The Cruel Alpha's Mate!

Not That Heartless...

"Regret is such a short word... And yet it scratches on forever..." 

~next morning~

Mira's pov

I open my eyes and look at Ethan and Angel sleeping peacefully next to me. 

They were very tired last night. After the dinner they played with my parents and uncles for about two hours and when we got in our room and laid on the bed they fell asleep immediately.

I asked from David to give me a room with two bedrooms, one for me and one for my children but last night they wanted to sleep with me and I accepted. I needed to be as closer as I could because I was sure that Liam would come to my room to talk to me and I was right. 

The only thing I hadn't thought about was that he wasn't the only one who wanted to come and talk to me...

It was after dinner when James came to me nervous and asked me to talk about Cassie. I was ready to deny but I felt sorry for him, he was ready to cry, his expression was breaking my heart... 

~flashback, last night after dinner~

I am walking to the living room when I hear James calling my name. I sign to my family to take my children and go and I turn and look at him with a serious look.

Okay, I like him but this doesn't mean I can forget what he did to Cassie!

"Um... Alpha can I please talk to you? It's important." He almost begs me and I nod thoughtfully.

"Yes, Beta. Tell me." I say and sign my hand for him to continue.

"I know you may believe I am lying but I want to see Cassie, as you know I am her mate. It was a misunderstanding, I rejected her to keep her safe... I... Liam..." He says and pauses.

Liam, of course! He is everywhere and I believe James, he doesn't look like Liam!

"I understand Beta, I think I know the reason you rejected her immediately the night you met her." I tell him and sigh frustrated.

Everything is Liam's fault, as always!

"I am sorry about Liam's behavior Alpha, I..."

"Call me Mira. Forget the formalities with me from now on James." I tell him and he smiles warmly.

"I am sorry about everything Mira, I am so mad at him all these years. And today, your children... They are his, right?" he whispers impatiently and I nod biting my lower lip.

"He knows, right?" I ask him worried and he pulls me softly in his arms.

I thought that this was going to be awkward and I was ready to protest but it is not. In fact, I like James, he seems an sincere man with a kind and sweet heart, unlike Liam... 

I wrap my hands around his waist as well and smile softly.

"You want to meet Cassie?" I ask him and he quickly smiles happily and his face is shining from excitement.

"Of course Mira. I miss her, I love her, really." He says and I see some tears building up on his eyes, he is very sweet.

Right?

"Okay, I will tell her to come here tomorrow, her family was informed and they will come here as well. James, don't hurt her again! She loves you too, I know her. She is suffering away from you. Promise me you will never hurt her again." I whisper with wary and he nods immediately.

"I wanted to keep her safe, Liam was so angry with you and I was afraid about his behavior to Cassie. I am done being away from her, I will do anything to get her back." He assures me.

Alright, fair enough! I believe him because I know Liam and if James wanted really to hurt her then he wouldn't have rejected her immediately, he would have tried to delay it!

"Mira, what are you going to do with Liam? I am by your side, I know what happened..." He continues dragging me away from my thoughts and I look at me troubled.

"I don't trust him James, he hurt me very much! I know he hates me and I..." I say but he shakes his head in disagreement.

"He may says he hates you but believe me he loves you! He is just arrogant and he can't accept his feelings. I know him for his whole life Mira, he is blaming himself for his mother's death and he has so much anger in his heart that... He can't accept that his mate can really love him, he is not used to all this..." He explains and I feel ready to start crying as well James.

"I know about his mother James but he broke me. What if he tries to take my children away from me?" I ask him terrified.

"He won't. Today when he saw you he almost passed out, he was happy, I know him. When he saw Ethan and Angel he melted Mira, he never thought about watching his mate with his children in front of him. All these hours he is silent, he is lost! I am talking to him but he ignores me. The only thing he whispered is: I have a family." He whispers and I feel my stomach tightening.

Yeah, just what I needed to hear. Like I care you know...

"I don't trust him James." I say again.

"I can understand you Mira. Take your time and decide when you are ready. I am here for anything you want." He tells me and we hug each other, again.

"Friends?" he asks me and I nod giggling.

"Deal!"

~end of flashback~

At least James is a real man and I am happy for Cassie. I will call her later and tell her to come because I need her. I won't tell her about James because I know she will be very nervous and she won't come in the end.

And now... Let's talk about the asshole because he is!

Liam (obviously), does the exact opposite thing from James, he is killing me. 

Last night after Ethan and Angel fell asleep I took his scent outside our room. 

~flashback, late last night~

I am laying on my bed when I take Liam's scent and I stand up quickly and get out of the room locking the door behind me. I am not risking it! Not ever! 

I feel ready to explode, I... I don't know what is happening to me, I am burning from anger!

He is already standing right opposite my door only with a pair of black trousers and shirtless. 

The moment his eyes land on me he stiffens and opens his eyes widely shocked. 

I look down my body and realize the reason... 

I am an i***t, for sure!

I am wearing only a short satin white nightdress, my legs are exposed, my hair is down behind my shoulders, with few words I could call myself almost naked.

He clears his throat and I feel my blood boiling. Moira is growling warning him to stay away and I keep her under my control with difficulty.

"Mira..." he whispers trembling and I groan when in fact I want to scream.

I walk to him quickly and crash him on the wall with power. I grab his neck and stare at him with hatred and disgust. 

He seems shocked but some seconds later when he realizes what I am doing he raises his hands defeated. He allows me to have control over him and this is confusing me. 

Where is the old Liam? 

The one that was abusing me, hurting me, threatening me and raped me?

"For you it's Alpha Mira. Am I clear Alpha Liam?" I whisper with rage and he sighs disappointed.

"I know I was wrong, let me explain." He almost begs me.

"I know the reason you are asking me to call you Alpha. I remember the day you came to me and told me you love me and I got mad and told you to call me Alpha Liam and no Liam and I am sorry." He whispers and I tighten my hold around his neck.

Bullshit!

"I am a stranger for you Alpha. And I demand respect. I am Alpha for you." I say again through my teeth and I think I distinguish pain in his eyes.

He is such a great actor!

"They are my..." he begins to say and I stop him by holding his neck even tighter.

"No, they are not yours. They are MINE." I say and relax my hold on his neck a bit because he turns pale gradually.

"You are right to be mad at me but that night..." he begins to explain and I stop him again.

"That night you killed me for good. You were killing me slowly all those months and that night you ended it. You killed the old Mira and you created another." I whisper shaking and my heart starts hurting.

Shit! 

What is this now?

He is ready to talk again when I hear a noise from inside my room and I jump back with concern. 

It must be Angel, she wakes up some times... 

He takes one step to me and tries to touch me but I pull back and avoid him.

I feel disgust!

"Leave now. Away from me and my children. If you wake them up I will kill you." I warn him and he sighs defeated.

"I will wait for you to calm down. I am sorry for disrupting you and our children." He says and I growl annoyed. 

I just told him that they are MY children!

"Goodnight." He whispers and leaves with quick steps away at the end of the long corridor.

I take a deep breath observing him and allow myself express freely. 

I am shaking, my heart is beating like crazy ready to get out of my chest, my head is killing me. I want to scream and cry, tear down the whole palace. 

I still feel sparks, the moment I touched him I felt like the first time I saw him and we touched each other. 

I hate it, I hate the power of the bond!

I accepted his rejection damn it, the bond should have been gone by now! 

Why isn't it gone? I was sure about it, the last two years I am feeling no pain, nothing!

I...

"Calm down and go to sleep. You need some rest. It was a big day. Forget about him for now." Moira suggests feeling that I am about to get worse and I nod exhausted after I think about it for a while.

Fine but this changes nothing...

I hate him!

~end of flashback, present~

I get up, take a quick shower, get ready and then wake up Ethan and Angel. 

I help them get ready as well and we leave our room for breakfast, this is typical for me, I have no problem.

They are very excited about my family and my family is also very happy, my mother and father are acting like crazy, last night they were crying while they were playing with my children at the living room. My uncles are still a bit shocked but very proud of me. Lily was staring at Ethan and Angel with adoration and Colton with Paul were laughing and teasing my parents and the kids.

I also explained to them everything that happened from the moment I left the pack with Cassie and they are glad I went to my father. 

My mom was shouting and yelling at him of course for some minutes but she quickly calmed down and accepted that she was overreacting. Also, they are all mad at Liam but I asked them to ignore him and act like mature people for me and the kids and they seem to agree, this time...

I get in the dining room holding Ethan on my right and Angel on my left hand. They are all here waiting for us. The moment they see us they all say good morning and smile. We greet them back and we sit in our places. 

Liam is sitting opposite of me (great, right?) and he has locked his eyes on mine. 

I don't like this, I am nervous, I feel his eyes on me and my skin shudders and I decide I had enough so I give him an angry look and turn to help Angel with her breakfast.

We start talking about different things and I try to avoid Liam as much as I can. 

I hate the effect he has on me, this stupid bond of ours is pain on my ass! 

Suddenly Moira starts howling nervously in my mind and I stiffen feeling weird, I know something is happening and it is some seconds later when Hobs, my right hand in every battle comes in the dining room breathless and bows quickly. 

I get up with my father doing the same and he presses his lips together while everyone seems worried from his sudden appearance.

"Alpha we have a rogues' attack. Beta Cassie called us. We need to leave." He says shortly and I hit my fist on the table frustrated.

Damn it!

My father and Oliver looks at me waiting for my commands, April, Harper and my parents look worried and my mother is about to get panicked, the well known Zoey!

Lily, Colton, Paul, Dom and James get up waiting for my reaction while Liam has a panicked expression and I feel Ethan and Angel wrapping their hands around my hips. I look at them with a small smile and caress their heads softly.

"Harper and April you are staying here with Ethan and Angel. Father and Oliver you take the 100 fighters and I take 20 of mine. The top 10 fighters are staying here with Hobs to guard the kids. How many rogues are there?" I say quickly quite calm considering the whole situation.

"Cassie told me they are about 200. She has 200 fighters with her, the rest are guarding the pack house, the rest pack's houses and the borders. The women, the children and the elders are already hidden. The rogues are about 30 minutes from our borders in a neutral land but they are fast. " Hobs replies and I nod 'pleased'.

"Fine, we are leaving now. Tell Cassie to hold them as much as she can. We will be there in one and half hour max. She must hold them for at least one hour." I command and he nods.

"We are coming with you Mira." Colton says  taking a step to me but I shake my head negatively.

"If you want to help me take care of Ethan and Angel until I come back. I will be fine." I tell him and he nods a bit unwillingly.

"Mom, don't go." Angel begs me and buries her face on me.

"I have to help aunt Cassie my love. I will be back soon. Okay?" I tell her softly and kneel in front of them.

"Promise me you will be careful." Ethan whispers in agony and I feel my heart breaking.

He is about to cry, he seems extremely worried, I know they both want me to stay here but I can't. Every time I have to leave to a battle they are acting the same way...

"I promise I will be careful. You promise me you will be good kids and you will listen to April and the others. Deal?" I say smiling and they nod.

"Give mommy a big hug and a kiss now for her strength!" I tell them to cheer them up and they get in my embrace and start kissing me.

I can die for these kisses you know! It's the best thing ever!

"Okay, okay I am strong now! I love you!" I yell, they both giggle and I get up and look at April who shakes her head in understanding.

"Take care of them. All of you!" I say in the end and look everyone else.

Liam stands up with a heartbroken expression, James looks at me with concern and I smile at and walk out of the room quickly. 

My father, Oliver, Hobs, Colton, Paul, David, Cooper, James and Liam walk close behind me outside the palace. My fighters are already there waiting for me and my father and Oliver shift in their wolves' forms in order to leave first. 

James asks me to take care of Cassie and I nod smiling and in the end Liam gives me a painful look and I shift in my wolf form without showing him any sign of interest.

I have a battle waiting for me and rogues to kill...

~hours later, night~

Liam's pov

Where is she? 

Twelve hours have passed and we have no news about her. 

We are all sitting in the living room silent and scared. 

I want to go and find her but I know she will be mad and I have to give her time and space.

I am lost from yesterday. She is alive and not only that but she has also children, my children. 

I thought I was feeling nothing for her except from hatred but damn it, I am an asshole. James and Phobos were right, I love her and I never accepted it. 

The moment I saw her I was speechless, I couldn't do a thing, her family was there also and it was difficult for me, especially with David present.

I almost passed out when I saw her with the two little twins in front of me. The little boy was just like me except from his eyes which were like Mira's. The little girl from the other side was like Mira with eyes like mine. Of course I understood they are my children and I lost the ground under my feet. 

I have a family! I have a woman and two children!

"You rejected her, remember? And also she got pregnant because you raped her..." Phobos whispers angrily reminding me what a monster I am.

"I am sorry, okay? I am regretting it. I know I am a jerk, I hurt her, I killed her as she told me last night but I know I love her now, I always did. I am the worst person there is but I want her. I will do anything to get her and our children." I shout at him and hold back some tears.

"I don't know if I believe you... And I know for sure she doesn't." He tells me and I sigh disappointed.

"The only thing I want right now is her to come back safe and sound quickly. I am dying here. I will die without her." I whisper and I feel James' eyes on me.

"Are you worried too?" he asks me through the link and I nod.

"I need to see Cassie." He tells me with pain and it is the first time I understand him so much.

"I know. I need to see Mira too. I am afraid for the first time in my life." I reply and I see his concern.

"You have a family now Liam. Do you realize it?" he asks me lost in his thoughts.

"I do. I have a family for about five years and I learned it just yesterday. And today the woman of my life left for a battle and she hasn't come back yet and I am dying in agony." I whisper and he takes a deep breath.

"I told you that you always loved her. At least you admit it now. Let's hope our mates will come back to us safe and sound." He states and I close my eyes tired and in pain.

The door opens some seconds later and a woman that seem like Cassie walks in quickly.

 I stare at her persistently and raise my eyebrows, she must be Cassie...She has light blonde hair and dark blue eyes. 

Is she really Cassie? 

April immediately stands up and runs to her side while Mira's family and friends get up and make a circle around her and James jumps up shocked. 

Well, yes... 

It is Cassie for sure...

"Cassie?" James screams panicked with a voice that breaks and runs to her like a flash.

He pushes some of them aside, no one really reacts and he pulls her in his arms. 

We are all staring at them frozen and Cassie seems lost while James is crying calling her name again and I again. 

I smile slightly happy for them because he finally found her again and they seem to have a great future together, James adores Cassie from the first time he saw her. He was in so much pain all these years and he deserves happiness.

"James?" she whispers breathless and pulls her head a bit back to look at him.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry Cassie. Please forgive me. I never meant it. I love you, let me explain." He begs her and she nods weakly a bit confused.

"Where is Mira? What happened?" Mira's mother asks her panicked and bringing us back to reality.

"She... Um... She is not coming back yet..." Cassie trembles and I walk to her scared.

"What do you mean?" I ask her breathless.

"She is chasing some rogues, she wants to catch them." She explains and looks down with guilt.

"Explain to us what happened to my daughter!" Zoey screams and breaks, she starts crying again.

We are all looking each other worried waiting impatiently for her to explain to us everything and my heart aches in pain. 

What is happening and she had to chase them?

"She came in time to help us. The rogues were ready for battle and very well trained. We killed almost all of them but some of them run to save their lives. Mira got angry and wanted to know who ordered them to attack us. We tried to stop her but when she gets angry no one wants to mess with her. She took a team of 10 fighters and trackers with Max and Cilia and left to catch them. The last thing Max informed us was that they caught their scent and Mira run to block their way. She went from a dangerous scanty path to earn time for the others to reach them." She explains and Zoey passes out the second Cassie concludes.

What?

We all start screaming panicked, moving up and down like crazy. Ryan and Paul lay Zoey on a couch and David calls a doctor. Cassie sits on the sofa with James and starts crying. The men are frustrated and try to think about a way to find Mira. Fortunately, Ethan and Angel are sleeping and Harper is taking care of them.

I fall on my knees shaking with tears blurring my vision and Phobos is howling in pain terrified.

The bond is strong, it's not gone and if I am right...

I don't have a good feeling about it... 

~next morning~

We are all still sitting in the living room, we are a mess... 

Ryan took Zoye to their bedroom some hours ago to rest because she was ready to pass out again. Cassie is awake in James arms next to me and April is silent trying to maintain her calmness. 

Some hours ago Jacob came back and informed us that Mira is nowhere to be found with her team. Oliver stayed back and Harper will go back to him later with their son. Colton, Lily and the others are all sitting in silence some meters away from me and Lily is staring at me with wary.

I don't know if I am breathing, if my heart is beating, I am lost. 

Phobos is howling all these hours in pain asking for our mate. I am dying and I know she is in danger.

"Jacob, your pack doctor is here. A man called Axel." David speaks up breaking the silence and Jacob faints.

He stands up the moment a not so tall man walks in the room panicked. April bursts into sobers and Cassie jumps up shaking. 

I look at them desperate and realize that they know something about her, it's about Mira.

"Cilia told me to come here." The man explains before someone asks and Jacob grabs him from the neck outraged.

"What happened to my daughter? Tell me!" he roars and Colton with David rushes to separate them.

"I don't know Jacob. Cilia mind linked me and asked me to come quickly here and wait for her and the Alpha." He explains and I bury my face in my hands in desperation.

"The Alpha is almost here!" screams Hobs and walks in the room quickly.

The next second all id us stand up and rush outside the palace waiting impatiently for any sign of her.

Be quick please...Goddess please let her be alright!

I won't bear to lose her now that I found her again, I...

I look panicked at the forest in front of me waiting for a move. I start smelling her but I can also smell blood and I get crazy!

Damn it!

"There!" Paul screams and we see a movement between the trees some meters away.

A man of David goes and places two white long robes behind a big tree and turns back worried.

Mira is not alone, she has someone with her. I take a better look and I see a black big wolf with a dark red, quiet big wolf running to us.

It's them!

"Mate!" Phobos shouts in agony and I take a step forward gasping for air.

We are all staring at them running closer and closer to us, some seconds later they slow down and go behind the big tree with the robes. The smell of blood hits everyone's noses and I take some more steps forward waiting to see her.

Some seconds later she finally comes out from behind the tree with another dark haired young woman and we all gasp in shock.

Her face, hair and neck are covered with blood. She has some bites on her neck, some cuts on her cheeks, her hair is a mess and she seems exhausted but the most terrifying thing on her is her expression... Her eyes are black and her face frozen like she is dead with a blank expression. 

She is staring at us without moving, she is hardly breathing.

Jacob is the first to react and rushes to her with April behind him and pulls her in his embrace. She pulls back almost immediately and I stumble when I see her robe full of blood on the spots Jacob touched her. Soon the blood starts expanding and her robe gets red all over her surface from her blood. 

I walk to her with shaking legs and try to take a breath but I can't.

This is a nightmare!

"Who did this to you?" I whisper and she exhales harshly.

"Alpha, I need to see your wounds. You have lost lots of blood." Her doctor says and she turns and looks at him with a frozen, terrifying expression.

"Baby talk to us." April begs her crying but Mira says nothing.

She is just staring at us for some more seconds. We are all staring at her panicked, some are crying, some are shaking, some are pale.

I think I am dead!

"Where are Ethan and Angel?" she suddenly asks and looks at April for an answer.

"They are still sleeping in my room, Harper is with them." She replies and Mira nods.

"Come Axel. I don't want them to see me like this when they wake up." She says and walks inside passing through us with the doctor behind her.

I turn and look at Cassie and James petrified ready to pass out.

"Something weird happened, she never acts like this." Cassie murmurs and Jacob nods.

"I will tell you..." the other woman that was with Mira speaks up and I growl.

Of course she is going to tell us everything or else I will tear down the entire palace!

"Yes, you better tell me..."

******************************

Hello everyone!

This is the 5th chapter and I am back because I am happy yet relieved (I had a huge problem with this story as it disappeared from the other app I have it published and I thought I had lost it for good, it has about 62.000 views there and I was quite panicked but thankfully now it's back like nothing has happened!

Okay, now back to the story! Liam seems that has really regretted and he tried to approach Mira but without a pleasant result! Mira is quite mad yet suspicious! Also she gave him a hard time the time she was missing and the moment she returned! What do you think of their behaviors?  

Is Liam going to try and approach Mira again and if yes then how is she going to react? Does Mira have feelings for him or not? What about James and Cassie? What is going to happen next? 

If you liked this chapter and you want more please write me a comment and tell me your opinion or even share the story! 

This is for now! See you again in the next chapter or in one of my other books (there are three more for those that don't know it yet) or even this one if you want another chapter so much! Until next time have fun, be safe and smile!

Love you all,

                             Marie!