I stood there in a complete daze unable to look away from him. This was something I hadn't been excepting and to say I was surprised was an understatement. He tightened his grip on my hand for a moment which brought me screaming back into reality and I quickly wretched my hand free from his as if his touch had burned me. He let out a low growl and took a menacing step forward clearly upset by my reaction to him and our bond. My heart was thundering in my chest as I fought the desire to run away and the desire to run into his arms. He looked down at me with such a threatening gaze and his wolf's energy was actually causing mine to cower slightly under it's weight.

"Alpha—" Valerie spoke up with a tone of wariness. I'm sure she could sense that he was on the verge of losing control of himself. Thankfully, that seemed to snap him out of his wolf driven behavior. His eyes regained their original green color and his lips curved down into a deep frown as he turned his attention from me. I let out a ragged breath that I hadn't even realized I had been holding, and placed a shaky hand to my chest as if I could somehow steady the rapid beat of my heart. My wolf howled at the loss of our mates attention but I couldn't have been happier.

"Alpha, are you alright?" Valerie questioned with some confusion. I stared at his back noticing that his muscles were tense, "I told you to stop calling me that Val." He growled in frustration evading her question as he lifted his hand and ran it through his hair, tugging at it a bit. The room was eerily quiet and I wasn't sure why he would be so upset by someone calling him by his title. Perhaps I misunderstood, the pack did seem a little unconventional in its ways.

"Silver..." Marshall was the one to break the silence, "Where have you been?" I could hear the concern his pack mates voice.

"Around..." My mate who I now knew went by the name Silver, responded. I peered around him to see the scowling faces of his pack mates. Marshall clenched his hands into tight fists at his side, "Around? You've been gone for a month—What if something had happened to us? Don't you care at all?"

Silver let out a low growl that rumbled through the room, "I don't have to answer to you pup. I didn't ask to be anyones Alpha and I don't plan on being anyones Alpha. I told you that you're all welcome to stay or leave, it's your choice. It doesn't matter or concern me." I felt a wave of shock run through me at his words. They were so cruel and cold—and it made a strange ache burn in my chest. How could he say something like that to his pack? Whether he wanted them or not, they clearly had chosen him and it was his duty to protect and lead them.

Marshall took a step forward with his chest puffing out clearly upset by Silver's declaration. I could sense the tension filling the air as the two of them stared off with each other. Valerie eased herself forward moving between the two males, "Stand down Marshall." Her tone was firm and unwavering. He turned his gaze to her and glared at her but after a moment he let out a snort before casting his gaze toward the floor in a submissive show of obedience.

Valerie turned her attention to Silver her gaze softening as she looked at him. I could see that she was speaking to him without actually speaking. A part of me didn't like the way she was looking at him and I held back the urge to growl at her. He seemed to relax slightly under her gaze which made my jealousy burn even hotter.

, my wolf growled darkly in my mind. I clenched my hands into fists at my sides digging my nails into my palms to keep myself in control of the strange new possessive urges rolling through me.

Silver let out a loud sigh, "I'm going for a run—I need to blow off some steam, clearly..." He announces to everyone in the room with a sudden urgency. He makes his way towards the door with quick strides he paused in the archway of the door and looked back over his shoulder toward me. Valerie took a hesitant step forward, "You're going to come back, right?" She asked in a vulnerable voice I hadn't suspected she was capable of. His forest green gaze colliding against my stormy grey one with longing curiosity, "Yeah—I'll be back." He didn't speak anything else after that he just turned and disappeared as if he has only been a figment of my imagination. My wolf was less than pleased by his disappearing act and I could feel her scratching underneath the surface prompting me to follow after him.

, She urged me clawing just underneath my skin.

No. We are not going after him. First I need a moment to process what just happened and I think he does too. Second, right now is not the best time to be pursuing a mate bond. I have other things I need to take care of first.

, She snaps in irritation.

I disagree.

, I fought back the urge to growl. Instead I pushed her to the back of my mind cutting off our connection since she was only throwing a tantrum.

When I came out of my thoughts I realized everyone in the room was very quiet and they wore solemn expressions. Valerie pinched her nose and let out a loud breath, "That could have gone a little better—" She lets her hand fall to her side before turning her attention to Marshall in a harsh glare, "What the hell was that about?" She snaps. Marshall crosses his thick arms over his broad chest doing his best to look intimidating, "Something could have happened to us! There were—look it's doesn't matter..." He dismisses her quickly trying to cover up his slip. He had been about to tell her about the hunters but thought better of it for whatever reason.

Valerie however wasn't about to drop the matter, "Is there something that I need to know about?" She narrows her eyes as they fill up with suspicion. She waits patiently but no one speaks up which only pushes her anger further, "Someone better start talking—Now!" I could feel the surge of dominance that filled the room causing it to feel a little more stifling. Bunny whimpered beside me clearly the one most effected by the situation, "It's my fault. Don't be mad at Marshall..."

Leo let out a sigh follow by Marshall as they realized that the truth was about to come out. Valerie looked like she was going to explode at any second, "Please tell me you did not wander outside of the pack house grounds..." She spoke through clenched teeth. When no one spoke to refute her statement a low growl rumbled from her chest. Her eyes snapped to me having darkened considerably, "You're not Bunny's cousin are you?"

I turned my gaze from her to look toward Bunny but when I received a warning growl my attention snapped back to her. My wolf already on edge over the separation from her newly found mate did not appreciate the challenge issued by the beta's growl. I straightened my back and puffed out my chest slightly, "I would be careful about who you growl at beta—I am not your enemy." I spoke in a clear and firm tone, hoping It didn't come off to harsh. I didn't come here to stir up trouble but I couldn't allow another wolf to disrespect me, intentional or not.

"Just who the hell are you?" She snaps at me and everyone else in the room also seems extremely curious about the answer to this question. I purse my lips together and ignore the slight headache that was starting to build, "That's quite a loaded question but to put it as simply as I can I would say I'm a girl who ran into some trouble and is trying to make it back home."

"And this trouble—is it going to follow you here?" A question that I couldn't fault her for asking. I mean she has a position in this pack that required her to pay attention to these things even if she does rub me the wrong way. I cross my arms over chest, "If it does, which I doubt it will since I don't plan on being here long—I will handle it." I say dismissively. Valerie looked like she wanted to come at me with more questions but she thought better of it probably sensing the power that was lying deep down within me at the moment. She heaves a loud exasperated sigh, "Fine! But if you cause problems for Silver or anyone else in this pack. You and I will have serious problems. Am I clear?"

My wolf growls in my head but I only give her a tight lipped smirk, "Crystal."

Valerie tosses her hands up after that and makes her way out of the room, "If you any of you think your off the hook for disobeying direct orders to not wander off then you better think again! However, right now I need to go hunt down our runaway Alpha—I'll deal with the rest of you when I get back." I watch her as she disappears from view. My eyes narrow slightly at the thought that she is the one who is going after my mate but I push the feeling away realizing as his Beta it's her duty to keep tabs on him. However, the way she looks at him makes me feel as though there might be more to there relationship than Alpha and Beta.

"Wow—" Libra says behind me snapping me out of my internal reflection. I look over my shoulder to the pink pixie, "What?"

She is wearing an expression that says she's amused about something, "I've never seen anyone get Valerie to back down like that except for Silver. That was so awesome! You're so my new favorite person." She chirps and I can't help but smile a little at the way she bounces with excitement. I lift a hand and scratch the back of my neck over the attention she is giving me. The month I spent with Scarlett and Noah helped me regain most of my social skills but I think I still felt awkward when I was the center of attention.

"So Silver—he's your Alpha then?" I try to turn the attention toward something else. Libra's shoulders sag at my question and I note how the energy in the room shifts into a more somber tone. I let my gaze travel around the room noting the different expressions on their faces, ranging from disappointment to frustration. I bite the inside of cheek, apparently this was a sensitive topic for all of them.

"Silver is who we've all chosen to claim as our Alpha..." Leo speaks clearly trying to choose his words correctly, "But he does not want to accept our claim. As you saw..." My gaze shifts to Marshall who is wearing the dark expression from earlier and I watch as Bunny moves across the room. She reaches out and touches his back gently, rubbing him like she would an upset child. I watch him visibly relax under her touch, confirming for me that they indeed are mates. The image of Silver's green eyes flash through my mind and I feel my cheeks heat.

"It's complicated—" Libra moves to stand beside me looking toward Leo. I note quickly the similarities in there appearances, minus the height they both have the same almond shaped eyes and lean bodies. I can feel the deep connection between the strange group and I feel the pain they feel over being rejected by the Alpha there wolves have claimed. I let out a small sigh and shift my attention to the door that Silver had disappeared through, "Complicated doesn't even come close..." I mutter to myself.

-----------------------

Song: 'Strangeness and Charm' -Florence and The Machine