The Married Alpha and His Arrow

Prologue

***THIS STORY WILL BECOME A SAMPLE IN 2024 (early very early)

**Copyright: I own these characters and the story

Three years before Haley met Eric

Lexi Scott smiled at her brother as he explained the string ceremony to all of us who were turning eighteen. Ironically our group had twenty people in it. My birthday was actually on the string ceremony day. Everyone else was already eighteen. We secluded ourselves from our people the month we turned eighteen to celebrate together if our string was in our group. We were the hood. My moniker was the Black Arrow. My brother, Heath Scott was known as the hood. I could see the sadness in his eyes as he talked about strings and how they were our other half. He’d lost his string a year ago. She got sick, cancer stage four. I know Heath blames himself for not calling me and my friend Haley out of our mission. He was going to see when we were done if Haley could heal his string. His string passed in her sleep three days after her diagnosis. Haley and I completed our mission two days later. I felt bad because I'd fully accepted my brother’s string. People thought we wouldn’t because she was human, I didn’t care. I’d just hoped that my brother would be Princess Haley’s string. She was a little younger than me, and quite skittish around people, but my heart went out to her. The first time she saved my ass, and I’d saved hers; we’d formed a fast bond. I think it’s why her dad asked my brother to send me out with her. You had to be careful with Haley. She’d seen the horrible side of life. I sighed. She wasn’t my brother’s string though, and now all he did was work. Nothing, not even me, could pull him out. He was determined to be our best leader.

Our parents had died in an attack. We’d yet to find out who was behind it, but my brother was determined to solve the crime a decade later. I saw my brother’s eyes narrow on mine, and I straightened. He knew I wasn’t paying attention. He was explaining how we would walk in the ceremony space, and we’d immediately know if our string was in the room. They’d come to us, and we were allowed to leave with them. If we didn’t find our string there were drinks afterwards, and we’d be welcome to try and find our string for a few months before going on a mission again. After that, we’d just have to keep trying to cross paths with new people. I hoped my string was my boyfriend. I’d been dating him for two years. We’d done everything except have s*x. Noah Calver, known as the spear, was my brother’s best friend. I just knew he was my string. I loved him with everything I had, and he loved me. He was a rock for my brother and I when our parents died. We grew up together. He’d always protected me. He was my first kiss when I was fourteen years old. I’d been asked on a date by another guy my age. Noah had been in a bad mood all day. When the boy dropped me Noah stepped out of the shadows of my porch. He yanked me into the searing kiss and told me every first date should end with a kiss. I couldn’t think about anyone but him from then on. When I turned sixteen, he asked Heath for permission to date me. Heath happily agreed since Noah didn’t find his string when he turned eighteen. With his interest in me everyone in the hood was hoping I was his string. Now he was twenty-one, and with how overprotective he was of me, we all just knew.

My brother asked me to stay after the meeting was over. I walked up to him, “You were somewhere else Lex.” I smiled, “Just excited about tomorrow.” Heath smiled, “You know… if Noah isn’t your string. It’s ok if you want to be with him. Noah loves you.” I smiled, “I just know he’s my string.” Heath smiled, “I hope he is. Go on, get ready. Try to get some sleep. I love you Lex.” He pulled me into a hug and kissed my head. I left and went to my separate assigned house. We spent the last night before in separate small houses. If we found our string this is where we would spend time together. I smiled. I’d gotten Noah’s favorite snacks and drinks. I heard movement in the bedroom. I froze. Silently I grabbed by bow from the corner of the room. I notched my arrow. I walked silently throughout the house. I slowly peaked through the bedroom. I dropped my bow, “NOAH! I almost killed you! What are you doing here?” Noah ran to me and grabbed me around my waist. He kissed me hard. “I missed you. I have been going crazy for a month! I slipped into your brother’s office during the meeting and found which house you were in. You stocked the kitchen with my favorite things and yours.” I smiled, “Well… you know.” Noah kissed me, “You’re my string, babe. I’ve felt the pull since the day I turned eighteen. Tomorrow everyone will know. You’re mine.” I gasped, “You’ve never said that.” Noah smiled, “I can’t keep it in anymore. I’m so close to everything I’ve wanted. I can’t stop myself anymore. I want you Lex. Do you want me?”

I knew what he was asking. It wasn’t common among our people to wait for your string, but I wanted to. My mom did, and it felt like a way to honor her. Noah was my string though. I can't believe he’d never told me until now. I kissed him, “We could’ve been doing this for years if you’d only told me.” Noah's hand was under my shirt. He slammed me back into the wall. He ground against me, “You’re so hot, Lex. You’re mine. Always.” I smiled, “Yours, Noah. I love you.” He threw my shirt off me. “I love you too Lex.” We made out hot and heavy for a long time before he led me to the bed. Noah had done this before. I was suddenly nervous. Noah smiled, “I’ll take care of you, babe.” He laid me on the bed and went down on me. After I came, he slid up to me, “It will hurt for a moment.” I nodded. He slid into me. I hissed as he sailed past my barrier. He stroked my hair, “Shh… Lex. It’s alright.” he kissed me softly for several minutes. “I’m good now.” I told Noah. He began to move. He got off quickly. It wasn’t that great for me, but I didn’t want him to know that. He was my string. Noah got up and cleaned himself off. “You were perfect, babe.” He kissed me. “You’re leaving?” Noah smiled, “Your brother is expecting me in ten minutes.” I sat up, “Oh…” Noah said, “Babe after tomorrow, I’ll never have to leave you except to go on a mission.” I nodded. “Don’t look at me like that Lex. You know I can’t leave you when you look sad.” I put on a fake smile, “I’m fine.” He kissed me, “That’s my girl.”

Part of me didn’t believe he’d really leave, but he did. I sat there looking down at the sheets where I’d lost my virginity. I got up and changed the sheets. I threw the ones we’d used in the washer. I felt empty. Why did I feel this way? I loved Noah. He’s my string. It had to be because he left right after. I shook myself and went to go take a bath. I was pretty sore. After I sent Noah a text saying good night and I loved him. I got nothing back. I frowned. That was odd. He always replied back. I shrugged it off and went to bed. I checked my phone first thing when I woke up. Noah had texted that he’d see me soon. I smiled. I knew I was making a big deal out of nothing. I dressed in my Black Arrow gear for the ceremony. I left after eating a quick breakfast. I met up with all the girls in our group. All were really excited. One girl, she was really sweet. She never had missions. It just wasn’t her style. She’d asked my brother if she could cook for everyone. That was her passion. Chef Sally Quaid. I smiled at her, “I know your string will be the sweetest man.” She smiled, “I hope so. I can feel him.” I smiled hiding a panic. Two other girls agreed. They felt their strings. Why didn’t I feel anything? Noah had to be here. Was he not coming? Noah’s mom came out and smiled at me. She was leading us in. My tension was mounting. I didn’t understand. I should feel something like the other girls. We all stood there, and several people got up. My eyes landed on Noah walking directly towards me. I sent him a confused look. He smirked at me. Right before he got to me, he cut away and went to Sally Quaid.

Everyone gasped. My heart stopped. He lied to me. He knew he wasn’t my string. The whole time we’d been dating he knew Sally Quaid was his, not me. Tears stung my eyes. Sally shot me a quick look of horror before Noah dragged her off, “Wait! Noah… let me talk to Lexi! Please!” Noah’s mom was looking at the scene with horror. My brother showed nothing, but I could see the anger in his eyes as he watched Noah. Sally shouted, “I’m so sorry Lexi!” Before Noah had her out of the building. No one was even focused on the ceremony anymore. Everyone was staring at me in horror. I could feel my breakfast trying to make another appearance. I looked at my brother who nodded. Giving me permission to leave. His eyes told me how sorry he was about what just happened. I walked slowly out of the room. Once I was out of the room; I ran outside and threw up my breakfast. Thanking the war goddess my brother had made me get on birth control the day I started dating Noah. I told him I didn’t need it, but he insisted. I took my pill at the same time every night. He told me he was my string. That he’d felt the pull. Why did he lie to me? Everything in me hurt. I loved Noah so much. Why wasn’t he my string? How could he walk towards me like that? Why was he so cruel? I knew he’d tell people he thought it was me pulling him, but I saw his smirk. He knew. He smirked at me like a conquest he’d won. I suppose he did. I took out my phone. “Hello? Lexi? I thought you’d be off with Noah.” Haley said. I cried, “I need you to pop to me. I need to get out here. Noah’s not my string. He told me he was last night, but he’s not. He’s some other girls and I… I can’t be here anymore.” A pop sounded and golden eyed Haley stood beside me. She popped me to the Hackura realm where I proceeded to try to drink my troubles away. I just wanted to stop hearing on a loop how Noah said I was his string. Tears stung my eyes. LIAR!