The Alpha Shifter

Chapter 9 - Ari

The man I bumped into the other day was driving me nuts! I couldn't work, do any paperwork or focus on any one thing for a single moment. My jaguar was always prowling, always moving, never staying still. I was going completely mad. And the man with the softest brown eyes I'd ever seen was doing this to me! But what Luke had said to me was bouncing around in my head constantly, refusing to be forgotten. "Alpha, you have simply found your mate."

I ran my fingers through my hair for the one hundredth time trying to calm myself. But my jaguar wasn't having it. She wanted to shift, to go out searching like a love-sick cub! Well I wasn't gonna let her have her way. I needed to do something, something that would get my mind off the mystery man and distract me from all my current problems. The wolves, the safety of the cubs, my mate who may or may not be human, and of course informing Davin of this new revelation, as well as Keil. What a joyride it'll all be.

Another thought had occurred to me. Keil had informed me of all the reports from the scouts scouring the border. The wolves in the neighbouring territory have been quiet. But I was not going to risk the lives of my pack, or the cubs on the silence of the wolves. I would wait another day before I decided what needed to be done. A decision needed to be made, to either keep the cubs well away, or the bring them home where the warriors would be able to protect them. This problem with the wolves would be a constant thought in the back of my mind. The safety of the pack came first before everything else, including all personal matters of my own.

Keil? Can you come up here please?

He replied immediately. Where exactly is up here little sister?

You know exactly where big brother, upstairs in my office. I rolled my eyes knowing he'd already known where I was. He could probably hear me pacing downstairs. He knew something was on my mind and he was determined to find out what it was.

On my way little sister. I could picture him saluting in my head with that arrogant smirk on his face.

Keil entered my office and closed the door behind him. He was carrying a small box of chocolates with a tub of ice-cream in his hands. He lifted them both up showing them off with a wide grin on his face. "I thought you might need these. You know, you could pace a little quieter, the whole pack could hear you pacing around up hear."

"Well I happen to have a lot on my mind right now. Stuff I need to tell you about, especially one certain incident that happened while I was in town." I made a grab for the ice-cream tub, but he simply lifted it out of my reach and waved in the air taunting me.

I simply raised my eyebrow and leapt into the air grabbing the tub before my feet landed on the floor.

"Hey! That is cheatinggg!" He pointed a spoon at me as he was saying this. I grabbed that off him too and sat down on a two-seater couch positioned near the wall of my office.

I patted the seat next to me and shoved a spoonful of ice-cream into my mouth.

Keil sat down next to me and popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth. We sat in silence for a few minutes, silently eating. He knew I'd talk when I wanted to and he wouldn't push me to give him answers.

I shoved another spoonful of ice-cream into my mouth and told him everything from the moment my jaguar felt all jittery, to the tingles that erupted over my skin where he touched, and finally how I visited Luke, the pack doctor. I filled him in on every single detail.

I reached into his box of chocolates, grabbing a few and popping them into my mouth every time I was done chewing with another.

"I've...Found my mate." I looked into his hazel eyes not knowing how I should be feeling about this.

He had a gentle smile on his face, understanding the predicament I was in. "How am I supposed to tell Davin?" He embraced me in a brotherly hug.

"It'll be okay sis, just tell him the truth. He's known from the beginning that you two weren't meant to be together." I ruffled his shaggy black hair, and he pinched my cheeks. I don't know why he still pinches my cheeks. I tell him I don't like it, but secretly I do. It reminds me of the time when we were younger, before we started this pack we now call home.

"Oh also, one more thing. Do you think it's safe to bring the cubs back to the pack house?" He contemplated this for a moment, staring off at a spot on the ground before he replied.

"It should be okay, if they wanted to have a war with our pack, they would already have done so by now. So yes, I think it's fine to call them back." He grinned, knowing we'd all be reunited soon enough. I hugged Keil once more, telling him I was going to speak to Davin. Keil nodded and gave me a thumbs us, just as I walked through the doors of my office, leaving it behind.

I found Davin sitting under a tree, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon. I placed my hand on his shoulder before I took a seat beside him on the damp green grass. I watched for a moment, the beauty of the sunset, colouring the sky in a series of multiple shades. We sat in silence for a few more minutes before I broke the silence with the news that would change both of our lives. "Davin-" He looked towards me, and on his face I could see his understanding. He knew. I didn't have to tell him.

"I know Ari." He brushed his fingers against my cheek. "The moment you came back from town, I knew." He had a sad smile on his face. "It was never meant to be, and I accept that. I wish you all the happiness in the world with him."

"I'm so sorry Davin, I-" He placed a finger to my lips.

"It's fine Ari." That sad smile was still there, and I couldn't help but feel guilty for putting us both through this. He got up, pulling me gently to his chest, muttering that it was okay, placing a final kiss to my cheek and walked away. Leaving me to watch as the final rays of light disappeared, giving way to the night.