The Alpha's Broken Runt

Chapter Forty

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Theodore seems more nervous and awkward than I do when we return back to the group, his eyes darting across all of his people as we look for the General. "Ah, Alpha! I was just about to come look for you! The sun is setting quickly, we should begin preparing the main group."
Theodore stops behind me, and I feel him tugging my collar up as he begins confirming plans with Hank.
"Yes, we'll wait for proper darkness before we head out, it's best that we have full coverage when we enter. Have we heard any news on the patrols?"
"Oh, they don't patrol." I hear an echo of my own words as Alex walks up to the three of us, Hank looks at us both with a raised eyebrow.
"We heard him gloat about it a lot, so unless that's changed in the past year, it's likely there won't be any patrols around his borders."
Theodore scoffs, now standing next to me. "What kind of person doesn't have patrols of their land? How stupid can you be?"
"He never thought he needed them, it's something he was really 'proud' of. Due to his history with pack run-ins he thought he was too good to 'waste resources on patrols'." Alex and I share a look and Hank gives us both an apologetic smile. "I apologize. But, really, I knew he was cocky, but I didn't know he was that cocky. Well, either way, we'll still double check he hasn't changed his ways. Alpha, how is everyone? Are they ready to head out?" Theodore hesitates for a moment. "Uh, you know, I got a bit busy with something. I'll do my rounds now." Hank smiles kindly at me for a moment before switching back to Theodore. "Not to worry! It is my job after all, I'll do that, you stay here with your mate, sir." Theodore laughs awkwardly but agrees nonetheless. I give Hank a small wave that he returns as he walks off.
"And, what exactly did you get busy with, Theodore- Alpha?" The silence between the three of us was short lived, broken quickly by Alex as he squints his eyes at Theodore. I glance at Alex before turning to look at Theodore, who has reverted back to his nervous demeanor. What is going on with him?
"He was helping me with something, Alex. Mind your own." My tone is teasing, but unfortunately my words only fuel Alex's suspicion. I don't particularly care if Alex knows what happened, but something tells me that Theodore does. From what I can tell, the mate bond seems to be something intimate shared between partners, I don't want Theodore to have to deal with the repercussions announcing that will have right now. Alex and the others have never been the most calm when it comes to advancements in our relationship. Speaking of, where are the others? I think Theodore may have read my mind, because a moment later he announces he's going to go find Teddy and Oliver.
Alex and I take to a comfortable silence, him choosing to stretch while I succumb to the thoughts I've tried so hard to ignore today. The thoughts of my brother, and what will happen when we find him.
I know he broke free of their control before, it's the whole reason I'm even still alive to try to find him, but can he do it again? Can he free himself of their chains? If they've had him all these years, which I imagine they have, how long has he been under their control? How many barriers will he have to fight through to come back to reality? What if he can't?
I shake the last thought from my mind. Scott is one of the strongest people I ever knew, both mentally and physically. If there's one person who could free himself from something like this, it's him. I know it.
"Hey, you okay?" I jump at Alex's voice, so lost in my own mind I'd forgotten where I was. "Sorry, yeah. Just... thinking."
He gives me a small, sad smile. "About your brother? You know, I'm excited to get to meet him. You spoke so highly of him before, like he could fix anything." I laugh a little, ignoring the cloud of tears that's starting to take over my eyes. "When I was younger it truly felt that way. He was my best friend back then, I could always rely on him."
"Well, now you get to repay the favor, and I know you will. We'll get him back to you, Eleanor." Alex offers me a hug that I accept, appreciating the comfort that he's able to give me. In a way, I guess Alex sort of replaced some of the hole that losing my brother left me, not all of it, of course, but a piece. I never really thought much of what Alex meant to me before, but I know now that he's truly my best friend, an extension of my family, simply a brother I had to meet later in life. He was a savior to me back then, I'm not sure I would have lasted the way I did had he not been there.
"I appreciate you a lot, Alex. Thank you for being here." He squeezes me a little tighter in response, releasing me a second later as I feel a presence approach from behind me.
"Alpha." Alex nods his head in respect as I turn to face Theodore. "He was just comforting me, that's all." He glares at Alex for a moment before looking down to me. "That's okay, I don't mind. Just don't make it a habit." His tone is half teasing, half serious, but Alex still smiles kindly at him with a nod.
I never thought those two would actually be able to get along, they always seemed like they were out for blood.
"Not to interrupt whatever is happening here, but everyone's about ready to go. Are we good here?" Teddy looks to me especially, her eyes saying what she won't say directly. I give her a small nod and she gives me a slight one in return. "Okay, the General and I are going to get everyone in position, we'll leave in ten." She and Theodore share a look before she walks off, beginning to shout orders at the people around her.
I've never really gotten the chance to actually see Teddy in her Beta role, or Oliver, for that matter. I'm not even sure which of them had the title first. Either way, I can tell she's comfortable in her position, her spine straight and her voice stern, assertive. I wish I could be like that.
Alex moves suddenly from my side, and as I turn quickly, I see he's been enveloped in a hug, strawberry hair now covering my view of him. I smile at the pair as Lillian mumbles something to him. I'm glad they're happy, and I'm glad they have each other.
I notice Theodore staring at me, but he looks away quickly when I turn to meet his gaze.
"You get one, too." Suddenly Lillian has her arms around me, hugging me tightly. "You all have to be extra careful, you especially, Eleanor. I'm tired of patching you up." Her tone is teasing as she releases me, moving both of her hands to my shoulders as she looks me in the eye. "I'm serious, and I can't wait to meet your brother, Eleanor." I smile kindly at her and promise to be careful. I'm struggling to read the expression on Theodore's face, I can't quite catch his eye, but I know something is bothering him.
"Okay." Oliver's voice breaks my line of thought. "They're all lined up, just waiting on us, Alpha. We're ready to go."
Go. This is really happening. I force the anxiety rising up my throat down as I look up towards Theodore, who glances away from me quickly and towards Oliver.
"Okay, then we should head up." Oliver hurries to my side as we start walking to the front of group A, placing an arm around my shoulder as he leans down to my ear.
"If you're wondering what's bothering Theo, he's jealous." I look up at Oliver in confusion. "Jealous? Of what?" Oliver sighs, shaking his head as he looks at me in amusement. I'm always missing something, aren't I?
"Eleanor, just, go give him a hug, alright? If you're able to." Oh.
Oh.
That... would make sense. Am I really that dense? I groan at my own stupidity as I nod. "Theodore! Eleanor needs you for a second, we'll go on ahead and get them all sorted." Oliver gives me a quick look before jogging ahead, giving Theodore a reassuring pat on the back as he passes him.
"Is everything alright, love?" He asks once the others are all ahead of us. I ignore the flutter in my body his words cause, nodding quickly to him. "Yes! I just got informed of something I should have already known."
"Which... is-?" I hug him quickly then, knowing that if any more time passed I'd be too anxious to follow through with my promise. This is the first time he doesn't hesitate, even for a moment, to wrap his arms securely around me, placing his chin on my head as he squeezes me tightly. He holds me like he's worried I'll disappear if he doesn't do it right. "I'll be okay, Theodore." I promise, my voice muffled by the hug. I feel him nod, but it takes him a few more moments before he lets me go, apologizing quickly.
"Stay with me, okay? I don't want to lose you." I agree, and he looks satisfied with my answer, but there's still worry evident in his eyes.