Rise of the Alpha
Chapter 28

Magnolia

My father spent the rest of Friday and most of today harping about my looks. I escaped to my room, claiming I had an assignment for school I needed to work on. He kept going on and on about how I embarrassed him in front of the Alpha and the pack. But did I really? Only a couple of people saw me. He followed behind me all the way to the house to make sure I didn’t stop anywhere. Once we made it back, he made it abundantly clear I wouldn’t be stepping back out of the house until I left for school.

I stood firm, though, and haven’t removed the piercing. Well, I may have lied and said I would once I returned, as it required a special tool to unclasp it, which he actually believed. I thought my father was a little smarter than that. I guess I was wrong.

The only saving grace getting me through this hellacious weekend was the texts back and forth between Wylla and the guys. We decided not to call each other, not wanting my father to overhear any conversations, so we kept to text messages. They even managed to send some pictures, some that had my core hot with desire with the amount of flesh they were showing. Goddess, help me when I finally have s*x! They are going to break me!

I came up to my room around two in the afternoon. Now looking at the clock sitting on my nightstand, I see it’s getting close to five, dinnertime, and my father hasn’t been up once. I have a nagging feeling in my gut that this isn’t the blessing it should seem to be. It feels more like the calm before the storm, and lightning is about to strike me hard. The only question is, will I survive it?

Lying on my stomach across the bed, I let my legs sway back and forth in the air while I read my Supernatural History book. I’m so engrossed in learning about ferrets that I’m caught off guard when my door flies open and my three intended mates step inside. I jump up, sitting back on my haunches as my book drops to the floor.

“How the hell did you get in here?” It doesn’t dawn on me until the words are out of my mouth, and I see the angry look on Max’s face that I realize what I said.

“If I were you, I’d mind your place. That is not how you speak to your intended mates or your future Alpha. In fact, that’s not the response to be given to any male in this pack by a bitch.”

“I don’t know, Maxie, I kind of like the fire in her. I especially like seeing her a*s up in the air like that, giving me the space to move in behind her and f**k her like I would in wolf form.” His tongue snakes out of his mouth, licking across his lips, a hint of metal in his mouth flickering in the light. F*****g hypocrites.

My eyes jump back over to the last of the three, Jeremiah, who’s leaning against the door frame. He just stares at me, his eyes seeming to be fighting a battle. “You guys are crazy. She’s a virgin; the fun will be in taking it from her.” The other two howl in laughter as they all move inside the room.

Reid moves over to my dresser, opens it, and begins to run his fingers through my underwear. Pulling out a pair of my lacier ones, he brings them to his nose, sniffing them before licking the crotch. I’m going to be sick! My eyes immediately flip to my discarded clothing from last night, my used underwear lying on top. Reid moves quicker than me, snatching them up in his hand, and sticks both pairs into his jeans pocket. “These will serve me well, little bitch.”

My wolf growls, pissed at the way they are talking to me, for being in my space, and at me for allowing it to happen. She needs to be patient. We just need to get through this weekend and make it until the day we can break free from this heinous pack. My mother may want to live a life of misery, but I don’t. I won’t.

“Sorry for my choice of words.” Goddess, it makes me sick, to feign niceness and say those words. “You just caught me off guard, being in my room alone with me. I’m surprised my father allowed it, as well as shocked as to why you are here.” I move to sit on the edge of the bed, swinging my legs off so that my bare feet rest on the floor. I make sure to keep my eyes downcast as a proper female wolf should.

“Oh, didn’t your father tell you? Of course not, you’re just a bitch. You don’t need to know shit, but we’re here for dinner. Call it a chance for us all to get to know each other better, seeing how we will be mates soon. Now, get presentable and meet us downstairs. I wouldn’t dawdle either. My father is already pissed with you and rethinking allowing you to go back to school,” Max declares before turning and heading out of the room. Reid tosses me a flirtatious wink as he brings his fingers up to his mouth with his pointer and middle finger spread and waggles his tongue between them. Ugh, gross!

Jeremiah is the last to turn and leave, staring at me long and hard before finally saying, “I’d hurry if I were you.” He turns quickly, racing from the room, I assume to catch up with the others.

I bend over and pick up my book from the floor, letting my hands rub across the cover. There is no way I’m doing anything to make them keep me here. I will play the dutiful future mate of the Alpha heir and his Betas during dinner, then I’ll make sure when I leave tomorrow that I never come back here again.

I place the book on my bed and stand up, straighten out my clothes, run my fingers through my hair, making sure it appears to be brushed, and head down the stairs. I can hear the loud, obnoxious voices of both Alpha Johnson and my father as I near the bottom step. Plastering a smile on my face, I step into the dining room.

“There she is. You’ve kept us waiting long enough, Magnolia. Come take a seat between Max and Reid,” my father announces as he gestures towards the only empty seat at the table.

“Sorry, Father,” I meekly say, moving towards the empty seat.

“I’ll have to teach her to be more punctual once we are mated. I think I’m going to have my work cut out with her. Father, what do you think? Maybe she should spend more weekends at home so we can work on the skills of being a mate she is lacking.” Max sneers at me as he speaks, placing his hand on my leg under the table and squeezing tightly. He’s using so much force, I know there will be a bruise there.

I try to tune them out, keeping my head down and only speaking when spoken to as the dinner drags on. The men carry on a conversation, going on about this pack and the other. My ears perk a little when they mention how disgusting the Stoneridge pack is by letting in non-wolf members. I try to keep my face neutral, not wanting to show that I have any interest in what they’re saying, but to me, a pack that is accepting of all species sounds amazing.

Dinner finally draws to an end, and my mother places coffee down on the table for my father and the Alpha. “So, Magnolia, your father informs me your return flight to school is tomorrow. One of your mates will be taking you back to the airport. What time is your flight?” Alpha Johnson questions me.

“It’s at three, Sir,” I respond, making sure to keep my tone even and eyes down.

“You will need to change your ticket. The boys have training at that time, and your father has a meeting with me.”

“Sir, I can just take an Uber to the airport if my future mates are busy. I wouldn’t want to impose.” See, I can be sweet because I sure as hell don’t want to be alone with them, especially Reid, that fucker creeps me out.

I hear a throat clear across the table from me. “Alpha Johnson, I can take her. I’m not in the training as I’m finishing up the hard drive update to our security systems. I can take time from it to run her over to the airport to ensure she gets there and remind her what will happen if she doesn’t clean up her act,” Jeremiah announces, not even glancing my way.

“Good, we have that taken care of, then. It’s time we head home. Samuel, I urge you to keep your daughter in line. We’d hate to have to announce my son’s renouncement of her as his mate, before the official announcement in two weeks’ time.” My eyes shoot back to Alpha Johnson, confused by his comment about an official announcement in two weeks, the same time my father would expect me to be back here.

“Yes, Sir. Magnolia, excuse yourself and head upstairs. Make sure you are packed. We do not want to keep Jeremiah waiting tomorrow when he comes to collect you.”

Pushing back my chair, I stand up. “Yes, Father. It was a pleasure seeing you tonight, Alpha and Luna Johnson. Max, Reid, Jeremiah, it was a pleasure to see you as well.” I’m going to need to clean my mouth with soap to clear out all the shit I just spoke.

Leaving the room as quickly as I can without seeming to be running, I rush up the stairs to my room, closing the door behind me as I let out a deep breath. Sliding down the door, I land on my butt, stretching my legs out in front of me, and pray for an escape from this pack.

Waking up this morning, I only leave my room long enough to get something to eat, then escape back to it. I made sure to pack my bags last night, so all I’ve been doing is twiddling my thumbs when not messaging back and forth with one of the guys or Wylla. Each of them told me how excited they are to have me home.

The biggest question I had was for Wylla, wanting to know what she found out from her grandmother, but all she would say is we would talk about it in person when I get back to our room. The f*****g wait is going to kill me. Looking at the clock, I see it’s one thirty, and I pick up my suitcase and head downstairs. Jeremiah informed me by text message this morning he would be here around one forty-five to pick me up. How he got my number still has me puzzled, unless my father gave it to him.

I place my suitcase by the door and go in search of my mother, finding her once again on her hands and knees on the floor, scrubbing it with a sponge. It’s my father’s favorite way to punish her when he feels she’s been disobedient. I wonder what she could have done.

“Momma, I just wanted to say goodbye and I love you.” She turns her head up to look at me, and I can see how red and puffy her eyes are, telling me she’s been crying for a while.

She stands slowly, dropping the sponge on the floor, and wraps me up in her arms. “I’m going to miss you, baby. Please, do as your father and the alpha have asked, and be sure to remove that from your nose once you return to campus,” she whispers into my ear.

“Yes, Momma.” It’s a lie, but if it makes her feel just the tiniest bit better, then it’s a good lie. The doorbell rings, pulling both of our attention. “I’m sure that’s my ride. I’ll message you to let you know I got back safely.” She just nods her head and hurriedly returns to cleaning the floor.

Heading to the living room, I pick up my suitcase before opening the door, and sure enough, there stands Jeremiah. “Let me take that for you, Magnolia.”

What? Was that kindness? I just stand there, stunned, waiting for the bolt of lightning to hit me or the asteroid to come barreling from the sky, landing directly on me. But neither happens.

“Sure,” I mumble as he reaches out, takes my luggage, and heads back to his car, with me following behind.

He puts the suitcase in the trunk while I open the passenger door and get inside. It’s only a moment before he’s sliding into the driver’s side and we’re backing out of the driveway. A small sigh of relief comes from me. I’m one step closer to getting back to freedom and away from the suffocating pack lands.

The ride to the airport is filled with deathly silence, neither of us uttering a word to the other. It doesn’t mean I didn’t catch him glimpse my way when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. He’s a curiosity to me. While he tries to play the part of the bad boy Beta, he has a glimmer of kindness hiding in his eyes.

Pulling in front of the airport, he puts the car in park and jumps out, rushing to the trunk. I follow suit and meet him there. He hands my suitcase to me, holding on slightly longer than he needs to as he stares at me before releasing his hold on it.

“No hug goodbye for your mate?” he asks.

Stepping up to him, I wrap my arms awkwardly around his waist as he pulls me into him. He reaches around me, sliding his hands into the back pockets of my jeans. “Read it when you are away from here, Magnolia.” His words are a riddle to me.

Slipping my hand into my pocket, I feel a small folded-up piece of paper. Pulling my hand back out, fighting the urge to pull it out and read it, I turn and head inside, eager to get the f**k away from here.

Once I’ve finally boarded the plane and we’ve taken off, I unfold the paper and read it.

Magnolia,

Please do not come back to pack lands, it’s not safe for you here. I’m working on a plan. I’ll have a package delivered to your dorm later. Until then, don’t speak or show this letter to anyone. Your life is in danger. Once I’m able, I’ll explain everything.

I fold the paper back up and slip it back into my pocket. The words are so confusing, and I don’t know whether to trust him or fear this is some trick, and if I don’t react the right way, it will end badly for me.

I spend the rest of the flight both excited to see Wylla and the guys and worrying about what this letter means. Maybe talking to Wylla about it will help give me some clarity. The airline attendant coming over the speaker pulls me back from fretting as she begins her landing speech. One I already knew all to well.

Once I’ve gathered my suitcase, I head outside to order a ride, stopping short when I see who’s waiting for me.