Chapter 10

**Alexander POV**

”Get up!” I could hear the irritation that coated Trainer Cotton's words. Untangling myself from Vanessa, we both stood up and looked at him.
He walked over to Vanessa and gave her a hard stare. “Get yourself together, Vanessa! You can't always fall down so easily when Alexander grabs you. Fight back, and make an effort or I will change your sparring partner,” Trainer Cotton said to her, her eyes growing wide at that last part.
“N-no! I mean no need, I will fight back harder.” I took a deep breath at her words, already feeling annoyed that not only did I not even break a sweat like I had hoped to do in today's training, but a part of me wanted to rush to the pack house to check on Nerissa. I held myself back, however, trying to keep my focus on the task at hand.
“Then fight, and give him some resistance, not an easy way out like you have been for the last fifteen minutes. Otherwise, you will be paired with someone else,” Trainer Cotton warned her. She nodded, rushing back to the middle of the fighting circle, calling me over to join her.
Walking closer to the middle of the circle, Trainer Cotton gave the signal and Vanessa ran towards me, but I was ready for her attack, and I managed to pin her down easily.
Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, and I could see the desire and hunger in her eyes. I feared it was not for our sparring though, but for me personally. I stood up quickly, creating distance between us. “I think that is enough for today,” I said as I turned around and grabbed my things, leaving the training grounds.
Walking inside the pack house, I was about to pass by the kitchen when I heard my Beta talking with Emily and Nerissa.
Wanting to see Nerissa, I walked into the kitchen. They all stopped talking upon seeing me enter.
“Alex?” Ryder called to me as he slowly stood up from his chair.
My eyes were locked on Nerissa who stubbornly refused to look my way, making me irritated that I was being ignored by her.
Walking further inside, I kept my eyes on her as I asked, “Do you have everything you will need for this weekend’s pack gathering?”
I knew it was a lame excuse to talk to her, but it was the only one I could come up with in that moment that would get her to look up and speak to me.
Yes, I was amazed, and at the same time impressed by her courage to speak to me the way she did last time, so I avoided her in hopes that I could manage to get myself together, not because she told me to stay away from her.
Nerissa kept her back facing me as Emily nervously answered me, ”Y-yes, everything will be prepared as you ordered.”
I narrowed my eyes on Nerissa’s back. Damn it! Why is she so fucking stubborn?! I asked myself.
I didn’t want to ask for her attention, but my mouth had a mind of its own and before I realized it, I heard myself call out her name. “Nerissa?”
She flinched slightly and I could see her take a few deep breaths before she turned her head away from the stove and looked over at me. Fire eyes burned in her eyes, rendering me speechless for a second.
Not wanting her to notice how much she was affecting me, I quickly composed myself before I started to speak again. “Next time when you carry wood, try to be more careful and don’t use my pack members to do your duty.”
She glared at me, burning with anger at my words. Ryder quickly jumped in and said, “Alex… it was me who chose to help her, not the other way around. If you want to scold someone then scold me.”
I turned to look at him, but deciding not to say anything else, I walked past him and left the kitchen, heading towards my room.
Yes, I know I didn't have to say that, but that is me. I just can’t let her or this messed up bond affect me.
For fucks’ sake, I am the Alpha, not some lost puppy that will chase after some woman. Even if she is my mate.
Grumbling quietly, I walked past a few of my pack members who jumped out of the way the moment they saw me, noticing I was not in a good mood.
The moment I entered my room, I took off my clothes, and walked into the shower, letting the hot water wash all over my body, hoping it would clear my head and relax my body. Closing my eyes, I pressed my forehead to the wet shower tiles.

***
The weekend had arrived. It was early in the morning, and already the pack house was like a train station, everyone was in a rush to complete their assignments before the arrival of our allies.
Thankfully, the weather was beautiful outside so the BBQ with our allies was still set to go as planned. We were hosting two of our allied packs, the Sapphire Dragon Pack and the Midmist Werewolf Pack. Both packs have been our allies for centuries, so having a good strong connection with both Alphas is essential for us, not that we were scared of them in any way.
We held these annual BBQs, either on my land or theirs, as it changes every time, making each pack hold such occasions at least once. It was good for members to connect with each other and also for the ones who have not yet met their mate, this was one of the opportunities to do so. If they are unlucky even then, well, once a year The Great Unity ball was held for packs all around the world to participate in. Their mateless pack members would attend in hopes of finding their destined ones there.
I was standing outside, giving out instructions and orders on where to place what as Ryder prepared the bonfires for the late-night activities. Tables for drinks were being set up, and on the other side, the buffet table was being placed. Looking towards the latter, my eyes searched for the two creatures that were assigned to prepare the food.
I couldn’t find Emily or Nerissa, so I decided to walk towards one of the pack members and asked him, “Ted, have you seen Emily and Nerissa?”
He looked at me as he placed a chair down at its appointed place. “No, Alpha. I last ran into one of them when I went to the back storage hut to get the chairs.”
"Thank you, Ted, carry on." I gave him a nod before I started walking towards the back of the pack house, checking with everyone along my way to see how they were doing.
I saw Emily rushing towards the kitchen, her hands full of vegetables from the back garden, but the doors were closed. She tried to open them with her hands full, almost losing all the vegetables that she was carrying.
I hurried over to help her out, catching tomatoes as they fell from her hands before pressing the handle to open the door with my other hand.
Emily’s cheeks blushed as she shyly said, “Thank you.”
Nodding my head, I let her pass by me while I held open the door and followed her inside, still carrying the tomatoes that had fallen into my hand.
I saw Nerissa flying around the kitchen like a tornado. She didn't even notice that I had entered, so I slowly walked closer and placed the tomatoes on the counter right in front of her. She startled as her eyes flew up and locked with my own. I couldn’t help the small smirk that was trying to appear on my lips as I silently looked at her.
“Why do you always get startled so easily?” I asked her, making her arch her brow in question at me.
“First of all, I do not get easily startled, and secondly, I didn't see or hear you. All of a sudden someone came out of nowhere, and… Why did you bring me tomatoes?” she asked the last part so quietly I almost missed it. Confusion was clear in her voice, making me want to chuckle but I composed myself.
“Your friend Emily almost lost them as she tried to enter the kitchen, so I helped her save them before they hit the ground,” I explained to her with amusement in my voice, but she was not impressed as she rolled her eyes at me.
What the hell?! Why is she always so difficult? I thought to myself.
I was about to ask them if they needed help, if not from me then maybe someone more experienced in the kitchen, but as I was about to speak, Ryder rushed inside the kitchen, frantically searching for someone.
His eyes quickly scanned the room until they landed on me. “Finally! We are being called to help on the Westside from the Luminas Pack. They are under attack from all sides… I will tell you all the details on our way, that is, I am assuming your orders are that we go and help?"
Listening to what Ryder was saying, Emily and Nerissa stopped what they were doing and waited for my decision.
“Yes, we will go to their aid. Prepare the warriors and meet me outside in five minutes, I have to go find my brother," I told him and watched as he nodded and rushed outside through the back door. As I was leaving the kitchen, I heard Nerissa call my name, making me stop and turn back to look at her. “Yes?”
“Be careful.” Her voice was a low whisper but I heard her clearly, making my heart beat a little faster. I just nodded my head and said, “I always am.” Then I left the kitchen.