Scorned Alpha - Burgov Series IV

8. Ellie

3 years later

"Gather round, kids." - I heard uncle Vanya calling us closer. I winked at my brothers, lifted the hem of my dress to not trip over the fabric, and followed Dean to where his father was standing.

Uncle Vanya glanced around with nostalgia in his eyes. I guess saying goodbye to the title you've been holding for almost thirty years isn't easy. And watching all the kids you helped raise all grown-up doesn't help either.

But the day has finally come. We're taking over all three packs today, and I couldn't imagine any better day or a company to find myself in.

Sean and Orson are both twenty-eight, but their Beta's needed to become adults. Besides, I think Uncle Benson purposefully put off passing down his title for as long as he could in hope Orson would finally get serious about the role. But we can all agree that day will most likely never come.

But our crew, with Dean and Boris both twenty, Uliana as the Beta female and me almost twenty-one, we have all the bases covered. We'll be the best team to expand Harvest Moon's fame.

Uliana placed a last kiss on Boris's lips, and then he ruffled little Benny's dark hair, before she sauntered away to stand next to Nicky.

They were such an inspiring couple. It wasn't all unicorns and rainbows at the beginning. Uncle Benson didn't take Uliana moving out well and he was huffing and puffing her entire pregnancy. He only loosened up with the attitude when we all learned Liana and Boris decided to name their son Benjamin. It wasn't exactly Benson, but close enough to appease the grumpy Alpha.

But my uncle was completely on board when, three months after Benny came into the world, Boris turned eighteen, and guess who happened to be his mate? That's right, our dear Uliana.

It looks like it was supposed to happen from the very beginning. They just rushed things, and I'm glad they did, because Benny is the cutest little guy ever. Not to mention, I love the idea of my cousin and best friend becoming a Beta female in Harvest Moon. Now we just need to find someone really good for Dean and our little family will be complete, because let's face it, I'm gonna stay single forever. With my ability to attack only assholes, that's probably for the best.

"All three packs are getting a new start today." - Uncle Vanya started when all three crews of Alphas, Betas and Gammas stood before him. - "I know you all have been waiting for this day to come. But before you go out there and take over, I want to share with you all what my mother and your Grandmother once told me. Uliana Burgov was an amazing woman, and back when I was just a teenage boy, she told me that a good Alpha should be strong, but a great one should use his head before his muscles. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't be afraid to ask, because we are all here for you."

I heard so many great stories about my late Grandmother, Uliana, the one my cousin was named after. She was the sweetest and most caring woman, until you crossed her, because then she could go all Alpha on your ass. Another legend to live up to.

"That's so funny, Vanya, because I wanted to share mom's wisdom too." - Auntie Sasha said with a soft smile to her brother, before she turned to us - "To me she said that the family is the strongest united. So don't forget that, even in your respective packs, you will never be left alone. We are one great Pack created out of three smaller ones."

"So I guess this calls for a word from your Grandfather too." - my Dd said with a chuckle, tapping aunt Sasha with his hip - "Nikolai Burgov, our father"- he pointed at Sasha, Vanya and him - "Said that every Gamma's most important task is to keep his family safe, but I guess we can extend it not only to Gammas, because with blood or not, those three Packs are bonded for life. So look after one another and you will do just fine."

Wow, that was a really great pep talk. I wonder if they rehearsed it before. But either way, they were absolutely right, we were one big family. No matter what our last name is or in which Pack we live, we will always have an unbreakable bond.

"Okay, let's get this show on the road, because Cynthia and I have a plane to catch." - Uncle Arty, Sean's Dad said, making us all laugh and we went after the elders to the stage.

The ceremony was being held in the League's headquarters auditorium and, after an official announcement, at least five hundred wolves came to see it. Mostly they were from our packs, but I could also see a few outside guests, like my Cousins and Alpha from Stonewall. Mom's sister-friends with their families and a few Alphas, uncle Vanya acquainted through his work for Alphas Chamber. There were also too many unknown faces to count, probably in some way connected to Midnight Banes and Lunar Tide.

One of Vanya's friends was officiating the ceremony and he greeted everyone before handing the mic to Sean and Dean. I knew the guys had a plan to pay tribute to their mother, but neither would spill the beans on what exactly they had in mind.

But damn, one day off in both packs just to celebrate my Aunt… that's f*****g awesome. And yup, sure enough, Auntie Diana was all in tears listening to her sons.

And when they were done, Chairman Doyle, a. k. a. Uncle Troy, who has been around working closely with our Dads since I can remember, called in the old squad and the show was about to start. My excitement reached its peak, but I was fighting myself to not grin and look professional. That and my Mom's mind-links to turn her way to a better picture.

"I've been Alpha of the Harvest Moon for twenty-seven years, and I'm sure I, Ivan Burgov, my Beta Grigorij Razin, and my Gamma Ilia Burgov are leaving the pack in the most capable hands. Dean, as the future Alpha, you have to name your second and third. Have you made your choice?" - Uncle Vanya asked his son, and I had a feeling Dean would burst from puffing his chest so much.

"I, Dean Burgov, will take on my role with my Beta Boris Razin, and my Gamma Ellie Burgov." - he announced loud and clear, and Boris and I stepped forward, taking our designated places on both his sides.

But then, when uncle Vanya was turning to get the ceremonial knife, the double door in the back of the auditorium swung open, making so much noise that probably even rats under the floor were intrigued. But when I noticed the sexy smirk and the mop of blonde hair, my excitement turned into panic.

Maddox.

No, no, no! This can't be happening! He can't show up now, after three years of not even How do you do, and spoil my big moment.

Ugh! If I hadn't wanted to kill him after that stunt with marking, I sure as hell want to free him from his empty head now.

"What's the meaning of this?!" - Doyle boomed at the newcomers - "You can't interrupt a ceremony like that."

"I'm afraid I have no other option, Chairman." - my mate said smugly, walking casually through the alley between the rows and rows of spectators who would for sure witness my complete humiliation - "Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it allowed for Luna of one Pack to become Gamma in another?"

Oh, that son of a b***h! I'll show him where he can shove that damn Luna title.

I felt Dean's hand squeezing mine for support, and that made me realize I had been staring into Maddox's eyes just like he was into mine. Damn, mate's attraction.

He climbed the few steps separating the rest of the auditorium from the stage and he stopped in front of me.

"Hello again, Mate. Long time no see." - he said smugly.

That bastard just admitted in front of five hundred wolves that I belong to him. But before I could come up with some clever response, he reached to my neck, brushing away the perfect locks from my right arm and exposing the tattoo.

"So that's how you hid my mark." - he said, brushing his finger over my skin, making me close my eyes. It hasn't felt that good to be touched for years. After him, I tried to get some rebound s*x, let's call it taking back the reins of my life, but no one could even get me off. So, after a few unsuccessful tries, I settled for a vibrating friend.

But wait, what did he say?! A mark?!

My eyes snapped open and he smirked.

"No worries. We will take care of it. We would take care of everything. Together."

Those words made my eyes widen in shock. Was he stupid or something? Hadn't he noticed that we're kind of in the middle of something here?

Sean was the first one to react. He stepped between me and Maddox and forced him to back off.

"Leave." - was the one word that left my Cousin's mouth, but it was so low and menacing that even I got the shivers.

However, over his shoulder I noticed Maddox smirking.

"I think not. And maybe we should take it somewhere more private, unless…" - Maddox said cooly, glancing behind his shoulder at the faces, drinking every word that was being said on the stage.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" - Uncle Vanya asked, joining in and, just because of the smile on Maddox's face, my blood started freezing and at the same time, skin burned. The fucker was about to tell them everything! I couldn't allow the scandal to be the first thing that people would associate with Dean becoming Alpha.

"Uncle, let's take five and deal with this in the back." - I motioned with my chin and Vanya reluctantly nodded. He whispered something to Chairman Doyle and then motioned for us to follow.

I wasn't surprised when everyone started going with us. I knew Sean and Orson wouldn't be able to go through with their ceremonies without checking if I was okay.

Uncle Vanya led us into one of the lounges and as soon as the doors were locked behind quite a crowd, he stopped in front of Maddox with his arms crossed and eyes dangerously narrowed.

"Now talk, you have five minutes, mister…"

"Maddox Huxley, Alpha of Night Walkers and Ellie's mate."

"Since when?" - Uncle Vanya hissed and I never saw him this short-tempered, that was my Dad's domain.

"Since three years ago."

That fucker!

"Alpha, I mean no disrespect, but Ellie had time to come around to the thought of what Goddess destined for her, yet she didn't. But she's already mated and marked, and since I'm now an Alpha she can't go along with her Gamma fantasy."

"You motherfucker!" - Orson snapped and started charging at Maddox with his fists balled, but Dean and Sean caught him in time.

"Mated and marked…" - my father shook his head and then focused straight on me - "Ellie, is that true?"

"Of course it's true. She covered my mark with a tattoo, but…"

"I'M TALKING TO MY DAUGHTER!" - my Dad snapped at Maddox, and while it brought me some joy, I couldn't answer his question and see the disappointment in his eyes. But this time my silence wouldn't save me. Dad came to my side, brushed away my hair and started looking at my neck. Closely. - "For f**k's sake, Ellie. Why didn't you say anything?"

"It's not a mark, uncle Ilia." - Sean said surprisingly calmly - "He tried to mark her forcefully, but she didn't allow him to."

"I assure you it's working perfectly fine. The four times I doubled over in pain was proof enough."

At Maddox's words my eyes bulged and my heart stopped.

It worked? Was I marked after all?

Maybe he's lying?!

But then how would he know the exact number of times I tried to hook up with someone else just to forget about him.

Fuck, I'm so screwed.

"Forcefully?" - my father asked, before it was uncle Vanya and Grisha's time to grasp his arms, because he was already swinging at Maddox. - "Then reject his sorry ass and we'll be done with it." - my father said when it was obvious his brother and best friend would't let him go.

"I wouldn't recommend that, sir." - Maddox said confidently, not even a little bit worried that all the men in the room, aside from his two minions, wanted to kill him. - "Yes, I'll admit I got carried away, but I tried reaching out to Ellie to make things right, but she wouldn't take my calls…"

"So maybe that was your hint to take a hike, pup." - my Dad said, finally freeing himself from the restraints of my Uncles hold.

"Perhaps. But I prefer to have my Luna."

"Well, I don't think that's your call anymore, boy. You had your chance and you blew it." - my father said to Maddox, protecting me as fiercely as ever. - "Why haven't you reported him, baby girl?"

I gulped because I so badly didn't want to tell them that.

"Because she would have to reveal the exact circumstances of our meeting." - Maddox answered for me. Holy f*****g s**t! Did he come here to gloat and torture me?!

"What circumstances?" - asked uncle Benson with a frown.

"We met on her eighteenth birthday on the underground fighting night. But she didn't know I was there to dissolve the gang organizing them." - Maddox said, and I swear I had a tiny heart attack. What was he for there?! For f**k's sake, could this day go any worse?

"You're bluffing. My daughter would never take part in something like that." - my father said with finality in his tone.

Maddox just smirked, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Maybe you don't know your daughter all that well, sir?" - my father started growling, but Maddox ignored him and turned to the bulky guy on his left and got a manila folder from him. - "But maybe that will change your mind." - he said, handing my father the folder.

Dad started flipping through the pages full of photos of me and my cousins walking into the bar and following the bouncer to the basement door.

"That was one of the locations. And behind the door you could see was a basement with a ring in it. I have in my custody a man who was behind all of it, and he seems to know a few of the presents here in this room quite well. But don't worry, those pictures and his statement regarding your family will never be submitted to the League, IF Ellie gave me a chance. I know I screwed up, I know I lost my temper, but that's what happens when your perfect woman is telling you you aren't among her plans." - Maddox said the last part, turning towards me - "But I am deeply sorry. And I will make it up to you."

I couldn't believe he did that. I couldn't believe he came here to blackmail my family and cover it with sweet words. What a f*****g tool! And he will regret ever crossing me like that.

In my peripheral vision, I noticed my Dad pointing one of the pictures to uncle Vanya and it didn't take genius to know what was on it, after Vanya glared at both Sean and Dean.

"Alpha Huxley, could we get a minute alone?" - Vanya asked, trying to keep his nerves in check.

"Of course, Alpha Burgov. We'll wait outside." - Maddox nodded with respect and motioned for his men to follow him.

As soon as the door locked behind them, uncle Vanya turned to all of us with murder in his eyes. Something I haven't experienced, like ever.

"What the hell were you all thinking?! Underground fights?!" - he said, shoving the folder on the coffee table. It landed open on the picture of all of us, slightly younger and smiling excitedly as we were following the bouncer downstairs. - "What do you have to say for yourself?" - he demanded.

We all stood silent for a moment, with our sights downcast and focused on the picture. My smile was so big on that damn shot that I could almost hear the giggles accompanying it.

"It's my fault." - I admitted - "I was begging guys to take us somewhere dangerous. So it's on me."

"Ellie…" - my father sighed and shook his head in disappointment. The gesture went straight to my heart and ripped it in two.

"But you couldn't have done it yourself." - Uncle Vanya stated - "Sean, Orson, you want to add something to this?"

"Yeah, we took them." - Sean admitted and it was so gutting to see this twenty-eight-year-old who is the best prepared Alpha in history being scolded because of my mistakes. I brought this on him. On them all.

"For f**k's sake, and you took Uliana to it?!" - Uncle Benson asked Orson sharply, but then he turned towards Boris with raised eyebrows - "Ellie's birthday… isn't that when you two…" - he was unable to finish his question, but Boris knew what he meant because he nodded.

Fuck, I was falling and dragging everyone with me. That's not good.

Uncle Arthur stepped closer to the manila folder and started flipping through the pictures gathered there before he looked at Sean, contemplating.

"You know how that looks, right?" - Sean nodded - "And you know the possible consequences?" - Sean nodded again - "Good. Because you're gonna deal with them alone."

"What do you mean, Dad?" - Sean asked.

"What I mean is that you were all supposed to become leaders today. You went to a party you weren't supposed to, and now it's time to face the music." - uncle Arthur shrugged. Okay, so we won't be getting any help there.

"That's a great idea, Maslow." - Uncle Vanya admitted, and Benson nodded, agreeing too.

"I know, I have my moments." - Uncle Art smirked. - "Let's give the kids some time to think about their first big decision to make."

I watched with open mouth how, one by one, all the Alphas, Betas and Gammas from three Packs left the room, with my father being the last one. He stopped before exiting and he looked like he wanted to glance my way one last time, but he didn't. This was even worse than his disapproving glare from before.

"May I just ask why I wasn't invited to that party?" - Tedd, Orson's young Beta asked.

"You were fifteen, dude." - Orson deadpanned and turned back to the rest. - "I say we kill them."

"You're joking, right?" - Boris asked.

"No. There are just the three of them and a lot more of us." - Orson pointed out matter-of-factly.

"We can't kill another acting Alpha. There's a bigger sentence for that than going to the illegal fight." - Sean said.

"Why is it such a big deal? We went years ago, no one could hold us accountable for the things we did in the past. I say we should tell him to f**k off and shove his threats up his ass." - Dean said, crossing his arms.

"Well it wouldn't be such a big deal if the news saw the light of the day three years ago when we were still under our fathers protection." - Sean said - "Then it would most likely end with a slap on the hand, but now the League might see us as potential supporters of illegal activities and they might want to investigate all three packs or even suspend our League's membership." - the crease between his brows got especially deep - "But I agree we should face the consequences. We have f****d up, and I'm not going to let him hold it over our heads any longer. Worst case scenario, we won't go through with the ceremony today."

"And what if that fucker turns the story around and we somehow end up in jail? Forgive me, but after what happened with my Dad, I don't have a lot of faith in the system." - Orson barked.

"Well, if that happens, all three packs will be over. All the Gammas and Alphas, except Anya, were there that night. But for Midnight Banes and Lunar Tide, it would be the end." - Dean said and I knew he was right.

"We don't have any other choice." - Sean replied sternly.

"Yes, we do." - I said and my eldest cousin's eyes met mine.

"Don't even think about it, Ellie. This douche waited for his perfect moment to back us against the wall, I won't give him the satisfaction." - Sean said, shaking his head.

"I won't be the cause of all three packs' problems. He wants me to go with him, then I'll go. I'll make sure to get rid of the evidence and end this with as little damage as possible." - I said.

"Cuz, we appreciate you wanting to take one for the team, but he won't get it his way. I'm with Sean and Dean, we are the eldest. We should have known better." - Orson's protectiveness, as endearing as it was, still wasn't the best course of action here. Just like my family, I also wanted to make Maddox regret ever crossing paths with us, but I could never do it for the price of all our people.

"No, Orson. I'll go and that's decided, and trust me he will regret ever meeting me." - I assured my cousin and the rest of my family and the others all snickered, knowing how true my words were.

"I have no doubts about that, Cuz, but what do we do with the ceremony?" - Orson asked.

"We will go through with it, but for now Mickey will take my place in Harvest Moon. But don't worry guys, I'm getting that job back. Very, very soon."