Book 1: Chapter 10

*** Nate’s POV ***



It took two days to clean up after that shifting party. Between the pack and the mess that was left, we were still finding bottles in the weirdest places. Today though was getting back to work. I had been in my office most of the day and that was unusual for me. Morning training went well and I had showered, only to go straight into the office.

Silas had approved the new building and budget for it, which meant that it was now passed to me. The architects and builders had sent me over the plans which I was combing through now. I also was using a transfer sheet to start how the rooms would be laid out once they were built. It was a serious undertaking but I enjoyed it. Something about setting up an entire place, whether it be a house, office building, even restaurant. It just scratched an itch that I enjoyed doing. Sam and Silas also hated it. Sam was very list oriented and Silas just couldn’t give two shits about how a placed looked as long as it was functional.

Cracking my neck, I placed my hand on my knee. It was bouncing and I hadn’t even realized it. I was feeling off today. It was like I was wired and I couldn’t focus. Training went well this morning and I had hoped it would take the edge off of whatever I was feeling but it hadn’t. Mer even tried to help with some good breakfast when I came back but nothing was scratching the itch. My pen drummed against the desk as I stared at the plans in front of me.

Finally, I shook my head and put my pen down. Getting up, I headed out of my office. Sam was sitting at the kitchen table with his laptop and a notepad next to him.

“Everything okay?”

I nodded. “I’m gonna go for a run. I feel on edge.”

“Wren say anything?”

Shaking my head, Wren had been suspiciously quiet. He normally was quiet but not this quiet. Especially when I was feeling weird. Usually he liked to make snarky comments that I was an idiot or put in his unneeded two cents. From what I understood of relationship between wolf and human counterpart, ours was unusual. Silas said he spoke to Eros on the daily and they worked together most times. Wren and I were very much separate beings. I don’t know if that was just a product of how I grew up and what happened when I was little but it was all I knew. He was still a friend and one who I couldn’t quite get rid of.

“Try to be back by dinner. Alpha would have noticed by then.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know, you’re a member of leadership too, Sam. You don’t have to call him Alpha. You can call him Silas.”

Sam scrunched up his nose. “It just feels wrong. Maybe if I had some actual Gamma blood in me it would feel different but it just feels wrong.”

Shrugging, I headed out the back and stripped down. I shifted and headed into the forest behind the pack house. It was a lovely day and I tried to let my mind get lost in the trees. After about twenty minutes though, I was getting frustrated. It wasn’t working. The itch was still there, the feeling like I was standing too still even though I was running. My heart pounding harder in my chest than normal.

*'Wren, you there?'*

*'I’m always here, dumbass.'*

I snorted. *'Want to take over for a bit? I just…I don’t feel right.'*

*'Sure.'*

It was almost instantaneous that his mind stepped in front of mine. Suddenly, I was taking a back seat and Wren was steering. He turned east and started running at full speed.

*'You’re feeling it too, aren’t you?'*

Wren didn’t say anything as he pushed harder. Closing my eyes, I just sat back, let him race through the trees. I focused on the feeling of the wind through our fur. The sound our paws made as they stepped on the forest floor. The smell of the leaves as they were warmed in the sun. The heat from the suns rays that streamed through the trees.

Lost in the sensations, I didn’t come forward until I felt Wren pass the territory line. My eyes widened and I tried to take control again but he wouldn’t let me.

*'Wren! We can’t leave the territory! I didn’t talk to Silas!'*

He didn’t say anything as he continued to run, full sprint through the trees. On the east side, the trees were taller and denser than the other sides of the territory. There was also a side road that not many people used to get into the territory. It was the way Charles took when he was coming into the territory from his home. Other than delivery trucks, no one really took the road. It was just completely forest on each side. From what I understood, Silas’ grandfather was the one who made the road out, using the trees they chopped down as building materials for the pack.

Wren continued to run and I just had to sit back. He was tiring though, after not making a straight line out of the territory but looping around and going more north before doubling back. I was upset but it still felt good. The itch not going away but for the moment both of us could ignore it. Slowing down, he padded through the forest, walking from sunbeam to sunbeam that streamed through the trees.

*'We are going to be in so much trouble later.'*

Wren snickered. *'You will. I’ll just be along for the ride.'*

Rolling my eyes, I sighed as he let me take over again. I didn’t turn back around though. We were already in this much trouble. Why hurry back to get yelled at? At the slow pace I was going, it took a while but we finally reached the edge of the forest. I stopped, not wanting to go farther because it’s where the city of Jackson started on the east side. Wren had run a ridiculous distance and the sun was already headed down.

*'So much for dinner.'*

Turning back, I saw a clearing where a small river dribbled by. There was a sun patch and I flopped down, sighing as the suns rays hit my fur. It warmed me up and I closed my eyes. A short nap wouldn’t do us any harm before we had to run the whole way back. Before I knew it, I slipped into deep sleep.

-

A howl brought me out of my slumber and I jolted up. It was already dark and I cursed myself for thinking I could nap for less than a few hours. Another howl sounded and I realized it was a different one from the first. Sniffing the air, I growled, baring my teeth. As soon as I did, in the darkness, five rogues walked out from between the trees. They surrounded me, their hackles up and teeth bared.

My heart started to hammer in my chest and I looked around at them. I wasn’t on the territory and so not only would I have no backup but I couldn’t attack first. Until they attacked me, they were allowed to be on the land. Growling again, showing my teeth, I tried to warn them off. The one ahead of me seemed to find this amusing, showing a wolfish grin. They took steps closer, some pacing a little between the trees, blocking off all exits.

*'Nate, I’m not sure…'* Wren was also taking stalk of the situation.

*'I know, I know. We don’t have much of a choice now do we?'*

As I said that, they started to attack. I let my claws elongate along with my canines but just as one was within striking distance, another howl reverberated through the forest. It was close but it made all five of them freeze. They backed off and eyes focusing to the south. Suddenly, they bowed their heads and I looked into the darkness. My eyes widened and I saw a beast walk through the trees.

The wolf had to easily reach my human height, maybe even larger. I felt like a dwarf and even Silas was small compared to this wolf. I kept my claws and teeth out as I looked at this new wolf, unsure of what to do or what they were doing. The wolf stopped a few yards away, head held high as they looked over us. I swallowed, the Alpha presence almost stifling. The wind blew through the trees for a moment, the only sound was the rustling of the leaves. Suddenly, the wolf growled and the five rogues took off north. Swallowing, the growl nearly took me to my knees.

*'Little Beta, you should not be out past your territory at this time of night.'*

My eyes widened. *'Solaris?'*

*'Go home. I will ensure no rogues attack. So go. Your Alpha is probably worried. That group set off the alarms of your southern patrols even though they didn’t step on the territory. They are on alert.'*

I still couldn’t tear my eyes away from the beast that was in front of me. But I could see now the crystal necklace that was nestled in the fur and the distinct lack of smell coming from the wolf.

*'Solaris, I…'*

*'Go, Beta. I should not need to ask you again.'*

Her order hit me like a ton of bricks. Wren took over and immediately turned, running into the forest straight back to the territory. I wanted to take over but he refused, pushing me back.

*'Don’t. That’s not a wolf we want to mess with, Nate.'*

He ran faster than he had when we came, our breath coming out in short spirts as we raced through the trees. It took over an hour at a full blow sprint but we finally crossed the territory line. I shifted, collapsing on all fours as I took deep breaths. There was a few howls as the eastern patrol made their way to me. Dean shifted and ran over, putting his hand on my back.

“Beta, you okay?”

I nodded, trying to catch my breath. “I saw…the rogues…they were headed north around the edge of the territory.”

His eyes widened. “I’ll alert the patrols up there. Did you end up fighting them?”

Shaking my head, I sat up. “There were five of them. I was lucky they didn’t attack me.”

He cursed and nodded, barking orders to the other patrol members. “Do you need a ride back?”

Getting up, my legs felt like jelly and I went down on all fours. “Yeah…I think so…I ran hard for a while there.”

Dean nodded and grabbed my arm, helping me up. I managed to get some strength in my legs enough to be able to walk to the road going into the east side. Groaning, Silas’ truck was waiting for me, idling on the side of the road.

“Alpha asked us to alert him the moment any of us saw you.”

“Well, I’m fucked. It was nice knowing you.”

Dean chuckled and helped me over to the truck. Opening the door, Silas didn’t even look over. His hands were on the steering wheel, eyes focused on the road back. Getting in, I saluted Dean who did the same and slammed the door shut. Silas didn’t even wait and took off towards the pack house. The entire ride was done in silence and I leaned against the window, closing my eyes.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke up as soon as Silas’ door slammed shut. We were pulled into the pack house driveway and I got out. He held the front door open for me and I walked in, the house still had a few lights on. The door behind me slammed shut and I winced, turning to see Silas, face livid as he stalked up towards me.

“Go clean up and sleep. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

He didn’t even wait for an answer, not that it was a question. Silas headed up the stairs, slamming the door to his bedroom before I even got up the stairs. Sighing, I headed into my room and shut I quietly. I opted for a shower first before falling into bed.