The Alpha's Guardian

Ali POV

I chew on my lower lip as I look over my guardian ceremony outfit. It is the only time I ever wear a dress. And it's not because I want to, but because I have to. I also didn't have a choice in choosing it. It's flattering, and I don't mean it in a small manner. I mean, it's really flattering to my shape and my muscles. Which is why Samuel had it made for me. Male guardians get some version of a tuxedo. I, however, get a busty, emerald green chiffon gown with a slit up my right leg highlighting my muscular thighs. My only objection to it is that it wasn't my choice, and it's not purple. Which is my signature color since I've been told my eyes flash purple when I use certain Guardian techniques. No other guardian's eyes do that, so it's obviously just meant to be my color. A knock has me pulling my eyes from the dress and sighing as I walk over and open the door.

“Ali,” Trudy says in a flat tone. I internally scream. This chick rubs me the wrong way. Mostly because she is rubbing up on a man who isn't destined to be hers and it drives me insane when alpha-hungry groupies do that. "What do you want?" I say equally flatly.

"Wade wanted me to tell you that the ceremony is at 7 pm" She smiles a fake tight smile and rolls her eyes, turning to walk away.

"Alpha. It's Alpha Wade." I correct her in a cool tone. And she scrunches her nose in distaste.

"Whatever." She spins and sashays down the hall, walking right into the alpha's room.

I slam the door and head over to my closet to grab a zip-up hoodie, pausing only to toss my wet hair up in a messy bun. Now I have time for that lunch with the twin Omegas. I stuff my feet into my tennis shoes and grab my phone as I exit my room, making it all three steps before my phone rings, and I see that it's Samuel again.

"Yes?" I say, a tinge of annoyance in my voice. He has been extra in my business with this mission.

"Is that attitude I detect?" he says and I can imagine his smirk on his face.

"It's been a day. I'm sore and tired and I have to go meet someone." I rush out, starting my walk down the hall.

"Who are you meeting?"

"Some really ripped hot warrior I met on my way to this pack," I say, my words dripping with sarcasm.

"No partners when you are on duty," Samuel warns, and I roll my eyes.

"No worries, it's just hot steamy se*x," I joke. Samuel laughs. Now he knows I'm joking.

"I heard a rumor that you have a ceremony tonight."

"Yep." I pop the P for a little extra oomph.

"Good. Be safe." and the line went dead. The moment I make it to the stairs, I stop and sigh heavily. I know the Alpha has been behind me for a few minutes. And that he probably heard my conversation with Samuel, but what I am more interested in is why he is trying to be sneaky about it.

"Alpha, can I help you with something?" I ask without turning to face him.

"You are off to meet someone?" he says. His voice sounds angry and forced. I spin to face him and he steps into me, pinning me to the wall. His hands go to either side of my head and I hitch my chin up in defiance. I could easily remove myself from this situation, but I think I'd rather like to find out what the hell is going on with him.

"Yes. As I'm sure you heard, I have a hot date." His muscular arms ripple in anger and I raise a brow at him. His eyes grow black as his wolf fights for control of him. This is a very interesting development.

"I thought you hated anyone who didn't wait for their mate?" His voice is low and growly.

I place my hands on his chest. His breathing seems more labored and his heart is pounding on his ribcage as if looking to explode out. I tilt my head and look him in the eyes, giving him a hard shove as he stumbles back from me.

"Alpha Wade. Control your wolf." I say calmly. He shakes his head and looks at me as he pants.

"I'm trying!" He shouts angrily, his hands flying to his head and covering his ears. "I don't know what is happening."

I can hear his distress and something inside me seems to click. This Isn't a normal alpha who is mateless beyond the mating age? His bedroom door slams down the hall as Trudy comes running, buttoning her blouse. Her hair is disheveled and her makeup smeared "Wade! Are you coming back or not?" she says angrily, her eyes roaming over my body.

"Trudy, just go home," he says, exhausted.

"Wade!" she screeches, her shrill voice bouncing off the walls.

"ALPHA!" Wade bellows, the wall reverberating with the violent force of his voice. "It's ALPHA Wade." Trudy shrinks in fear and backs against the opposite wall, slinking along down the stairs and slamming the door behind her as she exits. Only after she is gone do I make a move to walk over to Alpha Wade.

I reach out to him, pulling his hand gently from his face. Using my index and middle fingers, I turn his chin so he is facing me and I look over at him. His face is distorted in pain and his eyes are flashing between black and hazel. I catch glimpses of anguish and anger. Something is not right. He is in no physical pain, so why is he struggling so much with his wolf. And why so close to the ceremony?

"Mindlink Francis. Tell him to come meet us in my room." I say as I gently take his hand and lead him towards my room. When I get him in, I quickly move him to the bed and lay him on top of it.

"Are you feeling ok?" I ask him. He says nothing as he grabs a pillow and places it over his eyes. Francis enters a moment later, looking worried. "What is going on?" he asks

"I have a feeling that Alpha Wade is slowly being poisoned," I say, trying to remember the name of the plant. "There is a flower, similar to wolfsbane, but it disorients the wolf rather than killing them. It Confuses them, making them angry and impossible to control." "Like in his food?"

"I'm not sure. But he was fine when I left him earlier. I need to check his room." I say, moving to the door. It doesn't escape my notice that Francis goes rigid when I mention going into the alpha's room.

"What is it? I'll look for it." He says,

"You don't even know what you are looking for, besides it will affect your wolf more so than Alpha's because he metabolizes things faster than anyone else," I explain. "What about you?"Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

"I'm an Omega, I have no wolf. I can't recall its name," I remind him. He looks nervously at Alpha Wade, who is groaning on my bed.

"Francis. What don't you want me to see?" I take a step towards him, my curiosity piquing.

"Nothing." He says shortly, refusing to look me in the eye. He is definitely hiding something from me.

"Right," I say, turning and walking out of the room.

The moment I walk into his room, I'm enveloped in his masculine scent. His bed is a mess and there is a hole in his wall. Unchecked aggression, apparently. I walk over to his bedside and rifle through his things. After 5 minutes of searching, I close my eyes and focus on my scent. What smells different, wrong from the last time I was in here looking around a few days ago.

I smell fresh flowers from his desk, an array of wildflowers and greens. The smell of pine and the fresh scent of the forest waft through the open window. I step closer to this desk. I can smell the leather of his chair and the smell of paper. And there, a smell of something woodsy and sour. Faint and watered down. I snap my eyes open. Watered down tea. I grab his mug and take a sniff.

"Ah. Pansy." I remember the name.

Now to find out how it got into his teacup, though this will take more time than finding out there is indeed something in it. That's when I see it, the small wooden box that I know was in my room earlier. Did Francis have Sammy grab it from my room when she grabbed my clothes? Perhaps I let them open it, maybe they can figure out its contents for me. After all, if it's answers about my past they are looking for we are on the same team.