Alpha Soldier's Mate (Romano Series #5)

Part 5

Amelia was nervous. She had every reason to be because Carter was going to walk with her. Alone for fifteen minutes. The packhouse was four long alleys away. Dimly lit alleys if she can add that. That is the reason why Zaid always makes a stop so that he can walk her out along with Gia. If not him then Aster does that because there are some shady rogues lingering by the closed shutters on khetti alley. It made her feel helpless most of the time but that's the way it was.

The last thing she wanted to be was walking with Carter after avoiding him the entire time he was sitting in the cafe. She knew that he was waiting for a chance to talk to her.

If he was so desperate then why did he say he doesn't remember her? How can he say that and act like he cannot breathe without looking at her? It didn't make any sense to her. At first, she thought that he was playing a prank or something which was so unlike him.

At the end of the night, she realised that he clearly had no idea who she was apart from being Zaids employee. Maybe that's why he was interested in talking with her. Being near him just opened her past wounds and made her think of every single thing that happened between them.

Carter was in the middle of a conversation when she interrupted him. Zaid seemed more startled than Carter and she thought that might be because they were talking about her. She just hoped that Zaid didn't say anything to Carter, anything that would make him feel sympathetic for her. She already hated the way most of the omegas and betas looked at her in the packhouse.

"Good night!" Zaid yelled as they shuffled out of the cafe.

It was cold outside obviously. She had her thick jacket on, she couldn't help but shudder as the wind blew by. Carter was by her side, few inches gap in between them. As if he noticed her action he moved a bit closer. Alphas were warmer and could survive the harshest of cold. That's what made her hate them even more along with so many other reasons.

"Amelia" He called out her name as if testing it. She hummed softly staring at their shadows. Carter's shadow was taller than her and it irked her.

She was quiet when he called, thinking that he may just be testing her name out. Yeah because that's what normal people do.

He cleared his throat, his breath coming out in a thick white fog shape, "So how long have you been staying here?"

"Why? Are you writing an article on me?" The omega snipped back unable to hold the sudden hate she felt for him. She had every reason to do that okay.

Carter awkwardly laughed, shaking his head and it made her gut twist. She was being extra hurtful just to get her point across. This was her chance to start over and she was pushing it away. He was her Alpha for moon's sake. It had been a while since she thought about it.

The thing is she didn't want to start over. She didn't want to anything with the person who hurt her the most. Her life was better off with him. Assuming it as a chance and falling for him again only for him to leave would be the dumbest thing ever. Maybe it was a good thing that he didn't remember. This way it would be easier for her to hate him even more and pretend that he's someone she doesn't know. He would be leaving soon anyway so it's better if she stayed alone.

"Who knows I might" Carter replied after a beat and she noticed a quirk in his lips. He never fully smiled. She never saw him do that because he had to show that he was no-nonsense Alpha. How many times did she see him trying not to laugh out loud though? Too many times to count.

"I would say I am flattered but there's nothing really interesting to write about me"

Carter hummed, "Why don't you let me be the judge of it?"

"How about no?"

"Hmm how about yes?"

She cracked a smile. It is just impossible to stop okay. He was always this enigma, too bright even if he didn't want to be and had the ability to make her smile. She should know how to stop smiling at his lame comebacks by now but it may never happen.

"You ever give up, do you?" She questioned as they were walking through another dark alley.

Carter huffed, "Never giving up is kinda my middle name so..."

She snickered at that and raised her eyebrows, "I thought you didn't have any middle name"

It was weird that he didn't. His mother, the Luna always moans about it to Amelia. He actively decided to not use it while enrolling in the military. There was some story there but she did not know about it.

"Right so this one will be my middle name. It's about time anyway" Carter said while giving her a side glance. She didn't meet his eyes, instead of staring at the Alphas standing in the corner. They were four of them, leaning against the close shutter with cigarettes in their hands. Their eyes were hooded and they seemed deranged. From their scent, she could figure out that those were rogues.

Slowly almost quietly she whispered to Carter, "Are you sure about that? I would have gone with a different name"

"But 'never giving up' is such a motivational name. I'm like a brand in myself. Maybe this way I can make it big finally"

"Is that what you dream of? Making it big?" She questioned, her voice trailing when she noticed the Alpha from the crowd inching towards Carter's wide. What was he doing?

Carter seemed oblivious, his eyes flickering in her direction as he pursued his lips, "I don't know. I can't dream..."

He cut himself off as his shoulder was harshly brushed against the other Alphas. Carter turned to apologize, raising his hand above.

The Alpha, however, snarled, "What the f**k? Can't you see the military boy?"

"I said it was an accident" Carter gritted, his jaw clenched.

Someone from the crowd snickered loudly, "Ed can you blame the boy? There's an unmated omega with him. His only chance to f**k"

Amelia glared at the group for that comment. It was highly unlikely for them to be there because she never saw them all these months. Several times the cafe was locked up late but these Alphas were never waiting in the alleys.

Carter's hand fisted on his either side and she prayed for the Alphas. She saw him fight of course. He was like a beast and it scared her so much that she didn't acknowledge him that day. In his human form itself, he was scarier than all the Alphas in the alley.

"I suggest you apologize for that pal"

Ed, the Alpha standing in front of Carter laughed, "Or what? You are going to harm us? You're just a military boy we are not scared of y-"

Carter gripped his two sides of cheeks before he could finish the sentence. The omega's eyes widened as his fingers were digging on either side and the Alphas behind stood up. This was not going to end well.

"Leave him asshole" Someone yelled from behind and pushed their hand forward as to hit Carter's shoulder. Carter gripped his fist before it could even touch him and twisted his arm around.

The sound of bones breaking echoed in Amelia's ear and she shivered. Violence didn't scare her as it should because of the endless times she saw people fight in front of her. For the money, for pleasure or for pain. She hated it though, every part of it.

"You still want to get brave huh?" Carter quietly hummed, his voice so low and husky that it made goosebumps prickle her skin.

Another Alpha nodded his head and inched towards Carter but before he could do something Carter twisted around. His leg shot out and he kicked in the stomach of that Alpha making him fall on the floor with a thud.

The two Alphas who Carter was holding were struggling and that's when the omega noticed from the corner of her eyes the fourth one holding a knife. Amelia's eyes shot up as he was inching towards Carter, a malicious smirk on his face. Words failed to leave her mouth to warn Carter so she rushed towards him and gripped on the knife, wincing as it cut through her palm. Blood trickled down on the floor and it made her eyes spin.

"Amelia" Carter yelled pushing the two guys he was holding and punched the fourth guy. Her eyes rolled back as the knife dropped on the floor and she staggered back.

"I'm so-" Before those words left her mouth she was on the floor, her eyes closed.

***