The Alpha's Mate

CHAPTER FOUR; MY OMEGA MATE?

One Week Later…

~JOHN

The morning air bit at my fur as I pushed harder, the trees blurring past in a wash of green and brown. My wolf, Lion had been locked away for days, his energy building, restless. I hadn't let him out—not with everything demanding my attention, the constant flow of pack affairs weighing on me. But today, finally, there was nothing but the wild ahead of us. And I was more than happy to give him the release he craved.

The first light of dawn stretched across the sky, soft and golden, spilling over the woods. It had always been like this—this quiet time before the world fully woke, when everything felt still and untouched. It was different for everyone, but for me, it was the perfect kind of peace. The kind that let me forget about everything else, if only for a while.

I ran for what felt like hours, the rhythm of my paws steady against the earth. The burn in my paws made the run feel more alive, more real. The tension that had built up in my chest over the past few days seemed to slip away with every powerful stride. With Lion in control, there was no Alpha, no pack to worry about. It was just the wild, and us, moving through it. In those moments, there was no weight on my shoulders, no decisions to make. Out here, I didn't have to be anyone but who I was.

But eventually, the quiet began to fade. The pull of responsibility crept back in, that constant reminder that I couldn't escape it forever. I slowed, coming to a stop at the edge of the forest, where the morning light spilled across the ground. I felt the familiar shift tugging at me, and before I knew it, I was back in my human form. The bones in my body cracked as I shifted, my muscles relaxing. I stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, the cool air biting against my bare skin.

I looked out at the stillness of the trees, the peace of the forest slipping away as duty began to settle back into my chest. Just as I was about to take a breath and push it aside, the snap of a twig behind me broke the silence.

I didn't need to turn around. I knew it was Dorian before he even spoke. His footsteps were always careful, always aware of the world around him. As my beta, he had a way of moving silently, even when he wanted to be heard.

"Alpha," he called, his voice low, as if he didn't want to disturb the quiet of the morning. "Rhys sent word. There's trouble. He wants you at Silverpine. Now."

I could feel the stir in my chest, the instant irritation. "Tell him I'm busy." I wasn't in the mood for anyone's bullshit today. Not Rhys, not anyone.

Dorian didn't budge. "You'll want to hear this. The rogues are pushing closer. He needs your help. It's urgent."

That caught my attention. Rogues were a nightmare, a festering wound in the pack's borders that never quite healed. And Rhys, usually so composed, wouldn't ask for help unless it was serious. I sighed and rubbed my jaw, my frustration sharpening.

Rhys had helped me before. In the past, when my pack faced rogue attacks that threatened my territory, he'd been the one to stand by me—helping with strategy, sending reinforcements when I needed them, and covering my back when things got too close. It was only right that I returned the favor now, no matter how much I'd rather stay out here in the quiet of the forest.

I sighed deeply, my thoughts settling into place. "Fine. I'll go." My voice was a growl, tinged with the frustration I felt at being pulled from this rare moment of peace. I straightened up, my shoulders tense as I turned to leave. "Set it up."

—

By the time I reached Silverpine, the afternoon light was beginning to fade. Rhys's estate stood at the center of his pack's territory, its dark stone walls rising against the dimming sky.

Rhys was waiting at the entrance. His usual calm was gone, replaced by something sharper.

"John," he greeted with a curt nod. "Thanks for coming. We've got a serious problem."

I returned the nod. "I gathered that much from your message. Rogues?"

Rhys's jaw clenched. "Not just rogues. They're organized now—someone's behind it. This isn't random anymore. It's more... calculated."

I exhaled sharply. "What are we looking at, then? What's the plan?"

Rhy's green eyes were sharp as he looked me over. "I need your help. We've got a lead on a man. Someone who's been turning up in the wrong places. He's connected to all of this. We think he's involved in whatever's brewing behind the rogue attacks. But we don't know enough about him. That's where the auction house comes in."

I raised an eyebrow, confused. "The auction house? I thought that place was a den of thieves."

"It is," Rhys replied. "But the owner's got information, and he's been in contact with the man we're looking for. If anyone can point us in the right direction, it's him."

I ran a hand through my hair, processing everything. "Alright. Let's go. But if this turns ugly, I'm handling it my way."

Rhys gave a small, approving nod. "Fair enough."

We walked in silence, the heavy weight of the situation hanging in the air.

The moment we arrived at the auction house, the air hit me like a punch—thick with the stench of suffering, old wood, and something foul, like rotting meat. It wasn't the kind of place you wanted to breathe in deeply. The smell clung to everything, a mix of desperation and decay. I hated it here. I could almost taste the discomfort in the air.

And worse than that was what the auction house represented.

Omegas.

I hated them. Always had. The weak. The ones who needed protection, who couldn't stand on their own. They were everything I didn't want to be—helpless, dependent. They had no place in a world that thrived on strength, and I wasn't about to coddle anyone who couldn't fight for themselves.

But now I was here. Surrounded by the scent of omega-peddling and the smell of failure, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking into something I didn't want to deal with.

My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden splash—cold liquid hit my chest. Reflex took over. I stepped back quickly, preparing to snap at whoever had dared to bump into me.

Then I looked down.

There she was.

The woman stood frozen, her brown eyes wide, her mouth opening and closing like she wanted to apologize but couldn't find the words. I could see the tray still in her hands, trembling slightly. But it wasn't the spill that made me pause—it was her scent.

That unmistakable scent.

Omega.

I could feel the blood in my veins run cold. This wasn't happening. Not here. Not now.

Lion, my wolf, immediately reacted. He stirred inside me, his presence growing stronger by the second, and I felt the pull. MATE.

I froze. The word echoed in my mind, and I almost wanted to laugh. I hated omegas. I didn't want this bond. I didn't want her.

But the bond was there, whether I liked it or not, pulling at me, pulling me toward her.

"Mate," the word slipped from my mouth before I could stop it, and it tasted like ash. At the same moment, Rhys's voice cut through the air.

"Everly?"

'f**k my Life.'