Only Mine

Chapter 13: The Truth Comes Out

If you could only see the beast you've made of me
I held it in but now it seems you've set it running free.~ Howl by Florence + The Machine
************

"BloodiedPeak Pack! Today, I have news that I must tell you of the past!" I say and the pack looks at each other in confusion. "Dylan!" I call and he appears, the mighty golden maned lion's head is held on a stake. It seemed so barbaric, but it needed to happen. "Jaxon Lannister confessed to me the truth of his father, Elijah Castamere's death!" I say and everyone looks more interested. "Jaxon was the true killer. He murdered his father to take over their pride but was still refused unless he confessed to the them of what he had done. But he chose not to." I say and Colin opens his mouth, as I had expected and planned ahead for. "How did he die?" He asks and heads nod, making questioning eyes turn to look at me. "He was found dead at the Hayden Border." I answer blankly. He seems content with the answer and I stare out at the pack. "Tonight we will run as a pack. We must be a unified front against the waves of attack and death that are coming at us." I say and everyone bows their heads. One by one they shift, except for those under 17.
I take the pain away from the youngest ones, to make it easier for them. Finally I shift and everyone looks at me eagerly. I could tell that it's been a while since they've run together as a pack and I knew it was what they needed. I bark and turn to start running. My high ranking wolves run on my right and I feel Colin pushing the limit. He thinks being an Enforcer makes him stronger than me. He is poorly mistaken. But I can't attack him. Not now. Not after I said we will be unified front and I meant it.

We run until the sun begins to rise. I decided to allow the Enforcers that ran with us to rest and whoever didn't would patrol. So now I was sleeping with Johnny on my legs. He occasionally would rub his face on my thigh but other than that, we slept.

At around eleven, Johnny's loud barking jerks me awake. He's standing upright on his hind legs and has his paws pressed against the door. I don't get out of bed but instead reach for the gun under my bed. He barks louder when someone begins to turn the knob. Johnny runs back and stands in front of my bed. The door pushes open and I raise my gun. "Woah Lex!" Alek comes in with his hands raised. "Don't do that! I could have shot you!" I say and put it back under my bed. He doesn't reply. I look up and he kisses me. "Stop." I say and he instantly pulls back. "I'm sorry." He says and backs up. "Alek, just please. I made a promise." I say and he nods. He opens his mouth to say something then shakes his head and walks out. Johnny trails him with a growl and I let him follow him. Not like I could stop him anyways.

Someone knocks on my door and I let them in. Kane steps in and I look up at him. "How you holding up, with all of this?" He asks and I shrug. "I can't get over the fact the Donatis are here. It just rubs my fur the wrong way." I reply and he sits beside me. "Dante keeps asking for you." He tells me and I growl. "The bastard can continue." I say and he stays quiet. "I'm not surprised they're here. Rhys did say he would find me sooner or later." I say and he sighs. "Rhys claimed your wolf. That's why Lex." He says and I sit straight up. "He what?" I snap. "Rhys's wolf claimed yours. That's how he found you." He says and I shake. "Our parents didn't just plan for you to marry one. It was known you were Rhys's mate. That's why they had organized your union since you were both children." He says and I bite my lip. "Why?" I ask. "Because Alexa, you've held my heart for years." Rhys says from the doorway. "I'll leave you two alone." Kane says and I don't break my glare from Rhys. "Not possible Rhys. I only met you at the ball." I snap and he shakes his head. "You were five. I was nine. Your mother used to bring you and Kane to visit every spring. When you turned eight, you never came anymore. And I waited years hoping you'd come back to me. And my father commanded me on the day of the ball to act as if we'd never met. It pained me but I did as he asked." He says and I blink. "You're saying, we've known each other since we were kids?" I ask and he nods. "And I've loved you since then." He says and I look down. "Rhys." I start and I walk towards him. He still towers over me but all of my mixed emotions give me a newfound confidence. I slap him hard on the cheek. His head whips to the side and his cheek turns angry red. You could see where my hand slapped him. "Don't you dare come and try to tell me that bullshit!" I scream in his face and he growls. He raises his hand and I stand tall, waiting for the pain. That will never come.
He rests his hand against my cheek and Echo leans towards him.
Echo! What are you doing?!
He's our mate, Alexa! I can feel it deep down in my heart!
No. No he's not. Echo, he hurt us.
Yeah, he did. But we have to get over the past, Alexa. The Moon Goddess made him for us for a reason.
But I'm the only one she granted the ability to have another. Kyle's mark never lasted because he wasn't my mate. Any mark by anyone other than who I mark back won't last. I will not mark Rhys Donati. And you can count on that.