Chapter 22

Leilas pov

Do I want to give him a second chance? Well that's the million dollar question, isn't it? I have to admit that I'm leaning towards yes. But I am, to say the least, wary about trusting him. Trust has never been my strong suit, and trusting the person who basically ripped the heart out of my chest seems like a risky idea.

But he's so sexy! And he smells so good! And the look in his eyes could melt the coldest heart.

No Leila, that is thinking with your hormones, and whenever hormones come into play it feels like the rational part of my brain is handicapped. So I decide to compromise between hormones and rationality.

"I'll come back," he looks like he's about to pull me into a hug, "BUT! I am not suggesting we are anything more than acquaintances, I will get to know you a little better, and you will have to prove that you are not the bastard I fear that you are."

"That's okay, whatever terms you have, I will agree!" That's the most alive I have seen him since he got here.

But first things first, "I don't know for sure but I'm guessing we're far away from the packs land, and you don't look like you can handle the trip back without toppling over. So I suggest we get a hold of the Alpha so he can help us get a car, then we can drive back. I'll head back to town and get us some more clothes." That sounds like a good plan to me at least.

"I am not letting you out of my sight, besides there's.." Wow, does he really think this is a good time to act bossy with me?

"Like you could even stop me. And I highly doubt you could go unnoticed in town dressed like that. I might look like a trainwreck, but you look like a crazy trainwreck, it will be a lot easier for me to get a hold of some clothes for us and then we can see about borrowing a phone."

"I was about to say that there's no need for us to get more clothes, we are close to the Storm pack, they are allies with Moonstone and their Alpha, Colleen, knows who you are and that I was headed this way. We can probably borrow a car from her."

"Fine, I guess that's a good plan too." He just looks at me with a small smile but doesn't comment any further. I have no idea who the pack or who its Alpha is, but I doubt he would lead me somewhere I would end up hurt. "Sooo, wanna lead the way?"

"Oh yeah," he pulls down his underwear and shift into his wolf. And yeah, I looked, who wouldn't? He is...not ungifted as it were. Fine, fine he's hung like a horse. Okay, maybe not a horse, like a pony?

I quickly pull off my dress and shift too, not like I have anything to hide anyways. When I'm back in tiger form, Axel walks up to me and nuzzles my neck and then he turns around, with a yipp he runs off and I follow.

We must have been very close to the packs border because we don't have to run for long before we are joined by four other wolves. They make no move to stop us, but they seem to have been tasked with escorting us to wherever we're headed. Guess they really have been informed about who I am, cause now I realize that I was hunting on their land earlier, and in most cases that would have been met with hostility.

After a fairly short run we reach a small cluster of houses and start to see people, they all stop what they're doing and stare at me, guess they're not used to seeing a tiger in their midst. They all just seem to be curious, so I don't really mind them much, none of the wolves I'm with are taking any notice of them either and we keep moving at the same pace.

Soon we reach what must be the pack house, it's not as big as the Moonstone pack house, but from the looks of it, this pack is a pretty wealthy pack as well.

In front of the pack house a beautiful woman, with long dark hair, olive skin, brown eyes and a body with curves that could make anyone's heart stutter, is waiting for us with a friendly smile on her face.

Tia Carrera as Alpha Colleen. My first girl crush, sigh

As we come to a stop in front of her she turns to Axel first, "Welcome to the Storm pack Head Warrior Axel, I was told to expect you, and you sure made good time." As she speaks members of her pack step up to us with clothes, they seem hesitant to approach me though, seeing as they leave my clothes on the ground without coming within my reach. If I was in human form I would roll my eyes at their fear, but as a tiger all I can do is scoff a little.

The Alpha hears the sound and turns to me, "So this is the runaway mate causing trouble to the Moonstone packs Alpha?" Her eyes twinkle with humor, so I would say she finds that funny, "We were all surprised to hear that Anders found himself a tiger for Luna. And when the news came that a second tiger had been mated to a wolf, well let's just say the surprise factor was still there." As she talks both me and Axel shift back and get dressed.

"Why don't you come inside and get something to eat and rest up for the night, no offense Axel but you look like absolute crap." She gives him a sympathetic smile and gestures for us to follow her inside.

"Looking at their Head Warrior there is no doubt that the rumors were true, he was the one who was rejected."

"Yeah, he luckily has a strong wolf, judging from the way he looks a lesser wolf would be dead or insane already."

"What the hell was the tiger thinking, running like that? I would love to have a mate that handsome and high ranking."

"What else can be expected from a tiger? They are evil creatures, more animal than anything else really." I can hear the pack members, who have probably shown up to ogle at the tiger, talking to each other.

Clearly so can Axel, cause I hear a rumble coming from him, he turns around and sets his eyes on the group of gossipers who all immediately stops talking and looks at him with cautious anticipation. "What MY mate does is between ME and HER, I will not accept any bad mouthing or vicious remarks about her! What she did was more than justified, and you will keep your fucking noses out of our business. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir!" Rings out with clear voices as they scurry on their way trying to get away from the angry power pouring from him.

I can feel my tiger purr and preen when he turns his eyes to me, she's happy about the way our mate stuck up for us, then he follows inside after the Alpha who remained silent during the exchange. And I can't lie, that made me feel all hot and tingly inside too.

We are taken straight to a kitchen, it has a homey feel with white wooden cabinets with dark countertops and built in and integrated appliances, I only notice the fridge when a pack member opens it to take out some juice.

Two people are already serving food when we get there, so I just sit down at a table and start to dig in, it's some kind of stew and it tastes really good. Axel and the Alpha talks about different pack related issues as we eat and since I don't give a flying f about that I just sit in silence and think about my mate. Cause it can't be denied, I have a mate. Did I want one? Hell no! Do I currently want one? Weeel, maaaybe?  I mean Kyle seems happy with Anders, and he never wanted a mate either.

But that reminds me, Kyle, I haven't talked to him for a while.

"Would you mind if I borrowed a phone?" Both Axel and the Alpha turn their eyes to me, "I haven't seen Kyle in a while, and I would like to talk to him and tell him whats going on."

"Sure, no problem," the Alpha fishes a phone out of her pocket and unlocks it, but before she can hand it to me Axel takes it from her and puts in the number for me.

"This is the main number for the pack house, someone there should be able to get a hold of the Luna for you." He hands me the phone and I step out to place the call.

The phone only rings three times before someone answers with a quick hello, "Hi this is Leila, I was hoping to speak with Kyle, do you know where he is?"

"Yeah, you're in luck, the Luna is standing right here," I can hear muffled words before the phone gets picked up.

"Leila, oh my Goddess, are you alright?!?" Oh wow, his voice is loud today, "Did Axel find you? Please tell me you're on your way back, I miss you!"

"Slow down Kyle, I'm fine! Yes, Axel found me, and yes, we will be coming back."

We talk for a little while about this and that, it seems Kyle is happy where he is and is starting to get used to the responsibilities that come with being the Luna.

"Hey babe, who are you talking to?" A voice comes through the phone, and I recognize it as the Alphas voice. Babe hu? I guess they really are getting along, "I just finished some paperwork and I want to take you up to our room and...." Kyle cuts him off with a giggle.

"Shit Kyle, did you just giggle?" I can't help but laugh at that, "haha, you seriously did, you giggled!"

"Shut up Leila, get your ass back here if you want to pick on me, cause since you're not here I can just....." He hung up on me!

I head back to the kitchen and find only Axel at the table. He's staring at nothing and looks like he's about to fall asleep at any moment, "You good?"

He startles when he hears my voice and turns to look at me, "Yeah, I'm doing better at least." He needs to stop looking at me like that, it's nervewracking.

One of the cooks shows up and puts a plate of cup cakes on the table, and I pull up a chair and start to pull the paper off, "Thank you!" See I have manners, sometimes. The cook looks at me but says nothing, "Geez, no need to yell." Axel laughs at my comment and reaches for a cup cake himself.

"I love cupcakes, especially the pink ones, even if all the frosting is vanilla the pink still tastes better." Ok, that was a surprising comment coming from manly man Axel. "Only problem is I feel like I have to go outside and punch something after eating them, just to prove to myself that I still have my testes." I start to laugh so hard I end up spitting my cupcake right in his face, producing a mildly disgusted, but mostly grinning Axel.

"You are so beautiful when you smile." That shuts me up, and to my dismay, I can feel my face heat up. "Sorry, I ruined the mood a little there." He smiles sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck, "I'm heading off to bed, I want to get back to the pack and congratulate the Alpha and Luna in person."

"Congratulate them with what?" Kyle didn't mention anything that would require a congratulation.

"They completed the mating last night, even at the distance I am right now I could feel the Luna's bond with the pack strengthen." Wow, so Kyle slept with Anders and didn't even mention it when I talked to him, even after I specifically asked him if anything interesting had happened? He is in trouble now.

I stand up too, it's been a long day and sleep sounds good. Out of nowhere a woman shows up, "I'll take you to your rooms. Or would you prefer to share one room?"

"Separate, please!"

"Share, please!"

Take one guess who wants to share. Not going to happen!

And I think he realizes that the same second he says it, and takes it with no complaints. The man seems to be a quick learner. One point for him.

She takes us to our rooms, who happens to be right next to each other, the rooms are a hotel chic with white walls, generic pictures, and double beds. But I give a hasty "Good night," and head straight for the bathroom and the shower. I have been bathing, so I'ts not like I am dirty or anything but nothing beats a shower.

The shower is also a great place to think, it's like the warm water beats thoughts out of my head and helps me organize them. And I don't really find it surprising to find that my thoughts revolve around a certain handsome warrior. Can I trust what he's saying? Does he really want me? Or does he want me because his wolf wants me? There is no doubt in my mind that Arlo wants me, hell I'll even go as far as to say I believe he loves me, but what does Axel feel? I don't think this is something I can figure out in the shower by myself though, I have to give this plan a chance. Only after spending some time with him can I begin to get to know the real Axel, the one his pack seems to admire, trust and genuinely love. Fingers crossed that's the real Axel, cause if it's the jackass I've been dealing with before I will reject him, and make a suitable toast at his funeral.

After an uneventful night, I wake up rested but hot and clammy, the room could definitely use an airconditioner. I head to the bathroom and take another shower, and after I dry my hair and pull it into a simple ponytail I change into clothes provided by the pack. It's just a pair of jeans and a graphic tee, but they fit well and with a pair of pink sneakers on I feel more than ready to get going.

As I head downstairs I find an incredibly sexy looking Axel already in the kitchen eating breakfast, wow sleep must have agreed with the man. I'm having trouble keeping my eyes off him as I slip into a seat across from him and grab a serving of bacon and scrambled eggs already on the table, along with a glass of orange juice. Must be because I haven't been with a man in ages, thanks to Axel chasing every man away, my body's just not used to a life of celibacy. I don't say anything I simply gobble down my food and admire, quite sneakily I might add, the man in front of me.

"Are you feeling okay? You look a little distracted and come to think of it, you look a little flushed." Axel looks at me with genuine concern.

"I'm fine, the room was a little hot, and I just took a shower."

"Okay, but let me know if anything is bothering you. I don't know if tigers get sick, but if you do I want to know if you start feeling bad." Awww, he's so sweet, all caring and shit. Did I just 'aw' at a guy thinking I can't take care of my self? Maybe I am getting sick?

Out loud my answer is thankfully more Leilaesk, "That sounded a lot like a command, just because I'm willing to give you a chance does not mean that you get to give me orders."

The Alpha chooses that moment to walk in and join us at the table acting as a good distraction. Axel seems a little hurt, but just nods his head and gets back to his breakfast and starts talking to her instead.

After a final business chat with the Alpha she hands us keys to what looks like a brand new blue Ford F-150, as I climb into the passenger seat and Axel takes his place behind the wheel I notice it smells brand new too, looks like we'll be riding in comfort back home.

"Take care of yourself Axel, and give Anders my love, he can consider this car his 'congratulation with finding your mate' gift." Then she turns her eyes to me with a serious expression on her face, "And you, give the man a chance. I have no idea what kind of idiotic stunt he pulled on you but the love between mates is a one in a lifetime kind of deal, and you don't want to miss it."

She turns her smile back on and backs away shouting "Have a safe drive, see you around!"

Axel turns to me with a hesitant smile, "Let's go home."

Just like that, I will be stuck alone in a car with him for at least 24 hours, and for some weird reason, I can feel myself get hornier by the second. This could be interesting.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Vote, comment follow!