Fear

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

― Plato

(Zander)

Walking through the entrance of the Pack Den, Zander unclenched his fists, being alone with Freya had him on edge. In all the years that he had been apart of the Summers women family, he had always found a way to never be alone with Freya, until now. The first year that they had all lived together under the same roof, Zander had already turned eighteen, and have received his right of passage. The night he had come home, it had been a completely different world, everything had been heightened. The scent that hit him as soon as he stepped through the front door about knocked him on his ass. Newly transformed, Zander did not know what was happening to him, all he knew was that he felt as if he was burning alive from the inside out. Sweat had produced in ridiculous amounts along his skin and then came the blinding white hot pain, it attacked his brain. Gagging on the perfumed air, he had drug his body up the stairs, trying in vain to just make it to his bedroom. That was when little Freya who had only been thirteen at the time, opened her door. Zander coughed, choking on the air, it had only intensified at the presence of his stepsister. The memory of her haunting green eyes, full of concern for him, was seared into his mind. Heart pounding in his chest, he really thought he was going to die, his torso constricted and spasmed. The tightness squeezed around his heart, threatening to cut off blood flow, and his canines started to elongate from his gums.

Fear at his body's reaction had caused him to lash out at her, telling her to go the fuck back into her room, and to leave him alone. With tears in her eyes, she had scampered back to the safety of her room and Zander used the last of his strength to find his way to his own. That night had been the worst night of his life, he had laid in bed with the sweats and chills racking his body, it lasted till morning. As soon as the sun had risen in the sky, Zander had got the hell out of that house, and tracked his father down. At the time, his father had been working the night shift, taking over for his friend who had just had a pup, doing boarder control. Running full force, he scented the man out and told him that he wanted to move to the pack den as soon as possible. His Father had taken the news with his own excitement, thinking that Zander was impatient to start training for his role as Alpha. Zander had let him think whatever he wanted, all he knew was he could not stay another night in that house, he needed to leave. Not telling his father about his episode, whether in embarrassment or fear that something might be wrong with him, Zander hid what had happened. After moving to the pack den, things had settled down, and he had gotten into a routine.

"Isn't your sister having her ceremony today?" Adrian asked, coming to greet Zander with his lazy smile.

"Stepsister," Zander snapped, then sighed trying to relax, "Yeah, I just came by to change and I was going to head on out."

There was something in Adrian's all too knowing eyes as he just nodded, "Well I was thinking about going too, you never know with mate business, maybe the Gods will bless me with some luck this year."

Adrian was the Gamma of his pack, older than Zander by six years, but the wisest motherfucker he had ever met. The man had graduated school a year before Zander had started his first year of WolfFang High, and had worked under his Father, he was highly recommended for his knowledge. Zander had been skeptical at first, not really knowing him, but he was thankful that he had taken a chance. Adrian had become on of his best friends here, "You never know." Zander shrugged.

"You ever think about trying to find your mate? It had been what…five years since your mating link was opened, have you ever gotten a hint of her presence?" Adrian asked in genuine curiosity.

Zander was silent for a moment but shook his head, "No." he stated flatly.

"Well maybe tonight will be a lucky night for both of us," he slapped Zander on the back with a light laugh.

Shaking his head at the man, Zander could not help but smile, "Would you even know what to do with a girl a decade younger than you?" he asked jokingly.

Adrian rubbed his beard thoughtfully, "Good point, maybe I should stay home and brush up on some teen magazines." Zander let out a loud laugh and Adrian joined in with him. "Honestly, I don't think age matters when it comes to finding your mate. That connection is there for a reason. Everything else can be built up around that, as long as the pull is there." There was that keen look again.

The man was too smart for his own good. "Always the romantic." Zander rolled his eyes.

"I prefer the term optimist." He grinned broadly making the skin around his hazel eyes crinkle slightly.

Looking around Zander cracked his neck, "Have you seen Damon?" he asked.

Adrian nodded his head, "He is in the conference room, I think he might have some news to share with you."

"Great, better hurry up than, gotta get this camera to Molly." He stated waving off Adrian as he walked away to find Damon.