Page 2 of Return of the Alpha
I need to know wherethis pack is. Perhaps they can even help me get back to my own.Help me find my girl. Closer to the hunter compound gate, there arethree men in conversation, with one of the guards dead at theirfeet. Emmaleigh doesn’t hesitate to walk toward them, and I assumethey are part of her pack.
“How many?” a manasks. I can feel the power radiating off him and instantly knowthis is the Alpha we were discussing.
“Just one,” shereplies, gesturing toward me.
All three men turnto assess me. But it’s the man who pulls Emmaleigh to his side thatcatches my attention.
“Fuck,” he mutters,pushing her behind him before walking them backward.
His Alpha frowns,waiting for clarification on his actions. Emmaleigh’s mate shakeshis head, fear pouring from him like water from a tap.
“Nico?” the Alphaquestions in confusion.
“I need to getEmmaleigh away from here. We can’t be around when this shit goesdown.” Fear laces his tone, but his gaze never leaves me.
“What is going on,Nico?” Emmaleigh asks, trying to get around him.
“Nico,” I say lowly,halting his steps.
His eyes fallclosed. Gazes swing from me to him and back again.
“Will someone tellme what the fuck is going on?” the Alpha questions harshly.
Nico turns to hisAlpha before speaking. “This is James. Alpha to the Hatcherpack.”
A frown slashesacross his features as he takes me in. Silence reigns as we assessone another. Thoughts swirl in my head. Why is one of my packmembers here and not with our pack? If he is here, where isPeyton?
“We should headhome,” the Alpha says, breaking through my thoughts. “My mate willwant to see you?”
“Your mate?” Iask.
“Peyton. Yourdaughter.”
****
April
It has been sixmonths since Caine and the Katu pack rescued me from captivity. Iam one of the lucky few. I only spent two weeks with the hunters asopposed to the years that others have. I have heard the horrorstories, and I am glad I didn’t experience too much of what thehunters had to offer.
The day I wasrescued, there were seven shifters in total—five women and two men. I chose to remain, along withConrad and Sofia. Everyone else had headed out, hoping to reunitewith their families and packs. I didn’t have either of thosethings, so I saw no reason to leave.
I was raised in thefoster system, always looking out for myself. I didn’t even know Iwas a shifter until my first change. It was confusing andterrifying, but I got myself through it just like everything elsein my life.
I’ve always beenalone, so when Peyton offered me the opportunity to have a home andpeople to call my own, I grabbed it with both hands, even if itscared the shit out of me. But the Katu pack welcomed me with openarms, and I haven’t regretted it for a single moment.
“What are we doingtoday?” I ask Peyton and Talon as we stand in the Alpha’skitchen.
“Emmaleigh, Nico,and the rest of the guys have gone out on a raid. We should beprepared to receive some new members, and that starts with a goodmeal,” Peyton replies with a smile.
Grabbing someonions, a knife, and a chopping board, I start the process.
I have no idea whatwe are cooking but I love doing this.
Before I was taken,I couldn’t cook much except for instant noodles and scrambled eggs.In my time with the pack, I have been learning to take care ofmyself. Each of the other women have their own talents and havebeen helping me with gardening, baking, fighting, cooking, andmore—and I love it all.
I listen as Peytonand Talon talk about things that need to be done, new homes thatneed to be built, and additional preparations as the pack continuesto grow.
“They’re back,”Peyton says with a smile when she senses her mate.