The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

Boyd

POV

"Do it," the deep voice commanded me again. "You have until sundown. I'll be waiting."

Shit.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I rolled over in my bed, grasping my head between my hands. I was squeezing so tight, I knew I would have bruises, but I didn't care. I was fighting this command. I won't follow through. I can't.

But at the same time, I can't refuse.

All morning, since before I even opened my eyes, their voices have been plaguing my every thought. It's gone from Laura's shrill demanding screeching to Alpha Ford's hostile commands emanating from inside my mind, driving me to madness with the need to comply. My will was on the cusp of breaking, but the consequences of obeying them would be too great. It is a price I would never willingly pay for anything. Even when I hated Mick and despised coming to this pack, I never would have put Chloe's life on the line or sacrificed her to anyone. Not to them, and definitely not to that monster they serve.

Sirius was snarling inside of my head. He's been more obedient to the bond, more susceptible to the commands we've been given. I alone am fighting to resist. My wolf has already been broken. If I surrender at all, he could take over and comply with whatever they tell me to do. "Please," I begged, still gripping my head, "Please just take me. Leave her be. Leave them all be."

My family. Winnie keeps reiterating that we are a family. All of us. This isn't even about protecting Chloe. It's about keeping my family whole. If I do this, Winnie, Beau and the others, everyone will become divided, and their family and home will be over.

There was a soft knock on the door, and I gritted my teeth, desperate for whoever it was to go away. Everyone, all the others were called away this morning to a meeting. I've had the luxury of being in anguish from the voices in my head in peace. That peace seems to be coming to an end.

Maybe if I remain silent, biting my lips to keep a sound from leaking out, whoever it is will think I'm not here and simply go away.

"Boyd?" A friendly, familiar voice filtered in as the door opened slowly. "There you are."

Go away. Go away. Go away.

I held my hands over my head, feigning sleep. I didn't know how long I could resist from throwing myself out of this bed and reacting now that the door to my room has been opened. My wolf was stirring, already wanting to take over. He could pick up the scent from outside, ready for the hunt.

"Oh, my. Are you alright?" A cool hand pressed on my forehead, and I gritted my teeth, unable to hold back the ferocious snarl from ripping through me, stirred by Sirius. I didn't mean to snarl, but he had the scents of the others on him, including hers.

A light chuckle pierced my ears, increasing the pain I was feeling from fighting the commands. It was almost taunting, having this person here right now, laughing at my pain without realizing what was happening to me. "Come on, Boyd. Let me help you. I know what can make it all stop."

Chloe POV "Boyd's gone."

The mind link from the guards silenced the meeting we were holding in the warrior building. Kai had just returned to tell us what he and Rodger had learned from the writings on the wall at the hotel. Most of us were there; all except Cindy, who was helping Rodger debug a laptop, Riley and Dave, who had been doing something freaky deep in the forest since Riley went into heat, and then Winnie and Darren, who had left before Kai and Rodger returned to the pack to shop for something Darren was being secretive about.

All the rest of us were here. My mates, Beta Desmond, Billy, Alexi, Beau, Jamie, Lenny, Estel, and even Alpha Dario, along with a selected few warriors were being briefed by Kai about a snake demon and an Earth goddess when we all got the mind link at the same time. Now, we are all sitting frozen. Estel was looking around confused, no one having told her yet what had caused the unanimous shock.

"Estel," I whispered, being the first to break the tense silence.

Mick put his hand over mine, and I could feel his hesitation. Not one outside of us three knew of Estel's bond to Boyd.

I couldn't leave her in the dark though.

She looked at me, her eyes pleading for some answer to why everyone was acting off. I can't tell her here. Not without raising suspicions. If Beau, Alexi and Jamie knew Estel was Boyd's mate, that would put more pressure on her to accept the bond, even if there came a time when she might need to let him go. She was stressed enough as it was, and this news surely wouldn't make things any better.

I threw a glance at Lenny, who wasn't told directly about Estel and Boyd, but I knew he had his suspicions. I then looked back at Estel.

"Can you come with Lenny and me back to the pack house? The others have something they need to handle."

She blinked in surprise, looking around the room at the stressed faces. Beta Desmond had already gotten up and quietly called a few warriors to come with him to begin a search. Billy and Alpha Dario were exchanging glances, probably waiting for my mates' orders. Beau and Alexi were mind linking, rising from their seats, probably to join the search too. Jamie was staring at me expectantly, knowing his duty as my second babysitter and waiting for the command to follow us back as well. I knew he wanted to go with Beau and Alexi though. "Estel and Lenny will stay with me. You go with them," I quietly told Jamie.

He smiled gratefully, though his smile was tense and laced with stress, then got up to follow the others.

"Go straight to the pack house," Miles stared at me. "Lock down our room when you three get there."

I scrunched up my nose, wanting to argue, but knowing now wasn't the time.

"Chloe," Mick said in warning.

"I know, you jerk. Just find him," I snapped, grabbing Estel's hand and making my way from the room with Lenny trailing close behind.

"What's going on?" Estel asked me as we walked hurriedly down the hall and out the doors.

I waited until we were in the open, far from the others, before I told her. "Boyd is missing. An omega from the kitchen went to take him his lunch and he wasn't there. She alerted the guards, and now no one can find him."

Her sharp intake of breath had me grabbing her hand tighter. Her reaction was why I couldn't tell her with the others around us. Looking over at her face, I saw how white it had gotten. All the blood had drained from her cheeks, making her freckles stand out more than ever. Her eyes were wide with shock, and I could literally feel her pain just staring at her.

She was already having a hard time coming to terms with her mate not accepting her because of foul magic from some shithead bastard that goes by the vague name of Mr. Smith. Our training together had become more like a therapy session for her. I acted as her punching bag and therapist with each blow I took, letting her get all her anger and frustration out on me.