Looking at the Alpha, I could tell he was tired, and his breath smelt strongly of whiskey. Was he still drunk? I thought to myself. His clothes looked like he slept in them. He was wearing a flannelette shirt and jeans. His beta was dressed in a suit, he looked like he was angry with the Alpha over something. Whenever the Alpha would ask him something, it was short answers, and he practically spat the words at him. The Alpha was definitely drunk or extremely hung over because he wasn’t even paying attention to how his Beta was speaking to him.
Zoe brought our coffees over, and the Alpha started gulping his down before he spoke.
“Well, Alpha Reid, I just wanted to let you know your warriors did an excellent job and we haven’t had an attack the last 3 nights now, so if you wanted to pull your men back, you can. I really appreciate your help,” he stated.
“If you don’t need them any longer, I am happy to have them come back home. I know my men are missing their families. Even though they talk every day, it’s still not the same for them when they are used to being with their mates and children daily. You would understand; you have kids yourself, don’t you, David?”
His Beta stiffened, looking towards the Alpha. I observed as Alpha David clenched his fists tightly on the table then unclenched them, not bothering to answer me. Suddenly my wolf started to get all anxious. I was about to mind link Zane to send some of our warriors out to look for Aria and Lily when her scent hit my nose so quickly I thought for sure I imagined it, until she bolted past the front of the diner quickly, apologising to Zoe for being late before she took off to the back where I couldn’t see her.
Looking towards Zoe, I saw concern on her face before she followed Aria to the back somewhere. What the hell was going on? Straightening out my suit, I turned back to Alpha David and his Beta. At least she was safe.
“Glad you think so. Are you really that blind, Reid? I could see from the back of your mind. She is hurting, you bloody arsehole. Plus, I could smell it on her. I knew something was wrong,” growled Ryder. He pushed at me, trying to take over. To run to her, to chase her and make sure she was okay. But I would not give him the control he wanted. I could not let him rip apart the diner and scare everyone here or have Alpha David think I was challenging him.
“You okay, Alpha Reid?” asked Michael
“Yes, sorry, I’m fine. I just zoned out for a second, sorry about that.” We made small talk while we finished our coffees. Well, mostly Michael and I talked while David just looked hungover and didn’t know what day it was. After about 20 minutes, Aria came out. I kept glancing over to her, watching her. When she got closer, I got a strong whiff of her scent. I instantly got goosebumps all over me. Ryder was trying to push forward because she smelt terrible. I could smell blood on her. Aria’s scent was extremely weak, and I could smell something else.
“WOLFSBANE,” growled Ryder. He was pissed that someone had hurt our mate using wolfsbane. Just before she reached my table, she froze for a second. Both the Alpha and the Beta looked up to see who I was staring at. Aria quickly dropped her head but not fast enough, I could see she had a black eye and bruises along her jaw. She quickly filled our cups, and before taking off behind the counter, which made me feel relieved, the look that Alpha David gave her made me want to rip him apart. He looked at her with disgust. I didn’t catch the Beta reaction to her, he was looking everywhere but at me. I thought I saw his eyes glaze over though like he was mind linking someone.
“Well, since everything has been sorted, we might as well keep this meeting short. I will have my men off your territory straight away, and if I ever need anything, Alpha, I will be sure to contact you to collect that favour,” I said.
The Alpha nodded before getting out of his seat and walking out. His Beta Michael got up shaking my hand before saying, “Sorry about him, he had a rough night last night and a few too many drinks.”
“I figured as much. He smells like a bar.”
Michael chuckled before taking his leave. Walking up to the counter, I went to take a seat when I saw her just out of the corner of my eye, standing next to the sink in the kitchen. I watched as she took some pills when I felt Ryder push me over. Before I knew it, I was standing behind her.
She turned around and walked into me “You can’t be back here, sir,” she said nervously.
I looked down at her, then grabbed her and crushed her against my chest. Reaching into her back pocket, I pulled the sheet of painkillers out and read it. “Codeine. What are you taking these for?” I asked her. Werewolves heal fast, no need to take pain killers unless severely injured. She quickly stepped out of my grasp and snatched them out of my hand.
“That’s none of your business. Now please, you can’t be back here.” I could tell she wanted to get away from me, so I turned and walked back out and sat at one of the booths. Someone had hurt her. The evidence was all over her face, and I could smell blood on her like she was still bleeding, and she strongly smelt of wolfsbane. It must be on her clothes, or maybe she spent the night around it, because from how strong it smells, she should be dead.