Alpha Zander
Chapter 53

Excruciating pain shoots through me as my link with Ashleigh is broken as my Beta and my family. I will never be able to contact her again that way.

I can see everyone is shocked at what Dad has done, f**k. So am I. Hell, I’m f*****g furious he did this without my permission. He was the one who insisted that we do the binding early so we can create better bonds, and, in reality, Ashleigh is my best friend, and there is no one else who I trust more. I can’t for the life of me understand why Dad has taken such drastic measures.

Zander and I always have bvtt-heads, and we always will. We are Alpha Males, but to protect our packs and our kind, we have the same morals in that respect.

There haven’t been any issues or problems with our packs for years, sometimes small things here and there, but nothing to this level.

I hear the parents yelling and arguing in the main office as Ash heads out the front door. I’m sure Brent felt the link snap as well and will have questions when he gets home.

I’m slightly surprised he hasn’t linked me now to see what was wrong.

I turn to the table and see Alex and Meghan still there.

Meghan has gotten up to start clearing the food away. There is no way anyone else is coming back to finish whatever was left over on their plates tonight.

I walk down the hall to the office, I’m f*****g pissed off, Dad did this without any reason.

When I walk in, they are at each other’s throats, and Uncle is trying to hold Auntie Kylie back from ripping into Dad.

Dad is beside his desk with only an armchair separating hìm and Kylie. Mum is behind the desk, just observing. I know she gets concerned when King can be like this. There is paper scattered around everywhere. A tall lamp is broken against the wall like someone has thrown it around, and the bookshelf is still standing tall, thankfully.

“l don’t have to answer to you, Kylie,” King snarls in command, making her and Uncle submit.

I can tell Uncle Robert is furious with Dad for what he did to Ashleigh, f**k it, so am 1, but these two never go against each other, they have always had a united front as Alpha and Beta, but tonight I think that has changed.

“If you won’t answer Kylie, then answer me”, I demand, feeling my command flowing through. At this point, I was so f*****g pissed off I didn’t give a s**t that I was challenging Dad.

King can be a f*****g a-sshole sometimes, and when he’s in control, no one really likes to deal with him, at least thought his family meant something to him, but clearly, from tonight, it didn’t.

“Why the f**k did you exile Ash? Why did you cut our link?’ She was my f*****g Beta!” I can feel Ace push forward as I ask. The pain for both of us is unbearable. I know he has taken most of the hit and is just as angry and wound up about the whole thing as I am.

At least if it were a natural transfer, there wouldn’t have been any pain or issues. She would have just had a pack transfer, but Dad has removed her from our link and served all ties making things worse for both of us. Now I’m left without a Beta, and this weird f*****g feeling in my ch.est like It’s a void I can’t fill, and it’s just empty.

King being entirely in control right now, I can see mum standing behind him trying not to interfere, but of all times, this is where we needed her voice of reason.

“Watch it, boy” He snarls, trying to make me submit to him. I can feel beads of sweat start forming on my brow as I fight him. Everyone else in the room is cowering away, most likely in pain. Even mum has submitted to him at this point.

“You wanted Ashleigh and me to link early to build trust and foundation in our leadership. You just cut all ties with her without any proof. You do not get to make that choice without me agreeing to it.” Ace snarls back, “

Do you even understand the damage and pain you have caused us?” Ace continues. “Not only to me but also to her parents. We won’t even have the family link because of what you have done now.”

“I have my reasons, and none of you will question me,” King roars, looking around at us. I can see Kylie and Robert furious that he has shut them down.

“Trust me when I say this, brother, You had better get your s**t together, or you will no longer have a Beta like your son.” Robert snarls back. I can see Robert trying to fight his wolf for control, he knows better than to go up against King right now, but someone just harmed his pup. I wouldn’t blame him for wanting to rip into Dad.

Seeing I won’t get my f*****g answers tonight, I turn back around and head out the door slamming it behind me before more yelling and arguing starts this time. It’s between Uncle and Dad. Out of everyone there, he would be the one to take Dad.

I make my way to Ash’s room. I needed to get some, clothes and things for School. I would assume she has gone to Blackwood, but she would need something for next week at least.

I gathered the essentials, and the last thing I ever wanted to do was go through my cousin’s panty draw, f**k if they were any other girl, I would have been all for it, but this was just f*****g weird.

Assuming she didn’t take her phone with her, I had to message the one person l didn’t f*****g want to.

Sighing heavily before asking a favour to the one person I probably shouldn’t be talking to right now, especially with King being so f*****g stupid.

I opened Blackwood’s contact, hoping she was already with him by now.

Oliver: Is Ash with you?

Zander: Yea, What the f**k happened?

Oliver: Address, and I’ll explain.

Žander: Ya, know I ain’t giving that f*****g info out.

Oliver: I have some of her clothes and school things.

I’ll drop them off along with her car and phone.

Zander: f**k that, forget it. I’ll buy her stuff this weekend.

Oliver. You won’t be able to get stuff in time for school. You know how she gets when she misses class.

I waited for what seemed like forever, pacing in my bedroom for Blackwood to give me an answer. I know I was going against my pack right now. If I did this, I could potentially be exiled the same way. King had no f*****g proof that anything ever happened with Zander and Ashleigh. There have been attacks everywhere lately, small ones, one wouldn’t think so significant, but there has been a pattern. We believe the person or persons are looking for someone and for King to exile Ash like that in a time like this pisses me off even more. One of the Advisors told me this is similar to what happened last time, and the last time this happened, Blackwood’s mother was killed. I needed to talk to Blackwood to make sure she could be joined into his pack so she would at least have a link with someone.

Zander: Fine, but if you bring anyone else, I”ll be f*****g pissed off and won’t hesitate to kill them. 202 Gilbert Ave, Landon 2265.

The last thing I pack is a few hundred dollars in cash I keep around just in case of an emergency like this, I know Blackwood will want to buy her stuff, but at least she would have something of her own. I grabbed the keys to her car and headed out.

“Where you headed off to, man?” Brent calls out as I get into Ash’s car, f**k I was hoping that no one would notice me going.

He walked up to the car, standing next to the driver’s side as I slammed the door shut, winding the window down as the engine roars to life.

“Just headed out,” I mumble. It’s not that I didn’t trust Brent. I just didn’t want him to be involved with this. We at least needed one person to be able to take leadership if we all fell out.

“What happened at dinner? Why is Reid all weird and pacing, and why do l have this pain” he rambles on and on, not even worrying about my dismissiveness.

l guess his wolf hasn’t told him his sister was exiled because she found her mate.

“Look, I have to head out for a few hours. When I get back, I’ll explain, ok?” I say, trying to get out of this situation before someone else finds me delivering stuff to Ashleigh.

“Ok, sure, Umm. where is Ash? How come you have her car?” hẹ continues asking curious questions.

f**k sake, Brent is like a brother to me but these damn questions. “Look, we can talk when I get back, ok? I just have to head out” I wave a dismissive hand before rolling the car in reverse, slamming on the peddle and heading into the location Blackwood gave me.

Thankfully the drive didn’t take too long. At this time of night, there was hardly any traffic. I pulled up to this little old cottage on the outskirt of the city. It stood in a secluded area with woods surrounding it well enough covered for a shifter to live here.

Dragging the bag out of the car with her laptop, phone and a few other things, I don’t even bother knocking on the door. I know they both are here. One, because Blackwood’s car is parked in the driveway next to Ash’s, and two, I can scent them both.

I see Blackwood cooking in the kitchen as I close the door behind me, he looks up with silver eyes, and on high alert, I can feel his command radiating through the room.

“Put your f*****g wolf away,” I snap, rolling my eyes.

‘Can’t blame him, Ace mumbles. He has a point, his Luna has just been exiled from our pack, and she doesn’t have a link with anyone right now. Of course, he’s on edge.

“f**k off,” he snaps back, continuing to cook what seemed like an omelette.

I take a minute to observe my space. It seems nice enough. A little woodfire heater is roaring away, dividing the kitchen and living room, the stairs leading up to bedrooms, I assume, and the kitchen seems to be working well enough, judging by how he is turning on the gas and starts cooking. A few small lamps are turned on around the place, offering a friendly soft welcome.

“Here’s everything. It should be ok enough for the week or longer,” I say, putting the bag on the lounge and the laptop, keys and phone.

“Thanks, I’Il take her shopping on the weekend or something.” Blackwood grumbles, concentrating on the cooking rather than our conversation.

“Ollie?” I hear her voice close to me as I turn around.

Ashleigh’s standing halfway down the stairs in a pair of tracksuits and an oversized teeshirt. I pull a face cause l don’t want to f*****g know what these two have been doing here. I get she might not have any clothes, but jeez.

“Hey, Ash,” I force a smile. ‘Be happy she found her mate,’ Ace says.

Even though he dislikes Blackwood, he understands the mate bond better than l do. I’m still in two mindsets about the whole mate thing. Ace doesn’t like that I didn’t wait for my mate, but I’m also not a total man w***e like I know Blackwood has been in the past.

“You shouldn’t be here. You could get in serious trouble, especially with Uncle being how he is.” She frantically shakes her head, walking closer to me, trying to push me out the door.

“It’s fine. l can handle Dad. I just wanted to bring you some clothes and other things, so you didn’t have to dress well like that.” I gesture toward her as I do. Her cheeks heat up in embarrassment when she looks down and realises the shirt is a few sizes too big. A low growl came from the kitchen as we continued our conversation. I guess her mate didn’t like my relationship with my cousin. I smirk, enjoying the fact I’m pissing him off. Chuckling to myself, I grab the bag and bring it to her. “Here, this should be enough for a few days. I also bought your phone, laptop and car,” I continue gesturing towards the lounge where I put the rest of the stuff. “I’m not sure what your plans were, but you might want to consider joining Blackwoods pack, especially with what’s been happening lately.”

Her eyes widen in understanding as I try to explain without giving too much sensitive information. l only found this stuff out today, I was going to bring Brent and Ash up to speed tonight after dinner, but clearly, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Uncles that mad?” she whispers, sadly looking down at her phone and things.

s**t, s**t, make it better… Blackwood looks up from the kitchen and walks over to her, seeing she’s a bit upset. Bringing her into an embrace, k!ssing her softly, trying to comfort her. I try so f*****g hard not to make a face or gagging sounds with him being so… Loving??

Blackwood is never this affectionate or caring with the other women he was with, but I’m glad to see he has changed his ways with her.

“No, I just found stuff out today. I was going to share with you tonight before everything went to s**t, and well, honestly, it’s not safe for you to be without a pack right now. You don’t have to do the whole Luna thing, and it’s just so that you have a link with him and his Beta.” I try to explain.

“We will figure it out,” Blackwood says, planting another k!ss on her head, trying to comfort her while she just looks so miserable.

“I don’t even have my family link anymore, and I won’t ever be able to link you or Mum or Dad again.

That’s what hurt the most,” she says.

Å slight burn shoots through me at the realisation of that fact. I’ll never be able to link her again until I make Alpha, or even then, I’m not sure if it’s possible to get the family link back. I nod slowly, trying not to upset her or make anything worse again.

“Anyways, I’m glad you have somewhere to be tonight for the most part. I should head off, though, the parents were arguing when I left, and I don’t exactly want to be at the start of another one when I get home.”I move toward the door heading out.

“Ollie, Thank you, you know you didn’t have to do this so thank you,” she says, leaning in and giving me a tight hug.

“You know I didn’t have a say in the whole thing right? I didn’t care you two were together. I wouldn’t have done that. Honestly, I would have tried to look at some peace deal instead.” I had to make sure that she knew I would have welcomed it and would have seen it as an opportunity to have our packs working together instead of against each other.

“I know. You have shown that to me tonight,” Ashleigh smiles as she moves back to Blackwood.

I nod, letting out a breath of air I didn’t realise I was holding. I didn’t want her to come out of this thinking I hated her.

“Keep in touch. I’ll see you around school, and send me a message if you need anything, Ok?” I say before heading out the door. Unfortunately, I know this will probably be the last time for a while before I see her again. I won’t be allowed to be around her at school or anywhere else. This was goodbye for us until things settled down and Dad could accept them together. I just hoped she knew this too, and she did by the looks of things. Ashleigh nodded one more time before giving me another quick hug. “Thanks, Ollie,” she whispers before I head out the door, shifting into Ace.