Fighting Their Bond

Four

Elijah

The two-hour drive to the meeting would be torturous. Riding with James and Mikhail meant they would be probing me with stupid fūcking questions or just plain annoying me. Dropping my suitcase in the trunk of my SUV, I turned around to look at my beta and gamma.

“The second you annoy me, I am kicking you out of the SUV.” I told them, walking past them as I got in the driver’s seat. I just wanted this weekend to be over. I wanted to be back in my pack house dealing with all the shīt I have pending. I have barely slept, thinking back to Arlo and mom's conversation last night.

“Good Luck with that. I’m sure after this weekend; our lives will change.” Arlo said, making me huff out and push him back into my mind.

“What’s wrong with you? Huffing and puffing. We haven’t said a word since we left the pack house.” James said as he played Candy Crush on his phone.

“What are you five? Who the fūck plays Candy Crush nowadays?” I fire back. I know I am taking my anger out on them, but it is best on them than someone else; they know me. They know that something must be up.

“Someone needs a fūcking lay.” Mikhail murmured as he continued his damn game.

I looked over at James, that was, with a brow raised, awaiting my answer, “Fūcking Arlo being a bītch ass with his subliminal messages.” I answered back as I gripped the steering wheel harder, turning my knuckles white.

“You grip that steering wheel any tighter, and we might have to shift to get to our destination.” James said, dipping his chin toward the steering wheel.

I loosened the grip as we got farther and farther from our pack lands and toward our destination. Just as I thought I was finally going to relax, I could see Arlo pacing as he wagged his tail in the back of my mind. He looked like a sick puppy. Then I felt that inkling sensation that something was going to happen; the smell in the air was different. I still had about another thirty-minute drive before we got there and I was already regretting ever coming.

I could see the wolves running toward the direction of the pack house entrance in my peripheral vision. Once at the gate, I stopped, placing the car in park and waiting for the head warrior to come forward. I rolled down my window right before presenting myself.

“Elijah Woodland from the White Forest Pack.” I announced to the warrior right before his eyes turned into a haze, letting me know he was mind-linking. Once he got the approval, he nodded to the rest of the warriors, letting them know to let me pass.

I placed the car back in drive and rolled my window back up, slowly passing the gate toward the main house. You could see how big this pack was, not bigger than mine but big enough. Placing the SUV in park, I curled my hand on the handle as I pushed it open. I walked over to where Alpha Bombardo was with his luna, beta, and gamma, reaching my hand out for his.

“Alpha, my name is Elijah Woodland.” I introduced myself.

“Good to finally meet you, Alpha.” Alpha Bombardo said as he shook my hand.

“Likewise.” I replied, dipping my chin and removing my hand from his grasp.

“Who is accompanying you on this trip?” He asked me as he looked behind me.

“My beta James and gamma Mikhail.” I replied, pointing at them.

“Perfect, I will have an omega escort you to your rooms. Tonight will be easy and laid back. Tomorrow, the festivities will begin.” He told me with a grin. I already can’t stand this fūcker.

I held myself from the comment that I wanted to slip my mount and dipped my chin in agreement. I walked past him and handed my suitcase to the omega that was waiting for us by the door.

“Good afternoon, Alpha. Please leave those here. We will take them up later.” The omega purred. I looked at her up and down, thinking that maybe I could have fun with this one tonight. She was petite and a blonde. Her body was average to that of an Omega.

“Don’t fūking think about it.” Arlo said, pushing himself forward and growling at the omega who bared her neck for me.

I pushed him back as James approached me and pulled me to the side.

“What the fūck? We’ve only been here for five minutes, and you’re growling at an omega?” He asked in a whisper but wanted to yell at the same time.

“It was Arlo, and if I were you, I would think again to whom you think you are talking to.” I said, gripping his throat in warning. Raising his hands in surrender, I released my hands from his neck, dropping them to my side.

“Show us our rooms, please.” I demanded the omega, not looking at her.

“You and I are having a conversation.” I told Arlo, whom I could see was furious.

“I am not talking to you, stupid human.” He replied, making me shake my head and rub my face.

I looked at the sky and mumbled, ‘Why did you pair me with such a hardheaded wolf?’ I asked the moon goddess.

“Oh, trust me, I ask her that every single day. She thinks you need me because you will do great things.” Arlo replied while scoffing and then licking his paws. I swear I would rip him to shreds if I could, but I can’t, unfortunately. Then it came crashing to me.

“You spoke to the moon goddess?” I asked Arlo in shock.

“I swear you are stupider than I thought.” He said as he retreated, closing me out—little fūcker.

Stopping in front of a door, the omega bared her neck to me right before speaking, “This would be your room, Alpha.” She said right before turning around and running off, but I caught her arm just in time. I wanted to apologize for Arlo’s behavior earlier, but I am an Alpha and bow to no one. The only person that I would ever bow down to, the only person that I would worship the grounds they walked on, were my Luna and pups, and since the moon goddess has decided I have neither, then I guess I would bow down to no one.

‘Maybe….’ I was beginning to think before Mr. Nosey pants resurfaced.

“You decide on a chosen mate, and I will rip your heart out.” Arlo growled before retreating.

“You know what? I will spend the rest of this weekend drunk, so I don’t have to hear you anymore.” I told him as I released the omega’s arm and walked to the room's mini-bar set up for me. I poured four fingers of the expensive whiskey and took it like a man. It burned the shīt out of my esophagus, but I’ll take that any day rather than hearing this asšhole.

Alyssa

“All right, you call me when you get there.” My mother said while kissing my cheek and hugging me.

“You know I am not five, right?” I asked her as she released me from her hold, and I walked over to my father and brought him in for a hug.

“I don’t care. You will always be my baby.” She replied. “Plus, it is a long drive. You never know what happens on the way there.” I rolled my eyes at her, then looked at my father.

“Thank you for taking over while I am gone.” I told him as I walked back to the waiting SUV.

“You know I did it for many years before handing it to you, right?” He replied, putting his arm around my mother’s shoulders and taking her toward his chest.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, old man.” I told him as I jogged to the SUV and got in as quickly as possible.

“You have to come back home sometime.” He replied via our mind link. I threw my head back and laughed.

Richard looked at me while shaking his head. “You ready?” He asked as he put his seat belt on and placed the SUV on drive.

“Ready as I will ever be.” I told him, pulling my seatbelt across and latching it. I was going to turn back around but noticed a very quiet Kaelie, and if you know Kaelie, she was NEVER quiet.

“What’s the matter? You are too quiet.” I asked her, furrowing my brows as she looked at me. Dark circles around her eyes; it looked like she hadn’t slept in months.

“I don’t know. Olivia is acting strange.” She told me, referring to her wolf.

“What do you mean? What does she feel?” I asked her, furrowing my brows.

“She thinks we will be meeting our mate soon.” She replied as she caught a lone tear rolling down her eyes.

“Why are you crying, though? You have dreamt about this day since we were pups!” I told her, taking off my seatbelt and jumping to the back with her.

“Because then I will have to leave you.” She said, making me laugh.

“Do you honestly think that a stupid mate bond will rip us apart? Girl, you should know better.” I told her as I brought her in for a hug.

“That is the same thing that Olivia said.” She replied as she let go of me.

“You should listen to her.” I told her as I climbed back up to the front passenger seat.

“Can you stop moving? We are going to have an accident because of you!” Richard grumbled.

“Oh my gosh! And you said I was going to be the grumpy one!” I said, shaking my head and putting my seatbelt back on. “Wake me when we get there.” I said as I put on my eye mask and laid the seat slightly back.

Richard slammed the car’s breaks three hours later, making me jolt up, the seatbelt almost strangling me. I peeled the eye mask off and then glared at him.

“What the fūck was that for?” I asked, suppressing my aura. I didn’t want to have him bare his neck to me while driving. Now that would be a disaster.

“You said to wake you up. You are up, aren’t you?” He asked, shrugging his shoulders and holding a laugh.

“I almost died!” I exclaimed, making him laugh. I knew he was not going to hold it any longer.

“Oh, relax, drama queen.” He replied, rolling his eyes.

“How far are we?” I asked him as I brought the seat back up.

“About forty-five minutes.” He replied.

“Yay!” I said sarcastically.

Fifteen minutes later, I could see their warriors running alongside the SUV.

“Alpha Bombardo’s pack lands seem to be pretty big.” I said, looking at the warriors.

“Ready, Zoe?” I asked as we got closer.

“Oh yes. I can feel it.” She replied, wagging her tail in anticipation.

“You silly girl.” I told her, smiling.

Thirty minutes later, Richard stopped the car right in front of the pack’s border while I pushed the passenger door open and got out. I walked to the front of the SUV, where the head warrior met me.

He eyed me up and down, “I am here for the annual alpha’s meeting.” I said, folding my arms across my chest. I usually don’t get bītchy, but the vibe he was giving me was one that I was not liking, and neither did Zoe.

“Name?” He asked, annoyed.

“Alpha Bell.” I replied, raising a brow. His eyes got hazy as he mind linked and then dipped his chin, granting me entrance, but I looked at him before getting in the SUV.

“If you are so annoyed about your post, I’ll let Alpha Bombardo know.” I said, then turned around, getting in the SUV. I could hear him growling lowly. As I got into the SUV, I released some of my aura, making him bare his neck to me. I smirked once inside the SUV.

“Go on.” I told Richard as he shook his head.

“You are always causing trouble.” He remarks, making me laugh.

Stopping right in front of the main pack house, Zoe started getting antsy…

“Whoa, girl, can you relax? You are getting me nervous.” I told her as I pushed the SUV door open.

“I don’t know, but something big will happen.” She replied, making me furrow my brows.

“Don’t make me push you so far that you won’t be able to resurface for another week.” I told her, standing my ground.

“It is very nice to meet you, Alpha Bombardo.” I said, stretching my hand out to greet him. At first, he was reluctant but then gave in, stretching his hand out.

“Likewise. The omega will show you to your rooms.” He instructed as he dipped his chin. I smiled at him and walked past him.

“This is going to be one fūcking long weekend.” I mind-linked Richard and Kaelie.