The Possessive Alpha
Chapter 116

ANDREW POV

I am trying not to think about the fact that Theo didn’t come back as Damon carries Elle through the gate and up to the house. With an exasperated sigh, I turn on the Beta energy and do what is expected when all I want to do is call Theo and make sure he is alive. Death or severe injury is the only reason I could see him not returning home with his Luna.

“I can’t believe he is letting them onto the territory,” Matt grunts pulling me from my spiral downward as he glares at the car in front of us. We are letting rogues into the territory; what is Damon thinking? With a shrug, I walk to the car because I figure it’s better to get these introductions over with. Charity walks over, intercepting us before we reach the car, but far enough away that they won’t hear us. Her body is covered in the b***d of her slain enemies, exhaustion all over her.

As soon as Matt sees her, his entire demeanor changes, but she ignores him, focusing solely on me. “Theo is alive; he stayed home to get the pack settled,” she says, patting my arm with a look in her eye as she pats my arm in sympathy.

“After I get these guys settled, I will give him a call,” I say gruffly, trying to pretend that I don’t care when it’s driving Demetri and me crazy. His pacing is starting to give me a migraine. “What can you tell me about these guys?”

“That Fletcher, the Beta is a real snarky pain in the a*s,” she responds, rolling her eyes, while Matt tenses next to me, “but Xander, the Alpha, is actually a decent man. I guess I’ll have to get used to their presence as they come back to Silver Run with us.”

Matt and I look at each other with her revelation as she realizes what she said, her eyes going wide, “f**k, I wasn’t supposed to mention anything yet until my Alpha could talk to yours.”

Growing annoyed with this mundane conversation while my phone is burning a hole in my pocket, begging me to call Theo. “Let’s leave that to the Alpha and Luna to work out,” I say, walking past Charity to the driverside window and waiting patiently until the driver rolls down the window.

“Alpha Xander,” I say, giving him the respect of his title, which causes his head to tilt to the side, studying me. Unlike most rogues who smell like a decaying body, there is a pleasantness to the scent rolling off the man. It’s not the same as a pack wolf smells, but not as off-putting as a rogue. Weird. “I am Beta Andrew, and I am here to show you around the pack until my Alpha can talk to you.”

Xander says little, his expression stoic, unlike a typical Alpha who would be showboating instantly, throwing around his power he doesn’t. Something in my gut tells me he is trustworthy, or else Elle would never have brought him back to New Moon.

“This is Beta Fletcher,” he nods at the man sitting next to him whose attention is glued to Charity and Matt as she stands as far as possible from him, focusing on us instead. Fletcher barely nods with a “hey, man.” I don’t know what happened between Matt and Charity, but if Fletcher doesn’t keep his s**t in check, Matt might kill him.

“You can get in the car,” Xander comments, “we can take you and your Gamma through the gates.” Needing no encouragement as an evil smile tugs on his lips, Fletcher removes himself from the passenger side before I can blink, running around and opening the door. A sigh leaves Xander’s lips, but he says nothing to his Beta as he calls out to Charity. I have the feeling this Alpha is constantly having to keep his Beta in line.

Taking the cue, Charity walks over to the car as Fletcher grins victoriously, with Matt trailing behind them with a glare of vitriol focused only on his unexpected competitor for Charity’s attention. “Might as well get in the front,” Xander says, pulling my attention away from the impending pissing contest.

As I walk around and climb into the car, Fletcher stops in front of Charity before she can climb into the car, “Is this the famous Gamma boyfriend I have heard so much about, Fireball?” Fireball? Did he just call her ‘Fireball?’ How close did they get to the rogues to have secrets and inside jokes?

The giddiness exuding from Matt at being referenced as Charity’s boyfriend is tangible, as he says “yes,” while she says “NO!” Clearly enjoying their responses, Fletcher is about to ask more when a low growl from Xander shuts him up as he backs away and walks around to the passenger side. He climbs into the car, knowing Charity must get the middle seat. Male wolves are huge; there is no way Matt or Fletcher could fit in the space.

Once everyone is settled, Xander looks in the review mirror at Charity, asking her the question as the other men in the back glare at one another, the tension so thick we would need a chainsaw to cut through it. Turning in my seat, I look at a yawning Charity as her head rests against Matt’s shoulder, a yawn leaving her mouth. “Char, do you want Alpha Xander to drop you at your house?” I ask her, as she snaps open to looking at me before shaking her head no.

“I’d rather certain people not know where I live,” her eyes sliding over to Fletcher, who doesn’t miss her jab.

“Well,” Fletcher responds, an evil glint twinkling in his eye, “if you’re too exhausted to go home, you can always have a sleepover with me. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.” His words do what I suspect he intended as a roar leaves Matt’s lips.

“Listen here,” Matt snaps, “you rogue piece of s**t, I have no problem killing you and dumping you outside of my territory borders so the crows can feed on your waste of space body.”

“Oh,” Fletcher responds, not in the least bit phased by Matt’s threats, “you must be insecure in your relationship if my silly comments threaten you. Oh, wait, you’re not in a relationship, are you?”

“Enough!” Charity shouts while my fingers pinch the bridge of my nose. Between Demetri’s pacing and their bickering a migraine is starting to form. I catch myself glancing at the clock every two seconds hoping it’ll speed up and get me the f**k out of this car. “Xander, please stop the car, I can’t take these two constantly bickering over something that ISN’T theirs.”

Pulling the car over to the side of the door, Matt hops out to let Charity leave, trying to follow her home, only for her to spin on her heel, placing her palm on his chest. “If you follow me, Matt, it’ll be your body found dead outside the territory line. Now be a f*****g Gamma, do your job, and stop obsessing over me!”

Hearing Fletcher’s snickers, Charity looks around Matt’s large frame, “Oh shut up, don’t think I won’t put you next to him.” With one final huff, she storms off toward her home while Xander chuckles. Both men shut up, sitting in the back, their pouting filling the air.

“I like her,” Xander comments, causing Matt and Fletcher to growl in the back, “it’s rare someone can make my Beta shut up.”

“Same with our Gamma,” I respond, ignoring that Matt is sitting in the back seat. As we continue our journey to the house, a nagging question tickles my mind, and I have to know the answer. “How did you meet Luna Elle? She hasn’t had many opportunities to meet rogues, especially one with your reputation.”

“I didn’t know her until recently,” he answers, grabbing a cigarette pack from the side door, and taking one out. Matt and I instantly roll down our windows. Pack members typically don’t mess with substances other than Alcohol. “Sorry, bad habit, especially after a take down; it helps calm the adrenaline,” I say nothing nodding in response, waiting for him to continue.

“Theo contacted us,” Xander continues with his story, “we go way back; he saved my life right after I became rogue and was always willing to look past my new status. I never asked to be rogue, but s**t happens. I am guessing your Alpha did his research.” He comments, not beating around the bush, “I don’t think he would let me within his boundaries if he didn’t.”

“For keeping our Luna safe,” I respond, speaking the truth, “I think Damon would let the devil into the pack.”

“Are you Drew?” Fletcher says, leaning forward, looking at me with a tilt of his head.

“Andrew,” I growl; only one person has the right to call me that, and it’s certainly not this d**k. “Only Theo calls me that. To you, it’s Beta Andrew.” My anger has him raising his arms in submission, sitting back in his seat.

“Sorry,” he remarks, “Theo just talked about you a bit and always referenced you that way…Are you two…?” He trails off in asking his question, but I know what he is implying; everyone does.

“No,” I snap, my eyes flashing black as Demetri pushes forward. My anger escalates, and grateful that we are pulling in front of the pack house. We all climb out of the car, getting weird looks from the pack members wandering around the house. They have never seen rogues invited willingly onto pack territory; they distrust their energy as they avoid the men like the plague.

Showing them to their rooms and around the rest of the house, I tell them when breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served. “For your protection, I would not run around the territory in your wolf forms, but the pack has been made aware of your presence among the members.”

“Thank you, Beta,” Xander says before closing the door to the bedroom he and Fletcher are sharing, figuring it’s safer for them to bunk together and easier to protect themselves if they are in the same space. Matt wastes no time getting out of dodge, and I suspect I know where he is going home with the hopes of running into Charity before she passes out from exhaustion.

Walking to one of the empty bedrooms of the packhouse, I fish out my phone before lying on the bed, dialing the phone number I never intended to memorize. Setting the call to a speaker, I listen to the endless rings before the phone goes to voicemail.

My anger and frustration spike as my fist crash through the drywall, knowing Demetri won’t calm down until we hear Theo’s voice and knowing firsthand if he is okay. As my wolf gets more unbearable in his pacing, every bone in my body wants to get in my car and drive to Silver Run, even if it’s to make sure he is alive before returning to New Moon.

Deciding that’s the best option at the point, I sit up in the bed, more than prepared to drive the six hours to Silver Run, when my phone starts buzzing. A number I don’t recognize pops onto the screen, but it has a Pennsylvania area code.

Answering quickly, a huge sigh of relief leaves my chest when I hear the voice coming through the speaker, “Drew?” Theo asks while Demetri whines with happiness starting to settle, but still anxious at the distance. But honestly, hearing from him is better than not knowing and going crazy, so I’ll take it.

“Theo,” I say, “thank the goddess you survived. I was really nervous when you didn’t come back with Charity and our Luna.”

“Sorry,” he apologizes, “my Alpha needed me to stay home to take of things. How are things going there? Are they mates?” He asks, the curiosity clear in his voice, but I don’t blame him as we all were at serious risk over their relationship.

“Yes,” I respond, “I guess you’re stuck with me indefinitely,” I respond, kicking myself internally because that sounded like flirting…am I flirting? With Theo? What the hell is going on with me lately? I start to panic, wondering if he notices, but if he does, he doesn’t say anything.

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Theo responds with a chuckle as I lay back on the bed, getting comfortable as he tells me about his adventures in Silver Run that I don’t even notice as the hours’ pass, so focused on our conversation.