The Alpha's Saving Grace

I suddenly became very aware of the thrumming of my heart during the quiet silence around me.

I closed my eyes and started counting slowly in my head, holding my hand to my heart.

One...

Two...

Three...

Fo—

A snapping of a branch had me shooting my eyes open and wildly looking around the black forest surrounding me. Branches rustled to my far left and I jumped, yelping in a high-pitched note.

A big arm wrapped protectively around my waist and a familiar scent enveloped me. I was instantly relieved, and the sense of security made its way around me.

I felt safe. My breathing was still uneven, and my heart still tried to regulate its beats.

“I’m here now. No need to feel unsafe. I’ll protect you; nothing will happen to you while I’m around. I promise”

His voice was deep and rough, sending warmth rushing through me and butterflies exploded in the pit of my stomach.

A noise in the distance made me snap back into reality, and the arm around me tightened, bringing me further back against a hard chest.

My lip quivered and I turned around burying myself into the chest, fisting my hands in the soft cotton fabric. I yelped as a series of loud movements played out behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut, a stray tear trailing down my cheek.

Noticing my discomfort, the person holding me shifted before pressing my right ear against his heart and the arm that once held my waist came up and he held my ear closed.

The sound of metal made me realize what was about to happen and the ugly sounds became louder. I tightened my fists and squeezed my eyes as tight as they could go, trying my best to listen to the rhythm of the heart that beat loudly against my ear.

A few more seconds past and the sound of a gun went off made my ears ring, besides the fact that they were closed. The hand which was on my ear went to my waist rubbing small circles to soothe the fact that I’d soaked the fabric of the shirt and wrinkled it under my tight grip.

“Shhh…Everything will be okay, sweetheart.” His voice seemed to calm the rapid beating against my ribcage and the fact that there were more than a dozen bodies laying behind me.

I looked up, avoiding the scene behind me, and gazed into the black orbs of the beast that everybody feared. The beast who’d saved me.

The beast who loved me.

Tessa’s POV

I sat staring blankly at the homework spread out in front of me. For some reason, I just couldn’t finish it. It was like my brain was on pause. I’d been sitting here in only an oversized T-shirt for the past three hours in the same position. The wind howled outside, and I could smell the strong scent of a storm brewing in the distance.

I jumped slightly when the doors swung open with an overpowering force strong enough to nearly break the glass on the doors. I untangled my legs from the crossed pose they were in and swung them onto the carpet, padding off to close the door. The sharp wind was like scissors cutting into the bare flesh on my legs.

The wind gave another fierce blow which made my hair fall from the messy bun that sat on top of my head. The dark brown long waves fell down and hung low at the small of my back. I managed to close the door (with much force if I might add) and scrambled to find a pair of fluffy socks. After a much-needed search, I found my pair of knee-high cotton socks. They weren’t fluffy, but they’d do, and they covered more than the others.

I opened my door quietly and poked my head out into the long hallway. After making sure that the coast was clear, I made my way quickly down the antique stairs. The pack house was quiet and dark. I mean, it was only past three in the morning. It wasn’t like anyone would be throwing a party especially in such a tight time like this.

Alpha Kurt had received news that there was a pack of wolves taking out the packs of the strongest leaders in the world, and it was a bad sign because Alpha Kurt was one of them. He and my father, Beta Jason, his second-in-command, had sent the news along to the pack up in the snowy mountains. The snowy mountains were dark, and no one went there, but there was word that a pack brewed up there and they were one of the biggest and strongest packs in the world.

My father nor the Alpha dared speak of the pack in the mountains because it was said that once you spoke about them, they would know and wipe out the whole pack. The Alpha wasn’t scared of no man or wolf, but it must’ve been a big thing if he wouldn’t dare speak of the pack.

My wolf senses kicked in and I made my way in the dark with my wolf eyes. I made my way to the fridge and pulled out the leftover Chinese noodles. As I closed the fridge I jumped and yelped. The Alpha’s daughter stood in her shorts and tank top. She had dirty blonde hair that fell to her shoulder blades and had a whole 6’2” on her. She was barefoot and leaned against the wall.

“Melissa.” I breathed and my hand went to the throbbing of my heart. She laughed softly and went to the fridge and pulled out one of her energy drinks. She gulped down more than half of the can before taking a breather. Melissa was the only child of the Alpha and his wife Luna Stephanie. They weren’t able to have boys according to the pack doctor and they didn’t mind.

“What are you doing up so early?” She said walking to stand next to me. I leaned back on the island in the kitchen. Me and Melissa grew up together because both our mother miraculously gave birth in the same year. I was, unfortunately, 5’11” but I liked being short (saved me the energy to reach up for things when I just called someone who was taller).

I was already eighteen and her birthday was in two weeks' time which would also be the same time when she becomes the Luna of the Moon Walkers pack.

“I was hungry okay? Don’t judge.” I gave her the lip and we both erupted with laughter while trying to cover our mouths. She smiled and shook her head.

“You are always hungry, Tessa Lydia.” She said and poked my nose. We were funny like that.

“And I think it’s cute,” she said scrunching up her nose in a funny way. I frowned.

“Let’s hope my mate does too,” I said quietly looking to the floor. I saw her smile fade slightly and her eyes dropped somewhere.

“He better like it. Tessa,” she sighed. “you’re amazingly gorgeous and adorable. If he doesn’t like that, don’t change for him. Okay?”

I looked up at her and smiled. I realized our faces were extremely close and I smelt the sweet smell of her breath from the energy drink brush over my face. Me and Melissa were always very close, but our faces were extremely close right now.

I swallowed the saliva that built up in my throat and realized neither one of us had moved. She looked at me as if she was deciding what to do then closed her eyes and opened them again.

“Tessa.” She breathed and her breath washed over my face. Something shone in her eyes, almost like a sudden realization. She put her energy drink down without looking away from me.

My blood pumped faster, and I felt my face grow warm.

I was frozen on the spot and she dipped her head to my ear.

“Can I… Can I show you something?” She said, asking me permission. I felt her breathing on my ear and I was curious. What did she want to show me? I swallowed again and then nodded slowly.

She let out a breath and then I felt only the tips of her lips trail down the length of my jaw before she moved until she was standing between my legs and she lifted me up, so I sat on the counter. Still between my legs, she took her hand and cupped my neck. She only had to shift slightly forward before our lips would touch. My lips parted slightly, and she looked at my mouth. Then she did what I was not prepared for.

She leaned in…