The Alpha's Princess Mate

3

SEAN

Everyone was taken aback by my offer: there wasn't a single pair of eyes in the inn that wasn't staring at me in complete shock and bewilderment.

Yet, I didn't waver. Well, that absurd need I had to be close to that girl didn't. I would have been way too happy to just let Hermann and his son deal with her.

All the noise and chatter had died, filling the tavern with a deafening silence. Hermann studied me cautiously, as did his son, who stood beside him; the Elite girl, instead, looked at me confused, her eyes clouded with alcohol, holding on to the guy. For some reason, seeing her leaning on someone else's arm stirred something inside of me - something completely different from the mix of fear, awe, and protection I'd felt up until now.

It was irritation.

And that, too, disgusted me, because f**k, I wasn't supposed to be irritated. She wasn't my girlfriend - I had no right to be irritated, and yet, here I was, with these overwhelming feelings I wasn't able to stop or contain. A night that had started out great was taking a turn for the absolute worst. Why couldn't I have any respect for Jessica? Why had that nameless thing awakened in me? Why did I suddenly feel like a wild, angry animal, unable to control its instincts, drooling after a woman?

It wasn't my wolf; he was as stunned as I was. No, it was something else .... something we couldn't pinpoint, or define.

Hermann shook his head, his eyes filled with suspicion. “You've done your part, lad. But…” he paused, doubt clear in his eyes. "Grace is like family, and I will not entrust her safety except to my own family."

Perfect, I thought, one less problem.

I made my way toward the door, but again, that wild part in me moved, whining and shaking its head, forcing me to stay where I was.

"I can escort both of you," I replied, shame burning hot in my stomach. "I ... I wouldn't feel right with my conscience if I didn't use my skills to do good."

Hermann's son narrowed his eyes, baring his teeth in a snarl. "I can protect her well, asshole."

I don't know how I managed to overcome the instinct to curl my fingers into a fist and make it collide with that stupid face of his. I was offering my help, for f**k's sake! What was this guy's problem?

"It's okay, Marcus," the girl - Grace - muttered. He looked at her, and that was when I realized what his problem was. That look in his eyes was unmistakable; he liked her. The acid in my stomach burned more. "He can come …"

"Grace, dear ..." he muttered, and his eyes widened when she laughed.

"Oh, Marcus, I really can't believe it," she giggled. An acute hiccup escaped her throat. “You ... you're drunker than me! You even forgot my name!".

Of course, they gave me a fake name. I was a stranger who'd just offered to take home another stranger, who was dear to them. I, too, would have done anything to protect her - and hiding her identity would have been my number one priority, too.

"I'm taking you home," Marcus said, his tone firmer, lifting her up and eliciting her laughter, again.

I barely managed to contain a snarl. That uncontrolled part of me was literally foaming at the mouth as I watched him put his hands where mine had been just a few minutes ago, bring her close to his chest just like I had - and the rest of me wanted to vomit from the disgust.

"You're a true gentleman," she mumbled. “Or should I say gentle-Fae?"

He offered her a small smile. “Both are fine. Let's get going, shall we?".

"Oh, come on! Why the hell are you refusing my help, man?" The words came out of my mouth before I could even stop them. “I can protect you - and she is a wolf. It's my duty to protect a she-wolf, as it's your duty to protect a Fae. I know you don't trust me, I'm a stranger, but… it's a matter of honor. I will escort you just for a while,” I added. “So, there's no way I'll ever know where she lives. But these are the outskirts, and they're dangerous. You certainly don't need me to remind you”.

This time, Hermann pursed his lips, not in disapproval, but in realization.

"All right," he finally said. Marcus looked at his father in utter shock, his mouth half open as if he wanted to say something. “Don't look at me like that, Marcus, I'm your father, and I decide. What's your name, lad?"

"Sean," I replied. I knew, however, that he wanted a slightly more articulate answer. "I'm the future Alpha of the Moon Claw pack".

He nodded: my pack's name had a weight even in the Fae world.

"So be it," he decided. “You'll escort them until they enter her neighborhood. After that, you'll leave”.

The instinctive part of me jumped for joy. The other sighed, defeated.

After all, I thought, I'm not doing anything wrong. Protecting a she-wolf in distress is a matter of honor. I'm doing the right thing.

If only it weren't for those strange and inexplicable impulses I felt.

I'll just ignore them, I decided. Sometimes, a few slips can happen, I guess, but I've always been a perfect partner with Jess. I haven't kissed her or cheated on my girlfriend, so ... let's follow honor.

If looks could have killed me, the one Marcus threw at me would have surely shredded me into a thousand tiny werewolf nuggets. But the girl smiled at me, in such a genuine, pure way that it took my breath away.

"Thank you, oh mysterious and handsome savior," she purred, touching my bare arm. It was the lightest and most gentle touch of all, but feeling her fingers brushing on my skin was enough to send tingles down my arm, giving me goosebumps.

Who the hell are you? I wondered, shocked. What are you doing to me? Why couldn't I take my eyes off you as soon as I saw you? Why does your touch affect me like this? What are you?

She slightly narrowed her eyes - it was only a moment, but it filled me with pure dread. Could... heavens above, could have she heard me?

Nah, it's impossible, I thought, shaking my head as if that movement could banish my stupid fears. She's not a member of my pack. We have no ties whatsoever.

"Move," Marcus hissed, pointing at the door with an angry gesture of his chin. His grip on her, I noticed, had grown firmer since she'd touched me.

I held the door open for him as he went out, and in silence, we walked through the streets of Carenna.

The night air was crisp, pure as only smog-free air can be: sure, the subtle smell of manure coming from the fields outside the walls was not particularly pleasant, but it wasn't as bad as the reek of oil. Although I appreciated the benefits of cars, I couldn't ignore what kind of cancer they were - every time I ran through the woods of the human world, I felt nature wither and suffer, smothered by those toxic gases.

Since Marcus and the girl, who had dozed off in his arms, weren't much of company, I began to admire the beauties of the capital: I'd never been there before, and ... well, it was completely different from the villages and small Fae cities I was used to.

The wide central streets were paved and kept spotless, even in the lower quarters, with innovative, barely noticeable sewage systems: it was clear that the king of the Fae, Orion, particularly cared about the aesthetics of his capital. No street lamps were needed: the bright light of the stars was sufficient as illumination, and enveloped buildings, statues, and people with a silver glow, making them appear even more ethereal.

As we walked, the narrow streets grew into larger ones, and finally gave way to large tree-lined avenues; solid, brick houses replaced the wooden, unstable ones of the outskirts, then elegant villas and noble mansions came; we were in the uptown, right under the castle.

I kind of expected it: the way she moved and her well-manicured nails had betrayed that detail, too. Also, the unions between Fae and werewolves were very rare, and almost always combined between powerful families. It was quite obvious that she lived there, among powerful and noble people.

"Here our paths part," Marcus said, breaking his angry silence. “She's no longer in any danger. You're free to go your own way ".

Translated: out of the way, asshole.

Surprisingly, even the wild instincts within me had subsided: now that she was actually safe, there was no longer any need for me to guard her. So, determined more than ever not to further try my luck with a pissed-off Fae whose powers I didn't know and to rush home to my girlfriend, I nodded.

"Goodnight, then," I said with a nod.

Marcus nodded back, and walked away, disappearing into the night.

I stood still on the great main street for a few more seconds; the temptation to follow him, not in order to protect the girl, but to find out where she lived and therefore who she was, was strong.

Then, finally, I shook my head.

What I needed was to forget about her. To keep her nameless, a shadow I met during a night that, if I cared about Jess and our relationship, I'd better forget.

So, I took the portal stone out of my pocket: I closed my eyes, imagined the front door of my pack house, and turned it four times in my palm.

When I opened my eyes, I was home.