Waiving at Brynlee as she drives away, I head into the Pack House in search of the Library she mentioned. I had not explored the Pack House being too busy with training and learning the patrol routes, so I felt lost inside this large building.
“Can I help you, hun?” Turning to the sound of a friendly voice, I find a woman with soft blue-green eyes and strawberry blonde hair tied into a braid down her back in hopes of keeping the mess of curls tamed. She carries a stack of books in her arms as she watches me with a curious glance.
“Yes actually.” I answer feeling relieved.
“I am looking for the pack library and the woman who runs it, Alayne.” I continue explaining, watching a smirk spread across this she-wolf’s face.
“Well, I can help you with both.” She responds, shifting the books so that they rest in her left arm while holding out her right hand.
“Alayne Arctic at your service.” Shocked to find this unassuming she-wolf being the woman I am looking for, I shake her hand and realize that although she works in the Pack House, she is far from the Omega status that normally does the menial work. I would put her strength at being equal to that of a Warrior.
“Rune Sterling.” I reply, seeing a flash of shock in her eyes before it is gone.
“Well Rune, let me show you to my library and see what I can do to help.” Alayne releases my hand and begins walking ahead of me. Realizing that she wasn’t going to wait for me, I hurriedly followed after her, stepping beside Alayne as she led me through a hallway I had yet to explore. There are no doors down this hallway other than the large double doors that stand open at the end of it. Alayne is quick to turn left as soon as we pass through these doors, moving towards a large desk where she places her stack of books on top. She plops down onto the leather office chair, pushing against the floor so that the wheels carry her to a brand-new desktop.
“What sort of books are you looking for?” She asks, her eyes locked onto the screen as her fingers tap against a keyboard that resembles a typewriter.
“Something about creating blueprints.” I answer, shrugging off the backpack I still had slung over my shoulder and placing it on the nearest table. Looking around the room, I find wolves moving about or sitting at various desks. Some are busy reading; others are playing what looks like to be a game with weirdly shaped dice. I think Caspian called it D&D, but I could never understand the hype for some make-believe game when our entire existence as werewolves are made to be enemies in the game.
“Found some. Come with me and I can show you where to find them.” Alayne calls out, standing from her chair quickly. Once again I find myself following the she-wolf, wondering where the hell Brynlee found such a quirky girl as she passes rows of shelves before turning right. She stops midway, staring at the books out of her reach and I suppress a chuckle.
“Those three books should help you out. If you have any more questions, feel free to find me.” With that, Alayne is gone and I am left to grab the books by myself. Looking over the titles, I wonder if the information inside will help me regain Brynlee’s trust faster. She looked so surprised to see how I sketched those houses, her eyes flicking between me and the field we were staring at until I showed her the layout that came to mind for the first house. To learn she was already thinking ahead and is planning to give me a better role in the pack had caused pride to fill me. If she believes that I have what it takes to go to college, then I think I need to consider this option and see what Aunt Asteria can help me with.
Making my way back to the table I left my bag at, I round the corner to find Alayne sitting at her desk, another she-wolf with auburn hair and sharp green eyes leaning against it.
“Thanks for the books, Alayne. Now that Odette has finally come into her new powers because of her Mate, I will be taking over as the head Omega in the pack in a few days.” The she-wolf sighs out, standing to her feet. Her head turns and our eyes meet. For a moment she stares at me like a deer caught in a headlight before she turns back to her friend with a raised brow. Deciding to ignore them, I slide into the chair beside the table and hunker down with the first book.
∭
“So this is where you are hiding!” Jumping in surprise, I find Aunt Asteria plopping himself in the seat beside me, a soft smile on her face. She smells like a garden, her hair tied into a messy bun on top of her head. It seems she came back from the greenhouses and vegetable crops.
“Yeah, Brynlee gave me an idea of what I could do to help the Pack and I guess I became absorbed in reading more about it.” I answer with a shrug, reaching into my backpack and finding a slip of paper I can use to mark my spot in the book. Aunt Asteria watches on in curiosity, taking one of the books I have on the table and flipping through it.
“The Art of Writing Blueprints.” She says, reading the book aloud.
“What made you pick up this book to read?” Looking down at the book in my hands, I frown for a moment, wondering if Brynlee already talked to my Aunt about her idea of me going to college, but her genuine look of curiosity tells me she did not.
“I was out with Brynlee surveying the lands and I came up with a few home designs.” I begin to explain, putting the book down on the table, I reach into my backpack and pull out my sketchbook. Flipping the book open, I pass it to my Aunt with the sketch of all three houses facing her. Taking the book from my hand, she scans the image with wide eyes, flipping through the pages as I explain the idea of going to College or University and trying to become an architect. She listens, handing me back my sketchbook while I vent about not knowing what steps to take or which school to go to in the area. Not only that, but I worry about Valor finding me if I go to school and him coming to Crescent Phoenix to harm the ones I love here.
“Well, we could look into the options together with Holton and your Uncle." Aunt Asteria sighs out, crossing her arms and deep in thought.
“Do you know when you’d want to start school at least?” She asks, the question making me stop and think for a moment. No one knows that Brynlee is pregnant.
“Maybe next year.” I mumble out. Aunt Asteria raises an eyebrow, not seeming too convinced by my words. Hell, I don’t even sound convincing to myself as I have no clue when I would even have time for school.
“How about next fall then? Gives you a year to look into programs and find out what you will need to do to get into the programs.” She continues, the timeline sounding good to my ears.
“I think that’s doable.” I agree, thinking that this gives me a chance to win back Brynlee and hopefully raise a family with her. A family I can provide for if I get my architect degree. Looking at the books on the table I frown and wonder when I will be able to read the contents inside so that I can design proper blueprints for these house designs.
“Do you think I could bring these back to my dorm to read over?” I find myself asking, watching my Aunt perk up at the suggestion.
“Yeah, just head on over to Alayne and she will be able to help you!” She answers happily, nodding her head to the she-wolf behind her desk. Looking over my shoulder, I notice the strawberry blonde she-wolf hard at work and nod, standing to my feet and picking the books up. Walking to her desk, I wait patiently, the action feeling unnatural to me, but Alayne must have noticed me right away as she grabs something from the left side of her desk without looking and hands it to me.
“A library card.” She states as soon as I take it, shocked that she thought this far.
“I already put those books on your file. I have a feeling you will be needing them for a bit so I gave you four weeks from today to return them. If you need them any longer, just mind-link me and I will extend the due date.” Alayne continues to explain as she types away at her computer. Muttering out a thank you, I return to my Aunt who watches me in amusement.
“Alayne is great, right?” She asks as I place the books into my backpack.
“She is. Wish we had someone like her in Pine Moon.” I agree, slinging the backpack onto my shoulder.
“Savannah suggested her to Brynlee when they were cleaning this place the week we got here. I was unsure at first, but Alayne has proven herself to be an invaluable member of our Pack.” Climbing to her feet, Aunt Asteria and I leave the library and make our way to the front entrance of the Pack House. I can see the hesitation in her eyes as I plan to leave before she takes my hand in hers.
“I am proud of you, Rune.” She says with a soft smile.
“After Clairice’s death, you lost yourself and slowly became more and more like your father. Now, you are slowly becoming the man your mother knew you could be.” Her words bring tears to my eyes and without thinking I hug my Aunt tightly. She hugs me back, her motherly warmth that I missed so much surrounding me and I sigh.
“I still have a long way to shake off the influence Valor put onto me. But I promise to keep growing as a person every day.” I whisper, slowly releasing my Aunt. She reaches up, wiping away stray tears from my eyes and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I am home.
“Let me or Holton know if you need help drawing up blueprints. We can give you a hand and, with your help, hopefully have a few more planned before spring.”
“I will, Aunt Asteria.” I promise, a grin spreading across my face. With that, I exit the Pack House and make my way to the dorms, I look up at the night sky and take a deep breath. Brynlee is pregnant, I am looking at a new career option now that I am no longer an Alpha Heir, and the truth is I do not miss my old life.
I don’t miss tiptoeing around Valor and his mood swings.
I don’t miss having to clean up after Tanya.
Hell, I don’t even miss the stress of running a pack when I am not even the Alpha of it yet. Sending that email and going off to find my Brynlee was the best decision I have ever made and now I have a chance to prove to Brynlee that I have changed because I can help her by creating these blueprints and building up Crescent Phoenix.
Hopefully, after her first ultrasound, I can have at least one blueprint to show Brynlee and maybe, just maybe, she will accept me back as her Mate and we can raise our pup together.