The Alphas Sanctuary

Mate

Shi stood still unable to move, Apryl’s arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, her face buried in his chest. She was alive, and somehow she wasn’t afraid. She had rushed straight to him hugging him tight.

“You found me” she whispered

Shi laid his head down on hers and nuzzled her gently. Every second she held onto him he felt stronger. She was his reason for breathing, his everything. Shi had almost lost her twice, once by Alex when he said Gage could get to know her, and just a few minutes ago when there had been a gun pointed at her. How could Alex betray him like that?

‘I’m so sorry Shi.’ Alex was pleading with Shi, but he ignored him. Shi found Alex to blame for everything that had happened. ‘I’ll make this right. Please Shi’ Alex never begged, and Shi had never heard his voice sound like this before. Full of regret, sorrow, and pain.

Picking a paw up he wrapped it around Apryl’s waist and pulled her closer while letting out a warning growl to something behind her. Apryl froze sensing as well that someone else had entered the room.

“It’s just me buddy. I wont hurt her” Gage had entered holding his hands in the air and his gaze downward to show Shi he meant no harm. 

“Gage?” Apryl peered over her shoulder “I knew you would know something had happened and would come.” Aprly let go of Shi and rushed towards Gage to hug him; but Shi quickly stepped between them before she could reach him.

“That’s not the best idea right now Apryl. Shi is still a bit worked up so it seems.” Gage chuckled only to have daggers shot at him by a protective wolf. “Shi maybe you should let Alex have control again, so he can explain some things?” Shi huffed, when Gage began removing his pants. “I have shorts on, dude relax. I don’t think Alex wants to stand and explain naked do you? Apryl please turn around, we will explain everything to you.”

She nodded and turned to give them privacy. Her Gaze landed on Hardin’s lifeless body. She had shot him, she had taken someone’s life. Her body was suddenly so cold it was shaking, her eyes brimmed with tears. She had taken a man's life. Not just any man, Hardin’s life. She was free, he would never hurt her again. She felt even more guilt when that realization set in, and she let out a small sob.

“Apryl?” came Alex’s voice to her pulling her from her dark thoughts. Turning slowly he could see her swollen split lip and the bruises forming on her face, no one would ever touch her again, he would see to that. 

Saying nothing she ran to him needing to feel his arms around her, needing his warmth. Tingles erupted through their bodies where their skin touched. He held her close, his face in her hair, her scent calming him. She was alive that was all that mattered, alive and safe. He would never put her in harm's way again.

Gage cleared his throat behind them. “Alpha, I’ll clean this up, why don’t you take her outside”

Alex picked Apryl up, her legs wrapping around his waist. She felt lighter than the night he had carried her from sanctuary, the distance he had put between them more than likely the cause. He hated himself for putting her through that, for causing her pain. For pushing his wolf's needs aside. He had made so many mistakes. But when her arms circled tighter around his neck and her fingers ran into his hair, her face pressed into his neck, he forgot them all.

“Spring rain” she murmured.

“What?” he wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly.

“You smell like spring rain,” she inhaled him again, “and campfires”

He couldn’t help but to smile. It was in that moment he knew that she felt the mate pull. She could smell him, she had seen him shift and was still there in his arms she trusted him. He was so wrong about her, she wasn’t weak at all, she was stronger then she ever let on. 

They stepped out into the cool air. The moon was high and bright in a crystal clear sky. Fireflies danced in the fields as crickets sang their tunes. Alex took her out into the middle of a field where an old hay wagon sat. He tried to set her down but she clung tighter to him. In truth he wasn’t ready to let her go either, so he sat with her nestled onto his lap.

Breaking the silence, “Apryl I-” Alex began.

She lifted her head from his shoulder and placed a finger against his lips “Shhh. Just hold me please.”

“Okay”

They sat there in each other's embrace and listened to the night. Alex could see that Gage had come out of the house and was walking around splashing something all over it. Then Gage lit a match and tossed it inside the front door. Flames erupted and quickly consumed the neglected building. Apryl turned as she watched the house go up in flames. 

‘You killed him’ the shock was wearing off and the guilt was beginning to consume her. She could do nothing to control her emotions as she let out a wail and began sobbing.

“Hey, Hey, what's the matter, moon?”

“I killed him-I killed someone Alex” she hiccupped out.

“You don’t know that.”

“I shot him, I saw the blood I shot him. I shot someone” she was borderline hysterical the pain written all over her face was more than he could bear.

His hands slowly came to her face as he gently brushed her tears away mindful of the bruises. “There is no way to tell which of us killed him. He’s gone, you're safe, and that’s all that matters to me” Brushing his thumb across her lips, he stared into her eyes, “your incredible and I am so proud of you.”

Her breath hitched in her throat and her tears dried up. They had killed him. Together. He had been willing to die for her and she for him. There was no denying there was something between them. His touch eased the pain she felt where Hardin had slapped her. Her skin burst into tingles and warmth whenever he touched her, she felt stronger in his presence, there was undeniably something there. He made her feel safe, from the moment she had laid eyes on him. 

‘Alex had turned into a wolf’, how could she have forgotten that!? She watched in that split second when he turned into that black wolf with teal eyes. ‘Wait, teal eyes?’

“That night that you found me, the wolf I saw that evening, that-that was you, wasn’t it?”

“Yes”

“You growled at me.”

“Yes”

“Why?”

Alex let out a sigh. “Because you are my mate.”

“Mate?”

“Yes.”

“What’s a mate?”

Alex couldn’t help but chuckle,, “Out of all the things you could ask right now you chose that? You really are one of a kind”

“Alpha,” Gage interrupted, “Those flames are getting pretty high, someone will see them soon, we should go.”

Gage was right, they needed to be long gone from here before anyone arrived to investigate. He had so many things to tell Apryl, to explain. She appeared to be okay with everything she saw, but what would it be like when the shock of the day wore off. Would she hate him, fear him?

“Do you trust me?” he asked her

“More than anyone.” She blushed.

“I promise we will talk about all of this when we get home. But for now, cliff note version. I’m a werewolf, he’s a werewolf” Alex pointed towards Gage who smiled broadly at Apryl. “I’m going to shift now, I won't hurt you, I want you to climb on my back and hold on tight. We can cover more ground faster that way.” Alex held his breath, not sure what he was going to have to say to convince her that everything would be okay and that his wolf would never hurt her. He wanted to tell her everything, and answer every little question she had. But it would have to wait until she was away from this place and they were alone. Shi passed into his mind fearful she would be afraid of him and say no. Alex wasn’t sure Shi could handle that, and it was his fault he was in such a fragile state. Neither of them expected her simple response.

“Okay