Slipping out of the backroom, her parents were about to question her but she shook her head. "They need a minute. I'm going to make sure Anim is okay."
She gave Sam a reassuring smile and wondered where Roxy was. Didn't matter. She was sure Roxy was with someone trusted and would be fine.
She followed Animkii's scent out of the infirmary, down the hallway, and out the back door. She looked around and spotted his clothes lying in a pile next to the building. Shedding her own clothes, she dropped them next to his and shifted into her wolf. The shift was now effortless and easy since she'd been doing it daily for almost a year now. She could feel the power in her legs as she dashed forward, following his scent across the valley and to the trees that lined it. It wasn't long before she found him pacing outside the cabin he once lived in with Madison.
He snarled at her and pressed into her mind. [Go away!]
She lowered herself to the ground and laid her head on her front paws. [I'm just here to make sure you're okay.]
[I'm fine!]
She whined, folding her ears back behind her head. [No, you're not.]
He growled, flashing his canines at her.
His means of intimidation failed because she saw him for who he was: a broken soul pushing away anyone from witnessing it.
[It's okay, though. I understand.]
The fur on his nape stood on end, making his lean form appear larger and more intimidating. [No you don't! Your mate is still alive out there. You never felt what I felt. You never felt him suffer for weeks. You don't have to worry about your father getting killed by a packmate challenging him for his position. You don't know a thing!]
Whining again, she inched forward, keeping low and dragging her belly across the dry earth. [I know. You're going through so much right now. And Ann is sorry. She's just as upset about your father as you are and—]
He whined and pawed at the dirt. His ears pulled back as a lip curled up enough to expose a canine. [She's right, though. I am pathetic and weak. I failed my mate, my family, my pack—even you.]
She started growling as he listed his failings but stopped at the mention of her. Her ears perked up. [Me?] She shook her head—shaking that thought from her mind. [You've been through a lot. You have to give yourself some credit for that. Success doesn't happen overnight. You'll get strong again. I'm sure you'll find another mate soon and lead the pack like you were always meant to do.]
Air huffed out from his nostrils in a snort. [And you believe that? That nonsense I told Ann to give her hope?]
[Even if you don't think it's possible now, I don't see why it couldn't be possible in the future. You're a good male and deserve to be happy.]
[Do I?] His lips curled back further, exposing his canines and front teeth. [I failed my mate when she needed me most. Why would I deserve to live a happy and fulfilled life? How can I possibly lead a pack?]
Lifting lip, Chloe growled, [Do you hear yourself? This isn't you.]
[This is me now!] he snarled. [I lost my fucking mate! I killed her! How the fuck do you expect me to move on?]
[Stop blaming yourself for something you had no control over!] she snapped her jaws at him. [Stop lying to yourself! You didn't kill her! You tried your best—]
[And my best wasn't good enough! It got her killed! And I'll never be good enough for the pack now—never!]
He turned and ran, kicking up dirt in her face and making her huff and shake the dirt from her fur. Jumping up, she darted after him—keeping a respectful distance like she promised his mother.
He kicked her out of his mind and she was fine with that. She didn't like being in there in the first place. He was full of toxicity that felt bitter in her mouth.
This wasn't like him at all. He'd always been concerned about being good enough for the pack, but blaming himself for Madison's death was crazy!
She chased after him as he ran for a mile before he slowed to a stop before collapsing to the earth, panting hard and whimpering profusely. Her heart ached as she came to a stop and watched him from a distance, worried that if she approached he would snap at her. The sounds of his cries brought forth a whine as she inched toward him. Pressing into his mind, he refused to let her in and she eased up, stopping a few yards away and waiting a few minutes before inching forward again.
When she was a few feet away, he opened his mind to her and his overwhelming pain and sadness pressed down on her.
[I'm sorry, Chloe. I can't be the friend you need now. I'll only bring you down...]
She stepped up to his side and nudged him with her nose and whined softly. [Friendship isn't about being there only through the good times, but through the bad times too.]
[I let you down... I let everyone down...]
[That's not true. Don't think like that. Thinking like that will only make things worse.]
[I can't be optimistic about anything anymore. I just don't have it in me.]
She laid down next to him, her fur brushing lightly against his. Her heart ached for him. [This is your hurricane. Your fierce internal battle of wills. I know you'll get through this. You'll find a way. I know you will.]
He stood up and slowly walked away from her without another word, his head lowered and tail tucked. She followed him until he made it back to his parents' house before she returned to the infirmary to check up on everyone there before heading home herself, right before the storm kicked up and the rain came pummeling down.
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Dedicated to HeartStone Packmate: nifcille - Join us on Facebook!
Copyright Jo Lee Hunt ( Joflower ) 2020
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War Claim (The Claim: Book 3)
WerewolfThe price for peace comes with sacrifices. Animkii wasn't born to be Alpha--but his two older brothers were both killed when he was four. He also shouldn't have fallen in love with his best friend... because she wasn't his mate. Chloe realized she h...
