The Alpha's Sunshine

sunshine: seven point one

Days had slowly turned into weeks, and weeks had slowly turned into months. The Shaded Falls pack had bid their farewell to winter and welcomed a new year and a warmer season with open arms. Ali had spent the festivities with her new found friends and family. Elsie was more a sister than a friend to her, and she was grateful to have someone be there for her. Elliot had slowly taken on a somewhat role of an older brother to Ali as well.

Nick had appointed Elliot as her personal bodyguard. He thought that Ali deserved the best protector, and if he couldn't be there for her himself, he would appoint the next best. That role was given to his Beta. Ali had enjoyed having Elliot and Elsie around. Their bickering would always cheer her up and make her laugh. She was thankful for having them.

It has been a month since the two had last spoken. A month since everything that went down in Nick's room. A month of several sleepless nights and dreams filled with eyes as blue as the ocean or cold, steely grey ones for the both of them.

It was an unspoken agreement between the two, that they would avoid each other the best that they could. Ali avoided Nick because of the hurt and the humiliation he had caused her. Nick avoided Ali out of the shame and guilt, adding on to the fact that he didn't want to make anything harder that it already was for the both of them. Seeing her would send his wolf into a frenzy and who knows what might happen if he lost control over his wolf, again.

So, the two went on without so much as glancing at each other. Not a word was exchanged between them and as time passed, the pain dulled and they slowly regained their old selves. Ali went back to being a ball of sunshine and helping out whoever she could. She liked doing things that reminded her of home and so, at times, she would help out with the meals and the cleaning. Nick went back to being the responsible Alpha who was emotionally detached. He didn't know what else would be able to distract him from thinking about Ali.

He kicked the habit of sleeping around with other women. He knew that Alison would feel the burn of him being with somebody else and just the thought of his mate in pain was enough to kick the bad habit.

Nick busied himself with as much as he could, ignoring the emptiness in his heart that had somehow managed to take up his entire life. Sometimes, if he was lucky enough, he would get to hear the musical laughter that he so dearly missed and see the smile that anyone would stop and stare at for a while. And that filled up the emptiness in his heart just a teeny, tiny bit.

He hid in the shadows when she was around. He was acting like a stalker but he didn't care, as long as he knew that she was at least happy being here. Nick lived for her happiness, which was why he couldn't handle the fact that he had made her feel otherwise.

Ali couldn't stop herself from missing him. How could you not miss someone made to be the love of your life? At times, she caught herself sighing when she realized that he wasn't anywhere to be found. Not that she looked for him, but her eyes would always make a quick scan for the familiar grey eyes and tousled brown hair wherever she was.

Needless to say, they both went through the pains of their separation and eventually, all that was left was a constant dull pain and void that couldn't be filled in both their hearts.

Things went back to normal. Ali didn't have to join the pack officially since she was human. They each went their 'separate' ways, avoiding each other at all cost. They wouldn't know what to say to each other either if they did meet eye-to-eye.

Things had been great for the past month. Strangely, Aloysius and his band of rogues had been quiet and low-key. There hadn't been any attacks on any packs and life went on. The Council — made up of the Alphas and Betas of the Shaded packs — had thought that maybe, just maybe they've heard the last of this evil-doer.