Chương 6: chapter 6: Henry’s pov
CHAPTER 5: Henry's POV
It's silent for the entire thirty-minute drive home. I try to stay calm and fight the urge to kick Ethan and Leila out of the car and race straight back to the hospital. Even though I know Ethan is just enjoying winding me up, it doesn't stop me from wanting to tear his head off for daring to touch what is mine. My beat-up old blue pickup is parked at the side of my small log cabin as we pull in. Parked right beside it is my dad's shiny brand new one. I sighed loudly and swivel to glare at my sister in the back seat, who at least has the good grace to look ashamed of herself.
"You told them?" I ask her in disbelief, "I haven't even met her yet, and you told them? What are we, 17 years old?"
"I was just so excited!" she says sheepishly. "And I only told Dad. Not Mum. I'm not stupid. She would have been down in the hospital trying to fit her for a wedding dress already if she knew." I wish she were joking, but it sounds about right. Hopefully, Dad had the good sense to keep it to himself as well. I have enough on my plate without managing damage control from my mother. I climb gingerly out of the truck and walk slowly up my porch steps. Even with wolf healing, I still feel like I've been hit by, well, a van, and I need to rest. As I let myself into my home, I look at my rustic log cabin with fresh eyes. Now it is potentially my home with my mate. No way am I bringing her to stay in the packhouse with all those unmated males wandering around. A small rumble starts in my chest just at the thought of it, and Ethan throws me a curious look as I cough to cover it up. I wonder what she'll think of this place, though. Is it good enough for her? I immediately regret all the smart-ass comments I have made to the mated members of the pack when they do sappy romantic things for their mates. I can understand the impulse now.
As soon as I walk through the door, my father stands and shakes my hand, pulling me into a man hug and thumping my back. I can feel his pride as he beams at me as if I have done something epic instead of just stumbling across my mate. My parents are fated mates, and I know they are dying for us all to experience the same thing.
"God, it's good to see you, boy," he says, his deep voice warm and emotional. "This is just wonderful. Not only are you home in one piece, but you've found your mate. This calls for a celebration!" He hands me a beer and though he has stepped away, he still has his hand on my shoulder, squeezing repeatedly as he tries to contain his enthusiasm. I shoot another glare at Leila, who shrugs her shoulders at me. She didn't give him the full story when she was filling him in on the latest gossip. Dad was probably planning his retirement on the way over, working out how quickly he can hand the pack over to me now that I'll have someone to help run it.
"I must be the only one who doesn't feel like celebrating around here," I growl, sinking into the couch and taking a long draw from the bottle of beer. My father looks from me to Leila, and back again, completely puzzled.
"She's human. I couldn't even meet her because she'd have seen that my injuries have healed already. What the hell am I supposed to do now? How do I explain all of this?" I gesture back and forth between us. My father's jaw drops and for a moment, the man who has known exactly what to do my entire life is stunned into silence. I know he can sense my misery, as he plonks himself down onto the worn leather couch beside me and pats me on my knee in an awkward attempt to comfort me. Any mated wolf understands how strong the pull of the bond is, especially when you first recognise each other. He knows how crazy my wolf must be going to get to her.
I tip my head back and stare at the ceiling, throwing my feet up on my old wooden coffee table and wallowing in self-pity and frustration. I try to ignore Ethan and Leila, who are still loitering inside the front door, ready to pounce on me again if I decide to make a break for it. My father's silence doesn't last for long thankfully, as he switches from Dad mode back to Alpha mode and takes control of the situation. He just can't help himself and, for once, I am extremely grateful.
"This whole pity party thing is not very becoming of the future Alpha. No son of mine is going to sit here and drown his sorrows," he says pointedly, snatching the bottle out of my hand. I sigh and lift my gaze to heaven, resisting the urge to remind him he was the one who gave me the beer in the first place. I glance up and see Leila smirk even as she keeps her head down and hides behind a curtain of dark brown hair, obviously thinking the same thing and trying not to laugh.
"Okay, practical stuff to start with. While I've never heard of an Alpha being mated to a human, I have seen it in other wolves. It's rare, but it can happen. Your wolf is frantic at being away from her because you haven't marked or mated yet, and he will torment you until you do," he informs me. "You'll feel better if you at least know that she is safe, so find out where she lives and works." I nod. That makes sense. I should be capable of thinking of this myself, but my exhaustion and wild emotions are taking their toll on my ability to think straight.
"Next, don't tell anyone who she is to you until she knows what you are and has accepted you... and for God's sake, don't tell your mother!" He looks straight at my sister rather than at me as he says that part. "I don't care how excited you are. You'll be putting her in danger if anyone outside the pack finds out, and you'll open up the genuine possibility that your mother will kidnap her for you." Ethan smirks, but nobody laughs because we all know it's a distinct possibility.
"Go and see her. It should help your wolf relax a bit, just don't do anything stupid. Then, decide on a reasonable time frame that you need to stay away that wouldn't be too suspicious for you to be up and about. Use that time to work out how you can woo her."
I hear Ethan snort from where he is standing at the door and shoot daggers at him. My father and Leila try to hide their smiles.
"Woo her? For fuck's sake, what does that even mean? You're all loving this just a little too much," I mutter, stabbing a finger in my sister and Ethan's direction. Leila pulls me into a hug and ruffles my hair, kissing my cheek.
"It's okay big bro. We can have a rom-com marathon, so you can get some pointers." A giggle burst past her lips at my scowl. She knows I'm totally out of my depth. Wolf mating is supposed to be straightforward. You meet your mate, feel the pull, and recognise each other immediately. You mate and mark each other, then live happily ever after. The relationship part comes after because with a true mate bond you know that they are the one person meant for you, perfect for you in every way. Except, in this case, my mate hasn't got a clue about any of this.
"Patience, son. I know it is going to be difficult, but it will be worth it. Fate has put you together for a reason." My dad thumps my leg again before standing to leave, ushering Ethan and Leila out in front of him before they can wind me up more. I stretch out my legs and can relax now. A sense of calm settles over me as I think of the advice my father gave me. Go see her, come up with a plan to make her mine, and try not to come across like a stalker. Simple. Just be cool. After dusk, I leave my house and head for the address Ethan gave me. I leave the front door unlocked as always, and shift into my wolf outside, before bounding off the porch and into the trees. I know where the house she's living in is. It's been empty for a while and I didn't realise that someone had bought it. It's crazy to think she has been living close by without me knowing it.
My sleek black wolf glides silently through the forest, and in no time at all, we are sitting on the crest of the small hill that runs down to the back of her property. I can smell her everywhere and it is driving my senses wild. She must come out here a lot. The house is an old ranch-style wooden cabin, but it's seen better days and needs a good bit of work to bring it back to its former glory. It's large, bigger than my place, and too much for only one person. I panic as I wonder if she already has a husband, a family... if that's why she needs all this space?
Forcing myself to calm down and think logically, I do a lap of the house but don't pick up any other potent scents. In fact, it doesn't appear as if anyone else has been here in a good while, which is strange. I know she's new to town, but surely someone has been here. Normally, the scents of recent visitors, friends, and family would linger for a while. If someone else was living here, I would know. It doesn't mean she doesn't have a boyfriend, but if she does, he isn't coming around here.
All the lights downstairs are off and only the soft glow of a bedside lamp is coming from what must be the main bedroom. Satisfied there is no immediate threat to my mate, or any other men here to steal her away from me, my wolf relaxes. I return to my spot on the hill and settle in for the night, happy knowing that my girl is safe and sleeping soundly close by.
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