Running Home

Fate or Friendship

POV Kyle

I needed to go for a run, my wolf was going all kinds of crazy after my encounter with Alex and Zander, I shifted and headed to the woods just on the outside of the village. Letting my wolf take control was almost like being on auto pilot, we barreled through the trees and over rocks, no human could navigate the terrain on this side of the mountain, the pack village was on a fairly flat top ridge that had been cleared years ago when the pack was formed creating the single entrance that lead in from the road, the surrounding sides of the village was forest that lead out to the mountain range followed by harsh cliff sides, if you didn't know to expect them you could easily send yourself tumbling to your death. After my wolf and I were both completely exhausted a made my way back towards the village, this way would bring me directly past Zander's parents house which was great because I could use some water and hopefully Zeke hadn't left to meet with Zander and the council already. I sauntered up to the front porch as Josie was watering the flowers, she walked inside and quickly returned with a pair of shorts and tossed them in my direction, I quickly shifted sliding the shorts on. "Hi Momma" I said out of breath. "Seems like you've had a rough morning let me get you some cold tea" she smiled sweetly quickly returning with two glasses, "Why don't you take this to Zeke, he's in the garage tinkering with something." "Yes ma'am thank you" I said kissing her on the cheek. She swatted me away the moment I'd taken the glasses, being the Luna while I was growing up and my father working off the pack land she had practically raised me as her own honestly I always thought she was part witch because she tended to know what I needed even before I did. Sure enough Zeke sat at his work bench a light blaring down on whatever was in front of him, he looked hard in thought but the moment I came towards the door he already knew I was there. "I told her I didn't need anything but she seems to think she knows me better" he said with a smirk grabbing the glass of tea and taking a huge gulp. I laughed and pulled up a stool beside him. "Did it rain and I didn't realize it?" he asked knowingly raising an eyebrow. "No I was out on the range for a run, I needed to get away" I replied. Zeke set the glass on the table and turned back to his work, "Why don't you tell me about this girl" he said, it was definitely not a question. "Alex? She lives in town above the auto shop and-" he cut me off. "I don't want the fluff, what's the deal with you and her?" he asked. I paused and sighed, sometimes I wished he didn't have such a keen ability to read people. "Were you two dating?" he looked at me pressing for an answer. "It's not like she was my girlfriend or anything but we had a pretty steady, uh relationship" I replied looking at the ground. "So you just didn't have the balls to ask her or what because it doesn't seem like she was just a piece of tail to you" Zeke had turned to face me. "Its complicated" I mumbled. "Bullshit nothing is that complicated so spill it" Zeke's dad tone gave me a shiver. "Z is going to kill me" I shook my head "I worked with Alex, she's a spy, so its not like she hung around many people or that I gave many humans a second glance, that no fear no bullshit attitude just drew me in I guess, one thing lead to another and we started spending more time together, besides sneaking around her landlords back who has a thing for her, no one really cared if they saw us together" I continued watching Zeke process what I was and wasn't telling him, "Zander came to me needing to hire someone for a job and it was exactly the type of thing Alex excelled at so I gave him her name just like I would for anyone else and I figured it was a bonus since being a pack job I'd definitely get to spend more time with her." Zeke looked at me intently, then chuckled, "So you've really stuck your foot in it this time? Let me get this straight, the 'human' that for all purposes was your unofficial girlfriend, you had Zander hire, and in doing so she discovered she was a wolf and Zander's mate?" Zeke bellow laughed, well I didn't think this was nearly as funny as he did. "I'm sorry Kyle I shouldn't laugh but had you not brought her to him, she'd still be living her life as normal and we wouldn't be about to figure out how to hide her in plain sight again." "Gee thanks for making me feel so great" I sighed. Zeke slapped me on the arm, "You've always been a son to me, and I'll tell you what I told Alex last night, I'd be proud seeing either of you with her, you're both good men, but I want you to think about this, you don't feel the mate bond with her but you do feel a need to protect her you could have been put in her path to bring her back home. I'm not telling you not to pursue her but I'm also saying to think about everything the Moon Goddess has put in front of all of us before continuing down that path." I looked at my feet then back up at Zeke "You've still got Ol' Man." "I never lost it don't you forget that, I was young dumb and full of -" Zeke stopped dead and looked at the entry of the shop, Josie was standing there arms crossed with a look like she was about to rip him in two. "You better not be giving this boy stupid advice" she scolded Zeke. I laughed glancing between them and stood up making my way towards her, "Never it was just what I needed" I said scooping her up into a hug. "You'd better get back, tell my son I'll be there shortly" Zeke said. I waved goodbye and walked the rest of the way to the Pack House, Zeke was right, I may have had a thing with Alex right before all this but had I known she was someone's mate I would have never gotten close, hell maybe I was just meant to put her on the right path to fulfill her destiny.

POV Alex

Jesus I wish he'd just sit down, every time Zander left my side my skin would burn. He'd been pulled away again by some other pack members, I hadn't seen Kyle since I barged in on him this morning and I really needed to apologize for that, my eyes glanced up and my wolf let out a low growl who the f**k is that b***h, standing talking to Zander was some skinny little chick batting her eyes at his every word each time she'd would reply she'd stroke his chest and smile, he didn't seemed phased by it in the slightest, but my wolf wanted to rip her head off. I stood up, I knew I shouldn't interfere when he was handing Alpha business but I'd be damned to watch her petting all over him. Zander glanced over at me as I approached his smile quickly faded and he braced positioning himself between me and the slut. "Alex this is Shelly she's one of the new nurses at the hospital under Dr. Gable, she was just thanking me for recommending her apply for the job" Zander calmly stated and he stepped out of the way, my wolf was still rabid inside my head, "Shelly this is my mate Alex." Shelly's eyes went wide as saucers "Luna" she bowed. I wrapped my arms around Zander's waist not replying. "If you excuse me I need to finish breakfast with my mate" Zander said politely nodding. He walked us back to the table and pulled me onto his lap, "Someone's jealous" Zander smirked. "I'm not normally I don't know she touched you and I just couldn't" I shook my head. "Oh I understand pixie, that is what I've been trying to explain to you, no one wants their mate touching someone else even if its completely innocent" he replied. At that moment I felt awful, I knew I'd purposely riled Zander up yesterday but I hadn't realized how it felt as a wolf. "I'm so sorry for yesterday and this morning and-" he cut me off with a hard kiss to the lips. He pressed his lips against mine, licking at my lips enticing me to surrender and let him in. I wrapped my hands up into his hair and let him take my mouth as his own, I shifted my weight in his lap feeling his manhood pressing against my thigh, the thought of his length inside of me made me wet. Zander moaned obviously noticing my arousal making him deepen his kiss, he dug his fingers into my ass and I ground my hips towards him. "Baby I want to take you right here" Zander said in a husky low voice. I looked as his eyes flashed black, the realization that we were in the center of the dining hall hit me and my face flushed red. Zander caught my embarrassment and kissed my neck, "were wolves baby I could take you right here and no one would say a thing." A slapped him in the chest and he gave me a dramatic look making me giggle. "Oh I promise I'm going to take you right here on this table the moment you let me in you" Zander smirked. Mmmmm the thought of him pressing me against the table and having his way with me was almost too much.  

"Alpha" a voice came from behind me. "Kyle" Zander replied. I jumped up almost crashing into Kyle, he steadied me by my arms and smiled softly. I quickly stepped back thinking about the incidents from earlier, and Zander pulled me back to his lap. Kyle sat down across from us, "Your dad said he would be up shortly" Kyle stated. "Good we have a meeting with council this afternoon to discuss the new events" Zander dryly replied. Part of me didn't even want to speak, the other wanted to make these two kiss and make up, it was all my fault they were having issues. Zander stared at Kyle with his arm firmly around my waist. "Listen I love you both" I blurted out, Zander growled and Kyle's eyes shot at me in shock I better get to my point quickly, "Zander I love you I've never felt like I do about you with anyone else you are home, Kyle I don't even know what to call you but you know I care about you, but you two need to get it together and stop this" I motioned between both of them.  "We wouldn't be in this mess if you'd just go take him to bed" Kyle smirked. "That's the smartest thing I've ever heard you say" Zander smiled giving me a squeeze. I was in shock at Kyle's response but laughed. "Fine" I replied an irritated tone slipped out of my mouth, I was almost hurt at Kyle's words we hadn't been in a relationship but I didn't realize I was nothing and he would just toss me to his friend without a thought, I got up and stormed out, instantly I regretted it because the heat in my skin returned. I didn't care I needed time to think, up till now I'd never dreamed of settling down with anyone and that included Kyle, now here I was in burning pain that wouldn't go away until I permanently bonded or rejected my mate. I power walked out into the middle of the village with no real destination in mind, forcing my hands in my pockets I kept moving even though the further from Zander I got the more my heart raced. 

The smell of cinnamon apple spread through my nose, I followed the smell to a little cottage window to see a pie cooling there, a little old woman approached placing a second pie down beside it, she caught my eye. "Well look at this I didn't think we'd see you again" she said, I was surprised because I had never seen her before, "Come in come in dear, I'll get you a glass of water you look like you could use it." I entered into her cottage which was decorated very simply, "Do I know you?" I questioned. "Oh I'm sure you don't but I know you" she replied, I began to get scared thinking back on everything Zeke had told us, she walked over towards a bookshelf carrying back a small silver photo frame handing it to me. It was the same little girl from the photo Zander had shown me, my eyes widened. "Its okay dear, I was friends with your mother for many years, I helped her to mask your wolf to keep you safe from all the madness" the old woman smiled with sad eyes. I had so many questions.