When The Wolf Ran

Chapter 6 - The Truth

Alexander — POV

The packhouse was a big mess.

Wolves were scattered all over the lawn after a long night of drinking. Some were asleep on the grass, while others were still laughing and talking as they made their way inside.

I barely noticed any of them.

All I could think about was her.

Rosalie.

I walked upstairs to my room and found Lena fast asleep in our bed.

I silently crept into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I stood beneath the ice-cold water, hoping it would clear my head.

It didn't.

I kept trying to think about how I was going to tell Lena the truth without completely breaking her heart. I also couldn't stop thinking about my parents and what this would do to the relationship I had only just started building with them.

After my shower, I quietly climbed into bed and pulled Lena into my arms.

She immediately snuggled deeper into my side.

But Chase protested hard.

He didn't want Lena.

He wanted Rosalie.

And as Lena's body pressed against mine, I realised something that made my stomach twist.

Her touch felt foreign.

I sighed and closed my eyes, trying my best to fall asleep.

But I couldn't.

It was already four in the morning.

Eventually, I gave up. I got out of bed, pulled on some clothes and sat down at my the desk to do some work.

My mind wasn't on work, though.

I picked up my phone and sent my dad a text.

Dad, call me when you can.

My phone rang almost immediately.

"Son... are you okay? Is Lena okay?" he asked, sounding worried.

I stepped out onto the balcony and closed the door behind me.

"Dad... we're fine. We're all fine."

"Then what is it, son? It's not often that you ask me to call you at seven in the morning."

"Dad, are you alone?" I asked quietly.

I could hear him moving around on the other end of the phone.

"Yes. I'm in my office now. What is it, Alexander? You're worrying me."

Dad never called me Alexander unless he was extremely serious or I was in trouble.

I took a deep breath.

"Dad... it just happened."

"What happened?"

"She smelled so good. I... I found my mate."

The words finally came out.

My dad was silent.

"Her name is Rosalie," I continued. "She has the biggest, most beautiful eyes, and her hair is long and blonde. And Dad... she's gentle. I can tell. Did I mention that she smells divine?"

"Son..." Dad sighed. "But Lena is so good for you."

"I know."

"Your mother will be crushed... And Lena... she..."

He suddenly stopped.

I knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Son, you need to be honest with Lena."

I looked out over the pack grounds.

"The first time I smelled your mother, I knew I couldn't live without her. I want you to have the same thing."

Relief washed over me.

At least my father understood.

But that relief was short-lived.

Through the glass doors, I saw Lena getting out of bed and heading towards the bathroom.

"I have to go, Dad."

"Alexander..."

"I'll call you later."

I ended the call and went back inside.

I started getting dressed while I listened to Lena humming softly in the shower.

"Honeyyy..." she called sweetly. "You disappeared last night. I couldn't find you. Did you have fun? I'm starving."

The bathroom door opened and Lena stepped out, wrapped in a towel.

She smiled at me and continued talking as she got dressed.

Then she stopped.

Her nose wrinkled.

"What is that smell?"

I froze.

"Honey... you smell different. Did you change your aftershave? Or did you..."

Her voice trailed off.

Her eyes widened.

She knew.

"You found her, didn't you?"

Tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

"Lena..."

"You found your mate."

I didn't answer.

She shook her head, tears beginning to fall.

"You rejected her, right?" she asked desperately. "You love me. I know you do."

"Lena..."

"You did reject her, didn't you?"

I swallowed.

"I couldn't."

Her face crumpled.

"You said you love me!"

"I know."

"You told me you wanted this to be forever!"

"I know, Lena."

"You said you chose me!"

I looked down.

"I didn't know."

She stared at me through her tears.

"What do you mean, you didn't know?"

"I didn't know I would meet my mate last night."

She wiped her cheeks angrily.

"You love me."

"I care about you deeply."

"But that's not what I asked!"

I closed my eyes.

"Lena..."

"You don't love me."

Her voice broke.

I didn't know what to say because, for the first time, I realised that maybe she was right.

I cared about Lena.

I had spent my entire life caring about her.

But whatever I felt for her was nothing compared to what I felt when I saw Rosalie.

"She's intoxicating," I said softly. "And I can't pretend I didn't find her."

Lena's tears fell harder.

"If the roles were reversed, I would do the same for you."

She turned towards the door.

"Lena, I never wanted to hurt you."

She yanked the door open.

"But you knew this could happen," she cried.

I followed her out.

"Lena, please."

She marched down the stairs, tears streaming down her face.

I followed her, desperate to make her stop and listen to me.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, she stopped.

I gently took her by the arms.

"Lena, please. I'm sorry."

She looked at me, completely broken.

"I thought I was finally going to be your Luna."

My heart sank.

She had spent years dreaming about this.

And I had just destroyed those dreams.

Her knees suddenly gave way.

I caught her before she could fall and held her against my chest.

I'd known this girl for nineteen years.

I had never seen her this upset.

I carried her back upstairs and laid her gently on the bed.

She curled up on her side, crying quietly.

I stood there, completely helpless.

What had I done?

---

Rosalie — POV

I was on breakfast duty that morning.

Jazz was broken.

I was broken.

But what could I do?

I had barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.

His face.

His eyes.

The way his wolf had looked at Jazz.

My mate.

And then he had left.

"Are you sure you're okay, kid?" Zyphorah asked, looking concerned.

"Yes. I'm just tired," I said softly.

I didn't have the confidence to tell her what had happened last night.

How could I explain it?

I had found my mate.

And he had left me alone in the forest.

Maybe he hadn't wanted me.

Maybe I had imagined the connection.

Maybe I wasn't good enough.

I pushed the thoughts away and continued working.

We worked hard preparing breakfast for the pack. The kitchen was already filled with the sounds of pots, pans and omegas rushing around.

"Oh shoot, we forgot the mushrooms," Zyphorah said. "Rose, could you please go upstairs and grab them?"

"Yeah, sure."

I wiped my hands on my apron and hurried upstairs.

I was halfway down the corridor when I smelled him.

My heart stopped.

Him.

His scent hit me so strongly that my knees almost buckled.

I looked up.

And there he was.

Alexander.

My mate.

But he wasn't alone.

He was holding a girl in his arms, close to his chest.

She was crying.

He was carrying her like she was precious to him.

Jazz whimpered inside my head.

I clutched my chest as pain spread through me.

Of course.

What an i***t I was.

I'd actually thought that a fine wolf like him would want an omega like me.

I stood there for a moment, staring at them.

Then I quietly turned around.

I didn't want him to see me.

I didn't want anyone to see me cry.

I walked quickly back down the stairs, trying to hold myself together.

Jazz was still whining.

He doesn't want us, I whispered to her.

For once, she didn't argue.

And somehow, that hurt even more.