Chapter 9 His To Protect
Chapter 9
Alyssa's POV
I didn't realise I was holding my breath until the words left his lips. A part of me expected that he was going to laugh in my face and mock me for thinking that someone like him would ever want me.
“He didn't reject us." I said, "he wants us…” His words felt too good to be true but after everything with Ryder, it taught me to question things and people. And considering the fact that Zayne held a more powerful position than Ryder didn't make it any better.
“I'm glad you're finally catching up." My wolf said, rolling her eyes.
Zayne's eyes remained on me, his hand on my face sent warm feelings through my veins. It felt like I have never been held before.
“Red…” he called softly, and my gaze met his. "I don't know what happened before now…but I'm willing to wait…for as long as…” I didn't let him finish before throwing my arms around him and I felt his body froze against mine.
“Sorry…I—”
Before I could pull back, his hand tightened around me, holding me as if I was going to disappear. The warmth from being in his arms filled me with peace that I lost the moment Ryder chose Iris over me. "You don't have to apologize, I'm yours." He promised , and a smile appeared on my face even though he couldn't see it.
“Mine.” I whispered.
"Fucking finally,” my wolf roared happily. " I was beginning to think this wasn't going to happen.” She continued, but I ignored her and let myself enjoy being in his arms where I felt safe…protected.
I wasn't sure how long we remained in that position but I didn't want to move and I knew it was the same for him. But the soft knock on the door pulled me away from him and I immediately missed the warmth his arms provided.
“Alpha,” Xavier's familiar voice called on the other side of the door. "There's something you need to see.” He finished.
It sounded serious and my heart skipped a beat…maybe two, but I pushed it aside. No one from my former pack knew where I was and even if they did, it wasn't like they would want me back.
“They're idiots," my wolf agreed. “It most likely has nothing to do with us." She assured me.
I nodded just the same time Zayne took my hand, leading me towards the door. “I'll take care of whatever it is, and we can have dinner." He said gently, and I nodded again, ignoring the nervous flutter I felt.
Xavier bowed his head once Zayne opened the door. I caught sight of the document he was holding but he quickly put it behind him before offering me a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
“Go find Aria," Zayne said, "she should be in the kitchen. You remember where that is, right?"
I nodded, trying to remember where anything was. The pack house alone was almost as big as my entire pack and when he took me around the Pack, I couldn't focus on anything other than how my hand fit perfectly in his.
“Perfect." He murmured, placing a kiss on my forehead before leaving with Xavier, leaving me to figure out where I needed to go next.
I followed the familiar hallway, letting my wolf smell her way around the Pack. As we went, we passed several members who made it obvious they were staring at me. Although they didn't say anything, the look in their eyes and the silence that followed after they passed me told me everything I needed to know.
“They're just curious," my wolf said. “They've never seen anyone as hot as we are."
This brought a smile to my face. If I had half of her confidence, I'd be unstoppable. But the moon goddess decided she didn't want to deal with a confident human…hence why she gave me a wolf that was confident in herself.
“I heard she's Alpha Zayne's mate," I heard someone whisper. “She's freaking lucky"
I paused, just as another person spoke. "Lucky? Talk about bravery.” The new voice said, and I frowned.
“There's no denying that Alpha Zayne is hot," she continued, and my wolf let out a growl. “He's ours." She snarled.
“But he scares the shit out of me…especially after Nyra.” She finished and my brows furrowed slightly. "Nyra? Who was she?” I thought, but I wasn't lucky as they noticed me standing there putting an end to their conversation.
“L-Luna…” the first girl called, her voice trembling like a deer caught in the headlight. "We didn't see you.” She said and the other girl agreed, nodding her head repeatedly.
"It's okay,” I assured her, but she didn't look like she believed me. From her smell, it was obvious that she was an Omega just like me. I knew that nothing I said would put her mind at ease, so I left but one thing kept resounding in my head.
“Nyra?"
Several questions popped up in my mind about who she was…his girlfriend? Someone I should be worried about?
I snapped out of my thoughts when I came to a stop in front of a large room. “This doesn't look like the kitchen." I muttered, as several eyes turned to stare at me.
My wolf snorted, “you think?"
“You can't blame, this place is built like a maze." I retorted.
I turned to leave but I had barely taken a step when I felt a hand grab my shoulder, holding me in place. "Who the fuck do you think you are?” A voice demanded.
I stiffened. The hand on my shoulder was firm, almost bruising. When I turned, a tall she-wolf stood in front of me. She was glaring at me like she knew me before now. Some girls stood behind her with their arms crossed in front of them.
“Can I help you?" I asked before I could stop myself and with the way her frown deepened, it was the wrong thing to say.
She scoffed, “can you help me?" She repeated, “Give me back my brother, you bitch!" She screamed.
Her brother? She sure doesn't look like Zayne.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
She scoffed, “You don't remember the person you killed, you bitch!" She growled.
"Killed?” I thought. I was still trying to figure out what she meant when she raised her hand again, but just before she could touch me, a low growl echoed through the room…Zayne.
“If. You. Dare!"
The command in his voice made the air vibrate. His gaze softened only when it fell on me. “You okay?”
I nodded, my heart pounding.
“Good,” he said quietly, before turning his glare back to the group. “No one touches my mate. Not unless they’re ready to face me.”
The room fell completely silent.
He reached for my hand, threading his fingers through mine as he guided me away from the crowd. My pulse was still racing, but this time it wasn’t fear—it was the way he said my mate, loud enough for everyone to hear.
And somehow, that felt better than any apology could.