Present Day
Moon Wind Pack

A text pulled him from his reverie. He and Patrick had travelled to visit a pack near  Vermont-New York border. They had been struggling with rouges and wanted to ask for his help. Nathan himself had ended his own rouge war three years ago and he and his suddenly larger pack had lived in relative peace since then.

The war had wiped out most packs in New Hampshire, parts of Maine and even Vermont. When he took the survivors in and defeated the rouges, it left all their territories to him. He didn't have the warriors to help this pack, but if the bordering packs fell then the rouges would be on their doorstep once again. He had promised that he would send some people to help with training and supplies. He looked at his text. It was from Allen.

She wants to talk.
About the protection.
And only the protection.
She was quite forceful that I tell you it is only about the protection.

Okay, we won't be back until late.
Let her know I can see her in the morning.

How's it going?

Not great.
This pack needs more help than we can give.
Please keep her safe.

On it boss.
Not that she needs me to.
She is something else.

That she is my friend. That she is.

Nathan smiled at his phone. Paige was a force to be reckoned with when she wants to be. He knew that she'd bristle at the protection, but he couldn't stomach the thought of anything happening to her while he was away. Even if it was just for one day, even if their town hadn't seen any attacks in years, he still worried.

"Who's that?"

"Who's who?

"The text. You're smiling at your phone looking like and idiot."

"It's Allen, Paige wants to talk to me." Patrick gave him a disbelieving look. "About the protection, but at least we'll be in the same room." Patrick pursed his lips. He wasn't particularly fond of Paige.

"What?" Nathan said. He knew Patrick was holding something back.

"You need to be careful, Nate. I know Malcolm said she's your mate, but I have found nothing about a wolf being dormant let alone how to wake one up. I just don't want to see you hurt again."

"I won't be. Malcolm's not wrong, Paige is my mate. She has to be, why else would nobody appeal to me. It's been five years and no ones even come close to her. It's her." He said forcefully. He couldn't let himself think about if she wasn't, if she left.

"I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up too high. Even if we can wake her wolf up, after her performance last night, I don't know if she'd even want to stay."

Nathan said nothing to that. He knew he had hurt her badly. She deserved more than a three line email. At the time he told himself that it was what's best for her, swift break and she'd move on. In reality it was for him. He knew if he heard from her then he'd leave his pack. He couldn't afford to do that. His brother was dead, there was a war on, and he would eventually become the next Alpha. Even then it still hurt him to his core. Patrick was right to be worried. He was in a bad way after leaving her, but this time would be different, it had to be.

The next morning he was pouring over the reports from yesterday and trying to see a way he could help. The meetings had been difficult. There was so much that needed to be done but he didn't have the resources to do it. He felt like he should be doing more. He was so absorbed in the reports that he didn't hear the knock, or the door opening.
"You look like hell." Startled he looked up. His shoulder dropped in relief at seeing her. Paige was there healthy and whole. He knew she was from Allen's report but it was hard to believe it without seeing her.

"You gonna invite me in, or should I just stand here in the door." He smiled at her quip. Most people, not even his officers would dare to speak to him like that.

"What happened to deference in public?" He asked.

"There's no one around." She said simply. "No one to see, no one to hear." A slight smile crossed her face.

"I wouldn't be so sure, wolves have excellent hearing." Her smile dropped.

"Of course, Alpha."

"No, Paige,"  He got up and moved from around his desk. "I was teasing. I don't mind."

"But I do, I forgot about your better hearing. I forgot they would hear." His smile fell at that. Of course his officers and probably her family had heard everything she said to him in her home. Knowing how private she is, it must have been uncomfortable for her.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, "Please, come in." She entered the room and he closed the door behind her. He gestured to the couch for her to sit but she gave him a look and sat in the chair in front of his desk. That left him to no choice but to sit back at his desk. He frowned slightly. It was too much space between them, she probably did that on purpose. He was disappointed but he would respect her wishes. She just stared at him, not saying anything. It looked like she was trying to decide where to start. If she wanted to say something or not. He grew uncomfortable under her gaze. "You wanted to talk?" He asked. That seemed to wake her, she shook her head slightly as if to get her mind back of track.

"Yes," She cleared her throat. "You need to drop the protection. I don't need it and I'm sure your people, let alone your gamma, have better things to do." He sat quietly for a moment considering what to say. Balancing his desire to keep her safe with his desire to win her back. Having someone with her would keep her safe but just push her further away. She hated to feel caged in and protection would do just that. When he didn't say anything she said, "I can take care of myself."

"A broken wrist in Borneo would beg to differ." He smirked.

"The fact that I punched out an Alpha would win that argument." She looked like she was struggling to keep a smile off her face.

"One, I wasn't an Alpha then and two, I was drunk, so I wouldn't get so cocky if I were you."

The stared off at each other, neither one willing to move, just like they had many times before.

"Fine, I'll pull the protection." He said. "But, if you leave town boundaries, you take someone with you."  The thought of her hurting herself on a mountain sent shivers down his spine.

"One of your people or just any wolf?" She asked. He wanted to say one of his people but instead,

"Any wolf will do. It's always smarter to travel in pairs." She glared at him and he smiled. It was what he'd say when he said he'd come with her anytime she'd want to go off and do something the rest of the group didn't. He knew she could take care of herself, he just wanted to be around her as much as possible.

"Fine."

"Fine."

They sat there and continued to stare at each other. He could tell there was something more she wanted to say but didn't know how. He was happy to sit and wait for as long as she needed. He was happy just to be in the same room as her. She opened and closed her mouth a few times.

"I had dinner with Dorothea and James last night." That was not what he expected her to say. Dorothea was one of his Dawn Guard. An elite unit that handled special operations. James was a medic. It was a rare dynamic the two had, usually roles like theirs were reversed, but the two had made it their own. Dorothea was a fierce warrior and even fiercer protector of James, though he didn't need it they worked well together. Nathan had become quite close with the two of them, many questioned the unconventionality of it but they never let it bother them and neither did he.

"You know Dorothea and James?" He asked, brow furrowed.

"They were my closest friends in high school." He nodded, of course he would have become close to her best friends from high school. He tried to hold it in but his jealously got the better of him.

"Were you and James ever..." He let the question hang. She snorted, amused by his ill concealed jealously.

"No, he only had eyes for Betty back then." He said nothing, he didn't want know if he'd be able to keep his voice neutral. She took a deep breath, "They said your brother died, about the time..." It was her turn to let the question hang.

"About the time I left you in Bali?" he finished. "It's okay you can say it. Goddess above knows I don't deserve to hide from this any longer." She didn't say anything, she had a look on her face he couldn't quite place. Anger, but also sadness, maybe a bit of pity. He didn't like her looking at him like that. Looking down he cleared his throat, "Uh yeah, he did. I got the news that he was injured and left right away but he died before I could make it home." She just nodded again, her face turning pensive.

She didn't move from the chair. He thought that maybe she wanted to hear more from him. "Paige, I never-"

"Okay." She stood quickly, cutting him off. "Thank you, Alpha." She hurried out the door, leaving him behind.