What the hell did I do? I pushed the question at her, but she ignored me and instead trotted past me, lowering her head only slightly. I glanced back at Layla, lying in the leaves looking like a whipped pup. She didn’t meet my gaze, but I could feel her panic. She was right to panic, if anyone else found out about this she would lose her high ranking among the young wolves. I guess it was time to re-evaluate Tegan’s omega status.
I turned and dashed after Tegan up the mountain. When I caught up to her, I nipped her black tipped tail, Brat. Asshole, she shot back as she pushed harder to outrun me. I kept an easy pace behind her studying how she had changed. She was still a kaleidoscope of white, grey and black. Her eyes were an odd shade of azure that I’d never seen until she joined the pack. The change was in the way she held herself. Head and tail high, strong confident movements. I didn’t know how I had missed the change.
When we neared my spot, I rushed past her and burst into the opening overlooking the forest below. Taking in a deep breath of cool mountain air I let loose a howl. Tegan skidded to a stop beside me and joined my howl. Her high-pitched howl mixing with my low to find a harmony that was joined from several locations in the surrounding forest. As the last notes of our nighttime symphony ended, I shifted back to human and Tegan did the same.
“So, I take you don’t like Layla then?” I tried not to laugh as I looked out over the forest. Tegan had done enough glaring to turn a person to stone tonight.
“She only wants you for the title of alpha female, and you know that,” Tegan huffed, “I know you’re upset about Zee, but letting Layla plaster herself to your lap is not the answer.” She spoke with authority and I glanced over to find her giving me a stern look just like Mom’s when we were in trouble. The little monster was right, and it sucked that I was going to have to admit it.
“Yeah, I know,” my voice was resigned but then I thought about something that put a grin on my face, “I loved that take down Tegan. Been practicing your wrestling moves with Wyatt?” I laughed when she blushed. “I guess this means we need to discuss your pack rank. You can’t keep hiding as an omega, Tegan. You’ve always been better than that. Don’t give me that look. Omega’s are important, too, but you’re stronger than that. You proved it just now with Layla.”
Tegan didn’t answer me, but I didn’t expect her to. She might not want to admit it, but her place was as the beta female. She paired well with Wyatt in handling the pack. Her calm and serious nature grounded Wyatt, and his playfulness and confidence were bringing her out of her shell. I looked up at the clouds floating across the star filled sky. I wondered, for just a moment, about how well Zee would pair with me in leading the pack.
“She’ll come around Alex,” of course Tegan knew what I was thinking, “She just needs time. I was little when I learned that monsters were real, and that I was one of them. I grew up knowing all of this, you were born knowing it. Zee has always believed werewolves were a thing in someone’s imagination. She still cares for you a lot. Otherwise why would she have called me about it all?”
I knew she was right, but I wasn’t used to waiting. I was so sure that Zee was right for me, and I wanted her to be sure. I wasn’t any different than I was before she found out. For now, though, I would respect he space. I couldn’t forget the pack to worry about what she would decide.
I shook off my thoughts and stood to leave. Tegan followed behind me as I shifted quickly and started back down the mountain. It was time to get back, I needed to talk with Dad about the Hunters. I couldn’t shake the worry that they were who had been circling my territory.
Chapter Fifteen
Zee
Needing space was hard. I regretted asking for it so many times over the eight days that I didn’t see Alex. He gave me what I wanted; he didn’t even stop by the bar for a drink. That didn’t mean that there wasn’t a constant reminder of him every night.
Wyatt dropped by for beers several nights. He always sent me a goofy smile. The first few times it was weird, but finally I found myself smiling back. Ryker would come in with him sometimes. He was more laid back, but he never failed to wink at me when I sat down their beers. They acted like nothing had happened, and it made it easier for me to start seeing it as not such a big deal.
Jarren was an entirely different story. He never joined the easy-going duo. He waited for them to leave, or on the nights they didn’t make
