The Alpha's Guardian

I wait for everyone to clear out, and when I'm finally alone; I let my guard down. My leg quivers in pain as I wince, trying to get it to move. Each step shoots up and into my back, bringing agonizing pain. I grunt with effort, closing my eyes and forcing myself to breathe through it. I usually rely heavily on the strength of my wolf to help keep the pain at bay, but my control over him slips more often lately.

In fact, it seems to be a similar thing to all the wolves in the pack. Everyone is on edge, grumpy, and quick to anger. I can only assume that it is the stress of the rogue attacks and the potential danger that lurks just outside our borders. I know that more and more lately I find myself hard-pressed to want to check the Eastern border near the meadow and spring.

I make a misstep as I move down the stairs and tumble down the last three, landing with a dull thud and groaning in pain.

"Fvck!" I yell out in anger.

Why is it so bad today? I call for my wolf to help, but the moment he eases my pain, he tries to claw out for full control. I wince as he tears into my mind, fighting me. A loud, pained scream rips from me in frustration. Within a minute, I feel a gentle pressure at the base of my neck and I gasp in relief.

Whatever it is, feels cool and calming as it radiates at the base of my skull. My wolf settles and yips in obedience as he trots to the back of my mind laying down. I can feel his strength flow into me in a much more controlled manner as the pain in my leg morphs into a dull ache. Finally, some peace in him. He has been restless for months.

The pressure on my neck falls away, and I open my eyes and stand up, turning to face Ali. My face blushes red in embarrassment. I can take losing to her, hell she was stunning when she destroyed me. But her seeing me weak like this? When she is supposed to protect me like I'm some important person? Man, it does nothing for my ego, well, other than completely deflate it.

"Alpha." She starts.

"Ali. We should head back. You need to prepare for the ceremony."

"You should visit the healer first." She says. "Your leg seems to be getting worse."

"My leg will never heal," I say bitterly. Her hard eyes look me over carefully.

"It's a previous injury, then? Before the rogue attack?" she asks.

"It's an injury as old as my wolf," I say, walking towards the doors.

"What happened?" she pries. I stop and put my hands on my hips as I chuckle and shake my head.

"I got hurt, Ali." I throw my arms up in an aggressive 'what' manner and she sighs. "What are you doing here, anyway?" I ask, annoyed.

"There are things about the ceremony that you need to know." She says, walking towards me. I turn and we walk next to each other in silence for a moment while I wait for her to continue.

"Ok, like what?"

"For starters. It is similar to the mate bond, as it mirrors some aspects of it. I will feel what you feel when I need to check in on you. This is handy for the battlefield, so I can always be sure you are safe, even if something separates us. If you are kidnapped, I can use the bond to listen in on what is happening to you, I can also share your pain if you are being tortured, this is like the healing hand as by taking your pain it provides you strength to get out." "That's kinda cool," I admit.

I had tried searching the guardian bond for hours the other day and failed miserably. No one who has had a guardian seems to really talk about it, which I guess is a form of respect for the art, but all insanely frustrating for someone hesitant to take one on. By the end of my searching session, I had learned only a portion of what Francis seems to know.

"That is only part of it. Since it is similar to the mate bond, you will feel a draw to me as well. This ensures you stay close to me."

"Wait. What do you mean I will be drawn to you?" I say, now feeling a little more skeptical about this bond.

"You will have a desire to be near me. Don't worry, it's not in a sensual way. You just will feel an uptick in your need to be around me." She pauses for a minute and chews on the inside of her cheek. "What else?" I say, getting anxious.

"Well, this one might be a little hard to swallow." She frowns? "You won't be able to find your mate until the guardian bond is done."

"I'm sorry what? You are saying I won't be able to find my mate until after whatever threat that is supposedly looming goes away?" I ask, aghast. She nods.

"But I need to find her before my wolf goes crazy!" I say, growing angry. My wolf is not a fan of the idea of waiting even longer for our other half. He perks up and fights me for control

"The bond will satiate your wolf. You won't struggle with him during our bond because he will feel a connection to me, a sort of kinship if you will." She assures me. I scoff and throw my hands up.NôvelDrama.Org owns this.

"Sure, of course. This bond fixes everything apparently." I mutter "Fine whatever. Let's get this over with."

We walk in silence the rest of the way to the packhouse, my mind reeling with thoughts of what's coming. I am about to let this woman into my head. I'm not sure I want anyone in my head.

"Will you be able to, you know, hear or see my thoughts?" I ask, growing worried. I mean, she is a gorgeous woman. But I'm not sure I want her to know my thoughts about her when she walks around in her sports bra. She laughs, a sound that I enjoy a little more than I should.

"No. I won't be able to read your thoughts. It doesn't make me telepathic. And it goes both ways. We will feel each other's powerful emotions if we aren't blocking it."

"So I will also be able to feel your emotions?"

"Yes, if I don't have a barrier up. Which I am very good about keeping in place." She explains.

"Huh. interesting," I mutter as we walk up the steps into the packhouse.

Ali excuses herself for a shower while I grab a quick granola bar and head up to my room to shower as well. I slide into the stream of hot water, sighing as it pounds on my leg. My scar looks grotesque. A large, thick, jagged line runs from the front of my mid-thigh down just behind my knee. It's a stark red and brown against my skin and I swear I can see the muscles quivering below it. I grab my herbal slave and painfully knead it into my muscles, biting my lip to keep from groaning loudly in pain.

As I wrap my towel around my waist, I catch that elusive scent again. Lavender and lemon linger in the air. I sniff frantically, trying to find its source. I follow it to the window and toss it open, hanging half out as I sniff like a madman trying to figure out where the gas leak is. As quickly as the smell found me, it disappears again, as if it's been snatched right from the air. My wolf is pacing and panting in the back of my mind as I try to keep him calm.

"Mate" He howls, ravaging my mind with his constant growling and calling out to her. But she is gone already. and we are about to willingly keep her away for some time.

"The bond will satiate your wolf. You won't struggle with him during our bond because he will feel a connection to me, a sort of kinship if you will." She assures me. I scoff and throw my hands up.