---Nick's POV---
I was still in the bathroom, plucking at the feathers in my hair. Saturday-morning and those damned feathers wouldn't budge. A giggle coming from the door told me that I wasn't alone anymore and I curled my lip in annoyance, growling slightly at Paige, who was biting her lip before she smiled innocently at me.
"Damn you Paige. My hair still looks like a chicken nestled in it!" I scowled at her before I returned my stare at the mirror, viciously yanking at the feathers before I yanked at a piece of hair, causing me to growl again.
"Sorry, I have only hit you with the pillow...twice. Who knew the feathers would cling to your hair like that?" she said while she tried to look everywhere except my hair. I turned around to look her in the eyes.
"And what about what you said yesterday?" I said before I continued in a girly, high-pitched voice, trying to imitate hers, "Just go to sleep, they will fall out when you wake up tomorrow morning."
An amused grin spread over her face while she replied, "Well, I didn't think that you would actually believe me, Bro." she smirked at my fuming glare before I turned back to the mirror and sighed.
Obviously those feathers weren't going to come out any time soon, especially with the massive case of bed head I was sporting. My hair was tangled all around the blasted feathers!
Her fingers slid through my hair, removing the feathers they encountered. "I'll make it up to you." Her voice waved from behind me. "I'll make your hair feather free and you can tag along when I go to Kristofferson's ranch." I huffed, secretly happy that I could come along with her.
"Fine!" I playfully snapped at her and her giggle warmed my heart. I really missed talking to Paige; she always knew what to say to put your mind at ease. I was slightly shocked when Jacob contacted everyone yesterday to tell us that his command didn't exist anymore.
But Paige didn't know that and I was going to keep it a secret. She would find out during school, when the guys surprised her.
"Is Paige ready?" Luke's calm voice waved through my thoughts and I quickly replied "Yes sir...after she makes sure I no longer resemble a chicken shifter." Luke slightly chuckled in response before he complied.
I looked up at Paige, who had a knowing glance over her eyes while she smiled at me. Lightly shaking my head, I informed her that the Alpha was here and she darted towards her room before she came back in a worn set of jeans and a singlet, covered with a black cardigan.
"Come on! Kris doesn't like to wait!" she exclaimed before she started to pull me with her. I laughed before I tensed my muscles so I stopped her dead in her tracks. Paige turned around and glared at me before a wicked smile shot over her face.
She yanked at my arm with inhuman strength, surprising me, which caused me to lose my footing. I heard her teasing laugh before she disappeared and I ran after her but stopped when she skidded to a halt in front of Luke.
He was waiting for Paige in the hallway, talking to Dad before he noticed us. "Ah, my featherless son has arived!" he joked, causing Paige to smother a laugh behind her hands. I glared at her and she winked at me before she walked towards the closet and picked a pair of shoes out.
When she stood up again I looked at her Nikes for a moment before I raised a brow towards her. Paige just shrugged before she explained "Running around in cowboy-boots isn't something for me."
She pushed me towards the car while she received an amused smile of Luke before he came after us. We finally arrived at the ranch after a 20-minute drive and we stepped out of the car before we were greeted by the typical scent of horses, along with a young voice that chirped "Paice!"
Luke and I shared a confused look while an four-year old ran towards us. Who or what was 'Paice?" Paige smiled at the girl before the kid bumped against her legs and hugged them tightly.
"Paice, pops said you got hurt." The kid whimpered with a frown, her lip slightly trembling. Again with the Paice, what...Oh! Understanding flooded through me while I looked back and forth between Paige and the young girl. The kid obviously meant Paige but mispronounced her name.
Paige bowed down until she was as the same height as the kid and said, "Pop was right but I'm all better now, so don't you worry about me Chloe." Paige nudged Chloe slightly, mumbling, "Go find Pop, alright?" before she stood up.
Chloe ran off as fast as her little legs could carry her while she yelled, "Pop!" nonstop, disappearing into the main house of the ranch. I looked at Paige with a playful smile on my face.
"Never knew that you were that good with kids Paige." I teased and I was rewarded with a small blush on her face while Luke coughed, covering up his laugh. Paige slightly shook her head before she mumbled something under her breath. I only caught onto "her soul."
I frowned while I crossed my arms in front of me. "Excuse me?" I said, hoping that she would elaborate. She did after a deep sigh. "Children have the purest of souls. Being what I am," she said with a pointed look at me, "I can see it through her eyes. My kind believes that no harm, in any way, should ever come over a child. Especially at this young age."
Her face fell for a moment while she mumbled "Another reason why my parents left." Before she turned away.
We were interrupted by the shouts of Chloe, announcing her return along with a deep voice saying, "What are you all doing on my land?"
---Paige's POV---
I looked up when I heard Kristofferson's signature deep voice and I saw the amused glance in his eyes before he returned his gaze towards Nick. "Speak up son, I'm not getting any younger now, am I?" he said while he leaned on his cane.
Nick flushed slightly before he started mumbling incoherently. I laughed before I walked towards Kris and gave him a sideways hug. "Good to see you old-timer." I joked and he laughed before he poked me with his cane.
"I told you before and I'll tell you again Paige: You take way too many risks. Like your wound for instance!" he pointed at my ribs with his cane in agitated anger before he took a deep breath to calm himself. I took a step back while I laughingly said "Well, I'm not the one who tried to ride a young stallion with a limp leg...putting the saddle on backwards."
Kris laughter roared over the fields and I smiled at him. He was a tease and he loved it when people would tease him back. He calmed down quickly and he smiled at Luke and Nick before he held his old, wrinkly hand out.
"How can I help you two fine sods on a day like this?" he politely asked them and Luke raised his eyebrow slightly, probably not used to be called 'a fine sod.'
"We were here to look after Paige." He quickly lied while he glanced at me, warning me not to interrupt. "After that knife incident, her parents didn't want to leave her alone." He finished and Kris nodded his head while he muttered, "well, good luck with that. I can't keep up with her and I've been through a war, son!"
I smiled at him before I asked, "Now, about this stud you've bought?" referring to his so-called Soldier Boy. He smiled before he pointed at Chloe, who was looking up at me with adoration in her eyes.
"That there's the reason why I bought that young stallion. Every time she gives me that look, I just melt away!" he said, only half-joking while Chloe giggled loudly. He then sighed and pointed at the enormous corral that was connected with one of the stables. "He's in there. But be careful Hon', it's a fighter!"
I nodded before I went into the stable, leaving the others outside. Right now, I needed to focus on the horse. At first I hoped that he had bought a filly, but it turned out that it was an enormous, fully mature and rather territorial stallion that held its head up proudly. "Crap." I muttered, "This is going to be a long day."
Leaving the doors open, I slid against the wall while I circled around the stallion. He watched me closely, nervously eying every move before he scraped his hoof over the floor, pawing it viciously.
I inhaled deeply, letting all my senses free before I glanced back at the horse. He was standing with his back slightly turned at me, facing the door. I needed to get him to the corral first and I needed him there fast. So I let out a wolf growl, causing the stallion to spook and run towards the sunlight.
Quickly following him, I locked the doors behind me while I kept my eyes at the horse. If he kept acting like this it would be easy for me. My thoughts didn't have time to disappear because the stallion turned tails and ran towards me. I quickly ran to the edge of the corral, slipping between the wooden poles while Boy grinded to a halt behind me, churning up a cloud of dust.
"You're fast Paice!" Chloe chirped and I smiled at her before I climbed up the corral and sat down.
---Luke's POV---
Both Nick and I heard a distinctive low wolf growl, but it was inhumanly low. We glanced at each other before a black stallion darted out of the stable, quickly followed by Paige. She closed off his exit and stared at the horse, her green eyes were even more brilliant.
It charged at her and she dodged it by sliding out of the corral before that small girl ran up towards her and remarked Paige's speed, what caused her to smile while she climbed on top of the coral and sat on one of the beams, keeping her eyes on the horse.
We cautiously walked over to her but she didn't budge. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't hear us coming. Kristofferson slowly followed while he smiled lightly at the sight in front of us.
Paige had picked Chloe up after a long string of pleads and now held her firmly in her arms while the stallion was running back and forth, lashing out with its hind legs at times.
I was surprised when Kris smiled while asked, "What does he tell you?" while he pointed at the horse with his chin. Chloe giggled and I couldn't keep the smile of my face. She reminded me a lot of Alexis. God, I loved that child.
Chloe's voice pulled me out of my thought while she said, "Pop, horses can't talk!" Kris smile grew wider while he glanced at us but we shrugged our shoulders, letting him know that we didn't believe it either. He snorted before he said, "Sure they can, you just need to listen to em. Well, she can hear him just fine..." While he looked at Paige.
I glanced at Paige, slightly confused at what he meant. Her eyes never left the horse while it slowly calmed down, stepping around in the corral while it occasionally stopped and looked at us.
Chloe pulled at Paige's hair to get her attention while she asked, "Well, what does Boy tell you?" She looked down and smiled at the child before she glanced at us, her eyes lingering on me while a questioning look filled them. She apparently knew why I tagged along and she was wondering if I was ready for it. I slightly nodded at her, indicating that she could continue.
Although she wasn't a part of the pack yet, she treated me with the respect that an Alpha should receive. I smiled internally, thinking about how lucky Jacob was for finding a girl like this for his mate. My mood instantly vanished when I realized that he practically wiped his feet on their bond before kicking it to the curb.
"Well, what do you see?" Paige's voice cut through my inner turmoil and I slowly calmed back down while we looked at her. The child in her arms shrugged and Paige continued while she pointed at the horse.
"Look how he holds his head high, how he stretches his legs when he gallops and his stance when he stands still." Paige said, giving us a look through her eyes while we followed her lead and observed the young stallion that pranced around while he neighed loudly at the mares in the paddock.
As the mares flickered their ears and tilted their heads, the stallion reared up, clawing at the air with its hooves before darting through the coral in a show of speed and power.
Paige continued, but this time she sounded like she was talking as if she was the horse. "I am a proud stallion. I am strong, healthy, have endurance and you cannot break me that easily. Mares look at me when I appear and other stallions know better than to challenge me. Don't even think about riding me because I'll kick you off and just run you over before you have a chance of getting on your feet."
Kristofferson's laugh filled the air, along with Nick's while I glanced at Paige, her eyes filling with knowledge. Nick teased her while he laughed "Sounds like someone's in love." He smirked and Paige chuckled with him before she turned her gaze on us. Then she looked at Kris, who nodded at her.
"Fine, fine, I get the hint. I'm old, but I know when you need me to get going." He muttered while he stood up. Chloe jumped down and ran towards him while she firmly grasped his hand between her own little ones. Kristofferson looked up at our slightly confused faces and he laughed.
"Paige says that she can't focus when the horse's owner is watching over her shoulder, which I have to agree on." He explained while Nick smiled mischievously at Paige. We knew the real reason. "Plus, this one can't stop those never-ending questions of her." Kris finished while poking Chloe in the ribs.
"Bye, Bye Paice! Be nice!" Chloe yelled while she ran towards the house, followed by her grandfather. Both Nick and I turned around towards Paige, waiting for an explanation.
---Paige's POV---
I shifted my weight under their burning gazes. "I might accidently shift when I learn the new form, so it's safer that way." I mumbled before I looked back at the horse.
I felt Nick's warmth next to me while he placed his arms over the top beam of the corral. He was looking at the horse while he asked, "Well, what are you going to do?" I turned my gaze on the horse before I replied. "It needs to trust humans, so it would be better if I could learn its form quickly."
I jumped down into the pen while Nick asked again "Why?" Slowly walking towards the stallion, I said, "Then I can just tell him what he can and can't do." Looking at the stallion, I tried to figure out what he was thinking. He was a solid black stallion, having two small white socks on his front legs and a larger one that ended on his knee at his left hind-leg.
It was prancing around, showing off a little while he would vigorously bob its head up and down. I took another step and he neighed loudly, clawing with his hooves in the air. "Careful Paige. Do you even know what you're doing?" Nick mumbled, earning him a hard glare from both Luke and I. I looked him in the eye before I placed a finger on my lips.
Thankfully, he kept his mouth shut while I sat down and observed the stallion. Suddenly he came charging towards me but I refused to move. He blocked his hind legs, skidding to a stop a few steps away before he bolted away. "You're a bluffer." I mumbled while I felt someone's gaze boring in my back.
When the stallion ran beside me, I jumped up and followed it. Effortlessly keeping up, it dodged me and bolted for the other end, trying to keep away from me. I followed him, stretching my arms beside me when he was cornered and slowly walked towards him.
He started to shriek while he clawed into the ground, jumping on its hind legs and pawed the air in front of him. It was clear that the horse was panicking, the white of his eyes visible while he rolled them around, trying to find an escape. I stopped my movements and stood my ground, letting the horse calm down. "But you fight when you need to." I spoke before I turned around and walked to the center.
I sat down and closed my eyes, letting my other senses take over. I heard a few soft neighs coming from where I left the stallion but I ignored him. He needed to trust me. And he wouldn't do that if I kept pushing myself in his personal bubble. He needed to come to me.
The sound of hooves on sand told me that he was moving around before he stopped, standing slightly behind me.
"You only know how to fight or flight. It's in your blood. Trusting someone however..." I trailed off while I opened my eyes. I had almost grasped its identity. Just a little further... Slowly turning around to look at the horse, I made sure that I didn't make a sudden movement that would scare it off.
He was looking at me; sweat staining his black fur while sand clung to the wet spots. His ribcage was expanding and collapsing slowly before he took a few hesitant steps towards me. I smiled while I noticed that both Luke and Nick were keeping a close eye on me. "Your natural curiosity eventually gets the better of you, causing you to trust me whenever you're ready." I softly said while the stallion stared at me.
After a few moments, it slowly walked up to me, letting out a soft neigh before he pushed its soft nose against my forehead.
Images started to rush in my head, along with the horse's 'voice'. We run to live another day. We only fight when others are trying to steal away mares or when our foals are in danger. We run because we are free. Our trust is fragile and it needs to be reestablished every day.
I shuddered when he pulled his nose away. The knowledge was filling my veins and my senses heightened to a new level. I almost felt more than alive; I could feel the blood pumping around in my body while I tried to get used with these new feelings.
And then I couldn't take it anymore; I had to shift. So without any explanation, I jumped to my feet and leaped forwards, landing on the ground as a horse. I heard Nick and Luke gasp behind me and I tried to look straight at them.
Turned out that I had a blind spot behind me, and a tiny one just in front of my nose. But the vision around me! I could see everything that happened to my sides, right up until the edge of my hind legs. Standing was also a new feeling because I had to have at least two of my legs on the ground, spreading my weight.
I ran around for a while to get used to the feeling while the stallion chased after me, trying to get my attention. Running up towards Nick and Luke, I shifted halfway and rolled under the bars while the stallion screeched to a halt, looking slightly disappointed.
Lying on the ground while breathing heavily, I shook my slightly damp hair out of my eyes while I picked myself up. Luke surprised me by pulling me on my feet with an appreciative smile on his face.
"I don't say this often, but you impressed me Paige. You stood your ground and learned that horse's form in what, ten minutes?" he said, his voice slightly filling with awe and respect for me. "I would like to train you and help you with learning other forms." He said and I stared at him dumbfounded before I nodded. I blushed heavily while I looked to the ground, blushing even harder when Nick's laugh rolled over the plains.
He hugged me sideways while we walked towards the house to tell Kristofferson that I would come back to make sure that the stallion was saddle-trained. For now, it was 'tamed' enough.
---Kale's POV---
I gritted my teeth while I paced through the room, anger burning me up. How was it possible that we couldn't find out anything about Paige's past? She was starting to get under my nerves. Even more than that: she was becoming an obsession to me.
When I've send word to Rio, letting the headquarters know that I needed information about this girl, I told Damon to look around for clues for who and what she might be. It was unnatural that she was accepted by the pack that quickly.
We realized the truth quickly when Jacob started to bully her away from the rest of them. She was his mate, it had to be, and it was the only logical explanation for his behavior. Memories came back to me; I laughed out loud when Damon told me of is findings before we made a plan to kidnap her.
It would have been simple, because the pack didn't protect her. One of the younger hunters, Mike, volunteered to make a group that would collect Paige from the forest and bring her to my mansion, southwest of here. And there... ooh, there I would have my fun with her.
But now I was fuming because, one; she had been protected by her adoptive brother, causing us to lose both Paige and a lot of our men and two; she didn't die from the poison in her veins like I hoped.
A hesitant knock on the door echoed through my office and I clenched my teeth together while Damon walked in, dragging a bruised and battered Mike along with him. As soon as he saw me, he desperately tried to wriggle out of Damon's grasp but he just flung the kid against the desk.
I smiled evilly as I stalked towards Mike, who paled instantly while his lips were trembling. "P-please, I d-didn't know..." he pleaded while he sank on his knees. I leaned down until I was at the same height, staring him in the eye without any expression on my face.
"I asked you to bring Paige to me, alive." I said while I grasped the hem of his t-shirt and pulled him up before I pushed him against the desk. "I strictly remember that I urged you that the team could NOT be spotted by anyone of the pack." I continued in a low, dangerous voice while Mike was stuttering, trying to explain.
Clamping my hand over his mouth, I slowly applied more pressure on the wounds in his face. My lip slightly curled when he groaned in pain before I released him. He fell in a trembling heap of fear, afraid to look up at me.
"But now," I whispered, causing him to look up while his eyes widened even more, " you came in to tell me that the group failed and that you chickened out." I shook my head slowly before I leaned against the wall behind me. I pushed my hands in my pockets while I said "You left me with nothing."
"What to do, what to do..." I mumbled softly while I looked at Mike, who was shaking like a leaf by now. He started to plead again while I pulled out one of my own silver daggers and turned it around, catching it mid-air before I flipped it back up.
"I-I can... I'll make it up! I-I swear... Please, Kale-" he stopped when I took a step forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, gently helping him up. "I know you can..." I sighed and Mike's face lid up with hope...
Before he gasped when he felt the dagger had slit his throat open while I finished "But I honestly don't give a shit!" I dropped him on the floor, stepping over his bleeding body and snapped at Damon "Clean this mess up! And then call the others here."
Walking back towards my desk, I sat down while a plan formed in my head. It seemed that the future Alpha's mate was a little too far out of our league. So for now, I would settle with setting the bar a little lower.
I wondered if Luke protected his precious little Alexis as well as he used to?
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top