The Pack Where She Belongs

Chapter 10

----Alex----

Astrid and I spent the past two days out at the cabin, just enjoying some time together. I had wanted to stay longer but she had insisted we go back because we both knew I had things I shouldn't be putting off but it was so hard to be away from her, that woman was my peace. I had basically pouted the while time we were packing up her things and straightening up up cabin but she knocked me out of my funk with one of her dazzling smiles and one of her warm hugs.

Now i was grumply sitting in my office looking over emails and other documents that I had pushed aside while I was gone. I hated playing catch up but it would have been a lot worse I'd William hadn't helped where he could.

There was a knock at the door and I sighed "come in" I leaned up from my computer and relaxed back in my chair a bit as Zack came into the office. Zack was 6'2 with short blonde hair and light blue eyes, the man was a heartthrob to most of the She-wolves in the pack, the man could hardly leave the pack house without being pawed at. despite all of that he was usually in a good mood and generally great to be around so when he walked in with a sour face I knew something was up.

"Zack, what's going on?" I questioned while raising my brow at him and the look he returned to me was even more grumpy before he sighed and flopped down on the couch in my office.

"It's my mother" he started and pinched the bridge of his nose, being quiet. finally I frowned.

"what's going on with aunt Kim? is she sick or something? is Uncle Devin okay?" I asked. myself, Zack, and William all grew up together since our parents had all been in the same positions we are all now in and we were all like family.

"they're both fine.." Zack grumbled and rubbed his face before looking at me. "mom has always hounded me about finding my mate but now she's being persistent. Not only is she insisting I come out to where they're living now but also insisting that I also attend the summit with you and William this year. I've always hated th politics of this stuff you know that" he whined and turned his attention back to the ceiling.

"I know you do but it probably wouldn't hurt to go, you never know. Your mate might actually be there and you'll never know if you don't go. you've said you don't want to force fate to happen but f**k dude look at us. we're in our twenties now and I've just found mine. You want you find her but you can't just lazy through life to find her." I explained and that got me a grumpy look. Zack grumbled under his breath some not so nice things that earned him a growl from me.

"look.. if I go do I have to go to all the political things? I'm better at hitting things than dealing with all that other crap and you know it. I might hit one of the suits, please Alex. if I have to go just let me enjoy myself" Zack begged and now it was my turn to sigh. I knew Zack wouldn't make an ass out of himself but if he attended I knew there would things I'd have to take him to.

"one meeting is all you have to attend since it's your first one and then have at it. just make sure you're at dinners that William and I attend and the ball, got it?" I crossed my arms as I watched him. He seemed to be thinking it over before nodding.

"Deal. thank God the summit isn't for a while. I'm not looking forward to it but I'll go."

"It's not going to be as bad as it seems, just enjoy the free food and the vacation. you'll be fine Zack" I assured him.

After talking with Zack a little longer, he left and I got back to work. It didn't take long for my mind to wander back to Astrid, I was already missing her and it's only been a few hours.

----Astrid----

While Alex was working I decided to walk around the pack house and get to knowing where things were. I had a general idea but since I was going to be living here, I should have a better idea of where things were. I had put some music on to the phone that Morgan had given me and Alex gave me some ear buds to use since I didn't have any of my own currently. I hummed along to the music as I explored, occasionally I would pass by some one and they would wave and I would do the same back but no one really bothered me.

I haven't really been outside and looked around, and it seems like a pretty nice day out

I walked up to Alex and I's bed room and slipped on some sneakers before making my way back downstairs and out the back door. There was all kinds of patio furniture back here and a large barbecue area, as well as a large in ground pool. I would definitely have to make use of that soon. I then made my way through the gate and out into a garden area that had a little fountain and some benches. I liked the peaceful feeling out there This would make a great spot for reading

Eventually I made my way towards the front of the pack house when I heard the voice I never wanted to hear again..

"heyyyyyy" Shelby called out to me while waving at me with one hand and something in the other. I frowned as she closed the distance between us, instantly I was on edge.

"Look, I'm sure I'm the last person you want to see but I wanted to apologize for the other day. I had noooo idea you and Alex were involved-"

"We're mates, not just involved.." I corrected her while narrowing my gaze at her while she absently waved her hand.

"Yes yes, my mistake. mates." she said with an annoyed tone but I let it go. "aaaanywho, I just wanted to come and say I'm sorry and I wanted to give you a gift in hopes to mend our issues over that little misunderstanding" she gave me a fake sweet smile as she handed me a little wrapped gift.

I looked at it then back to her with a skeptical look. "That's alright, I don't need any gifts. Just as long as you understand that I'm Alex's mate and that isn't going to change" I told her and I could see just how forced her smile was, it was painful to watch.

"of course.. but I insist. Think of it as a welcome to the pack present then." Shelby replied and held the box out to me more. I could tell I wasn't going to get away with not taking it. So instead I offered her a warm smile.

"Very well then, thank you Shelby. I'll be sure to open it later" I then took the small box from her.

"I hope that you like sweets" Shelby forced with a cheery voice before walking away. Something was clearly off but I'm sure it's just because she feels awkward around me, I know I feel the same way around her.

After that weird encounter with Shelby I headed up to the bedroom with the gift that I was given, I was very curious as to what it was but it was about the size of one of those small assorted boxes of chocolates.

duh, that's probably what it is. what a strange gift to give someone as an apology but whatever I guess.

I plopped down on the couch in our bedroom and unwrapped the box, as I had guessed, it was a box or chocolates with a little note stuck to it.

"I hope that you can accept my apology and we can be friends some day! -Shelby. P.S. These are for you, don't let Alex pig out on them, the man has a sweet tooth!"

"hope we can be friends some day.. yeah.. maybe" I mumbled and picked up the lid of the box and truthfully it all looked amazing. I know I shouldn't have sweets before dinner but one wouldn't hurt, right?

I picked up one of them and looked at the little description card, simple chocolate with caramel. I smiled and popped it into my mouth, the taste was amazing but.. as I swallowed something didn't feel right. My chest suddenly felt tight like I couldn't breathe and I couldn't stop coughing and I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I was in the room all by myself and I knew Alex wouldn't hear me from his office. I felt myself falling forward and then everything went dark.

----Alex----

Something felt very off and I couldn't put my finger on it. I all of a sudden felt the need to check on Astrid and I had no idea why. I quickly got up from my desk and headed out into a hall where I caught and omega who was walking my way, "Hey, have you seen, Astrid by chance?" I asked and the woman nodded.

"Yes Alpha, she was heading towards your bedroom a few minutes ago with what looked like a gift. I don't know from whom though" she answered and suddenly my stomach was filled with dread, did something happen? is that why I felt this way.

"Thank you" I said and quickly took off towards our bed room.

I ran as fast as I could, hoping my feeling was wrong but as I pushed open the door; I knew the feeling wasn't. There was Astrid, laying on the floor unconscious and with a box of chocolates spilled out on the floor beside her. I ran over and picked her limp body up and held her to me

"Astrid?! Astrid please wake up!" I cried and put my ear to her chest and heard nothing.

No.. no no no this could not be happening, I am not going to lose her!

River howled in my head as we began preforming cpr on my unconscious mate while linking William to come to me and for Zack to go get the doctor.

"Please baby.. please.. please wake up" I pleaded before William came barging into the bedroom.

"Alex what happened?!" William yelled, clearly as freaked out as i was.

"I.. I don't know, I was in my office and felt something was off so I came to check on her and this was how I found her" I managed between trying to revive the love of my life. I hadn't said it yet but I knew. I knew I loved her.

William moved over and smelled the chocolate on the ground then growled.

"wolfsbane.. someone laced the chocolate to kill her" he growled and looked at me just as I heard the wonderful sound come from Astrid. She took a big gasp of air and I let out a sob. I hadn't even realized I was crying until that moment and I didn't even care. I wasn't the type of man to cry but damn it..

"baby?! baby can you hear me? please.." I begged but she didn't say anything though she was breathing now. I pulled her into my lap and cradled her against me. "Please don't go Astrid.. I can't live without you" I buried my face into her hair, getting lost in her scent.

when Zack and the doctor came into the room I didn't look up, I was sitting there counting her breathing in my head. it was soft but still there. William was telling the doctor about what had happened and the laced sweets.

"Alpha.. its good that she's breathing again but I need to see her.." the doctor said cautiously and I growled loudly at him as he tried to reach for her. "Alex, please i need to see her" the doctor tried to reason with me but I couldn't let her go. "at least let me see her face and get a pulse okay?"

I hesitated then relaxed my hold on Astrid some so he could look her over but I didn't let go. all of us were quiet a moment, only when the doctor sat back on his heels did I speak.

"Am I going to lose her?" I whimpered looking down at Astrids face, the color was starting to come back to her cheeks and lips.

"No, I do not think so. I'm going to take the candy with me to have it tested but if I'm correct the dosage isn't strong enough on its own but left any longer you might not have saved her, Alex. This was close. I'm going to do a quick blood draw on her just to test and make sure nothing else is in her system. I'd find out who tried to kill the luna, sir.. I don't think this is going to be the last time if they aren't caught." The doctor was right, someone had tried once and I was going to make sure it didn't happen again.

I continued to hold Astrid while the doctor took a couple viles of blood, seeing it made me want to rip his arms off but I stopped myself and River.

I knew I shouldn't have left her alone today..

you couldn't have known this was going to happen, this isn't your fault. What matters is we saved her, we just have to protect her even more now River said, trying to calm my aching heart. he was right, I'd have to watch over her more now, I couldn't lose her.

I didn't move from the floor even after the doctor left. Zack and William were standing there talking quietly until I raised a brow at them, prompting them to tell me what they were whispering about.

"Alex.. you're not going to like this but.. you should read this. it was on the floor near the lid of the box. Zack found it while her blood was taken" William said, handing me the paper. I saw red when I saw who it was from. the dumb b*tch even signed her name!

"Find her, lock her in the cells!" I growled and the two rushed out to find Shelby. childhood friends or not, she tried to kill Astrid and this couldn't go unpunished

----Astrid----

Oh my head hurts.. what the hell happened..

I felt myself beginning to wake up when I realized someone was holding me, rocking me gently until his scent hit my nose; it was Alex.

"Please wake up Astrid.. I need you.." I heard him whimper into my hair, his voice was horse like he had been crying. I then suddenly remembered what happened. I had eaten that chocolate and I couldn't breathe. Alex had saved me, again.. and now he was crying.

"I haven't even gotten to tell you that I love you yet, you can't go.." Alex sniffled and finally I could feel my body again, I had felt numb until that moment.

Alex loves me..?

I lifted my hand and placed it on his cheek, making him jump.

"Astrid!" he quickly began kissing my hand and holding it to his cheek. "Baby, can you hear me?!"

"Ow.. yes.. please don't be so loud.. my head really hurts.." I groaned as I opened my eyes and looked up at him. His handsome face was laced with worry, his eyes were red from crying.

"I'm sorry.. I just.. I thought I'd lost you.." he sniffled.

"It's okay.. I thought I was dead too. the chocolates.. Shelby..-"

"I know, we found the letter.. Zack and William are looking for her now" he kissed my palm again.

"so.. you love me huh?" I said, hoping to break the tension. Alex froze like a deer in headlights

"You heard that?" he asked.

"of course I did silly" I laughed softly and rubbed my thumb against his cheek and before I knew it his lips crashed down onto mine and kissed me deeply

I moaned softly and kissed him back, my hand moving up into his hair. his tongue pushed at my bottom lip, asking for entrance and I happily opened for him. Our tongues explored each other's mouths for a moment before he pulled back.

"Yes.. I love you so very much.." Alex breathed

"I love you too, Alex.."