The Alpha's Property

*** Eva ***

As I wait at the side of the road in my broken-down car, panic rises in my chest. My stomach turns and churns and the tension band is back, right around my head. I just called my breakdown recovery provider to come and rescue me only to find out that my husband, Ryan, has cancelled our subscription without telling me.

I have called him at least six times now and it rings and rings before going to voicemail. My texts also go unanswered, and my panic is growing because Summer, my two-year-old daughter, is waiting for me to collect her from her daycare.

I have no one else to turn to so I call my boss and close friend Salma and ask her to collect Summer for me even though I feel terrible asking yet again for her help.

I call for help from the SOS public phone box and wait the compulsory sixty minutes for them to tow my car.

The mechanic eyes me suspiciously. "How are you getting home, Miss?"

"I will call a cab now; I will be fine."

But he shakes his head. "No, no way, my mate is about the same age as you and if someone left her at the side of the road in the dark with no means of getting home, I would not be happy. I will drop you at home on the way."

"Thank you, that is very kind of you. What did you mean by ‘mate’?" Was he referring to a friend?

"Oh, it’s just a joke name I call my girlfriend," he explains, although I feel like he doesn't meet my eye.

I explain to him that I need to call my friend who is collecting my daughter because I was late, and he tells me to go ahead while he puts my address into his sat nav.

The man, Colin, seems to be nice and genuine, and I give him my thanks when we arrive safely at my house.

"This is my boss' garage. They lease cars for reasonable prices, tell them Colin sent you and they will sort you out. Good luck, Eva."

I look at the card. It’s a garage I’ve never heard of but maybe this could help me get back on my feet?

When Salma arrives with Summer, my little girl runs to me. "Mummy..."

I thank my friend while I hold my precious daughter's tiny body close to mine.

"Where is lover boy then? On the missing list again?" I know Salma means well but right now I'm too angry to even think about Ryan. It's not the first time and it's looking like it won’t be the last time he has let me and our daughter down when we needed him.

Maybe I just expect too much from the man who vowed to love and cherish me and our child? Or maybe he is the inconsiderate ass my friend says he is? I suppose time will tell.

*** Aiden ***

My meeting with my business advisor ended ten minutes ago and despite having summoned my Beta, Preston, to my office to discuss the outcome of that meeting, he still hasn't turned up.

I summon my Gamma, Ellis, instead though mindlink and he answers straight away, appearing in my office within two minutes.

"What's up, Alpha Aiden?" he asks as he tears into my office. He sits down in front of my desk and looks at me. He only took over as Gamma about three months ago and he's young and eager.

"I have been trying to mindlink Preston but he is not replying. Where is he?" I notice his neck has started to turn red. This is not going to end well.

"Where is he, Ellis?" I use my Alpha aura so he has to answer me.

"I last saw him heading to your apartment. With your sister."

I am going to fucking kill him.

I storm out of my office and up to the top floor where the apartment I share with my sister is. I kick the door open and, without stopping, I barge into my sister's bedroom.

The sight before me throws me off for a fraction of a second. My Beta is completely naked and handcuffed to the headboard, my little sister stood in a patent leather Basque and with a cat-o'-nine-tails whip in her hands.

Without blinking, I jump on the bed and punch Preston a few times. "I have told you. mutt, stay the fuck away from my little sister." When I think he’s got the message, I throw a blanket at Amber. "Cover yourself up now!"

But Amber is laughing her head off at me. She has always been headstrong and defiant and far too beautiful for my peace of mind.

"Get the fuck out of my room right now, Aiden. I am 25 years old, I'm not a child and I am entitled to a full and varied sex life. Now I can do this with you right here or I can carry on doing it in the privacy of my bedroom like I was, but either way I am getting laid, Aiden. Maybe you should try it, you look like you need it."

"Preston, keep your hands off my sister or I'll chop them off and force you to wear them around your neck as a warning to anyone else who thinks I'm not serious."

My Beta is still sitting naked and handcuffed. I can see his nose is broken and he is bleeding profusely from a gash in his eyebrow.

"For fuck’s sake, Alpha! She's my mate, I can't help it!"

"Show me your mark? Go on, both of you show me your marks and I will never say another word about it."

I wait and I know it's only a matter of time before Amber loses her temper, I could set my timer on her. I watch as she throws the keys to the cuffs at Preston, and he quickly unlocks them and pulls on his pants.

"I'd run if I was you Aiden, she's in heat and you just cock blocked her." His self-satisfied smile annoys the shit out of me, but I take what he says to heart.

I just crossed a she-wolf in heat. I might be the Alpha of this pack, but my sister will serve my balls on a platter for this infringement.

"Just stay the hell away from her Preston. I won't warn you again," I shout as I make my way as fast as I can out of my apartment. As I reach the door, something smashes against the wall inches from my head. That was too close.

I hear Amber shouting colourful obscenities in my direction and then I see and feel several items of my personal property smashing into smithereens as my enraged sister chases me down.

"I didn't know you were in heat, did I? For fuck’s sake, Amber! I'm sorry, now stop destroying all my stuff!"

"Stop beating up Preston every time you find him in my bed then. He is mine to take when I want whether I mark him or not. Or would you rather the rest of the pack take a pop at me? You know I can't control this and if I don't mate with him, it'll hurt me so stop acting like an old neanderthal and let me have my fun!"

She is right it will hurt her if she doesn't mate, but she is my little sister, and I am not happy about Preston going behind my back yet again!

They are fated mates but up to now Amber has refused to mark or be marked which is just typical of Amber and her natural rebellious nature. I therefore do not feel I have to accept that they are mates, not yet at any rate.

"I want him gone by the time I return tonight, in heat or not Amber."

That's the most I will give but I have riled her even more now.

"Fine. I will go and stay with Preston for a while instead. You know I can't wait for you to find your mate. I hope she sends you on a merry dance, Aiden! Then you will finally realise how hard this is."

I snort at her last remark. I will not be running about like a lovesick puppy; I don't need anyone like that, especially not some woman who the Moon Goddess deems my equal and other half.

Little did I know that just 24 hours later, my whole life would be turned on its axis by a human woman who is married to another man. Surely that has got to be a cruel trick.

I, Alpha Aiden Goldrick of the Onyx River pack, had to wait until my 29th year to be blessed with a fated mate. I waited because I wanted my fated mate to give me sons to whom I could pass on my legacy. I knew this was the best way to get big, strong healthy pups, so despite having my pick of she-wolves whom I could have made my chosen mate, I did not.

Then the bloody Moon Goddess in her infinite wisdom pairs me with a woman who is not only human but has entered into marriage with another human!

Let me take you back to the start and maybe you can figure out where I went wrong.