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He replied one last time with a kiss emoji and I grinned at my phone, feeling lighter now that we had sorted it out between us, kind of.
It was only midmorning and all of my pack-mates were giving me a wide berth. When I could think rationally in between strange flashes of anger or sullenness, I understood. I was acting like a grumpy bear shifter and not the alpha wolf that I was. I’d snapped at both of my brothers at the slightest provocation during our breakfast meeting and had given up on paperwork altogether.
Irritation sparked along my mind, my body coiled for a fight, so I took myself off to the gym in the basement to run off the feelings that pulled at my skin, making it feel too tight for my body.
Enforcers lined the back wall of the gym as they ran drills and sparred with each other. I wasn’t about to put any of them in danger by sparring with them while I was in this mood.
An alpha that looked like I did was always dismissed offhand. I wasn’t bulky with muscle. My face was a tad too “pretty,” I’d been told to be taken seriously in a fight. As such, I was always overlooked. My father had used that as his secret weapon from when I turned fifteen until he figured out that he couldn’t control me anymore.
I could think on my feet and pick out an opponent’s weakness unerringly. It was the extra gift that The Luna had bestowed on me, like Chase with his lie detector. My enforcers didn’t fight me often because of it, and it was why I ran the pack unchallenged.
Hours passed as I worked out my frustration in the gym, running, lifting weights, and using the punch bag until I collapsed next to it in a puddle of sweat.
It hadn’t worked. I still felt angry and itchy. My mate was the only thing on my mind, desperation to be near him. To scent him, feel his skin against mine. I couldn’t give into it. Kade had to be the one to reach out and ask for me. I only had to wait a few hours before our dinner date. I could hang on. Something didn’t feel right about the situation. It was unlike me to be so impatient. Usually I was content to play the long game.
Where are you?Came my brother’s gruff voice. Axel sounded about as frustrated as I felt.
He’s been in the gym for hours. Haven’t you seen the betas fleeing the house? Chase sounded highly amused and there was almost a mental picture to go with his words.
His phone is ringing. Axel sent back, and I leapt to my feet and rushed for the stairs, nearly colliding with Kaine.
The call stopped as I neared my office but immediately started back up again, vibrating against the wood of the desk. The caller ID said Kade.
“Everything okay?” I asked warily. I’d seen several missed calls from his number.
“Your mate needs you,” came a voice that wasn’t Kade.
“Who’s this?” I demanded.
“Dakota. I’ve had to take Kade home as he’s useless at work today. I can’t imagine you’ve been any easier to deal with. You two need to fully bond or leave each other alone until his mark completely fades.”
“Completely fades?” my voice was faint.
“His mark is nearly gone. He’s been asking for you, so that’s the only reason I called instead of letting this run its course.”
“Gone?”
There was a sigh. “Just get here soon, okay?” The line went dead.
Axel? I need to go.
We know. You didn’t shut down the link. I’ll drive you. Deke said the spare room is nice. Maybe Kade will let me sleep there.
“Hey, no fair.” Chase’s voice rang out in the hallway as I sped past him on the way to a waiting car, Axel at the wheel.
“Sorry, but I need one of you here.” I ran back to Chase and hugged him. “Love you, bro.”
Chase wasn’t listening, trying to use our family link to get Axel to swap with him.
The car moved as soon as I was in the seat and Axel broke a ton of driving laws as we traveled the distance to Kade’s house.
“How do you know where he lives?” I asked.
“It’s programmed into the GPS.” He gave me a look.
“We need to wipe that later.” My paranoia was high that I would be the reason his father found and hurt Kade.
“I’ll call Deke later and tell him to clear it when we get home. You know me and tech. I’ll break the thing instead of wiping it.”
