About two hours later, Hayden and Silver both got in a car, and he started driving towards his pack. It would have been faster if they shifted to their wolves and ran, but Silver hadn’t fully recovered enough to handle the exertion of a journey that long. For a long time, none of them said anything to each other.
“So, how long will it take to get to your pack?” She asked him, in a bid to start up a conversation.
“At the rate we’re going now, six hours.” He replied to her.
She noticed that he was griping the wheel tight, and not once since he started driving did he look at her.
“Is anything wrong? You seem… off.” She said.
“I’m fine.”
That was the only conversation they had for the next four hours.
“We need to stop, so I can refill the tank.”
“I don’t mind.” She shrugged noncommittally.
They stopped, and while he refilled the tank with the extra stored in the trunk, she took a stroll. She found a small pond glistening in the moonlight.
“Silver.” She heard him call her name.
“Over here, cone see what I found.” She yelled and he joined her.
“Let’s go for a swim.” She said with a mischievous smile, and he frowned.
“No, we need to get going.”
“Five minutes won’t delay our return to your pack.” She didn’t wait to hear his response, just ran and jumped into the water fully clothed.
“It’s freezing.” She yelped as she splashed around.
“Join me.” She beckoned but he just stood, watching her with his arms folded, and lips pursed.
He walked back to the car, and returned few minutes later.
“You’ve had your five minutes of fun, we need to leave, now.” He deadpanned.
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes as she got out of the water.
“You are so boring.”
His eyes turned a darker shade as his gaze roved over her from head toe. Now that she was wet, her clothes clung to her curves, and his wolf wanted him to move closer and mark her right there. He shook his head to clear the traitorous thoughts, and tossed the bag he had gone to the car to pick up at her.
“Change so we can get going. I’ll wait by the car.” He said and left her.
“You sure took your sweet time.” He said with a frown as she walked to the car in dry clothes.
“Seriously, what’s up with you? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Your mood swing is giving me whiplash.”
“Just get in the car.”
“If you have something to say to me, say it. I hate mind games.” She hissed at him. He ignored her and got into the car.
“I didn’t leave my home just so you could give me the cold shoulder, Hayden.” She said as she got on her side, and tossed the bag he had given her to the back.
“And I didn’t bring you along just so you could act like a damn child.” He fumed as he started the engine.
“What’s wrong with having a little fun? I’ve been locked in a cage for a few years. Do you have any idea what that feels like for a wolf like mine that likes to run?”
His eye colour changed as he turned to her, and his gaze softened.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”
She gasped as she suddenly realized something.
“Now I know what the problem is. All this time that you were putting up a Mr nice guy act, it was your wolf all along. Just like now. You let him take over so you can sell me and the others the caring mate bullshit. Now that we’re alone, you don’t need to put up an act anymore, that’s why you’re being mean.”
His jaw clenched as his eye colour returned back to normal.
From then till they arrived at his pack, they didn’t speak again.
“Alpha Hayden, you’re finally back.” Beth squealed as she jumped on him and wrapped her arms around him.
“I’ve been so worried, is everything okay?”
He set her down and stepped back from her, his skin revolted against another female’s touch that wasn’t his mate.
Silver came out of the car and slammed the door shut so hard, it shook the car. Beth frowned as she noticed her.
“Everything is fine.” He said stiffly.
“I mindlinked you to gather everyone before I get here.”
“They’re waiting at the pack square.” She replied.
“Let’s go.” He said and began to walk with Beth by his side.
‘I don’t like her’ her wolf said. ‘And you let her touch him. You should have ripped out her arms.’
‘He didn’t do anything about it, didn’t acknowledge me, didn’t introduce me, why should I bother?’ She replied her wolf and walked behind them.
She was pissed off, but she wouldn’t give Hayden the satisfaction of knowing that his antics got to her. If he could feign indifference, then she could do it too. Her face was an impassive mask as she followed them, and everyone she walked past marvelled at her long silver hair that was a sharp contrast against her dark skin.
He climbed on a raised platform so he was higher than the rest of them. Beth and three other wolves joined him.
“Security within and around the pack will be more stringent from now on. The Alphas of every pack are working together to make sure no harm comes to anyone, but we all must be very vigilant. A long forgotten enemy is rising, and we must be prepared. Training sessions will be more intense, and cubs above 10 will start training as well. They will train separately and less frequently, the purpose is just so they can defend themselves if the need arises. If anyone sees, hears or notices anything suspicious, they must come to me immediately.” He gave them further instructions, then paused and turned to Silver.
She stood beside the raised platform facing the rest of the pack, with her arms folded.
He gestured for her to join them on the platform, and she wanted to bare her teeth at him, but she refrained from doing so. She won’t challenge him in front of his pack, there will be a better time and place to rip him a new one.
“This is Silver.”
He was lucky that he didn’t introduce her as Silvora, or she would have changed her mind about challenging him right there.
“She’s my… guest.” He said and her eyes snapped up to his face in surprise.