Alpha Brothers - The Cold Hearted Sister (book 5)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24
Nick
I woke to the sound of Allie's soft snoring as she slept in my arms. It took a while for my mind to start working, after the day I had yesterday.
Allie finally accepted me. It was like music to my ears. But with her new love, the stakes became higher. It now meant that I had to be worthy of it and I had to start putting an escape plan into action. It also meant that I needed to be careful of Hector.
My brother wasn't stupid. Evil, heartless bastard; yes. Stupid; no. And if he suspected already then it wouldn't be long till he figured out that Allie was more than some lass that I had feelings for. She was my mate. I think the idea of me havin' a mate alone would send him over the edge. If he couldn't have his, then I couldn't have mine. I didn't know what scared me most. If he found out, he would kill Allie or mark her as his own. And that would kill us both.
And then there was her family. If it took this long for her to accept me, how long would it be for the whole Patterson clan to accept me? I feared never, knowing that some of them were stubborner than Allie. I hadn't seen nothing yet.
"What are you thinkin' about?" Allie mumbled, her eyes still closed.
"How did you know?" I asked, curious to how she could know me well enough to know when I had the whole world on my shoulders and she hadn't even opened her eyes.
"Your heart," she said, nuzzling my armpit, "it's racin'."
"That could been anythin'," I argued to get a raise out of her, "I could be keepin' somethin' from you."
"No you not, I would know," she stated, rubbing harder, "you're a terrible liar."
I scoffed, offended, "no I'm not."
"Aye, you are," she argued, finally lifting her head to look at me, "it's in your eyes. You have very truthful eyes."
"And I supposed you don't?" I asked knowing her answer.
"Of course not. I'm a woman. I'm born to be deceitful and wicked."
"But not to me," I reminded her, tugging on her arms.
She giggled, tilting her head as if to pity him.
"Only on occasion," she admitted making me smile.
Looking out the tent entrance, I was reminded of the rain. After storms like last night the land became a swop. The once hard dirt became mud and stink holes could form within seconds.
Sighing, I decided to deliver the bad news, "well, I think I better get ready."
She frowned, "for what?"
"Well, recently a white wolf reminded me that I have a position in the pack. And that position involves checkin' the boundary and any stink holes."
"Can I come?" She asked, looking hopeful.
I shook my head, "sorry Al, too dangerous."
She scoffed and rolled her eyes, "you know I'm twenty-five and have been through three wolf attacks over the last eight years."
"Aye, I know," I said chuckling a little, "but you might get dirty."
"Well, I'll have to take a bath then," she said, nudging me and trying to entice me with her eyes.
Chuckling at her failure, I shook my head and tugged a lock of hair behind her ear, "no Allie, no."
She scoffed, rolling out of my arms in a sulk. I chuckled again, pushing the doona off me before stumbling out of bed. I made my way around the bed and over to my chest-of-draws searching for clothes.
Remembering what happened the last time she was alone, I asked, "Do you still have that knife."
"Aye, it's here," she answered, digging it out from under her pillow.
Spying it between her fingers, I nodded, "good. Remember what I said. Keep it -."
"Aye, I'll keep it close to me," she finished, clearly understanding the first time.
"Maybe you shouldn't go," she said, not looking at me, her eyes filling with fear.
"Hey," I said, causing them to flick to me as I sat on the edge of the bed, "you don't need to be afraid."
She frowned, "afraid? Who said I was afraid?"
"Your eyes did. You have very truthful eyes."
She scoffed and rolled her eyes, trying to lure me away from the trail.
"I won't be long, I promise," I told her, standing to fish out a shirt, "it's just a boundary check. I'll report it to Davy and then come back to check on you, okay?"
"Okay," she pouted like a child, making me smile.
Once I was ready, I sat back on the bed. Allie sat up, keeping the doona over her shoulders.
Cupping her cheek, I asked, "what are you plannin' on doin' today?"
She shrugged, "I think I might just lie around. Nothin' I can do."
"Well," I started, leaning over to take her lips in mine.
I forced them to open wide for me, which she did willing, groaning in response.
Pulling back, I continued, "don't go runnin' off with some stranger while I'm gone okay."
"Oh, is that what that kiss was for," she teased, "so that I remember what a good kisser you are."
My eyes widened.
"You think I'm a good kisser."
Her mouth made an O as she realized what she had said.
"Did I say that?" She asked, turning into her cool self.
"Aye, you did."
"Well I take it back," she quickly said, "You're the worse kisser -."
I cut her off, taking her lips again in a deep, hungry kiss. After a few moments, I let go, peering into her eyes.
"Yeah, you too."
She giggled, pushing me away.
"Go away," she said, giggling making me chuckle, "go do your job."
Stifling my laughs, I left the tent trying to contain my smile. From here, I could see the damage from the storm. The ground had become a mudslide, trees only standing straight as a result of deep roots. Surrounding tents were mix colours of white and brown from the rain last night.
I headed off up the hill, marching through the ankle deep sludge. The sun shone behind the clouds making me forget about coming troubles. Keeping track of what direction I went in, I turn north to check on the closest boundary. While I was out it, I took note of each way of escape.
What was the quickest way out of this territory that was also closest to the Patterson boundary?
The east was the furthest from where my tent was and at least two hours from the closest part of the Patterson boundary. North was the closest exit, however it the way we would be mostly in the opener and an easy target. West was not an option. If we went that way, we would be forced to go through the most dangerous part of this area. It was where the mud pit lied, a person's worse nightmare. The mud was as thick as concrete and five metres deep. Any wolf could suffocate under five minutes and not have the strength to dig their way out. The land was also unpredictable. It could drop and make stink holes at any moment, killing a simple human walking by. So the west boundary was out. Or that was left was South but that meant going through the Pack's centre and was the furthest away from the Patterson boundary.
Any escape we made, wouldn't be easy. I decided there was no point thinking about it until I talked to Allie and there was a real threat made to her life.
That was one of the things that annoyed me the most. I had spent the night half naked with my mate and yet, the only thing that could occupy my mind was trying to keep her safe from my family members. Oh the irony.
Every time I was given something that I could love, I was forced to give it up. But I don't think I could do it again.