Alpha's Mate

Rachel didn’t struggle against her bindings, but she glared at Lorna like she was the devil.

“It all happened so fast,” she said.

“They would have killed you. Do not mourn them. They don’t deserve it,” Lorna said.

Beast walked over to Rachel. She didn’t even beg for her life. “She’s not worthy.” As Lorna had with Chloe, Beast snapped Rachel’s neck, and Suzy rushed toward Lorna’s side.

“Don’t,” Lorna said. “Do not think I will mourn her. She was a traitor and doesn’t deserve my tears.”

Suzy knew anyone who tried to harm an alpha or an alpha’s mate would be condemned to death, but didn’t really believe anyone would try to hurt her.

“I’ll take care of this,” Beast said. “Go, you don’t need to see this.”

“This is all my fault,” Suzy said.

“No. Do not think that. The fault lies with them, no one else. I will not allow you to ever believe you’re the one to blame. You’re not. They are.”

“He’s right,” Lorna said. “Their death is on their shoulders, not yours. They know the rules. Everyone knows the rules.”

“I’ll deal with this. Go, help the others.”

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you too.” Beast kissed her hard and urged her forward. She slowly walked back toward the town, and didn’t glance back. The food bars were already started up, cooking. Her hands shook a little, but she knew she had to get stuck in and help, as otherwise no one would have gotten fed.

Moving behind one of the foods bars, she started to help the men and women who stayed behind to feed the hungry pack.

She heard them howling in the distance. Closing her eyes, she could sense her mate, and it gave her comfort.

He was out there running, so he must have dealt with Rachel and Chloe, but he was coming back to her soon; she sensed it. There was no reason for her to allow those two women to believe they had won. They hadn’t. Lorna and Beast were right. Those two had made their choice, and it was the wrong one. That wasn’t her fault—it was theirs.

Beast would always come back, and she would always accept him with open arms. It’s the way they were supposed to be.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, she got to work.

The pack would be home soon, and she wasn’t going to be the one to let them starve.

Epilogue

Five years later

Beast held onto his mate’s hand as she gave another push. This was their second child, and after the first, he had promised himself he would never get her pregnant again. He had failed, but he wanted a big family with her. It was only now as she was in pain that he found it a burden. He couldn’t stand to see her in any kind of pain, so this was the most horrifying thing to witness.

She dropped down onto the bed.

The pack was out in the market square waiting for the news, taking care of their firstborn son, Zack.

“I’ve got you, baby. Just one more push. You know you can do it.”

They had been mated now for five years. The pack had been hesitant to accept her as his mate. They had sworn their loyalty, but he knew they doubted. They believed he should have someone strong and fierce. Someone who could fight.

Day in and day out, she had proven them all wrong.

Whenever one of them had a problem, they went to her, and she resolved their matters. Nothing was ever too much for her to deal with. His pack in the past five years had expanded and thrived.

He had the happiest pack in the world as far as he was concerned.

Their enemies were no longer a problem either. The border pack had been invited into their home, and they had made an agreement to always help and protect.

Suzy had arranged the meeting. She had sensed their fear and knew they were attacking because they were worried about him attacking them.

Matters had been resolved, and past killings had been wiped clear.

All of this had only been achieved by Suzy. His wife, his mate. The love of his life. The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

He kissed her head as she gave another push, holding onto his hands, and he hoped none of them were broken. She had a strong fucking grip.

The sound of the baby’s cry filled the air, and he gasped.

“Our baby,” she said.

He held onto the love of his life as the midwife swaddled the baby and did the checks she needed.

“Well done, alpha,” the woman said. “You’ve got a beautiful baby girl.”

“A girl?” Suzy asked.

“Yes. A sweet little girl.”

She was placed in Suzy’s arms. A wave of protectiveness flooded him just as it had when Zack was born.

“Look what we did, Beast.”

“No, sweetheart. This was all you. You’re the reason for this.” He kissed her head and held her free hand.