The Alpha’s Bullied Mate (Bluebell Valley Wolves #1)

Chapter 18 - Hayden

The scent of tilled earth met Hayden’s nostrils as he drove through the town. The team was spread through a handful of vehicles, each one keeping watch. They had just escorted the cargo van to and from the city for the latest shopping trip. Last time, Spencer had attempted to stop them from leaving.

This time, they had barely seen a sign of any other wolf in the town. It seemed as though Monroe was keeping them busy elsewhere. This was why, along with food, Hayden bought a handful of camera drones from the city. Patience was a virtue, but sitting idly by without finding any additional information was a flaw that could easily prove fatal.

He pulled to a stop in front of Monroe’s house and got out of the car, leaving the engine idling. The team all hopped out of their vehicles and gathered in formation around him.

“Monroe,” Hayden bellowed. “Quit hiding and face me!”

The door slammed open, but it wasn’t the possessed Alpha who came out. Instead, it was Spencer. He walked with a swagger, but Hayden detected a slight limp in his movements. He glanced at Finn from the corner of his eye. Finn shook his head ever so slightly.

Odd. Spencer was still acting as Monroe’s Beta, and yet the demons hadn’t decided to possess him. Perhaps they had decided that he was more useful in his current role. It could very well be because they hoped to be able to send him past the salt barrier to kill Hayden and his team at some point.

“So you’re back,” Spencer sneered at him.

“Is Monroe ready to face me, or is he still hiding?” Hayden mocked.

Spencer’s lip twisted. “My Alpha doesn’t need to answer to you, boy.”

“Hiding, then.”

Spencer snarled. Hayden’s wolf snarled in response, but he pushed down the urge to fight. The Beta wasn’t his quarry here. He wasn’t going to waste his energy and risk injury over the likes of Spencer.

“I know why you bluff and act all tough,” the beta growled, growing closer. “But Monroe knows how to take out the demon that’s possessed you.”

Hayden barked out a laugh. “Oh, so he’s saying I’m the possessed one?”

“And he also said you’d accuse him of being possessed, to turn the pack against him,” Spencer spat. “Give me my daughters back, and I’ll speak to Monroe about showing you mercy. He’ll be kind and generous to you… and your mate. Although if it were me, I’d be more tempted by the promise to remove Mica as my mate.”

He laughed. Hayden’s wolf growled blackly, and he started forward. Ryder caught his arm and shook his head ever so slightly. Hayden yanked himself free, but Spencer had gotten what he wanted. He grinned at them, a gleam in his eyes.

“Perhaps once you’re dead, the rest of us will be kind to Mica. After all, she’s only a weak human. So fragile. So breakable.”

“And, of course, threatening someone who is so obviously physically weaker than you rather than facing the challenge of someone who can beat you is a sign of true strength. That’s certainly something you picked up from your Alpha, isn’t it?” Hayden shot back. “Mica might not have the strength of a wolf, but she’s still stronger than you or Monroe.”

Spencer’s smile vanished.

“Your daughters saw it, too,” Hayden continued. “Why else would they run so fast from the possibility of being his mate? What woman would willingly be mated to a weak, pathetic Alpha who refuses to fight?”

“You’ll regret that, boy!”

“I certainly hope so,” Hayden said dryly. “Because this is all getting so very tiresome.”

It seemed as though Spencer would attack for a moment, but instead, he snorted. “I’m not letting some demon fucker get in my head.”

He turned his back—a very deliberate motion, meaning to say Hayden was no threat to him—and stalked back to the house. Hayden’s wolf paced in his chest. He considered shifting and causing some trouble, but he held himself back. He hadn’t come this far just to lose the pack by breaking the laws of the Alpha’s challenge.

Back at home base, he was greeted by the sight of several more wolves from the Bluebell Valley pack standing just beyond the property lines. Mica, Tess, and a handful of other wolves were gathered within the protective circle.

At Hayden’s approach, relief crossed Mica’s face. “These wolves are requesting permission to join your pack, Alpha.”

He nodded once toward her as he and the others passed over the salt barrier. Derek and Tess came up with the idea of using PCP piping around the edge of the property and filling it with salt. It had worked so far, though it needed to be checked occasionally to ensure it wasn’t draining anywhere.

“Your mate wouldn’t let us in,” an elderly wolf said, glaring at Mica.

“And she was following my instructions,” Hayden said with a careless shrug. “You may all step over this piping and swear your allegiance to me now.”

Most of them, looking slightly confused, did as he bade. The others drew near, then stepped back. One of them was the elder wolf that had spoken before. He glared at the PCP piping now.

“Alpha Monroe says you’re a demon. How do we know that entering this territory won’t make us possessed as well? What do you have in there?” he demanded, pointing.

“A protection measure against any demons Monroe might try to sneak into our home base, seeing as he is the one that is possessed.” Hayden eyed him. “Are you able to cross over? Or are you a demon?”

The others who had already entered the property glanced at each other nervously. Hayden kept them in his peripherals; Spencer was proof that it wasn’t just the demons that were dangerous. Finn stirred beside him, but Hayden didn’t look. So far, they had no reason to believe Monroe knew about Finn’s abilities.

It was likely the demons suspected at least one of them could see demons, but he would like them to keep guessing for a while longer.

“I don’t know why I bothered to even come here,” the elderly wolf spat. “Monroe’s right. You are a demon.”

The elderly wolf spat at his feet and stormed off. A few others, including some that had already crossed the barrier, hurried after him. The remaining wolves seemed uneasy, shifting from foot to foot. But when Hayden turned to them, they all sank down to their knees. Once they had sworn allegiance to him, Mica sent them with Tess to find space for them.

“We need to talk,” Mica murmured to Hayden.

He nodded and pulled her to the house. His wolf perked up, excited at the idea of being alone with Mica.

But once they were alone, one look at Mica’s face said she wasn’t looking for fun times. She folded her arms, her shoulder knotted. “I want to put the rest of the pack into transcribing those pages.”

“I’ve already said why—”

“It’s been over a month, Hayden.” Mica grabbed both his hands. “I’m not getting anywhere in my research on how to save my mother. We’re all at a standstill right now, and I need to be able to move faster on this.”

“Mica—”

“I know you don’t think there’s a way to save her,” Mica interrupted. Her eyes shone bright with unshed tears. “I’ve talked to Ryder about it. But I can’t just give up. There might be a way to save her in those pages. We need more information, and quickly. We can verify any information found in the original pages if we need to.”

Hayden groaned as he sank onto the couch. “I know you want to have hope, Mica. I’m sorry that this has happened. But I think it’s time you start to accept the truth.”

Mica was quiet. When he looked at her, he saw disappointment etched into her face. The sort of disappointment someone has when you prove their worst assumptions about you. It cut through Hayden more than any words could have. He reached for her hands, but she pulled away from him.

“I thought you’d try for Ryder’s sake at least,” she said, her voice thick.

“I am trying,” Hayden insisted. “For you.”

The disappointment shifted to disbelief.

“You still don’t think I’m genuine, do you?” Hayden demanded.

Mica shrugged. “How can I? You were always right there with the others, laughing at me. Calling me names, treating me like shit. I know I’ve given you something you want, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind, Hayden. I know you haven’t changed your opinion of me that much.”

Hayden got to his feet. “Mica, I—”

“No.” She held up her hands. “I’m sorry. You are trying. I know that. Now… I have to go take care of the newcomers.”

She swept out of the room before he could stop her. As he was left with only his wolf for company, a blinding spotlight lit up the space in his heart where Mica was stored. He’d deliberately avoided thinking about how he used to treat her.

But now, it was undeniable. Her disbelief and distrust of him were born of his own actions. Because he had hurt her, badly, in the past. He just didn’t know how to fix it.