The Beta and the Lost

Chapter 1 Michael “How did we get here? Everything was so perfect. We were happy and in love, and now it feels like nothing. Will ever be the same again.” I keep asking myself the same questions over and over again, but I still couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t do anything to fix what was happening on the other side of those doors. The doors that blocked my access to the most important thing in my life. Normally, I was so strong, but right now, at this moment, I have never felt weaker. 6 Months Ago The training sessions seemed to drag on lately. We had a new group of pups that were just starting out, and while a couple of them showed potential, they still had a lot to learn. Even though I was Chris’s Beta, I had volunteered to train the newest generation of recruits since I was unmated. Darren, the usual trainer, recently found his mate, and they are still in the honeymoon phase, if you know what I mean. Those two could not keep their hands to themselves. I couldn’t be upset with them though, from what I have been told, once you find your mate, you are on edge all the time. Your mate is the one wolf that you are destined to be with, your perfect other half. They are the one individual that can calm you down with nothing more than a touch or take your breath away by walking into the room. While some people around here are happy to stay unmated, but that wasn’t me. I wanted to find my other half. Every time I could come across someone new, I would take an extra second or two, just to see if I could feel the oil that comes with finding your mate. I was standing on the edge of the training grounds when I heard footsteps. My wolf had his ears perked up as well. The footsteps were too heavy to be those of another wolf. While large creatures, we are natural predators. Being stealthy was part of the requirement and a large part of the training that I am currently teaching the pups. I kept listening to see if I could still hear the footsteps. They were getting louder, as though the person they belonged to was exhausted and dragging their feet. It was not common for someone. to venture out this deep into the woods. Our pack’s territory was buried so deep in the mountains of Montana that we have always considered ourselves to be well hidden and secure. They must be lost. The footsteps continued to get louder and more dragged out until I heard a thud, a sure sign that they had fallen. I ran towards where I heard the footsteps, unsure of what I would find when I got there. Alexis “What was I thinking?” I chastised myself. “What on earth made me think it would be a good idea to go hiking alone? Let alone in an area that I am not familiar with.” I lost track of time when my phone died, and since I forgot my watch, I have no idea how long I have been wandering around these mountains. Hiking has always been a passion of mine. I especially love to go hiking in new places, to find the hidden treasure that only a few have been fortunate enough to find. I was exhausted, and while I had a little food leftover from the snacks I packed, it did nothing to quench my thirst. I have always been athletic, so my stamina was not an issue, but even the most athletic person in the world needs water every now and then. It felt like hours that I had been wandering these woods, hoping I could find my way back to the trail, but as the night got darker, the likelihood of that happening got slim. My feet were so sore by the time I saw what looked like lights up ahead. “Just keep going. Almost there,” I kept telling myself. I just knew that if I could make it to that. Light, then everything would be okay. I didn’t realize how tired I was until I stopped to take a rest on a nearby rock. When I got up to keep going, the trees were suddenly shifting, and everything went black. I woke up surrounded by bright, flickering lights. Unfamiliar with what I was seeing, I sat up quickly, which ended up being a bad idea. As soon as I sat up, the lights started moving, and I felt my head spinning. Before I had a chance to fall again, I felt strong hands on my shoulders, steadying me. "Whoa, take it easy," he said, "how are you feeling?" All I could do was stare at him. He was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. He had messy, dirty blonde hair and dark blue eyes. His eyes were like the ocean, swirling blue with specks of green. It would have been so easy to just keep staring and get lost in them, but I had to come to my senses. Finally, the words started to come out again, “W…Who are you? W…Where am I?” They seemed like valid questions. He took a minute, like he was contemplating his answer, “You are in our medical wing, I found you unconscious on the edge of the tree line. What’s your name?” “Alexis. Lexi,” I responded. “It’s nice to meet you Lexi, My name is Michael.” His words were calm and gentle, and every word he said sent a warm feeling throughout my body. I didn’t know why he made me feel that way, but I doubted that I would be around him long enough to find out. “Why did you bring me here?” I demanded, trying to sound braver than I felt. I needed to know if he was going to hurt me, though if he was going to hurt me, why would he have taken me to the hospital? Almost like he could read my mind, he replied, “I’m not going to hurt you. I brought you here because you hit your head when you fell, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” As if in cue, I suddenly felt a sharp pain on the side of my head. When I reached up to hold my head, my fingers came back with red smeared on them. If I was still bleeding, I couldn’t have been unconscious that long. “You’re safe here,” he continued, “you can stay as long as you need to recover.” It was like my body was waiting for permission, and I soon fell into a dreamless sleep.