Chapter 6

ALEXIS

My wolf quickly walked away from Hudson, grumbling quietly.

Mate is so weird. He pulled tail. It was so ticklish.

She turned to look back at him, and he was still panting with his tongue out like a hungry dog.

But mate is cute.

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway.

She went back and forth so many times. One minute, she would be complaining about him, the next she would be gushing over him. I couldn't blame her though. The mate bond was working its magic and it was hard to resist.

I just wish that Hudson would accept it.

My heart felt like someone had crushed it every time I thought about it. I didn't think that he understood the value of a mate– how no one can love you more than they can and make you feel the way you do.

I learned my lesson about mates the hard way.

I made a mistake of jumping into a relationship when I was seventeen. The wolf I was with made me so happy. I thought that if I never found my mate, I could potentially be with this guy because he was rejected by his mate. He was so sweet and I never doubted his feelings for me.

Looking back, I realized how wrong I was.

He was slick. Too slick. He would have an excuse every time he canceled our dates. He used to kiss me softly to distract me from serious conversations. He used to share smirks with his friends every time we walked by them.

I was so stupid and naive.

It took him cheating and humiliating me to realize that he could never love me. I could remember the day like it was yesterday.

FLASHBACK

I was rushing to the packhouse to drop some groceries off when I heard some voices coming from behind the cabins. Monty's voice specifically.

I quickly dropped the groceries on the island and went to go greet him. Before I could turn the corner though, he said something that stopped me in my tracks.

"She hasn't given me her virginity yet, but she admitted that she loved me, so pay up. You guys owe me two hundred bucks each."

There were a few chuckles as my heart cracked.

"Are you going to break it off then? Or are you waiting to pop her cherry?"

"It doesn't really matter honestly. I'm already fucking Madison and she's great in bed, so I'm pretty satisfied. I'll probably just break it off in a few weeks or something unless she decides she's ready to have sex. Then, I would probably drag it out some more."

There was a loud roar of laughter.

I put my hand on my mouth to keep my sobs from escaping.

How could I have been so clueless? How could he do this to me? Was I seriously that stupid?

My heart felt like someone squeezed the life out if it. My eyes were watering with every word he said. My head was pounding.

I couldn't breathe.

Suddenly, there was some shuffling, and I came face to face with Monty. His eyes widened when he saw my tear-stricken face.

"Alexis," he breathed out, "What are you doing here?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat harshly.

So this was what heartbreak felt like.

"Does it even matter?" I whispered hoarsely. His friends were exchanging looks, and some of them were staring at the ground guiltily.

They only felt guilty because I found out about their stupid bets.

I turned around and started walking away when Monty grabbed my hand, "No. Wait. Let me explain."

I shook him off and ran towards my house. I couldn't bear to be in his presence any longer. I had to be alone.

I'm so sorry

My wolf finally stirred in my head after ignoring me for several months.

It's okay. I'm sorry he did that to you. But do you see why I want you to wait for mate? He is the only one that can love us.

You're right. I was stupid to think I could ever have a relationship with someone else. I'm going to wait for my mate no matter how long it takes.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Alexis? Alexis!"

My train of thought came to a stop as Sasha continued to mind-link me furiously. My wolf shook her fur out and eyed her wolf curiously. She gave me a broad grin, her hazel eyes flashing with amusement.

"Did your mate just pull your tail?"

I groaned, "How many people saw that?"

She was busy sniffing a tree stump, but she turned around to smirk, "A lot of people. I'm pretty sure people were shocked to see the big, bad Alpha pull a tail. How kinky. Didn't think he would be into that sort of thing."

"Be quiet," I grumbled, thankful that we were in wolf form so she couldn't see me blush.

"Do you want me to educate you on raunchy se–"

"Sasha!"

She shook her black fur out and gave me a smug smile, "You're so innocent."

I glared at her and looked around at the other wolves. We were just waiting on the pack warriors to give us the all clear signal.

"Princess."

My wolf turned to my dad's wolf and bowed her head in respect. His wolf looked us over carefully, making sure we weren't injured in the time he was gone, and walked towards us. He brushed his fur against mine so his scent stuck to us. His wolf laid his head on top of mine and licked my ear.

"Dad!" I complained, trying to move away.

"I'm trying to protect you from the unmated males, sweetie. They'll take advantage of your wolf form and try to attack you. You know they're more horny in wolf form."

I grumbled and let him finish licking my ears and neck. Once he was satisfied, his wolf puffed his chest out and growled in approval.

"Good. No one will touch you now. Where's your brother? I have to the same with him. Some of the females in the pack can get a bit too frisky for my liking."

Just as the words left his mouth, Neville's wolf walked towards us. My dad immediately sprung towards him so he could lick his ears, but Neville yelped and ran off with my dad chasing after him.

Neville thought it was so embarrassing when my dad wanted to rub his scent on us, which it kind of was since we were grown wolves, but it didn't stop my dad.

Sasha's wolf nudged me, and we heard the pack warriors howl, letting us know that it was safe to run.

My wolf yipped and took off into the woods, following the mass of wolves.

I sighed happily, forgetting about everything that was happening around me as I ran my heart out.

If felt amazing to be this free.

HUDSON

I avoided Alexis the next day as much as I could. I didn't want her to think that just because my wolf was smitten with her that I was too. She seemed to have noticed my actions, but didn't say a word. I just felt her eyes follow me around and study me at times.

It made me wonder if she actually wanted me. Most she-wolves would have tried talking to me by now and get closer to me. She acted like she didn't feel the pull and that bothered me– a lot more than I liked to admit, thanks to my wolf's constant murmuring. It got under my skin.

I shook my head to get rid of my thoughts.

There was no point in doubting whether she wanted me or not. Of course, she wanted me. She was probably one of those mates who clung to their mate as much as they could and practically worshiped their feet. After all, someone had to and that obviously wasn't me. I had my pack to look after.

My wolf snarled at my thoughts, making me pause.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered, putting my pen down and rubbing my throbbing temples.

I couldn't concentrate on anything today. My thoughts kept revolving around two things: rogues and Alexis. She was supposed to go into her heat today, and I was just waiting for someone to mind-link me about it.

I had no idea what I was going to do when I found out. My wolf hadn't voiced his thoughts on it, but I knew he was ready to mark her as soon as she started her cycle, which wasn't an option.

I honestly felt bad for she-wolves. They had to go through menstrual cycles, heat cycles, and the pain of giving birth. It was never-ending torture, even if it did have some good outcomes.

Like pups.

My wolf chimed into to my thoughts happily and produced an image of a pregnant Alexis.

I quickly shook my head, before I could even give my thoughts on the image, and raked a hand through my hair, "Fucking hell."

Suddenly, an intoxicating smell drifted through the doorway, making me freeze. The smell of honey-suckles mixed with something equally intoxicating filled my nostrils. I bit my lip while the exhilarating scent got stronger with every moment that passed. My heart pumped wildly in my chest as my jeans tightened around my crotch. While, on the other hand, my wolf growled and clawed at me, itching to be released.

A shiver traveled down my spine as I stared at the door, half shocked and half turned on.

Alexis was finally in her heat.