Stranger with the Stars

She Smelled Like Strawberries PT4

The next time I saw her around campus, she looked indifferent to the club event. I had become harder to talk to by anyone around. I snapped at simple questions. I stormed off without reason. The fight from the night was a simple matter of a drunk human, and a werewolf claiming a mate. The woman chose the mating pull, causing the human male to be set into a drunken rage. It took a few minutes to convince him to get back inside. By the time the situation was cleared, and my men sent off, Ellie was already gone. Her smell gently lingered at a booth on the other side of the room. 

She had gone home. My body ached with regret. My wolf raged inside. I had let her slip through my fingers once again. Every time I saw her, even for a brief moment, my wolf clawed to get to her. I couldn’t focus on the one class we held together. My mind swirled with her, day in and day out. My skin tingled each time I recalled us dancing. 

I only had one class today, the one in the evening that was shared with Ellie, Archer, and Matton. 

I just wanted to see her. I knew I’d find her on campus sooner today. I was hoping I could catch her in time before her next class, or when she was leaving it. I needed to tell her what was going on. I had been doing laps around the area for the past hour. I had a few of my men spread out to let me know if she was seen entering, and in what area. I hadn’t explained to them what exactly it was for, but I think they already knew what was going on. They agreed without question, posting to each corner. I was going crazy.

“Alpha, she’s entered on the northside. She has parked and is making her way towards the library, there is a male following her.” Cadon mindlinked me. He was one step below my Beta. Another male? Following her? Something felt wrong. 

I was now sprinting across campus. I was linking to the others to meet me there, but to give me at least a few minutes to analyze the situation. 

“Alpha, the male is becoming aggressive, he’s pulled her out of sight. Do you want me to intervene?” Cadon linked, pressing the urgency.

“No, I’m almost there. Stand by for further orders.” I needed to make sure she was safe.

By the time I ran up, they were next to an older brick building. Ellie was on the ground, the male was standing above, spitting insults. I knew him. He was a low rank pack member. Noah was his name. 

“Now you want to play hard to get, I can work with that.” Noah shouted at her. My wolf was clawing to be fronted, but I knew if he did, Ellie would be scared off. I couldn’t lose my temper here. A growl ripped out of my body. 

“That’s enough!” I commanded. Noah froze in his spot. I stood between them, showing I wasn’t backing down from protecting Ellie.

“Oh, oh hey there Alp-” He eyes shot to Ellie, and then back to me. 

“Mine.” I growled out. 

Noah’s face showed horror. The realization that he assaulted his future Luna was dawning on him. An act that would absolutely be punished by the pack. He was starting to make steps back. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” I seethed out.

Noah began to beg. Telling me that he didn’t mean it. That he would have never pursued her if he knew that she was going to be mated to me. He rambled about how he didn’t know she was one of our kind, not smelling anything on her. 

My rage was filling my eyes. How dare he put his hands on any female, let alone Ellie. How many others had he done this too in the pack? In the town? He would have found his actions excusable if someone hadn’t walked up to this. Specifically if his Alpha didn’t walk up to him. I was doing my best to contain the rage, and my wolf. I crossed my arms to stop myself from throwing punches. 

I could hear Ellie shuffling behind me. She had to be scared. I turned to check on her. She wasn’t on the ground anymore, instead she was sprinting back to the parking lot. 

“Cadon, she’s running. Tell the others to take Noah in. He’s committed violations against the pack.” I linked to him immediately. Noah wasn’t going to get away. I needed to get to Ellie. 

“Ellie!” I called out to her. She never faulted. 

“Ellie, come back here!” I was pleading for her to stop. I could guarantee she’d come back. I couldn’t just chase her, that would scare her further.

I tried to run after her, but stopped after a few feet. I knew she wouldn’t hear me out today. She needed time to breathe and process what happened today. I watched as she threw herself into her truck. She sped out of the parking lot.

I turned back to Noah. He was now surrounded by his fellow pack members. People that he trusted, and that trusted him. 

“Noah, you better start f*****g talking if you plan to live through the next few days.” I called out, motioning for the others to take him back. 

Yet another missed opportunity to hold her. Another day I can’t be with her. We still had a class together tonight. I’d try once more.