Wolven Rising: Untold Stories

GR-8: Finish It

Alana

I yawned widely, coving my mouth with my hand at the last second. I'd stayed up all night reading, and now I was paying for it. I still had a few chapters to go when I finally nodded off, only to be awakened by my alarm a couple of hours later. As much as I wanted to finish it, I had a busy day ahead of me, and I had to return the book to its owner.

I went to my closet to find something to wear. Normally, I didn't care that much what I wore, but I found myself paying special attention when I picked out my outfit. I chose a deep green off the shoulder blouse with flowing sleeves that buttoned up the front. It was a top that I normally avoided because it showed a little more skin than most of my other clothes, but I knew it was still conservative. I told myself I was dressing up because I would be helping out with keeping operations running smoothly with all of the wolf delegations we were hosting. But I knew it was, in part, for a certain intriguing, blue-eyed wolf.

"Good morning," my mom said when I got to the kitchen. She established a rule a long time ago where we would try to have a meal together as a family at least once a day, so we could spend quality time together. Today, it was breakfast. "You look lovely this morning, sweetie."

"Thanks," I said with a shy smile, walking over to the counter. "Can I help with anything?"

"No, I just finished up," she said. "Go ahead and sit down."

Feeling guilty for the extra time spent in my closet instead of helping with breakfast, I sat down in my usual place. "Morning, bug," Mason said blearily over his cup of coffee, still in his pajama pants and a worn t-shirt with tiny holes along the seams.

"Are you okay?" I asked, pouring myself a glass of orange juice. "You look tired."

"Yeah," he yawned widely, nearly spilling his mug in the process. "I was up late, that's all."

"Stayed late at the banquet, huh?" I asked sympathetically, transferring some fluffy pancakes from the tray in the middle of the table to my plate.

"Something like that," he muttered.

"Good morning, family," my dad's voice boomed, interrupting the conversation. "How are we this morning?" He strolled around the kitchen island to pull my mom into one of his big bear hugs, giving her a smacking kiss on the lips.

"We're doing splendidly, Vince," my mom said with a smile. "Now, you sit down, and I'll get your coffee for you."

"Ahh, has anyone ever told you that you're the best woman a man could ask for?" My dad sighed with contentment. "Don't you think so, kids?"

"Sure dad," Mason said, rolling his eyes a little. I echoed his response as I poured a little syrup on my pancakes. It was hard not to feel insecure when I got a daily reminder of just how perfect my mom was.

My mom brought over a steaming plate of eggs and my dad's coffee mug, planting a kiss on top of his head before sitting down. "Well, Vince," she said as she filled first his plate, then hers. "Should we tell them?"

"Tell us what?" Mason asked, putting down his coffee and looking more alert. He clamped his mouth shut with a look from our mom, who then turned her gaze back to our dad.

Beta Vincent sipped his own coffee. "Well Mason, I'll tell you. Your mother and I have been talking, and now that Rowan is ascending to Alpha at the end of the week—"

"Is that for sure?" Mason interrupted. I knew why he asked. There had been a couple times before when it seemed like Alpha Rhys would pass the title down to Rowan, only to change his mind later.

Dad said nothing, raising an eyebrow and taking another sip of coffee. Mason grunted with impatience. "Oh, I'm sorry, were you finished?" He asked calmly.

"Yes," Mason answered sullenly. Our dad hated being interrupted, and always responded to it by shutting up and making you wait even longer for whatever he had to say.

"You sure?"

Mason nodded, gritting his teeth.

"Because I can wait if you have something else to say."

"Sorry, dad," Mason said, gripping the edge of the table. "I won't interrupt again."

"Alright," our dad said, obviously enjoying stringing Mason along. "Well, as I was saying—" he shot a pointed look at Mason—"Rowan is ascending as Alpha at the end of the week, now that he's found his mate. As previously discussed, I will also be stepping down at that time and handing the title to my successor," he smiled fondly at his son. "Once that happens, we'll need to make some changes around here."

He paused, and nodded at Mason when he raised a hand to speak. "What kind of changes?" He asked warily.

"Well, son, I'm glad you asked," Dad said heartily. "You see, the way your mom and I figure, you won't want your folks hanging around while you get settled in your new position. Not to mention squatting in your space."

"What do you mean by that?" Mason asked, just as clueless as I was.

"Once you become Beta, this suite will belong to you, Mason," our mom said softly. "Not to us."

"That's right!" Dad exclaimed. "And since we don't want to shack up with our son—no offense—we plan to pack up and move out."

"Move out?" Mason asked with barely contained excitement.

"Where?" I asked faintly, trying to quell the panic. Move?

"There's an empty house not far from here, in the east neighborhood," my mom said soothingly. "Just a ten minute walk away."

I suppressed the urge to cry. What my parents said made sense. Of course, Mason deserved his space when he became Beta. In time, he would find his mate and start his own family. But...my whole life was here. I think part of me always assumed that I would stay here, with my brother and my parents, until I found my mate. And now I had to move to a whole different house, away from Mason, away from the Alpha family, away from the packhouse? Who knew how long I'd even be there before I found my mate and had to pick up and move again?

"Mom, Dad," Mason began, glancing at me. "Thanks. Really. I appreciate your thinking of me as an adult with an important role to play in the pack."

"It's that right there that proves you're ready," our dad said, pointing at my brother. "Fine words. It is an important role. But I know you'll do great. You had a great teacher, after all!"

Everyone at the table laughed, and it became too much. "Excuse me," I said, my chair scraping across the floor as I stood up abruptly.

"What is it, Alana?" My mom looked at me worriedly.

"Oh, it's nothing, really," I lied, praying that my throat wouldn't close up with the effort of holding off tears. "I just remembered I...have to return something to a friend." I dropped my napkin on my plate, covering my half-eaten pancakes. "I'll see you later!" I called out, my voice pitched an octave higher than usual.

I rushed to my room and threw myself onto my bed. I didn't know why I was letting myself get so upset. I mean, moving a short distance away with my parents while my brother became Beta of the pack was hardly something to cry over. We were still a loving family, and I knew the house was bound to be nice. I felt guilty, getting distressed over such a first-world problem.

I sat up and quickly dried my tears. If I stayed in my room for much longer, my mom would come to check on me, and that was the last thing I wanted right now. Eyeing Shasta's book on my bedside table, I reached over and snatched it up on my way back out of my room.

"I'll be back later..." I said, entering the dining room with the book tucked under my arm, only to find Mason somehow already dressed and heading out himself. "Where are you going? I asked. I knew Mason was usually no good until he had at least two cups of coffee.

"Rowan needs me," Mason answered, stuffing his feet into a pair of tennis shoes. "Apparently he somehow got cornered into a sparring match with Kendria."

"Really?" I asked, momentarily distracted. "How so?"

"How should I know?" Mason asked grumpily. "All he told me was he needed me to be there and to get my butt moving."

I suppressed a giggle and made a beeline for the cupboard. "Here," I said, quickly filling a travel mug with coffee. "So you don't bite anyone's head off on the way."

"Thanks, bug," my brother said gratefully, accepting the mug. "You want to come with? Should be interesting."

"It does, but I should really return this book," I said. Maybe I could find Shasta on the third floor while my brother was busy.

"Suit yourself," Mason said, holding the door open for me. "See you later," he called over his shoulder as he went down the hall. I dawdled, stooping to tie my shoe until I heard the door to the stairwell shut. As soon as I was alone, I rushed to the other end of the hall to use the opposite staircase. I flew down to the third floor, then forced myself to slow down and walk at a measured pace until I reached Shasta's door.

You're being ridiculous, Zusa said, her amusement evident.

How am I being ridiculous? I asked, standing there staring at his door and knowing she was right.

One, you're standing here staring at a door like a goon. Two, don't you think Shasta is down at the sparring ring with the others? Mason had to go for Rowan. Shasta probably had to go for Kendria.

I mentally facepalmed. Why didn't you say anything earlier?

I don't know, I thought you'd figure it out before now? Zusa said sarcastically. That and maybe I thought there could be a small chance he'd be here.

You want to see him too, don't you? I asked smugly.

No comment. Zusa said studiously.

I bit my lip. I knew she was right, and he was probably down at the sparring ring, and would likely be there for awhile.

Mason? I ventured via mindlink.

What. His voice was terse.

W-who all is down at the sparring ring? I asked, a little started by his tone.

Me, Rowan, Kendria, Shasta...that's it. Why.

Uh, just wondering. How much longer do you think you'll be?

Ugh, Alana, the match is about to start. I have no idea how long it'll go. I could hear Mason sighing through the link. Want me to tell you when it's over?

No need, I replied quickly. I'll catch up with you later.

I cut the link before my brother could get suspicious. Something seemed to be up with him, but I knew him well, and now was not the time to bother him about it. He'd talk when he was ready.

---

I ended up hovering near the dining hall, looking out the windows in the direction of the sparring ring, waiting for Shasta to return. It was better than waiting by his door like a stalker. A little. I saw a pretty blonde girl come rushing from that, followed by Kendria about ten minutes later. I was about to give up out of sheer embarrassment when I finally saw him, walking back with Mason and Rowan. Rowan looked awful, with dark bruises and blood streaked on his face. My brother was practically vibrating with energy.

Staring for a little too long, I jumped up and ran from the room when I realized that the last thing I wanted was to have a conversation with Shasta in front of my brothers—because Rowan was basically my brother, too. Knowing what stairs they were likely to take, I took the other ones, stopping at the third floor. Should I try again, or wait until later? I looked down at the book in my hand. He was surely missing it by now. It would be selfish of me to keep it any longer just because I was embarrassed to return it in front of people I knew.

I was just about to step out into the hallway when the door opened at the other end, producing not only Shasta, but Mason and Rowan, too. My resolve vanished instantly. No way. I couldn't walk up to them and give the book back. Mason would go ballistic. Once, a wolf in our pack named Derek asked me out on a date, and Mason practically ripped his head off. He was super protective, and I could just imagine how he'd react to me coming up and returning a possession to a handsome stranger.

Mmm, I think you mean sexy, Zusa purred.

Keep it in your pants, would you?

How can I? Zusa said snarkily. I'm not wearing any.

Oh Goddess, I thought to myself. Suddenly, Mason and Rowan rushed into one of the other guest rooms, the door slamming behind them, leaving Shasta to continue down the hallway on his own.

Now was my chance. Forcing myself to maintain a measured pace, I pushed through the door and walked down the hallway toward Shasta. When he saw me, he smiled. Was it just me, or did his blue eyes light up a little, just for a moment?

"Good morning," I said timidly as we both came to a stop right in front of the door to his room.

"Good morning," Shasta replied in a subdued tone.

"I-I accidentally took your book back to my room with me last night," I stammered, taken aback by his demeanor. His initial smile was gone, and he seemed guarded, glancing over his shoulder every few seconds.

"Oh, thanks," he said, a small smile lifting the corners of his lips as I delivered the book safely back to his hands. "I was looking for this."

"I'm sorry I didn't return it sooner, I was just afraid it was too late by the time I noticed it and I didn't want to wake you, you know, in case you were already sleeping," I babbled, trying to fill the awkward silence.

"It's okay," he said finally, his gaze growing intense as he finally seemed to focus his attention fully on me.

"I read it!" I blurted out in an attempt to quell the unknown feeling rising within me.

Shasta looked surprised. "You did? How did you like it?"

"Well, I didn't quite finish reading it," I said, backtracking. "It's quite a long book, so I have a few chapters to go, but I loved the first part—"

"Finish it," he said, thrusting the book back at me.

"Finish it?" I echoed faintly.

"Finish it."

I bit my lip. "Are you sure? I didn't mean to borrow it without your permission. I feel a little guilty about it."

"It's really fine," Shasta insisted. "I know that it was in good hands. Besides, I'd like to know what you think of it, once you've read it to the end."

"Really?" I asked, and he nodded. "Well...thank you. I can't wait to read the rest of it. I love to read."

Shasta gave me another look-right-into-my-soul gaze. "So do I," he whispered.

I stared at him for a beat, feeling a sudden urge to dive into those pools of blue. "So, when I'm finished..." I trailed off, my voice sounding wobbly to my ears.

"Come and find me," Shasta said. "We can talk about it then. I could lend you the sequel, too."

"There's a sequel?" I said, interest piqued.

"There's actually four books," he said with a genuine smile. "But I only brought the first two with me."

"Oh," I said, disappointed.

He chuckled, a deep, pleasant sound. "I'm sure I can find a way to get the other two in your hands sooner or later."

"I'd like that, if it's not too much trouble," I said shyly.

"It's no trouble," he said easily, before clamping his mouth shut. "Well, I'd better change, even though Kendria hasn't said it yet, I'm sure she's going to want us to train this morning."

"Oh, okay," I said quietly. "I'll let you get to it, then." Looking down at the well-worn volume in my hands, I risked one last glance up into his eyes. "Thank you again, for letting me borrow this."

"It's my pleasure, Alana," he said, opening his door. "I'll see you later."

I nodded, and he shut the door. I turned around and strode quickly down the hall, before Rowan or Mason could catch me. I didn't slow down until the door to the stairs closed behind me.

I slowly exhaled and leaned against the wall. What was it about talking to Shasta that made me feel like I had just run a marathon? That encounter was...strange. Quite different from our first the night before. He seemed much more reserved this morning, like he didn't know what mood to be in. Maybe he was already annoyed by me, and was just being nice to get me to go away.

I don't think so, Zusa mused. You're too hard on yourself.

Am I? I wondered. It was hard for me to see what I could offer that Shasta would find interesting. But there were those few times, the way he looked at me...

I sighed. Shasta was an enigma, that was for sure. Maybe, someday soon, I would find out what he truly thought of me.