Genesis

12

"Night, Exodus. I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning for our training session." I said, smiling brightly at Exodus.

I felt close to him, he was fortunate as to not having these feelings as I had selfishly hid them from him. Being so close with him for these couple weeks had been hard. We were becoming close friends but it was just hard for me.

I could tell that he was attracted to me but he wasn't admitting it.

"Night Vera." He said, patting my arm.

I wanted to explode as the sparks rippled through my entire body.

I went into my room and Exodus went back downstairs to the guest Alpha suite. I quickly went to my bathroom and got washed and dressed and ready for bed.

As I climbed into bed, I laid there looking at the ceiling thinking of Exodus. If only things were easier.

I fell asleep thinking of him and awoke the following morning, thinking about what it would be like to feel him in bed next to me. I sighed before jumping out of bed and heading to the bathroom to shower.

After the shower, I looked into the mirror and stared at myself. I suddenly pictured my reflection all those years ago when I first came to Exodus' pack. Such a difference.

I felt confident in my skin and proud of myself for how far I had come.

I parted my hair into a middle section before putting my hair into two French braids as they came to my waist. I loved my long brown hair, it made me look like my mother.

I missed her dearly.

After I had braided my hair, I slipped into a sports bra and some shorts before running out of my door with my running shoes in hand. It was five am and the other pack members were still sleeping aside from a few early birds which mainly were my pack warriors.

They all greeted me as I ran passed them, nodding in return, I sprinted out of the house and to the gardens.

I ran for a little while and jogged for some time, circling the pack grounds.

I then caught Exodus running out of the house and over to me. He was shirtless, wearing jogging shorts. I felt my mouth water but shook my head as I realised he was on his way over to me. I kept jogging as he ran to catch up with me.

My wolf was going crazy in my head wanting to stare at my mate and more.

"Morning." I muttered as I heard him come up behind me.

"Another early riser." He said, as he came to my side. I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was staring at my body. Despite not feeling the mate pull, I could tell that he was entranced by what he saw which increased my self-confidence knowing my mate found me attractive.

"Yes." I said stopping before rubbing the back of my neck.

Exodus stopped too and smiled before passing me his water bottle. I took a sip of it before handing it back to him and I smiled.

"Thanks."

He nodded and took a mouthful.

As we stopped, his eyes stared over my body. He was looking at my scars and his brows furrowed. I panicked thinking he had recognised me from the scars on my body.

"Problem Alpha?" I asked, with annoyance in my tone.

He coughed as his eyes met mine and shook his head.

"Sorry Vera. I didn't mean to stare. You have quite a few scars. Do you mind me asking how you got them?" He asked.

"Yes. Actually, I do." I growled before taking off running again. I didn't want him asking me that. I wasn't even sure if I knew how to answer it.

*Alpha Exodus POV*

I awoke to the sound of the door slamming and as I checked the time, I groaned when it read as 5:40. I rolled over and looked out of the window to see Alpha Vera running laps around the fence. I quickly jumped up and pulled some shorts on while watching her from the window.

She looked beautiful and there was something about her that I couldn't put my finger on.

As she ran passed pack members, she smiled and nodded to them while she ran. Everyone respected and loved her. Part of me was envious.

I knew my pack had loved me at one point but I wasn't connected to them like she was to hers. Part of me felt that once I found Genesis we could start fresh.

I ran out of the pack house and darted after Vera.

I didn't want to look tardy, this was the first day I hadn't woken up as early. As I caught up to her, I could tell she had been running for a while.

"Morning." She muttered as I finally caught up with her.

"Another early riser." I laughed I reached her side. As I ran alongside her, my eyes travelled over her body. Her body was stunning and it made my mouth water. But that was wrong, I had a mate out there somewhere. She smirked over at me and I could tell she enjoyed making me feel this way. This made me wonder if she had met her mate or if she wanted to actually be with me or if it was all a game.

"Yes." She said stopping before rubbing the back of her neck.

I stopped too and smiled at her before passing her my water bottle. She took a sip of it before handing it back to me and smiled.

"Thanks."

I nodded to her and took a mouthful of water.

As we stopped, my eyes stared over her body, this time I could see it properly, not just the curves and the outline of her abs. I saw that she had some serious scars and my brows furrowed. I wondered how she got them. Part of me wanted to trace them with my finger.

"Problem Alpha?" She asked, with annoyance in her tone. I coughed as her voice snapped me out of my thoughts and my eyes met hers and shook my head.

"Sorry Vera. I didn't mean to stare. You have quite a few scars. Do you mind me asking how you got them?" I asked.

"Yes. Actually, I do." She growled before taking off running again. I sighed, I hadn't meant to offend her but I clearly had as she continued running around the fence. I thought I should go over and apologise but I thought that it was best to give her space and apologise later.

I walked back into the pack house and just felt deflated.

I thought I was becoming friends with the Alpha Queen but I had just put myself back to square one. I felt like such a mess.

Why did I always have to ruin everything?