To Catch an Alpha

Chapter 7- To Catch a Goodbye

I took a deep breath and slowly knocked on the deep oak door. "James," I said to the door as I leaned my forehead against it. "We need to talk." I pulled my jacket closer to me in the cold night air. It was three in the morning but it wasn't as if I slept anymore anyway. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get Braxton's words out of my head. If his words were true, then Kaiden would see right through me and I wouldn't be able to protect my family. Every time I closed my eyes, the events of that day ran through my head. I drew in a shaky breath as I forced that day out of my mind. I would be leaving in the afternoon and wanted to see my best friend.

I could hear footsteps in the house and a very sleepy looking James opened the door for me, wearing only pajama pants. His pale abs and pectoral muscles were on full display. A blush crept across my cheeks despite the cold air. "What is it Chase?" James said softly, even though I knew he was angry with me. Since the ceremony, I had to break all ties with my friends, my family and especially James. Alpha Dalton told me that if he caught me with James at any point then he would have him killed. He didn't want me to be distracted by anyone or anything. I looked down at my dirty bare feet, just realizing that I hadn't put on shoes. "I had to see you," I whispered.

James could see the tears forming in my eyes and wrapped me tightly in his embrace. "Shhh," he cooed, trying to calm me. I cried onto his bare chest for everything, for him, for me, for this stupid blackmail. "I'm sorry," I hiccuped as I tried to pull myself together. He stroked my hair lightly and took in a deep breath. I shakily drew in a breath as James kissed my forehead and whispered incoherent things to me. "Alpha Dalton and B-Braxton are-" I stopped when James cut me off. "I know everything, I know about the blackmail, I know about the "study sessions" and I know what Braxton-" he paused, anger registering on his features.

More tears fell down my face, but this time they were from embarrassment. If James knew then the whole pack probably knew. He pulled me away from him so I could look into his eyes. "They will pay for all they have done to you. And after they do, I will come and find you. I love you Chase, I've waited for you my entire life. I'm not going to let them get away with this." The anger and hurt shown through his blue green eyes in dark flashes. I leaned into him, wanting to kiss him goodbye one last time. I pecked him on the lips, short and sweet. But that wasn't what he planned.

Something flashes in his eyes, causing them to brighten to a near glow. His arm snaked around my waist and his other hand held my head and he kissed me with more force. I kissed him back, pouring into it all of the love I was supposed to be feeling for him as a mate. "James," I said between kisses as my heart pounded a million times and minute in my chest. "Mmmmm?" He answered, almost determined never to stop kissing me. I had to stop. Something in my gut was telling me that this wasn't right. I tried to squirm away from him but he had me locked in place. I placed my hands on his chest and gave him a light shove. My breathing quickened, I had to get him off of me. "James... Stop.." I try as I push a little harder against him. He continues to try to kiss me, and then I realize that this will never work between us.

"James," I push him as hard as I can away but stay locked in place. He allows a few inches of space between us and I feel like I can breathe again. "What the hell Chase!" He demands as I try to catch my breath. The cold night air feels good on my now burning lungs. I look at him, obviously hurt by his actions, but he only looks at me with frustration. "I have waited years Chase, years! You were promised to me! And now you throw yourself at other males! At Alphas! Am I not good enough for you?" He moves closer to me, yelling in my face so close that I feel his spit on my cheek. I slowly gain an smidge of courage and push the tall boy, causing him to stumble.

"You need to calm your wolf down, James. I don't want to do this now." I warn with my hands in a defensive position and I maneuver myself backwards down his porch steps and onto his lawn. "Oh we're going to do this now! You are mine, Chase! I have waited for you, I have loved you, I have claimed you!" His wolf eyes continue to stare at me, boiling anger coursing through them. Fear is all I can feel. "I don't want this James," I barely whisper as I stare into the eyes of his beast. Biting my lip, I sprint away from the boy I have known my entire life. But this was not that boy.

I can hear him screaming my name as I run further and further into the night. My legs burn as I push myself to get home faster, praying that he is not following behind me. I didn't realize I was crying until the minivan in the road swerves to miss me. Why would James be acting like this? The James that I know would never act like this. Suddenly, my foot tripped over itself and I was sent tumbling into the side ditch. Mud and grass covered my body and caked with the blood on my freshly opened scabs. I hissed in pain and wiped the grime from my eyes and mouth.

The dark night was calming, peaceful. James ruined that. He said he would wait for me to be ready. He said that he loved me. But no, I saw another side of him. He's possessive and controlling. His wolf took control of him so easily, something James would never let happen. He had changed so much when I wasn't around. Guilt washed over me, causing sobs to rack through my body. I pulled myself together and walked home, pulling the leaves from my hair and wiping off the mud from my skin. Before I knew it, the sun started to peek through the tree line just as I stepped foot through my front door.

...

"Do you have everything packed?" My mother asked me as my younger sister helped my father load my suitcases into the car. Her cheeks were stained with dried tears and her bloodshot eyes looked as if they were about to release new ones. I pulled her into a hug and murmured a "Yes Mom," into her hair. "I'll call you every night," I add, trailing off with "if I can". My mother pulled herself together, wiping the tears from her cheeks with the bottom of her shirt. "That Alpha would be crazy not to pick you." She said, leaning her hand against my cheek while her eyes shone with a mixture of sadness and pride. I jumped at the sound of the slammed car trunk and slowly dragged myself down the walkway towards my other family members.

"Now Chase," my father started, but I wrapped my arms around him in a hug before he could finish. "I love you dad," I sob into his chest as his grip around me tightens. "I love you too honey," he says with a power in his voice. "Now Chase, there are going to be girls there that are beta and even Alpha ranked. Don't let them make you feel like any less of a wolf than they are." He says with his hands on my shoulders and a fire in his eyes. I know my father is proud of me for representing the pack. If only he knew I was only doing it to save his life. " I promise dad, I'm not going to change who I am over this silly contest."

Cecilia turns to me with tears in her eyes and a quivering lip. "It's not fair," she raises her voice, " I don't care about some stupid tradition! You shouldn't have to leave us!" I wipe the tears off her cheeks before realizing that I'm crying myself. I wrap my arms around her in a hug and softly pet her hair like I used to do when she was younger. My actions only produce a sob from her and a grip on my waist that would rival an Alpha's. I giggle to myself as I pull her off of me to look her in the eye. "Everything is going to be fine," I coo to her. "After Reynolds chooses who he wants I'll be free to come home!" I say with a smile and a pang in my chest that nags me to tell her about the black mail. I wrap her into another hug and whisper in her ear.

"If I don't win, get mom and dad and run away. Go rogue or something. I will find you but don't stay here." I say to her with such force as she turns to face me her expression lets me know that she understands. She asks no questions and I silently thank her for that as the driver slowly ushers me into the car. " I love you guys!" I scream to them as I am pushed into the back seat of the car. I can read their lips as the car pulls out of the driveway and onto the road. I watch as the only support system I have ever known is ripped out from under me, their lives placed in my hands.

This was going to be a long seven hour drive.

Hello Lovelies 💕
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