Page 59 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 2

Lexi started to pace, but I couldn't do anything. My mate was upset. Her brother, who I now considered a friend, was about to go through immense pain. A woman I’d known her whole life, that I’d married so she could retain her birthright, was about to endure pain. Here I was, an Alpha unable to stop any of it.

I had heard stories of rejected mates. Wolves took it especially hard if they were rejected. My respect level shot through the roof for Heath when he told Sophia to reject him, despite her offer to be the other way around . He was trying to help her wolf heal the fastest way possible.

A tear slid down my face listening to them go through this. I quickly wiped it away before Lexi saw. Typically, if a rejection happened, one person rejected the other for whatever reason, but it wasn’t usually a mutual decision.

I could hear both of them crying then I heard Heath comforting Sophia. They must be holding each other. That would help them heal too. I was relieved neither of them seemed weakened, just sad. This just wasn't the right fit for either of them. They were ready for this step.

I linked Alpha Eric, “I’m hearing you visit other realties. Do me a favor. If you visit a reality where I’m not married in yet, slap some sense into me before I do something stupid. I should’ve just stood by Sophia without marrying her.” He replied, “It was already on my list of to do’s. The same goes for my Angel.” Good.

I should’ve told Sophia she could keep power without me. Then maybe everyone here would’ve stood a chance. I could be their different decision in another reality. It was kind of beautiful the way Heath posed their possibilities.

I heard Tyson talking. I was ready to cross the border to defend Heath. He didn’t deserve a punch to the face. I relaxed when I saw Heath coming towards us. I tapped Lexi on the shoulder when he crossed into our territory. Lexi flew at him.

I was beginning to think my eyes were playing tricks on me. Lexi’s little bump looked bigger than it had when I’d left her this morning. Then she practically dragged Heath and I to the Shroud. Bolt chuckled. I asked him, “What’s going on?” He retorted, “Figure it out.” He was supposed to help me with that.

I was stunned when it was about his next string. He might not be ready for this. I didn’t want this to go badly because I wanted Heath to be happy. Whoever this woman was she might prefer if he had a minute to recover, and to make peace with his decision before being thrust headfirst again. We should just bring him back to our place. Quickly. Lexi pointed out Heath mourned his and Sophia’s relationship a long time ago. True.

I heard someone say, “Allie. ALLIE! Where are you going? What is….? Are you even listening to me? Where are you going? Allie! Sweetie! Answer me!” When she came around the corner, I saw the girl who’d been sneaking peeks at Heath during Sally and Derrick’s mating ceremony. This actually made sense. I thought there could be something there.

Allie was looking all around. When her eyes landed on Heath she gasped and covered her mouth. Tears of joy steamed down her face. I heard her sister say, “Oh, thank god.. I was so worried for her. She has SUCH a big crush on him. To see him with someone else would’ve crushed her.”

Her mom giggled, “I told you! I told you he always wanted her help cooking for a reason. He tried to stay away but he was drawn to her.” The sister laughed, “He almost kissed her the other day. She SWORE to me he almost had. I thought she was imagining things, but now I bet she didn’t.”

The brothers were elated, “Our little sister is our leader’s string! Little Allie!” Heath ran to Allie and picked her up. For the first time since I’d met him the only expression on his face was joy. He kissed her and the Shroud collectively lost their shit.

I stepped in to assure Allie’s dad all was good with Sophia. They had the most mature break up I’d ever heard. Heath NEVER looked at Sophia how he’d looked at Allie in that moment. Sophia had never looked at Heath the way Allie had looked at him.

Lexi had been right about them needing to reject each other. Sophia deserved someone who looked at her like that, just like Heath did. Once everything had calmed down on the dad front the Hood got ready to celebrate. It had turned into a party.

I linked Sophia, “Lexi just gave a very moving speech about your maturity and how you will always be protected by the Hood.” She replied, “That’s some mate you’ve got. I don’t deserve that speech, but I appreciate it.” I argued, “You do. That was the most mature break up of all time. Your mate that will be your everything is out there.” She admitted, “I’m not ready to meet him, and not because I’m heartbroken; because I want to focus on being the Alpha I want to be.” See? Mature.

Anne looked at me then Lexi. She knew Lexi couldn’t hear her but said, “They’d have done this for you too. We love her here.” I nodded my understanding. Someone here didn’t love her though. Someone here wanted to hurt her.

Before we left, I met everyone’s eyes. I was letting them know they were on notice. I would kill the one trying to hurt my mate. Most looked amused, but a few looked scared. I shifted once we’d gotten outside, and Lexi and I ran home.

Lexi showed me the nursey, but my mind was elsewhere. I wanted to get her naked. I could tell for sure then if her bump was bigger. I knew every inch of her body better than my own at this point. Before I could make a move, I heard my dad’s snarl of anger. I was out of the room before Susie’s cries reached my ears. FUCK!

I linked Cameron, “I don’t know what happened, but Susie is sobbing and dad is snarling.” Cameron sighed, “I’m on the way.” Susie was holding a note. I linked Nadine, “We need you now!” She said, “I’m running that way now.” I asked her, “What happened?” Nadine answered, “I have no idea. Susie was at her friend's house. Frank said she could walk home herself; something tells me that’s not happening again.”

I linked my Beta and Gamma, “Matt, Derrick, Get up here!” Both said they were on the way. My dad was still snarling. I linked him, “They? Who are you talking about? Who is getting too close?” He yanked the note away from Susie. Nadine ran in and held Susie close. I read the note over Lexi’s shoulder. MOTHER FUCKER!

I looked at Susie. I linked Kincade, “GET TO THE MAIN GODDAMN HOUSE AND BRING THE BEST TRACKER WITH YOU!” Kincade replied, “Yes, Alpha.” Matt ran in. I instructed, “Susie, I need you to tell Matt exactly where you found this.”

I turned to Lexi, “Sweetheart, it will be fine. He can’t have Emma.” My dad snarled, “WHAT?! Someone wants my unborn granddaughter?!” Cameron burst into the house asking, “Emma? Who wants Emma?”

Ted yelled, “LEX!” She passed out cold. I caught her. I yelled, “FUCK!” Ted frowned, “We did learn about this. She can’t handle anything trying to break into her happy cocoon of love she wants the twins surrounded in. Those two bastards know that too. They could push her too far, and then they get the snap back. I doubt they want that though. Angry Hood pregnant woman is a no no.”

Kincade and Carry ran into the house. Kincade quickly explained, “Carry is the best tracker. Alpha Eric even said so. He told me I was taking his future lead tracker.” He’d be the first to have a female lead tracker, but now I was. I questioned, “Carry, do you swear allegiance to me and the Yellow Hills pack?” Carry replied, “I do.” Peachy.

I handed her the note. I looked at Matt, “Show her where this came from. Carry, see if you can get anything, any trail to follow. Kincade, take Kevin and five other warriors if she catches a scent.” I called Heath. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t answer so I left him a message.

I linked pack doctor, “GET UP HERE NOW!” He was startled, “I’m practically there, Alpha.” He barged through the door, and I sat Lexi down. He evaluated her, “She’s fine…” I argued, “People who are fine do NOT pass out.”

Cameron said, “Chase, it was clearly just from stress. Because some psycho wants your unborn daughter. A man who’s killed her family.” Ted said, “Actually like I said, it’s the cocoon of love thing.” I snarled, “Someone get Alpha Eric on the DAMN PHONE!” Derrick said, “Ummm, ok.” He walked away and came back holding a phone.

Alpha Eric said, “Alpha Chase, this makes three times in one day. You should play a little harder to get. Our mates would kill us if they found out.” I snarled, “Fucking Noah wants my mate, and Hanson Newcome wants my unborn daughter!”

Alpha Eric growled, “WHO is Hanson Newcome?” I answered, “The fucker who killed my mate’s parents.” Alpha Eric replied, “They can’t have either of them. What do you need?” I shouted, “I don’t fucking know!” Alpha Eric said, “I can send men to you Alpha Chase.”

---