Alpha's Tortured Hybrid Mate

CHAPTER 6

Nate's POV

I had been irritated by the need to accompany my patrols.

This whole mess with the Rogues should have been cleared up by now, but no matter how hard my teams tried, they couldn't find the origin of the attacks.

They were deflected easily enough, the rogues killed, their bodies gathered for examination because these were unlike most rogues that we had seen before.

The stench of the rotting flesh remained on these, but they were slightly stronger than usual, their eyes a pulsating red, and their attacks more coordinated. This didn't usually happen.

As I hung behind my Beta and scouts, checking meticulously the path that we walked, my Beta linked me at the same time the haunting melody of a song drifted past my ears.

'Errr Alpha? You might want to see this. There's a naked chick laid on a rock. She's pretty hot. There's no one else here, and she's definitely not one of ours.'

'So approach and state your intentions. Why are you bothering me with this? You know the protocol.' I snapped back in irritation.

Brutus was pacing anxiously inside and I didn't know what was wrong with him.

?He'd been like it for days, especially during the night, insisting we go run in the woods. He didn't know why but he felt the urge. I was cranky from the lack of sleep and everyone was feeling my anger.

I heard my Beta identify himself as I sauntered up next to them and I froze. Brutus was on high alert, jumping around and howling his ecstasy.

'MATE! MATE!! I told you dumbass! I wanted to run! If you had let me we would have found her sooner!' He ranted in irritation at me.

'Alright alright settle down. You were right. I should have listened.' I attempted to placate him. If I didn't get a hold of it now, I'd never hear the end of it from him.

'Why are they looking at her? Beta said she was hot. She's ours! STOP LOOKING AT MY MATE! I'LL RIP HIS FACE APART!' Brutus raged angrily.

I could feel Brutus's desire for violence flood me and growled as I saw them staring appreciatively at her naked form.

She was mine. Made for me. How dare they lay eyes on her beautiful form.?

I released my alpha aura a little as her beautiful eyes regarded us cautiously.

"Avert your eyes. Now. If I see any one of you laying eyes on her, I will have your heads…..Do i make myself clear." I ground out through gritted teeth, as I attempted to hold Brutus at bay.

They turned as one facing away. I could feel their shock at my usually composed demeanour changing so rapidly, but I would explain afterwards.

?I felt Brutus calm instantly as he paced anxiously at the sight of his mate. He wanted to run to her, to hold her, nuzzle her and rub his scent all over her, but she looked terrified.

?I would have to play this carefully.

I took a step forward as I spoke, trying to keep my huge frame from presenting a threat.?

"It's ok. We won't hurt you." I offered as gently as possible.

She took a step back reflexively and I felt my heart shatter. Brutus whined pitifully in response.

'She does not trust us? We would never hurt mate. Fix it Nate! Make her understand!'

'I'm working on it. Relax, you're making me nervous too.'

I wasn't sure how to handle this. If I moved forward she would back away, but I didn't want to leave her just yet.

?I needed to know more. I needed to know everything about her and fill my very being with her presence. But I would start small. Something simple.

"Okay. I'll stay here. Listen, what's your name?" I asked gently.

I waited, but she didn't answer. Did she maybe not speak the same language?

"Miss? Do you speak English?" I asked nervously. I was screwed if she didn't. I'd have to find a translator and..

"I do." She answered confidently.

Brutus howled in appreciation as my heart skipped a beat at the sound of her voice.

"Will you tell me your name?" I asked her gently.

"I don't remember." She answered without hesitation and I frowned in response.

How do you forget your own name?

"You don't remember? Then what do people call you?" I asked curiously. Surely she was known by something, a nickname maybe.

"I was called Number 42. But now no one calls me anything." She answered emotionlessly.

That little bit of information troubled me. I would think on it later, but for now I wanted to find out as much as I could. Maybe I could put her at ease.

"Okay. I don't want to call you that. It seems very…impersonal. You're too beautiful to not have a name." I offered with what I hoped was a charming smile.

When she didn't respond, Brutus snorted with derision at my lack of ability to connect on some level with her.

Perhaps the shock of us intruding had put her guard up. I could always return later or tomorrow to try again.

If it was going to take some time to get to know her, that was fine by me. I had almost given up hope of ever finding my mate, and yet here she was.

I involuntarily scanned her naked body appreciatively and noticed the vast array of old scars and wounds that littered her beautiful skin. I felt Brutus's anger mirror my own.

?It was pretty obvious that she had been through something. I would have to play this carefully if I even hoped of getting close to her and claiming her as mine.

?She had clearly noticed my eyes wandering as she took a step back. I was going to screw this up if I didn't back off now.

"Listen, I don't want to frighten you. These woods are in my territory. You are free to stay here as long as you please. I would like to offer you a place in our pack lands, though. Somewhere safe to stay rather than in the wild." I paused hopefully and waited with bated breath for her to answer, but she wasn't forthcoming with one.

"There have been Rogues sighted in these woods. That's why we're here patrolling. I would hate for them to hurt you…" I paused again, hoping that she would see reason.

'We can always come at night and keep watch on mate. She smells good. I want to be close to her. I want to run with her. Maybe I can try with her wolf.' Brutus chattered happily in my head.

I finally relented when she didnt answer.

?She held my gaze with her beautiful golden eyes without fear. There was a fire inside that ignited something deep within me. Something that I would enjoy exploring when she finally opened up to me.

"Okay. I'm going. " I said, holding my hands up and backing away to where my men stood waiting patiently.

As I reached them, my heart sinking at the thought of leaving her I heard her voice call to me, almost in panic, as if she too couldn't bear the thought of me leaving her alone.

"Wait! My wolf…she wants to know your name." she enquired, her voice lilting in her uncertainty of what she asked.

I turned, smiling genuinely as my heart soared with joy and Brutus leaped around happily. She wasn't rejecting us. She was curious.

?I knew in that moment that whatever she asked of me, I would give her in a heartbeat.

"Nathaniel. But you can call me Nate. My wolf, is Brutus." I answered, before turning and heading back along the path we had came, with my men following behind.

As we approached the perimeter of the gated compound of our pack, my Beta Josh pulled me to one side.

"Nate, what the hell was that about?" He demanded angrily. "Since when do you get all antsy because of a naked female?"

"She's my mate," I growled out as Josh's face warped into an expression of shock

"Are you sure?" He asked, leaning forward and raising his eyebrow dubiously.

"Ask me that again and I'll let Brutus answer." I replied lowly, rapidly running out of patience. Josh averted his eyes and bared his neck in submission as he felt my anger rise.

I needed to get back to the pack house and get the kitchen staff started on a food basket, and speak to the Omegas about the possibility of clothing.

I'm sure that I could find someone of similar size to her in the pack that would be willing to help. I wouldn't tell them it was for their future Luna though.

I needed her to accept me first, and I intended to win her trust first with gifts that she could use.

"Josh. I want you to find out everything you can about any person ever listed as number 42. Any facilities, suspected illegal sites, anything. I want to know who is responsible for the scars on her body and I would like to know who's head it is that I'm removing before I do so." I barked as I clenched my fists at my sides.

"Yes Alpha." He answered, bowing his head sharply before turning and rushing ahead barking orders at the rest of the team.

I would find out what happened to my sweet mate, and I would make them beg for forgiveness for every scar and mark that marred her beautiful skin.