, to hold her. Her scent fills my nose, a mixture of blood, fear, and something unique to her that calls to my wolf.
My fingers trace over the scrapes and bruises on her face, tracing the outline of a cut on her cheekbone. She looks so innocent, so fragile like this. I know she’s anything but, really. She has a strength of will that demands I acknowledge it, and as much as I hate to admit it, I do respect it. She’s fought demons and won—literal ones, today.
I have no idea how she’ll react when she wakes to the events on the border or being in my bed. For now, I simply don’t care. My wolf wants her here, and I’m done questioning it.
The first light is filtering through the open window when she stirs. I'm instantly awake, and my body tenses as she reaches out, half asleep, touching my chest. Suddenly, her eyes fly open, and she looks around in alarm, but doesn't remove her hand. In fact, she grips my shirt tightly in her fingers.
