Chapter 8
Alexander
When Alexander was driving up the driveway to cabin three, he heard a woman screaming. He pulled over and turned his car off so he would be able to hear. With the window down, it was easy to hear a woman calling for her child. There is only one place it could be coming from. Alexander didn’t need to drive up to the cabin. It will be faster shifting here and running through the woods.
Alexander passed the cabin and ran further into the woods. He could tell by her scent where the human woman is. Instead of going to her, he went around and went ahead of her. He caught the same scent from last night. Is the woman chasing after a shifter? Regardless of who she is chasing, Alexander had to help her.
He weaved around a few trees following the scent. After 100 yards or so he could hear the running steps of another. He howled to get the shifters attention. It didn’t work out the way he had hoped. He wanted the shifter to stop, instead the shifter stopped briefly then started running again. If the sound is anything to go by it sounded as if the shifter is having a rough time. Alexander could tell the shifter is small and sounds like a clumsy shifter. He knows he’s catching up. By the direction he is running, Alexander took a chance on where they were heading. Whoever this is; was following the path Alexander had taken the night before. He turned off the path so he can try and cut the shifter off before it got to the dried-up creek. That’s the boundary between the O’Neil pack mountain and the smaller mountain next to them. Is he trying to find the pack? If so why wouldn’t the shifter realize he is here?
Alexander came up to the point in which he thought the shifter will be. He didn’t hear anything, maybe he arrived too early. He ran straight down the path he took. Alexander howled out when saw a small pup stumble across the path looking lost. He should have known it would be a pup, Alexander mentally smacked his forehead. That’s why the scent is off it has more human scent than wolf.
The pup whined loudly and ran behind the nearest tree. Alexander ran up to the tree and popped up in front up the pup. First the pup let out a sad little growl that ended in a whimper. Without hesitation Alexander picked the pup up with his teeth, taking care not to hurt the pup’s neck. ‘Time to take you to your mother’, Alexander thought.
The pup seemed to relax and accept that he is being carried this way. Alexander won’t run with the pup because he didn’t want to scare him. So he just walked down the path he took last night. If she was able to follow the pup then he knows he’ll run into her in a little bit. When the breeze started blowing through the trees he could tell they were close. Alexander scrunched up his nose. The smell is unpleasant to say the least. The pups mother is just around the bend ahead. He cut through the trees to meet them.
Alexander couldn’t believe his eyes. Jennifer is walking with a little girl, not a Jessica Salone. Did Logan get the name wrong? She may have gained some weight but that’s her, he is sure of it. He could never forget Jennifer; she’s the one that got away. The one his heart desired. She is still the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on. The little girl mirrored her mother’s looks. For a moment, he forgot what he was doing. The moment she saw him, she looked terrified pulling the little girl behind her.
“Oh dear God, please don’t hurt him.” She cried out.
Alexander slowed down a little but continued to walk towards her. He took in the sight of her. She is scared but she’s brave. She showed little fear; at least she hid it well. She is more beautiful than he remembers. The weight filled her out in the sexiest ways imaginable.
“Please put him down.” She begged.
Alexander didn’t want her to be afraid of him, not now or ever. He kept walking to her. He expected her to back up, prepared to run but she stood where she was. Once he stood right in front of her, he gently put the pup at her feet. Trying to make sure she would notice his kindness and relax. He couldn’t take his eyes away from hers. In front of him stood his mate. Alexander knew that with every fiber of his being, now that he laid his eyes on her. He backed up slowly still looking at her. He tried to ‘will’ her to understand she is his mate but he knew it didn’t work like that. It will come in time. He didn’t look away from her beautiful eyes. Many things are running through his mind. She still didn’t move so Alexander sat back to let her know he isn’t going anywhere. She bent down to pick the pup up.
“Madison, climb on my back. Let’s go for another piggy back ride.” She said to the little girl.
“Scared,” he heard the little girl whisper behind her mother’s back.
“It’s okay. Mommy won’t let anything happen.”
Alexander didn’t want the little girl to fear him. He laid on the ground putting his head down. This changed the little girl’s mind since she climbed onto her mother’s back wrapping her legs around, and a death grip around mom’s neck. Cradling the pup on the side opposite of what Alexander thinks can be nothing other than vomit, she stood up.
She slowly started backing up with her children loaded up. She has strength, he’ll give her that. Alexander let her go. He was afraid if he moved she will take off running. She may want to watch where she is going. When Alexander realized she wasn’t going to turn around to see what’s behind her, that he needs to warn her about the tree behind her. He lets out a bark but that only seems to make her close in the distance between her and the tree a little faster, bumping the little girl into the tree. At least she wasn’t running so it didn’t seem to hurt the little girl. Alexander laughed to himself when the little girl said “momma” in a way that can only be taken as a warning. She apologized then continued backing up, this time looking back and forth. She must be making sure he didn’t move. Not wanting to scare her, Alexander stayed where he was until they were out of sight.
He waited for a moment. Once he was sure they were a good distance away he got up and walked through the woods. Making sure to stay out of sight Alexander followed them. He needs to make sure they make it back to the cabin. The pup ran a far ways away from the cabin and it’s easy to get lost out here if you don’t know where you are going. True to that thought, she had stopped and spun in a circle, probably trying to figure out where she is. He will have to tell her that’s the easiest way to get lost. Alexander barked out to get her attention. When she looked his way, he jerked his head in the direction she needs to go. She took a few steps to the side and just looked at him.
“What do you want?” She said. He didn’t think she meant for him to hear because it was barely above a whisper.
He jerked his head to the side then turned in the right direction taking a few steps. When he looked back she still hasn’t moved so he jerked his head once more. The pup let out a whimper and licked his mother’s face.
“Go, mommy,” the little girl whispered. “Wolf help.”
“You want me to follow you?” She called out to him.
Seriously you are just now getting it, he thought. He barked at her hoping she would understand he wants her to come on. She glanced back at the little girl then back at Alexander.
“Okay, we are going to follow this strange wolf in the middle of the woods.” She said loudly in a sarcastic way.
He whined then turned around and started walking again. He could hear her walking behind him so he continued. Slowing down, he allowed her to catch up to him. She would stop and adjust the children and start walking again. Alexander wants to help her. He is more than capable of carrying the pup and it would make it easier on her too. He stopped and took a few steps towards her but she backed up with every step he took this time. She must not want him anywhere near her. Taking the hint, Alexander turned back towards cabin three and started walking again.
He just needs to get them back to the cabin and get away from her. She is terrified of him. Even though she put on a brave face, he knew she is scared. He didn’t look back at her the rest of the way. Maybe it would ease her mind a little. Finally, they came into view of the cabin; surely she will see it through the trees. Alexander knew the moment she noticed the cabin.
“Oh thank you, thank you, thank you.” She whispered.
Alexander stopped and stood near a tree out of the direct line of the cabin. She opened her eyes and noticed he is looking at her.
“Thank you for helping us. You can go away now.”
Alexander knew a sendoff when he heard one. She is dismissing him. He took his leave and didn’t turn back as he ran off. She doesn’t know it but she will be seeing him again real soon.