Spare Me Alpha but I Want Your Beta

Chapter 12- Green-Eyed

Nathaniel's POV

Leaving Alexa was so hard. I wanted to take her right then and there, against the door. I wasn't sure if she was ready for sex, but it didn't matter. I would wait as long as she needed me too. I mind linked the guys, letting them know that we were meeting at the practice grounds. These guys were my friends-no, my brothers-- and if anything, they were the ones I could trust. Plus, before Alexa moved in, I needed to make it clear that she was mine.

"Shit!" I said out loud, remembering something. I forgot my cell phone on her bedside table. It was the only way I could keep in touch with her-I needed to get it back. It shouldn't have mattered, but somehow, her safety was my concern. Somehow, where Alexa was concerned, it made me paranoid. It would put my wolf at ease to know that she was alright. And the cell phone was my only line of communication with her. Taking a U-turn, I made my way back to the motel, and smiled as I thought of seeing her beautiful face again.

'Nate? We're all here at the grounds. Where are you?' Adam asked.

'Yeah, give me an hour; send the guys out for rounds until I get there,' I stated. I didn't want him to think I was going to go bad shit crazy like I did with Marcus.

'Alright, man. I'll see you then.'

It was just after lunch time, and I knew Alexa probably hadn't stopped to eat. She seemed eager to be moving out of that shit hole, but who could blame her? Even though she bought things to clean it up and make it homely, it just didn't seem like her. I was going to give her the best of everything as long as she let me. I pulled up to the Chinese takeout bought some food for her. I wasn't sure what she liked, so I bought four different meals, keeping one for myself. At the same time, I felt like a stupid, overprotective wolf. What the hell was wrong with me? Since when had Alexa become so important? Life-threateningly important? I shook my head and got back into the car.

Pulling up to the motel, I got out and this time knocked like a normal person. Dahlia answered the door, and I was surprised that Mason actually listened to me when I told him to take her home right after school.

She broke into a teasing, welcome smile. "Hey Nate, how are you?" she said in a suspiciously cheerful tone. Like she knew something that I didn't. I smiled back at her her gaze.

"Hello Dahlia, I'm good. Can I come in?" I asked while she held the door open just enough to put herself in the way. She tapped her feet to the ground.

"Nate...if you're looking for Mason, he's not here," she said with a smirk playing on her lips. Okay, so she wanted to know what the hell I was doing here.

"I know Mason's not here. Actually, I came here to drop off some food for you and your sister, and get my cell phone that I left," I said, and then realized that she didn't know I'd come in earlier. Great, Nate, digging yourself deeper into the hole.

"Oh. Well, thank you for the food, Nate. That's really nice of you. Come on in," she said in a mischievous tone. I was about to step in, when she stopped, and I bumped into her. She turned.

"One more question. Why is your cell phone here?" she said, getting all serious, and quirked an eyebrow at me. Jeez, she looked a different version of Alexa, it was weird. I ran my fingers through my hair, slightly embarrassed. What was I going to tell her? What if Alexa didn't tell her about us? I was quickly brought out of my thoughts when she started laughing.

"Ah, that was so good! You should have seen your face! Don't worry, big guy, I don't need to know about you and my sister's sex capades." She walked away, laughing, leaving me to stare at her dumbfounded. Shaking my head, I closed the door. Man, Mason was going to be on pins and needles with that one. I placed the food on the table and walked down the hall. I heard her giggling then, and I stood in the doorway of her room, listening to the pleasing sound. She was sitting on the bed with her back towards me.

"Look, Jonah, I've got to go, but I'll call you later. Love you!" she made a few kissing sounds in the air, and hung up, looking happy and pleased. Suddenly, it seemed like I'd been knocked over. She was on the phone with another man, and she loved him. The ache that I felt in my chest hurt badly. I was pissed-no, I was jealous. Jealous of the affectionate words she'd just spoken to another male.

She got off her bed, and turned to walk out, when she stumbled into me, and looked up in surprise.

"Nate? What's wrong?" She questioned in a concerned tone.

I was still trying to get myself in order, trying to believe that what I'd just heard was real. I was afraid to say something to her that I would regret, so I walked around her and grabbed my cell off the bedside table, and walked out the room past her. I knew I should let her explain, but my jealousy got in the way of my rational thinking.

"Nate!" she called after me. I kept walking. I felt like the room was closing in on me, and my wolf wanted out.

"Nathaniel! Stop right there, or I swear to god, if you walk out that door without telling me what the hell is going on, don't bother coming back!"

I stopped dead in my tracks. Was she serious? Why was she mad? I was supposed to be mad. I could hear her heartbeat going a mile a minute.

"What is he to you?" I hissed at her. By then, Dahlia had come out, sensing the tension. "I am going to go for a walk," she announced. Neither of us looked at her. When I heard the door shut, I turned to face Alexa.

"What the hell are you talking about, Nate?" she asked warily. I winched; I didn't like to be the one to cause her pain. Still, she'd just made me realize that maybe I was not supposed to be in her life. Maybe there was someone else...

"I heard you, on the phone, telling that guy that you loved him. If you have feelings for someone else, then you need to let me know, because I don't want to lead on.

She stared at me with an worry expression, until her eyes flared with anger. "So you overheard a conversation I was having, without my knowledge, and on top of that assumed that I was in love with another man? Did that sum it up for you, Nate?" she said in that same tone of voice. I scowled, and she glared back at me, taking a step closer, as if daring me to contradict her. "Answer me, damn it!" she yelled.

"Yes! Damn it! I fucking overheard your conversation, and I'm not going to apologize for being envious of another man and hearing you tell him that you love him. Why? Because even though you're not my mate and I've only known you for a few days, I am falling for you, Alexa!" I yelled back. For a few moments, an ominous silence fell between us, and I was conscious of the words that I'd just spoken.

She stared at me with big green eyes, and I couldn't tell what she was feeling.

"What?" she whispered finally. Maybe it was too soon to say it. But I couldn't hold in the words any longer. I'd fallen for you. Who would have thought that could happen? She turned her back towards me, and I began feeling agitated beyond belief. Maybe it was too soon? What if I scared her...?

"He's my best friend," she said. Guilt crashed over me like a ton of bricks. I didn't know what to say. Sorry for being a dick? I'd be lucky if she ever talked to me again. Taking a deep breath, I walked towards her, wrapping my arms around her, her back lying against my chest. A silent sigh escaped her lips-she sounded like she was reeling from what I'd told her.

"I'm so sorry, Alexa," I gently whispered in her ear. "If you want me to leave, I will. If you need space to think, I'll give you that. I'll do whatever you ask." I held her tight, breathing in her scent, trying to assure her of my sincerity.

"I don't need space, Nate. I need trust. And if you can't give me that, then we're not going to work," she said softly. I nodded, and feathered kisses on her neck.

"I can do that, but I do want to be honest with you. I'm a very possessive and jealous wolf. If you can handle that, then I think we have an understanding?" She turned to face me, and I framed her face delicately in my hands. We stared at each other, and something unspoken seemed to pass between us. What was she doing to me? In only a couple of days, she was working her magic on me. I was like a lovesick puppy, and it was all because of this rogue in front of me-whom I now valued more than anyone else in my life.

"Okay," she said, "I guess I can handle that." Her lips twitched, and it seemed like she was finding my confession amusing. I narrowed my eyes slightly, and she looked back innocently at me.

'Nate, we're done with rounds. All clear,' Adam mind linked me.

I broke from my Alexa-induced haze, and realized that I was supposed to meet them at the practice grounds. Fuck, I totally lost track of time. 'Ok, fifteen minutes. I'll be at the grounds,' I answered back.

"As much as I hate to leave you again, I have to meet the guys at the practice grounds," I told Alexa, and slightly cocked my head to look at her. "You're not mad at me anymore, are you?"

"No. Are you?" she asked back.

I grinned. "No." I didn't want to leave her. Damn, I wished I could take her with me! But she was going to be with me tonight, which made me feel better, and I can hardly wait.

"Now go before the guys clown your ass for hanging out with a rogue," she began pushing me towards the door with a grin. I kissed her nose, then her cheeks, her forehead, and then her lips. And once I started, it became difficult to stop. She was like a drug to me and I was totally bowled over. She whimpered, kissing me back, and moments later, I laid my forehead against hers. "I bought some lunch for you-- it's over on the table. Don't forget to eat," I reminded her. She nodded, looking breathless and beautiful. We smiled. Then I kissed her again. "I'm going to run in wolf form, so I'm leaving my truck here, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind," she whispered.

With one last kiss, I pulled back and grinned at her. "See you tonight, Alexa."

She shook her head, and waved me away. I went out back and shifted on all fours, running my way towards the grounds. Within ten minutes, I was at the designated meeting spot, and the guys were horsing around, waiting for me.

'Adam, grab me some shorts,' I said, walking towards them. He handed me them, and I shifted and changed. They were all looking at me, waiting for me to speak.

I wasn't exactly nervous, but this was not something that I usually did. I cleared my throat and said, "So I don't normally do this, but I have been a dick lately, especially to Marcus and Adam. I want to apologize for my actions as the Beta of Crescent Falls, I apologize to you all if I have let you down in any way, or overlooked my duties as your Beta."

Asking for apologies in front of the guys was unnerving. I never did it, it was not me. But today bullshit aside it was worth it. "This is going to be the last and only time I will be offering apologies, so do what you want with them." I turned to Marcus.

"We're good, man, you know. You're like family, and what's a family with no drama?" he said while slapping me on the back, and grabbing me in a man hug.

"There's another thing," I said, calling them to attention once again, "I also wanted everyone to know that the two female rogues who turned up on our land a couple of days ago, are under my protection now. They are not to be messed with in any way, nor looked at in any other fashion than with respect. I did speak to Alpha Nick, and I will be presenting them on Saturday as part of our pack. Is that clear?" I asked, looking each one of them in the eye. They all looked confused and dumbfounded, and I knew that this was going to be their reaction. "Your questions will be answered at Saturday's ceremony." They nodded. "That is all. You may go back to what you were doing, if you don't have hourly rounds." With that, everyone scattered.

"So, can you at least tell me if she's your mate?" Adam asked me as soon as we were left alone.

"No, she's not, but she's mine."

"That's risky, man, don't you think?"

"I guess it is, but I don't care. Maybe the moon goddess put her in my path for a reason."

"She is a beauty."

I growled under my breath. He immediately held up his hands in defense.

"Alright, alright, touchy subject, but I have to say she's already got you changing your ways. I mean, public apologies? That's fucking epic. She's taming the big bad wolf! I like her already," he said while laughing. I rolled my eyes. So that was what they said about me when I wasn't around. I chuckled, shaking my head. Assholes. I started walking away, wondering why Mason hadn't been here with the others right now.

"Have you seen Mason? He was supposed to be here," I asked, unable to spot him anywhere.

"No man, ask his buddies. They're over by the lake, picking up on the ladies. Man, I miss high school." I laughed.

"Dude, you were never there. I'm surprised you even graduated," I said with a chuckle. He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Hey, if it wasn't for me skipping, I would never have found Chloe. So no regrets-- I would do it all over again," he stated. Lucky bastard, he found his mate as soon as he turned sixteen.

Coming up towards the lake, I found a few of Mason's friends.

"Hey, have any of you seen Mason lately?" I asked all of them, and they looked back at me terrified, like I was going to rip their throats out.

"Well?" I said a little impatiently.

"He bolted out of here like a bat out of hell. It was something about his mate," one of the boys said; I think his name was John. I nodded.

I tried to mind link him, but nothing. I started to feel uneasy. I grabbed my cell, dialing Alexa. No answer. Something wasn't right. I kept trying to push through to him and came up empty.

"I have to get out of here, Adam. Something isn't right, and I can't get through to Mason," I stated.

"You want me to get a couple guys to follow you?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm heading towards the motel in town." With that, I shifted into my wolf and sprinted towards town.

Running through the trees, I felt my heart pounding in my chest. Something was wrong. I started to feel really scared. That's when I heard a piercing scream. I ran faster than my paws could take. What I stumbled upon, drained all the blood from my body. Mason was in his wolf form, standing protectively in front of Dahlia while she was in her first phase, and Alexa was in a beautiful silvery white wolf form with blood coating her fur. I frantically looked to see where she was injured. She growled at Mason, and Mason growled and snapped at her. He was protecting his mate, while Alexa was trying to get to her sister.

Ah shit, this wasn't going to be easy.