Howls of Apollo

Sedecim

Apollo felt it when she left. That nagging feeling that just wouldn’t go away no matter how bad he’d shake it off. It started the moment he walked away from her after their confrontation in the hall. He said some things he knew he shouldn’t have but he’s been so angry the past few days, he took it out on her. He was angrier at himself than at her, but he there was that shred of annoyance when he realized the added threat she brought to the pack when she told them the story of what happened to her grandfather’s pack ten years ago.

His wolf was screaming at him having to witness the poor excuse of a behavior he gave his mate at the clinic back at Clara Solis, intensifying when they got back to his pack. Even the pack members haven’t been so blind to it. Some even following in his lead, jumping at the opportunity to terrorize the Luna they’ve been apprehensive to since the beginning.

He regrets it. The thought struck him immediately when he felt her leave. The bond stretched for as long as it could before it dulled into a wavering feeling when he figured she crossed the border and got far enough. It took him a moment of pause to comprehend what just happened, before his wolf whimpered loudly in his head and curled on in itself and retreated from him, blocking him out.

He rushed from his office in the pack house to his house and headed straight for her room, throwing the door open. Having greeted by the emptiness of the room, he refused to believe what his wolf has already confirmed and checked the closet for her clothes. Only for his stomach to plummet when almost all of her clothes were gone, leaving behind what he could guess are the ones unable to fit in whatever carrier she took with her.

He blanked out after that, finding himself in the holding cells, shaking with un-sprung rage and remorse. Krii told him they heard a thundering growl coming from his home and he had to be taken into the cells to get him to lash out his anger without hurting anyone. He woke up fourteen hours later, externally calm but internally raging.

If only he’d handle it better. The rational part of his brain knew better than to take his frustrations out on his mate, but he allowed his judgment to be clouded enough not to believe it. He set his pride far, far aside to admit within himself he was wrong to do what he did. If only he could get his mate in front of him to admit it to her as well.

The threat of Alistair didn’t help quell his anger at all. Knowing he could be anywhere and might jump at the opportunity to get her had his wolf growling restlessly in his head, giving him a throbbing headache.

The pack was informed almost immediately, sending his commanders, Rush at the lead to volunteer themselves to search for her. Even Krii took it upon himself to instantly contact Atlas to ask if she’d gone back to Clara Solis. Apollo himself called up his cousin, remembering he offered for her to visit his pack and maybe she thought of going to him. He knew she’d be too smart to do what they think she’d do, he took a chance.

Both alphas regretfully said no.

Seeing how his mate has managed to earn the respect and admiration of his men shot another arrow bearing regret through him. Reminding him how he seemed unappreciative of the mate he wasn’t supposed to have but do, or in this case, did.

The phone rang, quickly snapping his attention to it. Slowly placing it to his ear without checking the caller, Apollo let out a heavy breath and greeted the person on the other line.

“Apollo” 

He ran a hand through his face at the sound of his sister’s voice. She had given him an earful when she found out Skaia was gone. He forgot how much his sister adored his mate. He listened to him call him out on everything he did wrong and internally agreed to each one.

“I’m not in the mood to be scolded again Lyra. I heard you loud and clear the last time.” He said weakly.

“No, it’s not that.” His brows furrowed when the tone of Lyra’s voice mirrored his. He straightened up quickly, asking her what’s wrong.

“I had a vision.” She said lowly. He heard her exhale a deep breath and his heart hammered in his chest yet he waited for her to continue.

“She’s coming back.” His heart skipped a beat hoping it’s who he thinks it is, and a relieved smile broke out of his face when his sister confirmed it by saying exactly who. “Skaia’s coming back.”

“But” his smile faded almost instantly.

“You need to be ready. She knows.” That was all it took to get his mood to take a turn for the worst.

She knows. If she’s coming back that means she found out from wherever she went. That thought alone raised his hackles in caution, wondering who could have had known for all these years. He couldn’t help but hope it wasn’t Alistair. That he didn’t get to her and filled her head with corrupt thoughts to turn her against him. Well, he did a great job at that already.

“Who told her?” He asked, more like demanded.

“I didn’t see. I just saw her coming onto the land, storming into your office and stating what she found out. She was angry.” He shut his eyes in frustration at the last sentence. He wanted to be the one to tell her, but with what happened, he didn’t even think of planning to anytime soon.

“Alright Lyra, I’ll just wait for her then. I’ll take her wrath. I know I deserve it.” He said to her, only to be met with silence on the other line, expressing her agreement.

He slumped back on his chair after the phone call. He dreaded yet couldn’t wait for her arrival. He found himself in another dilemma in addition to his mate’s impending arrival. What was he going to say? He knows he needs to apologize, but should he do that before or after she unleashes her anger on him? How the tables have turned. He was brought to grovel at his knees by his little mate.

At the thought of her, he was taken back to the night they met. He remembers being instantly taken by her hazel eyes and enchanting features, and how his nephew just takes to her. He didn’t miss the way eyes would follow her when she moved, something he found out was a natural occurrence when it comes to her.

He knew that night she was unlike any other to be paired with him, even if he couldn’t believe to be given a mate at first, but his thought proven true when he watched as she interacted and effortlessly weaved herself into the pack, beating his top commander and taking on the role of Luna perfectly albeit unconsciously.

She complimented him, and dare he say it, she was so much better than him. He never thought how much he’d crave for her to be within reach again until he felt her leave. He set aside how her newfound gift would bring attention to their pack, and who her grandfather was, and for once, he saw her. Who she was and how much of an i***t he was for taking her for granted.

For an alpha with a supposedly superior mindset, he could be an i***t.

The doors to his office sprung open and in walks the woman plaguing his thoughts.

There stood Skaia at the entrance of his office, a long dark cloak over her, held together by a broach with an insignia he’s never seen before resting on the hollow of her neck. There was a serious expression on her face, and her eyes held a blankness to them he’s never seen before.

Apollo rose from his seat, keeping his eyes on her.

Skaia strode calmly across his office and stopped a few feet away from his desk, her own gaze unwavering from his.

Apollo’s eyes danced across her face, noticing how different she looked from the last time he saw her. She had dark circles under her eyes, her own eyes holding such distress it was hard to look at. She looked in complete disarray despite physically put together. This Skaia however, is as put together like the first time he saw her. There was no hesitance in her steps anymore, and despite the coldness of her expression, there was color back on her cheeks.

His curiosity as to where she went burned brighter than before.

She was the first to break the silence. “I won’t chide you Apollo.” The sureness of her voice rang throughout his office, full and steady.

Apollo resisted the urge to wince at her words, not expecting them at all. He wasn’t expecting this. When Lyra said she would be angry, he expected her to come in screaming and possibly throwing things at him. He keeps forgetting his mate always has her way of things. Even slapping him without having to touch him.

“I’ve had a few days to think.” She started, her eyes bearing down on him, delicate yet (opposite of delicate). “I never intended to return” His pulse spiked, not in a good way. “However, a turn of event changed my mind.” He was surprised at that, and was going to ask her what when she spoke again, halting the words in his throat.

“I am not going to ask you anything.” He wanted her to, he answered in his mind. Because he would willingly answer them. “I already have all the answers I need.” She said, blinking her eyes slowly to soften her expression only to revert it to blank.

“I will tell you though, the threat to your pack is the same reason my pack fell ten years ago.” His heart clenched when she referred to another pack as hers and he wanted to correct her and tell her this is also her pack.

“I may have lost my home, but I will not let you lose yours. Despite who we are and what that entails, I will stay and do what I can to eliminate this common threat.” His ears rang at her words.

‘Despite who we are and what that entails’ She does know. If so, why isn’t she calling him out like Lyra did? His mind boggles at his mate.

“I know you came up with new protocols and routines for training, so I’ll be with Rush and the others to get up to speed. I’ll add improvements where they fit.” She said, before she walked out, leaving Apollo to stare after her.

How the tables have turned indeed.