The Alpha’s Substitute Mate

Malcolm

What if she rejected me, just as she had rejected Arden? What if she still secretly had feelings for Arden? What if she doesn’t acknowledge the mate bond?

So many doubts flew through my mind before I pulled myself together and lifted my hand to knock on the door. I waited calmly and in short impatient seconds, the door opened, and my heart skipped a beat.

Lance opened the door, and when his eyes landed on me, he growled. His eyes were looking all around me and behind me, no doubt looking for any sign of Arden. ” Relax brother, It’s just me,” I said, raising my hands up as a sign of non-aggression.

” What are you doing here? Did Arden send you brother?” He queried hurriedly, almost holding his breath.

” Has it gotten to that, you couldn’t even hug or welcome your brother properly. To answer your question nobody sent me and I just want to talk to Bella,”

Immediately she came out and held onto Lance’s arm. Her silver eyes scrutinized me. ” I knew you were here. I felt your presence in the cafe. Didn’t I tell you, Lance, that someone had followed Mum from the pack?

That’s why we decided to lodge in the motel, so whoever had followed Mum, won’t trail us too.”

” Yeah, you said so,” he muttered, ” I just didn’t expect it to be you brother.” He still blocked the door with his body even though he knew it was futile. My fighting skills within the pack was unmatched, he knew I could take him down before he could blink but I wasn’t here for that.

” Go back to the pack brother and tell Arden, she is never coming back. Never!” He huffed angrily

” I’m not here on behalf of Arden,” I said firmly. I looked desperately at Bella. ” Please… I really want to talk to you.”

I watched as she put a calming hand on Lance’s tense arm.” It’s okay, my teddy armor. I trust him.” She chucked playfully and pulled his cheek. Lance removed his hand from the door and moved a bit to allow her to come to the front.

” What do you want to talk about?” She asked sharply.

I gestured to my room that is down the hallway. ” I have a room, could we please talk in private? Just the two of us, please.” I took a step closer to her, as silence lingered between us for a second.

” Luna, it’s a trap and I won’t fucking allow it to happen. Over my dead body will I allow you to go back to Arden, I won’t allow you to suffer for the second time?” he gave a warning growl and held Bella’s hand.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

” Please relax, Lance. I’ll be fine and I’ll call if I need you.” She assured him.

I offered her my arm, and she hesitated before she slipped her small hand into my elbow. The sparks that ran up my arm now were more intense than they had been before. I don’t know if it was because she had broken the bond with Arden, and now there was no obstruction with the magic between us, it felt stronger and it was overwhelming. I couldn’t stop the several emotions that rose within me. I just couldn’t identify what I felt at the moment. It was like a huge weight of pain and sadness was lifted off my shoulders. I couldn’t even hide the elation I felt as I fought back the stinging water from my eyes. I needed Isabella Cross, so badly that I could hardly control myself.

We carefully navigated the curb and stopped in front of my room. I unlocked the door with the room keycard and ushered her inside.

There was nothing special about the room. It was strictly designed to be useful rather than decorative, with a king-sized bed, a TV situated beside the dresser, and a small desk wedged into a corner. There was only one chair in the room which I offered to Bella and I thought about sitting on the desk but instead, I dropped to my knees in front of her.

” Malcolm,” she whispered, ” What are you doing?”

” I’m sorry Bella. I’m so sorry I failed you, I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you enough, I’m so sorry for all the pain and suffering. Please forgive me.”

I felt her trembling hand reach out to stroke my hair, and it was the most pleasurable feeling I have ever experienced in my life. ” Nothing that happened in the Packhouse was your fault, Malcolm. You have nothing to apologize for.”‘

” You’re wrong Bella.” I looked desperately into those silver eyes that had held me hostage right from the first day I set my eyes on her. ” I knew he was hurting you and I did nothing to stop it. I should have challenged him. I should have held him off. I should have taken you away. I should have gone with you when you left. I should have been there for you. I should have been the one to protect you.”

She shook her head, ” Don’t “should” on yourself too hard. I knew how intricate the situation was. He was your elder brother and your Alpha. He was my mate.” She bit her lip and stared deeply into my eyes ” I don’t even know how this happened.” she gestured to the two of us.

I scooted in closer to her and took her small hand in both of mine. ” I think I was meant to be your second chance mate. You and Arden were both resisting the bond, breaking it slowly even before you outright rejected him. It happened because the bond you both shared was already weak.”

” Maybe.” she sighed ” But it’s still complicated, you’re his brother Malcolm, and this bond between us I doubt Arden would allow it to progress.”

I couldn’t help myself, I reached out and smoothed my hands on her thighs. I looked up at her and found her staring at me. I could hear her heartbeat accelerate and I was deeply gratified to know that my touch affected her, as much as her existence affected me.

I stood up and cupped her beautiful heart-shaped face between my palms, brushing my thumbs over her pouty lips. Intuitively her tongue darted out and licked her lips. She wasn’t even conscious that she was doing it, but it tore me to shreds and ignited an urge deep inside me. “Bella?”