The Alphas Sanctuary

Cold

    Alex pinched the bridge of his nose, Shi had been getting on his nerves since they left Apryl's cabin. Now that it was getting late in the evening, Shi was only getting worse.

Do you think she's okay?

Probably? Alex sighed.

That's a terrible answer. You heard her tell Zack that she has no one to check on her, what if she's cold she doesn't know how to use the fireplace? With that Shi had a point. It was fairly cold this evening.

If we go will you finally give me some peace and quiet?Just go before I do!Fine! I'm going! You do realize she's an adult, correct?

Just go Alex, jeez!

Alex headed to his Jeep, knowing full well Shi would have loved the run, but he didn't trust him around Apryl enough yet to shift. He was afraid the mating bond would take over and there would be nothing he could do to stop Shi from claiming what was rightfully his. It was bad enough the little time he had spent with Apryl in the hospital had already softened him into not hating her.

He had left her place that morning with a list of things he was going to fix in her cabin. He could be friendly, it didn't have to mean anything. Right? Shi paced in his head the whole drive but remained silent, luckily. Alex couldn't remember Shi talking this much, ever.

Pulling up in front of her cabin he noticed no smoke coming from the chimney. See told you she needed us. Shi snickered.

Shut up. We are here aren't we?

Dick!

Shi I mean it you better stop calling me a d**k or I'll castrate us both!

Shi rolled his eyes at Alex knowing full well he would never go through with that threat.

*Knock knock*

Silence, nothing in the cabin stirred. Shi perked up uneasily.

Maybe she's in the shower. Alex said wanting to calm his wolf.

I can't hear any water running.

Again Shi had a point so Alex knocked a little louder. The silence went on long enough that he was about to break down the door when he finally heard movement inside. The door flung open and there she stood in a loose and flowy nightgown. She looked like a princess in it.

"That's how you're dressed to answer the door?" What if he had been a stranger? She shouldn't let anyone see her like that, least of all she should not be dressed like that to open the door.

"Alex, what are you doing here?" She wrapped her arms around herself, visibly cold. He swore he could hear her teeth chatter.

"Can I come in?" He asked with a sigh.

"Yes of course is everything alright?" She asked as she stepped aside to let him enter. Closing the door she wrapped her arms around herself trying to keep warm.

Ignoring her, he went straight to her fireplace. There was no cut wood inside but earlier he had noticed a stack out in the side yard.

"It's cold." he stated looking at her dumbfounded, like she should have known why he was there.

"Yes I know I put extra blankets on my bed to keep warm tonight."

"I'll start the fire."

" Oh. Um- thank you but you don't-" she couldn't finish her sentence before he was stopping away from her back out the door.

Had she offered him, did he leave? She was not sure how to take him half the time. Sometimes he sounded annoyed by her, other times he seemed like he wanted to help her. The door swung back open and there he stood with his arms full of cut wood.

"Do you have any paper?" He asked as he started to stack the wood up. She merely nodded and went for what he asked for.

She watched closely how he did everything by balling up the paper building a wood T.P. and just like that the fire was soon crackling and she could feel the warmth. Closing her eyes she tried to remember everything he did to create this beautiful warmth. She wouldn't admit to him that she had been freezing before he showed up. Curled up in her bed willing her body to stop shivering. She was too proud to admit that she really didn't have extra blankets. She just didn't want to be a burden or seem weak.

She didn't want to owe anyone anything, she wanted to never have to rely on another again. To be honest she never expected to see him again, she got the impression he didn't like her much

.

"How's the head?" His question brings her back to reality.

He couldn't look at her. He knew she was cold, and he knew if saw the slightest shiver come from her, he would want to reach out. To draw her to him, if only to warm her. He could practically feel the coldness radiating off of her. He was naturally warm thanks to his wolf, he could have easily warmed her in seconds. He was almost certain that she would allow him to do so. He shuffled his feet and refused to look at her. Telling himself over and over that he didn't want a mate.

"It's fine thank you" she held her hands closer to the flames and felt her body slowly begin to warm. She felt so at ease around him.

He seemed to be at the right place at the right time the day before. He stayed with her during the night. Brought her home, and now here he was starting fires in her home, and somehow in her body. As soon as she opened the door this evening the chill in her bones melted into a puddle at his feet. What was this effect he had over her?

"Can I make you dinner?" Her eyes widened as soon as the words left her mouth.

What the hell was she thinking? She didn't know him, he was a stranger and she just asked to make him dinner? Looking at her finally he c****d an eyebrow in question. "To repay you for saving me twice in twenty four hours."

"Thank you. But that won't be necessary." Shi growled at Alex's answer, which Alex ignored

. "Yes of course how silly of me." He simply nodded and she turned to stare at the flames

.Dick!

Is this how it's going to be now?

When you mean to our mate, yes!

I don't want a mate! Alex yelled back then cut the mind link before an argument began. "I've arranged for Zack to come check on you here. The town doctor is good, but Zack is better."

"Okay. Thank you" Apryl didn't know how but she knew that this was a fight she wouldn't win. She knew that Alex was a man who got what he wanted. She could tell by the way he carried himself and acting, he had an aura of authority that flowed from him.

Alex was surprised she didn't put up a fight over it. "Why are you here?" He had no idea what had possessed him to ask her that, it just slipped out. But too late now.

"To start over, fresh clean slate" her voice had changed. Her whole demeanor shifted in a blink of an eye.

She suddenly seemed so meek and gentle. The shift happened so quickly Alex doubted she even realized it was happening. Her head would bow, as if she was ashamed. Her body would suddenly appear smaller, like she was trying to be invisible. In that moment he wanted her to look at him, he wanted to see what her eyes would tell him. He wanted her to tell him what she was afraid of. But she stayed staring at the floor, wringing her hands, a nervous habit so it seemed.

The flames caused shadows to dance across her face, the shadows helping to shield her hiding. What had happened to her that caused sadness to surround her. Did he really want to find out? The more time he spent with her the closer he wanted to be, and that was definitely a problem.

"I see. Well you picked the right place I guess." his tone was short without meaning.

"Yes, I felt drawn here. I'm not sure why though. It just feels right, like I finally found home." The words were barely a whisper, like she wasn't even really talking to him.

Apryl didn't know why she was so comfortable with him and sharing any part of her life. She had been so alone for so long, she trusted no one. But oddly she felt comfortable with him. He was easy to be around, easy to talk to. Did it really matter why? But it would matter, she should keep herself guarded and protected she couldn't count on anyone but herself.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to finally have a friend? The way she felt with him was a plus. Her subconscious screaming to protect herself. To keep her carefully built walls intact.

"Thank you for starting the fire. I'm really rather tired though. I'm sorry, not mean to sound rude."

"No of course you've had an interesting 24 hours." He walked to the door and opened it.

Pausing with his hand on the door knob, he sighed.

"Welcome home Apryl" and then he was gone.