Chapter Three
Sebastian
"I spoke with Harry," Spencer's soft voice was sad when it came from behind me in the kitchen later that night. "He said that he’ll take you back to Coruscation territory, if that's what you really want." He pressed his chest against my back, wrapping his arms around my waist in a friendly hug. "I really don't want you to go."
"I know, hon." I continued to knead the bread dough on the counter before me; if I paused, it would quickly become too stiff to work. "You know I need to, though. Right?"
"I suppose."
The sadness in Spencer's voice was impossible for me to miss. We'd bonded pretty quickly locked together in the slaver's cage, and gotten even tighter after we'd been rescued. I knew I was the only person in whom he confided the secrets that he couldn't tell his mate; like admitting that as much as he loved his dragon, he was homesick for the companionship of the pack and that he desperately missed the freedom of running free where there were no predators to fear. I sighed to myself. It wouldn't kill me to stay a little longer if it made my friend happy.
"You know what?" I dumped the dough back into the bowl and covered it with a clean dish towel to continue rising. "I'm just being a wuss. Tell Harry that there's no rush." My ears protested against Spencer's delighted squeal as he tightened his arms around me, squeezing until I couldn't breathe.
"Really? You'll stay?"
"For a few more weeks," I cautioned, hugging him back. "But then I really do need to get my life back on track."
Spencer danced around the kitchen, dragging me with him as he spun in circles. Then he drew back and winked at me before nodding to the far end of the room where my hulking werewolf shadow stood, staring stoically at the wall as he pretended to be invisible. “Maybe he’ll warm up to you.”
I shook my head, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Spence was determined to believe there was a Disney ending where Alrick was my prince.
Of course, with Alrick as my personal shadow, my agreement to stay meant more time trying to determine exactly why he disliked me as intently as he did, but no answer was forthcoming. In my more introspective moments, I admitted to myself that I had never actually worked up the nerve to ask. That probably would have been a good start.
***
When a few other Omegas and I had first arrived at the castle to help take care of the orphaned dragonlets, Spencer had convinced Harry that we needed to be able to shift and run, so Harry had arranged for us to be escorted by the werewolves on daily jaunts through the countryside. It was my favorite part of almost every day, and I rarely missed the opportunity to run. The morning following my decision to stay on a little longer found me suddenly regretting that obsession.
Spencer was under the weather, and Eloy and Levi - the only other wolf shifters still visiting - were usually only inclined to join us when the weather was warm and clear, which was how I found myself moving through the crisp evening air, dodging errant snowflakes, with only Alrick for company.
When I trotted out the front door, I allowed myself one brief moment to admire the massive platinum wolf staring at the still rising half-moon, his muzzle raised in a silent howl. I knew from the twitch of his ears that he heard me approach, but his gaze didn't leave the sky until after I headed for the trees and he rose to lope along behind me. I sighed at the awkward interaction as I picked up speed, my paws bouncing across the packed earth as I raced along the moonlit path, wishing that I knew how to establish a more comfortable relationship with the werewolf who was easily keeping pace with me.
As usual, Alrick followed at a distance, allowing me to lead him where I would. That evening, we found ourselves on the shore of Topaz Lake at the pinnacle of the mountain, drinking deeply from the sweet, icy water.
I stepped back from the edge and shook the thin layer of snow from my back, my body shimmying as my feet stayed in place, and froze when a sound – something between a growl and a chuff - came from behind me. Startled, I whipped around and my heart leaped into my throat at the feral set of the werewolf's face. His violet-rimmed black eyes were narrowed and his body stiff as he advanced toward me.
Terrified, I backed away, my wide eyes locked on the Alpha. When my back foot slipped on a rock, I fell, tumbling down the rocky incline the led to the water. I scrabbled for purchase on the thin layer of slick snow but couldn't stop my descent. I had just caught my breath and braced myself for impact with the frigid water when strong jaws gripped the scruff of my neck, jerking me to a stop.
I was carried back to the path I had fallen from and gently placed on my feet. Then, to my utter shock, Alrick's voice came through my mind, speaking directly to me for the first time since we met.
"Sebastian? Are you hurt?" The werewolf sounded worried, his nose poking and prodding me, his cheek and shoulder pressing against my body as he checked me for injuries, rubbing his scent all over my fur and leaving me with the overwhelming desire to purr at the contact.
"N..no," I denied. "A..at least, I d..don't think so." I took a step away from him, then another; checking my mobility at the same time that I tried to place myself further away from him, wincing as I felt my right hind leg give, causing me to limp. "I'm just sore, I..I promise." I chanced a look at Alrick's face, but instead of the threatening beast I had tried to run from seconds earlier, his brow was furrowed with concern, and his body had relaxed to his usual state of readiness. Relieved, I drew in a deep breath. "I..I think I should get back."
Alrick nodded, stepping off the path to allow me to pass as I began to limp back down the trail.