The Untamed Female Alpha And Her Beta Mate

CHAPTER 4 Alan’s reaction to Ariana’s words

Alan

I left the backyard of the packhouse in long strides. I knew how unruly Ariana's character was, but I never expected her to treat me this way.  I had a crush on her since we were kids.  Deep down in my heart, I wished that she would feel the same way about me. Well, from the way she had just treated me tonight, it was pretty evident that she didn't feel the same way I did. So, I had to put my s*** together and decide what I wanted to do from now on. I was determined not to stay in our pack and have Ariana reject me the minute she chose to do so.

When I entered the house, I noticed that my parents had already gone to bed. I tried to make as little noise as I could so as not to wake them up. My dad had to wake up very early in the morning as the Alpha's Beta and take up his duties. He often woke up in the middle of the night because the perimeters' guards warned him about various invasions made in our area by rogues. Lately, he had started to get tired much more quickly. He was happy because he believed he could retire as soon as Aiden became Alpha, and I would immediately be in his Beta's position.

I went straight into the living room and opened the bar cabinet. I could use a drink or two. I needed to calm down and think wisely about my next move. I had a bad feeling that Ariana would not accept that we were a destined couple in the end. I could not stay in our pack and continue to see her every day, knowing that she had rejected me. What would happen if she finally decided in the future to mate with another werewolf, an Alpha? That would kill me for sure. I certainly couldn't live with anyone else, even if our Moon Goddess gave me a second-chance mate.

I immediately thought of the scholarship a university had given me in Los Angeles for architectural design. Maybe it was an excellent opportunity to step away from Ariana and give her time to think and decide what she wanted to do. But I did not wish Ariana to know where I was going. Not being by her side could help her understand if she could live without me or not. I also wanted my own time - to be alone and see more clearly how I could shape my future with or without Ariana. 

I decided to leave the same night, not giving anyone time to change my mind. I hurried up to my room, took a large duffle bag and filled it with different clothes and things that I knew I'd need. I left a note for my parents. "Dear mum and dad, I know this may sound sudden to you, but since I haven't found my mate tonight, I decided spur of the moment to travel for a while and spread my wings. I do not regret leaving the same night. I decided I wanted to explore new things before replacing my father in his Beta position. Please take care of each other for me. I will be in touch. With love, your son Alan."

I slowly stepped into their room and watched them sleeping peacefully, hugging each other. I left the room quietly, not wanting my father to wake up. Any noise could pull him out of his slumber. My heart was aching doing this to the two most influential people in my life. They only gave me love and support all these years. It would pain them deeply to realize what I did to them. I had no choice, though. I should leave as soon as possible. There was no way I would be humiliated once more by Ariana.

My wolf, Damien, was having a hard time accepting my decision. He tried many times to come forward and change my decision, but I managed to block him in the back of my mind and keep him there until I left the pack's territory.

I put my bag in my truck and jumped in the driver's seat. I drove to the pack's gates. The guards that saw me smiled and waved me through. The minute I exited the gates, I stopped the truck and looked back over my shoulder one last time at the place that I was born and raised for so many years. As if to photograph it in my mind's eye. A stray tear escaped my eyes. I forced myself to turn around back to the road and put my foot down.

Ariana

The minute Aiden left the kitchen and I was alone, I succumbed to my deepest thoughts. "Could Aiden be right? Were there any hidden feelings for Alan deep down in my heart? Ever since I can remember, it was Alan and me, with Aiden following us around. Sure, there was Sienna, Olivia, and little Noah around us but the three of us were an inseparable team. Alan and I were one. Did I take Alan for granted? That's why I dismissed the possibility of me feeling something more profound than brotherly love for him? Oh, crap! I'm in deep s**t right now. I need to evaluate everything and revelations that happened to me tonight and decide by tomorrow morning. I can't keep hurting Alan, my best friend."

I thought that a hot relaxing bath would help me wind down and sleep easier. With these thoughts in my mind, I left the kitchen and went upstairs to my room.    I filled the bathtub with water and some soothing essential oil and climbed into the tub.  I closed my eyes and played the whole scene of Alan and me from the minute I entered the ballroom. The scene where I teased him about finding his true mate, the way his facial expression changed when I joked about having a brutal Alpha mate taming me. Then it hit me. Alan was indeed in love with me. That's why he reacted that way.

And when he kissed me! God, it was as if he was putting his heart and soul into it. Maybe that's why I could not resist him. Or not? I closed my eyes, exhausted by all the thoughts haunting me, and before I realized it, I'd fallen asleep in the bathtub.

I found myself, a bit older, in a weird place, packed with people I had never met before. Everything was in black and white colour. It felt as if I was watching an old movie. Everyone's attention was aimed at me, whispering while I was passing by them. It was a foreign language, but their whispers were so low I couldn't understand where I was. I kept walking, keeping my head up. I was there for a purpose that couldn't fail. Lives were counting on me to succeed. I tried to understand where I was, but everything was a blur to me. I found myself standing in front of a closed wooden door which I decided to knock before entering. A husky voice behind the door called me to enter the room.  I took the door handle and pressed it down to open.

I faced a tall, toned muscular back. The person standing inside the room had his back turned to me, talking on the phone. His aura was strong and authoritative.  Something about this person was very familiar to me. His short curly hair and husky voice made my heart flutter in my chest. I felt a lump in my throat for the first time. Before I had the chance to talk to him and see his face, I heard a whisper in my ear: "The mistakes we make always come back to us, asking for retribution." I woke up in a bathtub with cold water, shivering, and I was pretty sure that it wasn't because of the cold water touching my skin. 

I got out of the bathtub and wrapped myself in a fluffy towel. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my mouth was dry. I couldn't help thinking about why I'd had this kind of dream and who that man was. I felt attracted to him for an unknown reason. I couldn't stop thinking about him.

I had a hunch that he was my destined mate.  Now I knew what I had to do tomorrow morning. I had to let Alan know that we couldn't possibly be mates. My mate was the man in my dreams, and I was so sure about it. The way my heart fluttered when I saw him standing, his back turned to me had nothing to do with what I felt about Alan.  I lay down on my bed, and although I was tired, the thought of that particular strange man did not let me sleep. I finally drifted off in the early hours of the morning, a silly smile formed on my face.

When I woke up the following day, I rushed to the bathroom, cleaned myself up and got ready to go downstairs for breakfast. I was humming a tune I had in my mind since last night. I had the feeling that everything would run smoothly between Alan and me this morning. He was my best friend. He might be hurt, but he would get over it soon. I would tell him about my dream and that man I dreamt of last night. He would understand - Alan always understood me.

Before entering the kitchen, I heard my mother crying as she tried to comfort another crying person. I ran as fast as I could, trying to see what exactly was going on. I saw my mother hugging my Aunt Ria and trying to comfort her. My father was standing in a corner with my Uncle Tom, and they were whispering. What could have happened? 

Immediately after, a disturbed Aiden ran into the kitchen and said, panting. "He left in his truck around 3:00 a.m. The last to see him were the guards at the front gate. It seemed strange to them, but they did not ask him where he was going. He just greeted them and left. However, what intrigued one of the guards was that he stopped his truck for several minutes before taking off in a whirl of dust when he came out of the gate.

"Wow! Hold on a minute. Who are they talking about leaving? Who is the one that left?" Then it hit me. It was Alan. They were all talking about Alan. But why were they crying? I mean my mum and Aunt Ria. It wasn't the first time Alan left the pack's territory. He would always come back, though. I looked at Aiden, confused, expecting him to clarify things to me. He just looked back and shook his head in disappointment. Was he disappointed in me? Or Alan? Still confused, I went over to my dad, and he hugged me, kissing me good morning. I asked him what this was all about, and my mum replied to me between sobs: "Alan left our pack. He left your Aunt Ria and Uncle Tom a letter explaining that since he did not find his mate last night, he decided to go and travel for a while - spread his wings, he said."

My head snapped back in realization. Alan left, he left because of me! Alan left because he knew I would not accept the mate bond between us. He even lied about not finding his mate last night. I looked up, anxiously searching my brother's eyes. He averted his look but not before I caught sight of his eyes glistering with unshed tears.

My heart pounded in my chest, and my eyes filled with tears. I'd probably lost my best friend. And for what? A silly mate bond that my grandmother decided to bless. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid idea, grandma, no offence." I gulped back my tears and pride and asked my dad: "Daddy isn't there anything we could do to find out where he is and go bring him back?" Then I turned to my mum: "Mum, you can track him down. I know you can. Please! Just find him and bring him back home. Please!"

My mother left my Aunt Ria and came next to me, hugging me. She kissed my temple and sighed, defeated. "Baby, I know you are upset about your best friend leaving. I have already proposed to track him down, but your uncle and aunt think we should respect his decision and let him do what he wants. It might take him a while to come back, but trust me, there will be a day for him to return. Just give him some time."

I had a bad feeling inside me, though, that told me Alan was gone for good. A pang of guilt was rising in my heart. I never expected that my behaviour last night would make Alan run away from our pack. He never reacted this way before when we had our ups and downs.

I left the kitchen running upstairs to my room. I closed my door and jumped on my bed. I tried to dial Alan's number, but the call was disconnected. When I tried again, there was an automated reply that the number no longer existed. I hid my head in my pillow and cried my eyes out.

"I hope you are happy now, little sis." My brother's voice came from my bedroom door. He entered the room and sat next to me on my bed. I looked up, and when he saw me crying, he took a long deep breath, trying to keep his calm and not jump on me.

"I never meant to hurt him, Aiden. It's just that I don't have that kind of feelings for Alan. I surely did not expect him to leave the pack just for this."

"Well, he did, and I guess you have to live with that little sis! Never in our life have I ever confronted you about anything but this time, you have crossed the limits! It's the first time I want to slap your pretty face and put some sense in that empty brain of yours!" that said, a very angry Aiden made a U-turn and left my bedroom, banging the door on his way out.