Scorned Alpha - Burgov Series IV

9. Maddox

Yesterday went just as I wanted it to, but there could be no surprises. I knew they wouldn't risk their packs, ranks and almost the entire family just out of spite. And most of all, I was sure Ellie wouldn't let them too.

It was the right thing to do, even though Ellie's scowls laced with way too many glares as she was watching her younger brother taking her place, wasn't my favorite moment, but she would come around. I just know it.

And today she's going home with me.

I have everything prepared, our room, my closest people waiting for us, everything. I know she will need a moment to adjust, and I know she will try to repel me as hard as she can, but when I touched her cheek yesterday I saw how she leaned into my hand. She will come around, she just needs some time for it.

The noon was our agreed time to meet outside the Harvest Moon Pack House, and I must admit the skyscraper in front of me was nothing I ever imagined. I knew this pack was started only twenty-seven years ago, by the Burgov siblings, but still they had a very modern view of how they wanted to build their home.

I wouldn't mind going inside and exploring, but that turned out to be impossible when her cousins, the current Alpha and Beta, were standing with crossed arms protecting the entrance with their bodies. A rather cold welcome if you ask me, but I wasn't expecting anything different here either. But I know once Ellie gets used to the idea of being my Luna, they will be on board too.

And why wouldn't she like to be my Luna? Everyone will adore her, and I'll make sure to treat her like a queen. Not to mention, it's a much safer place for a woman than being a Gamma, always at the center of every ordeal.

Banks and Danny joined me by my car and the three of us watched Dean and I wanted to say Boris for a while.

"Are you sure you want to be in a car alone with our Luna?" - Danny asks quietly - "Yesterday she looked like she was wishing you cancer and maybe driving under an approaching sixteen-wheeler."

"I'll be fine. Besides, we have a few things to talk about." - I assured my Gamma.

"If you say so, but I brought handcuffs and a kevlar vest just in case. You want me to put them in your car?"

I chuckled at his offer and shook my head just in time Ellie stepped out of the Pack House's revolting doors. She was dressed all in black. Black fitting pants, black leather jacket, even black high boots with a pink logo, that was the only speck of color in her outfit.

Her hair was braided tightly and she was wearing darker makeup than even on the night we met. A look to intimidate. But that wasn't anything new either.

"She looks like she was going into a battle. I'm gonna put those handcuffs in your car just in case." - Danny whispered with worry in his tone.

She said something to each of her cousins before putting her sunglasses on and turning towards us. There wasn't even a shadow of a smile on her face and I'm sure her hidden eyes were showing just as much anger as hers pursed into a thin line lips.

"Luna, it's a pleasure to officially meet you. My name is Banks and I'm Night Walkers Beta." - my best friend said when neither Ellie nor me spoke for a while. Ellie turned to look at him, and a hint of a smirk appeared on her face. She inhaled and her smile widened even more.

"You're nervous, Beta. Are you afraid of me?" - she asked with clear amusement, making Banks shift uncomfortably in his spot.

"I… No, of course I'm not afraid."

"Your scent is saying something else." - she said and it made me wonder if she actually felt something or she was just f*****g with him. - "Anyway, if you want to stay on speaking terms with me, I would advise you to call me Ellie."

"But Luna…" - Banks started protesting, but just as her title left his lips she turned towards Danny.

She looked him up and down and I noticed how his back went straight, as if he was at a military briefing.

"Gamma, I assume?" - she asked.

"Yes, Lu… Yes!"

She smiled approvingly and nodded.

"Fast learner, I can work with that." - she said and then turned to face me, all the remains of her smile disappeared instantly from her face. - "Where should I put my stuff?" - she asked coldly.

"There." - I pointed with my thumb behind my back at the car we were leaning against.

"Okay." - she nodded - "Guys! Over here!" - she yelled, and from the inside of the Pack House came both her brothers, father and previous Alpha and Beta with boxes and suitcases that I was fairly positive were too many for just one woman. After them came the group of women with one pup in arms of Uliana, whom I met on Ellie's birthday.

While the men were loading her luggage, the little boy wiggled out of his mother's arms and ran to Ellie, jumping in her arms like he probably did hundreds of times before.

"Don't leave, Auntie." - he whined with a sad face, but there was something picture perfect with Ellie holding a pup in her arms. Soon, very soon, she will carry my pup like that.

"I don't want to, Benny-boo, but the bad man is forcing me to."

The kid locked his incredibly green eyes with me and knitted his dark brows together.

"Bad man?" - he asked, pointing at me.

"Yes, sweetie."

"I don't like him." - he said to his aunt. - "I don't like you." - he repeated to me just to make himself clear.

"No one does, honey. That's why he has to force people into playing with him, but we won't be like that, won't we? We understand that we need to be nice for others to like us, right?" - Ellie schooled him and Danny chuckled from my side, clearly amused by the roast I got from my mate and the kid.

"Right." - the kid agreed with a firm nod. - "Bedtime story?" - he asked, c*****g his head to the side.

"You will still get them, just over the phone. I would never miss it, buddy. And you know what, I have something special planned for tonight, but promise me you will already be in bed by seven, okay?"

"Okay." - he agreed immediately and squeezed her neck with his tiny arms, showing me his tongue over her shoulder. I guess it's safe to assume I will be the villain in most of his bedtime stories from now on.

Ellie put the boy down just in time the men stopped loading her luggage. Her brothers, who had both grown and bulked up since I last saw them three years ago, came to her and enveloped her in a group hug, whispering something into both her ears that made her giggle.

"I will definitely try that." - she told them. - "And you two have to make me proud, especially you Mickey, don't destroy everything I've worked for." - she pointed her finger at the taller, but leaner one.

"Dad won't let me." - he nodded with a smile and then looked at me. - "And you show them what it means to mess with a Burgov."

"Don't you worry about that." - she assured him, and I started chuckling. If she thinks I'm not ready for that, she's sadly mistaken.

All three Gamma siblings glared at me, at least I think Ellie did too, it was hard to tell through her sunglasses, and then she made a round with everyone else, starting with Uliana, current Alpha and Beta, her Uncles and Aunts and leaving her parents as the last ones.

Her mother was smiling at her, and she looked like a nice enough lady, maybe a bit eccentric with pink strands here and there. But her father looked torn, broken maybe. He looked at her with sad eyes before pulling her in for a hug. Ellie clung to him like he was her saving grace, looking like a little girl in his arms. So he's the most important guy I have to prove to that I mean no harm.

Ellie stepped away from her father and took her phone out of her back pocket.

"What's the address?" - she asked no one in particular, but I had a feeling she was asking me.

"The entrance to the community is from Rainy Creek Road, 98826 Washington, but don't worry, I will drive you there." - I said while her fingers were moving fast over her phone's screen.

"No, need. I have my own transportation." - she announced, and went back into the Pack House. Okay, I'll admit I haven't really given much thought that she might want to take her own car. That's disappointing, but I guess it's fine. But why would she go back inside? Should we wait and she will follow us, or something?

I locked my confused eyes with her mother, the only one who wasn't glaring at me, instead she was watching me curiously.

She left her mate's side and got closer.

"Maddox… I can call you that, right?" - she asked.

"Of course, you are my mother-in-law."

"Technically, not until Ellie marks you too." - she pointed out - "But if I may give you some advice, you should know that my daughter has been allergic to people telling her what to do since she was little, and if you think you will break her with time, it's not gonna happen. I honestly hope you two will find a way to make this thing work, but right now you have started a bit too strong. Give her time and space, and don't lock her in a golden cage, she will blow the damn thing up."

I nodded just in time Ellie's father came over and started steering his mate away from me.

"I hope you two will come and visit us in Night Walkers to see how well Ellie is settling there." - I offered hoping it would be an olive branch and proof I was not going to lock her in there.

Her father stopped, looked at me as if I was the roach under his feet, but his glare was distracted by the roaring sound coming from the side of the Pack House.

"You should probably get going, Alpha. It seems your Luna is running away." - he said with satisfaction, watching the red bike speeding down the road.

Of course, she had a bike.

I motioned for Banks and Danny to get into the cars and tried my best to catch up with Ellie, but she disappeared from my view even before we left the Harvest Moon territory. The entire ride back to Night Walkers looked the same. I saw her once even though I was pushing my truck to its limits.

I just hope she isn't screwing with me and she's actually going to Night Walkers, otherwise I'm not sure what I would do if she actually ran away. That wasn't something I thought was possible.

We started nearing my land shortly after six, and on the side of the road I noticed the same red bike, only this time abandoned and without a driver. I stopped my car and climbed down to check if it was still warm and maybe figure out where the hell my mate went.

"Fuck." - I cussed while looking around when the engine of the shiny red BMW bike turned out to be cold, meaning it'd been sitting there for an hour or so. How the f**k did she get here so fast?!

But then I heard bushes rustling and at first I didn't notice her, until she moved. She shifted and her wolf was visibly smaller than mine, or even Banks's, was staring right at me. She soundlessly bared her canines before disappearing once in the bush. Her gray-brown coloring made her perfectly camouflaged among the greenery of the forest surrounding us and I knew just then that if she wouldn't want to be spotted she would be.

I wanted to follow her, but when I heard the characteristic sound of bones popping, I knew she probably needed a minute to dress up.

Ellie appeared just a minute later, putting her jacket on.

"You drive like a p***y, and I've been roaming around your land for over an hour and not even a single warrior came to check it out. It seems your pack is just as disappointing as you are."

Her words were meant to have an effect on me, but I was expecting her sharp tongue to make an appearance, so in response I chuckled, even though it, indeed, was strange no one saw her.

"Or they knew you were coming. Are you done with disrespecting your new home and ready to actually see it?" - I asked.

"This place will never be my home, but yes, prisoner Ellie Burgov is ready for her sentence."

I chuckled, shaking my head.

"Dramatic much, huh? Follow me."

"Should I push my bike the rest of the way, or are you going to finally learn where the gas pedal is?" - she c****d her hip to the side, looking sexy as f**k. Those three years we were apart only made her more beautiful and I can't wait to have her in my arms again. - "And here I thought you couldn't be a bigger creep…" - she sighed, noticing me staring at her body, then mounted her bike and woke the engine to life.

'Dude, I'm giving you a week with her.' - Danny's voice spoke in my head and I turned to see the car they were driving parked right behind mine.

'We'll see.' - I replied and climbed back into my car to drive the short distance to my Pack.

Night Walkers was no Harvest Moon, that's for sure. We had way more forest surrounding us and even the architectural style of all the houses was different. With my most prized possession, the grand Pack House. A Classical Victorian manor built with red brick in the early years of the XXth century. I liked it even more since it became all mine. Well... ours.

Father made me work hard for it. And only after securing the founder of fights, he finally saw me as ready to become Alpha. And getting Ellie was the first point on my agenda.

I climbed down from my truck, as Ellie was getting off her bike.

"Do you have a garage? I need to keep my baby under the roof." - she asked, taking off her helmet.

"I'll be under the same roof as you, dear." - I said with a wink.

"That's not even funny, I would literally sell all your organs before leaving my bike in the rain." - she deadpanned and a not-so-subtle chuckle came out of Danny.

"I can put it with the four-wheelers in the warriors' garage." - Danny pointed at the hangar-like building not too far from the Pack house.

Ellie smiled and threw the keys to my Gamma.

"Scratch it and you're dead meat." - she said with a hint of humor in her tone. Danny saluted her and started walking the bike away.

I smiled, seeing how she was already getting along with one of my two best friends.

"Ready to see your new home?" - I asked and the remains of her smile fell once again. I think she made it her point to grace me with grimaces and scowls only.

"I need to take my stuff."

"Don't worry about it, I'll bring it up." - Banks offered.

"Of course you will." - she muttered with a sigh. - "Alright, then show me my cell."

I chuckled once again, seeing how she really had a knack for acting.

"Do you want a tour now, or after dinner?"

She checked her phone and frowned.

"Thanks to your awful driving, I have to call Benny in about ten minutes, so just show me to my room."

"You mean our room." - I corrected her.

She stopped in her tracks and turned towards me.

"Excuse me?!" - she asked in a sharp, high-pitched voice.

"You're my Luna, you bare my mark and we already saw each other naked, at least mostly, so I don't see a reason why we shouldn't live together."

Ellie clenched her jaw and glared at me, but the alarm going off on her phone broke the silent stare down. She checked the phone again and sighed.

"This conversation isn't over." - she pointed her finger at me. - "Now show me to that room, I need to call my man."

I chuckled at her choice of words and, with a big bow, invited her to the Pack House. As we walked through the halls, then up the stairs, her face remained passive, not betraying her thoughts about her new surroundings. Obviously, I wanted her to like it here, but I also knew her stubbornness wouldn't allow her to admit it.

But when we entered Alpha's suite and she didn't even glance around, but right away sat on the couch pulling her phone out, I was disappointed and I had to remind myself that she would come around with time.

She dialed the number and after a short conversation in hushed tones with Uliana her voice changed to sweet and caring as she was telling her nephew a bedtime story about a Wolfie, who had to protect his mother from bad people. The story was kind of cool, the one I definitely never heard in my childhood about a little wolf so special that the Goddess sent him a power to shift at the age of seven. I tried to busy myself with bringing her boxes in and giving her space, but the story was really captivating. I would love to hear it as a small pup.

"And that's, Banny, how Uncle Sean saved Granny Diana." - she ended her story and I frowned. - So remember, sweetie, when you're a good Wolfie in need, our Moon Mother would never leave you alone. The end. Now, kiss your Mama goodnight and dream big. I love you, my big guy."

"Love you too." - said a sleepy voice, and Ellie ended the call, resting her head on the headrest, closed her eyes and sighed.

"Did your Cousin really shift at the age of seven?" - I asked and her amazing gray eyes opened and locked with mine.

"He did. Are you scared?" - she asked with amusement.

"No, just surprised." - I answered - "So do you want me to show you around, have dinner or something?"

"I'm not hungry, I stopped to eat on my way here." - she said and I started wondering how far ahead of me she actually was. - "So I'm just gonna crash." - I grinned, nodding and she immediately started shaking her head. - "Don't even think about it. Since you couldn't give me a separate bedroom, you're taking the floor." - she ordered sternly.

I laughed and went to the walk-in closet to get the futon.

"So it's good I prepared myself for it." - I said.

"It would be easier if you had given me my own space." - she said angrily.

"But where would be the fun in that?" - I smirked at her, but before she could answer, and her narrowed eyes said she wanted to, the door opened and Lilly poked her head inside and started squealing.

"She's here!" - my sister said, happily running towards Ellie and catching her in a tight hug that took my mate completely off guard. - "I finally have a sister." - she said with her brown eyes shining happily when she released Ellie from her grip.

"Em, hi?" - Ellie said, a bit confused.

"Ellie, that's my baby sister, Lilly." - I explained.

"Oh." - she said, looking into Lilly's eyes and I was expecting her to say something mean, just because Lilly was related to me, but instead she smiled. - "Nice to meet you, Lilly."

"You too! But I feel like I have known you for years. I read everything about you, and finally you're here." - my sister grinned.

"Let the girl breathe, Lilly." - came my mother's voice from the doorway, and I glanced nervously between my mate and my mother, wondering how that encounter could go. But they just stared at one another for a longer moment with unreadable expressions. - "So that's the woman who caused you all the pain?" - my mother asked, but Ellie didn't miss the beat.

"So that's the woman who taught you it's okay to forcefully mark people?" - Ellie shot back with all her confidence, raising her chin up.

But my mother's lips curled up and she shook her head.

"I definitely haven't taught him that." - my mother answered - "I'm Lorraine and we just came to introduce ourselves." - my mother pointed at her and Lilly.

"Nice to meet you, Lorraine, it's always a pleasure to acquaint yourself with a woman who can stand up for herself." - Ellie said surprisingly politely, which came as a shock. I thought she would be rude and obnoxious to everyone here at first. That's why I made sure to have our arrival as low-key as possible.

But Ellie's words made my mother smile fell.

"Then I'm afraid I'm going to be a big disappointment. You two must be tired, so we'll leave you to it, but I would love to have lunch with you tomorrow, Ellie." - Ellie nodded, watching my mother curiously, probably wondering what she meant. - "Come on, Lilly, let's give them some time to settle." - my mother said, eyeing the futon at my feet. - "Be good, Maddy." - she said before closing the door behind them and I turned to Ellie who had a s**t-eating grin on her face.

"Maddy? Kinda girly for an Alpha." - she pointed out with a smirk.

"That's my mother, I can't exactly tell her I hate it."

She waved her hand and started opening the box labeled bathroom.

"I'm not saying anything, Maddy." - she singsonged, taking a bunch of things from the box and walking away, and somehow I knew from now on she'd be calling me just that. Great, thanks Mom.

Ellie spent an hour unpacking some of her stuff, then took a shower and, completely ignoring me, went to bed even though it was still fairly early and I offered to show her around, which she refused every time. But I knew she would play difficult at the beginning, so there was nothing unexpected in her behavior. So I laid on my futon too.

"Goodnight, Luna." - I said to the quiet room with a smile on my face.

"f**k off, Maddy." - she muttered back, making me chuckle.

But even sleeping on the thin mattress on the floor wasn't so bad. The room smelled like her, like some exotic fruit I couldn't quite identify. Despite everything, I knew, it would be one of the best night's sleeps in a long time, because she was finally where she belongs and that's the only thing that matters.