Three Alpha's, One selection (Ending reimagined)

Chapter 39

I looked at him. Aedion Michailidis that is his name, why wasn't he on the list Rowan gave me? He might be trying to infiltrate the event. He has dark brown hair and green eyes. His eyes caught my attention since they had what looked like golden flecks in them. He didn’t look away from me. His stare was intense. I didn’t understand why he was looking at me like that when we had only just met. He looked at me like Rowan does. Like his sight is set just on me and only me.

"I can help you. I can save you." I don't understand why he thinks he can help me or why he would bring it up now, here where people can hear and see. Word could get back to Rowan. I didn’t really know what to say. Yes, this guy looked big enough. I am sure he can keep his own in a fight, but no one would intentionally take on Rowan and why would he for a stranger? Why would he get involved? How does he even know? Maybe he doesn't. He might just be flirting. Not knowing how much what he said hit home.

I couldn't get into it right now. I have to find out what pack he is from. I saw movement from behind him, meaning that the next group was coming up. I have to sort this out before someone has to wait in the sun and it gets back to Rowan.

I looked past him and my heart stopped. I think my heart really stopped for a couple of seconds. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but he didn’t disappear. Walking up to us was Sanders. I was sure it was him. He is the one person I think about every day. He was the one thing I held onto. All my hopes were placed on him. He wasn’t looking up, he was just walking in our direction. He looked different, but the same. He was bigger now, not at all the teenager I remembered, he was a man now. He finally reached us and I felt nervous, My heart fluttered. He finally lifted his head.

“Alpha I parked the…” His eyes landed on me. I felt nervous. His words died down as he just stared at me. I stared back waiting for him to say something anything, but then it clicked in my head, he called him Alpha.

“You are the one that conquered the Greenland pack?” I asked as my head turned to Aedion. I felt tears pricking at my eyes. I took an involuntary step back.

"Conquered...I saved the pack from a worser fate. The only reason I'm here is to save you, Angel." Worser fate? Would me being Greenlands Luna have been worse than being concurred?

"How can you say you are here to save me when you are the one that took away my safe haven. Greenlands was my last hope." I realised what I was saying. wearing my hopes and felling on my sleeve for everyone to see. I quickly got hold of myself.

“Please show Alpha Aedion Michailidis his room. It's the Greenlands room” I said not looking away from him. I couldn’t let this break me. I have come so far without breaking. It was hard. I now knew that the one thing I worked so hard for, the one thing that was my hope for freedom was destroyed.

Sander didn’t follow him he just stood there frozen staring at me as I stared back at him. Our eyes caught on one another. A flood of emotions ran through me. He made me feel so many things all at once. I was overjoyed at seeing him and sad because this wasn’t how I wanted to see him again and afraid that he hated me and nervous that I wasn’t what he expected. I am used and broken now.

“Sander!” The Alpha growled and without a word he turned from me and walked away. My heart broke. He didn’t even say hi. I hated seeing him walk away from me, but once again there was nothing I could do. I have work to do my same old fake smile being planted on my face. Forcing myself to be what they expected of me, isolating myself again in my lonely little bubble.

The rest of the meet and greet was boring. Nothing could top meeting the guy who destroyed my pack and the guy I longed for to be at his side. I was grateful that I could disappear to my cottage and get ready for the night, I could wipe the forced smile off my face and just be me. I took out my dress for the dinner party hanging it against my closet.

After everything that happened today, I was not in the mood to go to dinner. Not with Aedion there who destroyed my pack and Sanders there who held my heart. Especially not with Sanders there. Rowan is going to lash out. I don’t think he ever expected Sanders to show up not with the pack being taken over. There was a knock on the door.

I knew it wasn’t Rowan. It was most likely Birke coming to summon me for something. Sighing I went downstairs opening the door aggressively. I was annoyed. I did my part I wish he would just give me some time to just be alone and come to terms with everything. In front of me stood a shocked Sanders.

“I didn’t think you had that level of anger in you.” He said watching me carefully. I was caught off guard by this, by him standing here in front of me. He was actually speaking to me. It wasn't some dream or fantasy I made up in my head.

“Sorry, I thought you were someone else,” I explained. I don’t like Birke and he doesn’t like me. We are always hostile towards each other. I tried being nice to him for so long. It was too much effort and energy wasted. I guess in some ways Birke is the only one to see the real side of me.

“Rowan?” He suggested. There is no way I would ever answer the door like that if it is Rowan on the other side.

“No not Rowan.” I answered. You would think that I would afford such hostility for him, I guess that is what Sanders would think.

“So there is someone here that you hate more than him?” He asked seemingly curious about how that could be possible. No there isn’t anyone I hate more than Rowan. I don’t even hate Birke I just dislike him a lot. Although I can’t answer that question. For all I know Sanders could be angry at me and tell Rowan everything I say.

“Can I help you with something? Is there something wrong with your rooms?” I asked slipping into my Luna role. I hated how this felt. I hated how uncertain I was about everything at this moment. I thought that the day I saw him again would be different. After years of longing.

“No everything is perfect. Of course it is you did it. I came here to ask if you would like to go for a walk with me. That way we can talk about everything.” I bit my lip. I really wanted to do this, but if I get caught I’ll be in so much trouble.

“I really need to get ready for the dinner tonight…” I started with my excuse.

“You don’t need to be afraid. I can protect you.” He looks more than capable, but he won’t be with me all the time. Still, I really wanted to go with him. I have been waiting for him, yearning to be alone with him for over two years now.

“Okay.” I don’t know why I did that. I must have been stupid, but I stepped out of the house smiling at him. I started to walk to the forest since it was the safest place now.

“Did you want to shift and go for a run?” He asked me which is a normal assumption when going towards the forest.

“I can’t. My wolf has disappeared.” Why did I tell him that? I haven’t told anyone. He didn’t say anything. He just followed along with me. He wasn’t saying anything. So I decided to start.

“How was your training program?” It was small talk but it was all I could think of to ask. It didn’t really have anything to do with the pack or his family that is in the pack it was neutral ground.

“It was fine. Not the most pleasant thing to go through. I finished first in my group. I was motivated…You motivated me. I became strong to save you. After the Alpha told me what had happened I was determined.” My heart skipped a beat to think that he had been thinking about me and using me as his goal as I did with him.

“I wish he didn’t tell you. You had enough to worry about without my problems being thrown into the mix.” Training to be an enforcer couldn’t be the easiest thing and I am sure that he had to remain focused.

“I would probably have died if I didn’t have you to focus on. It was a tough programme to get through, but the idea that I would be coming home to you or to save you made me focus. I don’t know if you remember, but I got into trouble a lot when we were younger. I had a bit of an anger issue. I was very unfocused. So in a programme where you are told to get angry, it is difficult to actually remain in control and focused, but every time I lost it I just thought about you.”

I stopped to look at him. I was blushing, but quickly found my senses and started walking again. He was playing with my heart, but he was also talking about me being his goal back then. I don’t know where we stand now.

“I’m glad you passed.” I said walking a little bit faster.

“Yeah me too. The only way to pass is to stay alive. A group walks in and one of us walks out. I was that one. It was hard. It basically forces you to kill even your friends. They need to know that you are willing to kill anyone when they come at your Alpha even if it is someone that you know.” That is just utterly brutal. I can’t believe he had to kill his friends. It makes me worry about where we stand. Everything tells me that he wanted me like I wanted him, but that was then. What if he sees me as a threat now? The sharp pain shot through me. I was so afraid of this happening. I have gotten used to it. I hardly notice it. The pain is still there, but I just got used to working through it. I’m now just worried about it. I froze for a moment and took a deep breath.

“Are you okay?” He asked me. He noticed it.

“Yeah, Rowan is just having s*x with his Fiance.” I told him as we started walking. I heard a growl a step behind me.

"I should just go and rip his heart out and have him feel the pain that he makes you feel. He is a disgusting pig and I hope he rots in his own filth." in my opinion, he is already rotting from the inside out. His soul is too dark and I am sure his body can't contain it. In my opinion, that is why is going feral and not because of the rejection. I started talking to distract Sanders and to calm him down.

“You know, I thought of you too…more than I should. It was all that got me through it all. I guess I built you up in my head. I know that we only had a few moments together, but the thought that we would be together when I got home kept me sane.” I had to at least be honest with him. The chances are that I am dying by the end of this weekend if I can find a way out. There isn't a pack to go to. So what will I do?

"I guess both of us were looking forward to the future planned out for us. We are now so far from that future." Is this his way of telling me that he wasn't interested in me anymore?

"Yeah, no, of course. We are different people now." I was stupid to hold onto the fantasy of us. It was over as soon as Rowan got his claws into me. He grabbed my hand and swung me around to face him. He then pulled me to him. His lips slammed against mine. I was shocked by the sudden movement. And then I melted completely, my body pushed against him as his one arm wound around my back. His other hand cupped my face. It was nice it was the first time since I left home that I wanted the physical affection. I felt like I needed more of it. His lips felt so warm against mine. His grip tight, but not bruising…Then my senses kicked in. I pushed on his chest taking a big step back.

“What are you doing? Are you insane! He will kill you!” I can’t believe I let him do that. What if Rowan finds out? What if he felt it? He wouldn’t because he doesn’t feel the mate bond and it was just a kiss. I don’t feel anything when he kisses Aceline. I only feel the pain when he sleeps with her.

“I am not a boy anymore, Lara. If I want something I am not going to sit around and play silly games. I am going to take what I want.” Right…What? He can’t possibly mean that he wants me still. After all, I am a broken mess. Just the thought of Rowan finding out has me shaken.

“You don’t want me.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.

"I’m broken and used up. I don’t even have a wolf anymore. I’m not fit to be a Luna or someone's mate. After all…” He growled, loud enough that I took a step back. I’ve never seen him this angry. In fact, he looked terrifying. He was huffing out of anger.

“Don’t tell me what I want. Of course, I want you. I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember and nothing has changed. All I could think about was saving you. When I got back I found out things were far worse than I could imagine, but then the pack got attacked and there was nothing I could do about it. I knew I wasn’t strong enough. I had to help fix the pack and I had to become stronger, because if I couldn’t protect our Alpha from Aedion then I wouldn’t be able to save you from the largest and strongest pack. I swore my allegiance to him and made allies. I’ve become stronger and I really hope it isn’t too late. I’m sorry that I kept you waiting and if there was another way I would have taken it. I am here now though.”

I didn’t know what to say. It is what I dreamed of hearing for so long with a few tweaks here and there. I just kept quiet. I have heard it finally and it isn’t a fantasy, but there is nothing I can do about it now.

“Tell me you don’t want me anymore and I won’t say another word.” I know I can’t say that. I’ve wanted him with every fibre of my being for two long years. I would love to leave with him. Where would we go?

“He is going to kill me in two days. As soon as he gets married and mates his wife he loses control over me. It is her wedding present. She wants me dead and he wants to make sure that I will never belong to anyone but him.” He had to know that there wasn’t anything left that I could do.

“Then let’s leave right now!” he said grabbing my hands.

“I can’t leave. He has commanded me, I can't set foot over the border. What happened to my parents?” I asked trying to distract myself. Tears were starting to swim against the rim of my eyes.

“I got them out. I couldn’t let him find out that an Alpha’s son was living in the pack. Especially not the son of an Alpha he wants to take down. He would have used Knox as an advantage.” I nodded. I didn’t even consider that he knew about Knox.

“He is a beautiful little boy. He is kind like his mom.” I bit my lip hard. I was trying so hard not to cry. I've always missed Knox and wondered about him. I never worried about him. I knew my parents would take care of him. Sanders saying that he is kind made me wonder if he has any of Rowan's traits. Although Rowan was raised by his power-crazy father and a distant mother. My parent is very invested and caring. That is sure to rub off on Knox.

“Rowan wouldn’t care, using Knox would be pointless. Knox would have been treated very badly if he stayed here. Rowan made it clear that if I ever got pregnant I would have to get an abortion. He would probably kill me for not killing my baby.” I am glad no one knew and didn’t try to use Knox because Rowan would have just killed him himself. That would really have been my breaking point.

“I don’t know where they are now, but he is safe. You wouldn’t have ever been able to get away from him if he knew about his son. You made the right choice. He doesn’t act like someone who rejected you. From what I heard he is obsessed with you. His child would be the perfect way for him to continue manipulating you.” He has a point. I would do anything for my kids.

“You are right I wouldn’t be able to get away from him if he knew. He would hunt me down. My options now are dying in two days or telling him that I am pregnant with triplets. Three little babies that he can use against me. Do you still think I can just leave? Do you still want me now?”