Scorned Alpha - Burgov Series IV

5. Maddox

"You wanna talk about it?" - Banks asked carefully from the driver's seat, glancing at me cautiously.

One last sharp tug and my nose gristle fell back on its rightful spot.

"Mother fucker!" - I cussed from the pain and turned towards my Beta - "Do I look like I wanna talk about it?"

"Not particularly." - he shrugged - "But we should get our story straight in case your father asks why we haven't gone along with the mission? Because you know… as far as you'd be returning with Luna, that would be cool, but now we don't have a girl nor have we achieved anything."

I balled my fists at the reminder of how much I had screwed up this evening. Banks was of course right, and my father will be extremely disappointed. Not to mention his sour face at the news, my true Mate is a Gamma…

He was never a fan of wolves who were in any way better than Alphas were and he wasn't even looking for a pure-blooded Gamma for Night Walkers when his time came, thinking the Gamma role would be best left as an honorary title rather than having a wolf exceeding him in speed, sense of smell and tracking abilities. For my Dad, Alpha should always be the best and strongest in the entire pack, by all accounts.

Maybe he'll be a bit appeased if he hears about her uncle being an Alpha. That means she most likely possesses the gene and would be able to deliver strong Alpha wolves. That is, of course, if I find a way to make her move into Night Walkers.

"We'll tell them I got a whiff of a bigger problem." - I told Banks.

"You know your father wouldn't be happy about it." - he pointed out.

"Let me worry about him." - I snapped.

But Banks wasn't entirely wrong. I needed a plan. And my plan was to get Ellie Burgov.

I pulled out my phone and logged into the League's database, typing her name, and three full pages of records showed up immediately.

The latest one was from the night before with the best wishes to one of the future leaders of the Harvest Moon pack on her 18th birthday, adorned with a picture of her smiling face. She looked a bit younger, more dutiful, with only a thin layer of mascara and her hair brushed into a modest braid. She looked somewhat the same, but I had a feeling that was the fake Ellie, the one for show, not the real stubborn woman I met today.

Then, feeling like a social media stalker, I scrolled through each and every one of the records about her, starting from her birth announcement, all the way to taking part in official functions, achievements, which, given her young age were many, to finally a sad picture of her and her family by the grave of the matron of the family, Elizabeth Spencer from five years ago. Watching the pictures, I could almost feel her pain, even though I couldn't see a single tear on her cheek.

It turned out that the people she was with today were all from her family. Brothers, cousins, or cousins-cousins. They were a close-knitted group and they were all supposed to be the future of three major Packs. Harvest Moon, obviously, with the Burgov offspring taking two out of three the most important spots as Alpha and Gamma. With that kid Dean, who I assumed correctly wasn't even eighteen, as a future Alpha.

The Midnight Banes, where Ellie's Aunt is now a Luna, making the lowlife, hedonist Orson, the next in line Alpha even though he doesn't have a single serious bone in him.

And finally, that Sean dude, who grew up with them, only because his mother had a bastard son, before becoming Harvest Moon Luna. He seems to be the biggest challenge, very protective of those who are in his inner circle and dangerous because of that.

Only she, her brothers and that other guy weren't Alphas, but at least I know she's from a strong bloodline. That should be good enough to appease my father. After all, he was all about making Night Walkers one of the top packs, just like the famous Harvest Moon. Even I have heard of the Burgovs and how they cleared this continent from rogues. Ellie's uncle was definitely a man I wanted my name to be written next to, and she was my ticket to the first league.

We got back home, and as soon as Banks parked the car, my father appeared in the doorway to Alpha's mansion immediately, as if he heard a bell foretelling our arrival. I sighed before opening the passenger door and walked toward where he stood.

His brown hair, profoundly sprayed with pepper and salt on the temples, was glistening just as much as the bright blue eyes that were glaring at me.

"Alpha." - I acknowledged him with his title and a curt nod.

"In. My. Office." - he seethed through his teeth, turning on his heel and disappearing inside.

I sighed, glanced at Banks, who looked troubled, and then followed my Father to the Alpha's study. When I walked in, he was standing with his hands clasped behind his back and looking out the window. His pose of choice. He loved watching his pack probably like no one else.

"What happened today?" - he asked in a flat tone. - "You haven't sent a word about obstacles, yet my warriors returned two hours ago, achieving absolutely nothing." - he turned towards me, with a single emotion on his face. Disappointment.

"I got a whiff of a bigger fish to fry, I couldn't blow my cover."

"What bigger fish? I still don't see any results." - he spread his arms as if he was expecting a founder of illegal fights to suddenly appear tied up on the floor between us.

"It will take time to investigate, but in the long haul it would bring more fame to the Night Walkers than a single successful raid."

"Don't take me for an i***t, boy. I know those are just empty words, one of my men saw you with a girl." - my heart skipped a beat because I wasn't expecting him to know. But I should have predicted this possibility. After all, aside from Banks and a few others, those are still his men, his home and his pack.

"That's right, they did. And she brought me a few good leads. So yes, I gave up on an unimportant mission, to get something better." - I admitted.

"Unimportant? UNIMPORTANT?! Do you have any idea that without securing at least one decent witness we won't get to the bottom of who's behind that fighting business? Do you even care that your night of partying just pushed this project back for at least six months? Let's hope that at least Daniel managed to get himself on the guest list for good, because here I see only disappointments."

His words didn't hurt as much as his cold scowl. But this wasn't my first time to be on the receiving line of it.

"I hope you know you can kiss your ceremony goodbye."

At this, my eyes widened from disbelief.

"But we had a deal. You were supposed to step down on my twenty-first birthday." - I reminded him.

"I did. But you obviously aren't ready to become Alpha and I'm afraid you will run the work of my life to the ground."

I clenched my jaw tight to make sure no unnecessary words left my mouth.

"Fine, is that all?" - I asked with as little anger as I could muster at this revelation.

"That's all for now." - he said just as emotionlessly.

I left my father's study and started heading towards my suite. I should have predicted he would use every excuse to get back on his word, but maybe a part of me didn't want to believe he would. He's already nearing his fifties, and even though he stays in shape, his glory days are long over. But the part about running the Night Walkers to the ground stung. Badly.

I went inside my room and slammed the door behind me with a force that made the windows rattle. But I didn't expect to startle a girl sitting on my bed.

"Oh dear, Goddess. You scared me, Ox." - Lana said, placing a calming hand on her chest.

She had her blonde hair tied in a loose, low ponytail and a tank top with no bra underneath, clearly hinting she was getting ready for bed in here.

Fuck, I guess I will need to have another gutting conversation this night. That's a night to remember, one amazing s*x, a broken nose and two conversations that most likely would leave me with the urge to claw my own ears.

"I wasn't aware you were going to be here." - I said, taking off my jacket and throwing it on the nearest chair, then turning back towards my dresser and getting the cream top, Ellie left behind her, from my jeans' back pocket and put it carefully in the dresser's top drawer.

"You know I'm always scared when you go on those missions. I just wanted to be sure you got back safely."

Lana was a sweet girl, and lately she has been hinting at the two of us tying up the knot and marking one another. I never graced her with a response when she was at it, and I never knew why exactly that idea irked me. Now I knew, I was sure it wasn't it.

We've been hanging out since we were small pups. And I knew being a daughter of one of my father's friends, and the current Beta's niece at that, my father saw her as a suitable candidate for my partner. But even though there was nothing wrong with her per se, there was a part of me that couldn't commit to her. And now I knew that part wanted to find my true mate.

However, it didn't stop me from pursuing a more or less casual relationship with her. More casual for me, less for her, to be frank. And I guess now comes a time when I need to call it quits, because now that I have tasted what it's like to have Ellie by my side, I don't want any other flavor on my tongue.

"That's very kind of you." - I said, turning back to face her.

"Kind?! Ox, what's going on, why are you so formal? Other nights you would already be climbing on top of me or dragging me to the shower. What happened?"

She wasn't wrong. After the adrenaline rush, her presence was a good distraction and we both knew it. But now at the mere thought of touching her my skin crawls. And how am I supposed to tell her that without hurting her feelings?

"Lana, look…" - I started with a sigh, sitting down on the foot of the bed, but keeping a safe distance from her. - "I think we should keep our relations more formal from now on."

"More formal?! Ox, where did that come from?" - she asked, taken aback and with a crease of confusion on her pretty face.

"It's just simple logic, nothing personal. We can find our mates any day now. I think it's best to call it off now, before any of us will end up hurt." - I said carefully, and obviously, by any of us I meant mostly her.

"But… I thought…"

Please don't say it. Please don't say it!

"Your Father mentioned he would be really pleased to see me by your side. As Luna."

And she said it.

"I remember." - I admitted with a clenched jaw. - "But that's the decision my father won't be making for me." - I said sternly.

"You two fought again?" - Lana asked, trying to find an explanation, and another argument with the Alpha seemed like the perfect excuse to send her away. Was she that used to my mood swings after encountering my father? - "That's alright. I can sleep in my room tonight." - she said, flipping the cover off her body and showing she matched her top with just a pair of lace panties. Could this conversation get any worse? - "But don't let him get into your head. That's not you."

Yup, I guess I've put her through the roller-coaster of emotions and she thinks that's another one of those times.

"No, Lana, that's not what I meant." - she stopped in her tracks and looked at me with her full lips slightly parted - "I want to wait for my true mate, and she will become my Luna."

I wasn't about to tell her I had already met her today, and I couldn't get her outta my head, even after she broke my nose. But judging by the look, Lana understood because her confusion turned quickly into anger.

"You will change your mind." - she said so sure of herself - "You can't possibly think that buying a pig in a poke would be better than choosing me, a woman who has been by your side for years. A woman who knows this pack like no one else. And finally, the woman who has your family's approval."

"But not the woman I was destined to be with." - I pointed out calmly, but she took a step back as if I slapped her.

"It didn't matter to your parents. They chose to be together and they did great things for this place."

"I'm not either of my parents." - I reminded her with clenched fists.

"Clearly." - she said, scrunching her nose. - "I'll go, but you know where to find me when, not if, but when, you change your mind."

She threw a silky bathrobe on and disappeared behind my door.

What a clusterfuck of a day.

I released a long, tired breath, rubbed my face, that still could feel how it was to be kissed by Ellie.

Then I went back to the dresser and took out her top. The only proof this night actually happened, and I brought it to my face. Her scent enveloped my senses and I felt a bit better. But that wasn't enough. I needed to have her here.

And the tricky part was that she didn't want to be here. She hasn't even given this place a chance, before point blank stating she'd rather be Gamma in her home than Luna here, and I don't get why she would settle for less, when she could be the second most important wolf with me.

And what was that about this crazy idea of following her? She couldn't possibly have thought that any Alpha would give up his pack to become Gamma's mate. That's pure maddness.

I molded the fabric of her top and brought it back to my nose, when my fingers felt a hard object on the smooth fabric. I inspected the object and found an old-looking brooch with a nacre center and small diamonds arranged into letter E.

My proof.

Now I need to figure out how to get her here, because something tells me that it wouldn't be as easy as I would want it to be. But there is no doubt in my mind that Ellie Burgov WILL be my Luna.