Apart.

6.

Recap:

He playfully growled before we took off, this time with an even start.

I needed the distraction anyway.

•••

I ended up beating Axel back to the house anyway.

I was a surprisingly fast wolf, even while my human form was nothing to be talked about in any respect.

By the time Axel had reached the pack house I was already changed and casually leaning against a tree, tossing the apple core in the air.

Axel shifted back, a tall muscly form taking the place of the wolf. He brushed his hand over his black hair kept tidy by his lazy choice of hairstyle - a buzz cut.

"Fuck me," he panted out as I winced at his choice of phrase. "I should bloody know by now that I'm never gonna catch ya. Never-fucking-ever."

I laughed. "You know, Axel, swearing isn't going to make you run faster. Thought I'd let you know seeing as though your vocabulary seems quite limited to just profanities."

"Oh, shove off asshole," he playfully pushed my shoulder as we began walking through the doors of the house, "I gotta go get some clothes on before any of the ladies catch me. I'll see ya after dinner." He winked.

"Maybe Alpha Clyde will catch you, ever considered that?"

"HA!" Was all he said as he waltzed out of the room.

I sighed. While I was always quite conservative - for a werewolf at least - Axel was quite the ladies man. He would strut around naked all day long if the pack officials allowed it. But of course, they didn't, and so every time they'd appear when I was with him, he grudgingly stomp off. In trouble for something at all times of the day.

I pitied whoever his mate turned out to be. Axel was still yet to meet his.

I checked the clock on the wall, seeing it was nearing 5pm. Sighing once again, I made my way to the kitchen to meet my mother and begin preparing dinner for our pack.

•••

It was nearly 9pm when dinner was finally packed up and done.

I met Axel in his room as per usual. His face held a tone of surprise when I didn't sit down to play video games with him.

"You know the controllers are dodgy as, there's no way you'll be able to play standing all the way over there, my friend."

"Axel," he turned his attention from the screen to me hearing the seriousness in my tone, "I found my mate last night."

"WHAT?" He sprung up before I could even react and engulfed me in a hug. "Are you kidding? Why haven't I heard about this sooner? Who is it? Where is he? How'd you know? What did you feel like? Where there really sparks?"

He fired off questions one after the other, and just like bullets, each of them seemed to wound me little by little.

Axel, noticing my silence, pulled away moving his hands to my shoulders and looking me dead in the eye.

"Hayden? Where is he?"

That was the last straw. I broke down, practically collapsing into Axel's arms.

"I-I don't know what to do." I sobbed into his shoulder.

"Hey, hey. Shush, shush."

Axel cradled me in his arms for what seemed like eternity before the sobs that racked my body finally simmered to hiccups.

I pulled away, not making eye contact with him as I began the story.

•••

"Wait, so he just disappeared with no indication of when he'll be back or any other information?" Axel asked incredulously once I had poured out my soul.

"Nope." I said popping the P dismally. "All he said is that he'd be back sometime. He promised he'd be back but wasn't sure how long he'd be."

"That sounds like fucking bullshit if you ask me. How can you leave your mate literally hours after first finding them." Axel began his rant, "Are you absolutely positive that's he's the one?"

I gave him dubious look, "Of course I'm sure, you don't just get that sort of reaction out of some random you happen across."

He put his hands up in defence, "Hey, I was only asking, you know what I'm like." I nodded silently to myself as Axel continued, "You know you could always go to his pack to see him. You don't have to wait around here."

"I know, and truthfully, I've definitely considered it. It's just that he made me feel like I really shouldn't."

Axel scoffed, "And what do ya mean by that?"

"He said there's was a lot going on in his pack at the moment. I just get the feeling I should wait here, give him some time to get things settled and sorted before I go barging in. He might not have even told his parents he was gay!" I voiced my concerns.

Axel nodded his head in understanding, "Alright, mate. You know I'm not gonna push you to anything, I've always got your back."

"Thanks, Axel. You're literally the greatest friend ever."

"And don't I know it!" He said with a wink and a laugh. "Now, you ready for me to crush you yet or what?"

"Oh, you are so on, douchebag."

We laughed as we took our places in front of the screen and finally started our game.

Similar to my skill for speed, Axel's skill for video games came into play as my thoughts drifted.

I didn't want to be the obedient little mate that his Alpha only called on when necessary, but for the moment, I felt like that's exactly what Jake needed. And I would be there for whatever he needed for as long as I lived.

•••