Chapter Five

Struggle:

Two o’clock came too quickly. Rhett was pacing the floor in his office. Rhett looked at the clock he had five minutes till two. Luke kept glancing at him. Luke finally got annoyed enough and decided he was going to ask Rhett what his problem was.

“Alpha, are you ok?” Luke asked.

“Fine.” Rhett responded sharply.

“Don't be like that. You know fine isn't a real answer. What’s going on with you?” Luke said rolling his eyes, talking to Rhett as his friend and not his Alpha.

“I … I don’t know. I just -

The knock on the door made Rhett stop talking. Luke frowned and got up from his seat. He watched Rhett retreat behind the desk. Luke looked at him confused. He never saw his Alpha act like this. He was putting a barrier between himself and Alpha Aldric. He had seen Rhett kill without batting an eye. He was dangerous in battle and well respected. Luke paused with his hand on the door handle looking back at Rhett. He watched him grit his teeth and nod to Luke telling him to open the door. 

Luke looked at him perplexed but decided he wasn't going to ask. Luke grabbed a hold of the door and opened it.

"Waverly, Aldric." Luke nodded to them.

"Afternoon Luke, Alpha Rhett." Waverly said, smiling brightly at them both.

Rhett nodded to her in his response. He stiffened as Aldric walked into the room. Aldric locked eyes with Rhett as if he was just noticing the tension.

Luke glanced at Waverly who was still just smiling. Luke cleared his throat trying to cut the heaviness in the room.

“Alpha Rhett.” Aldric said addressing him something hidden in his voice Luke didn't quite understand.

“Alpha Aldric.” Rhett said in the same tone.

Say his name again. Hendrix said coming forward, causing Rhett to grab the desk, his eyes glowed slightly.

“Alpha Rhett, Alpha Aldric and I have come to talk about our stay here.” Waverly interjected trying to get the conversation started.

“Yes. What about your stay here?” Rhett asked her, his voice strained. 

Aldric didn't even hear Waverly start talking; he was focused on Rhett.  What was wrong with him? He thought but then he felt it. Xyler began panting like crazy inside of him. He knew there was something there the first time he saw him but he chose to ignore it. He felt like he was crawling in his own skin. Xyler wanted to get out and reach out to Rhett’s wolf. Aldric took a step back as Rhett's scent hit him. His scent made his body respond in ways he didn't ever expect. Aldric closed his eyes trying to calm himself down. Wavely looked at him curiously, a small smile pulled at her lip.

“Alpha Aldric wanted to ask what the responsibilities of our pack members would be? What could we help with?” Waverly said, moving smoothly through the heightened emotions. 

Aldric cleared his throat pushing Xyler down. “ Yes, we want to be useful and contribute while we're here. We don't wish to place strain or burden on your pack.”

He wants to be useful and contribute. Hendrix snickered in Rhett's mind making the statement sexual.

What the hell’s wrong with you? Do not remember what you said earlier. Rhett growled at Hendrixs.

“Alpha?” Luke asked confused about why he growled.

Xyler responded to the growl he heard pushing forward.

He wont talk to us. Xyler whimpered.

Stop, don't try what you're doing. Aldric said to Xyler.

But I want to know his wolf. Xyler responded, trying to force control. 

Enough. Aldric said this time he growled as well. 

“Alpha’s are we missing something?” Luke asked, confused about the growling.

Waverly ignored it, she knew what was happening. She looked at Luke and smiled at him.

“Luke, you know how macho men can be. Why don't you start telling me what you think we should be helping with? Maybe if we start throwing out ideas they might start…contributing.” Waverly smirked.

“I think we should maybe reschedule?” Luke asked, confused.

His wolf wants to meet me. Hendrix said to Rhett.

No shut it down. Rhett growled.

Xyler was becoming restless and then another wave of intense feelings rushed thorough. Aldric steps back into the door frame he could feel himself starting to shake.

Mate. Xyler yelled inside Aldric.

No. stop. If he doesn't accept us then we are risking the pack. We need to be in control here. Stop. Aldric almost pleaded to Xyler.

Mate. Xyler howled. 

Do you want to jeopardize the pack! Aldric screamed at him.

Xyler whimpered and then as if he was thinking about it, shut down. He whimpered more as he suppressed all emotions. Sadness overwhelmed Aldric as if he just turned off something in himself.

What just happened? Rhett asked Hendrix.

I don't know….I don’t feel his wolf anymore. Hendrix whimpered.

“Alpha Rhett  Waverly and I can help train your soldiers. You may not know this but before the disease and famine, my army was one of the top ones in our nation. I would be happy to help. Waverly is fierce and tactical.” Aldric said locking eyes with Waverly. 

“Alpha Aldric is correct Alpha Rhett. I am very trained.”  Waverly smiled proudly. 

Why did he suddenly feel upset? What had just happened. He still felt this uncontrollable need to go to Aldric but without his wolf trying to reach out it was lessened. Why was he upset? 

“Luke can get you guys set up by helping with training. You will need to follow our rules and protocols.” Rhett said not really paying attention, he was too wrapped up in what just happened.

“Understandable.” Aldric said with a head nod.

“The rest of your pack can help in the fields. Part of the reason why the pack has been surviving so well is because we make our own crops and food. It would help a great deal if we had extra hands helping there.” Rhett said quietly. 

“Thank you. I will see to it.” Aldric said nodding.

“Alpha Rhett, what time do you expect people to report to the places?” Waverly asked before Aldric could turn and walk to the door.

“Training begins at  five AM and then again at five PM. The people helping out in the fields can get there before the sun comes up and work until the sun is high in the sky.” Rhett said quietly, still trying to get a vibe off of Aldric.

“We will be there. Thank you again for your help.” Aldric said, reaching for the door knob, his hand shaking as he did.

There was silence behind him as Aldric stepped out into the hall. The grip strangling his heart  lifted. He walked quickly to the front door. Each step closer to the outside air he felt better. He flung open the house doors and stepped outside into the fresh air. He inhaled Like he had never breathed air before.  He leaned forward, holding on to his knees, closing his eyes trying to breathe. He didn't realize how hard that was. To deny his wolf what he was feeling, to fight against the pull.

“Alpha what was that?” Waverly said, coming up behind him and touching his back lightly.

Aldric inhaled and straightened up. He tried fighting the words about to come out but he couldn't.

“Rhett is my mate.” Aldric said his voice sounded painful as he said the words came out.

“Are you sure?” Waverly asked, she wanted to be excited for him but something was telling her not to respond this way.

“Yes. The way I felt in there. They way Xyler pulled to him. He started howling mate as soon as he figured it out.” Aldric said as he glanced back at the pack house.

Waverly paused, waiting for Aldric to continue. She could feel sadness coursing off of him and she was trying to find out why. When she found Derrick it was one of the happiest days of her life. She frowned, feeling Aldric’s emotions.

“What's wrong?” Waverly asked quietly.

“He doesn't know. Or he’s choosing not too. Either way I can't risk jeopardizing the pack.” Aldric said walking away.

Waverly watched him walk away. Anger flooded through her. Aldric was not only her Alpha but her friend. She had always known that Aldric’s mate would be a male. He confided in her one night when they were growing up. Afraid to become Alpha because of it. The pack didn't care. He was a good man and a great Alpha. She wanted to march back into that office and grab Alpha Rhett by the throat or shake him.  She heard movement behind her and turned sharply ready to fight or yell. She wasn't sure what she was about to do.

“Woah..easy there.”  Luke smiled, throwing up his hands.

“Sorry.” Waverly said quietly, her eyes glancing to where Aldric once was. 

“So do you know what that was about?” Luke asked, confused.

“I, yes Rhett is-'' Waverly felt like blurting it out but stopped herself, Aldric’s words “jeopardizing the pack” fluttered into her mind.

“No I don't.” Waverly said, shutting her mouth hard as if she was trapping the words back into her mouth. 

“Well this is just lovely.” Luke said sarcastically.

“Yeah, I know.” Waverly frowned, starting to walk away.

“See you at five, north training ground. Don't be late.” Luke called after her.

Luke watched her walk away. This had been madness since they arrived. His Alpha was acting like a ticking time bomb with his emotions. He was always so calm and collected. Luke sighed, watching Waverly walk away. He wondered what her story was. She was fierce and beautiful. He smiled thinking about how he wanted to get to know her. It took strength to step into the Beta position. He looked back at the pack house, debating on going back in and figuring out what hell was wrong with Rhett or giving him space.  He needed to check in on their side mission as well as get in touch with some of the female pack members to get the gathering started. He decided to let Rhett have space.