Wild Wolf

Bonds

Upon leaving the dining hall, I once more reach out to Gen. Once more, he shuts me out.

Then I get worried.

Walking through the estate and searching the grounds, on the lookout for Eugene, I ask after him, stopping every pack member I cross paths with. But no one has seen him since the envoy from Lich Paw had arrived. Holding myself tightly in check, I begin checking every hiding spot Gen or I have.

He's in none of them.

With each empty hiding hold my worry grows, Gen, my soft, romantic, superstitious best friend. . . . He is nowhere to be found. Is he hurt? Angry? Hooking up with one of the Lich Paw envoys? I don't know and he won't answer and my fear is mounting because I know deep in my bones that something is wrong. Never before has Gen shut me out so firmly.

"Pst! Princess, up here," a voice hisses from the night sky above.

Whipping around, I look for the source of the voice. Dark curls blend in surprisingly well with the night sky, but looking up I spot Gaian hanging half off a roof, waving me over. I really don't have the time, but isn't he meant to be sick? Shouldn't Dalton be guarding him?

Questions burning, I lift my skirts and run back ten feet to stand below Gaian, hands on my hips as I glare up at him. "Shouldn't you be resting in your sick bed?" I hiss under my breath, Gaian grins, unbothered by my ire. The most noticeable part of him is his teeth, flashing white against his tanned olive skin and the dark night sky beyond.

"Probably, but Gen here seemed in need of fresh air," he answers, flippant as Gen ever is.

Eyes wide, I jump, grabbing for the ledge of the roof before I could even think about what I'm doing. "Gen's up here?!"

Like a proper gentleman, Gaian helps me onto the roof, "Yeah, we're hiding," he explains with the childish glee of one avoiding responsibility.

Sure enough, Gen is there, he's sitting further back on the sloping roof, knees drawn to his chest and arms wrapped around himself. Even in the dim starlight, I can see how red his eyes are, how his soft blond curls fall forward attempting to hide the tear tracks on his cheeks.

"Gen lovely what happened?" I reach out, the question a mental one spoken through our bond and not aloud.

"H-he doesn't want me," Gen whispers in my mind, fresh tears welling in his eyes. He sounds so hurt I can't help myself from tearing up too. Confused, I look to Gaian for enlightenment. The dark stranger shrugs, he looks more serious now than I've ever seen him.

"Apparently his destined mate was with that party that turned up. He ummmm. . . . Gen was already rejected. Second, they were alone. He got shot down. So when it came time for dinner, Gen turned up and took over watching me for Dalton," Gaian explained, crawling across the roof to sit on Gen other side. It was clear that Gaian was awkward but he patted Gen's shoulder all the same. "We've been bonding ever since, same pain you know?" He explained with a shrug.

I didn't know. But I did know how much meeting his destined mate meant to Gen. That was enough. "I'll send them back in the morning." I decided firmly, if any members of the Lich Paw Pack had hurt Gen then I wanted nothing to do with them.

"No!" Gen shouted, head snapping up and eyes wide, "You can't- he'd- you just can't Saffron! Don't ruin your life because of my broken heart!" Gen begged, clinging to me.

Startled, I stared at the tear stained Omega in my arms. "Fine." I conceded, sighing heavily. I have always been willing to do anything Gen asked of me. I took in his tired eyes and the lack of layers. Gen must not have changed before heading outside. "I won't send them away if you go and get some sleep. Don't worry about Gaian, or that arise, or anything else." I cut off any protest before Gen could even open his mouth. "I'll walk Gaian back, but you look tired. Go to bed and let me take care of things."

Clearly I was right. Gen nodded and left without further complaining or protest.

For several long moments Gaian and I sat in silence watching the stars through the dark clouds passing overhead. Neither of us spoke, I had nothing to say, and Gaian's mind was too mysterious for me to even guess what was on his mind. Perhaps he was lost in memories of his own rejected mate?

"You know, I didn't take you for a princess at first." Gaian broke the silence. I turned to face him, studying him. He was looking up to the stars, clearly miles away.

"And what do you mean by that?" I asked, unsure if I should be offended or not.

For a moment Gaian said nothing else, either lost in thought or perhaps mulling over his answer. "It means. . . . you're like me."

"Offended it is then," I muttered, mostly to myself with a snort of amusement. How could I be anything like this wild lone wolf? I have the blood of an Alpha, one day I'll become a Luna. "Come on, we should go inside. It's cold and late," beside me Gaian looked to be shivering.

Without protest, Gaian stood, hopping off the roof carelessly and reaching up to help me down. He didn't try to catch me, or demand I take his hand, just held one out in a silent but unnecessary offer. It was sweet, and I took the offered hand with a polite thank you.