Navigating the Storm

Addy

I can feel the tears welling up, threatening to spill over as he joins us at the table. My body is on high alert, bracing for the words that are sure to come next. My mind is steeling itself for the heartbreak that’s about to ensue, my body tensing in anticipation.

He meets my gaze before reaching out to take my trembling hand. The spark that ignites between us has my wolf looking up into the eyes of the man who will become the most important person in our life. “Addy, why are you so nervous? I’m not going to reject the idea of us being mates.”

I try to pull my hand away, but his grip tightens, holding me in place. His eyes scan the purple hues peeking out from under my sleeve. “I’m not right for you,” I whisper. “Please, just get it over with so we can move on.”

He rises, his large frame sliding in next to me as I attempt to escape from the other side of the bench. An arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back to him. His finger lifts my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes, eyes filled with love. “I told you, there’s no need to fear rejection from me, Addy. The moon goddess made us mates for a reason; I can’t just ignore that.”

“But what about Macie?” I glance back at the table. “She’s going to make my life hell because of this.”

He chuckles. “Let me worry about her. I promise you, if anyone hurts you, they’ll pay dearly. No one can harm my mate, let alone the future Luna of their pack.”

Tears start to stream down my face as his hand slowly reaches up to wipe them away. “You don’t understand. Your whole life has been planned around your title. I’m just a ~reject~, an outcast. I’m nothing.”

His fingers tighten slightly under my chin, holding me in place. His other hand wipes away my tears. “You’re everything to me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to show you how important our bond is.”

“There you are,” a voice echoes across the courtyard. His hand drops quickly and I cringe, looking back down at my food. “Why are you out here with your sister and the ~reject~?”

A low growl rumbles in his chest. “I’ll talk to you later, Macie. Right now, we’re having lunch with these two.”

She stomps her foot. “You’re supposed to be eating with me and our friends. Come inside where it’s nicer and not filled with this awful smell.”

He’s on his feet before I can blink, standing toe to toe with her. “Watch your mouth, Macie. I’ve done some digging and talked to a lot of people. It seems most of the attacks on Addy have been orchestrated by you. I told everyone to leave her alone, yet she was attacked again yesterday before my sister could step in.”

She rolls her eyes and looks up at him with a sweet smile. “They just use my name to avoid getting in trouble. I would never go against your orders, love.”

Ryan snorts, causing her to narrow her eyes at him. “We’ve seen videos today of you promising rewards to the group that attacked her. I’m guessing clothes for the girls and electronics for the boys?”

Her face turns a deep shade of red. “Baby, you don’t believe him, do you?”

His gaze never leaves hers. “The video confirms what he said. I saw it with my own eyes, Macie. You’ve been ignoring my orders and hiding your true nature behind my name. My Beta wouldn’t lie to me, especially not about this.”

She reaches for him, but he steps back out of her reach. “You’re taking his word over mine? I’m going to be your wife, the Luna of our pack. People should listen to me.”

A harsh laugh escapes his lips. “You’re not going to be any of those things. How many times do I have to tell you that you’ll never be my mate? Your attitude and behavior are far from acceptable.”

Her body trembles at his words, and then her gaze locks onto mine. “Why are you protecting her now? There were never any problems before the last attack.”

He returns to his seat next to me. “I’ve finally seen what’s been happening right under my nose. My sister has been begging me for years to help Addy, but I let my future cloud my judgment. I ignored the suffering of a pack member at the hands of another. That ends now. You will answer to me or my father if it continues. Do you understand?”

A wicked smirk crosses her lips as she looks at Myra. “Of course I understand. You’ve taken pity on the ~reject~ at your sister’s request.”

His low growl brings her attention back to him. “You’ve been warned, Macie. I suggest you find a way home after school. I won’t be giving you a ride anymore.”

She recoils as her lip trembles. “Why? We were going to go back to your room and have fun like we always do.”

His eyes darken, a sign that his wolf is close to the surface. “Not anymore. We’re done. Find someone else to manipulate; it won’t be me anymore.”

She screams, “You can’t do this; I’m your girlfriend. What’s gotten into you? We were fine just an hour ago.” Her eyes narrow at me. “It’s her. What did she do to you when she ran down the hall?”

He points a clawed finger at her. “I’ve said what I needed to. Get the fuck away from me. You’re not invited to my sister’s birthday party tomorrow either. You’re not welcome.”

Her lips tremble and tears slide down her face. “I was supposed to be your date. You can’t tell me that your future wife can’t be by your side.”

A crowd has gathered in the courtyard, watching her meltdown like it’s a spectacle.

He stabs a piece of broccoli with his fork and points it at her. “I’ve spoken, Macie. Get out of my sight. If you try to come to the party, my guards will escort you off the property. You know the power I hold. I suggest you take some time this afternoon to let everything sink in. Unless you find your true mate, I can’t allow you to be around my family or friends anymore because of what you’ve done behind my back. Conner, please escort her away.”

His gamma steps forward, grabbing her arm, but she jerks it away. She starts to advance on us, but Ryan and Conner block her path.

“Macie, you need to leave before we escort you off school property. This is your last warning,” Ryan’s voice drops to a deadly tone.

She points a finger at me. “You’ll regret this, ~reject~. He’s mine. I’ll have him back by sunset.”

She spins around and growls at the crowd before storming back inside. The other students follow, returning to their tables. I let out a long breath and turn to him. “See, this will never end. I can’t do this with you.”

He sets his fork down and takes my hands. “Yes, you can. It’s scary, I know, but you’ll be protected. My sister will be with you when you go places where guys can’t go, and I’ll assign someone to be your bodyguard. I see now what everyone was trying to tell me about her. I wasn’t thinking clearly or seeing what I needed to.”

Ryan snorts. “You can say that again. I’m just glad you saw the light before things got worse. She’s crazier than I thought.”

A blond-haired boy appears at the door and walks towards us. He has a charming smile and gives a slight bow as he approaches. “You asked for me, Alpha?”

He nods. “Yes, Kevin. I have a mission for you.”

His eyes light up. “Of course. What do you need me to do?”

He turns to me and smiles. “You’re going to be Addy’s bodyguard starting now. Macie’s lost it and might try to attack her again. I promised my sister that I’d protect her from anyone who disobeys my order to leave her alone.”

His smile fades. “You want me to be her bodyguard? The ~reject~?”

Drake’s voice is a low rumble as he looks up. “You’ve been begging for a task. Is this one not good enough that you’d defy your Alpha’s command?”

He shakes his head, responding, “No, sir. I’ll do as you say. What are the specifics for this task?”

I place my hand on his arm, trying to intervene. “Drake, this isn’t necessary.”

He turns to me, his gaze firm. “It is. I made a promise to my sister. This is how I plan to keep it.”

I mutter, just loud enough for him to hear, “He was with the group that attacked me yesterday.”

His head whips around. “Is that true? You were part of the group that beat this girl?”

Kevin steps back, swallowing hard. “I was there. I didn’t touch her, but I did cheer on the women who were kicking and hitting her. I apologize, Alpha. I’d be honored to protect her so it never happens again.”

I roll my eyes, not buying it. “Sure, until you lead me into another ambush.”

He sits down, his gaze meeting mine across the table. “I’m sorry for what happened, Addy. When they told me to watch, I didn’t think about what they were planning. I cheered for a moment as you were attacked, before I realized they weren’t stopping. As they kept going, my heart broke for you, unable to defend yourself. I tried to get them to stop, but they ignored me. Myra arrived a few seconds later, throwing the girls off you. I promise, if I’m given this duty, I’ll take it seriously. No one will get near you while I’m on watch.”

Drake chuckles, breaking the tension. “He’s well trained for his age. He gives me a run for my money when we spar. I don’t use my full strength because I don’t want to hurt him, but he’s strong.”

I blow a strand of hair out of my face, resigned. “Fine. I know you won’t let me leave until I agree to this.”

The three men smile, and Drake begins to explain the specifics of Kevin’s new role and what it entails.