Her Savior Alpha
Chapter 50

Archer

It took everything in me to convince Vera not to go to Mount Hunter. We argued so much about it, but my heart only waited to keep her safe. If anything happened to Vera I had no idea what I would do. I found myself denying the fact I was in love with her. The feeling snuck up on me ever so quietly like a thief in the night. One morning I looked at Vera admiring the shimmer of reflection on her head and decided right then and there she was the wolf for me. We might not have been mates which I was so harshly reminded about when Reily’s hand got cut off, but we had a bond that continued to grow day by day. Pressure was mounting for me to express my feelings, they were hard to hold in. I wanted to fly them free like a kite and express the deep love I’d had for her since the first time I laid eyes on her.

I made us both some coffee thinking I could work on coercing her to Beartown even though I didn’t want to, hell I didn’t even know if I could. Her Lycan would put a stop to it. I waited for the water to boil on the stove as I ruminated on her Lycan. If her Lycan was so smart, would it not know I was talking to Sigmund. Maybe Vera and her wolf weren’t that smart. I poured the water letting the coffee granules dissolve in the water thinking it was a good life to have with her. A quiet life with no hassles. Why did I need to bring my father Vera? Why must he fight all the time? Was it truly necessary? What had war solved?

I heard a large yawn from the back room smiling to myself knowing the ray of sunshine even with her raven black hair would make her way to the kitchen any minute now.

“Ahh good morning. You’re up before me. This is new. You’re usually the one to sleep in.” She was all behead hair and sultry siren with her sharp emerald eyes. My heart started to beat fast as I quickly handed her the coffee. As soon as her sweet lips hit the rim of the cup I wished it was me that were touching hers. She smiled up at me innocently with a slight squint as the sun illuminated her beauty.

“I know. I wanted to be up so I could make you a cup of Joe for a change. How are you feeling this morning?”

“I’m feeling okay, I do have a lot to consider, and I’m thinking it’s going to be time for me to head back to Mount Hunter.” Her jade eyes flickered and I could have sworn I saw the distinct glimmer of gold from her wolf. I cast my eyes down, sipping my coffee.

“I thought we talked about this Vera. I don’t think it’s a good idea. I think you should stay here and we should think about making our way to Beartown.”

Now what I thought I saw came to light. The shimmer of gold and bronze dispersed through her pupils like a meteor shower. Her wolf was about to speak to me. I could feel it. “I’m going to do what I see fit Archer. Please don’t try and stop me.” The voice came out sweet, but there was power behind it. Her gaze held ground with mine, but I broke it as I sheepishly sucked down more of my coffee. I simply bobbed my head feeling torn as to what to do next. A shrill noise from the back room gave me the room for a get away as Vera moved back to the couch positioning herself there with her cup in hand.

“Excuse for a minute, I have a call coming through.”

“Is it Clive?” Vera asked expectantly.

“Probably,” I grumbled knowing Vera would be harder than most to lasso into my way of thinking.

I snatched up the angry ringing phone answering with a sharp tongue. “Archer, where is the girl? Why haven’t you brought her to me by now?” My father’s accusatory tone was not one I welcomed. “Patience father, it’s going to take a little more time to get her to see my way. You have to give me some time.” I was about to launch into a song and dance as to why I wasn’t qualified to apprehend one of the most ancient prophesized wolves of all time, but wisdom set in. It was best to let my father unleash and then gather my pride from the floor when he was done.

“Patience? You’ve been there with her for weeks. Are you mad? I want her in my hands soon. I’m counting on you soon. I’ve been waiting for many years for you to step up and show me the courage you have as a wolf. I’m sure you don’t want to let me down. You wouldn’t want to do that would you?”

Scratching my head I drowned in my own sorrowful sigh. My father had an invisible hold over me and I found it hard to cut the cord with him in so many ways.

“I won’t let you down, but you have to understand Vera has a powerful wolf. I can’t just tame her in the way you want.”

“Ah yes, but my son, that’s why I sent you to Mount Hunter for I know you are one of the most cunning maverick wolves of your time. I’m sure you can do it. It’s why the assignment was given to you, and not Claude.” I hated that my chest filled with pride as my father breathed life into me. Why was I so stuck on his validation when it was clear I didn’t need it. A another timeline of my me and Vera running alongside one another in the forest skipped into my mind. The sunflowers were a golden yellow and I picked one between my teeth and gave it to Vera. “Son! Are you listening to me?”

“I am. I’m listening to you, I’m sorry. Thank you for trusting me. Just another couple of days and things will be back on track.”

“Not good enough. Get her on track now. Dane, that prick of a wolf will be plotting as we speak. He cannot get to her before I do. You have no idea of the sickness of the man.”

I twisted on the spot remembering the hate locked in Dane’s cold-as-ice pupils. “Yes, trust me I do remember.”

“Then, hurry! I have to go. I have a pack meeting to conduct and I will be telling them of the news of your arrival, Lycan in hand.”

“My father really knew how to apply the pressure when he wanted to. I pressed end call to see a raven haired beauty with her face framed like a dark waterfall and emerald pools looking through me.

I jumped as the phone bounced onto the bed. “What will you be getting back on track Archer?”

Her head was tilted, but the deadly calm of her voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Ah nothing honey. I was talking to Clive like you said. We were talking about things in Mount Hunter.”

“What things were you talking about? I’m going to start packing for Mount Hunter.”

Her answer was straightforward with no room for confusion. “Come on Vera, let’s think this through. Do you really need to go to Mount Hunter? I’m not sure we’ve done enough training yet. It’s not time.” I was aware I sounded as if I was a beggar on the streets with my cap open asking for money, but this was the only way I thought I could talk to her.

“Archer, why do I get the feeling you’re up to something.” The flicker I was looking for came back. Her pupils had me mesmerized and I found myself stammering over my words.

“I’m not up to anything, I just think you’re making a few rash decisions lately.” I huffed a little from not getting my way. The pressure mounting from both sides was almost unbearable. I was about to suffocate under the weight of it.

“You’re lying to me, but I’m going to keep packing. I’m almost done. I’m thinking I should go out for a run and get into a flow anyway.”

“Maybe you should, I will come with you.” Vera stopped collecting her clothes and shot a look back at me.

“I will go out later, not right now.”

“Okay.” I had to wait and I had to plan. My mind raced away with itself wondering if I could make Vera deviate from her path when we were out in the field. If she didn’t shift into her Lycan there was every possibility I could do persuade her to move in my direction.

I stepped away as I watched her roll up her clothes like a military drill sergeant and put them into their quadrants. She meant business, as she tied her hair up high and zipped up the pockets. Anxiety clouded my thoughts as I kept hearing the zippers and to make matters worse my phone started to buzz with my father on the other end of the line. This time I hoped it was Clive, but when I answered it was Sigmund.

“I thought I said I needed more time!” I hissed down the line as my legs pumped down the stairs.

“You don’t have more time. We’ve had the meeting and the pack agrees you are to bring her immediately.” My father’s request was absurd, I stared at the door as my heart pounded. Vera had the knack of showing up when least expected and if she showed up now it would be a hard task for me to get of. My eyes darted back and forth to the door wondering if her Lycan could hear me. I was always on edge, but Vera brought an excitement to my life I long craved. Working for my father had become tiresome, and I never understood how hard it was to try and people please someone all the time.

“I told you I have to bide my time. She’s packing right now!” I shouted through gritted teeth.

“Then it’s your job to make her unpack Archer. How about if you don’t complete this mission successfully I will disown you as a BearHunter how about that?”

“You will disown me? You can’t do that? Why would you do that? I’m your son! I told you, I’m trying.” I sounded worse than pathetic, but the hole in my heart of seeking validation I would never receive from my father ran deep.

“I can and I will. Bring her to me. I won’t ask again. You have two days.” The phone clicked dead and I stared up the stairs. I was in love with Vera, taking her Beartown would be a grave mistake, following her to Mount Hunter would be a wolf’s den of disaster. Either choice could equal death. I spat out the excessive saliva from frothing at the mouth stamping my feet back upstairs.

Vera, like I thought was standing at the doorway. Her eyes were pulsing with light as she stared back at me blankly. I acted as if nothing untoward was happening.

“Time to go on a run?” I enquired, chuckling nervously.

“Precisely.” She moved past me as if it didn’t matter if I came with her or not.

“Don’t you want some company?”

“If you’re coming along, come on then. I’m going now to that field you told me about. It’s about 15 minutes walk isn’t it?” Vera was speaking to me, but she was staring straight ahead and that burst of excitement that I first felt when I met her was coming through.

I followed her blindly, she had a captivating hold on me that made no sense and perfect sense all at the same time. “Yes, it is.”

We walked in silence as the wind shifted. The silence wasn’t bad, it was a type of peaceful silence that I enjoyed. I should have known the peace wouldn’t last. Once we reached the clearing, not the same kind of clearing as in Mount Hunter, but a clearing that was dusty with a mixture of charcoal and sienna dirt and some random blades of grass - that kind, Vera changed. Her luminous white fur glowed under the dusk of the crescent moon showing its coat in the cobalt blue sky. Haunted by her beauty, power and grace I merely stood like frozen taking in the scene. Once she stood on all fours with her eyes shining back at me, I spoke.

“Vera. You are so beautiful I can’t-” Words failed me because what could I say to what I was seeing? Vera nudged me with her ebony snout and I found my hand running through the soft tufts of hair.

“Wow.” Vera’s Lycan growled back at me, horrified something would happen if I didn’t change right away I shifted to meet her with my wolf. That’s when the chase began, she took off like the wind howling as she leapt over small boulders and into the sparse trees ducking in and out of them with powerful grace.

All of my senses were alive as a wolf and I looked forward to hunting with Vera, but her Lycan stopped as we caught our breath from the roam and it spoke to me directly.

If you ever try to stop me again, I will kill you. I am traveling to Mount Hunter and you will get out of my way. Let my lesson to the Mount Hunter pack be a reminder to you.

The Lycan stood adjacent to me, letting me know it would rip me limb from limb and I still wanted to be in its essence.

Sor-sor-sorry. I’m sorry. I want to protect you, but you don’t need my protection, do you?

I dropped my snout to the ground almost in a half bow to the Lycan as its eyes traveled up to the moon. The crescent formation seemed to sparkle more as it looked at it.

Come with me. Fight in the battle alongside me, but don’t get in my way.

Yes. I understand. I will Vera. I can’t leave you alone. I will come with you and fight.

Reily is in danger. Serious danger and this time he might die.

I could have cared less about Reily, but the compassion Vera’s Lycan showed was incredible and at this point is when I bowed slightly to her wolf.