My Fated Mate

11. NEW ALPHA

POV (ALEC)

The moment the car was gone from view I slammed into Richard and suck my fangs into his left flank.  He cried out, as Bryan and Thomas barked in protest.  

"Alec stop!  It was not his fault!"  Thomas cried.

"We had no choice.  HE had no choice!"  Bryan pleaded. 

Richard did not move, he just lay there still, allowing my anger to radiate off of me.  It was clear he had disobeyed my orders, what they were I could not recall.  Wait, why was I so angry?

"The only one who can kill Jasmine Goldenrod, is us."  Aesir breathed, causing a chill to run down my back.  No, I could never.  For 8 years that girl held my heart, how could I dream of harming her. 

"They all deserve to die."  Aesir snarled.  

He was pacing around scratching at the back of my mind.  He wanted out and it was taking everything I had to push him back.  Yet, I was doing a piss poor job of it.  The pinned Richard, and the slight taste of his metal blood on my lips, was all the proof I needed to know Aesir was not willing to let this go.  He wanted blood and at that moment, anyones would do. 

As Thomas and Bryan barked and pleaded for me to release Richard, Aesir demanded I raise my right paw and the moment it connected with Richard's neck I knew enough was an enough.  Richard let out a gasp, drawing my attention down to him.  My breath stilled in my chest when our eyes met. 

"Only you matter to me Alec, not her. So go ahead."  

Richard mind linked me, as he then turned his head away and closed his eyes.  Was he honestly accepting that I should kill him?  No, this was ridiculous.  I grabbed Aesir by the scruff of his neck and threw him against the walls of my subconscious, causing myself to release Richard and fall to the ground. 

"Alec!"  Richard said, as he quickly got up and came to my side.  

My head was splitting, what was happening to me?  It had never been this hard to control Aesir.  It was like he was devouring me alive.  No, I could not allow him to do that ever again!  The damaged he has already done to my body was most likely never going to heal.  I had to stop him.

"Knock it off Aesir!"  I snarled, as his red eyes glowed menacingly at me.  "I am fed up with this.  I wont let you have your way!"  He growled at my words like a wounded animal.  Yes, that was exactly what he was and that was why things had gotten so out of hand.  My paws scratched at the dirt wildly, I must have looked like I was fighting a nightmare, as my mind began to return to what had only occurred less than an hour ago. 

As Jasmine's crying soaked the air, I still could not believe I had done it.  I had rejected my mate.  My mate, the girl destined to be mine.  It did not matter that there was question about the legitimacy of that claim, which was playing ping pong in my subconscious.  No matter what the truth was, I Alec Holloway, had rejected Jasmine Goldenrod.  To my brother's they must have believed our time together had been short, maybe a brief outing or stolen kiss.  My memories did not have date stamps on them, they would never know it had been years that she had consumed my life.  Years, I had prayed that she would eventually be mine and now those prayers had been crushed to dust.

I could smell her blood in the air.  The wooden pieces of our oak had sliced the delicate tips of her fingers and her smell was stirring something primal and hungry within me.  What was going on?  I could feel my heart rate was increasing at an alarming speed, and before I could take another step I collapsed to the ground. 

"Alec, what happened?"  Thomas yelled, as I felt my brother's trying to shake me awake, but I could not respond.  Everything was going numb around me and the only thing I could hear was Aesir's ragged breathing, which was getting louder and closer. 

"Aesir?  Aesir?"  I called out into the darkness, but the red eyed creature that stared back at me did not answer.  Something was horribly wrong with him. 

"Trick me?  Fool me?  Kill me?"  Aesir said, in a voice that made my blood run cold.  His words were muffled, as if static were covering them, but I did not need to hear them.  I could feel them.  The pulsating sounds of each one vibrated around me and it was terrifying. 

"Aesir?"  I gasped out, as he suddenly charged out of the shadows of my mind with a vicious evil grin on his face.  Before I could stop him he knocked me to the ground and repeated those hateful words.

"Trick me?"  "Fool me?  Kill me?"  

He had gone mad.  Was this what happened when a wolf rejected his mate, his wolf went...Suddenly, that thought went silent as Aesir did the unthinkable.  I felt his teeth bite down on my arm.  The crunch of my bone caused my body to shake.  I looked up at him shocked as my blood poured from his lips.

"Aesir!" I screamed.

"Trick me?"  "Fool me?  Kill me?"  

He muttered over and over again, as my arm continued to remain in his mouth.  He was eating me!  My wolf was eating me alive, and there was nothing I could do to stop him!  My mind raced.  Think Alec, you can't let this happen.  Reason with him.  The pain was excruciating.  Was it even possible to black out, when you were inside your own mind?  I could feel I was loosing grip with reality.  The smell of Aesir's blood lust was so intoxicating and overwhelming, it was like a drug.  I was going to pass out.  No, it can't end like this.   

"Aesir."  I called out to him, as he began to chew on my arm, causing every nerve in my body to scream out. Damnit, was a strong enough to do this?  

"Aesir!"  I shouted, instantly causing him to c**k his head and slowly stare at me with one blood red glowing eye.  Oh dear God, he was terrifying.  How could this creature be my wolf?  Was this what lurked inside all werewolves?  Was this why mates mattered?  I had heard tale there was another reason the Moon Goddess gave us a mates.  For we were too strong and needed something to calm and reassure our wolves, was this why?  Mates were not a weakness, they were a necessity to quiet the bloodlust of the beast with in.  I could feel my fear coating my tongue. I needed... NO!  I would never admit it.  I don't need a mate and I sure as hell don't need her!  I screamed in my mind.  I can take control of my wolf alone!

"Aesir, who tricked you?"  I hissed, as I felt him stiffen, while a growl vibrated through his body.

"Who fooled you?"  It was working, the pressure from his jaws were loosening on my arm.  

"Who "tried" to kill you?"  His fur bristled,  as he got right into my face and opened his mouth,  finally releasing my now mangled arm. 

"I don't know."    

"Would you like too?"  The moment the words left my mouth, Aesir jumped on me.  His weight was too much.  He as going to break every bone in my body.  Break every bone?  That's it. 

"Aesir, I give you permission."  He looked at me amused.

"I never needed your permission."  

Before my brother’s or anyone could stop us, Aesir had demanded my body to change for a second time that day.  The scream that poured from mouth, quickly turned into a howl.  A howl that demanded only one thing, blood.

The events that followed felt like they were in slow motion.  Locker doors flying.  People screaming, and a pair of eyes that glared at us with such a hatred that even Aesir was taken back.  And then it was over.  The moment her lips finally said those cursed words, I felt Aesir slink back into the darkness and give me ownership of my mind. Yet, here I was, once again fighting with him and he was not interested in backing down.  

"What do you want?"  I pleaded, as Aesir growled at me. 

I want her blood.

"We can't!" 

"Why not!"  He barked furiously. "She is responsible for this.  She is the reason I can't..."

Then it clicked.  It was not that he did not want to stop, it was that he could not. 

"Aesir, look at what you did."  I ordered him, causing him to flinch, as I held up my arm.  Blood was still pouring from it and I was not even sure how I was going to heal something that did not have a physical body.  He might have made me crippled for life.  "Do you realize you almost killed me, us?"  I watched, as he turned his head away.  He was ashamed to look at me. 

"It was not my intention to hurt you Pup." 

"And yet you did!"  I shouted. "You let your emotions get out of line and almost killed me and were demanded I kill Richard.  What can I do to stop you?"  I begged with such earnest that he finally turned to face me and I saw them.  Blood red tears were wetting the fur under his eyes.  

"I need to kill Alec.  I have to!"  

I ran my good hand through my hair and sighed. "Then we have to leave and find a place where you can do just that."  

"I can't ask you to do that."  I looked him and just laugh.

"Are you kidding me right now?  You can't ask me?  Aesir, you have not asked me a damn thing for the last month.  Instead you have demanded!  You have taken control of my body every night, and made me run through the woods without my consent.  You have ignored me over and over again, even when I have screamed for your help.  And now, you wish to put on this honorable wolf act making me believe I have a choice."  Aesir stood stone still as he looked at me with eyes devoid of emotion.  "I do not have choice and you made clear my thoughts and feelings don't matter.  So we will leave.  We will leave everyone and everything I love, so you can get your angry self under control.  Because I wont let you start a damn war because you got your hear broken!"

As my chest heaved up in down in frustration and pain I waited for Aesir to answer, but when I looked to find him he had disappeared.  I looked through the shadows but there was nothing.  No red eyes stared back at me.  I felt my shoulders slump as I just shook my head.  It was over, at least for now.  But there was no telling when he would come out of hiding and cause rivers of blood to flow. 

"Alec!  Alec!"  

As I opened my eyes, completely exhausted from my fight with Aesir, I felt three cold noses on my body.  Thomas, Bryan and Richard were nuzzling me and doing everything in their power to wake me up.  I look up at them and slowly tried to raise my body.  Sure enough, the moment I put weight on my front left leg a shooting pain shot through me, almost making my collapse.  Damn Aesir, he really had hurt me. 

I bit back the pain, knowing it would be a reminder I would have to live with for the rest of my life.  A painful warning of the blood thirsty wolf that was sleeping inside my soul.

"Alec are you alright?"  Richard said, as he sat back and watched me slowly stand.  I stared at my brothers knowing the words I was about to say would break us. 

"I'm leaving." 

"What?"  Thomas barked, as he look at me confused. 

"I don't understand?  What do you mean, you're leaving?"  Bryan whined. 

"I mean just that.  I am leaving the BloodMoon Pack and I wont be coming back."  The moment the words left my mouth Richard began to growl. 

"Your running away."  Richard said, through gritted teeth.  "Because of her?"  I sighed and tried to put on the best Alpha act I could.  I needed to be a leader for them and make it clear this was for the good of everyone, not because I was worried I might one day kill them all.

“The fact remains that my actions today will cause much damage to the peace treaty and I am not interested in young pups losing their lives.  I also believe my place in the BloodMoon Pack will be challenged.  I can’t protect Annabell and all of you, if I am seen as the weak wolf boy who broke because of a witch.”  Good, there was no way they could refute that.  Every reason was laid out plain.  I would leave to protect them, and even if my choice caused them discomfort, they would understand it.  Oh, hell was I wrong.

“Bullshit!”  Richard snapped, causing me to realize just how naive I had been.  One look in Richard's angry glowing eyes told me I was in for a fight. 

"Richard, there is no need for that." 

"No need for that!  My alpha, that I swore my life to, is running away because of witch.  If you fear a war starting Alec, well then I will make sure to do just that.  The moment you leave, I will cleave Jasmine Goldenrod's head from her body and send it to you!" 

He could not serious?  I knew he was obsessed with me being Alpha but to go this far.  I could hear a snickering sound from Aesir that only made me more annoyed.  The growl that erupted from my throat shook my very core, as I got into his face and shouted at him. 

"You will do no such thing!  Do you hear me?' 

"I hear nothing you say!  Because the moment you leave, you are no longer my Alpha, and thus my actions are my own! "  RED!  All could I see was red, and all I could feel was Aesir's desire for blood. Richard's blood.

"You will obey me!"  I snarled, as my claws torn into his back. 

"I will never obey you again!"  Richard howled, as he took my tail in his mouth causing me to loose my balance and land painfully on my injured leg. 

"Why are you being like this?"

"I should ask you the same thing, Alpha!"  Richard said, his words dripping with disgust. 

"I have no a choice!"  I bit out.  I was struggling to stop Aesir's wish for Richard's blood, it was becoming too strong and it was beating out my will to protect him.

"I don't believe that!"  Richard said, as he suddenly got the upper hand and landed on top of me.  He dug his claws into my sides making me howl out in anger. 

"Believe whatever you want!  My decision will not change!"  I shouted, as I grabbed his front left leg in my mouth and ripped him from me.  I then took my back legs and kicked Richard in the face.  He went flying and landed with a hard thud, it was clear I had broken a few of his ribs.  His breathing was haggard but he would not give up. 

"Then I will have to stop you."  Richard said, as the two of us began to circle each other. 

"Then kill me."  The moment the words escaped my beaten body Richard stop and look at me confused. "The only way you will be able to stop me is if you kill me!"  I roared, as we charged each other.  I jumped on Richard as the two of us bit, slashed, and snarled until Thomas and Bryan could not take it anymore.  But before we could go for the finishing blows we both stiffened.  Someone was here, watching us.

Richard raised his head as his big brown ears twitched.  Thomas sniffed the air and the fur on his back bristled.  It only meant one thing, a rogue.  There was rogue wolf watching us.  Bryan noticing we were distracted and quickly took action to stop us from continuing our fight.

"Alec."  Bryan said, as he took the chance to come to my side, while Thomas went to Richards. They were trying to separate us.  "This has to stop.  If your goal is to leave, then there is only one option for us all."  I paused and look at him, his green eyes glowing.  "We're coming with you." 

"NO!"  I growled, causing Bryan to glare at me as Richard panted and showed his teeth.  Thomas, kept bumping up against Richard, trying to get him to relax. 

"Why not!"  Bryan shouted.  "You are not the only one that could cause a war.  All of us fought those witches."  I looked away, as he continued.  "Don't be a martyr Alec, at least don't do it alone."  

“That’s right, we're a pack, a unit, a family.”  Thomas barked proudly, as he nuzzled Richard who pushed him away. 

“Where will you even go?”  Richard questioned me, as anger laced every one of his words.  It was a good question, where would I go?  I needed to go somewhere, where Aesir could kill and m**m and bath in blood until he was ready to return to the land of the living.  Yet, the only place that existed was surly to get us both killed.  Maybe that was for the best.

“The Rogue Assassins.”  I said, causing Richard to just laugh in disgust. 

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?  Is that the reason you won't even consider letting us come with you because this is a damn suicide mission!"  He snarled, as he lunged towards me.  Thomas quickly blocked him.

"Richard stop!"  Thomas shouted.

"No, I will not!  If you want to die so badly Alec Holloway, then please let me be the one to put you out of your damn misery!" 

“Are you crazy!  We're brothers!”  Bryan yelled, as he jumped between the two of us. 

“That is precisely why I must go.  I wont put you in danger!  I refuse to!"  I shouted, as Richard glared at me. 

"However, you will leave us.  Abandon your pack, your brothers, for what?  So your little witch can live happily ever after with her prince, while you end up a rotting corpse in some damn forest.  No, Alec, I wont let you."  Bloodlust, furry, vengeance.  Richard was starting to sound like Aesir and it was unnerving.  "You are hiding something from me!  I know it, and I swear before I let you leave this hill I will tear it out of you."  Richard growled, as he jumped over Thomas and knocked me to the ground. 

I was done.  There was no way I would ever tell him the truth.  I was beaten physically and mentally.  Aesir had worn me out and as I look up at Richard's face I knew he would never understand.  Slowly I dropped my head to side and exposed my neck to him.  I heard Thomas and Bryan growling and barking for Richard to stop, but he would not.  At least, I hoped he wouldn't.

"Do you give?"  He shouted, I did not respond.  "Damnit Alec!  Do you accept that we are coming with you?" He was now taking his paws and pressing them into my neck.  "Please, don't do this."  He was now begging, pleading.  His voice was softer but it was still angry.  Then it was over.  I felt the warmth of his body leave me as Bryan and Thomas raced to my side and helped me up. 

"Why did you not do it?"  I said, as he turned his back from me and scratched at the ground. 

"The fact that you ask such a question, means you don't know me at all."  Richard said, as he let out a mournful howl. 

"Alec, we want to come."  Thomas said.  

"That's right.  Don't leave us behind.  Please, without you, what will become of us?"  Bryan whimpered. 

"Alec, we don't what to work for Arthur."  Richard said, causing everything to go still around me.  Wait, was that it?  Was they way Richard had fought so hard because he did not want to even be a part of The BloodMoon Pack.  Did any of them?  As I turned to look at my brother's I felt a lump in the back of my throat.  Richard was badly hurt, it was clear neither one of us had been holding back.  Some how Thomas and Bryan had ended up with bites and claw marks on their bodies too.  Had they jumped in, in the middle of some of my attacks?  I looked at my paws and could smell all three of them on them.  I had hurt them, each one. 

"Let them come." 

I jumped on hearing his voice.  Aesir, had been quiet for so long that I was not sure when he would show up again. 

"We need them." 

"No Aesir.  They could get killed.  We could kill them." 

"Even so, we need them" 

"What the hell does that even mean?  Are you saying I should sacrifice their lives because we need them?  I shouted.  I could not believe this.  Not only was my wolf blood thirsty, he was also selfish. 

"Do you believe you can stop me?" 

I felt a chill go down my spin.  He wanted me to bring them along because they had a purpose.  Not because he wanted company, but because they were useful.  "I won't let them die!"  I snapped. 

"Then you will have to learn how to control me." 

I glared at the red eyed demon that was now my wolf.  It was a challenge and if I accepted it, it could cost my brothers their lives or give me the strength to protect them. 

"Fine!  Get ready to lose!"  I yelled.

"I look forward to it." 

"Very well, you can come." 

"What did you say?"  Thomas said, as he looked to Richard and then myself. 

"I said you can come."  I said through gritted teeth, wishing this was not happening.  I was being selfish, and Aesir was being manipulative.  This was wrong and yet, it was the only option.  However, everyone back home was going to be livid.  At least I would take some joy in Arthur taking a blow on all fronts. 

For Richard was from one of the wealthiest families in our pack, he was also the oldest in his family.  Arthur had wanted to make him his Gamma but Richard had refused, since he was certain I would one day become Alpha.  I had been beaten black and blue for weeks by Arthur, for Richard’s refusal.  Yet, what made Richard so important was the fact that he ran all the financial dealings of the pack, he was the one that brought in the money.  Without him, everything would stop.  

Then there was Bryan, he came from a big pack family and he was the second eldest.  He was considered one of the strongest fighters in our pack, taking him away would weaken the BloodMoon Packs defensives. This was the same case with Thomas.  Thomas was the best tracker we had, if I removed him who would teach the younger pups and hunt down enemies of the pack.  Arthur would have lost everything, while I would have gained enough power, if I survived, to over throw him.  Even if I did not have a mate, he would not be able to hold me back.

“Stop looking so excited Bryan, this is not a joke!"  I snapped causing his tail to stop waging. "I don't want any rough housing of childish behavior.  We are going into a den of blood thirst hunters, if you act like a child you will get yourself killed."  I barked at Thomas, who quickly sat at attention. Then my eyes met Richards.  "This is not a vacation.  Most nights we will sleep outside and we will spend majority of our time in wolf form because that is the rogue code.  Wolf first, human second.  I have no idea if we will ever get to be human again.”  I watched as Richard just bowed his head. 

“I understand.” Richard said, as my brothers quickly stood proud and unmoving.  Each one of us had our strengths.  I was powerful and now a lethal, slightly psychotic, killer.  Richard was meticulous and resolute, exactly what I need to in a Beta.  Bryan was fiercely loyal and a force no one could stop, which was what any Alpha looked for in his Gamma.  And then there was Thomas, my hunter, who could track a scent for miles without complaint.  We were the best the BloodMoon pack had to offer and our loss would cause massive harm to the safety of the pack.  I only hoped Arther would at least keep Annabell safe, he owned her that much. 

Realizing the gravity of what I was about to do I tried to take confident steps towards my brothers, as each one looked at me with unwavering eyes, knowing that in a few minutes we were about to abandon everything we once knew.  "The moment I mark you, there is no going back.  You will loose your connection with the BloodMoon Pack.  Not even you families will be able to reach you.  You do realize this?”

“Alec, I told you when I was six years old I will follow you and those words were never a lie.” Richard said, as he lowered his head. 

"I believe our wolves knew this day would come."  Thomas said, as he bowed to me. 

"And they knew our destiny was with you, Alpha Alec."  Bryan spoke, as he followed Thomas and let his head fall.  

My paws scratched the earth nervously as I walked over to each one and placed my fangs by their necks and bit down hard.  They winced from the pain but did not protest.  When it was over I watched them raise their heads to meet mine.  Their eyes glowed and I saw their pupils dilate.  I knew they were feeling my power and energy coursing through their blood.  Since, I was very young I had known I was strong.  Much stronger than others.  I was not even sure they knew about the power I held.  After going to battle with Aesir today, I was starting to understand it a little better myself.  Yet, now that I had relinquished some of it to my brothers I felt a little lighter.  Maybe even calmer.  This must be what it feels like to be an Alpha. 

Suddenly, the feeling of being free took me over and I raised my head and howled.  I knew everyone could hear it, even Andrew.  This was the sound of a newly crowned Alpha and as my brothers join in my song,  I was no longer feeling guilty that I was leading us down the road to hell. 

Yet, that thought was interrupted by a sound that made my heart race with concern.  It was distant, maybe a few hundred miles away but they were wolf howls and it was very clear what they were saying.

“Welcome Young Alpha to the hunt.  We shall be seeing you soon.”