The Possessive Alpha
- The Cells: A Reckoning Part 1

MATT POV

I don’t think I have ever felt as relieved as I did when we walked out the pack gates to find Charity alive and looking more beautiful than Zeke or I have ever witnessed. Even covered in b***d, sweat, and dirt, she looked like a warrior. Like a Gamma, I had never felt more proud of her. Or at least that’s what I thought.

Until she threatened my life with the promise of dumping my body outside the territory lines as if the shortcake could carry my large frame by herself. But still, the promise sets my entire body ablaze, and as much as I hate that rogue fucker he wasn’t wrong when he calls her a fireball because she is. A feisty little fireball who has weaseled herself underneath my skin, and now I can’t seem to shake her.

Walking out my front door, I cross the front yard in seconds before climbing the steps of Charity’s porch two at a time, my finger punching the doorbell. It’s been a whole night since she returned; surely she has had enough time to shower, eat, and rest, right? Shoving my hands into my front pockets, I rock back and forth anxiously, waiting on her to answer the door.

A few minutes pass before I punch the doorbell again, to be greeted by Charity pulling open the door in a towel she clutched to her chest. Parts of her body are still covered in soap while her wet blonde hair clings to her skin. Shifting uncomfortably, I can already feel the b***d rushing to my groin as I take in every part of her perfect curves wishing I can run my fingers along them.

“What do you want, Matt?” She snaps, yanking me from the fantasies starting to cloud my judgment while Zeke tries to push forward, wanting to pull her in our arms and never let go.

“Hello?” She says, waving her hand in front of my face trying to grab my attention.

Taking a deep breath, I pull myself together before meeting her eyes, and for the smallest second, I think I see a hint of a smile before she completely shuts me out again. “I came to check on you,” I say, rocking back and forth on my heels while still stuck on the front porch.

“You’ve had a rough few days, and I…well…” I trail off, letting the embarrassment heat my cheeks in a light shade of pink.

“I am fine, Matt,” she says, annoyance written clearly on her face, “it was just a war, nothing else. I will be fine.”

“That’s the biggest lie I have ever heard, fireball,” comes a voice behind me that I never want to hear. Turning on my heel, I find Fletcher leaning against the porch rail, with a cigarette tucked between his lips, while a growl escapes my lips. Zeke pushes forward, wanting to show this good-for-nothing rogue the other side of my fist.

“Great, you’re both here,” Charity sighs, frustration written all over her face, as her eyes flick between us as Fletcher stands next to me. “Can’t you both leave me alone?”

“No,” I say simultaneously as Fletcher as he tilts his head back, exhaling smoke into the air, “you need someone right now, shortcake. Surviving war takes a toll on your psyche.” I continue, using the secret nickname I have used with her for years, although this is the first time anyone else has heard it.

“I’m not a fragile little cupcake,” she growls, her eyes flashing black while her feet tap impatiently against the hardwood floorboards.

“We know you’re not,” Fletcher says, stepping forward as he places a hand on Charity’s arm, and that’s all it takes for Zeke to push forward with a feral growl. My hand shoots out, grabbing Fletcher by the back of the neck and ripping him backward before putting myself between him and Charity.

“Don’t f*****g touch her,” I say, my chest heaving as I try to keep Zeke from taking complete control. “Keep your filthy rogue hands to yourself, or I’ll remove them for you.”

“Or what?” Fletcher says, a devilish grin covering his face as he steps forward, enjoying the challenge. “Let’s see who’s stronger, Gamma, I know your dying to.”

“Fletcher!!” A growl comes from behind him as an Alpha energy surrounds us, but the rogue Beta doesn’t stand down, his gaze meeting mine, both of our chests puffed out. “Now, Fletch!” With the final command, Fletcher starts walking down the stairs with his hands raised.

Peeking around my large frame, his gaze finds Charity as a genuine smile crosses his face,

“until next time, Fireball. Gamma.” He includes with a parting smirk before turning to trot down the stairs and walkway to where his Alpha stands with a deadly expression. As soon as he gets within arm’s reach of Xander, his hands dash out in a flash, landing a substantial blow to the back of Fletcher’s head while he starts his lecture.

Watching Fletcher get scolded down the sidewalk causes the cutest little chuckle to escape Charity’s lips, causing my heart to thunder with excitement as I listen desperately for the melodious tune. Turning around, I catch her checking me out, making my ego inflate. I pretend I didn’t notice her eyes dragging across my body or the desire she tries so desperately to hide, but it’s there, only for a second, but it’s better than not at all.

“Ahem,” she says, clearing her throat and trying to hide the awkwardness of the situation, “do you want to come in?” She asks, opening the door wider and stepping aside so I can cross the threshold.

Standing in her foyer, she closes the door behind me before facing me, the two of us standing there staring at each other, and before I know it, her face is in my palm while my lips crash into hers with desperation. The shock has her lips parting slightly, while her hands clutch my chest, an appreciative growl rolling through my chest as my lips dance with hers, the passion swirling around us.

Finally coming to herself, she breaks the k**s, her rosy sheen covering her cheeks while her breathing remains shallow, lost in the intoxication of each other. Snapping her eyes open, she looks at me before stepping away like I have the plague while Zeke pouts in my head.

“We can’t keep doing this, Matt,” she sighs, looking away from me in shame, clutching the towel to her chest.

“Why not?” I ask, stepping towards her, only causing her to step back and away from me like I have a contagious disease. “Did the night of your shift mean nothing to you? Because it was the best night of my life, and you act like it means nothing.”

“Oh, please,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes, but I can tell she is trying to force herself into believing these lies, “you only became interested after you found out what I was.” Her accusation breaks my heart to know she thinks this has anything to do with what she is and not WHO she is.

“You’re wrong,” I say, stepping forward to grab underneath her chin, forcing her to look me in the eyes, so she knows I am speaking the truth. Tucking a partially dry strand of hair behind her ear, my thumb caresses her cheek, a light buzz passing between us. “and even you know it. It was never about what you are, Charity, but WHO you are.”

I lean my forehead against hers, breathing in her strawberry and whipped cream scent, “it was that way when you were with Hunter, and it’s that way now. You might not believe me, but you will one day.” I press my lips against her forehead in a gentle k**s enjoying the peaceful second together.

Despite the fact that every cell in my body wants me to stay here and never leave her side again, I fight against my better judgment leaving a shocked Charity in the middle of the foyer. I don’t know if she realizes it yet, but she is mine, and I’ll do everything I can to possess the Gamma of Silver Run.

**********************

ALPHA CHARLES POV

The longer we sit in this cell without Olivia meeting my eyes or talking to me, the more the anger rises in my stomach, burning like acid. She knows more than she lets on, and I cannot handle any more lies or deception. Poseidon hasn’t stopped whimpering and whining since Damon left us here.

The medics came and went taking Simon with them; Damon is lucky he gave him the antidote when he did; otherwise, it could have been a lot worse than paralysis. Now it’s Olivia and I trapped in this damn cell…alone, and she won’t say a goddamn thing. Hell, she doesn’t have the respect to look me in the eye or talk to me the entire night. She skillfully ignores each question I scream at her while the guards outside try not to eavesdrop, but it’s impossible because the individual cells aren’t soundproofed, only from the rest of the house.

I don’t know how long we have been stuck in here, but the longer it goes on, the more I feel like a caged animal Poseidon and I’s anger mingling to unbearable control; grabbing the bars, I watch my skin burn while I scream at the sky, at the Goddess above, and at anyone else who will listen.

What the hell is going on with my mate? Where is the seventeen-year-old girl I met and fell in love with? She remains as mute as a mouse, my heart breaking, and I think Poseidon is slowly dying. I haven’t slept in hours.

I know the guards are watching with pity as they throw secretive glances at one another. It’s rare for a mate bond to fail so spectacularly; I thought we were happy…I thought we could talk about anything. Where did I go wrong?

Stopping my pacing, I sit on the floor, resting my head against the cold concrete and staring at Liv, willing her to talk, but she doesn’t speak. Her body language is closed off to me, her legs tucked while she rests her arms and head on them with her face toward the ground.

“You won’t even give me the respect of looking at me?” I growl, unable to bite my tongue. “f*****g TALK!!!” I roar, but she doesn’t move a muscle, remaining as rigid as before.

I can’t help the silent tear that falls down my cheek as I stare at the love of my life, crying myself into a restless sleep where I wake randomly to find her in the same position. “What did you do, Liv? Please? Just talk to me?” I ask my voice barely above a whisper. Could she really have been involved in this whole thing with Cynthia? What does she know?

“Is protecting Cynthia more important than our bond?” I ask, my voice weak from the constant screaming, and still, she doesn’t say a f*****g word. “Do you have so little respect for me that you’d rather ruin everything between us? Because I swear to the Goddess Liv, if you don’t tell me before Damon returns, I swear to the Goddess I will make you regret every second we were ever mated.”

I lash out my words like a whip as they slice against her armor, hoping to find a weakness, and I think they hit their mark as she flinches ever so slightly before returning to her being still. How is she not sore all bunched up like that? Goddess, why the f**k do I even care? It’s not like she gives two f***s about me because if she did, she would open her mouth.

Screaming in frustration, I throw my fist into the cold cement ground, the bones in my fist snapping like a twig underneath the force. Still, I welcome the pain as anything is better than sitting here in silence, knowing Olivia won’t make a peep, no matter what I do.

No longer able to stand the nervous energy, I rise to my feet, ignoring how my joints pop and crack with each movement as I rise from the floor. With nothing better to do, I hold my broken fist in one hand while pacing back and forth.