Watching Brynlee drive away, I wait for her truck to disappear from my view before deciding to head to my dorm room for the night and get some much-needed rest. Today has been an eventful day that has left me reeling with exhaustion. I had just finished patrol when a sudden urge of danger coursed through me. At first, I thought the warning was because Rogues had crossed our borders into the pack territory, threatening the pack. When I realized it was an internal warning from the Mate Bond, my wolf instincts took over and I rushed directly towards the danger warning without thinking. All I could think of was protecting Brynlee.’
I knew I was being irrational when I barged into the training facility without warning. I knew how much of a prick I was when I swept Brynlee into my arms and carried her away from everyone without her consent, but my body kept moving on its own. I felt like a man possessed but until I knew Brynlee was safe in her den – in her cottage – I couldn’t relax.
As soon as I laid her on her bed and began sniffing her body to figure out why the Mate Bond had screamed out to me about danger when all she was doing was sparing with Odette. I knew Odette wasn’t dangerous but my irrational mind at the time couldn’t process that. In the end, it was finding out that Brynlee is pregnant that made the Mate Bond reform and become whole again and set my mind at ease. Even now I can feel it humming in the back of my mind.
If I focus hard enough, I can feel Brynlee’s emotions. Feel her slight uncertainty about the baby as well as a bright happiness. Hopefully, Brynlee is leaning towards keeping our pup. I know after the ultrasound in three days, she will let me know her decision and we can move forward from there.
Lost in thought, I nearly walked into the door to the dormitory as someone was leaving. I grimace, apologizing to the elderly wolf whom I recognize instantly as the retired Beta, Albert. I met him during my initiation ceremony a week ago. When he learned I was Brynlee’s Mate, he did nothing but praise her for her strength and resilience.
“Oh, sorry Rune. I didn’t see you there.” Albert says with a sheepish look. By the looks of things, I am guessing this retired Beta came to talk with some of our new Warriors and Hunters to give them sage advice. He usually does this once a week.
“It’s okay Albert, I wasn’t paying attention either.” I wave off his apology, stepping aside to allow Albert to pass. He thanks me, mumbling something about how Marrisol will be mad if he is late for dinner before wishing me a good night. Shaking my head, I watch the retired Beta hobble off towards the parking lot where he climbs into his car before driving off before I enter the building after making sure the entryway is clear.
The first thing I notice is a group of wolves lounging in the communal area their eyes fixated on a movie playing on the large television. From the sounds of it, it is some action flick that must have recently come out. I wave to them, ready to head to the elevator, but Ricky intercepts me as he is coming from the communal kitchen and playfully drags me to the lounge to socialize with the other Warriors and Hunters despite the annoyed snarl I gave him earlier.
“I heard you had an eventful morning after patrol.” He states as we take a seat with the rest of the wolves, their attention on Ricky and me.
“Yeah. Not my finest moment since I am still new to the Pack, but the Mate Bond was too strong to ignore.” I admit, slightly taken aback when a can of beer is placed in front of me. Turning to look at Greg, a Warrior I patrol with, I thank him for the beer and take it from his hand finding myself excited to sit around with “the boys” and having a cold drink.
“As long as you don’t attack anyone without reason, we can excuse your barbaric behavior when it comes to Beta Brynlee. We understand that with you two being Mates, and un-mated Mates at that, your emotions can get the best of you.” Ricky shrugs as he playfully winks at me and I groan. My actions have made their way through the Pack and I am not happy about it. Surely, my Aunt hasn’t heard anything about it yet and if she has, it is because Brynlee told her. Hopefully, I won’t be given a lecture from my Aunt if Brynlee has talked to her.
“I promise not to attack anyone.” I swear, shaking my head as a terrible thought comes to mine, one that has me grimacing.
“Besides, Brynlee and Aunt Asteria might skin me if I do end up hurting someone even if it is accidentally.” I answer as I crack open the beer and take a long drink after voicing this thought. The wolves around me chuckle at my words, some joking that I will be in the doghouse with Brynlee if I so much as think about hurting one of our Pack Mates, and unfortunately I have to agree. I am just starting to regain Brynlee’s trust and I can’t risk losing it again by attacking a Pack Mate.
Deciding that I could use a moment to relax, I stick around for the rest of the movie drinking beer with these wolves and chatting about our day. Some go on to talk about how they found spies trying to cross their borders, piquing my curiosity. When I ask about it, they just state that Quincy took care of it and that we are to increase patrols. The conversation soon changes to plans for the weekend. Greg mentions wanting to do a barbeque here at the dorms for everyone living here and many agree with this idea, stating we should go shopping for it tomorrow after patrol.
I respectfully decline, stating that I am helping Brynlee ready the pack for our new members coming here with Jett and Uncle Gale and that I should turn in and get some sleep. The others give me sly looks, some even teasing me about making up an excuse to spend more time with Brynlee. I just roll my eyes at them and stand, throwing my empty beer can into the box by the coffee table and bidding everyone good night.
“Rune, wait.” Ricky calls out to me just as the elevator doors open and I am about to step in. I hold my hand out, stopping the elevator from closing, and wait for Ricky to join me.
“Is there something you need?” I ask my friend as we step into the elevator together, weary of him chasing after me.
“There isn’t I just want to warn you that Quincy seems to be getting broody when it comes to Brynlee.” He sighs out, pressing the button for the third floor.
“Everyone knows that he has feelings for our Beta but we also know you are her Mate. I just want you to be careful until Brynlee decides who she wants to be with.” Ricky finishes explaining. A growl escapes my lips at this information while I press the button for my floor. Quincy has been sticking closer to Brynlee since our return from Onix Moon. At first, I was worried that Brynlee would choose him over me as the bond was still broken at the time, but now that it has fully mended itself, I refuse to allow another wolf to try and claim what is rightfully mine. Taking a few calming breaths I remind myself that as long as Brynlee doesn’t reject me this time around, I still have a chance of being with her for the rest of our life.
“Thanks for the warning, Ricky. It means a lot to me knowing you support me being with Brynlee.” Once I have calmed down, I thank Ricky for taking the time to talk to me alone about this matter. I can tell that although Quincy is his superior, Ricky respects the sacredness of the Mate Bond and I am happy for that.
“Not a problem Rune. Just remember me when you become our Beta Male.” He jokes, nudging me playfully with his shoulder. I chuckle, pushing my friend away as the doors open once more. Ricky waves to me as he leaves, telling me he will see me in the morning for our patrol shift and I wave back.
Now left alone, I find myself thinking how weeks ago I would have never allowed anyone to playfully bump into me if they weren’t Brynlee or Caspian. How I would have instantly pinned the other wolf to a wall and threatened to tear their arm off for disrespecting me, their future Alpha. Looking back, I had been a complete and utter asshole to my Pack Mates back in Pine Moon and it wasn’t until I rejected Brynlee and saw the situation the Pack was in that I began to change.
The elevator comes to a stop as it ascends to my floor and the doors open. I step out, making my way towards my room with a smile on my face. Brynlee is the reason I am changing and I know it. I want to be a better man, a better wolf. I want to be the person Pack Mates can come to with problems and help guide them through them. To help everyone grow stronger the way Brynlee has been helping Crescent Phoenix.
She is the true definition of an Alpha even if she does not see it yet and part of me wishes that one day she and I can rule over a Pack of our own. We already know that Valor will cause a war once he learns of Asteria and Brynlee being the Alpha and Beta of Crescent Phoenix and I pray that the war does not come until after Brynlee and I have completed the mating process. But fate is cruel and if news leaks out before the Annual Assembly of Alphas next year, then Valor will send his wolves here without a second thought.
[Caspian, are you free?] Opening the link between my friend and me, I enter my dorm room and take a seat on the edge of my bed. I know Caspian will be the voice of reason I need when it comes to Brynlee and I just hope he is not busy with his own Mate.
[Yeah man, what’s up?] Hearing Caspian’s voice, I flop back onto my bed in relief and question whether or not I should voice my thoughts to my friend.
[Do you think if Pine Moon and Crescent Phoenix go to war, Brynlee and I could reclaim our rightful place as Alphas?] I ask, closing my eyes and picturing her by my side as we fight. I can’t help but feel slight anxiety for the pup still growing inside her, but part of me feels like she would fight no matter what and there is nothing I can do to stop it.
[Rune, I have to leave in the morning and this is what you want to talk about?] He scoffs into our link making me chuckle. By his tone, I am guessing Caspian thinks I have gone insane.
[Sorry, but the thought just came to me and I need your opinion.] I apologize to my friend, hearing him sigh in frustration.
[Honest answer is maybe. I know Brynlee loves being a Beta and helping her Pack grow. I have noticed her potential since joining Crescent Phoenix and I feel like if she doesn’t become the Luna -]
[Alpha. Brynlee deserves to be an Alpha like my Aunt.] I correct my friend, getting an amused chuckle from him.
[Right. If Brynlee does not become an Alpha like she is meant to be, she might grow restless and problems will arise.] Caspian continues. I muse over his words as I push myself off my bed to think. Caspian is right in that if a wolf who is meant to fulfill a certain position does not fulfill it, they become restless. Their animal instincts will take over slowly and the wolf may lash out at other members of the Pack. I have felt this restlessness a few times before being accepted into Crescent Phoenix. Even now, I sometimes have to stop myself from snarling at a fellow Warrior if he gets too close to me while on patrol but being close to Brynlee has calmed this restlessness down immensely.
[Are you thinking of leaking the information about Brynlee and Asteria being leaders of Crescent Phoenix to Pine Moon?] Caspian cuts through my train of thought and I pause, a snarl forcing its way through my throat at the notion that I could do such a thing.
[Are you stupid? If I did that then I would be putting everyone in danger and Brynlee would reject me for good.] I practically yelled back, feeling Caspian’s presence in the link shrink at my anger.
[It was just a concern Rune as your questions have me a little on edge. I like being in Crescent Phoenix and don’t want to see anything happen to the Pack.] He defends himself, his tone calm and collected.
[Everyone here is so welcoming and accepting of each other and I have my own Mate to worry about.] He adds after a moment of pause. I sigh and look out the window. Caspian has a point as my questions are ones not many wolves would dare ask or risk being called a spy or traitor. I can understand his sentiment and after calming myself down, I finally reply.
[I won’t do anything to hurt anyone here, I promise you this. I am just worried about Brynlee and what will happen if she stays as a Beta.] Caspian hums at my words and our link goes silent for a moment. I know he is just as worried about Brynlee as I am. If he knew she was pregnant, then the worry would grow tenfold.
[I believe you Rune. We can talk to your Aunt about this later. For now, I think we should just keep an eye on Brynlee and focus on welcoming Willow Bark into the pack.] Caspian sighs and I agree. After wishing him good luck on his first hunting trip tomorrow, we close the link. I know I should head to bed with the busy day I will have but so much has happened that I find myself sitting on my bed wondering just what the hell I am going to do now.