^^^Alpha Samuel^^^

I can't have him, and he can't have me until I'm clean of my past. I have to find out why these scars mutilate me. I need to know if Tristan is really dead and in the ground. I need... I need to go, and I need to leave now.

It's now or never. 

...

Jessamine's P.O.V.

I don't know where to go, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. I've read so many books where the girl runs away from her life and starts anew, but the author never actually get's around to the details. She goes from point A to point B and now I'm not completely sure I want to be like one of my fictional friends. After all, the guy always runs after her. 

I'm hoping he isn't running after me. 

I'm really, really hoping, because if I want to go anywhere, I have to go back home and pack a bag. 

My foot presses down on the gas harder, going nearly sixty on a forty mile road. Cars honk aggressively as I glide between them, cruising down the street, not even pausing when a light turns red. I know I'm breaking more than a few laws and it's amazing I don't have cops tailing me. I'll most certainly have speeding tickets to pay off by tomorrow... if they catch me. I grin at the thought, but am caught off guard when my mind whispers, I don't care. 

The statement rings truth throughout my core and I'm stunned for a second as I inch my foot farther up onto the gas. With the ripples of truth comes sadness, thinking of all the people I'm leaving behind. Shutting down my thoughts again before they make me do something stupid, I pivot to what I actually care about .

What I do care about is getting as far away from this place, Tristan, and my mate as I can before they catch up. And I have no doubt they will eventually catch up. 

Why would someone as powerful as Alpha Samuel want me as a mate? He won't, once he sees who I really am.

And the more that I think about him, the more similarities I find between him and Tristan.

They're both cruel, not afraid to take something from someone. Whether it's a life or innocence, it doesn't matter to either of them. They take what they want and leave it behind in shreds. 

I don't want a mate like that. Life will be better without one at all. I don't care that I'm not supposed to reject a mate and it's only done when someone's mate dies and the other is left to live- leaving the one alive to feel half empty until death.

Rejecting a mate is supposedly like the person dying. It's said to leave the person emotionally unstable because of the feeling that he/she isn't whole.

But I know what pain is. I know what it feels like to be empty already, and I can survive it.

My hands grip the wheel as I squeal down my street. Eyes glancing in the rear view mirror every five seconds, like a victim in a horror movie, dampens my palms. Jerking to a stop in front of my house, I debate on leaving the engine idling or taking the keys with me.

Realizing I'm just wasting precious seconds, I shove the door open and race inside, tripping up the stairs in a hurry. Reaching my room, I throw open the closet doors and rummage around for an old, worn out duffel bag. Hidden in the back of my closet beneath a swim suit, I fish it out, pulling random clothes along with it.

I don't pay much attention to what I'm exactly throwing in the bag, I just look at what it is and make a mental note of how many I have tossed in.

Ten shirts, twelve pairs of underwear and socks, two pairs of jeans, two pairs of leggings, one pair of jogging shorts, three bras, and a nice dress I got last month for an Alpha event I had to go to.

I grab only the basics after that. Toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, ties, deodorant, and my makeup kit.

No, I'm not one of those girls who thinks makeup is an essential to life, but how else am I supposed to cover the dark circles under my eyes every morning?

With my bag halfway filled, I figure out how to shove in three pairs of shoes and haul it over my shoulder as I run down the hallway to dad's study.

Pushing his rolling chair away, I kneel down in front of his desk and feel for the small latch underneath the highest drawer.

Once I feel the latch, I pull, and the small, hidden compartment lowers itself. Six rolled up stacks of hundreds are neatly placed over our passports and important information. This is our emergency stash. Dad has a similar one at the pack house, but for everyone else in the pack. Ours are kept here, in case of a situation where we wouldn't be able to get there. Our territory is rather large and runs the space of twelve acres. Of course, as we evolved with the humans, we built houses and businesses and paved roads.

This money and information should be all I need to get out of the country if needed, but I don't think I'll have to go quite that far.

A plan is forming in my mind, only slowly.

As I pass Bonnie's room to go back downstairs, I duck in and grab one of her many perfumes. Spraying it all around the house as fast as I can, I cover every inch of my room in the scent, blocking any of my natural scent. I pick a perfume I rarely wear, due to the fact that it gives me headaches if spritzed more than once, knowing exactly what to do with it.

Leaving the front door unlocked behind me, I swing my bag into the backseat and put the car into drive.

Pulling away from the house is harder than I thought it would be.

I knew I'd eventually be leaving, but I thought I'd at least have a year or two. Get to see how godawful Blake is at leading the pack and then sneak away while all the attention is on him. But everything has changed so drastically and so fast.

Tristan is probably dead, the family knows about what he did to me, I've lied to Blake about scars I didn't know I have, and I know with perfect clarity who my mate is.

A mate that I don't want. A mate I don't need. What I need is answers, and I'm going to get them.

But first, I have to put the plan I've come up with into action.

Blake's P.O.V.

Mom is left inside to deal with the pack as Dad, Alpha Samuel, and I race after Jessa. We watch as her silver Honda Civic screeches out of the garage, pausing only for a second as she and Alpha Samuel locks eyes. 

My brows draw together, confused on why she would run right now. It's suspiciously looking like it has to do with the new Alpha. 

I know that he is a very powerful Alpha and could destroy me in a fight, but I don't care about that when I strut up to him. 

"What the hell did you do to my sister?" I demand, knowing the last time she looked like that. Maybe he couldn't see -he probably could- but she was about to cry, and she was looking at him.  

I won't let anyone else hurt her. I was too busy having fun and games with my friends to notice that my baby sister was being tortured. There is no way in hell that I'm about to let the same thing happen twice. 

I know that she's keeping something from me, and that really kills, but I can't blame her. I haven't been the model big brother in recent years. But is it him?

Alpha Samuel's deep voice rumbles menacingly, barely above a whisper, "Excuse me?" 

His eyes narrow to slits and he steps up to me, the muscles standing out beneath his suit only making me want to punch him more. I can't say why, but I just really want to punch him. I might not have the muscular build he has right now, but I've been working out and we're pretty much the same height. I'm ready to take him if he makes a wrong move or even looks at Jessa again. 

Breathing heavier and snarling at the Alpha as my fists curl into tight fists, Dad rests his hand on my shoulder. It's a warning, loud and clear, communicating through a simple gesture that I need to back off. 

I still want to punch him in the face, and when he also takes a step back with a small gleam in his eye, I vow that there will be a day when I beat him shitless. 

"Do you happen to know why my sister has so abruptly fled this wonderful meeting?" I ask flippantly, snarling a little as I eye the two men who have come out of the house to stand behind Alpha Samuel. 

"I do not know the reason she has left so unexpectedly, but it is no longer your concern." He replies in a casual tone, turning his ear towards one of his men with a male barbie look going on. 

The blonde haired male to his right has a light blue tux on, going well with his spiky, gelled hair. He is the epitome of a Ken barbie doll... if he wasn't a lycan.

The new arrival of Alpha Samuel's Delta and Lead Warrior nearly distract me from his response. 

Finally realizing what he said, I growl, "What do you mean, it's no longer my concern? She's my fucking sister and you're what... the ass that scared her off? You don't get a say in anything that has to do with Jessa." 

He cocks his head to the side when I say her name and a look I can't figure out passes over his face. Curiosity? Love? Fucking meal time?

"Jessa." He says her name like she is the most prized treasure he's ever heard of and I can't help the savage snarl that rips from my throat. 

'He wants Jessa. He can't have her. He'll only hurt her like Tristan.' My wolf paces in my mind, leering at the Alpha. 

"Blake," Dad says, using his Alpha voice, "Calm down and back off." 

I can't resist the wave of calm that overtakes me, washing away any anger that had been burning inside of me. Dad's Alpha voice compels anyone under his ranking of his pack to do what he orders. As the title of Alpha is passed down, so is the power of compulsion. If the Moon Goddess approves of the Alpha, he -or she, as it has been happening of late- will receive the power of compulsion. In other words, I can't wait until I don't have to be told what to do and I can make others do what I want. 

The anger tries to resurface, but Dad's previous command settles it before it can fully form into a negative emotion.  

Filing this moment away to remember at a later time, I watch as Alpha Samuel and Dad converse in hushed tones that are even difficult for me to hear, standing less than five feet away from the two. I catch the word 'mate' come from Alpha Samuel and see Dad's face darken, his own knuckles popping as his hands curl into fists. 

Dad gives him a sharp nod, signifying something to him. Then he walks over to me as Alpha Samuel turns to his Warrior and Delta. Trying to hear snippets of their conversation, their faces are serious, quiet and contemplating something for a moment. That's when I realize that they simply decided to mindlink instead of talk out loud, where I can eavesdrop. 

Sighing, Dad jerks his head for me to follow him to the storage garage where a few minutes ago, Jessa fled like a bird about to be run over. The lingering scent of her fear hangs in the air, making the urge to punch asshole in the face again. 

Now, I'm able to let the anger simmer and boil, but if I try to even turn in the direction of Alpha Samuel with the intent to punch him, my body freezes of it's own accord... sort of. Dad still has his command in place, keeping me from physically harming him, which I think is utter bullshit. But whatever the Alpha says, is done, whether you want to do it or not. 

I should be used to this by now. 

I scoff, as I follow Dad through the garage and up the cement stairs to the commons room. We pass through the commons to the audience theater, walking up onto the platform and to our respective seats. The pack sits in their seats, and Mom must have said something to calm the edge that used to stifle the room, observing how the quiet chatter dies as Dad waits. 

"Pack, I know that you are confused and concerned for my daughter. Do not be troubled, everything is settled and being handled. There seems to have been a misunderstanding of sorts. Thank you for being patient with us," He gestures to the family, Mom smiling graciously, "We will post-pone the signing of the alliance due to unforeseen complications, but rest assured that you are safe and in no danger." 

 I keep my scoffs in, finding it hilarious how rich businessmen he sounds. He would have been a great leader for a top notch billion dollar corporation. Not an Alpha. 

The pack members stand and talk with each other, dispersing slowly out of the double doorway in the back of the audience section. I don't wait to be excused, but get up and exit out the back door. I hear the sound of Mom sighing in disapproval and my heart tightens. No matter how many times I've let her down, she still want to make me out better than I am. Just like she does with Dad.

But I'm going to be better. For Jessa. 

I stop and turn around, heading back up to the stage, where Dad stands talking with Mom. Bonnie bounces in her seat, a small crease etched in her forehead. Feeling like the worst older brother in the world, I squat down in front of her and smile at her, pinching her cheeks. 

"Oh look at those cheekies!" I laugh, watching her scowl, making me laugh harder. I continue pinching her cheeks gently until she starts giggling and the crease turns into her nose scrunching up. 

"Blake" Bonnies whines when some of the pack members left in the audience send small smiles our way. 

Kissing her temple, I sigh and watch as she get's up to go play with some of her friends. 

Being left to deal with the serious stuff, I walk to Dad and Mom, sticking my hands in my pockets. Making eye contact with Dad and double checking to make sure we're alone in the Audience theater, I don't waste any time. 

Looking directly at him, I ask, "Is Alpha Samuel going after Jessa because he's her mate?"

He doesn't hesitate. 

"Yes."