His Shy Omega

Chapter 8

— Axel POV —

   Getting off the plane after being gone for a year and seeing the familiar sites of the mountains and feeling the crisp air against my skin as the sun’s rays hit me felt overwhelming. I had decided to leave the same day I got the invitation so the plan for Chance to pick me up was botched. And I didn’t actually have anything of my own that I brought back on the plane since everything that I was bringing back was too big to fit in the overhead bin.  I had decided to surprise everyone and didn’t want anything hindering me from running home in wolf form. 

   Walking away from the airport, down the sidewalk, I noticed some businesses that were new, some that had closed, and one very dear place that I first met Chance’s sister, the Delicious Donuts. The wonderful smells wafted to my nose and I got the lovely idea to take her some donuts as a “hello”. 

  I walked into the cafe and saw Ms. Mabel, the genius behind Delicious Donuts, and a fellow werewolf. She wasn’t part of our pack, or any pack for that matter. She has lost her family and pack to a rogue attack years ago and never really recovered. She at one point has saved my dad’s life before I was born. I still have yet to know that story. Dad was super cagey about the incident. From embarrassment out for Ms Mabel, I couldn’t say. Every time I asked her about it she always changed the subject so I let it go but She probably the nicest rogue that father allowed to stay in his territory. She also gave me extra treats whenever I came to visit the store. 

   “I’ll be right with you.” Came that familiar voice I haven’t heard in a year. Ms. Mabel was behind the counter facing away from the door, glazing some fresh, hot donuts and piping designs on top.  The smells wafted up my nose giving me a sense of peace and relaxation. 

    I didn’t respond, since she knew my voice very well. My scent was also covered since she would have known it was me instantly.  Leaving my elbows on the counter she moved quick to finish up and help her “customer”.  

    I straightened up when I saw her turn around after placing her piping bag down, wiping her hands over the front of her apron. She had the stature of a grandmother figure to me. She was a little stooped over with age and her face had wrinkles around her eyes and forehead.  Even through grieving and loss she held quite a bit of grace in her manner. 

   I smiled waiting for her to notice who I was. “How can I help...” finally looked up.

   I held up my hands and shook them like jazz hands, “surprise!”

   “We’ll beast my donut and call me sugar!” She made her way around the counter and gave me a hug. “It’s been a long time boy. How are you doing? And when did you get back from your uncle’s?”

   I chuckled. Of course she would know that I went to my uncle’s pack. “I’m doing well actually. I just got in today. I left there yesterday to get here this morning. And I didn’t know what flights would look like if I had left any later.”

   “Well I’m glad your back and just in time to from what I hear which is a lot. You kids keep coming over here and wiping my inventory on the weekends so I have to work twice as hard.” She rolled her eyes up like she was angry. I knew she wasn’t. She never got angry unless someone got into her shop and ruined her system. It is part of the reason that she works mostly by herself. She doesn’t like anyone doing something different with her creations. 

   “I also know that since you are here you are getting a little something something for a certain young lady...” I blushed when she chuckled at my facial expression. “I also understand that that certain lady is turning 18 and becoming the new healer. I received an invitation to go to her induction ceremony.” 

    “Yeah she is. That’s part of the reason I came back so early. I wanted to surprise her. And what better way to do that then get some of her favorite donuts from you.” 

    “I’ll top my hat to that.”

   She went behind the counter again and got some of Rosertina’s favorites and mine before giving me the box. WE talked for a few more minutes before I walked out and made my way down the street headed towards the forest line. As I got closer a pungent smell hit me without warning, making my wolf’s heckles raise in anger. Rogues.  I set the box of donuts down on the forest floor and stripped out of my clothes before shifting. Gently scooping up my clothes and the box of precious donuts in between my wolf’s teeth, I ran towards the scent. WE picked up the pace when I realized that the scent was coming from the same direction as home.  It took us about two hours to get to our recognized forest area. 

   My wolf slowed down when he felt the rogue’s presence not too far away from us. Creeping forward slowly was quite difficult. With needles, pinecones, and sticks littering the forest floor it made it hard to stay silent. As we made our way forward the sound of the Great waterfall tickled my wolf’s ears. Underlying the pungent smell was the smell of vanilla and honeysuckle flowers. 

    Mate. 

   As we walked towards the scent, both scents intermingled, making my wolf raise his heckles at some damn rogue that dared to get close to our mate and our home. Finally spotting the bastard that trespassed on our land made my heart stop. The rogue was watching another wolf that was sunbathing next to the river. The wolf was absolutely beautiful.  Not many wolves were pure white but this wolf was damn close to being that. A very light tan draped down the side of the graceful creature. It took a minute to find the threat since he wouldn’t look away from her. 

   I finally found the perpetrator and snarled in my throat. 

   Wolf let him have it. 

   I thought you’d never ask. 

  My wolf growled and then sprung from our hiding spot, making our presence known which caused the rogue to turn towards us. It was alarmed for a second before racing towards our mate. 

   Like hell.