6. Leander

Chapter 6

Ihave to get to Oakwood.

It's a hell of a way from Florida, sure. I've been driving for what feels like an eternity. But the alpha tasked me with this, and it's super fucking important. It's my first job since being promoted to beta from enforcer, and I do not want to fuck this up.

I need to find her.

I have a lead on her, finally, and I'm an hour from Denver, which is an additional three fucking hours from where she is.

The alpha wants her, and that's all I need to know, but for the love of everything good… this feels like a wild fucking goose chase.

First, I found the aunt, who stayed in Alaska after Oakwood's move. I showed her the picture that alpha had of the girl's mom. It's old and not exactly high quality. One of those pictures you get from a photo booth—where you get a couple poses. It's torn in half, and my alpha told me that the woman, the girl's mom, took the other half when she left. He thought maybe the aunt would have it.

The aunt didn't. More than that, she was both mean and unhelpful, even when I brought up the niece she raised.

Then, after the aunt clearly didn't give a fuck about her niece and had no idea where she was, I tracked the niece down to Oakwood pack, recently of Alaska, now of Oakwood, Colorado.

How the girl found her way to Oakwood? I guess she'll just have to tell me. Or not. It's none of my business. All I need to know is that she's here, and she needs to go back to my pack with me.

That's going to be a hell of a conversation, though.

I was the strongest enforcer in the pack, and now I'm the beta. I know that she can't exactly overpower me. Still, I'd rather she comes willingly. Delivering her to my alpha unharmed was clearly in his wishes.

I huff. My current plan is to ditch the car in the mountains somewhere, then get into Oakwood pack lands on foot. I don't want to fuck with Thorne or any of their enforcers, but if my intel is correct, the girl isn't exactly central to the pack or anything.

She should be easy enough to find. Talk to. Or grab and go.

The fucking plains never seem to end. This girl, whoever she is, better be worth it. What was her name again? It has something to do with fire. Phoenix? I struggle to think, and I know that I can't exactly ask my alpha because he'll get on my case for forgetting. I'm going to have to check his email brief, which I can't do while driving… My phone rings, and it's the alpha. I pick it up, his voice resonant in my ear.

Maybe she will come willingly, I think as he talks.

Maybe if I tell her everything…

With a sharp breath, I open my eyes, and reality slams back into me.

To my right, Ember is still sleeping peacefully. After the first time, there were more rounds of very rigorous sex before we both passed out in each other's arms. More rounds than I've ever attempted before, and each was better than the fucking last.

Sleeping with Ember near is the greatest comfort that I could have. I'm not averse to sharing a bed with women, on the rare occasion that I do have someone stay with me, but sharing a bed with Ember? It's utterly amazing.

So the dream is pretty shocking.

I'm not a big dream guy. Just not my style.

I have a sinking realization, though, as I look down at Ember who is curling toward me in her slumber.

I don't think that was a dream. I think it was a memory. Which makes it even worse.

My head still feels painful as I try to think and focus on the memory. I'd left Florida, tasked with finding…

Shit. I was tasked with finding Ember.

Guilt, accompanied swiftly by panic, floods me.

What the hell? Why was I tasked with finding her? What the hell does the alpha want with her?

I lie back in the bed, trying my best to keep from disturbing her. Ember rolls over, pulling me closer as she murmurs in her sleep. She's completely naked. I am, too, of course. We just fell into bed together like this, and neither of us bothered to put on clothes before we did.

I had been hoping for maybe another opportunity to enjoy her body, honestly, and now, as she curves toward me, I want it…

But you're supposed to take her back to your alpha.

Fuck. What the hell am I doing?

My heart sinks.

I definitely didn't know that I was looking for Ember. But now that I do? I have no clue what I should do.

Ember moves her arms, like she can't control them, but they're looking for me. Her lips part, and she says my name. She breathes it. Like a prayer. Like it's something that matters to her.

I need to leave. I don't know why my alpha wanted her, but I can't defy him. I also can't possibly do anything that would hurt Ember, and while I know my alpha is a pretty stand-up guy, I also know that he sent me to find her. And I was willing to subdue her by any means necessary.

That in itself is pretty telling, and pretty bad.

I could never hurt Ember.

That thought rings through me, clear as a bell. I recognize the truth of it beyond all else. Slowly, reassured by my own conviction, I settle back into the bed with her.

Ember reaches for me, and I tuck her into my arms. She settles against my chest with a little huff, sighing as she breathes against my chest. I kiss her on the top of her head.

My mind churns as the night drags on. I know that I'd never hurt her, and I know that for whatever reason, I might have been sent to do that.

I need to get in contact with my alpha. I need to figure out a way to keep him from realizing that I found Ember while also figuring out why I was sent after her in the first place.

While Ember snores slightly in my arms, I make a plan.

If she's in danger from him? I'm going to make sure she's safe. From him. From me.

Forever.