The Alpha and the Mistake novel Chapter 18

I knew Ryder heard Mom so I followed her downstairs. Harry stopped us in the hallway. He ushered us both into an empty room, a worried expression on his face. "What's wrong Harry?" Mom asked, worry on her face too.

"Alpha Ryan knows everything. He knows we're here and worse, he knows Brook is Ryder's mate. I've been ordered to bring you back to Black Mountain territory by six in the morning tomorrow."

"What? But I can't go back. Harry, you can't take me back," I said. My voice in a high shriek as panic slammed into me.

"Of course, he's not taking you back," Mom said with determined in her eyes.

However, Harry looked like he was ready to toss his cookies. "If I don't, it'll be an open act of aggression and he'll make sure it leads to war."

I grabbed mom's sleeve and stared at Harry. He couldn't really be considering it, could he? Mom patted my hand and asked Harry just that.

"Nancy, I would never give Brook back to him, but I need you both to understand the situation we are now facing."

I let go of Mom, but my stomach still twisted with dread."Can't I just say I don't want to go back? Who told him anyway?"

"I don't know who told him, and I'm afraid your word doesn't count. You're still a minor. As Nancy is mated with me, we all belong to Black Mountain."

"Why does Ryan want Brook back home so badly he'd risk war?" Mom asked.

"Power, Nancy," Harry said with a defeated air about him. "He hates Brent and his nonviolent ideals more than anything in this world. As Ryder's mate, Brook allows Ryan to have power over him and through him, his father."

"What if Ryder got a new mate?" I suggested, though something twisted inside me as I said it.

Harry chuckled. "It doesn't quite work like that, Brook."

"So what are you suggesting we do?" Mom asked. "Besides hand over my daughter to her abusers."

Harry gave Mom a pleading, sad glance. "Never, Nancey. I swear. Alpha Brent has suggested we stay under the pretenses as P.O.W.s while he tries to work something out with Ryan."

"So why do you look like that?" I asked. There had to be more for him seem so downtrodden.

"We have to run," Harry told us.

"What?" Mom said, her eyes wide with shock. "Why would we have to run?"

"Because this has now all become a power play with Brook in the center. Alpha Brent is a good man, but he is an alpha. Alphas must always put the good of their pack before anything and Ryder is an alpha. It's obvious, he cares for Brook, but I can't promise he wouldn't sacrifice her to save his pack if it came down to that." The downfallen expression on his face was short of tragic. "I'm so sorry, Brook. You deserved to have something good in your life."

My throat tightened, and my eyes burned with the promise of tears, but I wouldn't cry. "It's how it is. How are we going to run?"

"Wait a minute," Mom said, holding up her hand. "How can we be so sure Brent or his son would do something like this. I understand a mate is something special, right? Why would they even consider giving their son's mate to their enemy? Should I be worried?" She gave Harry a challenging glare.

"No, I'd die first, but I'm not an alpha. You two are the only pack I care about."

"So how do we get out of here?" I insisted.

"We have to play it cool," Harry replied. "Brent will never allow Brook out of his territory. He can't risk someone using her to get to his pack. They're going to expect something from us, so we have to try hard not to raise any suspicions. We have to let them believe we agree staying here is our best option."

Mom pressed her lips together. "They can't keep us here against our will. That's kidnapping and illegal."

"Werewolves, Mom. They can do whatever they want. It's only illegal if they get caught."

When Harry gave her a grimace, she shook her head. "Good lord, what did I bring you to?" She pulled me to her and kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry Brook."

"It's not your fault or Harry's. It's just the way it is," I told her. I wanted to make sure she didn't get mad at Harry either. Without him, we'd be lost for sure. "Okay, first things first. No way am I letting you stay in that boy's room. Harry do what you need to do to get us out of here. Brook, let's go talk to Emily and find you somewhere more appropriate to stay." Harry and I looked at each other in surprise. Wow, Mom in charge. If she was a werewolf, she'd obviously be an alpha.

We found Emily in the main living room or parlor or whatever the rich and fancy call those rooms. She greeted us warmly, and Mom returned it just as warm. It was they were best friends. "Since it seems we are going to be staying a while. I figured it best we settle rooming arrangements. I'm aware Brook has been staying in Ryder's room, and I'm assuming with the latest, he won't be going back to Black Mountain. It's best she stay somewhere else. She is still underage."

The Luna gave her a brief, odd look then smiled. "I can promise you, Ryder would never hurt Brook, but of course, I can understand the need for another room. I know just the one. Follow me." She led us back upstairs, and I wasn't at all surprised when the room she showed us was next to Ryder's. Not subtle at all.

Mom pursed her lips but nodded. "Alright, this will do for now."

"Okay, fine. I agreed to help Mom with some stuff okay. I figured it would earn me some brownie points because she's kind of still super pissed at me. It's going to keep me busy all day." I pushed my plate towards Dean, knowing that'd appease him. Andy tilted his head to the side, looking at me strangely.

Starting to get uncomfortable, I pushed Ryder's arm off me and left the kitchen before any of them could ask me any more questions.

In another life, a life where I wasn't Missy Mistake or someone's pawn, I might have been friends with them. I ran my fingers along the wall as I walked. I really didn't want to stay in my room, and that would be the first place anyone would look for me. I stopped at a large window, now on the third floor, and admired the view. The sun streamed through trees. Birds dashed here and there, and I even saw deer with her baby.

I was so caught up in watching the deer I didn't notice someone was behind me until it was too late. Ryder's arm slipped around me, and just like this morning, his heat swallowed me. My heart and stomach went all crazy. "So this is what your mom asked you to do, huh?" There was no heat in his words, but the accusation was clear.

"Uhm, yeah, something like that," I said, trying my best not to lean into him. His whole body stiffened against mine. His grip around my waist tightened, making me cringe with a slight sting of pain from the bruises.

"Why are you lying to us, to me?"

"I'm not..."

Ryder turned me around to face him, his expression was angry. My breath caught in my throat, and I took a step back. "One thing, Brook," he said. "Werewolves can sense lies. We all know you lied to us earlier. You're lying to me now. What gives? I thought we were good?"

"We're good enough," I said, not so sure what else to say. I tried to move around him, but Ryder blocked me with his arm.

"Good enough? Brook, what's wrong. I can't make it better if you don't talk to me."

"Nothing is wrong. I'm fine. You're fine," I told him. Man, I was really starting to feel awful. Harry could've warned me this was going to be so hard.

Ryder sighed, shaking head. "Another lie. Did Dean make you uncomfortable is that it? Come on, he's an ass, but he's really harmless." Ryder took my hand and started to pull me down the hall. "Gives us a chance, Brook. Seriously."

"Stop. Let me go. You can't just drag me where you want. I'm a person damn it."

Ryder turned, his expression angry. " I really don't know what I have to do to get you to understand that. I don't think of you any less than myself or any other werewolf. Seriously, Brook, you're not giving me a chance to prove myself. Not that I did anything wrong in the first place."

He threw his hands up in the air and suddenly I saw Mike swinging at me. I gasped, ducking, and raising my hands to protect myself. Ryder stared at me, shock and disgust on his face. What just happened? Shame fluttered through me as for the first time in my life the feeling of being a victim bombarded me. "You're right. Go waste your time on someone else and leave me alone," I told him and ran back to my room.