The Alpha and the Mistake

Chapter 18

I knew Ryder heard Mom so I followed her downstairs. Harry stopped us in the hallway. He ushered us

both into an empty room, a worried expression on his face. "What's wrong Harry?" Mom asked, worry

on her face too.

"Alpha Ryan knows everything. He knows we're here and worse, he knows Brook is Ryder's mate. I've

been ordered to bring you back to Black Mountain territory by six in the morning tomorrow."

"What? But I can't go back. Harry, you can't take me back," I said. My voice in a high shriek as panic

slammed into me.

"Of course, he's not taking you back," Mom said with determined in her eyes.

However, Harry looked like he was ready to toss his cookies. "If I don't, it'll be an open act of

aggression and he'll make sure it leads to war."

I grabbed mom's sleeve and stared at Harry. He couldn't really be considering it, could he? Mom patted

my hand and asked Harry just that.

"Nancy, I would never give Brook back to him, but I need you both to understand the situation we are

now facing."

I let go of Mom, but my stomach still twisted with dread."Can't I just say I don't want to go back? Who

told him anyway?"

"I don't know who told him, and I'm afraid your word doesn't count. You're still a minor. As Nancy is

mated with me, we all belong to Black Mountain."

"Why does Ryan want Brook back home so badly he'd risk war?" Mom asked.

"Power, Nancy," Harry said with a defeated air about him. "He hates Brent and his nonviolent ideals

more than anything in this world. As Ryder's mate, Brook allows Ryan to have power over him and

through him, his father."

"What if Ryder got a new mate?" I suggested, though something twisted inside me as I said it.

Harry chuckled. "It doesn't quite work like that, Brook."

"So what are you suggesting we do?" Mom asked. "Besides hand over my daughter to her abusers."

Harry gave Mom a pleading, sad glance. "Never, Nancey. I swear. Alpha Brent has suggested we stay

under the pretenses as P.O.W.s while he tries to work something out with Ryan."

"So why do you look like that?" I asked. There had to be more for him seem so downtrodden.

"We have to run," Harry told us.

"What?" Mom said, her eyes wide with shock. "Why would we have to run?"

"Because this has now all become a power play with Brook in the center. Alpha Brent is a good man,

but he is an alpha. Alphas must always put the good of their pack before anything and Ryder is an

alpha. It's obvious, he cares for Brook, but I can't promise he wouldn't sacrifice her to save his pack if it

came down to that." The downfallen expression on his face was short of tragic. "I'm so sorry, Brook.

You deserved to have something good in your life."

My throat tightened, and my eyes burned with the promise of tears, but I wouldn't cry. "It's how it is.

How are we going to run?"

"Wait a minute," Mom said, holding up her hand. "How can we be so sure Brent or his son would do

something like this. I understand a mate is something special, right? Why would they even consider

giving their son's mate to their enemy? Should I be worried?" She gave Harry a challenging glare.

"No, I'd die first, but I'm not an alpha. You two are the only pack I care about."

"So how do we get out of here?" I insisted.

"We have to play it cool," Harry replied. "Brent will never allow Brook out of his territory. He can't risk

someone using her to get to his pack. They're going to expect something from us, so we have to try

hard not to raise any suspicions. We have to let them believe we agree staying here is our best option."

Mom pressed her lips together. "They can't keep us here against our will. That's kidnapping and illegal."

"Werewolves, Mom. They can do whatever they want. It's only illegal if they get caught."

When Harry gave her a grimace, she shook her head. "Good lord, what did I bring you to?" She pulled

me to her and kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry Brook."

"It's not your fault or Harry's. It's just the way it is," I told her. I wanted to make sure she didn't get mad

at Harry either. Without him, we'd be lost for sure. "Okay, first things first. No way am I letting you stay

in that boy's room. Harry do what you need to do to get us out of here. Brook, let's go talk to Emily and

find you somewhere more appropriate to stay." Harry and I looked at each other in surprise. Wow, Mom

in charge. If she was a werewolf, she'd obviously be an alpha.

We found Emily in the main living room or parlor or whatever the rich and fancy call those rooms. She

greeted us warmly, and Mom returned it just as warm. It was they were best friends. "Since it seems we

are going to be staying a while. I figured it best we settle rooming arrangements. I'm aware Brook has

been staying in Ryder's room, and I'm assuming with the latest, he won't be going back to Black

Mountain. It's best she stay somewhere else. She is still underage."

The Luna gave her a brief, odd look then smiled. "I can promise you, Ryder would never hurt Brook,

but of course, I can understand the need for another room. I know just the one. Follow me." She led us

back upstairs, and I wasn't at all surprised when the room she showed us was next to Ryder's. Not

subtle at all.

Mom pursed her lips but nodded. "Alright, this will do for now."

"Great, well I'm going to get settled in."

"Wonderful. Nancy, I'd like to discuss this situation some more with you, if you don't mind?" Emily

asked.

"Of course, I will see you later, Brook."

The next morning I yawned as I sat at the kitchen island as the Rose set down my breakfast. She had

offered to take my plate to the dining room, but I asked if I could eat in here instead. She seemed as if

she wanted to argue but didn't say anything. I didn't care how she looked at me as long as she

respected I wanted to be alone. That was the plan, of course.

"Here she is," Andy called out, and I looked up to see him and all the others come into the kitchen. "I

told you she'd be in here."

My throat tightened. I wasn't so sure I could do this, act all cool and everything. I looked back down at

my plate, tugging my hood lower, and continued eating.

"Good morning Brookie," Dean said in a sing-song voice. He pulled the hood off my head and laughing

when I glared at him.

"Dean, leave her be," Ryder said, standing behind me. He was so close his body heat seeped into

mine. It made my pulse race, and my stomach went all fluttery again. Apparently, that wasn't close

enough because he slipped his arms around my waist and hugged me too him. He set his chin on my

shoulder, making my heart go even faster. My body obviously didn't get the memo he wasn't on my

side.

"Why are you here instead of the dining room?" Andy asked, sitting across from me. Beth sat at his

side, shooting me an ugly glare before gazing at Andy with a dreamy expression. Dean sat next to me,

stealing some bacon off my plate and earning another glare from me.

"Why not?" Beth jumped in. "She's free to do what she wants. You all don't have to babysit her."

"It's not babysitting, it's calling including her. She's our friend," Andy said.

"It's cool, I'm fine. I'm thinking of staying in today, catching up on my reading. You guys go do your

thing."

Dean snorted. "Come on, Brookie. Reading? You're not avoiding us, are you?"

"I'm not," I said, but as soon as I said it, everyone frowned at me. "I like reading. I don't follow the same

circles as you guys."

"Same circles? You realize that sounds so lame," Dean said.

"As much as I hate to agree with my brother he has a point," Ryder said.

"Okay, fine. I agreed to help Mom with some stuff okay. I figured it would earn me some brownie points

because she's kind of still super pissed at me. It's going to keep me busy all day." I pushed my plate

towards Dean, knowing that'd appease him. Andy tilted his head to the side, looking at me strangely.

Starting to get uncomfortable, I pushed Ryder's arm off me and left the kitchen before any of them

could ask me any more questions.

In another life, a life where I wasn't Missy Mistake or someone's pawn, I might have been friends with

them. I ran my fingers along the wall as I walked. I really didn't want to stay in my room, and that would

be the first place anyone would look for me. I stopped at a large window, now on the third floor, and

admired the view. The sun streamed through trees. Birds dashed here and there, and I even saw deer

with her baby.

I was so caught up in watching the deer I didn't notice someone was behind me until it was too late.

Ryder's arm slipped around me, and just like this morning, his heat swallowed me. My heart and

stomach went all crazy. "So this is what your mom asked you to do, huh?" There was no heat in his

words, but the accusation was clear.

"Uhm, yeah, something like that," I said, trying my best not to lean into him. His whole body stiffened

against mine. His grip around my waist tightened, making me cringe with a slight sting of pain from the

bruises.

"Why are you lying to us, to me?"

"I'm not..."

Ryder turned me around to face him, his expression was angry. My breath caught in my throat, and I

took a step back. "One thing, Brook," he said. "Werewolves can sense lies. We all know you lied to us

earlier. You're lying to me now. What gives? I thought we were good?"

"We're good enough," I said, not so sure what else to say. I tried to move around him, but Ryder

blocked me with his arm.

"Good enough? Brook, what's wrong. I can't make it better if you don't talk to me."

"Nothing is wrong. I'm fine. You're fine," I told him. Man, I was really starting to feel awful. Harry

could've warned me this was going to be so hard.

Ryder sighed, shaking head. "Another lie. Did Dean make you uncomfortable is that it? Come on, he's

an ass, but he's really harmless." Ryder took my hand and started to pull me down the hall. "Gives us a

chance, Brook. Seriously."

"Stop. Let me go. You can't just drag me where you want. I'm a person damn it."

Ryder turned, his expression angry. " I really don't know what I have to do to get you to understand

that. I don't think of you any less than myself or any other werewolf. Seriously, Brook, you're not giving

me a chance to prove myself. Not that I did anything wrong in the first place."

He threw his hands up in the air and suddenly I saw Mike swinging at me. I gasped, ducking, and

raising my hands to protect myself. Ryder stared at me, shock and disgust on his face. What just

happened? Shame fluttered through me as for the first time in my life the feeling of being a victim

bombarded me. "You're right. Go waste your time on someone else and leave me alone," I told him and

ran back to my room.