The Alpha Shifter

Chapter 15 - Ari

Turning my body towards his, I waited patiently for his reply. He replied in an easy going tone, with a smile on his lips. "I'm good, everything's fine."

Somehow I knew that it wasn't. Maybe it was the slight aversion of his eyes or the barely noticeable fidgeting that gave him away. I wanted to comfort him in someway, but I didn't know how. I didn't know him well enough yet.

I frowned slightly, but for just a moment. I wanted him to trust me, but I guess that came with time.

I tugged the jumper he'd given me lower, trying to hide my nudeness, but failed miserably as it only reached so far. I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks at our earlier encounter, when I had so boldly presented myself to him in my birthday suit. But when I looked up and met his eyes, I only found concern. "You're not cold are you?"

I gave a small laugh, and smiled teasingly at him, "Oh no no. Quite the opposite in fact. You're not cold yourself, are you? I mean, I am wearing your jumper after all." His soft brown eyes glittered in the moonlight, his whole face lighting up as he smiled.

"I'm not cold, and I must say you look much better in my jumper than I do."

I stood and did a little twirl and winked. "It makes a rather fine dress, doesn't it?" He laughed, amused at my comment, "I must say, it does."

We laughed and talked all night, under the rays of the moonlight. We'd been in each other's company for so long that when I looked up to the sky, I could see that it was no longer dark. The sun was beginning to come up.

With a start I realised I had to get back to my pack. I'd left them unprotected all night. I had to get back before anyone realised I'd been gone. With all my disappearances they might think I wasn't fit to be Alpha anymore. I couldn't jeopardise their trust.

"It's been really nice speaking with you and all, but I really have to go." I looked at him apologetically, hoping he'd understand.

He looked disappointed for a moment before he too looked up at the sky. The disappointment had left his face as his eyes widened. He muttered a few things under his breath before he spoke, "Of course, I should be going too." He seemed a little restless, and I knew that any sense of time had completely left both of our minds. I gave him one last smile, as he did too, before I turned and sprinted into the forrest behind me, heading straight for home. I could feel the restlessness of my jaguar the further we ran from our mate. But I didn't dare to turn back to catch a final glimpse of him. I could already feel that something was missing, and I knew if I turned back it would be harder for me to leave him and return to my pack.

I had finally reached the pack house, in nothing but the jumper he'd given me. It smelled completely of him, calming my restless jaguar.

I silently crept into the foyer of the pack house, and made sure no one was in sight before I crept up the stairs and made it into my room. I closed the door with a sigh of relief and rested my head against it.

"And where have you been all night?" My heart began to thunder in my chest, pounding with such great force I felt as if it were going to leap out of my chest. Keil was sitting, leaning against the headboard of my bed, hair in his eyes, with his mischievous smirk plastered on his face.

"Just out for a late night stroll." I shrugged my shoulders casually feigning indifference.

He cast a quick glance at the clock hanging on the wall before he answered. "A stroll that has you coming back at 6 in the morning?" His smirk broadened into a grin as he got off my bed and stood in front of me. "Oh and what's this? A new shirt? And men's cologne? No wait, that's a man's scent." I could feel my face going brighter by the minute.