The Girl The Alpha Chose (18+)

Chapter 8

"Oh no! You're hurt!" A tiny voice filled his ears. His body was in pain and he refused to open his eyes, thinking the hunters were just playing games with him.

It wasn't until small warm hands petted his face gently that he opened his eyes, knowing hunters would never be gentle to their enemies.

Hazel clashes with Grey and he whines. A toothy grin forms on the girl's face as she rubs under his chin.

"It's ok doggy! I'll make sure you're ok!"

-----

Hard brown eyes stared down at him, Cold and calculating.

He is secretly glad his parents were tough on him as a kid otherwise he'd probably be shaking right now.

"So, you were sleepwalking?" Thais said, her arms crossed as she repeated her daughter's words. Sunni nods and the two are under her scrutinizing gaze for a few moments before the woman sighs and relaxes. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have taken extra precautions."

Sunni shrugs, a slight frantic look on her face. "I didn't even know it happened until I woke up in a pond this morning!"

"All the way to Birchwood? Child, you're going to send me to my grave early!" Thais said in a chastising tone. "Go get ready for school."

Sunni opens her mouth but closes it, sending Archer an apologetic look when her mother glares at her. She runs up the stairs and Archer tunes out when he hears the shower start, not wanting to think about that with the love of his life's mother in front of him.

Thais looks at the tall teen, watching the fond look in his eyes as he stares after her daughter and she holds back a smile.

'Ahh, young love.'

"Thank you for taking care of my daughter and bringing her back." She speaks up, chuckling inwardly as the male turns his attention to her, a nervous look on his face.

"It's not a problem! I'd do anything for her." He says before his eyes widen. Stammering, he tried to take back what he said. "I mean, she's a classmate and obviously I wasn't going to let her walk thirty miles home-"

Thais laughs, cutting him off as she gives a teasing smile. "Son, it's fine, I get what you mean….She can be a blockhead sometimes, but she's worth it."

The woman winks at the teen, watching him blush and she laughs again.

Her daughter had an admirer. How cute!

"If I may ask, does this happen often?"

Thais looks to the stairs that her child went up minutes before and signs, a somewhat far look in her eyes. "Not always. It really started when her father died a few years ago and it stopped almost a year ago, but I guess it may be coming back."

Something happened a few days ago when Sunni went to watch the meteor shower, but she didn't know how to bring it up, since the girl hasn't given indication.

"Oh, my condolences…" Archer said, the air a bit awkward. She knew what he wanted to ask but didn't know how to. She threw him a lifeline.

Thais smiled. "Thank you. She was with him when he passed. The two were hiking and he was attacked by wolves. Sunni was so distraught, we all were, but it took a toll on her since she saw his death. She wouldn't eat, sleep and when she did, she would sleepwalk and wake up to the place he died. I ended up having to send her and her brother to their grandparents for a year to get away."

Archer sat there, listening as he soaked in everything that came out of the woman's mouth.

That explained why she was so catatonic back in middle school. It also explained why-

Something struck him as he went still, Thais's voice drifting as he thought back a few years ago. There were frequent rogue attacks in the neighboring packs and his father was on high alert. He remembers there being a casualty in Bulhmark, because he had to make an appearance as the Mayor about the so-called 'animal attacks' and a small service for that said person.

He had realized it was Sunni's father.

He felt so stupid. He could have helped her through it! Been there for her more, but he had been too busy sulking when she up and disappeared-

"Archer?" Thais's calming voice breaks his inner trainwreck of a mind.

His head snaps up and looks away from her concerned stare. "I'm fine, I was just remembering some stuff."

The woman nods and the two are in silence for a moment before a loud thud breaks it. They both snort in amusement as they hear Sunni confirmation that she was ok before another thud was heard.

Thais shook her head, a smile on her face. "That girl. Anywhoo, thank you again."

Archer just gives her a smile and the woman stands up, heading towards the stairs. She pauses, looking at him with a fiery look.

"She can be a bit slow when it comes to that, so be patient. Although I will hunt you down if you hurt her."

She walks up the stairs before he could comprehend what she said before smiling to himself, puffing up a bit.

She had given her approval and he'll take it.

Sunni comes down the stairs minutes later, looking refreshed. Her thick hair was braided and laid on the side of her neck. Her shirt was a simple white button up with the sleeves rolled up and tucked into a pair of purple colored shorts completed with her signature boots.

His heart warmed as she smiled at him, the same toothy smile she had given him all those years ago.