Chapter 2

Kelvin's pov

 “Dammit, have they caught up already?” She whispered just below I her breath but my ears were too sharp to miss it, did this woman have someone after her? That would explain why she was so cautious.

 The moon goddess had led me straight to her, called my wolf to the river bank. But if we were ambushed now I was immediately set at a hard disadvantage protecting her, is she really worth all that trouble?

  My internal conflict temporarily subsided when she subconsciously gripped my fur tighter and a strong resolution to protect her overwhelmed me. I bared my teeth and let out a growl, preparing to pounce and…

“Alpha Kelvin!” A mind link shot through my head like a needle.

 Oh, it was only Tala. A chirpy pack member that had joined Blowing horn pack only a year ago.

A wave of palpable relief washed over me, not because I couldn't hold my own in a fight but protecting someone else while fighting was too much of a headache.

 “Tala, it's too late into the night to be wandering alone,” I thought to her, rogue attacks had become more frequent, a little bit of caution could make a world of difference. 

 She responded with a mind link, “I wasn't, Kael and I were…wait…” she came closer sniffing towards the direction of–oh, I didn't even know her name.

  “Tala, step back, she doesn't like…”

  The woman in my back suddenly slid off, staggering a bit when her feet hit the ground. Tala shifted into her human form rushing to give her a hug.

 “Amelia? It's really you! knew my nose wouldn't deceive me,!”

 So they knew each other?

 Her demeanour completely changed when she was talking with Tala, the edgy defensiveness she had worn more naturally than her own clothes stripped down to release a warm friendliness I didn't know she was capable of.

  She even had a pretty smile, who knew–”Alpha Kelvin! What a relief I’ve found you,” Kael, one of my strongest warriors, appeared and shot Tala a look, “Tala I told you not to run off when you're on and you were supposed to alert me if you saw–”

 His attention drifted over to the woman I rescued, “Who is she?”

 Considering the circumstances, asking that question was not out of place still I didn't like how his eyes were all over her as he did so, I stepped between them lowering my eyes to meet Kael’s.

 “She's my guest,” I gave him my answer in the mind link since I was still in my wolf form.

 “O-okay, Alpha Kelvin,” he back peddled, clearly reading between the lines.

 “Why are you Tala wandering about looking for me anyways?”

 “Oh, right, something happened back at the pack. There's…”

  Amelia let out a strained breath and I mentally face palmed myself. I'd forgotten that she must be shivering even under my shirt. I postponed any conversation about the ‘emergency’ and rushed her to the pack.

 “Tala, show her a spare room and take care of her,” Tala nodded easily, taking Amelia up the stairs, Amelia paused midway and turned to me.

 “Thanks,”

She said it like she was spitting out rotten food but I'll give her the benefit of doubt and blame the cold.

 “Alright, Kael, what's the emergency?” I asked, facing him, my expression growing serious.

“He's here, the Alpha of Sky heap, Ryder Vendenburg,”

“What?!” I barked out.

 Ryder and I were acquaintances at best, our territories were close to each other which meant that we became familiar with each other even though I would have preferred if we didn't.

 He always gave me this off putting vibe that I could never shrug off.

 “Where is he exactly?” I asked Kael, the response I got was that he was waiting in the sitting room. I hurried there and he was helping himself to a drink the servants probably provided.

 “Kelvin, I was getting bored waiting for you,” calling each other by our title was not necessary since we were of the same rank and Ryder always took full advantage of this even though we weren't close.

 “Ryder,” I began coolly, “It seems I missed the memo that you'd be paying me such a late night visit,” I said, settling on the couch opposite his, those shifty eyes of his followed me till I was settled.

 “Don't be so uptight, Kelvin, do good friends have to send messages beforehand all the time before they visit?” He gave me that smirk of his that almost never failed to make my skin crawl.

 “You're right,”I agreed with him easily, “friends don't. So why are you here?”

 A good portion of his smile dissolved which I enjoyed, then he straightened up and helped himself to another glass of wine.

 “There's something I've been looking for, I don't know if you could help me find it,” He said, staring at the glass like he was waiting for consent to drink from it.

“Do you think you could help me out?”

 “No,” I deadpanned.

 I thought he'd press on it but he was surprisingly unperturbed. To think he came all the way here at this time for a refusal I could have given him over the phone without having to see his face.

 He got up, brushing his hands over his suit.

 “Contact me if you ever change your mind,” He got up, about to leave but I signaled the guards at the door to stop him.

 He looked back, “Is this your way of saying you still want to talk?” He said, his smile finding its way back to his face.

I sighed, “Next time, send a message beforehand or else I'll assume that it's an invasion of my territory,”

 “So that means you want me to pay you more visits?”

 I didn't give him another response and just waved to the guards to let him pass. Ryder was no fool even though he did his best to act like one, and he'd come here for a reason.

 Just what the heck was that bastard after?