Alpha - Forever #1 (Complete)

Chapter 21 - Part 2

Scarlett

"My sister," was his answer.

"I've known you nearly my whole life; you don't have a sister," replied Cade, still watching him suspiciously, his jaw tightened. I couldn't help but wonder how Cade knew him.

"She's been gone a long time," Kyle answered cryptically as he held Cade's gaze. They seemed to have a standoff for a few minutes before Cade relented.

"Fine, come back with us and we'll try and help you."

Kyle nodded his head in agreement and, within seconds, Kyle and Cade shifted back into their wolf forms.

The run home was more serious and my light-heartedness from earlier was forgotten as I thought about Kyle's sister.

I couldn't help that little bit of jealousy that I felt when I saw siblings together. A sibling was someone who grew up in the same circumstances and environment. They would know you better than anybody else—even your parents.

There had been more than a few moments in my childhood that I'd been so lonely that I'd wished for a brother or sister, but no matter how much I'd wished, it hadn't changed the fact that I was an only child.

Cade ran beside me the whole way back to the compound, with Kyle and his pack following behind us

The gates were open and there were a few people waiting for us as we entered the compound. Cade stopped beside me and shifted back to human form. I'd managed to transform into a wolf, but I wasn't sure how to shift back.

Take our visitors into my study. Tell them I'll be with them in a few minutes, Cade instructed Jake.

When I didn't shift back, Cade dropped to a knee in front of me.

You having troubling shifting back?

I nodded my head.

Close your eyes and see yourself in your human form.

He was so thoughtful, I leaned forward and licked his cheek. He laughed and wiped his cheek. It was nice to see him in the carefree state; it didn't happen often.

I closed my eyes and did what he said. Sure enough, I felt my body change. But unlike when I shifted into a wolf, I felt pain shoot through my body. When the shift finished, I was on my knees with my hands grasping the sand as I breathed through the pain.

"It's okay," Cade soothed as I felt him pick me up. He tucked me closer to his chest as he carried me to the house. I was glad that Kyle and his pack had been directed to Cade's study so that they wouldn't see me like this.

I heard the murmur of voices coming from the study as Cade climbed the stairs. Once inside his bedroom, he laid me gently on the bed.

How are you feeling?

"A little achy, but I'll survive," I answered him out loud. It was still more comfortable to talk aloud than to talk to him through the mind-link. He sat down beside me and tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

"I'd stay but I have to talk to Kyle," he said as he pressed a kiss to my lips.

"It's fine, go do what you need to."

He gave me one last lingering look before he left.

I lay on the bed for about fifteen minutes before I felt the ache ease from my limbs. I wondered if it would be this painful every time I shifted back to human form, but then I remembered Cade saying something about it only hurting a few times after the first shift.