Achilles POV
“You smell like jasmine and vanilla.”
‘You smell like jasmine and vanilla,’ Shadow mocked, ‘my fates, she’s going to think you’re an idiot.’
She gave me a soft smile and I felt myself and Shadow melt.
“I know that you put Raphael up to that,” she said in a disapproving tone, changing the subject. She turned to look at me and I felt Shadow whimpering.
“Do You think I shouldn’t have?”
She looked at me, and I could see confusion in her eyes. “Why do you care what I think? You’re Alpha Achilles.”
“I am sorry for earlier.”
She narrowed her eyes at me and then turned back to face the woods, “you want something, just say it.”
“I came to apologize,” I lied. I walked up and sat on the bench beside her. Her eyes never left the woods, “did I do something more to upset you?”
“He wants to kill Raphael.”
“What?”
“My father,” she whispered. “Raphael was my mother’s child. Before she met my father. My father killed Raphael’s father because he said my mother was his mate. The only thing that pissing contest did back there was challenge something you didn’t know existed.”
“He’s not strong enough to kill Raphael.”
“A wounded rogue does wonders,” she all but whispered, “I forced him to shift to heal, but after all of that...what went down, he won’t ever forgive Me. He’ll think I plotted with Raphael. He said I’m a traitor, just like Raphael and our mother.”
“A wounded rogue will say anything to make others hurt,” I sighed. I could feel the sadness in her voice and it made me want to wrap my arms around her, “You nor your brother, and even your mother are not the traitors. He is, for not recognizing and admitting that he couldn’t handle the pack.”
“You don’t know my family,” she hissed. She turned to look at me and her eyes were glowing, “you don’t know what happened.”
“No,” I said, trying to deescalate the situation, “but I know that your brother and you care about your pack.”
“We do,” she sighed. Her eyes stopped glowing and she began to fiddle with her dress, “ I’m sorry if I seen temperamental. My father always told me that I was a gift to her and him from the moon goddess and I never believed them, but these past few weeks everything’s going-“
“Crazy?”
“Yes,” she nodded, “I’m able to communicate with my wolf even though I haven’t shifted yet, and I’m noticing things.”
“What kind of things?”
“I have an Alpha aura. And not a regular one,” she admitted, “ I affect people differently.”
“You make them feel like they’ve been dunked in a frozen lake,” I admitted. she nodded. I chuckled, “I felt it. You made ever Alpha uncomfortable.”
“I don’t want to hurt people,” she sighed, turning back to the woods once more.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Okay.”
“Once You shift are you coming back?”
She looked at me as though she was a child with her hand in a cookie jar, “excuse me!”
“I see the way you look at the forest like it’s freedom,” I shrugged, “honestly I thought about it when I first shifted. Knowing that my father was handing over the reigns as soon as I turned 18. It was terrifying. I wanted to run off and never look back.”
Her gaze softened immediately, “I could never. I would never leave my family.”
“Even if it meant missing out on your mate?”
“Sometimes I worry about that,” she admitted, “but if the Moon goddess and the fates want me to have a mate they will bring him to me.”
I nodded, a smile finding itself on my face. They most certainly did bring me to her.
“You know,” she said, drawing me from my thoughts, “ from what I’ve heard about your pack I wouldn’t expect you to be like this.”
“I’m not a serial killer You know,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood. She laughed and I felt my heart flutter, “no but in all seriousness, my pack is a very tight knit group. We focus on training and making sure we aren’t taken advantage of. Sometimes, unfortunately, that means becoming ruthless in the eyes of others, and sometimes your own, so you don’t appear weak.”
She nodded thoughtfully for a second,” that sounds awfully exhausting .”
“It can be.”
“So this protection pact with my brother...”
“I am serious,” I commented, “but it’s not just that... I’m going to make sure we really do assist your pack. I’m going to bring down some of my trainers to help get everyone trained properly, and definitely reinvest in that training ground. It’s pitiful.”
“This is my home you know,” she said shaking her head,” and you are still being awfully insulting.”
“I am sorry.”
“Are you though?” She laughed.
“MY SISTER!” A voice growled from behind us. She nearly jumped a foot in the air. We both turned to see Raphael with a very angry look on his face.
“Raphael it’s nothing,” she swore, jumping off the bench, “it’s not what it looks like, I swear. Alpha Achilles was walking by and saw that I was upset. He stopped to make sure I was okay.”
He looked from me to her. He didn’t seem convinced in the slightest, “is this true, Alpha Achilles?”
I nodded, “it is, Alpha Raphael. I was walking by when I saw your sister sitting here, staring off into the forest. I advised her that given what just happened that’s not wise, as jilted wolves know no bounds.”
“Very well,” he nodded, accepting that as the truth, “did you find the she-wolf that you are looking for?”
“What?”
“Yes, Alpha Achilles said he possibly found his mate within our very pack,” Raphael nodded, “ I told him that if he were to speak to her and she agreed to come back with him, then I would not forbid it.”
“Oh,” she sighed. She looked slightly saddened by the fact.
“That’s all you can muster, Mira?” Her brother laughed , “our new ally has found his mate. Congratulate the man!”
“Oh no,” I pleaded, “that’s not necessary. I, haven’t spoken to her yet. She may reject me for all I know.”
“Well follow the trail,” he laughed, “I’m sure you could find her quickly. Our pack is small.”
“I think I’ll wait,” I nodded, “if she did not sell me or perhaps the timing is not right... anyways, i we’ll head home and grab some of my pack then be back in a few days.”
“You are coming back?”
“Yes Alpha Raphael. You are within my protection now,” I admitted. “Your pack numbers are small and your prime warriors need trained. I do not wish to outstay my welcome but we have enemies also and you are a new Alpha. Other packs may try to test you, especially those who were loyal to your father.”
“Very well,” he nodded, “we will prepare the pack house for your arrival.”
Waiting for the first comment……
Please log in to leave a comment.