The Human In The Wolf Pack
Chapter 14

“s**t!” I cursed, patting myself for my phone.

Then I remembered. It’s still in Rider’s room from after I called mom and dad. I sighed angrily, trying to remember my steps. After a few minutes of failing to remember the twists and turns I took into the woods, I gave up and decided to anchor down until someone came to get me. Turning around, I went back, hoping it would make it easier for someone to track me down. I rested back against my grey wooded tree, leaning my head backward in defeat.

Now, doing nothing, I had to think about what happened yesterday. Maybe I was too harsh against a girl I had never met, but he never even denied if they had history or not. I hated how he immediately took her side, without trying to understand my feelings at all. I mean, Rider had slept with a she-wolf after finding out we were mates. I don’t know if I could call it cheating, afterall, just because we are mates, doesn’t mean we are in a relationship. But now, things are different. I followed him to his pack. I’m living in his house. I felt like an awful person though. It was true that I spoke awfully about his pack member, without knowing anything about the situation.

Tears brimmed yet again but I refused to let them fall. Would Rider even come to look for me? I shook the helpless, thought away. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing, I hadn’t wanted to see him anyway. Being out here alone would give me space to breath, and I could sort through my emotions in peace. Sooner or later, I would be found.

He has to come for me. I’m his mate, his wolf won’t allow it. But hours stretched by and the afternoon started to stroll by as the sun reached its peak in the sky. I had been out here for hours, and exhaustion was clinging to me from waking up so early. I was thirsty and hungry and rain clouds were starting to roll in. My faith in Rider was running out.

Thunder cracked across the sky and my body flinched. I had to find shelter, it wasn’t safe out here. I started searching through the woods.

“Rider!” I screamed, but no answer.

I felt my fear sliding down my throat and burying itself deep in my stomach. I ran through the woods until finally I found a small wooden shed. The inside was filled with trash. Rusted soda cans and dusty comic books. I went inside. The roof was weak and sunk in a little, but it was better than no roof at all.

I sat against one of the walls, breathing in the air that smelled like mold and let a few tears fall. Rain started to pelt against the weak structure, and suddenly the downpour began. I shouldn’t have assumed anything about Rider and that girl. Mackenzie? Yeah that was it. I was just jealous and unsure. He had slept with that girl the night he found out we were mates. He obviously had a thing for tall blondes, and I was the opposite.

And even though I don’t resent being human anymore, I feel like Rider would be so much happier with his own kind. I still had some insecurities. I huddled up into a ball as the thunder came more and more and rain fell down heavily, thumping roughly against my shelter. I tried not to squeak out in fear as I hugged myself once again. It was a suffocating feeling. The anxiety of being lost, the fear of never being found.

The shitty roof started leaking. I sucked in an unsteady breath before giving into my tears. Why did we have to fight? Why didn’t I just ask him about Mackenzie? Why did he have to grab me? He is a werewolf, and I’m a human, he’s so much stronger than me. It hurt. It was scary. As I sobbed, a flash of lightning sparked the sky, lighting the old hut.

Suddenly, the shed door swung open fast enough for it to break off its hinges, causing it to fall on the ground with a loud g***n. I yelped, scooting away from the intimidating figure in the door frame. Rain poured heavily behind him and I shook from fear and the cold.

Great. Now I’ll die from a rogue or some angry werewolf. Lightning flashed bright in the sky, illuminating the face of… Rider.

“Vera!” He called out, relieved, rushing up to me and falling on his knees.

He grabbed me roughly and embraced me tightly in his arms.

“I’m sorry, Kitten. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I was just angry, of course you’d be worried about my past. I shouldn’t have lost my cool, I’m so sorry. I’ve been so worried about you. Are you ok? Are you crying?! What’s the matter? Where are you hurt?” He asked, frantically searching my body.

I let out a sob and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, pulling myself into his warm and comforting figure.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He sighed in relief and hugged me back tightly.

“You are never allowed out of my sight ever again,” he said, a strange tone in his voice.

My eyes widened as I realized what it was. Fear. Rider had been afraid. The tall, mountain of an Alpha male held me as close as possible as he breathed in my scent. He had been worried because of me. This made me clutch him closer. He cared. He had found me.

Finally, after a long embrace, Rider picked me up bridal style.

“Better tell the pack that I found you,” he said with a small smile.

“Why?”

“Everyone was looking for you, of course.”

I stared at him, shocked.

“Everyone?”

“You are their Luna. They would lay down their lives for you,” he told me, gently moving a strand of my damp hair behind my ear.

I was struck by the tender look in his eyes. I laid my head against his shoulder as my eyes grew heavier. Today’s stress was finally taking its toll, and my lack of sleep was catching up to me. Rider’s body radiated an addicting heat that made my body melt against his.

“Sleep, Kitten. I’m here,” Rider cooed soothingly.

My body was more than happy to obey as the world finally fell away.