Waiting For August

Part 66 ~ The black wolf

"The black wolf?" I found myself frozen, rooted to the spot. I needed to run. My life depended upon it, however my wolf refused to budge. He needed to know. Was his mate in danger? Was Caleb perhaps already in the hands of the true Alpha slayer? "Why does he want the black wolf?"

He shrugged. He was still on the ground, but I thought perhaps he was breathing a lot better now. Was he trying to keep me close while he finished recovering? "The Alpha of this pack is said to have a black wolf. He wants him. It's how he operates. He removes the head of the snake, in order to take over the pack."

A cold chill spilt over me. It was shockingly too familiar the wording he had used. "Th-the head of –"

He sounded annoyed. "It's a way of saying, 'take out the leader first.' However, I can't find the leader of this pack. At first, I thought it was the big guy that lives here, but last moon I saw him and the black wolf together, so I know that's not the case."

I slowly exhaled. So, he didn't know that Caleb was the Alpha. It seems the trick we played on Jackson had worked in our favor; in a way we couldn't have realized at the time. He had been there that night too, and he had seen it.

He frowned, as he continued. "I need to find the black wolf, and he's growing impatient."

I decided to push my luck. "Do you know what he wants with me? I'm no Alpha."

He snorted, as if truer words hadn't been said. He shook his head, clearly amused. "No clue. Just that you are important." He eyed me then before continuing, his look sombering. "And that I can be the one to take care of you for him." He turned on his knees to face me, his voice had lost its edge from before. "I would, you know. Take care of you. I've never had someone refuse me the way that you have." He gave me an earnest look. "I'd be good to you. I wouldn't hurt you. You'd just have to behave."

Was he fucking serious right now? Was he really trying to—Never mind. I don't know what he was trying to say, and I didn't want to know. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, snap myself out of my disbelief.

"You attacked me."

He dropped his eyes. "That –that was regrettable. I made a mistake. Once you've been properly marked, you'll find that I'm not so bad to be around. I can play nice." He was slowly getting to his feet. His voice was low, gentle. "Real nice."

Fuck. I waited too long. I glanced to my left. Where to go? Where to run to. If only I knew what had happened to Caleb. Where he was. I took a step back. Licked my lips. "Uh, the big guy—the one who lives here—you, uh, haven't seen him... at all, have you?"

"Maybe." He took a step forward. He was still talking slowly. Gently, like one might to a frightened child. Problem was. I was that child, and truthfully, this guy unnerved me to my core. "Is he important to you? Maybe, I could be important to you too."

He slowly closed the distance. I bit my lip. Worked my fist. My feet wouldn't move. My breathing increased. What the fuck are you waiting for? My wolf. He still wouldn't flee. He needed to know about Caleb.

He reached a hand towards me. Slowly. Tentatively. There was nothing intimidating in the way he approached me. His fingers touched the bruise at my neck. I felt nothing. It was tender to the touch. Nothing more. Not like when Caleb—

"I forgive you." He said quietly.

Forgive me? Like I need his fucking forgiveness. Shit. Stay calm. Keep your mouth shut. Whatever you do, don't set him off, not while you're frozen in place. Seriously, wolf! What are you waiting for? A fucking proposal? For him to get down on one knee?