Zeph’s POV
I was able to fully recover the following day. Ready to meet Vixxen. Just as I reached for the door, a knock interrupted me.
I opened the door to find Terran standing there. I couldn’t read the expression on his face. “Good morning,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Good morning, Alpha Terran,” I replied.
His lips twitched. “Still with the Alpha? I thought we settled that.”
I chuckled. “Force of habit.”
His smile faded a bit. “I wanted to apologize…for yesterday. I shouldn’t have said what I said to Vixxen, it was out of line.”
I studied him, he looked very sincere, it was very clear that he meant it.
“I appreciate that,” I said softly. “But I am not the one you should be apologizing to.”
“I will talk to him…settle it out.”
“Alright. I accept your apology.”
He nodded, his tensed shoulders were at ease. “Are you going to see him?”
“Yes.”
Terran’s look was odd, but he didn’t argue. “Just…be careful.”
I tilted my head. “Why are you so different from him?”
He avoided my gaze. “It’s personal.”
I decided not to press further.
“Anyway, to make it up to you, I have decided to take you out on a friendly date.”
I blinked. “A date?”
“Yes,” he said smugly. “Just a friendly one. You were right about not knowing each other that much; I want to change that.”
I crossed my arms. “And your Alpha duties?”
“They can wait,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “I’m the Alpha. Who’s going to stop me?”
I smirked. “The elders, your beta, your gamma…should I go on?”
He groaned. “You are making this harder than it needs to be.”
“Fine,” I said with a grin. “But if the pack rebels while we’re out, I’m blaming you.”
“Deal.” He smiled and made way for me to leave.
Later, I arrived at the training grounds, and it looked more occupied than usual. I noticed several men engaged in combat drills; some were in their werewolf form. What surprised me more was seeing Vixxen leading them. Why am I surprised? He fought off those rogues like a piece of cake.
He caught sight of me and smiled. “Morning, Zeph.”
I walked up to him. “What is the occasion?”
His face became serious. “After the rogue attack, which had happened twice, the warriors needed to strengthen the pack’s defenses. The pack has become some kind of target now.”
“For what reason?”
“No idea. Also, it’s their punishment for letting the rogues sneak in. They should be embarrassed that some rogues outsmarted them”
I crossed my arms. “That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”
Vixxen snorted. “Not at all. If they don’t take security seriously, it puts the entire pack in danger. If anything, I’m being too nice.”
I watched as the warriors trained hard. They looked like they were going over the limit, sweat formed on their brows as they pushed themselves through the drill. I watched as he was giving them orders, that usual attitude of making jokes and being playful was gone. This must be how he truly was- but then, why does he act differently around me?
“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to train?”
I shrugged. “You’re busy, so I am planning to train alone.”
He scoffed. “Nope, not happening.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I believe I can at least train myself to a minimum now. The warriors need your attention more than I do.”
“They are not babies; they know exactly what to do.”
I smirked. “So, I am the baby?”
His eyes widened slightly. “That’s not what I am saying.”
He looked genuinely flustered, trying to explain himself, like a child. I laughed at his expression. “You should see your face right now.”
He groaned. “You are impossible.”
I could see the other warriors sneaking glances at us, clearly baffled by his behavior.
“Fine,” I sighed dramatically. “But on one condition.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What is it?”
“I want to see your wolf form again.”
He blinked. “Why?”
“Because your wolf is beautiful.”
He turned away, hiding his face as he mumbled something under his breath.
“You can’t just say things like that.”
I laughed. “Why not? It’s true.”
Vixxen took off his clothes before shifting right in front of me. He could have just warned me.
His sleek, dark-furred wolf was way bigger than me, his golden eyes glowing in the afternoon.
He really is handsome. I reached out hesitantly, my fingers grazing his thick fur.
His wolf huffed, nudging my arm before shifting back. “Satisfied?’
I nodded. “Very.”
“Good. Now stop distracting me a let’s get ready to spar.”
I smirked. “Oh, you’re blaming me for being distracted?”
He rolled his eyes, before lunging at me without warning. I barely dodged, laughing as we finally started training.
*
The sun hung lower in the sky as the training drew to a close, the warriors taking a break, then I convinced Vixxen to let them. I sat on a rock, wiping some sweat from my forehead.
“Water?” Vixxen said, as he handed me a water pouch.
“Thanks,” I took in a big gulp, quenching my thirst.
He glanced at me. “You did well today.”
“I always do well.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. A moment of silence passed before I hesitated. “I wanted to apologize for Terran’s behavior yesterday.”
Vixen leaned back against the rock, stretching his arm. “Don’t worry about it. I’m not bothered anymore.”
I studied his face. “Are you sure?”
He exhaled, staring ahead at the warriors resting ahead. “I am not going to dwell on it.”
I hesitated before asking. “What happened between you two?”
I couldn’t read his expression as he looked away.
“It’s…complicated.”
I didn’t push further, instead I changed the subject.
“Can I ask a personal question?”
“As long as it’s not one relating to Terran, ask away.”
I took a deep breath. “What was your first mate like? Sorry if I am opening closed wounds.”
A few moments passed and he didn’t respond. Then I noticed a smile on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes.
“She was incredible. Strong, kind…she meant everything to me. She had this way of making everything feel…better and easier, even when things were falling apart.”
There was a distant look in his eyes, as if he were seeing a memory play out in front of him.
I swallowed hard. “She must have been amazing.”
“She was,” he glanced at me. “You remind me of her.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “I do?”
He nodded. “That fire in your eyes. She had it to.”
I didn’t know and wasn’t sure how to respond to what he said. “I’m…sorry.”
Vixxen lets out a snorting laugh. “It’s a good thing. It reminds me of the good times.”
I smiled softly. “I know what you mean. I think about my mom like that sometimes. She was one of the few people who believed in me, who made me feel like I belonged.”
He listened intently. “She sounds like a great mother.”
“She was,” I hesitated, then added, “Then there was my first mate.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. The pack blamed me for his death. He said I was cursed and it was my fault. Because I was an omega with no wolf. They turned on me, and I had no choice but to run.”
Vixxen’s hands clenched into fists. “That’s not how a pack should treat one of their own.”
He met my gaze; his tone became soft. “You didn’t deserve that.”
I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear those words, at all. It felt so good to hear it.
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “But that’s in the past. My purpose is to become stronger, to be the best I can be.”
He smiled. “Then I guess we had better start training harder.”
I chuckled. “No slacking?”
“Absolutely none. By the way, I will help you learn how to use your new power.”
I blinked, “You mean my healing ability?”
He nodded. “You saved me with it. Now, I want to make sure you can control it. I wonder how many powerful abilities you are going to have.”
“Let’s just hope one doesn’t have to be blowing up someone’s head with a thought.”
He winced dramatically. “Yikes, I should start protecting myself then,
“Yes, you should.”
He raised his arm in surrender, laughing. “Alright, alright. I will stay on your good side.”
“Smart choice.”
I guess this pack won’t be so bad after all.