My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter

Chapter Four

Future Beta Nate

After watching my mate drive away, I did the only logical thing I could think of. I turned to my alpha and punched him in the face. My father was instantly in front of me, holding me back from kicking his ass. I knew I could beat him, and I was ready to kill him for what he just said to his daughter, my mate.

“Not now,” my father said.

“I love you, but you deserve that punch.” I heard the Luna say to her mate. She was standing beside him, checking his face.

“Nate, what happened?” My mother asked me. She was standing on the porch with the former Luna.

“She got a call. Something about a necklace and fire.” I answered her.

“Nate, let’s go.” My sister yelled out, throwing me my keys to my truck.

“Nate, bring her home.” The Luna said to me before I ran over to my truck. I heard the alpha let out a growl.

“Don’t even fucken start with me right now.” I heard the Luna yell at her mate.

Hopping into the driver’s seat, my sister took the passenger seat. Turning the key in the ignition, my truck purred to life before I put it into gear and took off after my mate. She couldn’t have gotten too far ahead of us as I pushed my truck to dangerous speeds in this downpour.

“You want to tell me what the f**k that was all about?” My sister asked me.

“Ayla, she’s the alpha’s daughter, but she is also my mate,” I told her, keeping my eyes on the road.

“What? But she doesn’t have a wolf,” my sister exclaimed.

“I know she doesn’t. I met her when we were looking for the rogues. They attacked her. Alpha Jim told me she was his granddaughter.” I explained.

“So, what are we doing? Are you going to reject her?” She questioned and Duke growled.

“I was only asking, Duke. Calm down.” Ruby huffed.

“The alpha isn’t happy. And I can’t believe you punched him.” Ruby said.

“I don’t care if he is happy or not. She is my mate. And I’ll challenge him if I have to.” I growled out.

“Nate, you don’t even know her. Are you willing to die for someone who doesn’t know your world?” My sister sighed.

“I don’t need to know her. She is my blessing from the moon goddess. And if I have to become a lone wolf to be with her, then I will,” I told her firmly. I’ve been waiting for the last four years to find my mate and I wouldn’t give her up without a fight.

“And what if she rejects you?” She asked, and Duke let out another growl.

“Duke, you don’t even know if she feels the bond. Without a wolf, she is human.” Ruby said, and I sighed.

“I’ll just have to win her over,” I told her.

“Nate, I just don’t want to see you hurt or alone. Giving up your entire pack and your life for someone who might not accept this life,” Ruby explained.

“When you meet yours, you’ll understand. Right now, Ayla is scared. I know when things calm down, it will work out.” I said.

About an hour out of the city, I finally pulled up behind her SUV. I don’t think she noticed anyone was following her. The rain was finally calming down, and I could think.

I knew my sister was right about me not knowing her and she might not feel the bond. But does that mean I don’t try? I didn’t want to give up my mate, but could I really walk away from everything I’ve ever known to be with her?

“You can and you will. I’m not losing my mate.” Duke growled in my head.

“Then tell me how I’m going to convince the alpha to let her stay? And what if she doesn’t want to stay?” I retorted and he huffed.

“Luna said to bring her home.”

“She did say that,” I sighed.

It surprised me how well the Luna was taking the news of her mate having a child with someone else. Yes, it was before her, but wolves are very possessive of our mates. The Luna genuinely looked concerned when Ayla was yelling at her father. I never thought there would be so much drama surrounding my mate.

I always thought I’d go to a mate ball, and we would lock eyes and that would be it. But now I have to explain to my mate that I’m a werewolf, and she is technically half werewolf, even though she doesn’t have a wolf. But will she hate me because I’m like her father?

We finally pulled up to a scene where emergency vehicles were everywhere, and two houses were on fire. Ayla jumped out of her vehicle without turning the SUV off, running towards one of the houses. I was worried she was going to run inside until one firefighter grabbed her by the waist. I could see her fighting him, and Duke let out a growl.

“Nate, don’t do anything stupid.” My sister warned me, as I put my truck in park and threw open my door.

Rushing over to them, I could hear her crying as she watched the fire burn. It was heartbreaking to see the pain in her eyes. It wasn’t until I saw she was bleeding did Duke go into overdrive.

Running up to them, he pulled Ayla away from the stranger.

“What the f**k are you doing? This is a closed scene.” He yelled as I tried to pull Ayla out of her daze.

“Ayla, look at me,” I told her, holding onto her cheeks. Her eyes finally snapped away from the flames to mine. And her eyebrows furrowed.

“Nate, what are you doing here?” She whispered.

“Ayla, you’re bleeding,” I told her. It took her a moment to say anything, as she just stared into my eyes.

“It doesn’t matter.” She said with tears in her eyes.

“Ayla, who is this? Where is Jordan?” The firefighter asked her.

“Xander, this is Nate. And Jordan and I broke up.” She told him, pulling away from me.

“When did you and Jordan break up?” Xander exclaimed.

“When I was on my way here,” She shrugged.

“Because you are now with him?” He pointed to me.

“I’m not with anyone. I didn’t want to be with Jordan anymore, even before you called to tell me about my house.” She explained.

“Ayla, why are you bleeding? And don’t tell me you don’t know, because I know you do.” He scoffed and I had to hold back Duke. He didn’t like this guy talking to his mate in that tone.

“A bear when I was hiking attacked me. Nothing serious.” She told him.

“What the f**k, Ayla? And you drove here, like that?” He yelled at her and I stepped in between them. He glared at me and I glared back.

“I need to find her necklace.” She breathed out.

“You need to go to the hospital.” He told her and she shook her head.

“I’ll take her,” I said, and she looked at me.

“I’m not leaving until I find her necklace.” She said, with tears running down her cheeks.

“Ayla, I can’t get in there, and you are hurt. I’ll call you when I find it.” He said, his tone of voice changing. She completely broke down, and Xander wrapped his arms around her.

“Have I ever let you down?” He whispered, and she shook her head against his chest.

“Go get yourself checked out and get some rest. I’ll call you, I promise.” He told her. She pulled away and looked up at him. I hated seeing my mate with another, but she clearly knew and trusted this man who Duke just wanted to rip apart.

“Ayla?” I asked, holding out my hand. She looked at me and then back at Xander.

“Okay.” She mumbled. She quickly hugged Xander and then, to my surprise, she took my hand. The bond flared to life as tingles shot up my arm, causing goosebumps to erupt all over my body.

Halfway to where I parked my truck behind her SUV, she was still holding my hand. I felt like I had won the lottery as we walked hand in hand.

“Nate, what are you doing here?” She asked me. I should have expected that question, but I hadn’t thought of a reason on my drive here.

“Your father asked me to come get you,” I replied, and she immediately stopped walking, and I cursed myself.

“My father would never say or do anything like that.” She scoffed, letting go of my hand. I turned to look at her as she watched me intently.

“His wife actually asked me to bring you home.” I sighed, and she looked shocked.

“I don’t understand. Why would she want to see me?” She gasped.

“Your grandparents are also there. I can take you to the hospital, or I can take you back to my house. What do you want to do?” I asked her, moving to stand in front of her. She looked up at me with her stormy gray eyes and I never wanted to look at another. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for her to answer.

“I don’t want to go to the hospital. I wish I could go home.” She whispered.

“Would you settle for my home?” I pleaded, hoping she would stay with me.

“Okay,” she said, nodding her head. She took my hand again, and we walked over to her SUV. My sister was waiting outside her vehicle for us. She looked at our hands, and then she gave me a smirk.

“Should I follow you back?” Ayla asked.

“I’ll drive yours back. You shouldn’t be driving.” Ruby told her, and I let out a breath. I was trying to think of an excuse for her to ride with me, but I couldn’t think of one.

“Are you sure, Ruby?” She looked at my sister, and it impressed me she remembered her name.

“It’s fine. Your dog here will keep me company.” Ruby said, pointing into the window where Bluey was watching us.

“Her name is Bluey,” Ayla told her.

“Bluey will keep me company, and you can keep my brother company,” Ruby announced.

“Okay, drive safe.” Ayla thanked her.

“I’ll see you at home,” I said to my sister before I led Ayla over to my truck. I opened the passenger side door for her and helped her in before hopping into the driver’s seat.

Looking over at Ayla, she was looking through the windshield, at her house, which was still burning. She looked completely heartbroken as I pulled away from the scene and headed in the pack's direction.

“Ayla, how is your abdomen feeling?” I asked her.

“It hurts, but I’m okay,” she breathed out, resting her head against the window.

“Thank you for helping me up on the mountain. And for coming today.” She whispered.

I was finding it hard to put my thoughts into words as I drove us back to my home. Where was I even going to start? Hi Ayla, I’m a werewolf and you’re my mate. Can I mark and then mate with you?

“I’m not sure that will work, dumbass.” Duke chimed in.

“I was being sarcastic, asshole.” I huffed.

“It doesn’t matter now, dumbass. She’s sleeping.” He retorted, and I turned to see that she was indeed sleeping.

“f**k,” I cursed under my breath.

She shivered and let out a whimper. She must be having a nightmare. Still looking at the road, I reached into the back seat to grab the sweatshirt I left there the other night. When I draped it over her, she snuggled into it, calming down.

“Maybe she feels the bond?” Duke mentioned. I was trying to watch the road and her at the same time.

“Maybe,” I answered him.

“Nate, why are you acting like this? Where’s the confident, no f***s to give, Nate?”

“I actually want her to like me. Everyone else I never cared, but with her, if she can’t feel the bond, I need her to fall in love with me.” I explained.

“And you think being a b***h will make her love you?” Duke questioned.

“It’s called being nice, jackass,” I growled at him.

“You should have punched that guy in the face for touching our mate.” He growled back.

“And then she would have hated us. She doesn’t know. And you, being possessive, won’t help.” I scolded him.

“You should have just let me claim her when we first saw her on the mountain.” He demanded.

“She’s human. I don’t want to scare her. I know you are anxious about claiming and keeping her, but we have to go at her speed.” He huffed as I sighed.

“Nate, are you okay?” Ayla’s sweet voice said. She reached out and touched my arm, causing me to jump.

I whipped my head to the side to look at her. She was now sitting with her back against the door, watching me. She looked concerned, with her hand still touching me.

“How are you feeling?” I asked her.

“I’m okay. Are you okay?” She asked, watching me.

“Yeah, we are about half an hour from my house,” I told her.

“Okay.” She said.

We fell into silence after that, and I was trying to figure out what I should ask her that wouldn’t be too invasive. I know she has been through a lot these last couple of days and I don’t want to push her.

“Nate, how old are you?” Ayla broke the silence.

“Twenty-two,” I answered.

"Are you related to my father?" she asked me. Duke was rolling around laughing in my head.

"Our fathers are friends.”

“Oh, and what were you doing on the mountain?”

“Looking for trespassers.”

“Naked?” She exclaimed and Duke laughed harder. I cursed, and Ayla squeezed my arm. She was resting her hand on my arm I had resting on the middle console.

“I’m sorry, Nate. I’m not judging. Whatever you and the others were doing is your business.” She said, and I sighed.

“It’s not what you are thinking, and I wish I could tell you.”

“It’s okay.” I looked over at her, she was resting her head back on the seat, watching me.

“How old are you?” I asked her.

“Nineteen.”

“And the house?”

“It’s mine.”

“And Jordan?” I rushed out and internally cursed myself when she sighed.

“f**k, sorry. You don’t have to answer that,” I told her.

“No, it’s fine. Jordan and I dated, but I ended things.” She replied.

“Can I ask why?” I asked her, curiously.

“It was nothing serious. And I found myself not wanting or caring if he ever told me he loved me.” She shrugged.

“You didn’t love him?” I pulled up to my house.

“I don’t even think I liked him.” She chuckled. She winced as she tried to move as I parked my truck. My sister pulled up right behind us.

“Hey, don’t move. I’ll help you.” I told her, shutting off my truck. I hopped out and rushed to the passenger side to help her.

Opening the door, Ayla had tears running down her cheeks as she tried to breathe through the pain.

“Mom, we need you,” I yelled through the mind-link.

“Is it just your abdomen?” I asked her, and she nodded.

“I’m okay. Can you just help me stand?” She gasped out.

Helping her out of my truck, my sister rushed over to give me a hand, with Bluey following behind her.

“What happened?” Ruby rushed out.

“I’m okay.” She told her, but I knew she wasn’t.

“Let’s get you inside,” I told her as we made our way into the house.