Chapter 2

Spencer

I couldn't help myself. The moment I heard him scream in pain I knew I had to be there for him. I was only just inside the house before I stormed out again. I slipped through the hole in the fence where I had slipped through many times over the years and ran over to him. I didn't think of the possible dangers. I just knew in my gut and heart, I needed to be with him. Tears filled my eyes at his scream, at how his bones twisted in the wrong direction. I knelt next to him and tried to soothe him. And it seemed to work, his screams stopped. I watched how he turned into a beautiful black wolf. One of the biggest ones I've seen, no surprise there. I watched him run and jump and prowl around the woods. I had fallen asleep at one point, but looking at the moon, I knew not much time had passed when he curled himself around me and we both fell asleep.

When his stepmom started yelling, my mind was still fuzzy with sleep. Danger? I never felt any danger with Axel or his wolf, not during his shift, not after. I was still lost in my head as I walked home. I didn't sleep, I just showered, got dressed and tried to focus on my summer itinerary.

The day went on slowly. I was nervous and started pacing in my room. Once in a while, I saw people walk in and out of Axel's house, getting the party ready. It was an hour before the party started when I saw him standing in front of his window, looking at me. He was already in his tux, and he looked unfairly handsome. We just stood there looking at each other for a long time. I knew I loved him, but it was only last night I figured out how much. And tomorrow I was leaving.

When the large clock on the square chimed, we both smiled and stepped away from the window. I stopped in front of the mirror one last time before I headed downstairs. My mom and dad were waiting in the kitchen, sitting on the kitchen island talking quietly.

"Everyone ready?" I asked.

"We want to talk to you first. Can you sit down, sweetie?" My father asked. I frowned a little but sat down in front of them. Silent minutes passed as they looked at me. I could hear the music already coming from across the street. My friends. Axel was probably waiting for me. "We wanted to talk to you about Axel."

"Alright," I said hesitantly.

"We know you two are close. And even though you kept your distance, we have seen the way you look at him." I stiffened. Where was this going? "We just want you to be prepared for the chance he will meet his Mate tonight."

"I know, believe me, I'm prepared. Axel is first and foremost my best friend. I want him to be happy."

My parents exchanged a look. A look that said they didn't quite believe it. I couldn't blame them, I didn't really believe it myself. Of course, I want him to be happy but seeing him with a Mate... I didn't think I would be able to handle it.

Mom reached over and squeezed my hand. "We love you, sweetie. We're going to miss you so much."

I stood up, rounded the island and hugged them both. "I'm going to miss you too. I love you."

We finally arrived at the celebration. Half an hour late, so Axel and his family weren't at the door anymore to greet us. A server guided us to the garden. The garden was filled with people. A lot of young men and women hoping to be the Mate of the future Alpha. The garden was lit with dozens of torches and lights. Large tables of food and drinks were pushed against the fence. I couldn't help but glance at the tree we slept under just last night, and my heart made a little jump.

My eyes shifted over the dance floor where a lot of people were dancing, trying to get close to the raised dais where Axel and his family were sitting. Axel was standing next to his chair, throne more like it. He looked even more beautiful up close. His eyes scanned the garden, not a male or female at his side so far. I let out a deep breath of relief.

His eyes snapped to me like he heard the exhale. His eyes sparkled. A beaming smile spread across his face. It made my heart race inside my chest. He stepped down the dais, his movements unfaltering as he walked over to me. People tried to get his attention, to introduce them to their sons and daughters but his eyes were fixed on me. He stopped in front of me. That smile was still in place.

"Here I thought you stood me up."

"I considered it," I said sweetly, a grin stretching across my face. "I have already seen Astrix and wished you a happy birthday. Didn't really know why I should be here tonight."

"There are plenty of reasons you should be here tonight. The first is to dance with me."

I knew people were watching us, but my focus was solely on him. "Is that so?" I cocked my head and looked at him from under my eyelashes.

He hummed and I could hear Astrix purr underneath it. "Will you do me the honour of dancing with me, Spencer?" He held out his hand.

"Since you ask so formally." I beamed up at him. I lay my hand in his and he pulled me close to him as we started dancing. He let me twirl and dip at the beat of the music, several songs had passed, and he was still holding on to me. Our eyes hadn't left each other's and when a slow song came on, he pulled me flush against him. My arms curled around his neck, his tightly around my waist.

"I can't believe you are leaving tomorrow." He whispered.

"Is the future Alpha going to miss me?"

He leaned down to whisper in my ear. "With everything in me." His breath, those words send a shiver all through my body.

"No Mate yet," I said. "Maybe you should dance with others in case they are here."

"They are not." He said firmly. "My guess is that my Mate isn't off age yet." He said it as he tucked my hair behind my ear. His eyes drilled into mine. My breath hitched. I almost leaned up to kiss him before I remembered where we were. He must've figured out what I was about to do because the grip on my waist tightened.

A female voice cleared her throat next to us. It took everything in us to look away from each other. Eveline was scowling.

"You haven't interacted with anyone since your celebration. As future Alpha, you should mingle."

Before he answered his stepmom, his eyes searched the crowd before he nudged his head. His future Beta, Idris came over in long, steady strides. "I'll find you later," Axel whispered, placing a kiss on my cheek.

The next thing I knew, Idris had swept me in a dance. He knew better than to comment on me and Axel, so he guided me over the dancefloor in excessive dance manoeuvres, making me laugh loudly.

Axel

A few hours after Eveline dragged me away from the woman I loved, I watched her dance with Benjamin, my baby brother. He was twelve and like me, completely smitten with Spencer. I think my stepmom dragged me away on purpose but still, I did my duty. Shaking hands, smiling and making polite conversation. Even as my eyes always drifted back to her. Spencer gave my brother a kiss on the cheek, his face going as red as a tomato before my father ushered him inside. The celebration was coming to an end, and my group of friends had gathered at the firepit. I wished the last people a good night before I made my way over. But she was gone.

"Where is Spencer?"

Lore looked a little sad. "Home. She has a plane at 5 in the morning. Eveline made her go home." A growl escaped my throat. "Go to her." She said. "We understand."

I looked at my friends. They all looked at me with a knowing and understanding look. I turned and headed over to her house without any hesitation. I stopped in front of her house, looking up at her window. A small light was flickering behind the curtains. I could knock but I knew her parents weren't sure about our friendship, or more so what it could transform into. I climbed on the vines, all the way up to her room. Her window was open, and I slowly climbed into her room.

She was already sleeping, wearing just a loose shirt. Her hair was sprawled across the pillow. My heart ached to see the packed suitcase next to the door. Lycaon, she was beautiful. I chugged off my jacket and kicked off my shoes before I climbed into bed with her. She turned to me in her sleep, and I smiled as I wrapped her in my arms. Her head resting on my chest, her hand over my thundering heart. I leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

"I love you," I whispered and intertwined our fingers, my voice deep and full of meaning. I couldn't help it.

"Ax." Her voice was soft but there was a warning in it.

"No, I won't hold it back anymore. I love you and, in a few months, you'll be revealed as my Mate, and I'll never let you go again."

She looked up at me, tears in her eyes. I wiped away one that rolled down her cheek. "You love me?"

I cupped her cheek, smiling down at her. And I loved that she was focused on the love part and not the Mate part. "I've been in love with you for years, Spencer." I kissed away another tear that rolled down her cheek. "And I'm counting down the days until your birthday."

She leaned her head on my chest. "I hate you." She muttered. "I'm leaving in a few hours."

I tilted her head back up, her ocean blue eyes, shimmering with unshed tears. "I couldn't let you go without you knowing the truth. I didn't mean to upset you. If you love me just as a friend..." I was cut off as she rolled on top of me and kissed me. It was short and sweet but it still left me breathless.

She pulled back for barely an inch. "I'm in love with you too."

My heart was racing in my chest and due to Astrix, I could hear it was the same for her. Her hair was like a curtain closing us in, I was beaming up at her. I never felt so happy in my life. "I wish I could ask you to stay."

"I wish you could come with me." She whispered back. "But I'll be back in a month of a half."

My fingers trailed over her bare thigh; goose bumps appeared in its wake. "Too long," I said, groaning as I cupped her ass. A growl slipped out when she moved her hips over me. "I have never been apart from you, not even a day."

"I know." She breathed, she leaned down and nuzzled my neck. "You can text me." She placed a kiss on my neck. "You can call me." She kissed the other side. She pulled back, sitting up straight. I stopped breathing as her fingers hooked on the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head in one swift movement. She was bare underneath; I was nearly drooling at the sight of her. Her breasts were full and perky, and I wanted to wrap my lips around them.

"Spence." I breathed, my head dizzy.

"Ax." She grabbed my hands and placed them on her breasts, her soft firm breasts. Astrix and I growled at the touch. Spencer was always flirtatious and straightforward, but this – this was another level. She let go of my hands as my fingers started to play with her nipples. She arched into the touch, her hands starting to unbutton my shirt. When the last button was open, I sat up, shrugging off my shirt. Her breasts were now at eye level with me, and I couldn't resist any longer. I latched my lips on her and she let out a loud moan, her hands fisted my hair. She was grinding against me, her hips moving like she had done this before. The thought made me angry. I grabbed her waist and flipped us over. Her little squeal went straight to my cock.

"Have you done this before?" I growled against her neck. I knew I was sounding possessive. I couldn't care less.

"No." She gasped as my tongue flicked her nipple. "Never this far." She cupped my cheeks, guiding me up to her, and she kissed me slowly. "I want you. I always wanted it to be you."

"Good," I growled and gave her a bruising, passionate kiss. She's mine and no one is going to take her from me. "I always wanted it to be you too," I said because I needed her to know that she was the only one for me. She was the only one I would do this with.

With that statement, she kissed me again, her hands unbuckling my pants. I groaned as her hand wrapped around me and gave me slow strokes. My eyes flicked to her; she nodded before I pulled her lace panties down. Then she pushed down my pants together with my boxers. I lined up with her, my cock twitching against her sex.

"Are you sure?"

She cupped my cheek and kissed me softly. "Never been more sure of anything."

"I love you," I whispered before I kissed her deeply, trying to pour everything into the kiss.

I woke up alone. The night had been amazing, it was better than I had ever could have imagined. The sex was hot, fire and passionate but afterwards where I could just hold her in my arms murmuring sweet nothings to each other, was the best part of the night. I turned over and noticed her side of the bed had turned cold. The suitcase next to the door was gone. My phone was lying on top of her pillow. Not where I had left it. I picked it up and swiped it open. A video was on the front, Spencer's beautiful face in the shot. I pressed play.

"Good morning, my handsome future Alpha." She winked. I could make out two love marks on her throat. "I didn't want to leave like this, but I've been trying to wake you for the past ten minutes but to no avail. Even now, you're still drooling." She chuckled and turned the camera over. I could see myself sleeping in the bed, lying on my stomach, my arm stretched out where she was tugged under not long before this was made. She turned the camera back to her. "I will text you when I land. I'm going to miss you, so much. You telling me you loved me was the best going away present I could ask for. I never thought you felt that way, I never thought I would hear those words. I never thought I would experience the night I had with you. I love you. I love you so much I almost didn't leave this morning. Have an amazing summer, Ax. I'll talk to you soon." She blew a kiss before the video stopped.

Fuck, I forgot to give her the real going away present. I smiled at the face that was still on my screen. She really took the time to make me a video before she left. I sent her a text, knowing she would only receive it when she landed before I nuzzled my nose in her pillow, inhaling her scent deeply.