My Fated Mate

4. VISION LINK

POV (ALEC)

The smell of whatever the chiefs had made for lunch circled around our table as Bryan tried to get me to eat.  Even though I had almost killed him that morning he knew there was more to my story and when I was ready I would tell them all.  But, I was not ready.  I took a swig from my water bottle and watched as Annabell walked in with her friends.  Everyday all the grades would get together to eat.  Even the young grade school kids were in our dining hall. 

"Hey, watched it!" Thomas snapped, as he bumped right into a little witch girl with silver hair. She was holding a book that looked like it was about the size of her head and she appeared to be struggling to hold it.  I could feel Aesir snicker at her plight, even I was pleased.  But the moment we laughed I notice her turned to face me and glare with a hostel look.  What the hell was her problem?  

“Strange kid. Why don't you use your locker?" Thomas said under is breath, but she did not hold either of our attention for long. Quickly Thomas turned to face me. "Man, everyone is talking about you pinning Bryan to the wall. Oh and your massive  K.O. to some kids locker. ”  Thomas said, as he noisily put his tray down and unwrapped two of the five burgers he was having for lunch. 

“Honestly Thomas, we have five star chefs serving us here and you opt for a burger and fries?”  Richard said, as he placed a piece of roasted pheasant in his mouth.  I watched as he put his knife and fork down and gently patted the sides of his mouth with a cloth napkin. 

“Excuse my Richy Rich.”  Thomas said, through a mouth full of burger.  “We can’t all be as cultured as you.”

Richard eyed Thomas with annoyance.  “Manners and fine dining are not a thing of culture, they are a sign of class.”  Richard said, as he looked down at Thomas with a smirk. 

“I’ll show you class, you….”

“That’s enough Thomas.  You too Richard.  Can’t we eat in peace for once.”  I groaned out.

Richard bowed his head in agreement as Thomas shoved a burger into his mouth and quickly unwrapped another. 

“I brought you the chefs special.  I thought you might want something to eat.”  Byran smiled, as he placed the roasted pheasant in front of me.  I nodded my head but pushed it away. 

“I’m not hungry.”  I heard a growl from across the room and noticed Annabell pin her sights on me.  I gave her a “what now” look.  Before I could say much more I watched as she and her girls headed towards our table. 

“Hello Bryan, how are your ribs?”  Annabell said, with a grin but then shot me a glare.  I looked away. 

“I am fine Lady Holloway.  Nothing my fast acting werewolf healing can’t fix.”  He said with a grin, as he pounded on his chest.  I heard the girls behind Annabell giggle which caused Bryan to flash them a smile.  I growled under my breath, causing Bryan to quickly get up.  “How about an apple or a new water bottle?” Bryan said, as he raced back in line. 

“Alec, you need to eat.”  Annabell pestered.  I adored my sister and would lay down my life for her but this was one of those moments I did not need her. 

“There is nothing to discuss.”  I said, as I quickly got up. 

“Don’t do this Alec.  You ran this morning, you need to eat something or you’ll be weak.”  I flashed my glowing blue eyes at her causing her to take a step back. 

“I said there was nothing to discuss!”  I used my alpha voice on her causing her to whimper and the whole room to become still.  Tears were pooling in her eyes and before I could do anything more I would regret I headed for the exit.  Thomas threw his burgers to the girls, who did not seem impressed, as he raced after me.  Richard left his plate and Bryan forgot about getting me peace offerings and quickly followed.  Before I had touched the dining hall doors my boys were at my side and itching to break into a mind link conversation.  While Annabell whimpered and was comforted by her girls.  I tried my best not to hear their words as I pushed open the door.  I hated myself for doing that to her, but I had no control over my anger or Aesir, and this was the best I could do. 

Once outside I headed to our usual spot under what had once been Jasmine and my oak tree.  I kicked off my boots and let the grass tickle my feet.  I wanted to run but I would have to wait till midnight. Damn Aesir, just when I needed a moment, he would most likely take over the moment I turned and not let me feel a thing.  

Bryan tossed me a new water bottle as I cracked the seal and took a swig.  I then turned the bottle on my head.  The guys were confused as I shook my head like a dog letting the water run down my face.  I then fell back and closed my eyes in the grass.  I needed to cool off.

“Ok, what the hell is going on with you?”  Thomas yelled, causing Richard to flinch.  “I can’t take this anymore.  You just alphaed your own sister, come on Alec, what’s wrong?”

Bryan sat down next to me, he was trying to have me forgive him.  I looked up into his green eyes.  “I said something this morning I should not have.  Right?”  He looked like a lost puppy and his whimpering made it clear that his actions had been haunting his thoughts all day.  I sat up and patted his arm. 

“Don’t worry about it Bryan. We’re cool.”  I could have sworn if he had a tail right now it would be wagging.  I smiled at him but our peace was quickly broken. 

“Lord Alec Holloway.  You are the third prince in the Holloway line and I refuse to believe you are behaving this way for no reason!”  Richard yelled.  We all looked dumbfounded as Richard pushed up his glasses and tried to right himself.  I had never heard him shout like that in my life and the only thing I could do was laugh. 

I rolled on my side and laughed my heart out.  Thomas and Bryan followed suit and soon even Richard was snickering.  Yet, as we laughed I could feel my body begin to shake, I would never cry in front of my boys but trembling in front of them seemed worse.  The lump in my throat made it hard to talk and so I turned my back to my brothers as my hands began to tremble.

We may not have the same blood coursing through our veins but these were my true brothers.  How could I tell them that their dream of me one day being alpha was nothing more than that.  Without a mate I would never rule and most likely I would become the babysitter for my brother’s children, if I was able to live after being rejected.  I would then have to watch as Annabell was married off to a powerful alpha clan and Arthur and Andrew would rule over me until my dying days.  For a wolf without a mate was nothing more than a mutt. Most likely these brothers at my side would leave me too.  The realization of what my life could become was too much to handle.  No, I would never allow it. 

If I survived this I would go rogue and try and find out why the demon had spoken to me.  I could become part of the assassin clan, a pack of rogue wolves that answered to no one and killed those that threatened wolf kind.  Maybe that was where I belonged, always covered in blood.  Aesir would accept that life.  Maybe I could become the leader of that pack or die in some remote forest with a warrior's death.  Or, I could find demons and rule over them.  I mean,  I can understand them, why not become one too.  Monster, demon, wolf, what made us so different?  Nothing. Yes, I could do that and become a…

“Alec!”  I felt Bryan shaking me awake from my evil thoughts but the look on their faces told me something else was wrong. 

“Oh my god, what happened to you?”  Thomas said, as he moved closer.   I felt Richard by my side too.  Then I understood.  The tears I had been trying to hide were running down my face and the part that was more disturbing were my eyes glowing full on red alpha.  Meaning this was not my pain but Aesir’s.  I must have looked possessed. 

“Can you hear us Alec?”  Richard said, through mind link.  I nodded my head but I could not speak, Aesir had completely shut me out.  “Can you tell us what happened?”  I shook my head.  “Can you show us?”  I looked in the eyes of my brothers and was shocked to find all their eyes glowed that of their wolves.  Something had caused them all to take a step back and allow their wolves to be the driving force in this matter.  Aesir must have understood and he accepted as each one carefully placed a hand on me and suddenly we were back to that night. 

Jasmine’s laughter filled the air while my bloody broken body howled out in heartbreak.  Then the image changed to sun kissed skin, warm embraces, and sweet words that would forever be lies.  I never wanted them to see me broken and before I could pull them out of my mind, it flashed to the demon.  "No dammit!  They were not supposed to see him, Aesir!"  I wrenched my mind free from Aesir and broke the connection, leaving all four of us panting on the ground in our own sweat. 

“Holy hell!”  Bryan gasped out first.

“Dammit Alec, what the hell was that?  You know you can’t break a vision link with force.”  Thomas groaned, as he reached into his bag and pulled out four sticks.  “Here, bite! You guys take one too.  I should have known it was bad to rattle you this much.  Even your wolf seems out of sorts." I felt Thomas shove a birch twig in my mouth. I chewed on the end and looked at him confused. Even Bryan and Richard were unsure what to think.

"Don't look at me like that? You know my grandmother is a healer. Whenever I would get hurt she would force one of these sticks in my mouth and tell me to chew." Thomas took the last stick and popped it into his mouth. 

"Ummm... Thomas, I think you Gran did this to shut up your crying mouth." Bryan said, as he removed the twig and smacked his lips. "Yuck."

"Fine! If you are so smart give it back." Thomas snapped. 

"With Pleasure." Bryan said, as he poked Thomas in the side with it. What started off as a little fight turned into them rolling around in the grass and wrestling. I just watched as I chewed on the birch stick until it was suddenly ripped from my mouth. 

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU IDIOTS DOING??!" Richard yelled, causing Thomas and Bryan to stop and look up. Richard ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath. "Bryan, I know you are not the brightest but if should be very clear to you that this is not the time to be rough housing like a pup."  Richard snapped. "And you!"  Richard said, as he pointed at Thomas. "Did you actually just put a twig in my mouth? A twig? And not just that, you forced one on Alec too!  He is our Alpha, and he is clearly in need of his Gamma and Hunter but they seem to be off in la la la land. So you tell me, are you two part of this pack or not!"

Thomas and Bryan quickly dusted themselves off and sat at attention with blushing red faces. I could feel a smile start to appear on my face. It was good to see someone else was embarrassed, even if it was my pack mates.  I had been suffering with being humiliated all day and I needed the heat off me for a minute. But, Richard was only willing to give me a second. 

"Now that, that is taken care of." Richard stopped, and look at me. "What do you want to do about this? You are the Alpha, you need to make the decision." 

 "I’m going to kill that witch.” Thomas said, causing me to growl. 

“Don’t you dare touch her!”  I snarled, causing the guys to take a step back. 

“Easy, no one is going to touch her. Stupid i***t. She is his mate, so of course we are not going to kill her." Richard said, through gritted teeth.  "Even if she deserve it." I heard his softly mutter.

Hearing someone else call Jasmine my mate was making this all too real.  For over a week I had been living with the pain and the secret, but now that is was out in the open if felt so much worse. 

"I know you don't want to hear this but you really need to talk to her about reject…”  But before Richard could finish I had him on the ground.  His glasses had been thrown off and he stared at me with glowing brown eyes, his wolf’s eyes.  “I know you don’t want to hear it, but you are becoming unhinged!”  His said loudly. I could tell his words were not for me but Aesir.  “You are a strong alpha and will survive this.  She is a witch, there is no way her rejection will kill you.  Not on our watch.”  Richard said, as he looked to Bryan and Thomas who both nodded in agreement, with the glowing eyes of their wolves.  

Were they right?  Was the fact she was not a wolf going to save me from death and insanity?  But what about the wolf eyes, was it really a hallucination?  Or was it a desperate plea in my mind for her to not be a witch but a wolf?

“I will go and get her right now.  I’ll drag her here if I have to.”  Bryan said, with such anger in his voice that even I was shocked and it caused me to let Richard go.  It was clear the wolves were taking over, just like how their human parts were my brothers, their wolves were Aesir’s, and with the 8 of us maybe this was possible, but I needed more time.

“Don’t do that.  I can’t face her just yet.”  I had pulled Aesir aside, even though he was not fond of me showing any weakness to his wolf brothers.

“Are you kidding me.  You can’t face her!”  Thomas growled, showing there was no rough housing pup here, he was all Hunter.   “That damn witch is flaunting her engagement ring around when she should be your Luna.  The one that should not be able to face you is her.  You did nothing wrong and deserve to tell her off.”  Thomas’ words made sense and Aesir for the first time lifted his veil of silence. 

"Break her Alec and let her have a taste of her own blood."   

It might have been a little more evil, but ending everything and breaking up was something we needed to do.  And if Aesir was ready to face the pain of rejection then I would fight alongside him to the very end.

“Very well, go.”