Leon

Chapter Two

I chew on my thumbnail trying to distract myself. My heart was beating too fast. Way too fast. It's freaking me the f**k out.

What is going on with me?

My foot bounces up and down and up and down in an unsteady rhythm. The TV is white noise; I can't help but ignore the boring news channel as my mind drifts to someplace else.

My wolf is too on edge. This isn't right. This isn't normal. I'm too hyper to sit still.

I cross my legs. Uncross. Cross again. My stomach rumbles but I'm too nervous to eat.

This can't be good.

"Leo?" Evaline walks into the living room looking at me quizzically. I must look like a jittery mess.

I swallow and brush a shaky hand through my hair which I know is all over the place. I force a smile.

"What's up, buttercup?"

She raises an eyebrow at me and smirks. "I could probably hear your heart racing from a mile away. What's up with you?"

I shake my head to fast and my voice is pitched too high when I say, "Nothing. Chill."

I blink hard and look away. I'm so stupid.

"Jeez," Evie growls and exits the room. "Your mood swings could kill."

I shrug to myself. She's probably right.

My stomach twists in knots. I stand and pace over to the window; the gorgeous forest is practically calling my name. I know which trail I want to follow. I know exactly where it is. If I could just-

"I can't believe it." Robert shouts so loud I am pretty sure the entire house rumbles from the echo.

Descending the marble stair case with rumpled morning hair is Robert with Jerak on his heels. The two betas have been having late night excursions for the past few months that we have been here. The midnight adventures usually involved alcohol.

They typically stumble in around three in the morning. Sometimes five, but who is counting anyway?

"I simply cannot wrap my head around this!" The two spot me pacing in the living room.

Jerak points at me. "Leo! Quick question."

Fuck. "Let's hear it."

Robert can't stop chuckling. "Can you believe that Jerak and I haven't yet stopped by a pub in the pure rays of daylight?"

Pure rays of daylight?

I look them over accusingly. "You bastards are still drunk."

"f*****g right, we are!" Jerak howls and slaps me on the shoulder. "Alpha, you must join us."

I can't help but laugh at his drunken stupor. "I'm not your alpha, dip shit."

Jerak thinks for a moment, lets out a sigh and rolls his eyes. "Okay, you might be right. But our alpha is no fun. At all."

"Your alpha is also in the room," Marcus growls from the entry way. The betas look at each other, horrified.

The tall twenty four year old strides into the room. His green eyes pierce through the drunken idiots before me.

"So, becoming day drunk is suddenly a goal?"

Robert licks his lips nervously. "To be fair, it's always sort of been a goal-"

Marcus cuts in. "Today it's not. I need your help retrieving our savings."

Their money?

"Why?" Jerak ponders, trying his best to seem sober and put together.

"The money we were left is scattered throughout banks in Dublin. Not to mention Wicklow and Wexford. I'd rather have it all closer. Somewhere reachable."

My curiosity peaks. "You want to keep it here?"

Marcus nods. "Yes, preferably locked in the cellar."

Robert shakes his head. "But why today? And what for?"

The alpha pauses, glancing over his shoulder, he listens to the commotion through the house. Evaline must be busy in the kitchen- he finds that no one is eves dropping.

Marcus moves in closer. "Carmella wanted it. Apparently, the land this house resides on isn't exactly hers. She has debts that need paying."

"What do you mean it isn't hers?" I question. "There are over seventeen acres of private property and that property isn't even under her name?"

Marcus shakes his head; I can tell he doesn't know what to think of it either.

I sigh and clench my fists. "Well, if we are being honest here, I've been...hunting in the forest."

Okay, so not fully honest. But honest enough.

"And you're telling me this forest isn't even hers?"

Robert's eyes widen. "Who else lives on this property? Could someone be watching us?"

"We are just outside of Delgany. The only thing over here is a national park. People don't usually live in this area, right?" Jerak peaks out the window, as if suddenly aware that we might not be as alone as we thought we were.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Marcus tries to reason but I can see his jaw tightening in a stressful manor. "Let's just focus on getting our money so Carmella can pay her debts. Later, at night, we can patrol the borders of this land."

"And what if we find something?" Jerak dares to ask.

Robert sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. Marcus opens his mouth to say something but he shuts it quickly when the twins stride into the room.

At five feet and seven inches, Phoebe is a red-haired goddess. Her creamy white skin is like pure, unblemished snow. Her full lips and blue eyes could have any man begging for her attention and touch. Months ago, her touch was a goal of mine. She even flirted with the idea of it, but the pack continued to warn me away from her. Their explanations were, "She has a past with the pack...you don't want to be tied up with a girl like her. Trust me."

And I did trust this pack. I, at least, trusted that their past was sort of unspeakable and I know I don't want to get caught up with that drama. Phoebe didn't seem to mind. Actually, the she-wolf didn't seem to have a care in the world.

And then there is Tristan. With blue eyes and red hair practically identical to his sister's, his features alone probably get him laid plenty of times in a week. He also stands tall, around Marcus' height actually.

They both reach six-two evenly. While I can proudly say that I am just at six feet tall. Barely.

Tristan was oddly quiet and self secluded. Though, I know these twins are orphans. So, maybe it's not too odd.

But something tells me that Tristan has always been the quiet one in the background. Always listening. Observing.

Like right now, he's staring at the four of us. Quite intensely.

I take back what I say about him not being odd. He is bordering on creepy as f**k.

I clear my throat and the others try to act natural. Marcus gives a polite nod but he cannot mask his tenseness.

"Did you two need something?"

Phoebe smiles sweetly but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. Anger is practically radiating off of Marcus, I am confused as to why.

"Yes, I was wondering where Evaline was. I have some jeans that have grown too loose for me; she might be able to fit into them."

What the hell?

Evaline enters the living room with a scowl on her face. "Excuse me?"

Phoebe giggles and brushes her hair behind her ears. "Oh, Ev! There you are, I was just saying how you could probably take some of my clothes as your own. Seeing as they don't fit me anymore."

Evaline drags her eyes up and down Phoebe slowly with a harshness so underhanded I can't tell whether I should laugh or break this whole thing up.

She finally looks at the girls face again and speaks. "What makes you think I'll be able to wear them?"

The red-haired b***h goddess shrugs innocently. "I just thought it would be nice."

Marcus breaks away from his spot near Robert and grabs my sisters hand. "It's very nice but unnecessary. Carmella has purchased Evaline plenty of clothes."

Jeez, and I thought Evaline's tone was passive aggressive. Drop the passive.

My sister watches Marcus with question etched on her face. Before she can say anything, he is pulling her down the hall and into another part of this massive house. For a few moments, everyone is silent. Then Phoebe sighs as if this whole charade of politeness wasn't the most fake exchange any of us have ever witnessed.

Her icy eyes find mine. She winks.

^

The sun is setting over the rolling hills that stretch out for miles. I've put this off for as long as I can. I just can't seem to do anything but think about running into those woods. To pick up the scent. Vanilla. Wild.

I sigh shakily and shift into my wolf. I stretch out and groan with relief. This is the only release from my anxiety.

Without wasting anymore time, I take off into a sprint. My achy muscles work through the pain and I am soon ducking through the tree line.

I know this is dangerous. I know someone could be watching and I know I should have waited for Marcus but I just can't help myself. My instincts overpower my common sense. Every damn time.

My nostrils flare when the scent reaches me suddenly. It is fresh. New. Recent. An hour maybe? Possibly less than?

My paws scrape the forest floor as I follow the scent. I dodge logs and sink holes and navigate through the abundance of trees. I soon realize I am deeper into these woods than I thought I was. I should turn back...

No. I'm so close. Closer than I have been all week. Just a little further.

My dominant wolf side is consuming my entire being. My every move is not my own, I know I should be worried but I'm not. This feels right.

Rushing water. Is that what I hear?

The trees seem to part as I rush towards the scent and sound. The two have merged. Wait, does that mean...

I stop running and skid to a halt. A foot print in the dirt appears right in front of me. I shift immediately, so fast it gives me a head rush. But I don't stop to collect myself.

I walk briskly through the tree line to see a magnificent waterfall. The rushing water is so strong and so close that I feel the mist on my face. Below it is a small lagoon, catching all of the remains. Jagged boulders sit at the edges of the shore and shine against the sun. Reflections follow that shine.

But I can't focus on the gorgeous cascade of water before me. I can't even comprehend how unlikely it is to come across such a grand piece of natural art coincidentally because there is a girl.

There is a girl with her shirt off standing right in front of this grand piece of natural art and her beauty makes this waterfall seem like a trivial leakage on the side of a mountain.

The girl is looking at me. Straight in the face. Her eyes bore into mine and I know everything is right in the world when she gives me a small smile. I have finally found what I've been looking for.

Mate.