The Alpha and the Mistake novel Chapter 19

Ryder

I growled, running my hands through my hair as I watched Brook run from me. What happened? I didn't understand any of it at all - the lying or acting like I was going to hit her. I stomped through the halls and into the pool room where my brother, Andy, Kara, and Beth were waiting. I slumped into one of the lounge chairs next to Dean.

"Didn't find her?"

"I did but lost her again," I told them.

"Weird," Andy said looking thoughtful. "She wasn't really like that the first day. Wary, but she never seemed to avoid any of us."

"Actually, it's not so odd for her," Beth said. "She has always been kind of antisocial."

"She's not anti-social. Your pack forced her into isolation. Big difference," Dean told her.

I glanced at him surprised, not much got my brother angry.

"Well still..." Beth said, shrugging.

"She's not antisocial," Kara insisted.

Beth bit her lip and looked down at her lap.

"Go, easy guys, Beth is only trying to help," I told them.

She gave me an appreciative smile from her. "Thanks. Look, she doesn't want to be here. We can't force her so let's have fun."

Andy crossed his arms across his chest. Kara, by his side, with an unimpressed look on her face and Dean rolled his eyes. What was their deal with Beth? Not wanting her to feel unwelcome, I said. "Yeah, let's go." I jumped into the water.

Soon the others joined us, and we all had a good time. With everything that's been going on with the Black Mountain pack and my responsibilities as future alpha; plus my problems with Brook I needed to unwind. What was I doing so wrong? Maybe Beth's right and she is antisocial.

If she was how was I going to get passed it? Could I get passed it? Would it be better to leave her alone as she wants? I wasn't Mike, and I was tired of being compared to him every time she looked at me. It wasn't fair. I reached my room, but as I opened the door, I heard Harry's voice.

"Come on, talk to me. You can't lie to a werewolf. Something happened. Was it Ryder? Did he hurt you?"

I scowled. What the hell? When did I ever give anyone a reason to suggest I'd hurt her?

"No, he didn't hurt me. It's just..." Brook said, her voice so soft I almost missed it. I walked over to her door and leaned against the wall.

"You feel bad. I get it, but careful, we don't want to alert their suspicions. You'll never have the life you want if they think we're planning on running. You're too dangerous for Alpha Brent to let walk away."

What the hell is he talking about? My hands curled into fists. That bastard, where did he get off lying about my dad like that?

"I know," Brook said, sounding frustrated. "But I don't like this, Harry. The lying and pretending was hard enough when it was for Mom, but now..."

"Is that what's got you so upset? Brook, if-"

"That's not what upset me. I may not like it, but if I have to be a bitch to Ryder and the others to keep my freedom, I'll do it."

"So what's wrong?"

"Ryder was angry, he lifted his hands, not threatening or anything, but I saw Mike. Suddenly, I was cowering, waiting to be hit," she told him, her voice cracking near the end. "I always told myself it wouldn't affect me, I wouldn't be a victim. I wouldn't give Mike that kind of power, but...God, I'm so pathetic."

I couldn't stand to listen to anymore, or I'd end up breaking down the door. I think that'd do more harm than good right now. I turned and stormed down the hall. I blamed Harry as much as I did Mike. If he weren't poisoning her against the pack and me, she'd be more willing to give me a chance. She might not have flipped out. I left and went to the gym downstairs.

I needed to vent my anger and think. I had to figure out how I was going to fix this. There was no way I was going to let Brook run away until she saw the truth. I saw Andy was already in the gym. Perhaps he could help. I huffed, sitting next to him.

"You're starting to sound like the Big Bad Wolf with all the huffing and puffing. What gives?" He asked, setting aside the weight.

"According to Harry that's what I am," I said and told him everything.

"Ouch, between that and Beth, no wonder she's avoiding us all."

"Beth? What's going on with Beth? Actually, why do you hate her so much? Don't tell me it's she's annoying because of that little crush she has on you. A lot of girls like you and are annoying, and you don't hate them."