Luna Aleksa's Escape
Luna Aleksa’s Escape Chapter 55

*Sam POV*

My whole life I have trained for the position of Beta of Evergreen Pack. Generations of Nicholsons have taken on the Beta role. There was never a doubt in my mind that this isn’t where I wanted to be.

And then I met her. Eva Lockwood. We had all grown up together. I had always thought she had a soft spot for Lachlan, that was until I started to feel the pull and realized that she was my mate. Even before my wolf came I knew that she was my mate. I was certain that she could feel the pull too, but it seemed like she would constantly try to fight it.

Our birthdays were the same day, so as fate would have it our wolves claimed one another that very day, our eighteenth birthdays.

They say there is the lover and the loved one, and in some ways, I feel they were right in our case. I had loved Eva with all my heart from the moment I had laid eyes on her, but I knew it wasn’t quite the same for her. I figured it was cold feet or a fear of commitment although that was odd for a werewolf couple.

When Aleksa joined the pack as our Luna, it felt like everything had fallen into place. Aleksa and Lachlan mated and formed a solid pack leadership with myself and Eva as the Beta couple, joined by Caleb and a little later on Kali, which made our group complete.

The girls would spend time together doing girl things and we guys would lead and strengthen the pack together. It seemed like a dream until it wasn’t.

The pain came not long after we had mated, and even more so after our commitment ceremony. It took me a while to realize what was happening to me. It only happened every now and then, and I was never able to find evidence of any betrayal. I would confide in Lachlan but he would tell me I was crazy that Eva loved me and it must be something else.

That is until I saw Aleksa experiencing that same pain. I went with her to her doctor’s appointments and the pack doctor always had an explanation for why Aleksa was experiencing pain. I had my doubts but again I never found any evidence of any wrongdoings.

I was always kept busy with pack business, Lachlan over the years had become quite complacent and sloppy, which only added more to my workload. The more I worked the more pain I would feel through my and Eva’s bond.

Despite a lack of concrete evidence and after confronting Eva on more than one occasion, she always had excuses and would never actually confess anything. I was ready to reject her when I was sent away last minute to a training mission at a nearby pack. When I came back I was told that Aleksa and the twins had been kidnapped by some rogue wolves we had locked up in our dungeons.

Eva and my shambles of a relationship had become an afterthought at that stage. I had a duty to find and rescue our Luna and the Heirs to our pack. Finding them started to consume me. I rarely stopped to eat or sleep. I could still feel Eva betraying our bond, but I needed to keep searching for them. Even though I could feel myself getting weaker, I couldn’t risk feeling the full effects of rejecting my fated mate, so even though I was being weakened by betrayal I knew that a full rejection could be devastating, and right now I needed to keep going for the sake of Aleksa, Liam, and Layla.

Lachlan had all but lost it, the pack was suffering in so many ways, and we were on the brink of bankruptcy due to Lachlan’s penchant for gambling, and overspending. I discovered that had been frequenting brothels day and night and then claiming to be missing his mate as an afterthought. Aleska deserved so much more than that pitiful excuse for a mate.

Pack morale was at an all-time low, lower-ranked wolves were being mistreated, and it wasn’t the same pack that it had been before Lachlan had taken over as Alpha. Slowly over time, things had changed at Evergreen, and everything seemed to escalate once Aleksa and the twins were gone.

We had a lead on Aleska and the twins in Iowa, so we traveled there but then the trail went cold. We had committed to being at the Royal Alpha Summit as Lachlan had thought it might be a good idea to distribute Aleska and the twin’s photos to other packs in case someone had seen them or heard something so Lachlan ordered Eva and me to head towards Rocky Mountain. He had planned to join us within twenty-four hours.

I couldn’t believe it when we arrived and I watched Aleksa walk up to me. She seemed to exude such confidence and happiness. I wasn’t happy when I saw her locking hands with another alpha, but my wolf Caine had told me to calm down. He told me to read their body language. I could feel reciprocal love and safety in each other’s presence. I could feel it exuding from them.

I was shocked at Eva’s behavior. She didn’t seem pleased to see her best friend. I had never seen her so cold and bitter before. It was at that moment I realized that I must have missed something. I was even more confused when I saw Caleb and Kali. I was overwhelmingly happy to see my friends again but then disappointed because as far as I knew Caleb and Kali had betrayed us. Lachlan had said that they had helped the rogues take Aleksa and the twins. I could never understand why, but Lachlan had told me a very convincing story. Again my wolf, Caine, was telling me that they were our friends and to hear them out.

And heard them out I did. And it all made sense. I was enraged to hear that my best friend was betraying me with my mate. But it all fit. I was even more furious and shocked beyond recognition when I heard about what Lachlan had done to Aleksa, not just betraying their bond, but locking our Luna, an innocent wolf, up in the dungeons.

Caine was Furious, he instantly demanded that we reject our poor excuse for a mate right there on the spot, and I agreed with him. I would rather be weak and sad than be so pitiful to accept such a cruel and vile mate.

Caine had loved Eva’s wolf Ash at the beginning but over time he got impatient and suspicious of her. He seemed to be at the point that he would prefer no mate over the one we had been given. This was unheard of for a wolf, but Caine was a strong wolf, he gave me the strength to push through these past few years of hardship.

When I rejected Eva, it hurt. It hurt so much harder than the betrayal pain, so much so I didn’t have the strength to keep my eyes open.

Although as I began to come to I smelt the most delicious smell ever. It reminded me of the spring freesias that grew all over the pack grounds when I was a child. That smell always filled me with happiness throughout my life. I opened my eyes to the most beautiful sight sitting at my bedside, holding my hand in hers.

She was gorgeous, about five foot four, with long whitish blonde curls perched up in a high ponytail. She had bright crystal blue eyes with rosy cheeks and porcelain skin.

I could feel tingles all over. “MATE!’ Caine roared in my head. She looked at me with a sweet smile, and it warmed my heart.

I called MATE to her. She replied MATE back. We were mates. She was mine and I was hers.

“Tell me beautiful, what is your name?” I asked her.

“Lily. I am Lily.” She tells me coyly.

“I’m Sam,” I told her.

“I know. Aleksa and Kingston, they asked me to bring you a glass jug of water, and I dropped it accidentally, I’m sorry. I was just caught off guard. I did not expect to find my mate here,” she recalled so quickly that she appeared to be out of breath.

“Hey, it’s okay, relax, I’m just glad you are here.” I tried to reassure her.

“Are you going to reject me?” She asked me hesitantly.

“What, why would I reject you?” I asked her, feeling anxious, as to why she would even suggest that.

“It’s just that you are a Beta I am told. And I, I’m an Omega.” She said. A pained look on her face.

“Wrong, you are now a Beta female. That is unless you wish to reject me!” I said sternly.

“Of Course not. You are my mate sent by the moon goddess, I could never,” She reassured me with a serious expression on her face.

Gosh, she sure is cute.

“There is something you should know though Lily,” I told her.

“You are my second chance mate.” I declared.

“Second chance mate? How?” Lily asked. She looked confused.

“My first mate, Eva, betrayed our bond. I will tell you all about it, but perhaps a little later, it is a long sordid tale.” I told her.

“I Sam Nicholson, Beta of Evergreen Pack, accept you, Lily,” I stopped. “What’s your last name, Lily?” I asked her.

“Owens,” Lily responded, looking nervous.

“I Sam Nicholson, Beta of Evergreen Pack, accept you Lily Owens, Omega of Rocky Mountain Pack, as my mate,” I declared proudly.

“I Lily Owens, Omega of Rocky Mountain Pack, accept you Sam Nicholson, Beta of Evergreen Pack as my mate,” she replied with a great smile on her face.

With that, I pulled her face into mine and we gladly gave in to the mate bond with a passionate and earth-shattering k**s, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before, sending tingles and shivers throughout my entire body. Caine growled in satisfaction. As we pulled apart sweet Lily’s cheeks were even rosier than before, a deep shade of red prominent on her face.

“MINE!” I growled.

“YOURS!” Lily replied.

“We have much to discuss. But, first, I need to change, then I need to see Kingston.” I told Lily.

“My wolf Caine is demanding that I mate and mark you right away. But I respect you Lily and don’t want to rush you. So I have to ask how do you feel about making it official tonight?” I asked Lily, not wanting to force things. I wanted to let her know that I respect her as an equal. But, at the same time, I also do not want to wait any longer than necessary.

“Tonight would be perfect Sam. I’ll get you a towel and some clean clothing for you to change into while you shower if you like?” Lily asked me.

“That would be great, thank you, sweetheart,” I told her. Kissing her on the forehead as I ripped out my IV lines, and then headed to the shower.

***

I’m all showered and clothed, Caleb has popped in to check on me, after chatting for a while Caleb had offered to go and get some coffees while we wait for the discharge papers from the doc.

As I lifted Lily onto me and we began to k**s and touch one another our little make-out session is cut short when Aleksa walked into the room. Aleksa looked deeply embarrassed and in an attempt to leave before she thought that we would notice her she walked right into Caleb’s chest.

Lily jumped off the bed in embarrassment. She’s just so cute. But we are all adults here. It’s only natural to want to jump each other especially since we are mates and have yet to mark and mate.

After a brief chat, Aleksa told me that Lachlan had arrived this morning, but as fast as he arrived he left again. No doubt he will be back. I sensed some concern in Aleksa and I could guess what she was thinking. Naturally, she was wondering where I stood on all of this.

I hated that bastard. All these years he was the cause of my pain and suffering. Pretending to be my friend. Piling me up with never-ending workloads and out-of-pack trips. He made me feel like a bad mate for doubting Eva when he knew what was going on the whole time because he was the one she was betraying me with.

I would love nothing more than to end that poor excuse for an alpha myself. I realize I am not of alpha b***d but I know for a fact I could restore Evergreen back to its former glory. I know I would make a better alpha than he ever did.

I thought I would feel weak after rejecting Eva but I have never felt so strong. I feel reborn. I can feel this energy within me. I feel like I have a pretty good chance at beating Lachlan in an alpha challenge. And even if I wasn’t successful I would sure give it all I had. Someone had to stop that evil bastard, and I wanted to be the one to do it.

I relayed all of this to Aleska and Lily, who both look concerned. But they need not be. Lily walked up to me and wrapped her arms around me showing me her love and support. The doc showed up and gave me my papers, so I started to make my way over to the packhouse to speak with Kingston and Caleb to tell them of my plans.