The Alphas Sanctuary

Recon

Days turned into weeks and still nothing from Alex. Apryl knew she shouldn't feel as sad about it as she really was. Every time her phone buzzed she jumped for it, she had a 50/50 chance of it being him. But it never was. She liked Gage, and she liked spending time with him but there was something about Alex. He said he was going to call her when he got back. Had he forgotten? She knew he was back Gage had said so. She didn't even have a way to reach out to him, and she was too shy to ask Gage for it or to pass on a message. She hoped he called soon, she was missing him terribly.

Alex wasn't holding up much better. Shi was still absent. Alex was lucky he hadn't needed to shift in the three weeks he had been home, because with Shi gone he couldn't. When Gage asked him to go for a run he changed the subject saying he had too much work to do. But that was getting harder and harder to do, seeing as they always went for runs together. Alex was going to have to talk to Gage soon if Shi didn't come back. He didn't know how to fix this. He was sure being able to smell Apryl on Gage nearly everyday wasn't helping. Yet he still didn't want anyone to know.

He finally had figured out why he didn't want anyone to know. Everyone would expect them to be like every other fated couple. It was uncommon to go this long without claiming and marking your mate. He didn't want to rush into anything. If they were already meant to spend a lifetime together why did it have to start right away. What was wrong with taking their time? 

Alex had spent the last two days really thinking about what he wanted. The truth was, he wanted Apryl. He hadn't called her like he said he would so he already had that going against him. There was also the issue of how to tell Gage. The two of them had been spending a lot of time together. Since he cared for them both he didn't feel right about coming between them. On the other hand if he didn't come between them Shi would never come back. Time for a little recon.

'Gage. Where are you?'

'the river at Apryl's do you need me to come home'

'No. I'll see you shortly I'm on my way'

Apryl was sitting on a large flat rock along the bank of the river when a familiar Jeep parked. Gage who had been skipping rocks walked over to help her stand from the ground. Gage was always the gentleman. The man who just showed up uninvited however was not. Two weeks, she waited for his call or text, anything for two weeks. She watched as Alex slowly made his way towards them. Apryl noticed he was different from the last time she had seen him. There were dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn't slept. She swore he was thinner and he walked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. She wanted to feel angry towards him, but his appearance only made her sad.

"Alex, it's good to see you, how are you?"

"I'm well thank you for asking" he was lying of course, he felt like hell.

Gage eyed him wearily, he too had started to notice the changes in his alpha. "Everything alright Alex?" 

"Yeah, I just wanted some fresh air and you said you were coming here today. Just thought I'd come say hello"

"We were just about to head to the moon goddess’s hut, would you like to join us?" Alex's attention was quickly brought back to Apryl at the mention of the moon goddess.

"The moon goddess huh?" Alex directed towards Gage. But Gage merely shrugged his shoulders back at him.

"Yes Gage showed me the hut and told me the legend two weeks ago. We have been going there and clearing out the weeds."

"Alright, lead the way" even though Alex knew exactly where the hut was he left her lead. And even though he knew the story by heart he couldn't help but ask "so tell me about this legend". He knew he owed her an explanation and apology but they weren't alone. Both things he would rather do alone. She told the story of the hut before they reached it. "So do you believe it? The whole werewolf thing?" Alex wasn't sure which answer he was hoping to get but he asked anyways.

"Actually, I do."

"What! You never told me that!" Gage practically yelled causing birds to suddenly take flight.

Apryl laughed "You never asked if I believed."

Even Alex was intrigued. "One story and you're a believer?"

"Well no. But something happened the night you found me unconscious." At that moment Alex realized his mistake.

"You know I never heard the whole story myself. All I know is that Alex found you and brought you to Zack."

"I had gone hiking that day after I moved in and found this beautiful waterfall. So tall I swear it started in heaven. Anyways I was sitting there when all of the sudden this large wolf jumped into the river from nowhere. But it was the biggest tallest wolf I'd ever seen." They reached the hut and Apryl began clearing weeds.

Gage looked at Alex but asked Apryl, "what color was it?"

"Midnight black with teal eyes. But it was so friendly at first, he even let me pet him."

"What do you mean at first?"

"Well it's the oddest thing after he let me pet him, he growled and ran away." Apryl frowned at the memory pausing in her work.

Gage was staring hard at Alex, Alex found the ground highly fascinating. "Then what happened?" Gage knew something had changed since Apryl came into their lives. If Alex wouldn’t tell him, then Apryl would.

"By then it was darker than I realized and I must have rushed to get down off the rocks because next thing I knew I was in your hospital."

"And you think this large wolf you saw was a werewolf?" Alex asked after finally finding his voice.

"There is no other explanation. I was sitting at least five foot in the air and it was eye level with me. Plus have you ever heard of a teal eyed wolf? "

"I don't know Apryl, you hit your head pretty hard, maybe you dreamt it" Alex desperately regretted this subject coming up. He knew Gage knew something now.

"No, it was real. I should have been terrified but I was so calm when I touched him. I’ve never done anything so daring in my life. Still don't know what possessed me."

"It's getting late, we should head back." Gage was ready to have a face to face with his alpha. He wanted answers. Alex wished he could just disappear. This was not going to be easy to explain.