Little Red

Chapter 21

Demitri's POV

I walk into the clearing to address the pack, dreading that I have to deliver the news we have.  Which is slim to none.  Samuel and I continue to come up empty-handed, even though we are relentlessly searching.  These wolves may not get justice and that possibility makes my wolf blind with rage.  When I became Alpha, I took a vow to never let anyone else hurt my pack, and I intend to keep it no matter the cost.

I step up onto the small wooden platform that's been set up and look around, schooling my features into indifference.  The entire pack is here, besides those currently on duty in the house and those on patrol.  I've already set aside time later today to speak with those who aren't present.  I fight my rising groan at the thought of delivering this same disappointing message more than once.

The pack presses in close to where I'm standing, enthralled by the power radiating off of me.  

Being an alpha does have its perks.

Is making you more insufferable one of those?

Now isn't the time to get into another heated discussion with my wolf.  Which is extra infuriating lately since he's determined to be even more of an asshole.  My mental shield is slammed closed before he can disagree.

I scan the crowd in search of my best friend.  Samuel's large frame and dark hair are easily distinguishable, even from the other side of the field.  It's easy to recognize the lithe form beside him - Ara, her red cloak is a stain of color in the crowd. My wolf's yearning slips through my shield, his desire to be with her -  near her - but I hold him back with effort and sever our connection once again.  Even without his influence, the draw to her is almost irresistible.  Memories from our night together flood my mind.  The way her skin felt against mine, how even in sleep she looked so-

Stop.

I push down those tantalizing thoughts in an attempt to focus on the task at hand.  Revealing that we're no closer to solving this mystery nags at me, but the pack needs to be on alert for the time being.  A battle will come sooner or later, and we need to be ready to meet it when it does.  I can only hope it's just that - a battle, not a war.  It's too soon to fight another one.

The elders crowd around me, vying for my attention on whichever matter they each find most important.  I try to give them an acceptable amount of my focus, and tramp down my annoyance over their persistent hovering.  Their voices quickly begin blending together, a my temples start to pound.

Further off, I catch Samuel making his way toward me, pushing through the mass of bodies.  I give him a pseudo-calm smile when he's near, thankful for the way the elders scatter upon his approach.  With a nod, we call the meeting to order and he goes over the updated safety procedures we decided to mandate with Derek's help.  As one, the pack nods along to his words, taking in the new rules easily.  Some faces are openly concerned, others are blank masks, but I make note of each one.

I try to ignore the red hood near the back of the crowd, but my eyes are drawn to her like a magnet.  My self-control grapples with the heat burning low in my abdomen - the memories of her skin & her scent all blending together into a cacophony of desire.

One look.

I skim the general area before settling my gaze onto her, and I'm captivated.  Even with the limited view I can see of her under her hood, it's easy to see how beautiful she is.  Those mesmerizing green eyes snap to me, and nothing else matters in that moment.  It's a dangerous feeling - this thing between us - and fear spears a white hot iron through my stomach, quickly sobering me from the bond's influence.  I force my eyes away, and the burn for her fades back into embers.