Chapter 7

Aiden

Running into Lexi was no accident. As soon as I picked up her scent when I was on the main street my wolf pushed me to follow her. He was getting to be an annoying ass lately. Whining about wanting his mate. He doesn’t understand we can’t have a human mate. She would be too weak to lead our pack but he won’t stop. I followed Lexi’s scent and watched her. I swear her scent is stronger today than it was yesterday. I didn’t know that was possible. I know scents change after mating and when a she-wolf is pregnant but I haven’t heard of the scent getting stronger.

I watch her as she strolls around looking at the shops. The way the sun is shining on her she almost looks like she is glowing. And her smile makes my heart skip a beat. “ Our mate is beautiful. And she smells so good.” Rex says. “ Rex I’ll agree she is beautiful but she isn’t our mate. We have talked about this. We can’t have her.” Rex growled “ No, you decided. I want her. I will remind you the Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Do not reject Lexi. If you do, I will make you pay.” “ Calm down Rex.” I told him. “ I won’t need to reject her. She is human. She won’t feel anything. We just won’t claim her. No harm.”

“ There will be harm, to you. Trust me. If you try to claim anyone other than Lexi. I will harm you. How do you think you can be Alpha without a wolf?” Rex growls. What?! He can’t leave me can he? “ I will ask the Goddess herself to remove me from you and give me to someone who doesn’t have his head up his ass if you try to claim someone else. I will have my mate if I have to do it with another human.” Rex says. Rex and I have always had a good relationship and have agreed on most things. But this we are seriously butting heads. He won’t back down.

I have never seen him like this. But I don’t think he would go that far. I am not sure if that is possible. Part of me is a little scared he will try. I’m just going to have to prove to him that I’m right. He wouldn’t really try to leave me. Just before he blocks me he says “ try me.” I’m so busy arguing with Rex I didn't notice Lexi until she ran into me. I felt sparks as soon as she made contact. It flowed through my entire body and made my cock twitch. And that was just from a bump. What would happen if I had her whole body against me. Rex dropped his block long enough to purr. I mean he actually purred. What the hell?

We didn’t talk for long which I was glad for. I couldn’t be this close to her for long. It was messing with my head. I wanted to hold her in my arms. It was just the mate bond. I knew it would get stronger as time went on. I had to be strong and not submit. I needed to talk with the Elders. Me and the others have a time set up next week so we can try to figure out what is going on. We wanted to know why our wolves were reacting so strongly towards Lexi.

Lexi

I made a quick stop at the grocery store before going home. After putting all my things away I noticed I still had two hours before I had to get ready for work. I've had a weird feeling since my run in with Aiden. And it followed me to the grocery store. I kept feeling like I was being watched but there was no one around. It made me feel restless. There was nothing I could do around the house to help calm me. The house was clean and all the laundry was done. I knew I couldn’t focus on studying but I needed to clear my mind.

I grabbed my new coat and walked out onto my pack porch and grabbed a shovel. Maybe some physical work that I don’t have to think about will help. My porch isn’t very big. Just big enough for a built-in bench, a small grill and garden table for two. It didn’t take me more than ten minutes and my mind was still cluttered. It might have taken most people longer but for some reason I have been strong and faster than most people I know. It started in my early teens. It came in handy when I was on the track team but I also know I got some odd looks from people. I didn’t think I was very different but my grandma said it was a family trait and helped me learn how to control it so it didn’t freak people out.

I remembered one time when I accidentally broke the door to the bathroom off. That was the first time my strength scared me. I was worried that I could hurt someone so I worked with grandma every day to learn how to control it. But when I’m alone I let myself go from time to time. I understood why I had to hide parts of myself but I hated it. I even wore contacts for a while to dull my eyes. Those were the worst. They made my eyes itch and red. I asked many times why I was so different but my grandma would always tell me that I would know when the time was right but that I was special and destined for great things.

Unfortunately that day didn’t come. My grandma passed away before she could tell me anything. The only thing she did say was on my eighteenth birthday. She said that it is getting closer to the time to tell me about myself. I’m almost twenty one and I still have no answers. And since there is no family left I don’t think I will ever get the answers. But I don’t need that on my mind on that either. Just more puzzles I don’t have all the pieces for.

I put my shovel so it was leaning against the house by the back door and sat down on the steps. I stared off into the woods about fifty feet from my house. It was one of the reasons I bought the house. I have always been drawn to the first even when I lived in Florida. When everyone I knew went to the beach I was much happier exploring the woods. It was a happy place for me to go when life got a little too much for me to handle. When my parents died. When I had trouble in school. When I had trouble making friends. And when my grandma died I would go to the woods like it was calling to me and it made my worries easier to deal with.
I wish I could go there today but I’m worried I would lose track of time like I always did. So I sat with my face up to the sky and closed my eyes. I soaked up the sun's rays and tried to clear my mind. I breathe in the crisp air and blow it out. I feel myself relax. I do my best to block everything but the sounds of nature. After a little while I’m not sure of the time I’m clear headed for now. I hear a twig snap which is weird because I shouldn’t be able to. I pop open my eyes and look at the edge of the woods.

I see a wolf standing about twenty feet from me and it feels like it is looking at me. This one is different from the one I saw yesterday. This one has milk chocolate fur. I stand up but instead of backing up slowly and going into the house like a smart person would do I talk to it. “ Hey there, handsome. You startled me. Where did you come from?” He tilts his head and has his tongue hanging out and his ears pinned back. He looks goofy and I can’t help but giggle.

“ Well, it is nice to meet you but I need to get ready for work and I’m sure you need to get back home.” He lays down and whines a little bit. “ What’s wrong buddy. Don’t you want to go back home?” Yes, I have decided the wolf is a guy. And I’m still talking to it. I should be running but the funny thing is I don’t feel scared at all. “ You know what. I bet you are thirsty. With all this snow and ice I imagine getting water is hard. Stay there, I'll be back.”

I run inside and find a large old bowl I never use and fill it with water. When I get back outside I half expect the wolf to be gone but nope he is still sitting in the same spot. Like he listened to me. Weird. I step off the porch onto the ground. “ Here is the deal. You are going to stay there like a good wolfy. I’ll bring this a little closer to you.” He moves his head up and down and wags his tail. I laugh, “ I’ll take that as a yes.”

I walk carefully towards him keeping my eyes on him in case he makes any sudden moves. But he just lays down putting his head on his paws. I stop a little more than halfway between the house and the wolf. I lay the water down firmly in the snow so it doesn’t fall over. When I stood back up I saw the wolf has belly crawled about a foot closer but still I felt no threat coming from him. “ You know, seeing you closer, you are kind of cute. And for some odd reason you are listening to me. I think. Or I have lost my mind. Hell, maybe a bit of both.” I shake my head and laugh.

“ I’m going back into the house. When I get on the steps you can get the water. You know I have to keep myself safe after all. When you are done go home or chase a rabbit or something. It isn’t safe for you so close to town. Someone one might try to shoot you or something. And I don’t want that to happen to you.” I said. Then I did something even stupider. I turned my back on him and walked back to the porch. Strange thing is he never moved until I was standing on the porch. I know because I kept looking over my shoulder.