Reaching Home

Scarlett

H is cerulean blue eyes meet my sage green ones. Our gazes lock and I know he's smelt me. My heart is thundering like a drum beating powerfully, my cheeks burning with humiliation.

He stands up slowly, his gorgeous eyes dipping to my lips, making my core clench. This isn't just a boy I'm crushing on, right now as he stands there, it kind of hits me that he's a real man.

A man who is driving me crazy. What is he doing to me?

He licks his lips slowly, my breath hitching when I spot the piercing on his tongue, my eyes widening slightly.

Fuck, that's sexy.

He looks away, his nostrils flaring, his jaw taut, and I see a flicker of irritation in his eyes. I'm annoying him again. Or is it the smell of my arousal that's pissed him off? This is so fucking embarrassing.

The doubts make my stomach sink and I'm not the kinda girl who ever feels insecure unless it comes to him. Why is it that he's the only one who can make me feel like this?

He turns away looking at the car, there's two flat tyres and with the state it's in, there is no way we will be able to drive home in it. He lets out a growl of frustration.

"Shift. We'll have to run. I'll mind-link someone to collect the car and luggage," he says quietly, not even sparing me a glance. He's suddenly behaving cold and distant.

"Um, sure let's." I make sure to keep my voice as passive and normal as possible, although my head is spinning as if a storm has been unleashed within.

Fuck, can I blame him for being distant? He smelt my arousal. How the hell am I supposed to face him, fuck I just want to be home and hidden away from the entire world.

I hesitate as he shifts, realising if I do that he's going to see me – my form.

A sliver of unease rushes through me and for a second, I wonder if facing Cade again would be better.

"I can wait until someone comes…" I murmur, not looking at his huge wolf.

Really, Red? After someone was fucking out here for you? Stop being stupid and shift. His command through the mind-link is absolute, but that's another thing. An Alpha command won't work on me, but I don't want to make it obvious that it doesn't. So I shift, having no other option.

I can feel him watching me, as the moment of bones snapping and reshaping pass in a blink, and I stand before him on all fours. I don't miss the surprise in his wide cobalt-blue eyes.

I have probably the lightest coloured fur I've ever seen. It's a light grey, one solid colour and when the moon shines on me, it looks silver. But I know it's more than that; it's my height that intrigues him. I stand as tall as an average alpha wolf, at four and a half feet tall. I'm huge.

How the fuck are you so big? This is insane, he asks through the mind-link.

Luck, I guess? I reply knowing that's far from helpful, but I don't have the answer he wants and after everything that's happened, shifting stresses me out. Will he act the same way they did?

I turn and break into a run, wanting to get home as fast as possible and curl up on my bed. I hear him chuckle through the link as he runs faster until he's beside me, giving me a wolfish grin.

Is he really enjoying this? His hot and cold attitude is giving me whiplash.

You're damn fast. This is incredible, he growls.

I frown, speeding up, but it only seems to fuel him. He's enjoying the chase… just as an alpha male would. My heart skips a beat, but I keep going, not caring about what he thinks.

I gasp when he nips at my shoulder, brushing up against me, my heart thuds, feeling his soft fur against mine. What is he doing? I slow for a fraction of a second and I can see the amusement in his eyes as he runs ahead.

What happened, Red? Can't keep up? he teases.

Frowning, I glare at his wolfy ass.

Don't mess with me, Elijah! I retort, leaping into the air and pounce onto his back. I wince as pain shoots up my waist upon impact. I'm healing, but it's not fully there yet.

He grunts, stumbling as he turns and tosses me off him, but I'm not that weak. Growling, I grab onto his neck with my jaw, as he continues to try to shake me off and I snicker.

Looks like our big bad Alpha is struggling to handle one little she-wolf! I taunt, surprised when he simply laughs in return. What's he planning?

He turns, trying to push me down, but I push back, doubling down on the force. Only for us both to lose balance and tumble down the hill.

Foul play there, sweetheart! His mocking voice comes, making my heart pound. A delicious current of pleasure making my core throb once more. Why do you have this effect on me still?

All's fair in love and war, and this is war! I reply, gasping when he licks my face. Elijah! I growl.

The sound of a deep laugh fills my ears. "Are you two done?" Dad's voice makes me freeze.

We both turn, and only then do I realise we've reached pack borders, and none other than the Alpha of our pack stands there.

Dad. Damn, did he see that? We both spring apart almost as if we were caught doing something we shouldn't, or I felt that way anyway. Elijah looks at me sideways and I suddenly feel extremely self-conscious wondering what Dad might be thinking.

"Welcome home, son." Dad smiles at Elijah, his eyes sparkling. It's obvious he's really missed him, and I pray he's so happy that he forgets about our moment.

Glad to be back, Elijah replies through the mind-link as one of the wolves accompanying Dad tosses us both some clothes. We both catch them in our mouths before turning and head separate ways to change.

My heart thumps wildly and I feel a little guilty.

Elijah's never been so… playful. Maybe I'm delusional, but it felt almost… flirty. Yeah, he's a fuck boy and a flirt, but not towards me, only to the girls he wants to fuck and that's all available girls and young women who are willing to spread their legs for him.

Shifting back, I look down at my wound, if it wasn't for my fast healing I probably wouldn't be able to stand. I heal fast, probably due to having alpha blood in me. And I guess in this case, Elijah's saliva probably helped a little too.

My cheeks heat up, a faint blush dusting them. I pull on the baggy black t-shirt that falls to mid-thigh and step out from behind the tree and walk over to where Elijah is hugging Dad wearing only a pair of sweatpants, looking deliciously fine, his tan skin glowing under the sunlight.

Damn, he's grown. Seeing him beside Dad, you can tell that despite the fact that both tower over six feet, he is the bigger one.

"Ah, there you are, Scarlett. By the way, what exactly happened to the car? I heard you sent a message to the border patrol when you were in range," Dad asks us, placing his arm around my shoulders, concerned.

I tense, my gaze flicking to Elijah, whose eyes meet mine, my heart filling with unease.

"We were ambushed," he says, his expression becoming serious.

"Rogues?" Jackson asks with a frown.

"Yeah! Seems they're everywhere," I blurt out quickly before he can reply, both men look at me and Elijah cocks a brow questioningly.

What the fuck do you mean, yeah? Those weren't rogues, and this problem is not something you can just brush under the fucking rug, Red.

Not now. Please!! I'll explain later, ok? I just- give me time to explain it to you, I plead through the mind-link. He doesn't reply, but he doesn't say anything to Dad either, and it gives me reassurance that he won't argue over it.

"Hmm, that's strange and extremely worrying that there are rogues out there so close to pack borders," Dad muses seriously, a frown on his face.

"Just a stray lone wolf. Don't stress it. It's no big deal. I got Hank to get the car and stuff," Elijah explains smoothly. Talk about a slick liar. Guess he's been practicing all his life.

I frown slightly at the mention of Hank. Hank is one of our trackers and our future Delta, and I fucking hate him with good reason.

Dad nods, clearly pleased by his efficient actions.

"That's my son. You are going to make a great Alpha." He turns to me and smiles. "I'm glad you're alright. Now, how about we go home? Your mother has definitely cooked a five-course meal."

"I wouldn't expect any less from Mama. I hope she didn't make you run too many errands, Dad." I smile as Dad kisses my forehead tenderly.

From the corner of my eyes, I see Elijah frown in irritation. But before we can even attempt to get home, I turn when I hear footsteps only to see it's Elijah's friends.

Aaron Nickolson. Future Beta with blond hair and blue eyes, handsome, muscular, and pretty much a great guy. He found his mate recently, she's equally lovely and will make a great Beta female.

Liam Galan. He recently became head warrior. Brown-blond hair, and warm brown eyes, he's built but lean with pure muscles and is a year younger than Elijah and Aaron.

"You're back, bro!" Aaron says as he lunges at Elijah, enveloping him in a brotherly hug. "Fuck, I missed you."

"Never knew we did that shit, but yeah, it's good to be back," Elijah smirks, shoving him off before slapping his back. Dad's watching them proudly, but Aaron's dad, Nick, is also Dad's friend and the current Beta. Once Dad steps down as Alpha, so will Aaron's dad.

"Hey, Scarlett," Liam gives me a small smile, he's the quieter one from the group, but he's my favourite. Aaron can be an ass at times, but Liam… he's great, plus he's one of the rare guys who actually hasn't treated me like dirt around here just because the size of my wolf bruises their small dick pride.

"Hey," I reply, brushing my hair back. He's watching me until Elijah turns to him and he steps forward, giving him a hug.

"Welcome home."

"How come you two didn't come to get me? I was stuck with her for far too long." Elijah smirks, making me roll my eyes as Aaron snickers.

"We were put to work." Aaron shrugs apologetically, glancing at Dad who smiles.

"Patrolling and sticking to training is more important, especially since you will be the future Beta. Besides, Scarlett was available, and it was nice of her to go collect her brother. They need to bond," he says.

"Yeah, I almost died bonding with her," Elijah mocks.

Why did I find him sexy again? Aside from those sandy brown curls and those vibrant cerulean eyes. Urgh, I hate this man. His arrogance makes me want to smack him over the head. Repeatedly.

"Well, we're glad you're back and we will definitely make up for not being there with your welcoming home bash," Liam says, slapping his back.

"A welcoming home bash I wanted to throw tomorrow night, but Alpha has other-"

"Now, now, how about we leave all that and why don't you guys join us for dinner? Jessica's cooked plenty," Dad intervenes.

"Great! I ain't saying no to that, it's been a while since we dined at yours," Aaron says, resting his elbow on Elijah's shoulder.

"We will visit, but we won't stay for dinner. The family deserves to enjoy this meal alone. Aaron, don't you agree?" Liam asks, trying not to smile.

"Someone has common sense," I say, making Liam smile slightly as he glances at me.

"Yeah, yeah," Aaron says as Elijah shakes his head.

"Whatever man, it doesn't make a difference. You two should stay. The more the merrier. And on that note, where's Pixie? I'm surprised she's not-" Elijah's cut off by a piercing scream that makes me flinch.

"Elijaaaah!"