Page 5 of Return of the Alpha

My mind reels withthis new development. How can this be possible? I know I waslooking forward to someday finding my mate, but I know all themales, all the shifters in this pack, and the three closest packs.The only explanation is that it must be the man they brought intoday.

Peyton’s father.

My heart breaks atthe realization. I can’t imagine that she will be even remotelyhappy with this new development. She just got her father back inher life and now this. She will never allow someone like me, athrowaway, to be with her long-lost father. My own parents didn’teven want me, why would they?

This is a fuckingmess.

Taking deep breaths,I wait until I feel more like myself before pushing off the ground.I let my weak legs carry me to the only place I can think of. Itonly takes me a few minutes to reach Sapphire and Marc’s house, butas I stand on their front porch, I don’t know what to do. Do Iknock? Should I tell her what is happening? Will it make anydifference at all?

I don’t get thechance to make any decisions before the door swings open. Marcsmiles when he sees me before calling out to his mate.

“Hey, babe, April ishere!” he shouts.

“I’m in thekitchen,” she calls back. “Send her through.”

Marc waves, hissmile changing to a frown as he takes me in. I walk slowly down thehallway, my thoughts a jumbled mess. In the kitchen, my friend ispulling a batch of freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies out of theoven. Normally, I would be burning my fingers trying to steal onebut not today. My stomach revolts at the idea of eating anythingright now, the stress and impossibility of the situation bearingdown on me.

Falling into one ofthe wooden chairs beside the counter, I watch her putter around. Iknow she is speaking but I’m not hearing a single word. There is aringing in my ears that simply won’t quit, drowning out everythingaround me.

A hand lands on myshoulder, and I lift my head to stare blankly at Marc as he towersover me. A moment later, Sapphire’s worried face also enters myline of sight.

Marc kneels takingmy hand in his. “What happened?”

I can’t form thewords because I simply don’t know what to say to my friends. How doI explain this to them? How can I put my fears and doubts intowords that this perfect, happy couple will understand?

“You’re scaring me,April,” Sapphire says, panic evident in her tone. “You need to tellus what is wrong. Did someone hurt you?”

“My mate is here,” Iwhisper, the words sounding foreign to my ears.

“That’s great news,”Sapphire exclaims, clapping her hands excitedly but Marc is stillfrowning at me.

“Babe, she looks theway you did when you found out I was your mate,” he says softly.“This isn’t necessarily a good thing.”

“Shit.” She dragsone of the other chairs closer before sitting in front of me, ourknees touching as she takes my other hand. “Why don’t you tell uswhat is going on? Maybe we can give you some advice.”

“It’s a mess. Idon’t even know where to start,” I say dejectedly. I can alreadyfeel tears burning in my eyes.

“Why don’t you startby telling us who he is?” Marc suggests.

“I can’t even dothat. I don’t know his name. Hell, I didn’t even see him.”

“How do you knowit’s going to be a problem?” Sapphire chimes in. “Maybe this couldbe a good thing.”

“He’s Peyton’sfather!” I announce loudly. “The father she thought was dead issitting in her kitchen right this minute.”

Cupping my face inmy hands, I allow the despair I am feeling to take over, the tearsfinally finding their way down my face. This entire situation ismessed up and I don’t know what to think, much less do.

“Fuck,” Marcwhispers. “That certainly complicates things.”

“No shit,” Imutter.

“Well,” Sapphireinterjects. “We need to work through this and formulate a plan.Marc, go over to Caine’s house and see what the situation is. Don’tsay a word about this to anyone.”

“Babe—” he starts but she cuts him off.

“Just do what Isay.”

We sit in silence,listening to his footsteps as he walks out the front door to do hismate’s bidding.

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