The Run To Quinn

~•6•~

"See. You're brave and smart and beautiful and scary. You have no reason to bend so easily and let your power subside." His eyes held so much warmth and honesty in them I wanted to take a picture and keep it in my wallet. But I knew nothing would amount to seeing them in person. Nothing would be like feeling the genuine personality he held.

One corner of my mouth tipped up, hiding a smile. "Don't Alphas want you to?"

Sebastián shot me a wild look. "If your Alpha wants you to be weak willed and bend really easily, you have a problem. Alphas always want their pack to be strong. To respect and be respected is different than to scare and to submit to that fear. Showing how strong you are— that's a sign of respect."

Maybe it was because my pack was peaceful and my Alpha And Luna were kind and soft, and all the other Alphas I had met were brutal.

"Im still lost." I said honestly.

"If I were to listen to every single command you said out of fear of upsetting you or just fear of you— would that make you happy?" He asked.

I shook my head slowly.

"If I treated you like the Queen you are and offered my strength to help you, but also to be honest and speak my mind with you... that would be better, right?" He was good at explaining things but I felt like a child. "Being fearful of someone isn't a sign of respect— it's a sign of fear. Those are two very different things." He stopped us and put his hands on my shoulders. "You have nothing to fear."

All these years of me just rolling over and letting power nearly make me cry. Just to find out— that's not what people want.

I did feel a little better. "I'm still shy."

"And that's okay." He laughed, grabbing my hand. "But don't fall down just because someone pushes you."

I didn't say anything else after that. Neither did he. But it was okay, our silence was just as comfortable as our conversations.

We came across a large field where the grass was nearly up to my chest. I saw the tree line and felt the pack line in front of it.

We were there, just a couple more minutes.

Silence continued as we stood maybe thirty feet from the pack line. Sebastián breathed out a sigh of relief. My feet were killing me and I felt like my eyes were going to shut and force me to sleep. I didn't care if I had to sleep on the floor, but I needed rest.

We walked over the pack line and I instantly felt a shift in the air, the smells. This was not my territory, not yet. And until my blood spilled on this land in an oath, it would continue to smell unlike home.

There was a reason for that. Home smells like home, like nothing, so you can distinguish a threat easier, or something new. Packs were the same. Of course, Alphas and Lunas actually felt when people crossed into their pack, specifically outsiders.

Two people came up to us, twins. Very identical. "Oh, so you did come back. Interesting." One of the major discernible differences between the two were their heights. The one who just spoke was maybe four inches taller. He also had bangs while the other had the same haircut without them.

Sebastián rolled his eyes at the man. "Oh come on, Clark. I can't leave Fizel. Everyone knew I was coming back."

The shorter one shrugged. "I don't know Seb. Your mom thinks you're dead or kidnapped. Had a huge breakdown at my house with my Aunt."

Seb frowned. "Clarence... you told her I was coming back didn't you?"

He smirked at Seb. "Obviously, I love your mother." He brought Seb into a hug, smacking his back for a bit. He turned to me. "And who is this pretty young thang?"

I growled lowly and the guy held his hands up. "I'm only asking, P.Y.T."

Seb began chuckling as he wrapped an arm around me, smiling broadly. "My mate, Quinn."

Both boys looked wildly between me and Seb, their green eyes widened. Their red hair flip and flopped from the movements.

"Your mate!?" The taller one, Clark, said. "Well I'll be damned."

"Hey." Clarence scolded. "You owe me a dollar."

Clark looked confused for a minute before he slapped his forehead. "Damn it, Clare. Don't— shit. Wait. No— I." He quit talking and pulled out a grey duct tape wallet, handing his brother 2 dollars. "I have a cussing problem. Slightly. It's not so bad because he's making me pay him every time I cuss."

"Forty dollars in the last week." Clarence chuckled, shoving the bills lazily in his back pocket.

"Twins?" I asked, relaxing. They seemed nice.

Clark rolled his eyes. His eyes were a darker green shade than Clarence's. "No. I'm a year older. Same birthday though, just a year a part."

That was odd. I looked at Seb who looked like he was going to pass out standing up.

"Can you tell your Alpha that I'm taking him home? Instead of to meet with him?" I asked, my eyes pleading.

Seb shook his head. "No, he won't appreciate that." He said. "I'll only need to step in for a moment, you as well."

Clark and Clarence looked between each other, talking with their eyes. I had a feeling they didn't need a link to read each other's mind.

"We'll tell him. You need rest, Seb. And a doctor, look at both of your hands." Clark gestured to our palms.

I hadn't been paying attention to them, especially since most of the way here we were our wolves. But now that he mentioned it, I had cauterized deep and wide burns. From the chains. Seb's were a little worse than mine.

"I'll tell him Seb was injured and needed to see his mom." Clark laughed. I looked up at the night sky. "Because we all know there's no sleeping at your house until the moon is at her highest."

I tilted my head. "What?"

"His mom like... actually has family time and board games. People are in and out of Seb's all the time. His mom pretty much adopts everyone." Clarence explained, looking at our palms. "And the house isn't really quiet until night. His dad always has friends over and his mom hangs out with their mates. His little sister and brother have friends over and—"

"I'm not going home." Seb groaned as he stood a little taller, not slouching.

Clark whistled through his teeth, shaking his head disappointedly. "Your mom is going to be pisssed." He sang out.

Seb stretched his arm. "I know, but she'll understand."

"Wait, so where are we going?" I asked.

Clark and Clarence smirked and walked away, pushing and shoving each other. That didn't settle the nervousness in my stomach.

"Where are we going?" I repeated as he grabbed my hand.

Seb winced as he stretched his hands out. "You'll see."