For The Love of An Alpha

Giving Chase

Henri hadn't stopped pacing. His feet pounded through the small stone cottage, the eyes of his companions watching him closely. His hands raking through his rough umber locks often, as a sigh would escape his chest. His eyes darted about the floor. It was obvious he was playing scenarios through his head and he knew that nothing good was about to come of this.

His feet stopped, his fingers rolled the cool stone over and over. Jhera's voice replaying in his head. I can't let you get hurt. His pace started up again as he bee lined for the front door. He knew the eyes of his accompaniment were on him, yet he didn't care. He needed fresh air, he need to get away from everyone and think clearly. His naked heels thrummed on the wood porch as he moved from the door to the three steps that led to the gravel walk.

Turning briefly, he spotted William and Erick out of the corner of his eye. They had both perched on the banister lining the porch, their arms folded tight across their chests. Henri turned his eyes back to the lawn. The soft grass beneath his feet keeping him grounded in the present as his mind raced circles. He wasn't sure how to find where they had taken her. From what Liam had said, they were in Reliegh when the attack happened.

The pink stone warmed in his hand as he moved about the garden on the East side of the house. His feet carried him back to the gravel path as William moved from the porch. The stone in his hand growing cooler as he approached.

"Are we going after her?" William's face was firm.

"That's the plan I'm trying to figure out." Henri's brow furrowed, his eyes watching the pink stone as he rolled it effortlessly in his palm. The cool stone calming the heat in his hand.

"That blue haired hermit isn't any help." Erick's burly shadow appeared before he did. The sun was rising and they still hadn't figured out how to find her.

"We'll have to travel in wolf." William's voice moved to a hushed tone. "I can track her, if we hurry to Reliegh." His brown eyes piercing Henri's gaze.

"What are you thinking?" Henri returned in hushed tones as he motioned the men to follow him. The trio began to walk the perimeter of the lush vegetable garden on the East side of the house.

The garden wasn't overly large, about forty feet on each side. It was a comforting squared shape, with fencing set protectively around the perimeter. Henri didn't venture inside, he only walked the outer boundary. The other two men joined his cadence and they walked the path, speaking in hushed tones that were drowned out by the gravel beneath their feet.

"We'll have to travel in a small group." William's hushed voice moved, his hand swiping his clean shaven face on occasion.

"Wolf would be fastest." Erick agreed.

"We need to prep a pack." Henri's brow furrowed at the stone, the feeling of warmth fading from it once more. "Maybe just the three of us should go?" He glanced up to meet their gaze. They had stopped at the corner nearest the house.

"Three is easy to manage."

"Listen," Erick began, "I just want to get her back safe. I owe it to her, after..." his voice trailed off and his hand nervously scratched at the curve where his shoulder and neck met.

"I get it." Henri nodded, his face still withholding any hint of emotion. "I'm sure she'll have her own bit to say when we find her, but I welcome your company." Henri nodded to the burly man.

"It's settled, we'll move out at dusk." William stated.

"No," Henri corrected, "we'll leave while everyone is eating breakfast. Go in, get only what you need to carry. No pack." Henri looked back to the front door, his pack still sitting on the porch. "We'll load our clothes in my pack and roll out while everyone is eating."