The Alphas Hidden Mate

Chapter 12; Wolves

"I am still so mad at you" I said to Crace, entering my place. I threw my bag on the lounge and stormed to my room. Crace sighed heavily from behind me. He also threw his bag on the couch and followed me into the room.

"Look, I admit. Maybe some warning for you would have been a good idea." He admitted. I turned to him and raised a brow.

"Really?" I said, gasping in faux surprise. "You don't say?" I rolled my eyes at him and moved to the bathroom so I could shower off the sweat from the workout.

"You can't deny that it was a genius idea though! I don't know about you but the pangs of the separation were already driving me and Seiko mad. Especially Seiko - he wouldn't stop howling in despair!" He exclaimed. 

"Oh really?" I said, intrigued. It was interesting that Seiko was more bonded to me than Anika was bonded to Crace.

"Yes. I'm sure your wolf was behaving the exact same way." He said, following me into the bathroom.

"Actually, no, she wasn't. Sure, she was a little sad and wished to be with you and Seiko but she wasn't howling. Also, where do you think you are going?" I asked him. He held his hands up in surrender and stepped out of the bathroom.

"Your wolf wasn't devastated?" He asked me, head tilted in curiosity. A strand of brown hair flopped a little and I fought the urge to push it back into his hair style. That would just lead to things that I was not ready for today.

I shrugged and closed the door. I started to undress. "Not particularly." I called through the door. I put my hair up in a bun and turned on the shower. I waited until the water turned warm before stepping in. There was no reply from Crace for a few minutes and I started to worry. "Crace? Are you still there? I'm not sure if you've said something or not. I can barely hear over the shower." I yelled. 

There was a few more minutes of silence before he actually replied. "Sorry, I was speaking with my wolf. He is just as intrigued as I am that your wolf isn't feeling the pangs at the same magnitude as we are," He answered, loud enough for it to cut through the shower sounds. 

"I don't know what to tell you. I was sad and so was she. We weren't desperate though." I told him. I finished lathering myself with soap and rinsed it off. I let the water wash over me for a few more minutes, letting it run over my face and I took a moment for peace and clarity. This was my ritual every day. It helped me unwind and really allow myself to do a mental health check. Anxiety was no stranger and neither was depression. Though they were minor, they still lurked in the distance. Allowing myself to take a moment or two extra in the shower and do a mental health check, it really helped me keep it under control.

I took a deep breath and was finally at peace with myself when suddenly the shower door opened. I gasped in surprise while Crace stood there smirking.

"Hi" He said, charmingly. I clutched my chest as I tried to get my heartbeat back to normal.

"Crace! You can't just do that! You scared the sh*t out of me!" I exclaimed. I rubbed my face and ran my fingers through my hair. 

"You had gone silent for a moment or two and I got worried. I had to check if you were okay." He said, pouting,

I sighed at him. "That doesn't give you the right to just barge in on me in the shower! Couldn't you sense that I was still in here? Or mind link me?" I asked him. I turned off the tap to the shower and got out. Well, tried to. Crace was standing in my way. I raised my eyebrow at him again, expectedly. He just grinned.

"Yes?" He said, innocently. 

"Would you mind moving out of the way so I can get a towel? It's getting a little cold, just standing here." I told him, smiling. He bit his lip and looked at my breasts that were exposed and taut. My n*****s were peaked from the sudden change in temperature. 

"I would mind, actually. Why move when the view I have is splendid?" He said, grinning wickedly. He flicked a n****e and I almost moaned from the wave of pleasure it bought me. OMG, get it together, you w***e I thought to myself. It was embarrassing how quickly he turned me on.

"Crace" I begged him. "Please move" I clarified so he didn't misread my begging. He eyed me and my body for a solid two minutes - my guess, enjoying the view one last time - before he wordlessly moved out of the way. "Thank you!" I said, kissing him on the cheek. He chuckled and slapped my butt as I walked past him. I yelped a little and glared at him.

I towelled myself off and got changed into some comfortable clothes. Crace waited patiently for me on my bed. "So what were you saying before?" I asked him.

"I was saying that we should have our wolves meet tonight. Seiko is very anxious to meet your wolf and would like to ask her some questions." He said, flipping through one of my books. I snatched it off him. I was very possessive of my books.

"Oh..." I said, hestitantly. Anika hasn't even been out yet. She must be going stir-crazy.

Damn straight I am, but unlike our mates wolf, I have some sense of decorum and don't drive our human counterpart crazy with pestering She said in my mind. I laughed a little out loud at that.

"What?" Crace asked me, confused.

"Oh nothing." I said, nonchalantly. I put the book away and sat next to him. "What questions does your wold - Seiko - have?" I asked him, playing with his shirt nervously. Anxiety came forward a little as I thought about letting Anika out and finally meeting Seiko. 

"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me." He said, tucking some of my baby curls behind my ear. The gesture calmed me a little and I leant my head against his palm. His touch soothed me and my anxiety dissolved. "Don't worry. If Seiko starts to freak you out or concern you then I will immediately take back control. You have nothing to worry about though, he really is just a giant teddy bear." He assured me. I laughed a little. His eyes glazed over a moment before he spoke next. "He wants me to tell you that he doesn't like being compared to a teddy bear, especially when he is a powerful animal...though when it comes to you and your wolf, he will gladly and proudly carry the title." He said, chuckling.

Please let me out, Serena. I would like to meet Seiko formally Anika asked me. I promise that I will protect you if anything goes wrong. She also assured me. Though you would do well to remember that you are also a powerful wolf as well. She stood proudly in the forest of my mind and she shook her fur, getting ready. 

"You were conversing with your wolf?" Crace asked me, curiously. I nodded and sighed.

"Yes, she is also very eager to meet Seiko. Her name is Anika, by the way." I informed him. I got up and nervously rubbed my hands on my pants. 

"Anika..." Crace mused, the name rolled of his tongue effortlessly. "Such a powerful wolf name...it's the perfect match" He said, smiling at me. I rolled my eyes. 

"Okay, cutie. Let's get this done. The longer I wait, the more anxious I get and the more anxious Anika gets" I told him. "Can we do it in the forest, please? The forest really helps me with anxiety, and I could really use the help" I said, laughing a little nervously. Crace stood up and held my hands, comfortingly.

"Of course, Fairy Nymph Queen. I'll be happy to do whatever I can to help" He told me. "I'll meet you there?" He asked me, looking down at me. I nodded. With Gabriella being her ever persistent self, we needed to be extra careful. God, I hated that I lived right behind her even more now. Crace grabbed his bag and smiled at me. He kissed me on the lips, briefly before taking off. 

"Okay, this is finally happening." I said to myself, pacing my room slightly. I felt like I was giving myself a pep talk before having s*x. Though to me, this was even more important. 

Remember, Serena. You are just as powerful Anika assured me. I took a breath of courage and marched out the door, locking it behind me. You got this! I thought, confidently. I guess I was gonna fake it until I make it on this one. 

As I made my way to the forest, the only thing on my mind was; dang, now I'm going to have to take another shower... which helped me relax a little...