Page 16 of The Alpha's Protective Mate

I know why Morris changed the topic. While Harry is now technically an adult, Morris is quite protective of him. He doesn’t want Harry to be too entrenched in this fight with the vampires.

“You okay, Robert?” Morris asks as he’s finally leaving, his brother-in-law in tow.

I nod. “Yeah. I’ll probably get some food and then head to bed. I feel pretty tired.”

“Maria said that would happen,” Harry pipes up. “She said the wolfsbane in your blood was really potent, so you’ll still feel a little weak. I’ll order you some rare steak burgers.”

“Thanks.” I hear the door close behind them before slumping back into the couch cushions.

There are a few things still puzzling me.

My wolf’s reaction.

I remember feeling weak, the wolfsbane muting my animal. But there was a surge of protectiveness, an adrenaline rush that had me shifting, working against the wolfsbane that was killing me. I remember blood in my mouth and an icy scent that was also undeniably sweet. My wolf’s response to that scent is ingrained in my memory.

I don’t remember anything but that scent.

It was so familiar, but I can’t place it.

My wolf’s reaction bothers me. It should not have reacted that way to a vampire, especially when I had been fatally poisoned. It should have been more focused on getting us to safety.

I let out a sigh, my hands touching the scarred part of my face. I can feel the parts where my skin is raised, and I don’t have to look in a mirror to know how hideous it looks. Years have passed since the incident that led to this; most of the people involved are dead or in exile, but it still haunts me, that memory.

I still became the Alpha, something my father thought he could prevent by not getting me the treatment when my half-siblings held me down and poured liquid wolfsbane all over my face. The scar, though, is a constant reminder that I am lacking. I swore to myself, when I was young and hurting, that I would never let this disfigurement hold me back. And I haven’t.

I’ve achieved close to everything I wanted. My pack is running smoothly. It’s prospering. The policies of my greedy family have been replaced by ones that benefit the whole pack, not just those in power. It has been a couple of long years, but it’s all been worth it.

Getting to my feet, I gaze out into the yard, my thoughts a ball of tangled threads.

A knock on the door has me looking around, only to see the housekeeper.

“Mrs. Mallory,” I say, smiling at her. “What’re you doing back so early? I thought you were planning to spend another two weeks with your daughter.”

“I was.” The elderly woman beams at me. “I just came by to drop off some food and pick up my paycheck. You messaged me about it, remember?”

Mrs. Mallory is a widow and prefers the old-fashioned form of salary payment where I write her a check rather than deposit the money in her account.

“Of course.” I reach for my wallet and bring out a folded check. “Here you go.”

“I came in through the kitchen entrance,” she tells me. “The food is in the fridge. Don’t overwork yourself, now, while I’m gone.”

“Of course not, Mrs. Mallory.” I give her another warm smile. “Do you want me to drop you off at the bus station?”

“No, no,” she replies, waving her hand at me. “Nellie drove me. I’ll see you in two weeks.”

I watch her leave, and when I hear the door close, my smile fades.

Mrs. Mallory’s husband used to work in my office as a security guard before he passed away last year. She wanted to remain independent of their children, so I gave the elderly widow a job managing my house. She enjoys it, and I get hot meals and an organized home. She’s a sweet old lady, and her presence in this house that I built for myself makes me feel a little less alone.

Sighing, I head to the kitchen to see what Mrs. Mallory has left for me.

I really don’t have the time to while away at home when I have a business to run and a pack to protect. The fact that Harry couldn’t remember the face of the vampire who helped me bothers me more than I’m letting on. If there is a warlock or a witch in our midst, whose side are they on?

My jaw tenses.

We’ve already started unifying some of the local packs in the area to boycott all vampire-owned businesses. The bloodsuckers have a hard-on for me and every Alpha involved in this boycott. So far, we’ve been landing some major financial blows, but the vampires aren’t backing off easily. It’s a stalemate, from where we’re standing.

However, if they have a warlock on their side, that’s going to pose a problem for us.

---