The Alpha's Mate

Chapter 16

Manon's POV

"I'm leaving." I state monotone.  "Now."

"Manon you should really stay until morning." Piper's voice is filled with surprise, rightfully so.  "I wish to leave now."  I am colder than intended. 

"Man-"She begins.  "Now." I growl.

Her eyes are filled with disappointment. Even after what he did, Piper still seemed to have a hope that everything would go back to normal.  It won't.  

The disappointment vanishes and she ushers me to the couch.  As I sit she pulls out a map from her bookshelf.  It's hardly lined with books, mostly filled with knickknacks. She rolled it out on the coffee table turning it so it faced me.  

She looked up at me, meeting my eyes, searching for uncertainty.  She wants me to stay, but I am determined to leave.  Her eyes return to the map, filled with sadness.

"This." She points to a red 'x' on the map.  "Is us, our territory." She lets out a sigh, dragging her finger across the paper.  "This is you, your pack." She points to an area labeled 'Cold Blood'.   "It's a 200 mile trip.  It'll take a day in a car on highways, but if your running through the forest and avoiding rogue territory it'll take at least 3 days."

I study the map, weighing my options.  I am a skilled fighter and I could take a few rogues on a regular day, but I'm in no shape to be fighting.  Maybe even running.  But on the other hand, what if Ronan were to come after me.  Being home faster would mean safety from him. "If I go through no man's land, how long do you think it'll take." 

She lets out a sigh, scratching her head.  "Maybe a day, if you cut through it's only 24 miles."  I bite my lip before she continues.  "I don't want you taking that way, Manon." She states, her glowing green eyes meeting mine.  "It's dangerous, even for someone like you."

I mentally check over my options.  I could take the long way, but what if Ronan followed me?  The short way is dangerous, but in wolf form everything will heal faster. 

It didn't take much convincing, taking my chances with rogues is far better than taking my chances with Ronan.  "I'm taking the short way." I tell her, rolling up the map and putting it back.  "No." Her voice is stern, but I raise my eyebrows at her anyways.

"Piper, there is no room for discussion." I make a move toward the door.  "I told you no, Manon."  She steps in front of me, she's determined to stop me.  "I can make it home faster this way." I tell her, trying again to go around her.  She puts her arm out in front of me.  "Manon please, do it for me." Her eyes are no longer hard, they beg me.  I almost want to cave, but refuse, shaking her off. 

"At least stay the night." She was not defeated, her voice no longer wavered.  "Pip-"

"No, you have to stay the night."  She turned me around to face her.  "If you insist on going through no man's land you do it during the day, not at night." I bit my lip, facing my head down.  "Piper, you-"  

"No, it's settled if you want to leave, you spend the night, then we all can say goodbye in the morning." I lifted my head, meeting her eyes.  "Thank you."

*****

A loud bang shot me up from my sleep.  "FUCK!" Piper screamed.  I ran to the kitchen, where the bang and Piper came from.  When I opened the floor Piper was doubled over with a pan on the floor.  

There was no intruder, just Piper.  "Dropped the damn thing on my foot."  I stood confused before another voice grabbed my attention.

"I told you to hold it with both hands, you clumsy girl!" Luna Concetta walked into the kitchen, picking up the pan and putting it back on the flame. 

"Manon, you're up!" She said with a smile.  "About damn time too." Piper mumbled.   Luna brushed her off.  "What can I make you for lunch?" She asked with a smile.  "Lunch?"

"Yeah, you slept through breakfast." Piper grumbled, rubbing her foot.  "What time is it?" I was flustered.

"One o' clock." Luna sang.  "It's a good thing you got your rest, you've barely slept in days."  I turned toward the clock, astonished when I realized it was true.  

"Go sit in the living room with the boys." Luna ushered me out.  

I was greeted first by Jared, he wrapped me in one of his hugs.  "I'm gonna miss you ya know." He gave me a sad smile.  

"It's for the best." I whispered, my heart wanting to be here.  He released me, giving my a smile.  "We could always just hide you from Ronan." He chuckled.  

"Stop trying to change the girls mind." Alpha George said moving Jared out of the way.  

"Alpha." I said lowering my head, a sign of respect.  He quickly picked my chin up, making me meet his eyes before pulling me into a hug.  "You are family, no need to be formal." 

We hugged for a while, before Luna and Piper came out of the kitchen to say their goodbyes.  I was never really emotional, but it hurt to leave these people. Luna made me a bag of food to eat while I was running saying that I don't need to get any skinnier.  

By the time I left the house it was 3:00.  I said my final goodbye, making my way towards the woods.  "Remember Manon, you're family.  If you ever need anything we're here for you." Alpha George yelled.  I turned around, with a final wave, then I was gone.

*****

I ran until nightfall, my injuries healing much faster.  The majority of my bruises were gone or faded and my eye was no longer droopy.  I started to set up camp for the night when I was hit by a wave of pain.

I dropped the wood, falling over when another wave hit me.  My fingers grabbed at grass, pulling up dirt.  It was continuous pain, getting worse by the second.  My body felt as if I was being burned alive.  

Heat.

It was a month since Ronan and I met.  My body lurched at the thought of him.  I involuntarily screamed as the heat spread from my stomach to the rest of my body.  I needed to be cold. I needed to extinguish this flame, but only Ronan could put it out.  

I let out another scream as another wave hit, becoming more intense.  I crawled my way to a stream, splashing water on my face, the coolness helped for a second before the heat came back, knocking me into oblivion.