Chapitre 5

Alpha Eros was over a head taller than me and almost as wide as a door. His charisma was even stronger than Alpha Fenrir's. It didn't surprise me that even the werewolves in the pack were afraid of him.

His eyebrows were drawn down and he glared at me.

A surge of calm went through my racing heart as I looked into the deep sea blue eyes. At least he had his wolf under control again. He opened his mouth, but I was faster.

“In my defense, you said yourself not to let you stop me on the mission. So basically I was just following the first command."

The corners of his mouth twitched up slightly and some of the anger towards me seemed to evaporate. He came closer to me and I pressed my back into the tree trunk. He braced his arm over me so I had no way out. Its scent surrounded us as if to envelop me and scare everyone else away.

strength and control.

I squirmed under his gaze. My heart was pounding in my chest. I didn't know which was the better strategy here: tease or amuse. I chose the latter.

"Do you always disobey the orders you are given?"

I shrugged.

“Resent is such a strong word. I would rather call it interpreting."

"And what exactly was so urgent?" he asked, walking over to Frido and picking him up. "Why did you disobey your Alpha's orders for that rag?"

I finally had air to breathe again. He eyed Frido sharply, as if there were a secret about him that he couldn't see.

"That's a rabbit, isn't that obvious?" I replied, unable to help but smile.

Alpha Eros shook his head and handed Frido to me without further complication. My fingers brushed his and a tingle ran through the pit of my stomach. I tried not to let it show and stowed it away in my coat pocket.

"You humans are really strange," he said.

I snorted and picked the basket off the floor.

"And you werewolves are the epitome of normal."

"Well recognized."

I was glad he let go of me because who knows how much more I could have endured. The darkness made it increasingly difficult to see the contours of Alpha Eros's face.

"It's better if we go back to the city," he said.

That was easy.

I figured I'd have to do more convincing to keep him from lynching me. Alpha Eros really was a strange werewolf. He was smirking at my words on one side, dead serious the next second, and then completely disinterested again.

Unusual.

We went towards civilization. Talking to him was easy, unlike other wolves. But he had one thing in common with them: while Alpha Eros took one step, I had to take three. He did not seem to notice.

"The cake was actually meant for Gamma Johnson," I said.

"Even if he did, he would never accept it," Alpha Eros replied.

"I know."

I looked at the ground where the leaves lay, bathed in darkness.

"That's how he treats everyone. But as a warrior he is indispensable."

His words reminded me of the war. We all depended on his help and that of his pack. For some reason I trusted Alpha Eros.

It was probably his eyes.

"What will happen?" I whispered.

He was silent for a few seconds.

"It won't be a problem for us to fend off Silverblood's attack. I will help Alpha Fenrir defend his land and people. Many years ago we made a pact."

Alpha Eros seemed to be reminiscing and I didn't want to disturb him. Or maybe it was fatigue that turned my eyelids to lead. The lights of the street lamps shimmered at us like fireflies in the night.

Finally.

I had to sleep. At least for a day.

I yawned as we stepped out onto the solid stone streets again. Everything was quiet and not a soul met us.

What an adventure.

"Thank you, Alpha Eros."

"You haven't told me your name yet," he replied.

I smiled at him. With all the hustle and bustle that was probably lost.

"Ephilia," I said.

"Ephilia. That's a beautiful name. I better walk you home."

I had no problem with that. It was nice to have new company alongside the familiar faces of the city. Our house came into view. Light flickered behind the drawn curtains.

Uncle Theo has always been a night owl.

Our steps slowed as we came to the doorstep. I turned and met Alpha Eros' eyes one last time.

"Thanks again," I said, feeling my cheeks heat up again.

"No problem. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon, at the latest when we celebrate the win."

Before I could react, he leaned forward.

His lips brushed my cheek in a flash before he turned and disappeared. My stomach cramped. All I could do was stare after him, confused as a sheep, my hand on my cheek as if trying to hold the kiss.

"By the way," he said before the darkness engulfed his words and form, "you should definitely take a bath."

My face burned like fire. Inside, my emotions were racing in a contest of strength. One part jumped for joy while the other wanted to sink into the ground in shame.

Where was the tiredness when you needed it?

I shook my head to clear my mind and pulled the bunch of keys out of my coat. I couldn't bear in mind that Alpha Eros was a werewolf and had a naturally better nose. The door clicked shut behind me and I leaned against it. I closed my eyes.

What a day.

Alpha Eros was really very different from what I imagined. He wasn't fierce at all and apparently he didn't have a problem with people... unlike his Gamma.

I shook off the thoughts. Now I could take a hot bath and then sleep as long as I wanted.

"I'm back!"

I stopped. A crackle filled the silence.

"Uncle Theo?"

I padded towards the living room and opened the door.

"What...?"

The living room had already transformed again. Instead of the blank space, the wooden floor was littered with countless sketches, models, and tools; Uncle Theo right in the middle.

"What's going on here?"

His eyes darted to mine and his brows shot up.

"Oh, Ephilia! I thought you were staying at Elizabeth's. Come in, come in!"

His gaze slid to the basket I was still carrying.

"Is that food?"

He placed the graphite pencil on the sketch of a house and stood up.

"Uncle Theo, what are you doing here?"

“From now on, the living room is my study. Here I have so much space for my ideas."

He twirled in his paradise of creative chaos. A shadow lay under his eyes. I could see it clearly, behind the facade of work. Uncle Theo was exhausted. Something was bothering him and keeping him from sleeping.

"What's going on?" I asked.

He sighed deeply and clutched his forehead, where the graphite was staining from his hands.

"There is nothing."

"I can see that something is bothering you."

"You know," he said, walking towards me, "I have something else for you. A gift from your mother. It was meant for you. But I can't give it to you."

A dull ache pressed on my chest and I frowned. I had never seen Uncle Theo so depressed, as if a huge stone were weighing on his shoulders and at the same time pressing on his heart.

"But why not? What is it?"

“I always thought that this would be the safest place for us. And that's how it has been up until now."

"Uncle Theo, now tell me what's up."

He sighed and pulled something out of his pocket. A small leather case barely larger than the palm of my hand.

"It belonged to your mother and she wanted you to have it."

He handed me the box and I ran my fingers over the leather, engraved with a golden rose.

A stone lay in my throat.

I didn't have much of my parents except memories, at least until now. I lifted the lid and was amazed. A silver bracelet with various pendants was revealed. They shone in the light, a rose, a snowflake, a fish and a diamond.

Tears pooled in my eyes.

Knowing that my mother had once worn this piece of jewelry made me happy and unusually sad at the same time. I swore I wouldn't cry anymore.

"Thanks," I whispered, holding the cool metal to my chest.

It was good that something so precious of hers survived; even if it was something forbidden in this day and age. Uncle Theo drew his bushy eyebrows together.

"You may keep it, but you may not wear it under any circumstances. If a werewolf catches you with it then it's over with you. Hide it well and don't let anyone know. Not even Elizabeth."

I nodded.

"Thanks."

I would protect it with my life. That was a promise.

A yawn broke from my lips.

Uncle Theo turned back to the basket of food.

I carefully put the bracelet back in the box.

"I am going to sleep now. Don't wake me up tomorrow," I mumbled, shuffling upstairs.

I deserved a day off. My whole body craved rest. The bathroom looked the same as before and I immediately ran hot water into the tub. It splashed in steamingly, along with the smell of fresh roses.

I couldn't get my encounter with Alpha Eros out of my head. A small part was worried that he would betray me. But I knew at the same time that he would never do that. It didn't suit him.

I climbed into the steaming bath and groaned. Goose bumps crawled over my back and at the same time washed away all the dirt and sweat of the last few days. It felt like I was sitting on wet fire.

Perfect.

All my muscles relaxed, but my mind had other thoughts.

Alpha Eros.

Deep inside I felt a connection to the wolf from the north. I shook my head. I mustn't think about that now, nor about the battle.

I got out of the bathroom and dried myself off. Now was not the time for worries, but for dreams. Every time I blinked, more fatigue entered my body.

I dragged myself to my room.

A box, a pile of clothes and rolls of paper awaited me. Even my books were now in the Alpha's house. I didn't have the energy to get upset about it anymore. I had kept the most important ones anyway and carefully stacked them in the corner.

I carefully placed the jewelry box in front of my improvised bed. I would think of a hiding place tomorrow. I fell on the clothes. It was nothing compared to my feather bed, but soft enough for my head to sink into.

My eyes closed by themselves.

I curled up like a hibernating marmot. My thoughts fell silent and I felt nothing but calm and peace.

At least for a few moments.