Alex

Running away from Leah was the hardest thing I've had to do in a long time. My wolf fought me with every inch of space I put in between us. I even had to wrestle him for control at one point. He knows we need to do this. That we need to protect the pack and, by extension, protect Leah. But it's so damn hard. I felt her pain through our bond. The same ache that mirrored in my own chest. There was no doubt, from the moment she woke up, that our bond was as strong as a fated mate bond. Everything felt just as strong as with Julie. Maybe even more so since we took the time to get to know each other, to love each other before we were marked. Everyone says your fated mate is built for you, everything about them is made to fit with you, but I have a hard time believing the same isn't true for Leah.

I let thoughts of my little mate fill my mind on the long, boring run. It took me hours to reach Alpha Knox and I managed to only link Leah once. I would have kept up a running commentary with her, but I didn't want her to feel my absence even more than she already was. While talking to her helped ease the pain, it also made me feel the distance more acutely.

Reaching Alpha Knox's camp, I stopped on the outskirts to shift and get dressed. I was a little tired from the run, but some food and rest would bring me back to my top form. I approached the border wolves, knowing my human form would let them know I'm not a risk. One of them shifted to speak with me.

"Who are you?" He asks skeptically. I can't blame him, an unfamiliar wolf with an Alpha aura can be daunting.

"I am Alpha Alexander. Alpha Knox is expecting me." I say curtly, letting more of my aura out. With my pack members I'm basically a teddy bear, but with outsiders I'm firm and unyielding.

The male nods before mind linking and I stand to wait, widening my stance and folding my arms across my chest. The symbol of a dominant Alpha.

"Alpha Alex!" I hear called, in a jolly tone. I turn my head to see Alpha Knox ambling over to me, a beer in one hand and a turkey leg in the other.

Apparently this is a vacation to him.

"Knox. What are you doing?" I ask, motioning towards the food.

"Enjoying the thrill of the hunt." He says with boisterous laughter and I can't stop my eye roll.

"Come. Let's get you fed. It was a long run I'm sure you're hungry." He says and I nod before following him.

"When are we striking?" I ask and the man huffs at me.

Fucking huffs.

"Slow down, slow down. We can take some time, there's no rush." He says and I feel my anger stewing.

"There is a rush, Knox. I need to get back to my pack. To my mate." I say firmly and Knox gets a knowing grin on his face.

"I see your mark. Part of me can't believe you went through with it. How is the little human?" He asks and I growl low at the percieved slight. He chuckles again and smacks my back.

"No offense, Alex. She seemed like quite the spitfire." He says chuckling and I push my wolf down.

"She is. She's amazing." I say firmly and Knox nods.

"You're mated to a human?" One of the fighters asks and I nod.

"A choice mate." Knox supplies and the surprise is evident on the man's face.

"Is she your Luna?" He asks and I nod again. The man looks thoughtful, but doesn't say anything else.

"You let a human be Luna?" Another fighter asks and I snarl at him, surprising everyone.

"She's a born Luna." I say, not tolerating any disrespect towards my mate.

"She was dear old Silas' mate." Knox says and one of the guys laughs.

"No better disrespect to the prick than marking his mate. Poor girl. How'd she fair with him?" He asks and I sigh before running my hand down my face.

"Not well. He treated her horribly." I say, not bothering to mask the sadness on my face. They nod and drop the question. Knox sighs before patting my back again.

"Eat, Alex. Then come find me in my tent. We'll discuss battle plans before we engage." He says and I nod before watching him walk away.

The young man from earlier, the one who asked if Leah is my Luna, approaches me with a plate full of food.

"May I talk to you, Alpha?" He asks and I nod my head.

"What's your name?" I ask.

"Jeremy." He responds.

"How can I help you, Jeremy?" I ask as I dig into the food he brought me.

"I was wondering... We, my mate and I, are members of Alpha Drake's pack. He sent a few of us to help, these rogues have been spotted along our pack. Anyway... My mate, Shelby, she's human. And well, my pack doesn't take to human mates well." He says and I narrow my eyes at him.

"Not even fated mates?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"My parents wanted me to reject her, but I could never do that. I never cared that she's human. Only that she's mine." He says with a little grin that makes me smile.

"I'm sorry you've gone through that, son. It's not right. Wolves need to realize that humans are not inferior to us. My Leah has brought so much to my pack. Joy, kindness, laughter. I am so grateful for her." I say wistfully as my chest pinches painfully with missing her.

"I was wondering if maybe Shelby and I could request to transfer to your pack? I know she's not happy there. She tries to hide it for me, because I grew up there and she wants me to be happy, but I'd rather see joy on her face than anything else." He says and I nod in understanding.

"I feel the same way about my mate. Finding her in that cell when we fought Silas, I knew there was something different about her. Special. That she would be important to me. You're a good man for wanting to do the right thing for your mate. To make her happy and keep her safe." I say, patting the young man on the back. He gives me a warm smile and I think the thing this boy needs more than a welcoming pack is a good Alpha. A good father figure.

"We would be happy to have you and Shelby in our pack. In fact, if you make the request you could meet her there on our way back." I say and his eyes brighten at the prospect.

"Really? You'd do that for us?" He asks and I nod.

"Talk to Drake. Let me know what he says. I could send my sister to collect your mate if need be. We can always use good fighters, and your mate would be welcomed with open arms, just like my Leah was." I say, emotion clogging in my throat with appreciation for my pack. This was something I hadn't considered when mating Leah. That others who have been wrongfully treated because their mate is a human might want to transfer to our pack. Find refuge from the taunts and sneers of those who think humans are beneath us.

An Alpha choosing a human for a mate is a big deal and not commonly done. In fact, I had never heard of it before. Perhaps we could be a stepping stone. The first movement in the direction of acceptance and change.

"Thank you so much, Alpha Alex. You have no idea what this will mean to Shelby and I." He says with a beaming smile.

"After seeing the look on Leah's face when she was linked to our pack, the way she thanked me for giving her a family, I think I have a small idea. But can you do me a favor?" I ask conspiritorially.

"Anything, Alpha." He says excitedly making me chuckle.

"Let anyone else with a human mate experiencing the same problems as you know, they are welcome to request a transfer to our pack. I will need to clear them first, but everyone is welcome to at least ask." I say and Jeremy nods enthusiastically.

"I know of quite a few, Alpha. It's a shame really. I was always taught to respect the mate bond. To cherish it. And then when I find her my pack tried to shun us, to get me to throw it away. It still pisses me off." He says, anger pouring from him. I nod and grip his shoulder.

"Then let's make some changes, even if it's only in our own small way." I say and he shakes my hand again before going to talk to a few of the other fighters.

If this is how we get some more warriors for our pack, I'm fine with that.

'Leah, baby?' I link her and feel our link connect in the next moment.

'Miss me already?' She asks cheekily and I can't help but laugh.

'You know it. I wanted to alert you we may have some transfers into the pack.' I say and I can feel her curiosity humming through our bond.

'Who?' She asks.

'Some fighters from other packs. They are having issues with their packs because they have human mates.' I say gravely and her curiosity morphs into annoyance.

'That's awful.' She seethes.

'It is. So we are going to offer them a safe and welcoming place to call home.' Affection flits through our bond and I feel my heart grow in my chest.

'That's amazing, Alex. I'm so proud of you.' She says warmly.

'It's all because of you, little one.'