Is It Wrong To Love My StepBrother Alpha Mate?
Chapter 51: Death of Me

Chapter 51: Death of Me

’Thank the Goddess you’re awake, Helena,’ Helena’s mother had said when she’d first gained consciousness. ’He’s been at a loss without you.’

’According to Kade and Neil, they had to force him to leave your side,’ Rae said with a sad look in her eyes.

’It’s normal, Helena,’ her mother said as she saw the panic in her eyes. ’Mates worry like that. You were poisoned by wolfsbane. If you were a weaker wolf, you might have died.’

She closed her eyes as she remembered her conversation with her mother and stepsister before Alyssa sent Rae to get Romeo.

She tried to stop them, telling them that Romeo was probably busy, but her mom would have none of it.

According to Alyssa, it was already getting dark anyway, and she was sure that Romeo would be wrapping up whatever work he was doing.

She hated that she’d put Romeo in such a position.

He was in a place where he had to prioritize her over the needs of the pack, of their pack.

"What’s wrong?" Romeo asked, glancing at her from the driver’s seat.

"It’s nothing, just thinking," Helena answered.

He reached out and held her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"We’re okay, you’re okay, you’re safe," he whispered.

Helena didn’t know if he was saying these things for her sake or for his. There was, however, one thing she knew for certain.

The attack and her hospitalization had changed something in Romeo.

She could see how on edge he was.

He kept checking on her every few minutes as if he was worried she’d collapse.

’When we were... under, what happened?’ Helena asked as she reached out to her wolf. ’I know you and Ryder spoke.’

’They were worried, I assured them,’ Hera answered, sounding a little annoyed that Helena had woken her from her rest.

’Did you tell them?’ she asked Hera.

’No, I just said we needed more time to heal, that’s it,’ Hera curtly answered before going back to sleep.

"So, did you get to interact with the former Red River members?" Helena asked Romeo as she made an attempt at a conversation.

"I did," he answered.

"And?" she asked, pushing him to speak more.

"It was great, they were mostly looking forward to joining Black Moon. Some had concerns on pack roles like if their ranks would go down, but I assured them that we had no plans of demoting anyone," Romeo explained.

Helena smiled as she watched his eyes light up when he spoke of his new pack members.

"It does help that the former beta and gamma are dead," Helena chuckled.

Then she realized that she’d said the wrong thing.

Romeo went dangerously pale and gripped her hand tighter.

"I should never have let them get that close to you," he groaned.

"You didn’t," she reassured him. "I defended mom. I knocked her out of the way and in a way I brought myself to them."

"Still, I should have had Kade keep close to you," he grumbled. "I’ve replayed those moments more times in my head than you can imagine. I should have protected you better."

"I can protect myself," Helena argued back. "Kade was busy protecting the pack and stopping more wolves from getting to me. The blame should be on no one but the wolves that attacked us."

Romeo didn’t answer.

She knew he was aware that there was no winning this argument with her.

"Romeo, you are not to blame," she said one final time.

They continued to drive in silence, simply enjoying each other’s company as Romeo held her hand, occationally lifting it for a kiss.

The roads were well-lit, but it was dark all around.

It wasn’t a scary kind of darkness, but a peaceful kind.

Sometimes, they’d pass through a cluster of homes, mostly occupied by wolves from their pack, others by humans and wolves they sheltered.

Suddenly, Romeo sat up.

It only took a moment for Helena to register what was happening.

They were near the pack border at this point.

’We’re being attacked,’ came Gamma Norton’s message through the pack link.

’Where?’ she heard Romeo ask back.

Gamma Norton gave the location and Helena looked at Romeo.

They were only five minutes away by car, closer in wolf form.

"No," Romeo said. "You will take the car and drive home while I help."

"I’m going there to help too, and you can’t stop me," she argued back.

"You just got better. Ijust got you back," Romeo growled.

"We will deal with the attackers faster if we have two Alphas fighting," she shouted. "You won’t stop me from protecting my people, Romeo."

Romeo glared at her.

"I’m already well," she hissed.

"You were unconscious just a few hours ago," he shouted.

"I’m an Alpha. I heal faster," Helena said, crossing her arms on her chest.

"Please, Helena, I won’t be able to focus if you’re there," he pleaded.

"We both know that even if you leave me or send me away, I will only follow," she told him. "So save our pack the time wasted and drive to the location Norton gave."

Romeo looked into her eyes, his gaze as intense as they came.

Helena held her ground.

She refused to give in to him, she refused to be the kind of wolf that cowered when she could help.

"I’m strong enough to fight," she told him. "Hera said I am, you can ask Ryder to check with her."

She didn’t really ask her wolf, but she knew Hera would want to fight, too. She’d want to protect her pack. It was in their nature as Alphas.

Romeo groaned as he spoke to his wolf.

After a few seconds, he let out a sigh and pulled her close.

He kissed her on the lips before letting her go.

"You’re gonna be the death of me, woman," he said before driving in the direction of the attack.

"Let’s hope I’m not," Helena said with a sigh as Romeo sped up.