My Older Alpha Mate

chapter seventeen

Ashton's POV

I sat in her bedroom as she trembled and cried in my arms until she fell asleep. I sighed quietly and stroked her hair again. I thought about my youth and when I was going through the same things she was. I closed my eyes, allowing the memories to flood my brain. The memories that I tried so hard to suppress.

I slammed my bedroom door and screamed as I felt my wolf, Zeus, tear through my body. It was impossible to control him. Especially when I was angry. I lost control entirely and was forced into the back of my won body, watching Zeus tear through my bedsheets and destroy my room. I could have probably taken control if I really wanted to, but it felt like there wasn't even a purpose to do so. I felt small again, five years old. Sitting cross-cross watching static on the television while my parents went for each other's throats in the kitchen.

I shook my head, snapping back into reality and looking down at my beautiful mate. I lifted her up bridal style and laid her into her bed, tucking her in and kissing her forehead. I felt sympathetic for her. She and her wolf had so much to deal with right now. When you turn sixteen, your wolf gets much stronger and receives more control over your body. Learning to master the art of not only controlling your transition but using it to your advantage is difficult, to say the least. I sighed as I ran a hand through my already messy hair and looked at the small girl in the bed again, leaning against her bedroom wall. 

Last night's events reminded me of their presence and I bit my lip, thinking about how breathtaking she looked underneath me and begging for me. I shook my head with a grin plastered on my face. That was without a doubt the best sex I ever had. I raked my brain for a number I could offer for my body count but I couldn't. All I could offer is a lot. The way I felt when she touched me was the first time I felt anything besides a finger. She made me want to stop fighting, she was my living proof that I was capable of feeling something.

I could learn so much from her, I already had. I reminded myself of the enhanced patience and control I have exhibited since I met her. I was gracious for her, my saving grace. I was more careful and made fewer mistakes when I did my alpha paperwork. I was more focused. I was excited to see what else I could learn from the spontaneous ray of sunshine who laid in her bed, gracefully sleeping with tear-stained cheeks. An angel.

Suddenly, a ring on my phone snapped me out of my admiration for my mate. I checked my phone and shook my head at the name that illuminated the screen. Stephanie. She had been texting me all week, asking to come back to the village. I rolled my eyes, knowing that was out of the equation. Especially because of what just happened.

I thought about how I banished her for allowing me to fall in love with her, for knowing I wasn't her mate and not once telling me. I shook my head again, thinking about the years worth of terrible things that I did in my youth. I looked over at the small girl on the bed once again and then walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind me. I mind linked Jon and Jake, telling them to meet me at my office. I received two yes sirs and began walking towards the packhouse.

When I arrived, I hung up my jacket and ran both hands through my hair, smoothing it down. I walked up the stairs and into my office where the two men sat, talking about something I didn't care about. "What's up?" Jon asked, getting serious now and leaning his elbows onto his knees. "We're going to raid the rogue's territory next week. I want to find their leader and receive some answers. I want to leave with blood," I said, sitting in my office chair and locking my hands on my desk. My betas raised their eyebrows and became significantly more serious, scooting towards my desk now. "Soon enough, we will have the Luna Ceremony and they will strike. We should get ahead of them. If they don't strike then, they will strike when I hold the ceremony to make you two co-betas. I am certain we have more resources and if we assert our dominance now, we won't need to worry later," I spoke precisely. Jon nodded and pulled out a notepad from a box in the corner of my office. 

He began writing something down and Jake took this time to ask for details. "What is the mission goal here? Why don't we just have intense security for the Luna Ceremony?" He asked. This slightly irritated me but I answered anyway, "The mission goal is to show these dirty rogues and every other village not to fuck with us," I said, placing my pointer finger on the desk. Suddenly, a knock on my office door pulled me out of my thoughts, causing all of us to pause. "Come," I spoke in my alpha voice, curious to see who pulled me out of my meeting. My head prison guard stood in my doorway, speaking with wide eyes. "The prisoner has something he needs to tell you," He spoke warily.

I shared a look with my betas as we all stood and followed the prison guard quickly, piling into the car provided by the head guard. We got out soon after and walked straight into the prison and to the hostage's cell. We stopped in front of his cell and looked at the man who was far more skinny than he was two weeks ago. "Ah, Alpha, welcome back. Miss me?" He spoke pathetically. His voice cracked from the lack of moisture. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, waiting to hear what he needed to say.

"I'll talk. But you have to let me out. I'm going to die here. I can't even hear my wolf anymore, I fear he is dead," He said, pulling himself off the ground to lean against the wall. I didn't really care if he died. He deserved it. "We can negotiate. Tell us what you ow now," Jon spoke calmly, placing a hand against the steel bars and offering the peasant a smile. I mentally noted Jon's skill to hide his emotions and get work done. I reminded myself to thank him later.

"I'm not a rogue. It was a cover-up. I'm from MoonCrest. I was sent to take your luna. She's more special than you think she is," He said, locking eyes with me. I shook my head in disbelief, all three of us dumbfounded. MoonCrest was one of the most powerful tribes in the world and they were not located too far from us. "You're lying because you do not want to die. That's not the truth," I spoke loudly, using my alpha voice. He shook his head and sat up more now, making sure to look in my face.

The color drained from my face as he spoke his next statement.

"If I'm lying, then why do I know about your brother?"