Chapter 28.

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"Hey, Soldier. You alright?"

"Paps." I frowned at the nickname. He rolled his eyes and we chuckled as he sat down.

"Alpha, how about you make breakfast and I'll finish that?" he motioned to the book in front of me.

I was trying to figure out how to pay the doctors that had helped take care of the wolves that had been sick, they didn't exactly have normal shifts.

"No, thanks. I'm fine." I said. "It's easy stuff."

I looked to the door as Dad walked in, shutting the door behind him before he sat down beside Paps. They suddenly seemed so serious and it caused me to slowly lay my pen down.

"What did I do?" I asked before adding, "Whatever it is, it's Tamia. I was with Danté last night and all we did was play Assassin's Creed," making them chuckle.

"You've done nothing. It's just... Well, Eli. We know the past while has been incredibly rough for you, so much has happened and you've been through a lot. We think it's best if you... address it and we just want you to know that we know someone who can help you through –"

"I don't need help." I cut my Dad off. "There's nothing wrong with me."

"Of course not. We're not saying there is –" Paps was saying.

"Really? Because you've never suggested this to me before." I said.

"Eli. We're just saying that it would help to talk to someone about all the... anger and pain and –"

"I just said that I'm fine. I don't need to speak to anyone, okay? I didn't – I'm not like you!" I hissed at my Dad.

My breath caught in my throat when I saw my Paps' eyes turn completely black as his fists clenched and my Dad quickly grabbed his mate's arm to try to calm him while he swallowed looking down. I pushed out of my hair, stumbling to my feet.

"Dad, I-I'm so – I'm so sorry –" I began in a stutter but there was a knock on the door before it was pushed open. I didn't have to look to know who it was.

"Oh – I'm sorry. I just assumed Eli wouldn't answer my knock." Karabo said as soon as he had stepped into the room.

"It's alright, Karabo." Dad smiled over at my mate as if nothing was wrong.

I stared at him trying to figure out how to apologise. How could I be so fucking insensitive? I was so stupid, such a tactless asshole. How could I...?

"Good Morning." Karabo smiled at my parents.

"Morning, Alpha." Paps grinned. "We were just finishing up. Eli has agreed to not work today." He looked at me seriously, a hit of disappointment and rage still clear in his eyes as his face was hidden from the Alpha across the room. I bit my lip bowing my head to avoid his gaze.

"Great." my mate spoke, "Have breakfast with me?" I looked up just as he looked at me, his smile more nervous compared to the naturally bright one he gave my parents.

I glanced at my dad and he smiled. I looked down feeling terrible.

'It's alright, Eli. I understand. Really. Have fun.' He linked to me.

I gave Karabo a nod and smiled seeing his nervous smile grow into a grin. I walked up to him and took hold of his hand before leading him out of my office.

We left my house and began to take a walk toward town since neither of us felt like driving there. Karabo insisted on not letting my hand go for a second, and though I did not mind holding onto him, I raised my brows when he cupped my hand between both of his again.

"Just... it's the first time in a while you're not pulling away." I bit my lip at that feeling guilty. Right... I had nothing to hide from him anymore given that my wolf was back. Though touching him still gave me mixed feelings and thoughts that I tried to shove to the back of my mind, I did miss it which was why I was not letting his hand go either.

"Where do you want to get breakfast?" I asked him deciding not to talk about that because it would just ruin the light mood we had going.

"I don't know. You live here. Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"I don't know. What do you want to eat?" I asked smiling.

"Surprise me," he shrugged.

"I would but I don't know what I want to eat. What do you want?" I questioned teasingly.

"Stop it," he shoved me playfully as we laughed.

I tried to shove him back but he pulled his hand from mine and set off sprinting as he laughed. I chuckled watching him run before following him until we were in town and he had slowed down. He grabbed my arm as soon as I was beside him and I pulled him towards the first coffee shop I saw. We ate breakfast as I listened to him talk about Richard and his few days around my pack and family, staying relatively quiet as I watched him eat and listened to his voice. I wasn't really hungry and even just glancing at the coffee beside my plate made me feel sick, though I took a few sips because he kept glancing at the cup and I knew he was monitoring my drinking. I was trying to pay attention; just enjoy our breakfast and his company but every few seconds I would have to glance outside. It was just people walking by, an occasional bag in the wind but the movement always caught my eyes.

"Finished?" I asked him once his plate was empty.

"Are you?" he replied looking at my half-finished food and drink. He looked slightly concerned.

"Yeah, I'm just not really hungry." I said, "I got it." I signalled to our waiter before reaching for my wallet.

"No, this was my idea." Karabo placed money on the table. I pushed half of it back to him and added some of mine.

"We'll just split." I said. He nodded looking upset as he stared at my plate, but his concerned face melted into a smile as he got up me and held his hand out to me. I stood up and took his hand to plant a soft kiss on it. He seemed surprised but his smile didn't waver. "Were to next? Tour of the town?" I wanted to make up for being a crappy breakfast date.

"Yes!" His brown eyes shone with excitement and I laughed.

I tried to engage more as we walked but tensed or held his hand a little tighter every time an unexpected horn or noise sounded around us. It was ridiculous because of course there would be noise, we were in a city. Luckily, Karabo didn't seem to notice and excitement did not waver as I pointed things out. I laughed amused as he suddenly yelled out pointing to a park.

"No, you have these where you live and we're –" he ignored me as he began sprinting towards it. My eyes darted around observing everything around him to spot any danger before I followed, "Karabo, we're too old to be here." I said as I caught up with him. He was already halfway up a children's slide when I spoke.

I laughed hearing him growl in annoyance at how low and short the slide was after he had slid down it.

"Live a little," his eyes rolled at me as he got up. I chuckled as he grabbed my shoulders and steered me towards the swings. I gasped in surprise when he suddenly shoved me to sit down on one.

"Fine. Want me to push you?" I asked laughing at him.

He walked behind me. "Obviously I'm pushing you, Einstein." I felt a gentle push from behind me as he said that.

"This is going to break, I'm too heavy," I said as I swung slightly.

"You'll be alright," he replied pushing a little harder. I held onto the chains feeling the structure rattle at my weight and the movement the more I swung back and forth.

"Don't push too hard. Yeah, I'll heal if I fall but it will still be painful." I said looking up as I pictured the steel chain unhinging from the bar it was attached to. The longer I stared at it, the more fragile and rusted it looked. It made me contemplate jumping off.

"That cloud looks like a dragon." Karabo ignored me pushing with more force.

I looked at the sky trying to see what he was talking about and scoffed.

"It looks like a blob," I said.

"A rabbit then," he replied.

"No, more like candy floss," I smirked.

"You're an asshole." his voice was salty.

"I'm a realist," I responded as we laughed.

I realised I had forgotten about the height and the swing breaking as we had spoken and smiled remembering how my parents used to push Tamia and me when we were younger. All we wanted to do was get really high back then, whoever got higher won. We never decided on a prize. It even had Paps concerned at some point after I almost slipped from the swing when it was so high, my head was tilted to the ground and our parents immediately ended our time on the swings.

I yelled out being ripped from my thoughts when I suddenly smashed into something behind me and heard Karabo let out a cough at the impact. I instantly jumped off the swing and ran behind him, catching the seat before it could swing back and hit his face as he was now on his knees.

"What the hell?!" I asked him.

"I wanted to catch you but I guess I misjudged how much force an Alpha on a swing has," he groaned rubbing his stomach.

"You're an idiot." I laughed.

"You don't get to say that, I just got hurt." he suddenly looked up and, not having expected it, I couldn't move before his head smashed into my nose.

I fell back onto the grass covering my face as pain shot through the bridge of my nose into my eyes.

"Oh shit! I'm sorry – Are you alright?!" he yelled.

I began laughing more and looked at him through my fingers as I shook my head. He leaned over me and I reached out to grab his shirt and attempted to pull him onto the ground beside me but he fell onto my chest.

"Sorry, I was –" My words were lost once his lips met mine. I stared up at him wide-eyed until he pushed off me, holding his weight up by his hands on either side of my head. "What was that?" I asked.

"I figured that you would decline if I kissed you the normal way, so..." he looked down shyly, "... sneak attack." The adorable admission was accompanied by a poke to my side that automatically made me let out a very fight-pitched, feminine yelp while my body tensed up at the touch. His eyes widened.

"Uh, I –" I tried.

"You're ticklish?! The great Alpha Eli is ticklish?!"

"Don't you dare –!"

I was cut off by my own helpless protests and laughter as he began tickling my sides ruthlessly while he laughed. He didn't stop despite my yelling so I lifted my hand to his neck and pulled his face back to mine, drawing him into another kiss. It had the desired effect as it brought the end to my agony. I chuckled against his lips and felt his smile as I lowered my hands onto his waist to pull him closer against me. His face tilted to the side to deepen our kiss and I felt his lips part against mine but a slam from nearby caused me to shove him off of me before I moved above him and looked towards the nearby trees and houses. My senses were heightened as my eyes darted around us searching for a possible threat.

"Eli –"

"Shh." I silenced him.

"Babe," Karabo's hands cupped my face and turned my head so I that was looking at him, "that was just a door from one of the houses nearby," he said.

I stared at him for a couple of seconds before I nodded and stood up.

"Right. Uh... we should get back."

"Why? Eli, there's nothing to be afraid of –" he began.

"I'm not afraid!" I spat venomously, "I just want to go back." I added. His eyes were soft, concerned, and almost pitiful as he sat up. "Don't look at me like that." I hissed. Like I was some weak, fragile wolf he felt sorry for.

"Eli, I –"

"This was a mistake." I cut him off again shaking my head, "Who are we kidding? This can't work." I said.

His jaw clenched before he climbed to his feet, "Because you're not even trying!" he shoved my chest causing me to almost fall back at the sudden push I was not expecting. I stumbled to keep my balance and looked at him surprised. "I... hate you," he muttered.

I felt like the air had been punched out of my chest by his words and that only became so much worse when a sob suddenly broke from him. He immediately cursed fisting his hands at his sides. I opened my mouth but nothing came out as I watched him grit his teeth while he avoided my eyes and held his breath in an attempt to stop crying. I could feel how angry he was at himself for crying; not that I needed to feel it, it was clear.

A brush of wind rushed against me as he disappeared from his spot, probably running home and I stood there for a few more seconds staring at where he had been before eventually moving to sit down as I tried to breathe properly with the pain in my chest. That fucking hurt... It was so random... He couldn't mean it, I mean...

My wolf growled at me and I shook him off. Right. I did just tell him that we wouldn't work.

I tried to focus on what I was going to do but couldn't calm my senses down. Even in the state I was in, even being so worried and hurt by what had just happened with Karabo, I couldn't completely focus on it. I couldn't relax or concentrate. I heard something snap and whipped around easily catching the arrow that had just been shot towards my back. Seems I was right to be cautious... I stood up and looked at where the object in my hand had come from. Across the park, my eyes landed on Craig who sat on a huge wolf; beside him were two others with werewolves riding them and wolves behind them. One held the bow that had shot the arrow to me in his hands. I looked at the stick burning my hand and twisted it between my fingers watching my skin fight to heal against it.

"I want to talk." I heard Craig speak.

"Talk?" I watched the guy with the bow tell the human what I had just said.

"We're not here to fight." I watched his lips move.

They were not there to fight but they started off by shooting an arrow at my back. Makes sense.

I was arguing with myself about whether to take them on or leave. I so badly wanted to fight them but even though I knew I was stronger than everyone he had with him I was hesitant... scared. I was terrified I would suddenly lose all the power I had, stop healing or that my wolf would disappear again. I did not trust myself or my strength at all.

I twisted the arrow in my fingers a little more until clenching in my fist before I hurled it at them. I watched as the guy with the bow dived but was too slow to deflect it and the wolf realised too late that I had thrown it, he did manage to move a little though and I watched the arrow pierce into Craig's arm, level to his heart. If the wolf he was on had not attempted to move in time, he would be dead.

"Fuck –!" I chuckled as Craig grabbed the arrow to pull it from his arm with a painful shout before he groaned more when he realised it was lodged in his bone. That made me laugh. That injury was definitely not going to heal for a while. "I guess I deserve that." My laughing stopped.

I didn't know how many wolves there were behind them... I would get tired... and I couldn't risk it when I wasn't sure of myself. I hated it... but I knew I couldn't fight them at that moment.

"Eli –" the rest of Craig's sentence faded from my ears as I sprinted towards my home without waiting for him to finish.

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