The early morning had greeted me with a kiss. The sweet smell of the forest had slipped into the cracked windows. I rolled over to share the morning, my eyes still closed as I reached across the bedding. Realizing there was nothing to feel, I opened my eyes.

The sun had barely peeked over the horizon but there was enough light to see the man before me. He slipped his shirt over his head, his attention solely on his task. He shuffled with a few things on the bed side table before stuffing his items into his pants pocket

"Hey." I rose from the bed to grab his attention.

His head whipped around into my direction, allowing me to see the vexation swimming in his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I had to question.

"Yeah. I just have to get to the White Mountains. The pack had a recent incident. A member was attacked. By the description of the wounds, it was a hunter. An experienced one." He confirmed to me.

"Oh my." I was disappointed to see him go so soon but as usual, business calls for him. He was the Alpha. It was his duties to make sure all was handled.

He seemed too had caught on to my sour look. Walking over to me, his finger hooked under my chin, he raised my head to relieve my worry with a kiss against my forehead. It was gentle, as soft as a touch of cotton.

"I will be back in a few hours." He picked up a small bag, tossing the straps over his shoulder before he took off out of the room...

"They have been gone all day." I tried to sound less worrisome and more informative.

Most have been gone for a majority of the day. Xavier, Allen, Steven and a few others had fled up to the White Mountains. Evening had come and gone. The night had swallowed the sky. Saying that I was on edge was an understatement. I was practically itching to call for them.

I had to keep my worry on a leash. So did Angela. With our secrets sealed behind her twitching lips, we acted as if our minds were not lost in an ocean of concern. Especially with Brittany in the same room.

"I'm going to give my brother a call." I could tell her brother was not the real reason for her concern.

She picked up the phone, dialing at the number that belonged to her brother. I was on the edge of the bed, practically ripping my nails from my fingers with my teeth as I anticipated an answer. I few rings had gone by before the phone was answered.

His voice. Low yet the vibrations of his voice had my stomach twisted into a knot. It may not seem like a lot but just hearing his voice calmed my inner monster.

That was until I watched Angela continued to speak and her facial expression continued to grow dreary. She was listening, her fingers clenching the phone as he continued to speak on the other end. I waited across from her as I waited for her to end the call so I could hear the news as well.

"Okay Xavier." She finally ended their call.

"So?" Brittany questioned her.

"They made it to the White Mountains. However, they will not be returning tonight as planned."

Our looks could have explained it all. Disappointment, anger, and worry.

"Why?"

"He said they did not want to leave and risk something happening." Angela exhaled.

"So tomorrow?" It was if I needed an answer to kill my worry. A day? A time?

"He did not say." Angela concluded.

I did not want to accept that answer but what other choice did I have? The night had come and the day's work had nipped at my body. It's way of informing me that it was time to go to bed...

A single night had turned into two. Then three. Then four. Then five. Five nights had come and gone and still no return of the others. Xavier as well. I was left in the dark about the current status in the White Mountains. All I know was that they were alive.

That still did not kill the motors of my overworked mind. Thoughts. Procrastinations. Worry. All slowly nipping at my mind. Soon anxiety and concern had turned into furry. Not hearing from Xavier himself had really gotten to me. Annoyed. Upset. A little lonely. Emptiness had consumed me.

I began to wonder what the hell is wrong with me.

I guess it was the result of a gone Alpha. It was a feeling that I had heard of, a feeling that someone was missing, a feeling that drove me insane.

It was Friday. Some of us had gone out to relieve their tension, others remand in the home. Just like me, cursed with a feeling they just could not kill off. A rehearsed melody danced in the air. A song I had programmed to my phone. I reached for it, answering it before the music got to my favorite part.

"Hello?" A part of me hoped that it was the voice I needed to hear.

"Hey Amira." Even though I was disappointed that it was not the voice I wished to get, I was still glad to hear another voice other than my own and the usual.

"Hey Kevin."

"I was calling because I was wondering if you guys wanted to come out tonight. We are having a little get together and wanted you guys to join."

Honestly, I lacked the energy to move, let alone attend a party. However, a part of me knew I needed to get up and go. I needed to get up.

"Uh sure." I tried to sound ecstatic. "An hour?"

"Well I will see you later than."

"Cool."

I disconnected the line and sent out a mass text to the girls, secretly hoping they would deny the request...

The ride to the party was quiet. We did not find much to say to each other really. As Brittany rushed down the road, I took time to stare out of the window. There was a sunset. A beautiful swirl of orange and red colors.

We pulled into the driving way and parked at the entrance of Iron Park. It was a local park shared by nearby communities. People were scattered everywhere. Some talking and conversing, others were dancing around the brewing fire that was created.

We stepped out of the car. Dark smoke danced into the air as the smell of burnt wood connected with us. Hell I should be home.

"Hey you?" Kevin approached us.

"Hey?" Thankfully he did not know the difference from a genuine smile and a rehearsed one.

He did not allow Brittany and Angela go unnoticed. He greeted them as well.

He gave us a small tour. The fire, the drinks, and different groups were all to show. I wanted nothing more than to escape the wild life and relax. I sat by the fire. Kevin did not mind joining me. It was a good thing too. It was some things we needed to nip.

"Kevin, about me...and you." I moved in closer. Not to give him the wrong idea, but to hopefully keep out conversation between us. "I don't think it will be possible. You are a great guy and most can see that, hopefully your mate when she comes along, but I'm sort of in this...thing."

"Thing?" He questioned.

"Hard to even explain." Hell, I didn't even have the right explanation for it.

"No need to. It's fine. I just don't want this to, you know, ruin any kind of communication. You know, as friends."

"Its fine it won't. I can't afford to give up any more friends." I joked. "Now, my ass is hurting on this seat. Let's get our asses up and act a fool."

"I have no problem with that."...

The party had ended, the evening had died and now the morning hours were approaching. It was time to go home and we were not the only ones feeling beat. Others had taken to the trees. Each minute a new face had gone. We had left the party and made it home with hours to spare before the sun would appear.

I stretched across my bed. Brittany took the guest chair as Angela found the floor much more comfortable.

"Fun night huh?" Brittany slouched deeper into the chair.

I laid back and looked up above me at the flushed ceiling.

"Are you okay?"

Describe 'okay' to me.

"Yes, just fine." I fed her a lie.

I heard someone in the room release a heavy sigh. The chair scuffed the floor before Brittany stood to her feet. She fiddled with her manicured nails before she looked at me.

"Okay. Let's cut the shit ladies." Brittany lashed out. "Amira..I already know."

I sat up. Angela leaned up from the floor, her eyes shifted back and forth from me to Brittany.

"Know what?" I swallowed harder than I should have. My stomach had turned into an unsettling knot. There was no way in hell she was talking about this little secret.

"I know about you and...Our Alpha." She voiced in a whisper.

Oh shit, how did she know? How long did she know? The only explanation, the only reasoning had was someone told her.

"Dammit Angela you told her about me and Xavier? We promised you keep my secret and I keep yours."

"What the hell?" She looked like a deer caught in some approaching headlights. "I swear I didn't tell her shit."

"Wait!" Brittany quickly cut in. "Secrets? What secrets?"

There it was. That tension between three wondering eyes was enough to swallow the room in a hole of discomfort. Was it finally time to spill the beans?

"Well." Angela finally spoke up. "I knew about Amira and my brother. It was easier for me to see than others. I promised I would keep that secret to myself if she kept the secret about me...and Steven."

I never took Brittany for a preppy squealer. That was until she did it. A high pitched squeal that left Angela and I covering our ears.

"You and Steven? How the hell could I be so blind to that shit?" She began questioning herself. Her detective skills were failing her.

"Wait, so how did you figure out about me and Xavier?" I had to ask. We did not make it publicly obvious.

"Well.." Her face turned a color. Red being the color of nervousness or anger. What was it? "Let's just say that you were right about me needing to knock before entering."

Wow! If I wasn't already nervous, now I was fucking embarrassed. Did she really walk in and see us..fucking? Was it strange to wonder which part she walked in on? His head between my thighs or my legs wrapped around his waist.

"You're kidding me right?"

"I'm sorry. I walked in and saw you two than ran back out before you guys could even notice." She shrugged. "I mean, I wish I could have stuck around for the show-"

"Shut up." I nearly tackled her to the floor. Angela found it funny. I would laugh but the muscles in my cheeks were still stinging from the shock of this conversation.

Angela was still laughing. Brittany had joined in on the comedy show. I smiled; my eyes still focused on the laughing red head whose eyes were poisoned from the sight of Xavier and me.

"Knock Brittany." I turned on the television. "Knock."