The Alpha Shifter

Chapter 19 - Ari

I paced in the hallway for a moment. It couldn't be the shaggy brown patched wolf... Could it? The last I'd seen of the mutt, he was completely unconscious and injured. I winced as I touched where the mutt had clawed my shoulder.

I mind linked Davin, my third in command, refusing to take any chances. Davin, can you do something for me please?

Of course Ari, what is it?

It might be nothing, but a wolf's been spotted near our border again. Could you go and check it out? Just to make sure everything's okay? There's only one, but I don't want to take any chances.

Sure, no problem. I'll mind link you if anything happens.

I ran my hands down my face and slowed my pacing. It was okay, everything was fine. It would probably be half an hour or more before Davin mind linked me with any news, so I decided to head up to my room and take a shower.

As soon as I reached my room I headed straight for the bathroom, dropping the blanket from my shoulders, heading straight into the shower. It felt so good to wash the dirt and blood from my body. It gave me something to do, taking my mind off both Will and the wolf seen at the border. It wasn't easy leading a pack of shifters... It's never been done before, but with Keil's help we had achieved it. The lost and abandoned now had a home. A safe haven from those who would have us killed. My pack was being threatened with the wolves who were nearby. Majority of my pack was made up of cubs. Children who'd been abandoned. My mind raced from one thought to the next, finally stopping on Will. I took a deep breath, enjoying the feel of hot the water on my skin.

As soon as I stepped out of the shower I received a mind link from Davin.

Ari...?

What is it Davin? Is everything okay? You're not hurt are you?

There was a slight pause for a moment which worried me. Davin?

Y-yeah, everything's fine.

He seemed a bit shaken up which worried me even more. I also knew the guy, he sounded anything but fine. Something had happened and I wasn't sure what. If he was hurt he would've told me, but it wasn't that so it had to be something else.

Just come back as soon as you can okay? I bit the side of my cheek and waited for his reply.

Of course... I'll be back soon.

I grabbed my towel and started to dry off. Davin said he was fine, so why didn't I believe him? I shook the thought from my mind and put on the nearest clothes I could find. Once that was done I headed back downstairs to the infirmary. My worry for Davin would have to wait until he came back. For now all my worry would be for the little cub.

He was sleeping soundly, his sandy blond hair was sticking up at odd ends, which made me smile. I brushed his cheek with the back of my hand. I sat on the chair beside his bed and waited there. I felt a little nervous. Before we'd encountered the mutt on the road, Will had run away from me, and I didn't know how he'd react when he woke up. I held his small hand in my own, lost in my own thoughts. I was brought out of my thoughts when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and found Donovan the pack doctor's assistant. He smiled down at me, "You shouldn't worry you know. The cub will be fine and he's healing quite quickly."

"Thanks Donovan." I smiled at him, thankfully. Even though that's not where my worries lay. I knew he would recover physically. It was his emotional state I was worried about.

"Hmm but that doesn't seem to be what you're worried about."

"I'm always worried about something Don. Can I call you Don?" He nodded and pulled up another seat to sit on.