Not My Alpha

Chapter 12 ‘Stale’

Keira’s POV

Two days have passed since I woke up in the hospital. Macie has been by my side this whole time. Harrison visited too. I heard Dawson was sent away on another mission. I wonder what plan the Alpha and Luna have, I mean they can’t keep Dawson away on missions forever. I’ve thought about what Macie suggested. But I can’t just abandon my pack. I need to come up with a solution, or maybe I just endure it for them. I’m not sure what the right thing to do is. The doctor said I’m going to be released today. Macie told me that the entire pack is excited to see me again. I’m truly thankful I’ve met so many wonderful people in this pack. I don’t want to cause them any issues. Why does Dawson have to be like this? He’s ruining everything I’ve ever thought about fated mates. I think they’re more of a curse than a blessing.

“You ready to leave Luna?” Macie asks.

“Yes please.” I still have some bruising and a cut, but the pain is mostly gone. I get out of bed and Macie leads me back to the pack house. People come up to me, giving me hugs, pledging their personal vendettas against the ‘rogues that attacked’. If only they knew who they should actually be hating right now. A few pack members even cry as they see me. I just wave and hug them back, remaining cordial and thankful for their kindness. I requested my own room away from Dawson’s. They had to agree, I would have stayed in the hospital otherwise. In my room, Macie brings me dinner. But the pain medicine I’m on is ruining my appetite and making me sleepy. I glance at the tray of food and give an indifferent sigh.

“Not hungry Luna?” Macie asks.

“Not really.. I’m mostly just tired.”

“You should try to eat something today to help get your strength back.”

I don’t respond.

“Alright. If you get hungry let me know. I’ll bring you something.” Macie says as she takes the tray out of the room and closes the door behind her. I roll over and drift off to sleep quickly.

When I wake up, I open my eyes and look out the window. It’s still dark outside. I wonder what time it is. I roll over to see Macie asleep in the chair on the other side of the room. She must be exhausted. That girl needs to take a well deserved break. She doesn’t have to always be by my side. The pain in my stomach, reminds me that I didn’t eat dinner. Maybe I can go grab something from the kitchen. I fell asleep fully dressed, so I don’t have to worry about that. I quietly get up out of bed, careful not to wake Macie. I sneak over to the door and open it slowly. I step outside my room and close the door gently behind me. Alright, now for food. It must be really early or very late. The pack house is so dark and quiet, it’s kind of eerie. I walk down the steps quietly and head for the kitchen. I walk through the dinning hall and through the door of the kitchen. What to eat? I open the fridge and see some lunch meat. I look around the counters and see some bread. Sandwich it is. I grab the lunch meat and some condiments. Knife, I need a knife. I start opening drawers and looking around. I pull open a drawer full of sharp knives. I take one out. It’s a bit much for a sandwich, but it will do. I hear a low growl from behind me and freeze. The scent of my mate turns my stomach. I turn around and see Dawson standing by the kitchen door. He looks dirty, and his clothes are ripped. What happened to him?

“You think I’m going to let you leave me?” He says. My stomach drops. My hunger is gone. I just want to run away, but I’m frozen in fear.

“I’m..im not leaving.” I say.

“You’re going to run back home to your mommy and daddy, and that wanna be alpha.” He takes a few steps towards me. He’s staring straight into my soul. His brown eyes look black. I look around for an escape, but he’s blocking the only exit. I instinctively move back away from him, but with every step I take back Dawson steps forward. He’s moving with intense precision. He looks disheveled, but he’s speaking so clearly. I take another step back, but this time Dawson rushes forward, significantly decreasing the distance between us. I flinch and he chuckles. My back is up against the counter I have no where else to go. Dawson has me cornered. I continue to hold the knife firmly. At this point tears have started flowing from my eyes.

“Dawson please stop. I’m your mate.” But this just makes Dawson smile.

“That’s right. You are mine. And it’s time you started acting like it.” He rushes towards me and grabs my arm holding the knife. He grips down hard on my wrist and then he slams my hand onto the counter. I wince in pain and drop the knife. Dawson presses his body up against mine. His face bends down to mine. His breath smells stale, but it doesn’t smell like alcohol. He’s sober. The tears I’ve been crying stop. Something clicks in my head and I realize this entire time I’ve been blaming Dawson’s behavior on the alcohol. But it was never the drinks. It was and has always been just Dawson. I look into his eyes. Any ounce of attraction I’ve ever had for this monster melts away in an instant.

“Maybe you will be more obedient once I’ve claimed you?” His other hand rips my shirt down and away from my neck. He can’t mean to mark me, not like this. No, I need to fight back, this is not going to happen. I lean back and slam my head into his. It hurt me just as much as it did him. He stumbles back. I kick him in between his legs and he crumbles to the ground. My head is still spinning, but I need to get out of here. I head for the door, but Dawson grabs my ankle and drags me down to the ground.

“No, stop!” I yell. He crawls on top of me, pinning my shoulders to the floor with his knees.

“I’m either going to mark you, or kill you. Take your pick.” He says with his hand on my throat. I look around for, something, anything to help me. He turns my head to the side to gain access to my mark spot. There’s the knife I dropped! If I could just reach it. I stretch my arm out. I can feel the tip of my fingers touching the handle. Then Dawson lifts my shoulder, giving me the extra inch I need. I grab the knife. Dawson goes to mark me and I plunge the knife into his side just as he makes contact. He rears back in pain. He broke skin, but it wasn’t enough for a mark. I push him off of me as the kitchen door opens. It’s Harrison and Macie. Dawson is bleeding, I’m bleeding, I’m sure this is a horrific site. Macie comes over to me and checks on me.

“What happened Luna?” She asks.

“I..I was hungry. He.. he tried to force mark me.” The adrenaline flowing through my veins is making me shake. Dawson stirs on the ground. He’s bleeding pretty bad. Harrison walks over and lifts him up by his shirt. Dawson’s eyes are closed and then without another word Harrison decks Dawson in the face. Dawson falls limp to the ground. I’m staring wide eyed, He knocked Dawson out cold.

“Keira, I want you to leave the pack.” Harrison says to me.

“What?” I say quickly.

“You can’t stay here. It’s not safe. Macie, help her pack her things.” Macie helps me up.

“I can’t leave.”

“If you stay, you will die. I can’t protect you from him if you stay here. I was put in charge of protecting you. And if you stay, I will fail. I can get you off the pack lands.”

“But I don’t want to start a war. I can’t go home.” I say.

“Samara! I could give you her information.” Macie says.

“Go now!” Harrison instructs. “Meet me out back in 10 minutes.” He adds. Macie takes my arm and rushes me out of the room. We head upstairs and we pack a bag of essentials. She puts bandages on my new wounds and we hurry back downstairs. We head out back where Harrison is waiting.

“I know where the patrols are tonight. I will lead you off the pack lands. After that, you are on your own.” He says.

“Stay close.”

“Bye Macie. Thank you.” I hug her and she hands me a slip of paper.

“Tell her I sent you.” Macie says. Harrison grabs my hand and we head into the dark forest. We run quickly through the trees. We catch the scent of a nearby patrol wolf and pause as we wait for them to pass. Then we take off again. It feels like we’ve been running for awhile when Harrison stops.

“Here. It’s the edge of our territory.” He says. I take a step over the territory line.

“Thank you Harrison.” I tell him.

“Be safe Luna.”