The Alpha’s Regret

Chapter 8

Ella’s POV 

A week has passed by quickly. We have spent many hours in meetings addressing various aspects of pack security. We have tightened patrols and attack protocols and have worked on some new training regimes for the pack warriors. Now that Alpha Lorenzo knows that I am not here to undermine him, he has been a lot more relaxed and open in my presence. Luna Anna has continued to be warm and welcoming. After giving the team a thorough tour of the territory she has went out of her way everyday to make sure that we are all comfortable and have everything that we need.  She is calm and kind. Everything the perfect Luna should be. It’s probably for the best that I was rejected as that dickhead Alpha’s Luna. I don’t think the job would really suit me. Anna and I have become friends and I can’t help but let my guard down a little when I am around her. She reminds me of my best friend Mia from back home. It reminds me that I must phone Mia sometime soon. I did promise to call her once I was settled on my new assignment.

I am just finishing off a 5 mile run around the training grounds when I spot James approaching from afar. He has a cheeky grin on his face and I can’t help but return one in his direction. We have spent a lot of time together this past week. Mostly doing work things but he has joined us for dinner a few times and we have made general chit chat and engaged in some flirty banter. It has never went further than that though. Maybe he is too shy to make a move. It’s not a common characteristic of a strong powerful Beta though. I’m also sure he can probably sense my hesitation. I am here to do a job and I definitely haven’t changed my mind about relationships. Especially with unmated males. I am sure the Moon Goddess has someone special lined up for James. I would never deprive him of the experience of meeting his true mate. However, maybe it couldn’t hurt to have a little fun while we are here. He is f*****g hot after all. 

“Hey, still out here training I see, you’re always the last one to throw the towel in Ella.” He chuckles. 

“I’m finished now, I think I’m going to turn in for the night.” I stretch my limbs out and watch him carefully as he watches me. He makes no attempt to hide his interest today and seems to have a twinkle in his eye that wasn’t there yesterday. 

“What? You can’t go to bed. We are having a pack bonfire tonight. It will be fun. You have to come along. I’m sure I can help make it worth your while.” He smirks and rubs the back of his neck, waiting for my reply. 

“Well okay I’ll be there, with an invitation like that how can I refuse.” I shoot him a seductive glance while I walk off toward the pack house. 

Shit I shouldn’t have done that. I can see his eyes turn a stormy grey colour and I know I have ignited a lust within him. 

I am sitting around chatting by the bonfire with my team. They have been enjoying their stay here and I have to say they have all done a great job in supporting the pack. Even Kiera hasn’t irritated me lately. I hug my white cardigan around my body tightly as the night air begins to chill my skin a little. I am dressed in a white and red sundress with sandals. It feels nice to wear something other than my workout clothes for a change. My hair hangs down the in soft waves down my back and I have even applied a little make up tonight. Many of the young pack members are out tonight. Laughing and having fun. I have seen a few pairs of eyes glance in my direction but I don’t even entertain their lustful looks. That is until I spot the familiar grey eyes of James walking toward me us. I shift a little under his gaze and I know the tension between us has built a little since our interaction earlier. I suddenly panic at the thought. This is not professional and not why I was sent here. 

I excuse myself from the group and begin to head to my room. I definitely need to get out of here before I do something I might regret. From the corner of my eye I see James’ face drop a little and see Anna nudging him and pointing in my direction. I’m not surprised, she has been subtly pushing us together for most of the week. 

When I reach my room I head out to the small balcony and look out over the forest below. Maybe I will let Ivy out soon for a run. She has seemed a little tense lately. I have tried to ask her why but she isn’t even sure herself. I hear a small knock on the bedroom door and head over to answer it. When I open the door I see James standing there with a bottle of scotch and two glasses.

“I thought maybe if you weren’t too tired, we could have a little nightcap on the balcony?” 

He looks a little sheepish and I can’t help but find him quite adorable. 

“Sure, I was just out there. I did feel like a drink so you came at the right time.” I smile at him reassuringly. He smiles widely in response and follows me to the balcony. 

We chat away for a while and I can’t help but open up a little more. He has a way of putting me at ease and making me feel that I can trust him. I notice that he has shuffled his body closer to mine on the small bench and I can feel the heat radiating from his body. It’s a pleasant feeling. 

“You know I’m sure Phil has been been putting in extra hours at training since that day you kicked his ass in front of the whole pack.” James laughs loudly. 

“Well, he had it coming the asshole.” I giggle in response. 

“I have to say though, I wouldn’t mind sparring with you myself at some point if you’re up for it? “ 

“Ahhh, I see would you also like to have your ass kicked by a ‘tiny she-wolf who couldn’t fight her way out of a paper bag?’” I imitate Phil’s gruff voice while laughing hard. 

“Well... maybe not the ass kicking but I definitely could think of worse scenarios than having you straddle me like you did him.” James smirks back as his eyes drift slowly to my lips. 

Shit. 

“Have you tried to find your mate?” I blurt out suddenly and clumsily. James looks a little taken aback and his smile fades. 

“I had a mate. She died a few years ago when the rogue attacks started.” His brows furrow together as he stares off into the forest. 

“Goddess James, I’m so sorry I had no idea. What was she like?” I ask carefully. 

“Honestly, she was perfect. My perfect fit in every way. She was Luna Anna’s sister you know. That’s why Anna is so protective over me. I think she feels like she has to help me move on with my life.” He states with a sad smile. 

“Wow I’m sorry that you all went through that terrible loss.” I pat his arm reassuringly. 

“It was really tough at the time, I didn’t think I’d make it through. Lorenzo and Anna had just found each other and although they tried to help, seeing them together tore me apart. I just kept thinking of Natalie and how that could have been us. If it wasn’t for my old friend from another pack helping me through I don’t think I would have made it. He’s been like a brother to me.” 

“Well he sounds really special, I’m glad that you have him. We all need good friends in our lives.” I nod and follow his gaze out towards the forest. 

“Yeah he’s great. Maybe I’ll get a chance to introduce you two sometime... So what’s your story? A looker like you must get a lot of attention. Any sign of your mate?” 

“Well, I did meet him once and he rejected me pretty much right away so...” I shrug my shoulders and try my best not to think about the painful memories. James looks at me in shock and scratches the blonde stubble on his chin. 

“f**k, I can’t even imagine why any man would reject you Ella. You’re amazing.” 

“Thanks James” I smile back in return. We stare at each other for a moment. Then I feel his lips brush against mine softly. He deepens the kiss a little and I lean into his warmth following his lead. The kiss is nice and feels good but I can’t shake the feeling that it doesn’t feel right. It feels suddenly feels like I’m kissing a friend rather than a potential lover. 

“Something isn’t right...” Ivy states in my head. 

“I like James but he is not our mate. He’s not right for us. He belongs to another...” Ivy whimpers. 

“Our mate rejected us Ivy, we have no mate and neither does James.” I reply back to her in my mind. 

The uncomfortable feeling spreads across my body and I pull away from James embrace. He looks at me carefully. Neither of us ready to speak. Instead his eyes convey understanding, as if he had had the same internal struggle as me. He kisses me on the forehead and I lean my head on his shoulder looking out into the darkness below. 

Suddenly James body tenses and he sits up stiffly. I watch as his eyes glaze over and realise he must be receiving a mind link from someone in the pack. He springs up from the bench in an instantly and begins to scan the forest. 

“What’s wrong?” I ask quickly. 

“Rogues. Attacking at the northern border.” He answers. 

In an instant we both leap from the balcony. Shifting mid air into our wolves and landing on all fours in the garden below. Ivy has silvery, blonde fur and is quite large for a she-wolf. We take off after James’ large grey wolf while mind linking Sam, Harvey and Kiera to remind them of their roles in the event of an attack. We are prepared for this. The pack will be protected and we will deal with these bastards quickly I think to myself as I run alongside James.