Page 92 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

I reminded him, “She didn’t say much other than she needed me and I wasn’t there. My mate saw me with Lisa.” Keith replied, “Speaking of her, what was your ex saying to you that had you going from ready to rip out throats to standing three feet tall?” I didn’t answer him. We ran for an hour, but we couldn’t catch a single scent of this so called rogue named Jag.

My dad linked me, “Your grandpa is going to do a patrol by Katie’s place. I need you and Keith to come back.” I huffed but ran back then followed Keith to the hospital. We shifted back by Malachi since he was waiting with shorts for us.

Malachi studied me. I asked, “What?” My brother’s Beta sighed, “Emmett will tell you.” I shot Keith a look who shrugged. We walked into the hospital together. Mom looked visibly relieved to see me and flashed over to hug me.

I looked around seeing my uncle’s on both sides of my family were here. Emmett broke the silence, “Isla wanted to see you, Keaton. Alexandria is with her now, but she doesn’t want to talk about what happened until she talked to you.” I nodded and quickly walked into Isla’s room.

Isla smiled softly at me. Channing asked, “Where is her family?” I’d seen Stephen outside, but I wasn’t sure where her parents were. Isla asked, “Alexandria, can I talk to Keaton alone?” My sister in law nodded and walked out.

I asked, “What’s up?” Isla asked, “Is Katie ok? She seemed really upset. I couldn’t tell her that no one could hear us because of some Witch spell or something. Katie was screaming for help, but no one could hear us. Vince came up afterwards, and she gave him crap for not coming to help sooner. He was stunned and linked me that he really didn’t hear us.”

I frowned reasoning, “If Katie had been screaming, Keith and I would’ve heard you.” As I said that it didn’t make sense. Of course, Odette was screaming. She didn’t know what rogues were. Isla told me, “Katie was screaming for help, but it’s not like we could tell her truth.”

It made more sense why my mate was so upset when she found me. Odette thought I heard her yelling for help and ignored her. Channing growled, “We would NEVER ignore mate!” I knew that. I nodded at Isla. She told me, “You can ask Emmett to come in now.”

I linked Emmett, “Isla is ready to talk to you.” Emmett came in with Alexandria and my parents. Emmett asked, “What happened, Isla? Justin only remembers getting hit on the head. He’s going crazy asking about you. Alexandria said you were worried about him as well.”

Isla smiled softly then answered, “Justin, me, and Lisa were all talking. My sister claimed she wanted to apologize, which would be a first. Justin went down out of nowhere, we didn’t even smell them coming.”

“Lisa screamed and took off. I didn’t want to leave Justin unprotected since he wasn’t able to defend himself. I was fighting the rogues, but there were too many. I realized that no one could hear me. Hell, I couldn’t even link anyone. There was a block.”

Isla held out a rock looking thing that Emmett took then continued, “I don’t know where Katie came from, but she had a few cuts on her.” Channing growled and it slipped out. Isla bit her lip before saying, “She was really good at fighting. Someone has clearly taught Katie how to fight. She hit several rogues before one took her down.”

I closed my eyes in an attempt to control myself, but I couldn’t stop growling. Keith linked, “Katie’s fine. The rogues didn’t even scratch her.” Isla continued, “Katie quickly rolled and stopped the rogue from biting her then….” Isla trailed off.

Alexandria encouraged, “Then, what?” Isla sighed, “Katie screamed at the rogue to go away. It seemed stunned and just stared at her. Said rogue then began to follow her around. Katie got mad and told it to help her if it wasn’t going to go away, and it did by attacking the rogues. Both Katie and I were surprised. Whatever Katie is, she doesn’t know but she can control things.”

I frowned, “Katie’s not a partial Vampire. I’ve met those.” Emmett asked, “Has Katie ever done anything like with you, Keaton?” I snarled, “NO!” Keith linked, “Calm down. Breathe in and out.” Emmett gave me a look.

Mom said, “Keith would’ve noticed that.” Dad said, “You must have seen Katie when you got to the school, Emmett.” My brother nodded, “I did. She’s very pretty and was in shock. I think Katie’s good for Keaton. This is just new information.”

Isla defended my mate, “Katie clearly didn’t mean to do it, and I don’t think she’s ever done it before.” Clara came into the room and nudged me, I smiled tightly at her. My Beta urged, “Let’s go talk, Keaton.” Emmett sighed but Clara linked him until my big brother nodded. He was being weird.

Clara took me to our spot then asked, “So, do you have anything you want to say to me about people and things?” I growled, “Emmett’s being an ass.” Clara rolled her eyes, “Uh huh. I meant about Katie.” I linked her, “You know.”

Clara rolled her eyes, “Please. I knew the second you looked at Katie in the cafeteria before school started on her first day.” I nudged her with my elbow, “So, you know.” Clara urged, “Just say it.” It took me several minutes, but I managed, “She’s mine.”

Clara hit my shoulder back and linked, “And you don’t tell your best friend and Beta?” I replied, “It’s not like I can announce it. Katie doesn’t know about Werewolves let alone the Hood. Hell, Katie doesn’t know she and I are mates. She knows nothing. Now Emmett thinks she’s some manipulative mastermind.”

Clara sighed, “No, he doesn’t.” I growled, “He thinks Katie’s like Lisa and she’s not.” Clara frowned, “Emmett didn’t mean it like that, Keaton. Malachi has told me that Emmett thinks Katie is good for you.”

I winced, “She wants space.” Clara gently said, “I doubt that’s true. I know a little about your mate because Immy talks a lot. I know Katie already misses you. She thought you were with Lisa, she burst into tears. I’m sure Ken has texted you because he was worried about Katie. Emmett is asking questions the Alpha has to ask.”

I snorted, “He’s not just the Alpha, he’s my brother.” Clara retorted, “And you know that means sometimes he has to be the Alpha who asks the hard questions. You’ll do that one day too.” I linked her, “I would never ask Colin, Carter, or Arden if their mate was controlling them.”

Clara responded, “Officially, Emmett doesn’t know Katie is your mate.” I snorted, “He doesn’t know at all.” Clara shot me a look linking, “Malachi does, which means Emmett does.” I replied, “Malachi thinks he knows.” My Beta shrugged, “True.”

I stood up and paced. I told Clara, “Katie thinks I picked Lisa over her, and I didn’t. I couldn’t hear her calling for help. She needed me and I wasn’t there, I’m such a shitty Alpha.” Dad asked, “And why would you say that? Katie isn’t in this pack. Your actions were not that of a bad Alpha at all.”

I turned and saw dad leaning against a tree. I linked, “Channing, where the hell were you on dad being around?” My wolf was whining in my head because he missed Odette. I told him, “It’s ok, buddy, I’ll fix it.” Clara stood announcing, “I’ll see you later, Keaton.” She shifted and left.

My dad and I stared at each other. He told me, “Emmett was asking questions he had to ask.” I responded, “Emmett was being an ass.” Dad raised an eyebrow arguing, “No, he wasn’t.” I snorted, “You guys are just determined not to like the girls I date. At the first sign of something, you’re suspicious of them. Well, Katie’s not like Lisa! In fact, they are nothing alike.”

Dad replied, “I know that, and so does Emmett.” I snorted. Dad stepped closer to me commenting, “You are very out of sorts over fighting with this girl. Why is that?” I shrugged, “I wasn’t there for her. Isla, Justin, and Katie were in danger and I wasn’t there.”

Dad put a hand on my shoulder, “There was magic at play.” I threw my hands in the air, “Well, I can’t tell Katie that! She doesn’t know that magic fucking exists! Everyone abandons her, and she thinks I have too!” Dad studied me, which was getting annoying

Eventually he said, “So prove you’re not like everyone else to your girlfriend, son.” I snorted, “How?” Dad answered, “Respect her boundaries, but keep showing up. I know you’re aware we saw your date, but what you appear to misunderstand is the fact that we do like Katie.”