Changes

Four Years Later

Ryan’s POV

            It’s been four years since Henri left. Two of which I spent trying to find her, but it was like she dropped right off the face of the earth. Gideon didn’t care that she left. Well, except for the fact that everyone now has to do their own chores.

            I sigh and slip outside. Shifting as soon as I enter the woods, I start to run along the border. In two weeks, another pack would be coming to help train our younger wolves. Gideon had been too lazy to train them, and when I finally breeched the subject with him, he agreed that it would be best for the pack if we brought someone in to help.

            I slow to a steady walk. The forest was peaceful on most days and I enjoyed the silence. I could let thoughts of Henri run through my mind without having to guard them. Coming up on a small stream, I lower my head and take a swallow. Lying down, I put my head on my paws and close my eyes, letting the peace from the forest wash over me.

            In two weeks the Adelis pack would be here. And they were bringing their best fighter. There were rumors flying around that it was a she-wolf. When Gideon first heard, he laughed. But I believed them. A close friend of mine had seen her in action one day and he said that she was the deadliest wolf he’d ever seen.

            The silence was shattered when Gideon linked with me. Ryan, I need you to come back to the house. I’m about to announce our new Luna.

            So, you finally got around to marking her huh? I couldn’t keep my tone light.  Just get here.  I stand up and slowly make my way back. He didn’t say I had to hurry back now did he?

Henri’s POV

            I was standing in my closet trying to find my running shoes. Spotting them behind one of my bags, I reach for them. A hot flash of pain in my neck made me cry out. Biting my lip, I try to stay quiet. So, it took him four years to finally mark one of his girls.

            You knew this day would come the moment he rejected us.

            I did. But I was sort of hoping that in the time since then, we would have found our second mate. Then at least there wouldn’t have been any pain when he slept with other girls. Or now, when he marked one of them.

            We’ll find him, don’t give up hope.

            I’m not giving up. But you have to admit, it gets pretty tempting at times. I hear Angel sigh. I felt sorry for her. Her mate rejected her because of me. But I tried to find our second mate. I met with every un-mated wolf in 100 miles, but still no luck. Staying on the floor of my closet, I wait for the pain to stop.

            An hour later, the pain slowed to a dull, throbbing. Slipping my shoes on, I grab my headphones and my iPod. Walking down the stairs, I manage to slip out of the house without being seen. Deciding to stay in my human form, I stretch and slip the headphones on.

            Keeping the music just low enough to where I could hear anyone trying to sneak up on me, I start running. I was about five miles from the pack house when I hit a strange and mouthwatering scent. Chocolate, pine and cedar fill my nose. I came to a dead stop. Turning my iPod off, I slipped it into my pocket. The scent was male, but I knew he wasn’t part of our pack, and he wasn’t rouge either. Deciding to follow his scent, I slip into my stealth mode.

            This guy needed to learn how to hide his scent, I say to myself as I start to get closer to him. I had blocked Angel out, but suddenly I hear her voice. It’s him.

            Him who?

            He’s our second mate.

            And just how do you know this?

            His wolf is calling to me. I swear if wolves could blush, Angel’s face would be red as a tomato. I climbed into an oak and watched as the man sat down and started to pull his shoes off. And then he took his socks. His slips his feet into the lake and just laughs.

            I stay in that tree for several minutes just watching him. Keeping his feet in the water, he lays back and smiles as the sun hits his faces. Chuckling softly, I wait until his eyes close, and then I leap from my hiding spot. I land just behind his head. Because I’m the best, he didn’t even hear me when I landed.

            Listening to his breathing, I can tell that he’s just about asleep. Smiling. I sit down and speak. “You know, most people would have mistaken you for a rouge.” I laugh softly when he yells and jumps to his feet. He glares at me and I just smile.

            “You’re lucky that it was me who stumbled onto your trail. If it had been anyone else,” I say shrugging, “Who knows what they would have done.”

            “How…How did you find me?” His voice was strong, confident and warm. I look up at him and smile again. “You didn’t do that well of a job if you were hiding or masking your scent, bud.” He sits in front of me and I watch him. The sun gave his black hair a blue looking tint, his eyes were naturally black, and his skin looked like burnt copper. He smiled at me and I felt my heart skip a beat.

            “I’m Louis Cruise. Your alpha Derrick and I are old friends.”

            “You mean my brother. And I’m Henri Walker.”

            “Ahh, so you’re the famous warrior I’ve heard so much about. With your name, I was expecting a man.” I laugh softly and he looks at me. “My real name is Henrietta, but I go by Henri.” He nods and smiles again. Taking in a breath of air, his smile gets bigger. “So, you’re not going to reject me?” I ask softly.

            “Why would I want to reject you sweetheart?” I shrug not knowing how to answer. “You’re mine, and I would never reject you, even if it meant my life.” I smile and stand up. “Well, I guess it’s time to let my brothers now.” Louis’s face pales for a second before he stands up and takes my hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll make them be nice to you.” He chuckles dryly as me slowly walk back to the house.