Trust Me, Alpha.

Chapter 16 - Decisions, Decisions

Belle POV (Before)

Farrah was leaving. She really was. She's finishing high school online and living with her dad as he travels.

I don't think my eyes have stopped leaking since she told me.

I guess the days just passed, and I kept going through the motions of being okay, and now she's leaving. Today.

I'm currently outside the pack house, sitting on the ground waiting for Farrah to arrive for her good bye to the pack. Any member leaving was a big enough deal for everyone to come together to see them off, so members were strolling into the house as I quietly sulk a bit.

It's not that I don't support her decision, but knowing Farrah is soon going to be completely out of reach the world just seems a bit unhinged, and I'm not sure what my next move should be.

My phone rings in my pocket, and I answer without looking at the ID. "Hello?"

"Is that all l get? A mopey hello??" A voice I know all too well chuckles through the receiver.

"Oh, Soren! I'm sorry, It's just, you know 'the day'." I do finger quotes even though he can't see me.

"I remember, which is why I'm coming to see you, right now."

My heart flutters at the thought of him putting me first. "You left your pack to comfort me today?" A soft smile rested on my lips at the thought.

"Of course, princess, I'll be there in 30, see you soon,"

---

"You better text me," Farrah warns trying to be threatening but tears were already starting to stream down her face. "I mean it. Call, text, dm, send a letter, I don't care, but if you need me, I will respond in a heartbeat, promise. You're basically the only person on earth who can wake me up at 4 am and not have me murder you."

I stare at my best friend of 13 years and still see the toddler I promised to all those years ago. But she's changed. She's all grown up now, we both are, and it was time for us to branch away. "I love you, more than you'll know," I grab her hands in mine. "Travel the world, and then tell me all about it." We hug each other fiercely. But then, I let go, and she got into the car and drove away.

"It'll be okay," Soren whispers in my ear as he holds me.

I took a deep breath in, let it out and then turned towards him. "It will," I smile. Soren always is there to reassure me that as long as we have each other, we can get through anything.

We walk back to the pack house and up to my room. He lays on my bed as I get a tissue to wipe any tears left on my face. Then I climb in with him, laying my head on his chest.

"I was thinking princess," Soren starts, kissing my lips softly. "You should move in with me,"

My eyes widen in surprise. "I thought we agreed that I'd move into the Red Cries pack after I graduated...?"

"That was before I knew how hard it would be knowing my mate wasn't around me, hours away, unmarked..." Soren eyes travel down to where my mark would be.

My eyebrows scrunch together. "Soren, you know that it will be a thousand times harder to live apart if I'm marked, our wolves will fight for control, I'll go through heat without you there-" A loud growl ripped through the air at this. I sigh, "It's not practical."

"Exactly why you should move in," Soren exhales and runs his fingers through my hair for a bit. "Belle... do you like your life here?"

I immediately tense and sit up quickly. "Hear me out: you're always stressed and loading yourself with so much work for no reason other than to please others. You could've graduated last year, but you stayed in a place filled with so many bad memories. Why? And now your best friend is gone.