Saved by the Alpha

3

Avery's POV 

The clock strikes midnight and my hope fades with every minute that goes by. Besides my pack, there are three other packs here as well. None of the she wolves stick out to me and I don't smell my mate nearby. Such utter disappointment. I plaster a smile on my face however, and go around greeting the guests and the other pack alphas and lunas. Everyone seems to be enjoying the celebration and different girls keep approaching me and trying to touch my hand to see if there are any sparks.  After awhile, it started to get annoying, so I shifted and went for a run. My wolf is bigger than most, because I have alpha blood in me. My wolf has black fur and powerful speed. I run all the way to the waterfall and lay on the dirt. I always go here to clear my mind and relax. The cascading sounds of the water are soothing and comforting to me. 

I didn't know what time it was when I woke up. I didn't mean to fall asleep, but it was too peaceful not to. I run back to my pack and see there are still a few people left enjoying the party. My beta and third being two of them. Kevin was dancing way too closely with a member from another pack. Maybe he found his mate? My question is answered when another girl approaches and joins them. I notice Kevin place a hand on each one of their lower backs and led them inside. Definitely, not his mate. 

Jackson on the other hand was sitting on one of the benches talking with a girl I have never seen before. The smile never leaving his face as he stared and talked with her. Now, with him, I am almost sure that is his mate. He never looks this giddy around a girl. I'll have to talk to him tomorrow about that to find out for sure. 

As I head back into the packhouse, I'm stopped in the hallway by my father. "Could you come to my office for a minute?" I nod my head and follow him. I plop down and wait for his lecture about me running off, I bet. "Where did you take off to son?" Knew it. 

"I was overwhelmed and disgusted by all the she wolves trying to touch me. My mate wasn't here tonight. I needed to run for some fresh air." 

"Mhmm. I see. You do know that you have an entire pack to run, correct? You can't be running away or hiding from your problems. You will find your mate when the time comes. For now, we all need you to be the great leader that I know you will be." 

"Thank dad. I understand." 

"Good, get some sleep. Tomorrow is your first official day as alpha."

"Goodnight." I say as I leave the office and head to my room. 

The next day I was in my new office from morning to evening. Luckily, I didn't have to deal with rogue attacks or anything too drastic. Jackson reported back to me with how training is going and Kevin would come in my office to hand my piles of paperwork. We are one of the biggest and toughest packs, which means we get lots of requests from other packs to meet. They all want to form an alliance, so that we can protect them when needed. 

After a long day, Kevin invited me to go out with him into the human town near our border. He wanted to go get drinks and laugh at how stupid some humans get when they are drunk. Since we are wolves, we have a high tolerance which makes it almost impossible to get drunk. It's not really my thing, but I could use a break. I inform Jackson that I will be out and to call me if any problem arises. 

I drive to the town, since I feel more comfortable being in control. I pull into a parking garage and Kevin and I make our way down main street. As we get closer to the bar Kevin wants to visit first, I'm hit with an intoxicating smell. "Do you smell that?" I ask my friend and he looks at me confused. "Smell what?" 

"It smells like chocolate and strawberries." He scrunches his nose and says, "I smell garbage and way too much cologne and perfume on these people passing by us." 

"Come on, it's getting stronger the closer we get to your beloved bar." When we arrive to the place, my heart clenches at the sight in front of us. Sitting on the sidewalk is a woman who is the definition of beauty. She has messy, curly brown hair, plump-chapped lips, and then it happens. Those deep green eyes make contact with mine and I hear my wolf say, mate.

I mind-link Kevin and tell him that she's my mate. His jaw hits the ground and he approaches her with me. "Hello, beautiful. May I ask what you are doing out here on the ground?" 

"Can't you read?" She points to the sign she is holding which reads, Please help us. Baby and I are hungry. I look down and sure enough, she has a huge bump. My wolf immediately gets angry and I don't blame him. I can't help but feel hurt and jealous. That should be my pup inside her. 

Kevin whips out his wallet and hands her fifty dollars. She goes to grab it, but I snatch it away. "What the hell!?" She yells at me. She sure is a feisty one. 

"You want help?" I ask her as warm and nicely that I could muster up. Still feeling pent up anger inside. 

"Yes and your friend was about to help me before you stole my money, bastard." Damn, the things I want to do to that pretty mouth of hers. s**t. Focus. 

"I can offer you something better." I state. She starts laughing and says, "Don't waste your time. I don't have s*x for money. I'm not a f*****g prostitute." I sigh, and am having a difficult time remaining calm. I've never felt like this before. I'm usually quite peaceful and level headed, but this woman is testing my limits. Meanwhile, Kevin is trying his hardest not to laugh at my situation. 

"That's not what I am offering." 

"Then what?" She sneers at me. 

"I can provide you with anything you want. Anything you and the baby will ever need. Just, come stay with me until you can get back on your feet."

She laughs uncontrollably, as if it's the funniest thing she ever heard. "What's so funny?" I finally ask her when she calms down a bit. 

"You want me to come live with a total stranger who promises anything my heart desires. I don't believe in fairy tales romeo. s**t like what you're offering me doesn't exist. This is just some plot to get me to your place, so you can force yourself on me. I'm not an idiot."  Her eyes looked full of pain at that last sentence she spat out. Quickly covering it with anger. 

"Just, leave me alone."

Kevin nudged me, "Come on. You heard the lady." Reluctantly, I went inside the bar with him. Not before placing $500 in her beat up cup that she was holding.