(Alexis' POV)

"Well, I'm still waiting," Dad snaps at me.

He didn't say a word to me on our walk back home. Well I walked, Dad more like stormed back. As soon as we were in his office however, he roared at me, demanding an explanation for my disappearance for the past two days.

"Alexis," he growled threateningly.

"I was um out?" I told him, although it came out more like a question.

"Out where?" he asked through clenched teeth.

Think, Alexis. Think.

"Well," I start, not really having any idea of where I'm heading with this.

The door to Dad's office opens up, sparing me from my own embarrassment. I turn around and come face to face with the Alpha. I immediately drop my eyes from his as a sign of respect.

Alpha Kent is a tall, well built, middle-aged man. By taking one look at him you would be terrified, but underneath that cold expression, is a kind and gentle man, a man who prides himself of taking exceptional care of his pack. There isn't a doubt that the death of two of his wolves and the trespassing of rogues on his lands, has affected him greatly.

He hates when rogues trespass on his lands and takes the death of any member of his pack to heart. I know this for a fact, because the day my mother died, Alpha Kent broke down in tears when her broken body was removed from the forest. I shudder at the memory of that horrifying day.

"You found her," he says to my Dad, closing the office door shut behind him. "Good. Has she told you where she vanished to yet?"

"No, not yet, Kent," Dad replies. "She was just about to tell me as you walked in the door."

Dad, being the Alpha's best friend, is the only person who calls him by his first name. Well, the only one who does it, without being ripped apart that is.

I never really understood the way their relationship worked. Yes, they were best friends, but it's as if there was something between them, like a sort of bitterness, for what? I don't know.

I've never understood it and can't exactly pinpoint what exactly it is, but I always remember it being there. Anytime I ask Dad about it, he will immediately change the topic. His relationship with the Alpha is a strict no-go zone for conversations.

The Alpha crossed the room and sat down beside Dad. It was incredibly intimidating to have both men, the Alpha and Pack Warrior, sitting opposite me, both with murderous expressions on their faces as they waited impatiently for my reply.

"Dad," I start.

"Alexis, don't even bother trying to talk your way around not telling us," he says in a no-nonsense tone. "None of us are leaving this room until you explain to Kent and myself where you disappeared to for two whole days. Do you understand?"

I stare at my feet and nod my head.

"Good, now tell us."

I open my mouth to try to waffle my way out of trouble, when the office door is thrown open for the second time in less than a minute.

"Alpha! We caught the rogues' scent again. It's further east than the last time, closer to the Pack House," the man, who has just burst into the room, informs Alpha Kent and Dad.

"David," the Alpha says, jumping to his feet. "Meet me at the front door in five minutes," He makes his way towards the door and stands beside the informer, a wolf who's name I can't remember.

"Those rogues have escaped one time too many for my liking. I will not let them get away this time. Not only have they been trespassing but they committed murder as well. Enough is enough."

He looks directly at me before continuing. "Don't think you've been let off the hook lightly, young lady. Coby returns from Europe next week and your father and I need to sit down and talk to you before then."

"Yes, Alpha," I reply faintly, wracking my brain for explanations as to why they need to speak to me, and why his son's return is important to me.

"Five minutes, David," he tells Dad, before leaving the office, the other man hot on his heels.

I turn slowly and face Dad. He's still sitting and looking at me intently. I know he's upset although he won't show it.

"Dad," I say gently. He remains silent, just watching me, waiting for me to continue. "Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."

He remains silent for a couple of minutes. "Is that all you have to say?" he finally asks.

"I'm sorry," I repeat, in the same weak voice.

"Do you have any idea what you put me through the last two days?" He pauses for a second. "Do you know what replays over and over again in my head when someone tells me that those rogues are back?"

I shake my head, not able to speak.

"I hear you. I hear you, screaming for your mother the day she was killed."

I gasp loudly at this revelation.

He doesn't take note of my reaction and continues. "It rips me up inside. I'm terrified that those rogues will do the same to you. I lie in bed every single night, worrying over you and trying to think of ways to keep you safe from those monsters."

A tear slides down my cheek as I hear Dad's voice break. He's never told me any of this before. I never knew he felt that way. Why didn't he tell me? I thought I was the only one who was constantly tortured by scenes from that horrific day.

"When I found your blood in the woods the other day, Alexis, my..." he pauses. "My heart shattered into a million pieces. I was not only terrified that I had lost you, but I was disappointed and furious with myself for not protecting you, for not protecting my baby girl. I knew that he had hurt you and I wasn't there to save you. I wasn't there to stop him."

I stood rooted to the spot; tears rolling freely down my cheeks as I watch Dad fighting to keep his composure.

"Daddy," I sob.

"Don't, Alexis." He cuts me off before I can say another word. "I can't hear it right now."

He makes his way towards the door, not sparing me a glance. He opens the door but before leaving, turns to face me.

"Can I trust you not to leave the house?"

"Yes," I whisper hoarsely.

"You're not to leave here, not even to go up to the Pack House. Do you understand?"

I nod in reply. He turns to leave.

"Daddy," I say my voice still sounding weak from my crying. He pauses, but doesn't turn to look at me. "I'm sorry," I say, a sob threatening to slip out from my lips.

Dad shakes his head gently before leaving the room. The door clicks shut behind him and that's when my dam breaks.

***

Two days. It's been two whole days. I need to see him. I'm slowly going out of my mind from not being near him. The bond between us, that was already strong enough, strengthened during the time we spent together. I know that Leo will also feel the pull, except he won't know what it is.

I giggle softly imagining what must be running through his mind as he slowly becomes more and more attached to my wolf form. He must think he's going mad. All the more reason for me to go see my mate.

When Dad and Alpha Kent returned from the forest the other day, they were too busy with the rogue they had captured. They didn't catch him, but they were going to question the rogue to find out his whereabouts and what his plans are.

I still haven't told them where I 'disappeared' to, nor have I been told more about Coby's return; not that I really care about the future Alpha coming back from wherever the hell he is.

You'd think that with Dad preoccupied interrogating a rogue and the Alpha by his side; it would be easy for me to slip away for a few hours to visit my mate. Right? Wrong.

Dad, being his usual over-protective self, has positioned two guards outside my bedroom door. Do you know what the worst part is? I'm not even in my own room, or in my own house for that matter. No, I'm in a spare bedroom in the Pack House.

I roll out of bed and make my way over to the small suitcase, which was unceremoniously flung into my temporary room the other day by one of the guards. I grab a change of clothes, not even bothering to see what they are, and the set of keys on the dresser, which I so cleverly 'borrowed' yesterday from Dad.

I storm into the bathroom and slam the door behind me, loud enough so that the two wolves outside the room can hear it.

After changing into the jeans and long sleeve t-shirt that were packed for me along with a pair of converse, I quickly brush my long hair, before turning on the shower and the in-shower radio. That should be enough to keep the guards from suspecting anything for about an hour.

I slide open the bathroom window as quietly as I can. I peer out the window and almost swear loudly when I remember that I'm on the second floor. Everyone in the pack knows I'm terrified of heights; it's probably the reason that they put me in this room and didn't put any guards underneath my window.

I swing my two legs out the window so that I'm sitting on the ledge. I scan the area before me. No guards. Perfect! Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I push off from the ledge and jump.

Ten minutes later and still smiling from successfully jumping from a second floor window without being caught, I find myself in Dad's range rover, on my way to Leo's clinic. I honestly didn't expect it to be this easy.

When the wolves on border patrol at the main gates to the pack's land seen my Dad's jeep heading their way, they simply bowed their heads in respect and let it pass. Little did they know that it wasn't the Pack Warrior behind the tinted glass, but in fact, his daughter.

To say I'm happy would be an understatement. I'm over the moon! I can't believe I'm finally on my way to meet my mate. God, I've missed everything about him over the past two days, his smile, his eyes, especially his amazing chocolate, caramel and strawberry scent.

I pull into the driveway of his veterinary clinic, just as a woman a little older than myself is pulling out. She smiles politely at me before continuing past. I drive up towards the large wooden cabin, it almost reminds me of something you'd find up on a snowy mountain. It's cute.

I hurry across the small parking lot and into the warmth of the clinic.

I glance around the clean reception area for any signs of my mate. I can smell his mouthwatering scent so I know he's here. I wait as patiently as I can.

"I'll be with you in a minute," he shouts.

I can hear him on the other side of the door, placing something down. My heart races as I hear him making his way towards me.

"Sorry about tha-"

He stops mid sentence and freezes on the spot. I smile at him, trying to contain a giggle as his jaw drops. I feel his eyes raking over me and I hear his heart racing.

He looks delicious in a pair of fitted black trousers and a light blue shirt, which hugs his bulging biceps. His blue eyes light up as they continue to graze over my body.

"Hi," I finally say, breaking the silence between us.

I watch as his body physically shudders at the sound of my voice. I smile, glad to see I have an affect on him.

"H-hey," he replies, nervously. "C-can I help you?" 

Oh, shit. Why am I here? What am I going to tell him?