The Alpha's Property

*** Preston ***

Ambers' hurt and resentment is building up inside me and blending with my own. Why did the Moon Goddess mate me with such a resisting and challenging woman? I have nearly turned back on three occasions and told her it's ok, she doesn’t have to decide but I know that I will end up begrudging her and her unwillingness to be as one with me.

I love her, probably too much, and I don’t want to hate her. I cannot hate her because deep down I know it’s not me she’s resisting. What she really fears is commitment and abandonment. I don’t want to leave her, leave my home, leave my friends and family, or my position. I hate it all.

Pushing past the desire to turn around, I drive the van to Eva’s house and set up a discrete perimeter for us to maintain, and only ten minutes pass before a dark figure approaches Eva’s house. I stay back, assessing what is happening but I feel giddy in anticipation of a ruckus, and I am amazed that what I thought would be a lazy and pointless babysitting mission has already turned into something much more exciting. There is nothing like a good fight to get all your pent-up aggression and frustrations out.

I watch the man knock on the front door. When there’s no answer,  he starts shouting and raining down punches and kicks on the door.

“Open this door now, you dirty whore! Open the fucking door now, Eva. Is he here? Have you let another man fuck you in our home with our daughter there?” he bellows at the top of his lungs.

“Can I help you?” I say in my firm Beta voice. He might be human but there is no doubt he can feel the strength of my power. He doesn’t even realise I am here until I pull him away from the door. “I said, can I help you?”

“Who are you? This is my home, are you another one of her fancy men? She had a different one here today, you know. Another big bulky guy throwing his weight around. That’s my wife and the slag better stop fucking anything with a pulse.”

In my defence, I didn’t make a conscious decision to punch him or to sweep kick his legs from under him. It was instinctive when he started to insult my future Luna and when he insulted my own integrity too.

“That is not a very nice way to talk about a lady, is it?” I press my face into his after I lift him by the front of his coat off the floor. He fights dirty, waiting until I have set him on his front before rugby tackling me to the ground.

“Are you screwing my wife in my house?” With his momentum gone and it becoming apparent I can outfight him, he sits on the ground next to me.

“No. I am here to protect her and you shouting and banging on her door in the middle of the night is unacceptable.” He frowns at my response.

“Why does Eva need protection? She is a no one, a nothing! Just a frigid little skank who is trying to ruin my life.” I punch him again, causing his nose to bleed.

“You have no idea what you are messing with, you piece of shit. Leave her alone, stop coming here, don’t even speak her name and when she tells you she wants a divorce, give her what she wants, or I will hunt you down.”

“What is going on down there?” a sweet but annoyed voice asks from the window on the upper floor. “Ryan? What the hell do you want? I told you we are through; I want a divorce and I never want to see your lying, cheating face again. “Who is that with you?”

I step out of the shadows so she can see me.

“You’re Aiden’s erm… friend, right?” She is trying to protect our identity as werewolves and that makes me smile. She will make a marvellous Luna.

“Yes, I am Aiden’s friend, he sent me to watch over you in case there were any problems, and look here, your ex-husband was trying to break down your door.”

“Ryan, leave now or I will call the police. I mean it. I will see you in court and that’s all I have to say to you on the subject. I am woke now, I know what you are and what you’ve been trying to do, and I won’t fall for it anymore. You are dead to me.”

“I want to see my daughter,” he shouts at her.

“Your daughter? The one you have never claimed? She is in care because you refused to pick her up. She isn’t here, Ryan, plus it’s the middle of the night, visiting hours are over, so do not use my daughter to try and manipulate me.” Eva sounds mean and determined. She might be tiny but jeez I will not get on the wrong side of her.

“I have rights, I want to see my daughter, Eva, and I don’t want any strange men around her,” her pathetic ex-husband declares.

“You’re a strange man to her Ryan, don’t go playing the martyr now. You wouldn’t even let her call you daddy. You can see her if you can tell me right now when her birthday is and what her middle name is. You tell me those things and I will arrange a visit for you as soon as she is home.”

Ryan starts to stomp off. “I can’t be arsed with your games, Eva, screw you and screw your kid too.”

I can’t believe that man! What I wouldn’t give to have my own pup and he has never bothered with his own. My future Luna’s voice greets me again.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that and witness it too. What is your name again? Did you say Aiden sent you?”

“Yes, my Alpha sent me. My name is Preston, I am Aiden’s Beta wolf. I am sorry I disturbed you.” I start to retreat until I hear her shouting at me.

“Preston? Why did Aiden send you?” she asks me almost bashfully.

“Aiden wants you to be safe and secure and to have protection should you need it, like tonight.” I feel like I need to add more information, but I don’t know what else to add.

“Will Aiden be coming back here?”

“Yes, he sent word a few minutes ago, he will see you in the morning around 8am.” I do not miss the smile on her face; Aiden, the lucky dog, seems to be winning her over.

“Thank you, Preston. If you need anything just knock, you are free to use the bottom half of my house if it’s any use to you.”

I see a brilliant Luna in the making.

*** Eva ***

It felt so good to tell Ryan to leave and I would see him in court. The absolute cheek of him, coming here demanding to see Summer after all this time. He has the audacity to call me names and bring my fidelity into question when Melanie basically told me they have been together for longer than Ryan and I have.

I am thankful that Aiden sent Preston although I think I would have preferred him to be here himself. I have been so nervous all night that I haven’t slept properly and it’s a mix of terror for my baby and anticipation of seeing Aiden again. I am embarrassed about my outburst; goodness knows what impression that gave him of me.

He arrives at my house at 7.15 and from upstairs I hear him asking Preston and the other two wolf-men to go get some breakfast and return at 8am. He comes upstairs where I am sitting at my dresser brushing my hair, I am already dressed and ready to leave.

“Eva?” He calls to me from the landing and my heart melts at his thoughtfulness.

“I’m in my bedroom, come in,” I say back and my heart pumps ferociously, thumping in my ears.

“One of the perks of being a werewolf is our exceptional hearing. Why is your heart racing, Eva?” He stands just inside my bedroom with his legs braced slightly apart,  his intense green eyes are glued to me.

“I am so sorry for what I said to you, Aiden. I was bang out of order and I hope you can forgive me for the horrible things I said, I didn’t mean any of it.” Tears threaten to fill my eyes and my throat stings uncomfortably.

Aiden walks straight over to me and takes my face into his hands. “I am so sorry that us meeting resulted in Summer being taken away and you being hurt, but I don’t regret meeting you. I will get your daughter back or die trying. I swear that to you.”

The tears do run down my face but part of it is relief that he accepts my apology. He kisses me gently, so softly it's barely there, the lightest feel of his lips against mine and my body feel like it’s on fire with need. He pulls away from me all too fast and chuckles as he does.

“Once you have your daughter, we seriously need to do something about your pent-up frustration, Shortie, your arousal is driving me insane.”

It's driving me insane too, I have never ever felt attraction or want the way I do for Aiden. It is frightening how fast I am throwing my heart out to him; I just hope this time it's treated better.

***