Ch. 501..505: The Alpha Contract Chapter 501-505

Chapter 0501

Damien

"Nothing?" I ask Klaus as Samara eyes up his mountains of books. "In all of these books, there is really nothing?"

"From what I understand, they are more secret than a secret. What Dane told you, about being a northern pack, that is pretty much all there is on them. I can't find anything else." "How far north?"

"I would assume the furthest you can go without leaving the mainland." Klaus mutters

"Dane never bothered to make a deal with them?"

"Why would he? They never requested his or the pack's help. And they are hundreds of miles away. From the little information I know, they likely keep themselves to themselves." He moves around, packing a few things in bags. It looked as though he was sticking to his word and leaving Black Shadow now Cooper was dead.

"Then how did Eris end up all the way down here?" Samara asks as she runs a finger along the edge of a book shelf, pulling books out a few inches to look at the cover before sliding them right back into place.

Klaus raises his shoulders. "I know you rejected her, Damien, but I guess you could try and get the truth out of her. Whether she will give it is a different question."

"That ain't going to happen."

"I know you Damien. You can get what you need out of people."

"It's a little bit harder when they are dead."

He pauses to stare at me and turns away. "I honestly thought she was telling me the truth. Damien."

"We both did." Samara adds. "She was very convincing."

"I'm not here to tell you that you were right or wrong. We all make mistakes at some point in our lives. I came here purely because Neah suggested you might have some information or at least be able to find it."

He loads up a bag with full water bottles and drums his fingers on the table. Walking past Samara, he reaches up to a thick book that sits on top of the tall bookcase. He stares at it briefly and blows the dust off the cover and hands it to Samara. "This might be of some interest to you."

"What is it?" she asks with raised eyebrows

"It's a story from a long time ago. Written by Aldous Kitson."

"Who is that? Kitson is obviously a connection, but who?"

"As far as I understand, he is a great relative of yours and someone who led the Lycans in the great war, a very long time ago."

"And how is that going to help?" I ask. "Is there something in there about White Cliffs?"

"No pack name is mentioned. But there is something that refers to the Kitson clan. And maybe Samara will find it interesting."

He flips his head upside down and gathers his hair in his hands, quickly and casually tying it up in a knot on top of his head.

"It's like I said Damien, there is nothing. You are more than welcome to search these books, but I know them all pretty well." "Thanks." I mutter, looking at the stacks and wondering where I would even start. "You are still leaving?"

He nods at me. "I have to do this. I need to know who I am, what I truly am and where I really came from. I know, it sounds ridiculously selfish, but I have spent years doing everything for everyone else. Always finding the answer that they need, but now, it's time for me to find my own answers."

"What about Neah? She's pregnant."

"I know and I did consider staying, but there are others that are more than capable of working in the hospital. And there are plenty of women in the pack who have given birth including Neah. Besides, Neah accepted why I wanted to leave." "Where will you go?" Samara asks as she tucks the book under her arm

"Wherever the information leads me. I will be back at some point, though I can't give you an exact date. When I have finished my search, I will return." He flashes his deep green eyes at me. "Don't worry, I won't run off in the middle of the night, I will say my farewells."

 

 

Chapter 0502

"I can't believe he is leaving the pack." Samara mutters as she follows me back home.

"He needs to do what he needs to do."

"But it's still a huge risk. He could be gone for years."

"That's Klaus's choice. He isn't being kicked out and he has spoken to Neah about it."

Back inside, she makes herself a coffee and settles on the sofa. Crossing her legs, she flips the book open and rests it on them.

I took my own coffee to the table, I could see her through the open door. Several times she goes to take a drink, but the mug never quite makes it to her lips. A wide range of emotion flashes across her face as she turns the pages. Curiosity, surprise, sadness and every now and again, she would look overwhelmed by what she is reading.

"Do you know much about the war?" She asks and her eyes lock on mine. A rosy pink tinge fills her cheeks and she starts drinking the coffee to hide her face.

Before I have a chance to answer, she starts firing information at me. Nothing that was really useful, but to her, it seemed to be.

She glances back to the book. "There's allsorts in here. And it's weird to read about a great ancestor." Samara slowly closes it with a small frown, "What about you family?"

"What about them?"

"Do you ever go and see them?"

"Why would I? I'm not Human anymore. Salem is dead and Dane is my brother now."

"Parents? Any other siblings?"

I shake my head at her.

"Sorry. I'm intruding." She mutters and takes another sip of coffee.

"You are not intruding. I rarely talk about my past life. It isn't important."

She drops the book on the sofa and comes through to the kitchen, sitting at the opposite end of the table to me. "How did you get here?"

"Luck."

"You believe in luck?" she scoffs

"Not always, but I do think it was luck that brought everyone into my life. The woman who turned me, she was a problem. I left before she could get me to do something that I didn't agree with. When I met Damien, I was trying to get Mallory out of a shit situation. And they just happened to come along. Did I expect to meet my mate here? No. But I guess everything happens for a reason."

Samara lowers her eyes. "She was a big part of you."

"She is, but she didn't make me who I am. That happened a long time ago."

I watch as she nods, but she doesn't make eye contact. Suddenly she gets to her feet. "Another coffee?"

"Not for me."

She doesn't say another word as she fills the kettle and starts making herself another drink. She stands with her hands on her hips, cinching in the tshirt she is wearing and showing the curves of her hips.

My eyes involuntarily drift down to her pert ass and for a second an image appears in my mind of her bent over the counter, her bare round ass in the air, waiting for me.

I cough to clear the thought and she turns around to look at me. "What happened?"

"Coffee, wrong hole." I splutter and make an excuse to leave.

"Do you want me to stay here?"

"I think that's for the best." I shout back and head out the door.

Mallory is staring at me with a cocked eyebrow, a few feet away from my door and with Luca in a sling. "I've seen that look before." She smirks as I stride past her. "It's nothing." I mutter

"Hmm."

"There is no 'hmm'. It is nothing."

"If you say so." She muses

"Why are you here anyway?"

"Eric is on duty, there are a lot of people in my house and I just needed an hour or two. And it's good for Luca."

"Sounds like you regret inviting Neah and Dane to stay." I tease

Chapter 0503

"I don't regret it."

"Liar."

"I'm not the only one lying to myself, am I?" She winks at me. "Spill."

Her pace is quick as she follows me across the grounds to the burnt out packhouse. She doesn't push for more information, well not verbally anyway. Just her presence was enough to know she wasn't leaving until I had given her something. She had always been the same and a lot of the time, her persistence pays off.

She comes to an abrupt stop next to me and looks up at what was left of the packhouse.

"This isn't why you had that look on your face." She mutters

"I'm not ready to talk about it." I try, hoping that for once, she would just drop it.

"Okay, so tell me why you have come here."

"Work has started."

""I've seen that."

"I might as well help." I tell her

"Damien."

"It's fine." I snap and she just stares at me. "Sorry, that was a little abrupt."

"Just a little. What's going on?" This time there was no teasing, she wanted to know. Maybe if I just give her the minimum.

"There is alot going on in my head right now."

"I can see that. But you know as well as I do that it's best to get it out."

"I went to Raven's grave." I sigh

"Okay."

"I haven't been there since she was buried." I mutter

"Why now?"

"I felt like I had too."

"Because of Eris?" She asks

"Partly."

"Because there is someone else?"

"If that's what you want to call it because I don't know what it is."

"Do you like this other person?" She presses.

"Yes."

"And....?"

"It's complicated." I sigh as I scan the building. "I felt something when she touched me. A spark, a bolt of electricity. I don't know what it was but I haven't felt that." "Not even with Raven."

"It was different with her. With Raven, it spread through me, reaching every nerve ending. This was different. It was short. Sharp. Unexpected."

"Good or bad."

"That's what I'm trying to understand. It's not like I can smell her or that I feel a pull to her. And surely there is no way I would have been given a third mate so quickly. But then there are times where she invades my thoughts. Or I find myself watching her." "How does she feel?"

"I have absolutely no idea. She didn't give me any kind of sign to suggest that she had felt something too. And I'm not saying anything until I know what it was I felt."

"That explains why you went to see Raven. You feel guilty." She gives me a tight lipped smile. "Raven was your mate and this other woman made you feel that you had to go to her."

"That's exactly what Brax said."

She punches me in the bicep sending pins and needles cascading down to my hand. "You told him before you told me! I'm your best friend." She drops her voice to a whisper. "Does he know who you are talking about?"

"He found me at the cemetery."

"You didn't answer my question!" She scowls at me

"He had a hunch and yes, he was right."

"Who?"

"Let me figure things out first." I tell her

"Okay, fine. But tell me this. Do you like her?"

"Yes. I have already said that."

"Would you accept her and mark her even if she isn't your mate?"

"Yes. But then...."

"No buts. Raven was your past. There is no reason why you can't love both of them. This person could be your present and your future."

 

Chapter 0504

Samara

Poking my fingers through the slats of the window blind, I part them just enough for me to peer through. Damien is walking away and Mallory is following him at a quick pace, trying to keep up with his large strides. 'Stalker alert.' Dakota laughs

"I'm not a stalker!"

She laughs, 'That's his friend?'

"They go way back."

'You're annoyed?' she asks

"No, of course not. They are friends. And from the sounds of it, they helped each other loads. You know, after they became Lycans. I just don't understand why he left so quickly."

My eyes stay on Mallory for less than a second before shifting to him. I liked the way he walked. The confidence he carrie. An aura of power surrounds him and it is clear that everyone supports him as a Beta. He would likely make a good Alpha too. He was kind, though maybe he didn't always show that to others, but he always did to me.

I still wondered where he was going and why he left, like he did.

'He could have been linked?' Dakota suggests. 'We need to become more involved in the pack. Then we wouldn't have to stay inside all the time. I need space to move. To stretch."

"I'm not pushing myself in somewhere where I am not really wanted. I will keep my head down."

She rolls her eyes at me.

"I've caused enough problems, Dakota. I just...you keep saying we are supposed to be Neah's Beta."

'We are.'

"Then let me at least try to settle in. She already doesn't like that I suggested we go to White Cliffs. I could see that much."

I peer through the blinds again. I couldn't see them anymore.

Making myself another coffee, I sigh. I wanted to be around him all the time and not in a needy way. I love his company. I love that he gives me a chance to feel what I need to feel. I love that he knows he can talk to me. Then there is the added bonus that he is good to look at. But still, I didn't understand what I had felt when my fingers brushed his hand.

I sit at the table with the book Klaus had given me. I had to take my mind off of Damien.

There was a lot in the book, but it was just as Klaus said, there is nothing on White Cliffs, not even a mention of a home. Well not so far anyway. But it was interesting to learn Aldous's thought process. The detail that he goes into is fascinating and yet somehow, he omits a lot of information.

A knock on the door almost makes me spill my coffee. Carefully and quietly I move to the door. Pulling it open, I'm met with a woman with that has waves of red hair. She's holding a box and standing behind her is Blair. Blairs arms are folded across her chest and she refuses to look at me.

"Hi, I'm Maddie" The redhead smiles at me. I was almost jealous of her long luscious hair.

"Samara." I smile back at her

"I know." She nods to the large box in her arms. "I've seen that we are a similar size and thought you could use some clothes that are not Damien's. They might tie you over for a little while until you can get some that you like." "You didn't need to do that."

"A little kindness can go a long way, can't it Blair?" Maddie digs her elbow into Blair

"I'm only here because I'm not allowed to wander off alone." Blair huffs, "Still. But it seems like you can."

"I'm not wondering around. I've been told not to leave the house." I take the box from Maddie and thank her.

"I still can't believe you lied to me!" Blair snaps at me

"I said I'm sorry."

"You still lied after I told you I couldn't take it if someone else lied to me."

"I just..."

"Suddenly speechless." She cuts me off. "Usually you don't shut up."

""Blair!" Maddie snaps at her.

"It's fine. She is right, Maddie. I did lie, and I did it to save myself." I put the box on the floor and focus on Blair. "You spent maybe months being tortured by Coop. I spent years. And no he didn't do the same things to me as he did to you. No, I understand that. I was just emotionally blackmailed every single day since my Dad died. And I didn't know it until people here helped me to see the truth."

'You tell her!' Dakota cheers me on.

"Is that another one of your bullshit lies?" Blair demands

"Do you think Damien would be letting me stay here if he didn't believe that I had changed?"

"I think we should go." Maddie frowns at Blair as she tugs her arm. "If you need anything, Samara, just let me know. You can generally find me." She gives me a smile, but when I glance at Blair, I'm met with a look that suggests I should sleep with one eye open.

 

Chapter 0505

'We can take her.' Dakota mutters as they walk away.

"No. That will just add fuel to the fire that I'm already trying to extinguish. Besides, she is Neah's half sister."

'But they don't get along.'

"Maybe not, but I don't want to risk being kicked out." I groan

'Because you want to be with Damien!'

****

Damien didn't come back for hours and since he has been back, he has barely spoken a word to me. He didn't seem angry. But he sits at the small table in the kitchen, an arm resting on the top as his fingers drum the wood.

"Is Dorothy coming back tonight?" I ask quietly. School would have finished a couple of hours ago. And at least she would break the tension that seemed to be surrounding us.

"Sleepover." He mutters as his dark eyes find mine.

"That's nice." I wasn't sure what I should say. Being around him made me nervous, but it also made my heart flutter. "She didn't mention it this morning."

I was trying so hard to keep the conversation light. Maybe he had changed his mind about me being here. What if Blair had said something to him.

"I asked if she could stay with Mallory for the night."

"Oh."

"So we could have the place to ourselves."

""What?"

I roll off the sofa and smack my head on the coffee table as I hit the floor.

"Ow!" Looking around, I realise I am alone. Damien had never returned and it was dark outside.

I feel the warmth of my blood trickle down my forehead and quickly get to my feet. Why did the dream have to seem so real?

Moving upstairs to the bathroom, I look in the mirror and scan the small inch long cut. It was already healing, which was weird to watch. I had never been able to heal until Cooper's power over me was broken.

Using a cloth, I wipe away the blood and groan. It had been a long time since a man I liked had invaded my dreams like that.

I toss the cloth in the basket just as I hear the front door open. He's back and at least he hadn't seen me act like a complete twat.

"Samara?" He calls out, "Why can I smell blood?!"

"I tripped over. It's okay, it's already healed."

I turn and see him standing at the bathroom door. He glances at the bloody cloth in the basket and slowly his dark eyes return to me.

"I fell asleep on the um, the um, sofa." How was it that he made me trip over my own words? "I woke with a jump and uh, I fell off, not remembering where I was. I hit my head." I rub my forehead where the little wound had been, it was already long gone. "It's stupid." His dark eyes hover on me. The intensity was just that. I feel my chest tighten, my breaths are short as he continues to stare.

"Are you sure you are okay?" He steps forward closing the distance until he is inches away from me. He smells a little like smoke. He could have been at the packhouse, it would explain why he was gone for so long.

"I'm, uh, It's healed. It's weird to watch it heal, but you know, it was going to happen eventually and it was something that wasn't too serious." The words tumble quickly from my mouth as Dakota laughs

'You sound like a bumbling idiot!' I feel her shake her head in amusement

"Did you hit your head a little too hard?" He asks, but I'm certain he is low key trying to sniff me.

"I didn't pass out or anything, if that's what you mean. I woke up, hit my head and came up here to clean it. No big deal."

I really wanted to touch him again, to see if I felt that same weird spark. I just about manage to keep my arms at my side, ignoring the intrusive thoughts. But damn, he was so close.

"May I?" He asks cautiously.

I nod and he places his hands on my cheeks. My legs almost buckle at the intensity of the sparks that fly through me. I just about keep myself upright as his thumb glides across my forehead. He must feel it, there's no way he couldn't have. I look up at him and there is a deep frown on his face.

"No Dorothy?" I force out, I had to talk about something. "School finished ages ago."

"She's having a sleepover."

I gulp, it was just like my dream only now, he steps back. "I would suggest you don't fall asleep on the sofa. We don't want something like that happening again."

"Okay." I mutter confused, but he is busy rubbing his fingers in his palms. Like he was trying to figure something out.

'He felt it too.'