The Alpha's Warrior Princess

Ch. 12: Can This Get Any Stranger?

(Alex’s POV)

Well, that went well. Max said sarcastically in my head and I just mentally nodded my agreement. Though it could have gone much worse, so I wasn’t complaining.

Uncle Ty was still trying to comfort his shocked mate who had her mouth hanging open as her gaze took in her newly found inlaws. Uncle Ty looked like he wanted to go after April but he couldn’t leave Aunt Crystal, so when our eyes met I just gave a gentle nod as if to say “I got this” and left the office.

As I was closing the door behind me, Allison had the nerve to mumble “What a f**kin drama queen” and I couldn’t help the growl that left my lips at her attitude. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone. Uncle Ty AND Dad both growled as well and John shot his daughter a nasty look meant to silence her.

Alli jumped at our growls and grumbled “Okay, okay. Geez. But if I had done that y’all would've acted like the world was coming to an end.” I didn’t hear anything after that. I just left her sorry a** to the Dads in the room and went looking for April.

I ran downstairs and started to look around, but as I did, one of the Omega’s pointed to the door and said “Ms April went that way if that’s who you’re looking for, Alpha”. I hastily thanked her and ran out the door.

Thankfully, she hadn't gone far. She just seemed to be walking around slowly and aimlessly in an oval or circular track with a dazed look on her face. As I started down the steps onto the lawn, I saw a few of the guys moving toward April with concerned looks in their eyes. I waved them off as I mind-linked them, saying “I got this, guys. She’s fine. I’ll fill you in later.” They nodded but didn’t back off until I reached April’s side.

Coming up next to her, I gently curled my arms around her waist and pulled her in against my chest as I softly said “It’s okay, April. I’m here. I’ll always be here.” Her arms curled around my body as she laid her cheek against my chest and I leaned my head down so my nose was buried in her silky hair, then drew in a deep breath and all I could think of was HOME. I felt like I was home.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but as we stood there quietly holding each other, she lifted her head and nuzzled her cheek to my neck and I could swear I felt the tingles people talked about when they held their mates. It was such a soft sensation, though. Which was why I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination or not.

But I was slowly losing myself in this embrace and I knew I should pull away. I just couldn’t make myself move. “Alex?” I heard her whisper and reluctantly drew back to look down into her beautiful blue eyes. I was still gazing at her when I heard her softly say “Kiss me.” And I broke.

I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I leaned down, closing the slight distance between us, and I kissed her. It was a gentle, tender kiss at first. But then her soft hands moved up into my hair and I found myself deepening the kiss. Max was going crazy in my head. He was howling and prancing about proudly, which was an odd thing for him to do. Yet he wasn’t shouting that magic word, either.

I wanted to hear him cry out “MATE” with everything in me but he didn’t do it. So, with all the strength I could muster, I gently broke the kiss and pulled back a bit.

We were both breathing heavily and neither of us could move our gaze away from the others. I could see in her eyes how much she wanted more, but I just couldn’t hurt her that way. I already felt guilt seeping in for not controlling myself, or my wolf, when she needed me too.

I should have been her friend just now, but instead I let myself succumb to my own desires. “We should go back inside. Your family is going to start to worry.” I said gently as I brushed a lock of her silky hair back behind her ear. After a moment, she finally lowered her gaze and nodded. “Sorry” she mumbled in a guilty sounding voice.

I didn’t know if she meant she was sorry we kissed, or sorry she had even asked or sorry she might be bothersome in some way. Either way, it didn’t sit well with me. I know I should be sorry, too, but I wasn’t. And I didn’t want her to be sorry either. Unfortunately, she turned away at that moment and started to slowly walk back inside. I walked by her side but we both just remained silent, neither of us knowing how to express what we were feeling at that moment.

(Tyler’s POV)

I knew this was going to be difficult. Crystal was one thing. She was a social person who got along with pretty much everyone. She would accept my brother, and his family, with open arms once her shock wore off. April, on the other hand, had me worried.

Our relationship hasn’t been the best over the years. I tried, I truly did. I just couldn’t get past what happened to my son. I failed him. I failed April. I failed Crystal. I failed everyone. How I let that woman slink in and make off with my boy has always been beyond me. I should never have left him out of my sight. I always had a feeling I knew who had taken him. I just could never prove it.

Over the years, I was afraid that she would come back for April, too. That’s why we ultimately moved away from Wolf County. To keep April safe. And when April was old enough, I started training her. She needed to have those skills to protect herself.

I couldn’t lose her, too. But my paranoia had cost me a great deal, as well. In the end? It may have cost me the one thing I was trying so desperately not to lose to begin with. Now I was trying to repair the damage I had caused. I was trying to forge a relationship with my daughter, fix my relationship with my brother, and bring us all back together as a family.

I’ve been working on fixing things with Johnathon for almost six months now. Wyatt has been there for us both every step of the way. It’s been a long journey for us, we had a lot to work through. Still do. But we’re getting there. Today we were hoping to take the next step in bringing our family together, but it seemed both our daughters weren’t going to be cooperative.

After April left the room and Allison made her little snide comment, I watched as she jumped half out of her seat when Alex, Wyatt, and I all growled. She grumbled about how unfair our reactions were as Alex left to go after April. Hopefully, he can calm her down and bring her back to us. I just got quiet after that and let Wyatt handle Allison’s disrespectful little a**. I loved my brother, but that daughter of his was something else.

“Allison, what is wrong with you?” Wyatt gritted out in frustration. “Can you not show any compassion? Are you utterly incapable? You just found out you have a cousin, a cousin who probably feels alone, confused, and surrounded by people she doesn’t know, and your first instinct is to bash on her?” He asked, which were my thoughts exactly.

It was as if this child had no clue about anything that was unrelated to herself anymore. Her attitude was aweful. I listened as both Wyatt and Johnathon tried to get her to understand why her comments were so offensive, but all Alli did was throw a temper tantrum. Finally, Jonathan growled at his daughter and told her she had better apologize to everyone sincerely or he was going to ground her.

She didn’t like it. But she complied.

Sort of.

(April's POV)

I walked back inside with Alex by my side. Raine, the psycho in my head, had been freaking out the entire time Alex and I kissed, but in a good way. I thought it was a wonderful kiss, but apparently he did not. Maybe I’m just not skilled enough for his tastes. He may not know it, but he was just my first real kiss. I’m not sorry I asked him to kiss me. I’m just sorry he didn’t like it.

My heart hurt. Like physically hurt. I wanted him to like me as much as I liked him. I should have known better. But it's okay. We’ll be fine. Just you wait and see. We’re stronger than to let this break us down. I tell my alter ego who was still whimpering in the back of my mind after being rejected that way.

She was hurt too. Though my words of encouragement were meant just as much for me, as they were for her. But we have gone through worse and I'm sure Alex won't be the only guy in my life who doesn’t like me the way I like him. Who knows? Maybe I'll meet someone in this new school.

This move is supposed to be about new beginnings after all, right?

I was still lost in thought thinking about it when we walked back inside the mansion. It took me all of two seconds before I noticed it was pin-drop quiet in here. No one even seems to be around now. Weird.

Alex and I headed for the office and once we were outside the door he gently opened it, then moved aside to let me in. He looked at me like he was afraid I would bolt, or something. But as I passed him, our eyes met briefly and he looked away, though not before I saw the guilt swimming in his gorgeous green orbs. As he follows me in, he closes the door and, once again, I find myself facing a room full of strangers.