The Possessive Alpha
Chapter 35

Jonah POV

It’s three in the afternoon when I finally leave the packhouse. I glance to find ten missed calls from the douche who put me in this position. Going to the treeline behind the house, I quickly disrobe behind a tree, shoving my clothes into the bag I bring whenever I come here. My bones break and reform as I shift into Thor, a massive white wolf with a black paw and patches over his left eye and right ear. Thor’s eyes are such a light blue they are practically silver. After stretching and shaking out his fur, he picks up our bag before sprinting into the forest toward our territory.

I nod to warriors along the way as they watch me pass. They have become used to my coming and goings on this land, trusting my longtime friendship with Alpha Charles that I’d cause no harm to them or their families. It’s hard looking at them, knowing what’s to come. Telling myself that they’d do the same thing if they were in my situation. It’s the only way I sleep at night.

‘We have to do this,’ Thor reminds me, ‘Any worthy Alpha would do the same, even Charles, and you know it,’ he growls, tired of my guilt. I can’t blame him, though; there is more at stake for him if we don’t get this s**t accomplished.

‘I know,’ I retort, ‘ Do you think Elle is the one he is looking for?’ I ask him, wondering what he thinks about Elle; this is the third pack we have been to look for this mystery girl. I was starting to believe she didn’t guess.

‘I think so,’ Thor says contemplatively, ‘Something about her is different. I cannot put my finger on it, but her aura is stronger than all the others we have met. She has to be the one.’

‘Goddess, I hope so,’ I say. I want this whole ordeal over with. I have been dealing with this bullshit for an entire year and am tired of it. I want to be able to stay in my lands and become Alpha someday. Thor remains silent. I don’t need him to respond to know he feels like I do. Thor led us home while I zoned out and think about the only person on my mind for the last year.

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

An hour later, we are nearing our border, so I reach out to my Beta now that we are close enough to link. ‘Nearing the territory. Meet me at the border.’ I tell him as I take back control, pushing harder to get over the border.

‘Got it, boss,’ came Eli’s curt reply. I always thought Alpha’s were serious, but my Beta outshines them all. He is the most severe and solemn man I have ever met and has been like this since we were kids. His loyalty outshines the rest, and I wouldn’t trust anyone else to protect this land in my absence. Ten minutes later, Thor’s paws pass the territory line, and I can feel some of my strength return to me. When witches were part of every pack, the Alphas had them put spells around their lands to weaken any visiting Alphas. There is an old rumor that they didn’t include firstborn Alpha females, generally called Luna’s, as they’re a rarity. I don’t even know when the last one was born, but most packs wouldn’t advertise a born Luna to others. It’d make their pack an unwelcome target against those trying to take her.

Shifting instantaneously, I crouch down to dig through my bag, pulling out my shorts and t-shirt, quickly changing when I hear a twig snap to my right and the familiar scent of clove and pine reaches my nose.

“Hello, boss,” comes Eli’s baritone voice, “Brad with his mate?” he asks, even though he already knows the answer. Brad spends every second with Taylor, and I don’t blame him. I would do the same if I could. Thankfully, I don’t have to respond because he answers his question. “Of course he is. The lucky bastard.” Eli mutters, his jealousy seeping through his words.

We are both happy that Brad found his mate and think Taylor is great for him, but I cannot lie and say it doesn’t sting to see them together. I think Brad understands, and that’s why he stays as much as he can in New Moon. “He’ll be back later,” I inform him. Grabbing my phone from the bag, I have three more missed calls from ‘Unknown,’ but I know exactly who it is. Sighing, I shove my phone into my pocket and follow Eli to his Jeep, waiting till I get to my office to call the number back.

“Is it that dickhead again?” Eli asks, not using his name as we promised him a little over a year ago.

“What do you think?” I say, exasperated, as I climb into the passenger seat. “I swear I talk to him more than my damn mother.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stop the migraine already forming.

“I am sorry, Bro,” he says, looking sad, “hopefully this s**t is over soon.”

“You’re preaching to the choir,” I murmur, closing my eyes, trying to block out the light seeping between the trees into the jeep window as we wind through the dirt road away from the border and towards the packhouse.

Because my pack isn’t as big as New Moon’s, it takes us only fifteen minutes to drive from the territory line to the center of town where the pack house resides. Once we hit the pavement of the house driveway, I open my eyes to look at the modest packhouse standing before me. It’s not big as our neighbors over at New Moon, but it was still impressive, and I am happy to call it home.

I hop out of the Jeep before Eli even has a chance to park the car. Wasting no time, I hop up the three steps to the front door.

Entering, I find my mother and two younger sisters sitting on the couch, looking through dresses to wear to Damon’s Ball; Maddie turns eighteen the same day.

“Oh, Jonah, come look at this dress!” Maddie squeals, greeting me at the door, I don’t have the time to entertain this right now, but I also know I can’t say no to them. “Do you think Alpha Damon will like this dress?” she asks me, showing me a pale pink satin gown with a low back and a scalloped neckline. Eli scoffs behind me, and I can practically hear his eyes roll at her question.

“No one asked for your opinion, Eli,” Maddie snaps at him, shooting him a glare, her temper already rising as it’s easy to do whenever Eli is around. Those two are always at each other’s throats for something stupid.

“Why not, princess? Afraid I’ll tell you the truth?” Eli retorts with the look I always catch in his eye when looking at my sister, l**t and desire. I am not stupid; I know Maddie is beautiful with her honey-blonde eyes, bright gold eyes, and her tanned skin. Maddie says nothing as she glares at him crossing her arms over her chest, both refusing to look away.

“It’s a beautiful dress, Maddie,” I say gently, putting my hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention away from Eli, who hasn’t stopped glowering at her. “If Alpha Damon is meant for you, there is no way he won’t find you gorgeous,” I say, dropping a k**s on her forward, but I don’t miss the eye roll Eli gives when he thinks I cannot see. Excusing myself, I retire to my office as Maddie and Eli’s bickering follows me down the hall, and forcing me to roll my eyes at their foolishness. I have never said anything to them, figuring it’s their business to deal with and not my place to intervene in their squabbles. If I didn’t suspect Eli had been in love with Maddie for years, I’d never let him near her, but despite their constant clashing, I know they care for each other deeply.

Entering my office, I quickly lock the door so no one else can enter behind me. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I dial the number I have memorized. It only rings once before a rough voice picks up on the other line.

“About f*****g time,” A gruff voice says through the phone, pissed that I was not at the beck and call like he demands.

“I couldn’t take your call. I was on New Moon’s territory,” I growl back, pissed that it’s a whole year since we met, and I am still his f*****g pawn, “unless you want me to broadcast our collusion to your biggest enemies.”

“Very well. Did you get it done?” He asks; his voice still sounds annoyed it took me so long to call him back.

“Yes, it’s done,” I say, trying to squash the guilt twisting my stomach into knots, “I am escorting Elle to the city with her friends.”

“Good, make sure my girl is at Club Alpha, and I’ll bring what you want most,” he says before ending the call, and the only thing I can think to do is throw my phone against the wall in frustration watching the plastic break into a million pieces.