Alx's P.O.V.

Returning to the house I find Shayla in the lounge. Sitting on the couch, leaning on the armrest. Writing in her notebook. She looks up at me a little startled. No. That's not quite the right word. But I don't know what the right word is. More like she was ready to jump into action. 

Her being softened, seeing that it's me. "Please use the bell. It's unsettling when someone just walks in when you know the door is locked." She explains with a quiet voice. 

Yes, I suppose it would be.

"Sorry. Why are you being quiet?" matching her tone.

"Chris is asleep." 

"Uh." Nodding "Perfect." Sitting down right beside her. No longer having a reason not to. 

Shayla goes stiff.

"What's wrong?" Turning to face her. 

"Um..." She trails off. Eyes locked on me place beside her.

Oh. I find myself smiling again. She's nervous. I make her nervous. "I'm just sitting next to you Shayla. There's no reason for you to be nervous." leaning back into the couch, trying to bight down my grin.

"Aha." still stiff in her spot.

I huff a laugh. I really have been able to get through that thick extra of her's. "Coffee?" I ask turning to face her again. Coffee is bound to get her attention. 

And sure enough, it does. Her eyes meet mine before darting away again. "Please."

Laughing I get up and make us some coffee. 

Handing Shayla her coffee, I sit back down next to her.

"Thank you." taking a sip of her coffee. No longer stiff. But not quite herself either.

"Shayla. Please. There's no reason for you to act any differently." I plead. No longer finding it amusing.

"Sorry." looking at the ground. Shaking her head she looks up at me. Her blue eyes meeting mine. 

That's better.

"Um, yeah. Sorry about that. You probably don't know this. No, you definitely don't know this. But I'm actually quite shy at times." She explains. Seaming to be herself again.

That makes me laugh. She's got to be joking. 

Shayla. Shy. Impossible.

"Shhh." Placing her finger in front of her lips. Reminding me that Chris is still asleep.

"Sorry, forgot. But there's no way you're shy, Shayla." Shaking my head.

"Well, I am. But I don't particularly like people knowing that. So, I've gotten good at hiding it."

Looks like you've gotten good at hiding many things, Shayla.

"And as you can see. It comes out when I'm faced with situations I'm not used to." She explains plainly, taking a sip of her coffee.

"So, you're shy?" tilting my head at her.

"Yes." She nods.

"Shayla. The girl that stands her ground when faced with an out of control Alpha. Is shy?" I ask in disbelief.

"Yes." emphasising the word to further get her point across.

I feel a smile cross my face. Could it just be me?

"What you smiling at?" Giving me a questioned look.

Putting down both her coffee and my own, I inch closer to her. She leans back a bit in confusion. 

I lean in, making her go stiff again. "So, tell me." Moving my face closer to her ear, I just stay there for a moment. "Am I the only one that makes you nervous?" I whisper in her ear. Making her jump. making me grin.  

Sitting straighter, I see that her face is red. I made her blush. "Red is diffidently your colour." I state plain-faced. leaning back into the couch still facing her.

She tilts her head at me confused.

I stroke her cheek with my hand.

And it clicks.

"Alx." Telling me off. Pushing my hand away.

"OK, ok. I'll stop." smiling yet again. "So, how are you?" 

"I'm fine." She answers. Making me sigh.

I thought we would be over this. "I know you're not, Shayla." looking into her eyes.

"Why bring you down by telling you otherwise?" Returning my gaze.

"I'm your mate, Shayla. I need to know these things." stroking her hand.

"It isn't that easy." looking off into space.

 I just study her for a moment, still stroking her hand. Wondering where she's drifted off to.

What are you hiding from me, mate?

"Shayla." calling her back.

"Hmm?" her eyes meeting mine again.

"How did they pass?"

Her jaw clenches as she looks away from me. Not wanting to back there.

But I know all too well that this isn't the easiest of tasks I'm asking of her.

"Would it be easier if I went first?" stroking her cheek again.

She's drawn back a bit, but nods.

After taking in a deep breath and letting it go slowly, I nod. "May I hold you? This isn't easy for me either."

Going stiff again she looks at me, then at the ground in thought. Looking back up at me, she studies me for a moment. And she nods.

Smiling, I open my arms.

Still a bit hesitant, she takes her time. Leaning her head on my chest, she gets comfortable. "Is this ok?" 

"More than ok." I confirm, wrapping my arms around her. "Where do I start?" I ask myself needing another moment to prepper "It was their anniversary. They took a holiday to celebrate. They had run me through all the basics so, I could run the pack while they were gone. They thought it would be good practice for when I did take over. Little did they know that I would be taking over much sooner than they had thought." needing to stop for a moment. "They, unfortunately, caught some attention while they were away." Taking a deep breath. " Rouges attacked and killed them" needing to stop again. "No one knew it at the time. I felt off. I felt like something was missing. But I ignored it. I finally thought I mind-link them. But I couldn't. So, I call them. And when I got no answer, I knew something had happened. I went looking for them. I found their mutilated bodies in a ditch. Thrown in like trash." Remembering it all like it was yesterday.

Lifting her head, Shayla gives me a sympathetic look. For some reason, it makes me feel like she not only understands. But feels my pain too. No, not even that. But as if she was there with me.

"How old were you?"

"13"

She shakes her head "Do you know why they did it?" holding my hand.

"A rival pack had granted them entry. Given that they complete the task." 

"You fought them, didn't you?" She asks seaming to already know the answer.

I don't want you to see me like that Shayla.

"It's ok. I would have done the same." happy to leave it at that.

No, you can't leave it at that. You want her to open up to you. You want her to tell you everything. No matter how big or small. You must do the same. She needs to know this part of you just as much as the rest of you.

"That pack is no longer in existence, Shayla." Looking down in shame. "I'm not proud of it, Shayla. We took innocent lives that day. But I was young. Stupid. And full of rage. I needed to prove to my people that I was the Alpha they needed." stuck in my thoughts.

"Alx." Calling me back.

Looking at her, I'm met only with an understanding gaze. But that doesn't stop me from worrying.

"Don't think of me any differently, Shayla, please?" I plead

"Why would I?" tilting her head at me "You did what you thought was right at the time. I'm in no place to judge, Alx."

Sighing in relief, I pull her in for a hug. But that reminds me why I'm telling her all this. Letting go, I give her a look telling her I haven't forgotten.

Her eyes dart between my faecal fetchers. Trying to decide whether to tell me or not

I rub her shoulder. Trying to encourage her. Trying to convey that I'm trustworthy. That I'm ready to listen. And that I'm here for her. 

Shayla looks down for a moment, before meeting my eyes again. She's made her decision. She takes a breath to prepper herself. Repositioning herself, Shayla lays her head on my lap, looking up at me, draping her legs over the armrest. 

I give her a questioned look. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind it. Quiet the opposite. But it is still unexpected.

"It's harder for me to run like this." She answers.

I smile down at her. She's trying. She's trying for me.

Taking another breath, she looks off into the distance. Trying to put what happened into words. "For the most part, it was just like any other day. The security company was having staffing issues and couldn't take the float. So, mom and dad brought it home. But this wasn't completely out of the ordinary. It use to be a common occurrence. So, I didn't give it much thought. As the night went on. Everything seemed normal. I got a call from my friend Jess. So, I sat outside. Not wanting to bother them while they were still working. Halfway through our conversation, I heard a yell. I ran back inside. An- And I." She stops having to fight back the tears. Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes.

I hate to do this to you, Shayla. I really do. I hate seeing you like this. But I need to know. 

After swallowing the log in her throat, she opens her eyes. "I ran back inside. And I saw my fathers limp body fall to the ground after having his throat slit. I saw my mother's lifeless eyes still pleading for help." Taking a few more breaths as a tear escapes her eye. "I grabbed the closest thing to me, being a wooden chair. And I lashed out on the two intruders. Killing them in the end. Dad never liked neighbours. So, one came to our aid. But no one came to theirs either."