Half-Blood Alpha

4. Mate!

*Brody*

'Are you sure you don't want to come with me this time? I heard there's going to be an Angel food cake.' Emery teased through our mind link. 'And if I heard correctly, Blake would make the air-fried pork tenderloin. Your fa-a-a-vorite.' He emphasized the last word.

Although I couldn't see his face, I knew he was smirking. And mentioning my favorite meals was a very low blow, especially as my stomach started to rumble at the thought of the amazingly delicious specialties. But he knew why I didn't want to return.

It's been six years since I last returned home, a long six years of constant involvement in the council's missions. I have traveled almost the world following orders, and even though I missed home dearly, I refused to return each year. Not because I was unwelcomed. No. My brother called and invited me almost every month. He even used his children, Carter and Daisy, to contact me.

They used their melodic voices and sweet faces to convince me to spend Christmas with them, but even to that, I stayed immune.

I wasn't a bad guy, or at least I didn't picture myself as one, but the simple thought of my pack brings back memories I tried to forget. It's been ten years, yet the image of my mother dying in my arms haunts me to this day. Those teary, gray eyes filled with love when she looked at me. That small smile when she finally released her last breath and those f*****g words she said seconds before being gone: Forgive, baby boy.

'Movement at the northern entrance.' An update from one of my fellows made me refocus on my current task.

I shifted my gaze to the left and pressed my wolf's body lower to the ground, blending entirely with the snow. My ears perked up, listening to any sounds.

'When we're done here, I want to go home.' my wolf suddenly demanded.

'You're not in charge here, buddy. I call the shots, and I say,' Not now!' I silenced him, focusing on the movements around the building.

When the council told me about another slimy Alpha working with the rogues, I knew I had to go there. Not just because it's been my work for almost five years but because of some unrestrained desire to fight evil. My wolf wasn't ordinary from my early shift at age sixteen. Not because it was white or as big as Blake's, but because of the sense of redemption. It was not mine or my wolf's, but it felt like the Moon Goddess was trying to fix her mistakes through me.

Through those ten years, I found my vocation, and I won't deviate from this path until I cleanse this world of the scum that slander our kind. As much as my brother and Cam help Uncle Deacon monitor the system and catch potential crimes, the dirty work is contracted to a particular unit. And here goes me and my crew.

'What are the orders, B?' Harlow, my group's healer, asked.

'Observe. Confirm that it's Alpha Jefferson inside. Everyone stay alert.' I said, refocusing on the northern entrance of the old abandoned building.

Not even a minute passed before we got our confirmation. The bastard stepped out of the building, grinning as he looked at the tablet—undoubtedly enjoying some hideous photos.

'Harlow, Taylor, you come from the back. Saorsa and Emery cover the side entrances. I take the front.' I instructed my crew.

My wolf slowly started crawling through the thick snow covering the ground. Our eyes never left the sick Alpha, carefully watching his every move. When we were at a safe distance, we stopped and waited for confirmation from the rest of my crew. When all the spots were secured, I let my wolf stand and fully reveal himself to everyone. When he was finally spotted, all the alarms went off, signaling my crew to invade the building.

I burst through the extensive and rotten door into the foyer, searching for the f*****g traitor. Although his man and the filthy rogues heavily guarded him, I saw the panic and fear in his eyes. My wolf snarled baring its fangs. It was going to be fun. He has not had it in a long time.

'Search the building. The girl should be here. Leave one rogue and the Alpha for interrogation. The rest, kill on the spot.' I linked everyone.

Before I could carefully analyze the situation, a dark-colored wolf jumped on me from the left, aiming for my throat. At the right moment, I sidestepped and lifted my right paw, tearing through his larynx and killing him instantly. Others rushed towards me as soon as his body fell lifelessly to the ground, and the real fun began. As a well-trained soldier, I knew how to fight to avoid getting tired and do as much harm as possible. With Cameron's training and my wolf's innate extraordinary skills, the fight seemed like a simple dance among laypeople.

It was refreshing to give my wolf complete control. I let my wolf bite, tear, and pierce every hot flesh I encountered. The ferocity with which he fought through the incoming crowd of rogues made me think we were fighting for something far more critical than I thought. When the last rogue was down, the ground was covered with a ton of blood, and the fur swirled in the air. I opened my eyes and connected with my wolf again. He stood proudly over the pile of dead, ragged, and unrecognizable bodies. His beautiful, shiny white fur was now drenched in bloody red goo.

'Report,' I linked to my crew while sniffing the air.

The mixture of sweat, blood, and dirt was so intense that it was almost impossible to detect other scents. Although my wolf had an unexpectedly keen sense of smell, it was hard even for him to catch the girl's scent. Taking a few steps forward and straining the sense of smell and hearing, he could finally feel an erratically beating heart on the next floor. After getting satisfactory answers from my comrades, he walked up the stairs, still looking around carefully.

Though all enemies had been neutralized, I knew to avoid underestimating them and always expected an attack. Reaching the upper floor, the scent of Alpha Kinsley's daughter intensified, alerting us that we were heading in the right direction. Yet, with every step, my wolf began to act strangely.

'What's wrong?' I worried.

'I'm not sure,' he replied. 'It feels like the building is hiding more than just a girl.' He sniffed the air, but nothing unusual was noticeable—until one little fruity note filled our noses and led our eyes to the floor. Right next to the door from which the girl's scent was wafting, a small, old, dried blood stain made my heart beat faster, and my paws froze in motion.

'What's wrong, B? What do you sense?' Emery suddenly panted behind me.

'Not sure yet. But stay on standby.' I commanded and looked towards Harlow, slowly approaching from the other side.

With an understanding nod, she shifted into her human form and untied the bundle of clothes from her legs. She quickly put on shorts and a tank top before handing me a pair of shorts. My shift was quicker than my exhale, and the blue shorts covered my junk in no time. I reached for the handle and slowly turned it. Surprisingly, the doors were unlocked, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine. We exchanged concerned looks, hoping we wouldn't make a gruesome discovery.

Holding my breath, I pushed open the door and walked in with Harlow close behind me. Emery stood at the entrance, still in his wolf's form, in case his assistance was necessary. The room was dark and seemed empty, but gentle, shallow breaths and a faint heartbeat from the left corner relieved me. Adjusting my eyesight to night vision, I noticed a trembling and curled body in a fetal position. Harlow did the same, and with a surprised gasp, she ran to the girl to check her vital signs. I used that moment to scout the room and open the curtains.

"Grrr," Emery growled lowly, peeking his muzzle at the scene.

"Calm down, Emery." I recommended, "Let Harlow work her magic before we get the f**k out of this filthy hole." I announced, sensing the same fruity scent as before.

'Tear the damn room down,' my wolf demanded.

'What are we looking for?' I asked, suspecting his answer would turn my world upside down.

'Tear it down!!' He insisted, and I almost gave in, but Harlow distracted me.

"She's alive. A bit malnourished and dehydrated, but thankfully, she's not seriously injured." She reported trying to wake up the girl.

"Was she?" I hesitated, knowing Harlow would understand what I was asking.

"I see no signs. So, I assume nothing happened. But we need to transport her to the nearest hospital. She needs fluids and a full body checkup." She reported and summoned Emery to assist her.

"hm-na." The girl began to delude.

Harlow tried to decipher the words, putting her ear closer to the girl's mouth. The girl repeated the exact words until Harlow finally understood her.

"Una. It's a name." She smiled as she thought the girl was beginning to regain consciousness. "She said her name. It is a good sign." She exhaled as she placed her on Emery's back, tying her with ropes.

"It's not hers." I explained, "Her name is Natalie. She's Alpha Greyson Kinsley's youngest daughter. Alpha Jefferson wanted her as his chosen mate." I clarified, narrowing my eyes at Harlow when suddenly, the fruity scent hit me with a double dose. My eyes wandered to a small piece of fabric falling to the floor under Emery's paws. In the blink of an eye, I inhaled the intoxicating aroma of peaches in the summer breeze. It smelt so good that I wanted to drench myself in it.

'Mate!'

And just like that, my wolf's statement turned my world upside-down. My pulse quickened, my heart pounded like a hammer, and sweat covered my forehead. I let myself stay in that moment for a second, ignoring all my colleagues' concerns.

'Tear the damn room and find our mate!' Once again, my wolf commanded, and I followed his instructions this time.

"Take her out of here! Take Saorsa with you and report to the council." I ushered Emery and Harlow out of the room. 'Taylor, I need you to stay with me.' I linked him, and he appeared beside me in seconds.

'Why's the sudden change of plans?' He asked, confused.

'I think my mate is here.' I dropped the bomb and watched as his red-orange eyes widened in shock. 'Where do you need me?' He linked for instructions.

I watched as Emery's brown wolf disappeared around the corner before I returned to Taylor with information.

"I smelled her scent before we went in, and now it's even more intense on this handkerchief." I showed him the dirty and bloody fabric.

Taylor put it to his nose and inhaled it. His eyes briefly changed color, and his fangs elongated slightly. I was blessed with a great sense of smell, but Taylor, being a vampire, was on a much higher level than me. Without a word, he entered the room and looked around before focusing on the boarded-up wall. His predatory steps towards it made me elongate my incisors and claws in case of an attack.

"I sense a pulse behind that wall." Taylor hissed, preparing his fist to hit it.

"But it's a corner room. There's nothing behind it." I informed him, but he only shook his head at my cluelessness. "Not behind the wall. Inside it." He clarified and slammed his fist into the wall.

The moment his fist created the whole, the sweet scent of my mate filled the filthy room. My wolf kicked in, and we joined Taylor in tearing the wall down. The more pieces fell off, the more my heart raced. My hands were breaking off pieces of the wall at breakneck speed.

"I see something," Taylor whispered, doubling my wolf's strength. The wall came down with a loud thud. When the dust finally settled and the small space became expressive, my world turned upside down and froze.

"Don't touch her!" I barked, approaching a little creature curled up in a ball.

This unpleasant sight left my wolf stunned, speechless, and hurt. She was breathing, and her heart was beating, but she needed immediate medical attention. I slowly crouched down and brushed back her long, matted blond hair, revealing a small, skinny face. She was sleeping so deep that she didn't even hear the commotion.

'Mate,' rumbled my wolf again.

'I know, buddy. I know. We need to be careful.' I warned him and picked my little mate up.

The electric current that ran through my body from our skin contact caused my mate to stir in my arms and snuggle into my chest. Although she was in worse condition than Natalie, I couldn't stop admiring her beauty.

'Greta was right. She is beautiful.' My wolf complimented her.

I sighed and nodded at his comment. She was indeed beautiful. And now she was finally MINE. Walking out of that room with my mate sleeping in my arms, I started to form a plan.

'Whoever did this to her will pay. That's my new mission.' I linked to Taylor and cut the connection as we exited the building and ran to the nearest hospital.