Alpha's Choice

Chapter 23 When the Dogs Away

Alexandria's POV

Xander had exited in huff without a word. He was upset I could feel it, but I couldn't tell exactly why. I was distraught by how he had acted and the fact that he didn't stick around to talk about why. He had almost forced himself on me, disregarding my adamant declaration of no and why.

He just killed Xach to keep our secret and less then a day later he is willing to give it all up. He is just emotional, and these feelings will pass, but his resentment towards me will start to build from that if I cost him everything. I could sense whenever he talked about his pack it was of the utmost importance to him. We just got involved there is no way I have taken the roll of his pack in his heart. It's too soon, and he will surely hate me once all the dust settles. It's not worth the temporary lust even if I want him more then I even ever wanted anything before. That actually just furthers my point. I care too much to allow myself to blindly rob him of something so important.

Although he added another layer that scared me for more than his inability to except the word no. He tried to use the bond to sooth me so I would be relaxed and comfortable enough to say yes. I hated that he tried to manipulate me. It made me feel sick and my body ached with the disappointment. He had used the bond I was just beginning to understand against me, and it ached all the way to more core, twisting my insides. I wondered if we would ever talk about it. Does an Alpha admit when he is wrong?

I couldn't sleep. I tried. I laid there for at least an hour maybe two, but my mind was full of his manipulations. It wouldn't settle, so I decided to go for a walk. Even though it was very late at night and the pack house was all quiet, I knew there were always wolves out n patrol. I was sure I was safer here then Fort Knox. At first I strolled through the house. Occasionally I came across a lone wolf or group tucked into a corner or sharing drinks.

After a while I really just wanted to be outside to feel the chill of the night air on my skin and have the fresh crispness of it fill my lungs. I went outside and wandered the grounds.
Everything looked so much more ominous in the dark.

I was filled with foreboding, but I assumed all of that revolved around the Xander situation, and he had yet to return. I was sure I would get no sleep until we had addressed his control issues. He really loves to tell me what I will be doing already. While I love the idea of that in the bedroom it's not a good look for everyday life. Alpha or not, I want the freedom to control myself.

I started planning my confrontation speech to Xander as I wandered near the pool and the tennis courts. I was so caught up arguing with myself in my own head I wasn't even paying attention to the scenery around me. It was already too late when the hand clamped down over my mouth.

I tried to scream but couldn't get any noise past the cold hand of steel plastered over my mouth. There was so much pressure I was sure I wasn't being handled by a person, but the frame was far too small to be a wolf. I didn't have much time to think it over as I felt a pin prick in my arm and a minute later everything was dark. I didn't have a chance to fight or question what was happening. It was over too fast. My last thought though was 'Xander where are you?'

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When I awoke I was in a cell. I was somewhere cold, and it was mostly dark. I couldn't tell what time of day it was, because there were no windows.

It was a large open cell, and I was chained to the cot I was laying on. I sat up and looked around, trying to put the pieces together. There were much larger chains and shackles in the large open room, but they were all attacked to the brick wall well out of my reach.