Secrets of an Alpha

Chapter Four

ONE DAY EARLIER

Aiden’s POV 

I sling my bag over my shoulder and continue on down the dusty, deserted road ahead. The sun is starting to disappear behind the surrounding trees and I realise that I’ll soon have to make a decision about where to sleep for the night. I scan the area around me and see nothing but forest and the open road. Maybe it was a mistake to come in this direction, especially when there doesn’t seem to be anywhere decent to stay. If it comes to it, I’ll shift and spend the night in the forest if I have to. It’s not like I haven’t done it plenty of times before. As I make my way around the bend in the road, I see a truck pulled up in the distance. When I get closer I notice an older man step away from the car and place his hands on his hips, examining the engine beneath the popped hood. 

“Need any help?” I ask casually as I approach. 

It’s not like me to initiate conversation with strangers or with anyone for that matter but I can see the guy is having no luck with whatever it is he is trying to do. 

He turns his head towards me and nods in acceptance, taking a further step back from the vehicle. I examine his appearance quickly and decide he’s in his 60s, the grey hair and weathered face telling me as much. His clothes are dirty and his hands scarred from the effects of years of manual labour. I drop my bag and walk over to examine the damage to the engine. I quickly find the source of the problem and turn to look at the man again. 

“Do you have any tools?” 

He nods and heads to the back of the truck before reappearing with a metal box which he sits on the ground. I rummage around for the things that I need and get to work. 

There is silence for a while before he suddenly clears his throat to speak. 

“Haven’t seen you around here before. What’s your name?” he asks suspiciously. 

“That’s because I’m not from around here.” I answer back, purposely ignoring his question. 

The silence continues until I finish the job and pull the hood down, securing it back in place. 

“That should do it. You want to give it a try?” I ask him. 

He nods before getting into the driver’s seat and turning the key in the ignition. The engine stutters for a brief moment before roaring to life. 

I run my eyes over the truck and take in its battered condition as the man rolls down the driver’s side window. 

“Thanks for the help.”

“No problem. You might want to think about getting a new-“ 

“No, no there’s still life in the old girl yet.” he interrupts, letting his hand hang out of the window to pat the bashed metal door gently.

“Fair enough.” I chuckle in return before turning to continue walking down the road. 

I then register the truck crawling up behind me slowly. 

“Hey kid. Where are you headed?” the man calls out after me. 

I stop and shrug my shoulders. 

“You know anywhere nearby?” 

“Kid there’s nowhere for miles. Get in. You can stay at ours tonight. Goddess knows the farm is big enough.” 

I look at the man again and nod in agreement. f**k it. A bed for the night has got to be better than another cold night in the forest. I hop into the passenger seat of the car and drop my bag at my feet. We continue on down the road in silence. The old guy doesn’t seem like much of a talker which I’m more than thankful for. 

“So am I just suppose to call you kid for the rest of the night or have you got a name?” he asks me sarcastically. 

“Aiden.” I reply simply. 

“Felix.” he adds, taking his hand off of the wheel to shake mine strongly. 

Just then we turn down a road leading through the forest. 

“What’s the name of this territory?” I ask curiously. 

“Silver Moon.” he answers as we pass through the boundary. 

I nod my head and look out of the window as we make our way through the streets of the quaint little town. The style of the shops and homes look old yet charming. There’s a feeling of warmth and nostalgia about the place that I haven’t really ever seen in any of the many territories I’ve passed through over the years. 

“Looks nice.” I say quietly as the car veers off down a dust track running alongside large fields of wheat. 

“It is nice, if I don’t say so myself.” he chuckles as the truck pulls up to a stop. 

I get out and take in my surroundings carefully. The large farm house is placed in the centre of a calm and serene setting. My eyes drift over to the fields of wheat which sway softly in the breeze. Over to the left of the house is a large barn with stables at the side.

“Welcome to Silver Moon Farm kid. You hungry?” 

*** 

“Not that I don’t enjoy the sight of a handsome man cleaning my kitchen for me but who are you son?” a woman’s voice asks behind me as I place the plate down on the kitchen counter. 

“Sorry I…” 

“His name is Aiden…” Felix says in amusement as he enters the kitchen and walks towards the woman to kiss her on the side of the head. 

“Ahhh I see.” she smiles warmly as she holds out her hand for me to shake. “It’s nice to meet you Aiden, my name is Lucille.” 

“How was work love?” Felix asks her softly. 

“Oh you know, the Luna was stressing like crazy all day. She had my staff in such a panic but the meal went smoothly.” she answers before turning her attention back to me. 

“Aiden fixed up the truck for me on my way back from the the market this evening. He needed a place to stay for the night.” Felix explains. 

“That heap of junk…isn’t it about time you let go of that rust bucket?” she chuckles as I grin at her widely. 

“Hey now… she’s a classic.” Felix says defensively as he and Lucille take a seat at the table. 

“Aiden, don’t take this the wrong way but my husband has never brought home a stray before… and despite how handsome you are… I must ask…you aren’t a crazed murderer are you?” she asks in amusement with only a hint of seriousness. 

I smile and shake my head gently. “No ma’am just a regular guy.” 

“Hmmm…” she says suspiciously in return. “A regular guy from??” 

“I wouldn’t bother Luce, he’s a closed book. You won’t get anywhere.” Felix says with a smirk before I can answer.

He then stands up and lets out a deep breath as he reaches for his coat hanging on a hook in the corner of the room. 

“I have to go out and close up the barn-“ 

“No I’ll do it. I’ll sort it before I turn in for the night.” I say matter of factly making my way over to the door. 

“Are you sure kid?” he asks. 

“I’ll handle it.” I nod in response. 

“Where are you staying for the night?” Lucille asks curiously. 

“I’ve set him up in the summer house out back.” Felix answers. 

“What!? Goddess above! It’s a mess out there. Not to mention it will be freezing! I’ll make up the spare room upstairs-“ she protests.

“I thought the lad might want his own space-“ 

“No please don’t go to any trouble. The summer house is fine. I appreciate the bed for the night, I’ll be out of your hair in the morning.” I say decidedly. 

Lucille nods and shoots her husband a disapproving look, clearly not impressed with his hosting skills. 

I say Goodnight to them both before heading out into the fresh night air. I take in a deep breath and for the first time in a long time I feel a sense of calm wash over me. 

***

“What are you doing kid?” Felix asks as he approaches me the following morning.

I lay the hammer down and wipe the sweat away from my forehead with the back of my arm. 

“I saw this fence was f****d. I thought I’d fix it before I left.” I answer as I pick up the hammer again, positioning the nail in the right place. 

Felix nods as he examines my work so far. 

“You know this job has been needing done for quite sometime. The farm is a big place now for an old dog like me.” he laughs as I finish the last nail. 

“It’s the least I could do.” I answer, placing the hammer back in the metal tool box. 

“Kid if you are looking for work and a place to live we could really use you around here.” 

I let out a breath and look back at him cautiously. I don’t make a habit of stopping off in remote packs such as this. Sooner or later in small towns people begin to ask too many questions. It’s harder to become invisible and stay that way. 

“The money ain’t great and the accommodation leaves somewhat to be desired but I’m sure you could fix it up a bit.” he grins gesturing to the wooden summer house at the other side of the field. 

“I appreciate the offer Felix but I can’t stay.” I say with real regret. 

The truth is that this place has a quality about it that I can’t quite put my finger on. Something in my gut is telling me that I should stay but I know that I can’t. Lucille and Felix seem like good people and I’d only leave them in the lurch when it was time for me to move on again. 

“Okay well I have to warn you my wife won’t be best pleased. The woman usually doesn’t take no for an answer.” 

“Well then I best leave before she comes back.” I grin, as I wipe the dirt from my hands with the rag and toss it in the box at my feet. 

“I thought I’d go for a run before I leave Felix, my wolf gets agitated if I don’t.” 

He raises his eyebrows at me before a smirk comes over his face. 

“Does he really? Well you best do that then. I doubt you’ll find better forest than that of Silver Moon that’s for sure.” 

I nod in response and start to make my way towards the trees. 

“If you head east for a couple of miles you’ll hit a beautiful waterfall. It’s a must see!” he calls after me. 

Shifting into my wolf is like form of therapy for me. As I run in and out of trees I can forget about anything that has come before and I can block out any thoughts of the future. My mind is blank and clear. Untainted by the memories that haunt most of waking hours. In the distance I see the waterfall come into view and I slow down to appreciate its beauty. Just then I see a flash of chocolate brown hair protruding from the top of a large rock overlooking the water. I take a few tentative steps forward.  I know I shouldn’t be here… but some invisible pull is drawing me in closer.

Suddenly her head spins around quickly and I find myself staring at her beautiful face. Her eyes look back at me curiously as she tilts her head slowly to the side. 

“Hello?” she calls out gently. 

Whoever this woman is she clearly wants to be alone and I’m intruding. I take a step backwards and tear my eyes away from her before running back in the direction of the farm house. 

I shift back into my human form and get dressed. I make my way back to the summer house and pack up the little belongings I have before heading to the barn to find Felix. As I approach, I slow down and watch as the old man struggles to lift a hay-bale into the stable. 

It might be a mistake.  

I might regret this.

But something inside is telling me to do it anyway. 

“HEY OLD MAN? THAT JOB STILL GOING?”