Alpha Nicholas novel Chapter 9

“I’m sorry Storm, I am. But I can’t… I just can’t.” Before he can reply, my office door flies open as pissed-looking Will and Shane stomp in. “What the fuck is going on? Is something wrong?” I was about to chew him a new ass for just storming in here, but I quickly realize that he’s not only pissed but concerned, both of them are.

“She’s here.” He turns back around to look at me from my office door with a look of deep confusion. “She’s here… What does…” I sit still and watch as realization washes over his face. “Your mate is here, isn’t she?” I let out a loud sigh and nod. “Holy fuck!” Will grunts from his seat in front of my desk. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“What are you going to do?” He asks looking honestly torn. As much as he works hard to understand what I want, I know that he wants to find his mate more than anything and can’t quite grasp how I feel.

“Boys, what on earth is going on in here?” My mom’s voice drags all of our attention to the office door where she is standing. She looks pissed and that’s not good. My mom is a beautiful woman inside and out, but fuck, she’s the devil’s sister when she needs to be. “Elder Stone said he was talking to you, and then you just rudely ended it and walked off. He hadn’t even finished talking to you. Since when do you treat elders that way?”

Fuck, she’s right I did, but in my defense, smelling the smell of my… of her well, it knocked me through a loop and I couldn’t think of anything else other than getting away. Of course, Storm didn’t let that happen. No, he dragged our asses off until we saw her, and only then could I get back control and get us away from there.

“Am I talking to myself?” Hearing my mother’s sharp tone quickly has me snapping out of my brain fog. ” Sorry, ma. Elder Stone was right. I was rude, and I will make sure to apologize.” She lets out a huge huff, forcing me to look her way, and hell, does she look pissed. “Is that it? You’re hauled up in your office after being rude to an Elder when you should be outside with your guests and that’s all you say?”

I know she wants more of an explanation, but what can I say? If I tell her that my mate is here, then it will open up a whole can of worms that I don’t want to deal with. I can’t. No, I need to try and keep this from her for as long as possible, or at the very least until after everyone has gone home tomorrow. As it stands now, I don’t technically know who my mate is or what pack she is here with so, there’s no information I can give my mom. I don’t even know her name.

The moment I step back outside, I’m greeted by pack members from the various packs that are attending here tonight, but I struggle to really take in what they say and barely manage to answer when I need to. Thankfully, Shane is by my side and speaks up when it’s needed and saves my ass in the process, reminding me of why I’m grateful that he’s my brother and beta.

After several handshakes and pointless chats, I see Elder Stone over the other side of the makeshift dance floor and head in his direction. I’ve never made it a habit to be rude to anyone unless it is called for and certainly not an Elder, and I know that if I told him the truth, that my mate’s smell caught my attention and I went to find her, then he would let me off. If anything, he would have loved hearing the news and told me not to worry, but I can’t tell him that, so instead I run through possibilities in my head all while hoping that he will be ok with me.

“Go to her, you idiot!” Storm growls, trying to force himself to the front of my head while he tries to take control, but thankfully, I manage to stop him just about and quickly turn away from my mate and force my attention onto Elder Stone. I hear a whimper and I know it comes from my mate, but I don’t do anything, even as the noise alone physically hurts my heart, I ignore it and start my apology to the elder that I was disrespectful to instead of going to the one person to who I was meant to give my all. Her… Her I let run while Storm goes mental in my head. Fuck!