Alx's P.O.V

Returning to the house, I find them both sitting a the dining room table. Staring at their coffee that has now gone cold. Sitting between them, I just watch them for a moment. Neither of them make any attempt to move or speak. They just sit there silently. 

"Shayla?" I ask, turning my head to her. 

Her head pops up. Looking at me, she tilts her head slightly. informing me that she's listening. 

"Could you please leave us for a moment?"

Her eyes dart between Chris and me. Taking a deep breath in she nods. With a sigh, she reluctantly leaves.

With her out of the room, I turn to Chris "Explain. I know you not in the best of places right now. but I can't give you a free pass because of that." 

"I-I had to do it. I ha-" trying to justify his actions. His eyes still fixed on the table

"You lied to me." cutting him off.

"I know. I'm sor-"

I'm not looking for an apology "You lied straight to my face." cutting him off again.

"I knew that you wouldn't agree. I didn't have any other options."

Didn't have any other options? Bullshit. "If she had taken a wrong turn she would be dead."

His head shot up in a fury. "You think I don't know that?!" Looking back at the table, he grabs a fist full of his hair. "I-I thought that she was safe. I thought cuffing her to the chair would be enough. And even if it wasn't, I didn't think that she would be able to pass me. But she did."

He cuffed her? He fucking cuffed her. "You cuffed her?! Seriously?! She can pick locks. You know that!"

"I didn't think she had the tools to!"

"I don't care what you thought, Chris. Couldn't give a shit! One wrong move. One. That's it. And she could be dead. Why don't you understand that? So, not only did you lie to me. But you also knowingly put her in a dangerous situation. And then you chased her around town like she was an escaped prisoner. How the hell do you think that looked? What do you think would have happened if someone had decided to assist you? Huh?" I borderline yell at him, completely losing my cool.

He opens and closes his mouth in shock. Unable to give me an answer, he holds his head down in silence.

"I can't have you endangering my pack members like that. And I will not tolerate your dishonesty."

He nods, swallowing the log in his throat. "Would you like me to step down Alpha?" Keeping his head down. Not daring to look up at me.

Sighing I run a hand through my hair, trying to calm down. "No."

In his shock, he looks up at me.

"I still value you greatly. But you have hindered the trust I had in you. You will have to work to regain it." I state honestly.

For fucks sake Chris why did you do something so stupid. You put my mate in danger. You insured me of her safety. And I believed you. Despite my instincts, and my better judgement. I believed you. 

Even if she wasn't my mate. If she got hurt. You would never have forgiven yourself. And I still would have been pissed at you for lying to me. 

"I'm relieving you from your duties for the time being. Don't think this to be a punishment. I'm just giving you some time off to deal with this. When you think you're ready come talk to me. Okay?" 

He glumly nods, his gaze fixed on the table once more.

I find myself sighing again, running a hand through my hair.

What am I suppose to do?

Nothing I say or do is going to comfort him.

Get through this Chris. Just get through this. It's hard. I know it's hard. But you need to get through this.

"I'll be around, okay?" patting his shoulder as I leave the room.

Walking into the kitchen I find Shayla leaning her back against the counter, staring off into space. Walking up to her, I lean on the counter across from her. And I just stand there, silently studying her.

"Hay." Her blue eyes meeting mine before darting away again. Sighing, she looks back up at me. "Coffee?"

"If you don't mind."

Nodding she turns around. Grabbing the kettle, she fills it and puts it on. Sighing she taps her fingers on the counter; in thought about something. "You know what we're going through. You know what it's like. Don't you?" She askes with her back still turned to me. Taking two cups out from the cupboard in front of her. Placing them on the counter.

"What gave it away?" 

"Well, I don't see your mate anywhere." She starts.

Yes, well, a mirror can help you with that. 

"Meaning that you are yet to find them. Your parents would not have stepped down until you had. that leaves me to conclude that they are sadly no longer with us. And I doubt that you would treat Chris like that without knowing what it's like." She finishes, adding sugar and coffee to the cups. 

"How do you know so much about wolves, Shayla? I doubt Chris has told you much." I asked tilting my head.

"How does that saying go?" she asks pouring the milk and the hot water into the cups before mixing them. "For me to know. And for you to... never find out. It's not that important." She simply states, turning around and handing me my coffee. Blank faced. 

Sighing I shake my head. "Doubt that." taking a sip of my coffee knowing that she won't answer me. I'm not bothered enough to get one today. 

"I know I don't have much of a right to ask this, but. I would appreciate it if you weren't so hard on Chris. I was pushing his buttons. And I didn't give him much leeway. If you need someone to be mad at. Be mad at me." she casually asks sipping on her coffee, looking at the ground.

"I am mad at you Shayla. Not very. But I am mad at you." I inform her.

"Then why are you being so nice to me?" looking up at me.

"Chris has responsibilities. You do not. And all things considered, I'm going quite easy on him. He knowingly put you in danger. I can't have that." 

"Why do you care? I've been nothing but trouble for you." she tiredly asks.

"Because I care about you."

She just looks at me confused. Shaking her head she dismisses it. Not bothering to question me more about it. Choosing to act like it hadn't happened.

Staring at the floor, holding her cup up to her face, she seems to be in thought again. "Would you mind sharing that with me one of these days?"

"Sharing what?"

"Would you mind sharing with me how they passed?" She asks sympathetically, looking up at me again.

She wants me to tell her how they passed?
Um.....

For you, Shayla. For you, I will.

"No, I don't mind." I answer calmly.

"One of these days. Not today. I don't have it in me today." She admits tiredly, looking at the ground again.

I hate it when she doesn't look at me. I hate it when she looks at the ground when talking to me.

I'm hit with a wave of sadness. Not just sadness. Pain and anger too.

Taking a step forward. Leaning in a bit. Looking into her eyes, I can see the tears threatening to fall. "Shayla?" I ask getting no reply. "Shayla, are you okay?" reaching my hand out to her.

"Huh?" Looking up at me, returning to reality. "Oh." wiping her eyes. "I let it slip again, didn't I?" putting on a smile.

Let it slip? 

"How much effort do you put into that? Just to make sure that no one knows how you feel. How have you been able to do it all this time?" I ask concerned. Shedding my façade.

She just smiles a sad smile. Turning her back to me, she starts to clean her cup.

"Shayla?"

She doesn't answer.

"Shayla?" moving a little closer.

Putting her cup on the drying board, she leans her arms on the counter. Stopping all movement, she stares off into space."It doesn't go away, does it?" She asks quietly.

"No. It doesn't"