Page 9 of His Temporary Alpha Mate
“Yeah, they called me home from school because they knew what was going to happen. My mom and dad were fated and when Dad died, Mom faded soon after. She was too broken, missed their connection too much to carry on without him.”
“I’m so sorry,” he repeated as he squeezed my arm.
“Honestly, I’m glad she went after. Now I know they were only waiting for her to recover then they would have taken and mated her. They wanted more like us and when Dad fought back they killed him.”
“Moon above.”
“I was only twelve when it happened. We thought I was safe. Turned out I was just too young.” I laughed bitterly. “After, I was sent to my aunt a couple of states away for her to raise. There were no other family to take me in the US, they didn’t want me to have the culture shock of going to live in Indonesia with my paternal grandparents. Turns out they didn’t want me anyway, too American.
“They suck.”
I have a bitter laugh. “They do, but it worked out fine. Karina welcomed me. Loved me.”
Dalton pressed a kiss to my chin. It was such an affectionate gesture, I stumbled over my words.
“Being a beta.. she…I…sorry. As a beta, she couldn’t have a family of her own.” I felt his intake of breath. We all knew how much Dalton wanted to be a parent. “Sheworked in her clan to teach all the children in their school. For years she kept me safe.”
“Why is being what you are so dangerous? Why did the gang want you so badly?”
“Have you ever seen a Komodo hunt?” My smile was wicked. “Aside from being much larger than our natural counterparts, we are also more venomous.”
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, so oras hunt, bite their victims and follow them until they succumb to the venom. Then they eat them.”
“Impressive and gross. Thanks for that mental image.” Dalton laughed, a throaty sound which had me breaking out in goosebumps. I wanted to make him laugh again.
“You’re welcome. Anyway, I had nearly seven years of love and happiness with her. Sure there were darker moments. She taught me how to fight. Maybe she was paranoid, maybe she knew they would come for me. Eventually they did. There was no way they would want a young alpha Komodo Dragon out there, especially one like me with a vendetta. They tracked me down. First to capture me, then to break me.”
“No!” It was such a broken sound.
“Yeah. They paid off the alpha of the pack Karina had brought me to. Karina died getting me out. That woman fought like hell for me. They underestimatedher and she took a few of them with her.” My voice shook. “She’s my hero. I can never repay what she did for me.”
There was a pause while I got myself together.
“After, I wandered for what felt like days, until I felt a sort of mental shove. A reminder to do what I was told.” I laughed, remembering those frantic hours. “I followed her escape plan to the letter and ended up on the other side of the country with the money she had saved. She gave me a whole new life. New name, everything. Part of me wanted to go to Indonesia, find my father’s extended family, but something kept me here. A pull I can’t explain. The Luna is always guiding us, isn’t she?”
“I’m glad you stayed. I wouldn’t have met you otherwise. What happened after you got away?”
“Karina had reached out to a pack an old friend of hers was in. They knew the situation, had heard of my mom and dad. They took me in.” My heart ached when I thought back to the gentle Alpha wolf who had seen so much promise in me. “I stayed with them for a while. They helped me through the case the council filed against the gang. They were the ones who got me justice for my family.”
For the rest of my life, I would be thankful to John and his family. What he did for me just couldn’t be repaid.
“I left when the Alpha was challenged and lost. Over the years since Karina died, I’ve been in a few packs. I went to college and did the lone shifter thing for a while. Then I ended up here.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Me too.” I really meant it. Alpha Blake was a lot like Alpha John. I hoped The Luna was looking after him. He hadn’t deserved his end. If he had refused the challenge he would have still lost the pack. The rules were unfair and outdated.
“No, really. Recently, I’ve felt sort of adrift. You spending time with me has really helped,” he said, as if he was the one doing all the taking in this friendship without giving back. He was such a good friend. “ I’m glad we’re friends.” Dalton cuddled closer to me and kissed my cheek this time.
“Yeah, I am too.” I wrapped an arm around him.
“So tell me some more stories about Karina. Your parents too, if you want, of course. I’m curious about them.”
“Only if you tell me some things about your family.”
“Mine aren’t that interesting. Everything was fine until this hyena shifter, Gerry, joined the pack. He had a lot of influence. Got me to do things I’m not proud of. I’m lucky I didn’t get into worse trouble, really. My sister tried to convince me to do a last job. I refused,scared I’d end up in jail. That’s when they kicked me out.”
