Seethe: First Draft

Seethe: Chapter 7

Chapter 7

>XAVIER'S POV<

I gathered my pack in the middle of the night because the 'Wolves patrolling our borders reported a border breach. They've got it contained but they think the rogues that trespassed have more 'Wolves waiting on the sidelines. I look around the room, taking in the tired faces and eye-rubbing children. The fighters of the pack are gathered outside, Thomas is in charge of making sure they're all here while I make sure the rest of my pack is safe.

I frown, scanning the room one more time just to confirm my suspicions. Lorelai isn't here. They all know why they're here, so there's no time wasted in explanations. I nod at a few members on my way to the back door. Maybe she's outside with Thomas.

It's more of a struggle than I would like for it to be to keep the grimace off my face. Lorela bringing me back from the brink of death has left me with this unhealthy obsession with her. I've managed to hide it pretty well, but not well enough for it to be completely unnoticeable. I'm sure one of my pack members is bound to notice soon, especially if I can't keep myself from seeking her out the way I seem to constantly find myself doing.

Something as simple as her smiling at me can send shivers down my spine and butterflies that swirl around my stomach all day. It's even worse if she laughs...

I let the thought trail off as I step off the porch. Again, I find myself searching her out in the crowd and I try to stop myself as I walk toward Thomas. He's finished giving everyone their orders and is just talking to a few pack members when I reach him. The people he'd been talking to walk off when they see me.

I don't blame them for walking off, I'd been a bit short with everyone, more so than usual. I kept stumbling upon Thomas and Lorelai alone together and while they never seemed to actually be up to anything, that didn't stop my mind from conjuring up possibilities of what they could be up to. This time, I can't hide the grimace and a tiny part of me delights in Thomas taking notice of it and shifting away from me.

Once again, I start to scan the people around us for Lorelai and catch myself. I force my attention to stay on Thomas and frown when I realize that if Lorelai were out here, next to Thomas is probably where she would be. I frantically look around at everyone as the thought settles in my head and I know I'm right.

"What's wrong?"

I don't answer Thomas' obvious concern as I continue to look over the clearing even though I've looked it over enough times now to know that Lorelai isn't here.

I'm sure I look like a madman when I finally turn to look at Thomas. "Where's Lorelai?"

His eyes go wide and round as he turns to look around the clearing. I already know what he'll find. Exactly what I found.

"I woke up her up and made sure she knew to meet us all here."

I process his words but in my head, I'm already running through the facts. Lorelai's little cottage is closer to the edges of the pack's lands. If Rogues invaded while the border patrol was distracted with another group, like we suspected they would, then they could have gotten to Lorelai by now. It's not like she can't take care of herself, she's a Siren after all, but that doesn't mean the Rogues couldn't have still gotten the better of her in stronger numbers and-

"Cam!"

I focus back on reality when one of my 'Wolves shouts. I almost can't believe what I'm seeing.

I recognize the two people limping into the clearing as members of my border patrol. I'm moving towards them before the thought to has even crossed my mind. One is leaning on the other, an arm thrown over their shoulder as the less injured one supports most of the weight.