Chapter 7: 7: A Tangle of Thoughts

MAX

The forest has always been my sanctuary. It’s where I go to be alone with my thoughts, to find some peace.

I’ve been assuring everyone that I’m fine, even though I’m aware that I’ll soon be leaving for my training. I’ll be away from my family for years, only returning now and then.

It’s not that I’m susceptible to homesickness, but I do worry about my siblings. Especially Melanie.

Melanie and I have always shared a close bond. She’s a bit innocent, too kind for her own good.

Sometimes I wonder how she ended up so different. Our parents never hid the harsh realities of life from us, they were always honest.

We grew up knowing that our pack looked up to us, that one day, they’d be our responsibility. Well, mine at least.

It’s a heavy burden to carry. We have one of the largest, most respected packs in the country.

Filling my father’s shoes is an intimidating task. My greatest fear is disappointing them.

After running for a while, I find myself at the waterfall, soaked in sweat. I often run in my human form to build my endurance.

There are times when shifting isn’t an option and being in human form is a better strategy for combat. I look around, no one is in sight, so I take off my clothes and wade into the pool until I reach the waterfall.

The water is cold but refreshing. Withstanding cold temperatures is another way to train your body for extreme warfare.

I submerge myself under the water, pushing myself to stay under as long as possible. Each time, I aim to beat my previous record.

So far, I’ve managed to hold my breath for nearly three minutes. I just need to add another ten seconds.

I close my eyes, focusing on the coolness of the water enveloping me, slowly releasing tiny bubbles of air. My dive watch is on, so I can keep track of time.

I open my eyes to check the timer. I’m almost there.

The timer hits three minutes, and I’m still under. I finally surface at three minutes and ten seconds, feeling a rush of triumph for beating my time by twenty seconds.

As I emerge, I hear a noise behind me and spin around, ready to defend myself. There, just a foot away, is Patrice, as naked as the day she was born.

“What the hell, Patrice! Were you following me?” I blurt out, my tone harsher than intended.

Patrice just smiles and shrugs, her large breasts bobbing above the water, her nipples hard against the cold.

As werewolves, nudity isn’t a big deal, but it’s usually brief during shifts and never sexual. Despite this, I find myself staring a second too long, and Patrice notices.

I see a smirk cross her face as I quickly shift my gaze to hers. She begins to play with her nipple, a devilish smile on her face.

“Like what you see, Alpha?” she teases.

I take a step back, feeling a wave of discomfort. It reminds me of that time years ago when she practically threw herself at me.

My girlfriend had been away, and I’d gone to a party where Patrice had clung to me like a leech. “Patrice, you know this isn’t going to happen,” I say firmly.

But Patrice is relentless. She keeps moving toward me, and I don’t want to leave the water, don’t want us to be naked together.

I don’t want anyone to stumble upon us and get the wrong idea. Patrice sighs.

“Come on, Alpha, you know you want it. You should be taking advantage of your status, getting laid whenever you want. Isn’t that what all the alphas do?” She raises an eyebrow at me.

“I don’t know where you got that idea,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

Patrice giggles and takes another step toward me. We are now only about six inches apart, her breasts close enough for me to touch.

“At least let me make you feel good. You’re leaving soon, Alpha, and who knows when you’ll get any relief for yourself.” She is persistent, I’ll give her that.

I raise an eyebrow at her, considering using my alpha aura to end this. Patrice is known for her promiscuity.

She’d been with many of the warriors. In a tight-knit community like ours, secrets are hard to keep.

“I don’t need any relief. That’s what I was doing out here. ALONE,” I emphasize the last word.

“Oh, so you were out here giving yourself a hand job under the water then?” She smirks, quickly grabbing my hand and placing it on her breast.

I’m so taken aback that I don’t react in time. Her breasts are beautiful, I have to admit.

But I’m not the type to have a random hookup. I’m the future alpha of this pack.

I have a responsibility to uphold my title and not bring shame to my family’s name. I take a step back, removing my hand.

“Patrice, the answer is no.”

I turn and walk out of the water, heading for my clothes. I quickly pull on my shorts, hearing Patrice emerge from the water behind me.

I don’t dare look back. I lace up my sneakers and leave my soaked t-shirt off.

“Be careful getting back, Patrice,” I call over my shoulder as I take off running. I hope that by the time I turn twenty-one, I’ll find my mate, because Patrice isn’t going to stop.

If she’d been less promiscuous, I might have given in. I’m a man, after all, I have needs.

But my needs don’t include sleeping with a woman who’s been with half the single men in our pack.

I run straight home and head for the shower. I’d wanted to clear my head of all the insecurities about leaving, but Patrice had ruined my mood and my alone time.

Still feeling irritable and on edge, I make my way to the living room. Melanie is on the couch, her legs tucked under her, engrossed in a book.

“Hey, sis,” I say, taking a bite of an apple I’d grabbed from the fruit bowl.

“Hmmm,” she responds, marking her place in the book. “What’s up with you?”

“Just stressed about a few things. I wanted to talk to you because I don’t want you to think I’m overstepping. I’m your big brother and future alpha.

I love you and I don’t want to see you get hurt. That’s why I act the way I do,” I admit, giving her a half-smile.

Melanie turns to face me, tucking her loose blonde hair behind her ears. “I’m not sure where you’re going with this, Max. Help a girl out.”

I can’t deny that I’ve been a bit on edge lately. Perhaps it’s the impending departure that’s got me all wound up.

I can’t help but let my worries seep into my interactions with my sisters, Melanie in particular. “I don’t want you to miss out on life, Mel.

But I also don’t want to upset you. I’m not trying to play dad here, and let’s be honest, Dad’s way more intimidating than I am. At least to the pack.”

I can tell by the look on Melanie’s face that I’m not making much sense.

“Max, you’re not making any sense. Can you just say what you want to say?” She folds her arms across her chest, her eyebrows knitting together as she tries to decipher my ramblings.

“I’m just saying, be careful. Be picky about who you go out with. I know you’re planning to start dating once I’m gone, everyone’s been talking about it.

It pisses me off when people say inappropriate things about you. Soon, I won’t be around to defend you or shut them up.” I let out a deep sigh.

“I heard Jared Ryker is planning to ask you out. I don’t like him, and I made sure he knows it.”

Melanie chuckles softly. “Is that what this is about?”

“No, not entirely. It’s part of it, but not the whole story. There are better guys out there for you than Jared.

I’m not trying to dictate your love life, but I’d feel better if I knew and trusted the guy,” I confess.

“Mel, I’m leaving soon. When I come back, things might be different. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to control you. You’re my sister, my best friend.”

Melanie steps closer, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. “I’ll miss you too, big brother. You’re getting all mushy on me.”

I pull back from the hug, giving her a playful glare as she laughs. “Really, Mel?”

“Okay, Max. I get it. You want me to be careful. But you’re being a bit vague. Are you hinting at a specific guy when you say there are better ones out there?

Or is this just your usual ‘I don’t approve of him’ spiel? Does it matter who it is? Will you ever approve of anyone who wants to date me?” She tries to pout, but it’s not very convincing.

I shift uncomfortably, wondering if I should tell her about Beck. Would he be pissed if I let his secret slip?

Or maybe he’s hoping I would. He’s the one who started flirting with her, even though she seems completely oblivious.

This is what I mean about Mel being naive. Unless a guy flat out tells her he likes her, she’s clueless.

With a heavy sigh, I decide to play it safe. “I do have someone in mind, and you’ll find out when the time is right.

I don’t think it’s my place to tell you, but when he confesses his feelings, you’ll know exactly who I’m talking about. That is, if you know me at all.”

“Max, you’re talking in circles,” she exclaims, throwing her hands up in frustration.

I just grin at her. Suddenly, Mom calls out that dinner is ready and we need to join everyone in the dining room.

I glance at the clock, surprised by how late it is. “Let’s go,” I say, grabbing her hand and pulling her up from the couch.

“You’re such a dork,” Melanie teases, playfully smacking my arm. We walk into the dining room where our family and the beta’s family are already seated, waiting for us.

Beck has switched seats, leaving two empty spots on either side of him. I raise an eyebrow at him, and he responds with a cheeky grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows.

~This dinner is going to be interesting. I wonder who’s going to annoy who first~, I think to myself.

As I slide into the seat on his right, next to my sister Selene, I lean over to whisper in his ear. “You better behave, Beck.”

His response is a casual smile and a shrug. “I mean it.”

Melanie takes the seat on Beck’s other side. She looks around at the seating arrangement, a puzzled expression on her face, but she doesn’t say anything.

Just then, the kitchen staff begins serving dinner and the table erupts in conversation. Our family dinners are never quiet—there are too many of us for that.