The Alpha's Odessa

Chapter 9: Busy Day

POV: Raphael

Today has been a long day already and it's only lunchtime. The alphas are going to start arriving tomorrow, so all day I've been managing last-minute preparations. All of them should be here by Wednesday.

"Hey, where is my sister's room?" So it begins. Haven moves in today. Jake and Nathan are here with her things standing in my living room holding two boxes each. "Stephanie will show you to her room." I mind-link the omega to come show Jake and Nathan where Haven's new bedroom is.

Axel snarls at me for the bedroom I chose for her. He wants Haven to be closer to our bedroom, but I won't have that. The temptation is too great. We had a deal. I stay out of her way, and she stays out of mine. Having her bedroom placed on the other side of the house is the best way to ensure this.

Nathan and Jake follow Stephanie up the stairs with the boxes. I sit on the couch eating my lunch in the last moment of peace before my house is invaded with temptation. I have to keep reminding myself it is a betrayal to Melanie. "So we're just supposed to suffer in grief for all eternity? We're never allowed to be happy again?" Axel starts in with his argument.

I hate that he can just move on so quickly. I know he's only going off of his animal instincts, but it can be so infuriating. "Don't you feel any guilt for this? Did you even love her?" Melanie was my mate. My love and she was ripped away from me. From us. Axel growls loudly in my head in anger. "How f*****g dare you?! Of course, I loved mate!" He growls.

"Well, sometimes it doesn't seem like it. You ignore me half the time because I won't give into her. What am I to think?" I argue. Does he really not understand my feelings? In our 800 years we've never had a disagreement quite like this.

"You could trust me and get over it. I'm ready to move on. I let you keep your distance from Haven for five years. I hardly pushed you after Melanie's death last year. I've come to terms with it. It's time and now that she's here, I won't stop. Get ready for the fight of you life." s**t. It's bad enough Haven is such a temptation, but I have a horny wolf now that I need to put on a f*****g leash.

"Hey, Raf, the council will be in session in about thirty minutes. You ready?" Jake and Nathan come back down. I sigh, "Yeah, let's go." The council likes to meet every two weeks for updates on the pack. It's nothing important. We just go over a summary of reports that happened in the past two weeks.

"Nate, you got this or..." Jake asks his brother. "Get the hell out of here, idiot." Nathan punches Jake in the arm. I walk out the door, going right for my car parked in the driveway. I only came home to eat lunch and take a small break. Jake follows me out the door, looking around my driveway. "What is wrong with you?" I ask.

"Huh? Oh, I'm just surveying how big your driveway is. You might want to move your mailbox way over. Haven will likely hit it soon." Seriously, of all the things going on today, Haven's driving skills managed to make the top of the list? "My mailbox is in a normal spot. If she hits anything in my front yard, then she needs an eye exam. Are you sure she doesn't need glasses?" I ask.

I've seen Haven drive, and it makes me nervous. She can't drive. I don't know what it is, but something ain't right there. Jake shrugs and gets into the passenger seat. I get into the car on the driver's side. "Are you sure about Haven moving in with you?" Jake asks.

Today is a big step for him. His baby sister is moving out of the nest. "Yes, it's fine." I don't want to talk about this. I'm not completely OK with this, but it is what it is. "I just worry about her. You haven't really been around her much lately. You're a man and Haven struggles with that."

"Jake, I assure you Haven is safe with me. I would never hurt her." I assure him. I meant every word of that. Haven is safe with me. I won't let anyone hurt her. Never again.

Guilt from failing to protect her bubbles back up. I push the feeling back down. I can't deal with that right now. I need to focus on the task at hand. Today is a busy day and I can't afford to be distracted.