Chapter 11: Our Run

Chapter 11: Our Run
Silas
Once dinner is done, I rush us out of the packhouse and to the tree line. No one tried to stop us. It’s dusk, and the late summer air has a coolness to it as the breeze passes. I’m standing downwind of Sydney, and I’m met with bright notes of currents and spicy cinnamon every time a gust comes by. Her curls are tousled, and I want to reach over and tuck them behind her ear.
“You’re staring again.” This shy coyness of hers is only for me.
“I can’t help it. I think you are amazing. Come on, let’s shift. I want to show you something.” Bram has been eager to meet Sydney’s wolf.
She ducks behind a tree to undress; I crane my neck, trying to sneak a little peek, but she picked a big tree. I strip and shift. I’m met with a beautiful red wolf with amber eyes when I step out.
“That’s why we couldn’t tell if her wolf was surfacing; they have the same eyes. I’ve never seen that before.” I am in amazement at her wolf. As big as an Alpha male and her copper-hued fur looked like it was glowing in the golden light of dusk.
“Her name is Thora.” Bram was swooning. When a wolf met its mate and shifted or mate, they started making a connection even before the human soul did. It wasn’t a fully formed mate-bond yet, but it had started.
“Thora and Sydney. It fits them. It sounds powerful. I want to know so much more.” I have so many questions still unanswered. Maybe this time between our wolves will get her to open up more. “OK, Bram, it’s all you.” I give over control to Bram.
The first thing he does is greet Thora with a nuzzle to her cheek. She reciprocates the greeting surprisingly. They circle each other rubbing their heads into each other’s fur. Then Thora rears up and pounces on Bram, then takes off.
“Oh, she’s feisty.” Bram takes off after her. From that point on, it’s a game of tag and tackle. This peaceful euphoric joy floods over me. Is this what the mate-bond is?
Bram pins Thora on her back. She licks his cheek, then the next second, a naked Sydney is under us. Bram licks her cheeks, and the full-body laugh that envelops her takes my breath away. “Bram, I’m taking control.” I step back and shift.
Sydney sits up and looks away from me, but I want to feel that joy again in human form. I kneel next to her. I’m facing her. I fight the urge to pull her into my lap. She would be straddling me. It might be too much, especially naked. So, I reach to touch the softness of her cheek. Sydney doesn’t say a word, but I hear her breath catch. She blushes so easily.
“You are so beautiful. Every freckle, strand of hair. Those long gorgeous legs, you’re perfect.” Sydney hides her face in her opposite shoulder. I wanted to see her flushed skin and the reaction in her eyes. I guide her face back toward me by tilting her chin. “Don’t look away from me. Your eyes, even in the twilight, shine bright.” I can’t take it. I need her. I softly kiss the corners of her mouth before taking her lips.
The gasp that Sydney gives me and her tangling fingers in my hair makes me want more. I move my hands slowly down to her neck than shoulders. She doesn’t pull away but moans at every new curve my hands explore. I move one hand down her back, pulling her closer to me. The other I run down her arm, the sparks as my fingertips run across her skin ignite a need deep in me.
I want to touch her legs; I want them wrapped around me. Her leg is bent, and it’s calling me to touch it. I moved my hand on her arm and gently moved to her knee. Sydney flinches slightly, but she lightly presses her leg to my side. I run my hand up and down her toned, firm legs. Her skin was soft and smooth. It felt like silk under my hand. I pull her closer to my chest, intensifying our kiss. This is pure heaven; she wasn’t pushing me away. It was just her and I in the forest. The sun had gone down, and the waning gibbous moon was rising.
Abruptly she pulls away, and her eyes are wide with panic. “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”
She stands up. “Rogue attack!”
I jump to my feet, and I’m on guard. “Where?”
“White Ridge, we need to go back now.” Without another word, she shifts and sprints toward the packhouse. Dad’s words bubble to the surface ‘the pack comes first.’ I follow quickly behind. It wasn’t just her pack anymore. It was mine too.
Sydney stops quickly, throwing her clothes on as fast as possible, barely fastening her buttons. I toss on my pants and chase behind her. We look as frantic as we are. We burst into the Alpha office. I would normally never do this, but things are different.
“Right, thank you, Lucas. Yeah, she just walked in. I’m sure the pack-link alerted her. I’ll call with a decision shortly.” Gideon hangs up the phone and runs a hand down his face. Conor is sitting behind his desk with his arms crossed.
“What happened?” Sydney stands ready for a fight.
“You know already—rogue attack. Lucas was able to get the situation under control, but your pack is weak after the raids. It’s going to take time to get your defenses back up.” Gideon pinches the bridge of his nose. I couldn’t understand the amount of work he had or the pressure. Ten packs needed to be rebuilt, and it was his responsibility to do it plus, he and his mate have newborn twins and twin toddlers.
“I need to go back now.” Sydney still looked like she was gearing up for a fight. I hope she wasn’t planning on taking on Gideon.
“You need to stay here and train so you can work through issues like this. You stay.” The force of Gideon’s Alpha aura was intimidating and made me take a step back.
“My pack needs me.” Syd was not backing down.
“Your pack needs a leader with a clam head on her shoulders. Your pack depends on you. Trust me when I say you can’t fight your way out of everything. I know from experience.” He stood right in front of Syd, squared up, and crossed his arms. I’ve heard of Syd’s skills, but I knew she was no match for Gideon. I don’t think I could take him either. Syd took a step forward. I had to stop this now.
I step between them. “I’ll train her. I’ve been training as a warrior and Beta since I could walk. My dad made sure all his sons knew how to run a pack. Alpha Conor can vouch for me.” I look over at Alpha Conor, pleading with my eyes to help me before there is an Alpha brawl in his office.
“I don’t need help; I can do it myself.” Syd snarled. Great, she was in full Alpha mode and not thinking clearly.
Gideon backs up and takes a seat on the sofa. “No, Silas is right. There’s a reason the goddess paired you two together. You are an inexperienced Alpha but still an Alpha. He comes from a long line of Betas and Alphas. He’s been groomed since birth to be your, Lumiere. He just didn’t know. Like all Alpha mates, they are equipped to support their mates and packs. The faster you accept it, the better off you will be, Sydney. Your mate is a gift from the goddess treasure that gift because it can be just as easily taken away. Selene doesn’t make mistakes with fated mates.” He huffs. “I feel like I’m lecturing an adult version of Daisy.”
Syd is glaring daggers at me, then Gideon. “Fine.” She clenches her jaw. “Have everyone ready to go in 15 minutes. It’s a 3.5-hour drive.” Sydney storms out of the office. She is heading to my room. I follow.
Sydney turns around, “Why are you following me!” She’s fuming from her exchange with Gideon and the rogue attack and taking it out on me.
I sigh, “I’m going to my room to pack a bag; your stuff is in my room, remember?”
She closes her eyes and takes an exacerbated breath, “Yeah, I remember.” She turns around and continues walking. “You know I didn’t need your help back there. I could have handled the situation on my own.”
I wanted her to trust in me. “I didn’t step in because I didn’t believe you couldn’t; I did it to save time. There was a rogue attack, so time is critical. Sometimes the easy way is the smartest and best way. You don’t have to fight your way out of everything.”
“Yeah, well, all I know how to do is fight.” There are no truer words spoken, but there is a tinge of sadness in them.
I want to make her smile again. “I don’t know. You seem to know how to kiss pretty well.”
There is my sweet mate shying away, hiding her blush from my gaze. “Shut up; we have to get going.”
There was so much more to her than what everyone saw. She was feisty and fierce, but she had this sweet and sensitive side. The fight-first attitude is just there to protect that sensitive side. That’s what dad was talking about, cherishing her, but the one thing I always need to remember is an Alpha’s job is the pack. Pack first, always. So, where does that leave me?