Chapter Twenty-Six
Do you want to go for a run?” Carson asks.
“I don't go in the forest anymore.”
“No one will dare touch you while you're with me. I'm the alpha's sister which makes me untouchable.”
“A run sounds good.”
We go into the backyard and I strip without thinking. My bruises aren't bad but Carson sees them.
“I hope Axel rips them apart,” she remarks.
We shift into our wolves, her wolf a beautiful blonde one.
We go into the forest and keep a light jogging pace.
I follow behind Carson since she knows the pack lands better than I do.
We run out further onto the territory, farther than I've ever gone out.
I notice a grey wolf come up beside us and jog with us.
I don't know who it is but Carson doesn't react so she must be okay with him.
When we slow down and come to a clearing, I watch the grey wolf nuzzle Carson's.
She shifts back and so does he and they greet each other with a side hug, probably because of their nakedness.
“It's good to see you, Brian.” She smiles. Oh, Brian is the third in command.
“I didn't know you were back.” Brian looks happy to see her.
“Yeah, I'm visiting Axel and meeting Elora,” Carson says.
“Oh right.” Brian turns to me. “Elora, the girl staying with Axe.” I nod since I don't want to shift back. “I'll let you girls get back to your run. Don't go too far out. Carson, we need to catch up before you leave.”
“Of course.” They say goodbye and he shifts and runs off. “You can shift now. It's just us.”
I shift and we sit down on the ground. I start picking at the grassy moss that's cushioning our bodies.
“You have a mate. Yet Brian's wolf nuzzled yours,” I say, confused.
“Yeah, wolves can have connections with other wolves besides their mates. Brian is like family so my wolf is secure around him,” she explains.
“Ohh. I guess I don't know much about wolf connections. I've literally never connected with anyone.”
Like when I first shifted, my father took me for a run but that's about it. So really, my wolf hasn't even connected with his.
“I'm sure your wolf will easily open up to Axel's. His alpha aura will make it easy for your wolf to be comfortable.”
“Really?” I give her a look. “An alpha makes people comfortable?”
“Okay.” She laughs. “I get what you mean.”
“Did anything ever happen between you and Brian?” I ask curiously.
“Why do you ask?” She bites her bottom lip.
“Just curious.”
“No, nothing ever happened. I had a massive crush on him. He used to be my trainer so we spent a lot of time together. But Brian is the ultimate player. Besides, Axel would have gone ballistic if I ever slept with one of his friends.”
“How old are you?” I ask. I know she's younger than Axe but older than me.
“Twenty-five, but no matter how old I get, I'll always be Axel's little sister.” Carson rolls her eyes and I chuckle. “We should head back in. I planned on making a feast tonight.”
“Advice. A feast. I don't want you to go,” I say.
“Wait till you try my roast chicken then.” She winks, getting to her feet. She offers her hand and I take it, standing up and then we shift.
***
Carson has been nonstop cooking ever since we got back. I've been watching her from the bar stool so I can learn a few things for future dinners. Axe is still with Dash.
“Should I invite my parents for dinner since I'm back? I haven't seen them yet,” Carson asks as she scoops up the cut-up vegetables and puts them in a dish.
“Umm no,” I mumble.
“You haven't met them, I'm guessing.”
“No, not exactly thrilled at the idea since alpha Manson was such a...” I trail off.
“I get you. Don't worry, I won't invite them. They'll just hound Axel like they usually do about bullshit.”
“He doesn't talk about them.”
“They're relentless. It can be annoying. I'll stop by to see them tomorrow.”
Carson keeps moving around with grace. It's like she's done this so many times, her body just knows how to move across the kitchen. I don't think I could keep a conversation going while I cook. I would constantly be referring to my phone for the recipe's method.
“Can I ask you something private?” I start, finally able to talk about this since I have a she-wolf here.
“Go for it.”
“Did you first have sex with your mate or was it someone else?” I ask.
“It was with my mate. Why do you ask?” She looks up briefly before turning back to the food.
“I guess I'm just nervous about when Axe and I... There seems to be so many things that could go wrong,” I say shyly.
“What are you worried about specifically?” she asks.
“That the last time he had sex was with his mate.”
“Ohh.” Realisation comes on her face. “I don't think he'll be thinking of her.
I mean, most people keep sex and feelings separate from each other.
I guess it depends. If you're worried about the pain, it will hurt but it doesn't last long.
Besides, given it's been years since he's had sex, it'll probably be pretty quick if you know what I mean.”
“There's just something daunting about having sex with an alpha,” I admit.
“You're worried he'll be rough?” she asks.
“I don't know.”
“He won't hurt you, not on purpose. Most male werewolves are rough, though. But think of it like this, Axel has many years of experience so he'll take care of you just fine,” Carson assures me.
“That's good to know. How did you meet your mate since he's in another pack?”
“Well my mate’s alpha was visiting this pack for an alliance. My mate is one of the alpha's top guards so he accompanied him. I walked in on the meeting and met him. Axel was mad that I was going to leave with him. He even suggested my mate join this pack but his mate made him lighten up about it.”
“You knew Axe's mate. What was she like?” I ask curiously.
“She was the rainbow after a storm is the best way to describe her.” Carson smiles sadly.
“That's a lot to live up to,” I mutter.
“Elora.” Carson looks at me intently. “Axel wants you for you. Trust me, you don't need to try and be like his mate. He was a different person with her. You are fitted to how he is now.”
“That's nice to hear.” I smile at her kind words. “What happened with the accident?” I dare to ask but Carson goes quiet.
“It... it was catastrophic. I don't like thinking about it.
Once I got word she was in a car accident, I got here immediately.
I was there when the doctor told Axel his mate didn't make it and it was... To see such a strong man, an alpha, completely break in front of you, it was heart-wrenching. I stayed for a while here after she passed but I eventually went back to my mate. There was nothing I could do to help him. He was too violent, so I left.”
“Oh,” I murmur.
“It's just hard to believe she died in a car accident. Like shit, whenever a werewolf dies, it's from a fight, a rogue attack, sickness, or old age.”
“Yeah, it would have been so sudden,” I say sadly, thinking of what Axe went through.
“The car was totalled. It was a scene from a horror movie. The doctors got her to the hospital but there was no way they could save her.”
“Did she crash into another car?” I question.
“Yeah. The other driver was on drugs. He survived. Before the trial happened, Axel hunted him down and... I don't want to think about what he did. But I know he killed him. That shocked everyone. In the werewolf community, a rule is don't kill a human. But no one could stop Axel.”
“What did the police do?” I frown.
“No one ever found this guy's body, so the police ruled it that he went on the run.”
“Axe's been through such strife,” I state.
“So have you,” Carson adds.
We hear the door open so we go quiet. Axe walks into the kitchen. I stare at him, thinking about the story Carson just told me. Axe is built like a brick wall. He really would be unstoppable, to anyone.
“What are you girls doing?” he asks, stopping by the bar stool I'm sitting on and resting his hand on the small of my back.
“Cooking,” Carson answers. “How was your talk with Dash?”
“That's authority business, Carson,” he says mockingly.
“Shut up, I'm a part of the alpha's family,” she says sassily, putting her hand on her hip. He chuckles and pulls her into a hug, her sassiness turning to happiness.
“I'm glad you're here.” He kisses her cheek. I smile at their exchange. I've never seen him like that around anyone. His sister is clearly a soft spot for him.