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Chapter 6: Burning Flame

After dinner had finished, we started to say our goodbyes to Talia's family. Beta Tate had to head back out to patrol with my father and some other pack members so I offered to drive Celeste and Taylor back to their home. My mom told me not to get into any trouble and hugged me goodnight. Outside I stopped by my father and Tate, "Dad how did the rest of today investigation go?". He looked at me annoyed, "Phi it's gunna be a long process. Why don't you go out with some friends tonight and keep yourself busy."

I was smirking because I had already planned on keeping myself busy although it wasn't with other friends. I heard Tate's low growl. "Talia make sure you stay home with your mother and brother too!", he snapped hastily. I seen her roll her eyes from the corner of my own. She hugged her dad and then we headed to the car to warm it up for her mom and brother. I got in the driver side and she got in the back. I looked at her confused. "Out of respect for my mom.", she said. I nodded and caught her eyes in the rearview mirror. A intense gaze flashed between us, but neither of us spoke as Celeste opened the passenger side door. She ducked her head in, "Where's ...Oh there you are! You didn't have to sit in the back honey I would have.", she had on a beeming smile as usual. Taylor launched himself in behind my seat and started to fidget in every direction kicking me several times. I growled lowly which made his attention turn to me. "Sorry." he mumbled sheepishly. I laughed as I started to pull out the drive way.

Taylor was quiet for the rest of the ride home beside asking for some music. I obliged breaking up the silence. Half-way to her home Celeste turned down the radio and looked at me. "So, how do you feel about possibly finding your mate Phoenix.", I knew this was a trick question. She loved me and Tal together so I knew she was worried about how we would play out moving on. "I'm excited.", I started slowly, "We both knew this day was going to come, so we prepared ourselves for it. I hope that me and Talia remain friends afterward though for sure." I seen her ponder for her next question. "Don't you think keeping Talia around would hurt your mate?" I honestly hadn't thought about that. "Well, I would hope not if I had to lose Talia altogether I'd be upset, but I'd be Alpha and I'd figure out a way to keep them both happy. I'm hoping my mate would be understanding of course, but I guess we will have to wait and see."

I caught Talia's gaze in the mirror again this time she looked a little lost. I had a lump in my throat now. Seeing her look like she was hurting killed me inside. I'd make sure to ask her about it later. "Ah, well here we are." I said happy the interrogation was over. "Yup, here we are. Please, thank your parents for having us over tonight. We appreciated it as well as the company. It's good to stay close together in times like these." I smiled at her, "I'll make sure to let them know." Talia walked with her family to the door. I waited for them to go in, I watched puzzled as she instead hugged her mom and came running back to the car. She whipped the door open and jumped in. "She said I didn't need to stay in!" she had a smile on from ear to ear. Mine grew in place.

"Where to miss?" I asked now my excitement growing. She leant over and kissed me hard biting my bottom lip, "My favorite place."

I drove towards the north mountains. Luckily her favorite spot was camping grounds full of cottages there. Wolves would be on runs up there so we wouldn't be totally alone, but her cottage would be empty since her mom was home and her Dad was with my Dad near the crime scene. After we drove out of view from her parents home she climbed into my lap. She was petite compared to me. She laid on my chest and kissed on my neck most of the way there. I had to swerve a few times because of the happy distraction. At every red light I'd tangle my hands through her hair and kiss her deeply until it turned green again. This game continued untill we reached the bottom of North Mountain.

She sprang out of the car on my side. and undressed quickly. The moon light was blazing off her skin. She shifted into a small dark fur wolf with silver eyes. She howled at me pleading for me to hurry up. I grabbed a duffle bag I kept in the trunk and threw her things into it and then quickly undressed and threw my stuff in as well and zipped it up. I shifted and grabbed the bag with my mouth and we ran up the mountain. It was another cool evening and I could hear various wolves nearby through our link. I tried not to be nosey but it was sometimes a hard feat. Talia linked to me and I focused on her. "Throw our things by our cabin door and meet me near the pond." Her wolf was ecstatic and hyper. I felt amazing when I was with her, she was full of life. I nodded and ran off to my left to a circling group of cottages and dropped our bag off at the door. I raced to catch back up to Talia.

At the pond she was with a few other wolves I recognized, some of our old classmates, Lyric and James. I heard their conversations about work and the dating scene. I walked up to them and said, "Hey.", on cue they both bowed before me knowing I was the Alpha son. I smirked letting it go to my head. They immediately started asking when they were allowed to run back to the other mountain where the boy had been found. "You'll have to wait until Alpha addresses the pack." They seemed annoyed, I growled lowly to let them know to back off. I was tired as it was and I was done answering questions for the day.

Talia came and rubbed herself under my chest. I tried to playfully snap on her tail but she caught me in my snout with her back paw. That started a game of chase. I ran after her all the way to the top of the mountain. There weren't any other wolves around because there wasn't any coverage from trees. I found Talia on top of a large boulder looking up at the stars. I stood there and gazed upon her wolf for a moment. I trodded up to her and she licked my face, I leaned my head over hers. "Talia why did you look said when I was talking to your mom in the car tonight?" She looked up at my with the same look in her eye, only now it was her wolf I was staring at. "I knew we would one day find our mates, I didn't know that I would also possibly have to lose you forever." She shuddered a bit. "I'll figure something out. You won't lose me forever." I replied trying to sound earnest. "I know if it was me I wouldn't like it either. How can I expect your mate to live with me around you knowing what we were?", she sounded sad. "Tal, if you want to change our agreement, let me know right now. I'll do that for you." She looked up at me, smiled and said, "I only want one thing from you Phoneix.", and she nudged me hard and ran off into the direction of the cottage.