Running From The Alpha

Chapter Nine

Welcome Back

I didn't get very far before I crashed into something. To be precise, I got maybe ten feet before I crashed into Peter. "Peter," I gasped breathlessly.

He wrapped his arms around me, oblivious to the snarling wolf behind me. "Mark, Kalvin," he said. "Get the mutt who thought to lay a hand on my mate."

I looked back dazed to see the Beta's son and a man I didn't recognize fighting Dave. I shook my head to clear it and tried to escape the prison of Peter's arms.

"Don't," he growled lowly into my hair. "Holding you is the only thing that's keeping me from losing it right now."

I swallowed nervously. "Peter," I said in a rough yet squeaky voice. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?" Again, I added in my head.

"I never lost you," he answered. "I had a tracker put in your hoodie in case you ran after I found you.

I was both surprised and not surprised at the same time. I was also a little insulted that he'd assumed I would run if he found me. I don't know why when it's exactly what I did but emotions are wild and unexplainable sometimes.

I watched Dave get dragged away, to where I didn't want to know. I dropped my head on Peter's chest for a long minute before trying to push him away. "I should go," I whispered hoarsely.

"I'm sorry," Peter said, tightening his arms around me. "But I'm taking you home, Violet. I didn't want to force your return but that was before you were almost taken by a dangerous rogue."

"I can take care of myself," I argued with false conviction.

I saw his eyes focus on my cheek when he spoke next. "The bruise forming there says otherwise. It's time to come home."

"Peter," I sighed. I did not want to argue with him, not now.

He pressed his face into the curve of my neck. "Please, Violet," he begged softly. "I can't lose you. If I hadn't put a tracker in your hoodie I would have lost you today. I don't think you understand that if anything happened to you it would kill me."

"Don't," I whimpered as guilt wrung my throat. "Don't do that, Peter. Don't play that card. I am just trying to do what is best for both of us, for you."

"What's best for me isn't worth a damn if it isn't you, Violet," he replied. "As I keep having to tell you, I love you."

"Love fades." My voice, barely even a whisper, was quiet enough that I barely heard it.

Peter heard it though and lifted his head to meet my eyes. "Not between mates, Violet."

"That's where you're wrong," I whispered unable to meet his eyes any longer. "Especially between mates." Mates like my parents. I tried another failed attempt to get out of Peter's arms. "It's time for me to go."

The edges of his mouth tightened just as his arms had. "No. Violet‒"

"I meant everything I said in that letter, Peter," I cut him off. "I'm sure you meant everything you said in Holbrook which means there's nothing left to say. I have to go. Seeing as how you're here I don't think you actually considered doing what I said so do it now. Go home, find a new mate."

"No," he repeated. "Violet, please just tell me what is going on with you."

"I don't know how," I murmured softy.

He brushed my hair from my face. "Violet...I can tell that you're scared. If anyone is threatening you, if that's why you left‒"

"It's not," I said. "I'm scare, you're right, but not because someone is threatening me."