Big Bad Alphas

"I didn't do it."

"Isabella we know you did, now tell the truth or face jail time!" She stands up and pretends to act serious, even though I know she is holding back giggles.

"Detective, I didn't steal the cookies, but I know who did," I give her a stern look and her cheeks flush pink.

"You do?"

I nod and her face begins to show her nerves. "You stole them."

She shakes her head, no.

"I know you did, so you might as well confess." I shrug and stand up from the carpet. "You hungry? I can heat up dinner?"

"Yeah, when will mom be home?" She follows me into the kitchen before climbing and sitting down on one of the stools. "And don't tell her I ate the cookies."

I smile while shaking my head. "Fine, and she'll be back at ten so after dinner get your PJs on. Maybe we can watch a little T.V."

My little sister nods frantically. "Thanks, Isabella, you're fun."

I chuckle and pull her favorite plate from the cabinet, "thanks." After she eats up and runs to her bedroom to change, I clean up the dishes and lean on the counter. Checking the clock I see it is already nine. Kendra is a good kid, staying up a little later won't hurt anybody. It is not like our mother will be bothered by it. When she comes trotting down the steps I immediately change my attitude- acting joyful for her. "You ready for T.V.?"

Together we cuddle up in the living room and I turn on the T.V. Some random kids show comes on and I leave it on for Kendra, knowing it's something she'll be interested in. Even though she is my younger sister sometimes she feels like my daughter. Our mother is not around too much, she is constantly busy with pack duties. As the Betas second-hand-woman, she is quite occupied all of the time. I used to mind, but I have grown used to it. I can't imagine how busy Beta Jack is with the Alpha, so I'm thankful.

Ripping me from my thoughts, a sudden crashing notice comes from the front of the house. My mother appears in the hallway, breathing heavy. Quickly I stand up in front of Kendra. "What's going on?"

"There's no time, we're being attacked. Just take Kendra to the safe house now!" She yells and before I pass her with Kendra in my grasp, she stops me. "Hurry, I'll get there as soon as possible."

My heart races in my chest as if it will stop and no longer function. Kendra's voice is poking at the back of my head, but I cannot focus on her, I have to focus on getting to the safe house. Through the trees, northeast, quarter of a mile maybe. My lips run dry.

The harsh weather curses at me for not grabbing Kendra a jacket, she's probably freezing like I am. "Isabella stop!" She shouts and my feet halt.

I search around us, paranoid. "What is it?" My voice sounds rushed. I can't think.

"Will you tell me what's going on! We're under attack?" She begins to shake. "Why? By who?"

"There's not enough time for this," I mutter and lead her through the trees. In the distance, I can hear shouting, and it only makes my heart beat faster. If anything happens let it be to me, please let Kendra live. I may sound dramatic, but in this moment how can I not be? All I can think about in her getting hurt. After a few minutes of rushing through the forest, I begin to panic even more, where is the safe house? I thought it was closer. Sudden notices hit my ears and I stop in my tracks. People are close. Looking down at Kendra I say, "we have to hurry, the safe house should be near."

"Isabella, I'm scared." Her grip tightens on my hand and I notice tears gathering in her soft, delicate eyes.

"I know, don't be, we're gonna be okay."

My heart moves at an abnormal pace and I ignore it as we weave through the trees. The moon lights up the night sky, bringing hints of brightness to the silky abyss above. I have never liked the forest at night. My hands clam up and I lose control of my senses. Confusion seeps through my mind. "We're okay, we're okay, we're okay," I mumble over and over, no longer talking to Kendra, but myself.

My nose tingles overwhelmed with nothing, and this all begins to feel like a dream.

"Isabella..."

"Isabella..."

My mind drifts and the forest around me begins to cause an ache in my head. Everything is overwhelming in an unreal way, and I do not understand it in any way.

"Isabella!"

My gaze shoots down at Kendra to find her clenching onto my body and staring ahead. I fight to speak but words cannot leave my lips. Finally, I find the strength to look, and when I do my fingers go numb. Three large wolves. Their coats, thick like summer brambles, blend into the dark greenery around us. The feeling to vomit rises in my stomach as Kendra cries beside me. "P-P-Please... leave h-her."

The wolves do not seem phased and tears stream down my cheeks. "S-She's a child, please."

"Isabella," Kendra sobs, not letting go of my waist. "No! No!"

"Let her go!" I shout. "I'll do anything!"

Suddenly, a man comes through the trees. "What do you guys got?"

Kendra's nails dig into my side, making it hard to focus on everything that is happening. My mind is dizzy like I just woke up.

"A little girl?" The man pats one of the wolves heads. "Come on, you three are heartless!" He laughs and walks up to us.

Hesitantly, I step back and push Kendra behind me.

"And you are?" He stares right into my eyes, making me shrink under intimidation.

"I-Isabella," I say, praying he will find the heart to let us go.

"Well, aren't you a pretty little thing." His hand strokes my cheek and my eyes squeeze shut. "I suppose the younger one can go, but you, no."

Relief floods through me like a wave and I immediately turn to Kendra. "Listen to me, listen to me, you run in this direction." I point northeast and she shakes her head, not letting go. "I promise you I'll be okay, just run as fast as you can."

"Don't worry, she'll be very safe with me." The man grabs me by the arm.

"No! No! Don't take her!" Kendra yells and grips onto my clothes. "Don't take her!"

"Kendra, run!" I shout back. "Find mom, she'll come for me, just go and wait for her!"

"You can't take her!" She screams as tears run down her red cheeks.

The man groans. "Hold her."

The three wolves circle around Kendra and her grasp slips from my shirt. "Don't hurt her!"

"Don't worry honey, they won't touch her," the man begins to take me off in the direction we ran from, but my eyes stay locked on Kendra's sobbing figure until she disappears into the thick brush. My heart slams against my chest and my mind runs wild with prayers. Let her be safe.

"Who are you?" I ask the man worried, and he smiles.

"I work for the Alpha..."

"No, you don't."

He sighs and leads me further towards the commotion. "Not your pack."

My eyes roam around as we near lights. I begin to hear voices. "Am I-I going to die?"

"Probably not," he says and begins to focus on something else. We come up to a clearing and there are many other men and shifted wolves. I have lost the feeling in my hands and feet from the cold while my heart has given up. I can't feel it anymore. My nerves have fallen overboard and my paranoia is at maximum. Any longer with these sensations and I'll faint.

We seem to catch a lot of attention and a few people even call out at us.

"What the hell?" A man comes up to the guy and laughs. "What's this?" His gaze turns to me and I look away.

"This is mine."

"Your mate?" The man questions with raised brows.

"No, but I like the way she looks," he shrugs and tugs me closer to his body.

"We don't have time for this." The guy motions for my kidnapper to follow him and he does with me dangling behind. We come up to more men, powerful looking men, and the guy glances back at us. "I meant without her, the Alpha is coming. Get rid of her before he gets here."

Get rid of. The words stick in my mind. "Please don't kill me!" I shout and try to free myself. "Please! Please!" Tears dry my skin and my strength fades away. Again, my senses are going blurry, like a spell is being cast over me.

"Get rid of her Landon," the guy shouts, now annoyed by my actions. "If the Alpha sees this he'll cut you off!"

"Okay, okay, what if I just silence her?"

My eyes grow wide. Instead of forming words, I begin to scream, screaming as if my life depends on it, which it does. My lungs begin to run dry and my throat burns from the cold wind. "Please! Let me go!"

"Hell Landon shut her up!"

My nose burns. The smell is so strong.

"Landon you have to be kidding me!" The guy yells and suddenly snatches me away from him.

"What is this?"

Everyone quiets down swiftly as I dangle in the guy's arms.

"Alpha, w-we were just..."

I tiredly glance up to see a large man standing in front of us. My heart flutters, races, brakes, drops to my stomach, anything and everything; a sensation so foreign to me. My body is set up straight as the guy moves me. "Please," I mutter with all the energy I have left. "Don't kill me."

"Please," I mutter with all the energy I have left. "Don't kill me."

In that moment my eyes connect with his, and that is when it hits me. I swallow hard. The feeling rises in my stomach once again, this time more serious than the others.

"Let her go." The man orders and the guy immediately let go of me. I stumble and feel his hand on my arm, grasping me tightly as if I am going to run away. His touch, it is like a flame against my skin, igniting something deep inside me. A shaky breath slips from my lips, creating a cloud of fog between us. "Who, who did this?" He questions, somewhat angry.

"I told Landon to get rid of her, but he wouldn't-"

"Get rid of?" He repeats and his grip on my arm tightens.

"See," Landon, my kidnapper, nudges the guy. "Everyone wants a piece, even the Alpha."

I swallow again. Alpha? A piece of me?

"I will rip your throat out," he firmly tells Landon and his stature quickly changes. "I will rip your limbs off one by one with my bare hands."

Everyone seems confused, even me. Landon looks taken back. "What are you talking about Alpha? It's just some chick I found I the forest."

"Yeah?" He asks, his beautifully structured face stays firm as I helplessly stare, hypnotized by his every feature. I chew on the inside of my cheek as a blush creeps it's way onto my chilled skin. This amazingly handsome man is touching me and my heart can't seem to take it.

"Yeah," Landon shrugs and chuckles while everyone else stays quiet. "I mean you can have her if you want Alpha."

The man glances down at me and my heart stops. He looks back up at Landon, "I can have her?"

"I mean... yeah, sure."

"I would think so since she is my mate." My lips dry up as I breath in the cool air. Hearing him say it is making me feel something that I can't explain. Landon turns pale and everyone curses under their breath, most likely at Landon. "You know I want to kill you, right?" He says calmly and Landon begins to sweat.

"Alpha, I-I didn't know, I mean... she w-was just in the woods." His voice shrinks. "I am so so sorry, I didn't mean to, to disrespect you or... her."

He clenches his jaw. "Look at her, she's freezing. Why did you find her in the forest?"

"I-I can talk," I mutter and grab everyone's attention. "I was running away with m-my sister because you're attacking our pack. My sister is out in the woods alone because of you." I look to Landon. "I swear, if she's hurt I'm going to snap your neck like a twig."

"Can she talk to me like that?" Landon questions, obviously not accepting everything that is happening.

"Quiet," He orders and I look up at him.

"Please, she's out there scared out of her mind. She's all I have, please." I gently place my hand on his arm and he tenses before looking down at the action. Tears return to my eyes out of fear for my sister's life. He looks up at Landon and the guy beside him. Never would I have seen myself begging to an Alpha attacking our pack.

"You two, find the girl."

A smile molds from my lips. Let them find her, please let them find her. "Thank you." I softly say while looking up at him, maybe for too long as I loose myself in his striking, distracting features. I feel like a twelve-year-old girl, drooling. I hate everyone seeing me like this, and I hate that he is the cause. He is an Alpha attacking my pack, my home, I cannot just stand here like none of that matters. So I let go of him and create distance between us with a few side steps.

A member of his pack steps forward. "Alpha, should we take her somewhere warm?"

He hesitates for a few seconds. "Yes, just don't let," he pauses, "don't let anything happen."

"Yes, Alpha." He and another turn towards me.

"What about my sister?" I look to the Alpha.

"When they find her, I'll bring her to you."

I nod and follow the men obediently, not wanting to push my luck. Weirdly, I find myself glancing back at the Alpha just to look at him, to see that he is still there. Soon I notice the direction we are walking in and I begin to see the pack house up ahead. They could not possibly take me inside the pack house unless they overtook it. Sorrow fills my mind at the thought of all the damage this Alpha has caused, and there I was simply talking with him. I should have been beating him senselessly, but I doubt the 'mate' part of me would let that happen. Mates. The thought of it makes me want to scream, cheer, and cry all at the same time. Never have my emotions been so mixed.

The two men lead me up to the door before they easily push past and enter. My heart picks up pace as I follow their actions, easily pushing past a door that is usually guarded and locked.

It feels wrong to be in the pack house. This is the home of my Alpha and Luna, not some place for me to warm up. I wonder where they are. I wonder if my mate has done anything to them.

I haven't thought about finding my mate in a while. Last I can remember was when my mother lost our father, but I just thought about losing my mate then. Taking care of Kendra has distracted my mind from such daydreams, not that I want to have them. But now when I think about mates, all I can think about is him and me in the same house, in the same bedroom, in the same bed, doing things in the bed- my mind has drifted to other topics now. I blush.

It is one giant spoiler; surprise, this is the man you are supposed to be with forever! Who says he even wants to be with me?

I shouldn't be thinking about the Alpha. I should be thinking about Kendra; praying that she'll get back safe. How could my thoughts be so self-centered at a time like this?

The two men lead me into a living room filled with portraits and decorations passed down through generations. Hesitantly, I sit on the couch upright, feeling extremely out of place. I look up to see the two men watching me. "What?"

"Uh, we should watch you, make sure you're safe," one guy says and I give him an odd look.

"Why? You're attacking my pack, why should you care what happens to me?"

They glance at each other and back at me. "You're our Luna."

The four letter word rings in my ears as the realization hits me like a truck. How could I not put two and two together? My mate is an Alpha, therefore I am his... No. I am definitely not a Luna. Again I mentally curse myself for letting my thoughts drift away from Kendra. She is my main priority, she has to be. My mate suddenly came crashing into my life, but I will not let him come before Kendra. I don't even know his name, so technically we are strangers.

The two men stand around me as I sit stiffly between them on the couch. At least twenty minutes have passed and my mind cannot stop conjuring up horrible things that might have happened to her. Kendra must be so scared, probably thinking I was murdered. My heart aches just thinking about how I left her. What if those wolves did something to her? It would all be my fault. I have to go look for her, not sit here like some princess. My pack is being invaded while I am busy day dreaming about my mate, who, to make it worse, is the Alpha of the packing attacking us.

How could this situation get any worse? I glance up at the men. "You're part of the Tate pack yes? And your Alpha, he is Alpha Tate?"

The men nod.

Taking a deep breath I stand up. "I should go look for my sister."

"We can't let you leave," one of them say.

"What? Why?"

"We told the Alpha that nothing would happen to you. I am not one for taking risks on his orders."

Looking to the door, I raise an eyebrow. "So if I walk out the door..."

"We will stop you," he says.

I run my bottom lip through my teeth gently. "Am I a hostage? Because it's beginning to sound like it. I don't want to be here anymore, I-I want to see my mate, the Alpha."

The men shake their heads slowly, "I can't let you outside."

"You have to," I say on a limb, hoping my idea will work.

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm your Luna, and I... I am ordering you to let me leave. Before you say no again, just remember that I will... I will tell your Alpha that you... that you hurt me!" I say dramatically and stare them down. "I would let me go."

"Either way we're getting our asses kicked. We let you go, and you get hurt, or you try your little fib, and we might get consequences." He stays firm. "I'll take the chance."

I internally groan. I have to find Kendra somehow. "I-I'll scream."

The man raises his eyebrows.

"I'll do it, I swear," I threaten and swallow as they don't seem to care. I suck in a deep breath of air and immediately let it all out in a terribly loud, obnoxious cry, over and over. Quickly the men come over and grab a hold of me, one slapping his hand over my mouth. I continue to let out muffled screams, and the more I scream the more worried I feel. Soon my screams are no longer to get my way, but because I want to get away from these men. I will do anything for Kendra- scream until my lungs burn and shrivel, but my acts are pushing my luck. Sadly, I seemed to forget that these people are not on my side. Could they possibly still kill me?

Their arms hold down my flailing limbs only to set me back on the couch. When his hand releases my lips I mutter, "I know you're supposed to keep me safe but this is ridiculous! My sister is out there!"

"You're making it really hard to follow orders. People are out looking for her, so try and calm down?" Slowly he lets go of me and I cross my arms.

"Can we just forget about this whole mate thing? Let's go back to me being a nobody."

"Just wait until Alpha Tate comes back with your sister."

I find my mate half an hour ago and suddenly I have signed a contract. What have I gotten myself into? Maybe I can leave with Kendra when she gets here, because she will, and I am sure Alpha Tate has more important things to do than deal with me. We have only spoken a few sentences to each other. It is not like we have started anything.

I hear the front door open and I immediately jump up. "Kendra!" Turning to the door I see Landon, alone. "Where is she?"

"We can't find her, she must not be in the north forest."

If Kendra followed my orders she would have run into the safe house. Could she possibly be there? If I could get out I would go search the safe house, but I cannot lead these men to other people who might be in there. "Where's your Alpha?"

"I don't keep tabs on him, he's somewhere." Landon leans against the wall. "I'm sure you're not new to this but we do what the Alpha says, and that's it."

"Well someone has to take me to him, or let me go find him."

The three look at each other. "Why are you so impatient?"

"It's my sister!" I shout out of frustration. "I need to make sure she's okay while your group of killers rampage my pack! So you either take me to him or I will make sure you pay for this!"

One of the two men peer down and sigh. "If we take you, will you stop going crazy?"

I nod and stand up before the three guys take me outside. Wrapping my arms around my chest, I try to keep the warmth. "How far is he?"

"Not too far."

The closer we get, the faster my heart beats. I'm going to see him again and it is making my hands sweat. I can't get the image of his face out of my head. I wish I didn't feel this way, I wish I had control.

"He should be up here," Landon says and after a few more steps I spot him talking with a couple other men. His scent creeps up my nose and I scrunch my toes as he turns. He says one more thing to the men before coming over.

"What is she doing out here?"

"She told us to take her to you."

I stand behind and let a short breath escape my lips. "I want to find her, I want to search."

Before I can say anything else he simply says, "No."

I swallow. "Well, you don't own me so I'm just going to go, right now. I can do what I want." As I turn in the opposite direction and take two steps, I am stopped by his hand wrapping around my upper arm. If I look at his face I'll melt, so I keep my gaze on the patchy forest floor.

"I'm not letting you wander off," he says firmly.

I tug my arm harshly from his grasp. "It's like you're not even hearing what I'm saying. What would you do if it were your sibling? I have to make sure she's safe and with my mother. Those wolves could have hurt her and if they did I could never forgive myself. Please, I'm not trying to cause problems and get into trouble with your pack. I just need to find my sister."

"You're so difficult," he states while looking right into my eyes. "She wasn't in the north or east halves of the forest, so it is safe to assume she's with your mother."

"Assume?" I gape. "He made me leave her with three wolves!" My finger points to Landon and he rolls his eyes. "Why can't I just go and see if she is?"

He crosses his arms over his chest, displaying his muscles for my roaming eyes. "Just tell me where your mother and sister would be and I'll send people over."

My gaze drifts away in disappointment. Exactly what I did not want to happen has happened.