Chapter 4

A few days later, the entire pack was called to gather at the main cabin, or 'Packhouse' as everyone called it. Elena stood with Lucas near the front.

"What's going on?" she asked him. 

"No idea," he shrugged as he watched his father and mother walk out. 

"Thank you, everyone, for gathering on such short notice. We have some important news to announce," the alpha started. 

A hush fell across the crowd. As they waited, Caleb walked out the main doors with a woman holding his hand.

"Caleb has found his mate!" his father called. 

The crowd erupted, as Elena gasped. She unknowingly gripped Lucas's arm. He was equally as surprised.

'He's found his mate,' she thought, as she stared wide-eyed at the only man she's ever loved.

---- 

One evening, Elena leaned back on the deck chair on her porch as she looked up at the stars. She sighed as her mind wandered back over the past few days. 

After unpacking everything Caleb and Lucas relaxed on the porch next to her. Eventually, Lucas had been called away, so that just left her alone with Caleb. Despite how she felt towards him he has only seen her as a little sister. Elena smiled shyly at him as he watched her.

"What?" she asked. 

"Nothing," he chuckled with a smile of his own. 

She bumped her shoulder into his, which had him laughing louder. He lifted his hand and tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. A gasp escaped her as she felt his hand caressing her ear. 

In a trance, they both sat there staring into each other's eyes. Neither was willing to move to break it. Slowly, Elena started to lean forward, and Caleb mimicked her movements. Their eyes were still locked together. Just as their lips were about to touch, someone laughed close by and it made them break away. 

Elena blushed as Caleb coughed and rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit of his. Without a word, he stood up and left. 

Elena sighed once again into the night. 'He almost kissed me,' she thought to herself. 'This doesn't make any sense.'

"What are you sighing about?" Elena jumped.

"Lucas! You scared me," she scolded him. 

Lucas laughed as he came to sit next to her on the floor. 

"Sorry, I thought you saw me walking up," he told her.

Elena smiled back at him and shook her head.

"I was looking up at the sky, how could I have seen you?" she scoffed as she stood up and walked inside, Lucas followed her quickly.

"Seriously, what's up?" he asked and she sighed again.

"It's nothing Lucas, I'm just tired. I think I'll go to sleep now, goodnight," she walked into her room and shut the door. 

Lucas didn't hesitate, he followed her. 

"Lucas, I'm going to sleep," she told him as she climbed into her bed. 

"I know," was all he said as he walked around to the other side and climbed in. 

He pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her. When she tried to resist he pushed her head down onto his bare chest and gripped her tight. 

"Sleep," he ordered and he pulled the covers over them both. 

Elena felt drained and decided not to argue, she simply smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist. She had slept, like this, with Lucas, many times. It was not uncommon to wake up in each other's arms. 

Elena often sought comfort in his arms, especially in the beginning, when her nightmares were at their most frequent. It never occurred to her that she only ever went to Lucas, never Caleb. The few times she had, it had only been because Lucas had been away but it never felt the same. 

She often wondered if Lucas thought all this meant something more than it was, but then he would be a goofball about it every time the next day and she would think maybe not.

The next morning, as predicted, she awoke in Lucas' arms and he goofed about. She lifted her head off his chest and he smirked up at her.

"Well, well, well, Miss Elena! In bed with me. Here I was trying to save myself for marriage!" he teased. 

Elena sat up, laughed and went to hit him, but he was too fast. He shot out of bed but she ran right after him.

"Get back here you!" She called out as he laughed. 

Lucas raced outside, and she was forced to stop to catch her breath. 

"Don't let me catch you!" she shouted after him.

The early morning sun's rays warmed her skin as she looked around. It was too early for most of the pack to be outside but a few were walking about. They waved to her as she stood and she happily waved back. For a moment, she could forget her pain and misery. For a moment, she was content. 

However, luck had never been on her side and she was quickly forced back to reality. Just as she glanced towards the Pack House, Caleb stepped out. Elena's heart pounded painfully and before he could spot her she raced back inside. 

To prove luck was not on her side Caleb had seen her hasty retreat inside her home. He sighed and wearily wiped his face. 

The memory of the night they almost kissed flashed in his mind. Caleb couldn't believe how stupid he had been, she was virtually his little sister. He had always thought of her that way despite knowing how she felt towards him. 

The whole pack knew but they kept it to themselves so as not to embarrass her. Caleb believed that it was mainly an infatuation because he had been there when she woke up. He thought it would've faded but it hadn't.

---

Lucas wouldn't leave her side as she slept day after day. Being human they knew it would take her far longer to heal from her injuries than a wolf would but even his parents were worried. 

His mother had lamented that maybe Lucas had gotten there too late. They thought that maybe her father had done too much damage.

Then one day Caleb forced Lucas to go and get some rest. Lucas had refused but Caleb wouldn't let him argue. The only reason he reluctantly agreed was if Caleb promised to get him if she woke up. 

Caleb had sat by her side for an hour when she finally started to stir. At first, her head shook and her brow creased before she slowly opened her eyes. 

He hovered over her as she looked around before settling on him. Her eyes widened and fear flashed across her face. Caleb could smell it. 

"Shhh!" he cooed to relax her. "You're safe here, no one will hurt you."

Her eyes still looked frightened and it hurt Caleb to see how scared she was. 

"Elena, calm yourself!" he commanded softly, holding her shoulders gently. "You're safe here! No one and I mean no one will hurt you ever again. We'll kill anyone that even tries."

Caleb sighed again. She cried after that and clung to him. Lucas arrived a few hours later and wasn't happy that she was asleep again after he was told that she had woken up. 

A few days later, when she was walking about, Liam told her about the pack. Both brothers had expected her to flip out, to scream at them, calling them monsters. However, she'd surprised everyone by asking to see and then smiled softly. 

Lucas had eagerly moved closer to her so she could feel his fur. He whined like a pet dog as she patted his head and stroked down his neck. 

After that, he had been slowly aware of her growing feelings for him. Elena's heart would skip and she would blush widely whenever he came into the room. After several months her pheromones would spike indicating she was aroused by him especially when he walked around with no shirt on. Which he tried to limit, but by wearing a shirt he felt constricted. 

Caleb felt bad, and he tried to make sure he never led her on. He told her many times how much of a little sister she was to him hoping it would deter her. He had thought it worked but that almost kiss made him think otherwise. 

He was kicking himself for leaning in. That was exactly what he was trying to avoid.

After that night on the porch, Caleb had gone for a run and happened to come upon a lone female wolf. He had scented her straight away and he knew she was his fated mate. 

His mate was called Mary, and she had left her previous pack because her alpha was a jerk. He would force all the available women in his pack to sleep with him. She left to avoid that. At first, she had been reluctant to accept him but she at least came back to the Packhouse with him.

Caleb had felt guilty that she had found out like that, he realised he should have told her in private so she didn't have to pretend it didn't hurt her to greet Mary. 

Elena welcomed her warmly, as expected and said she was happy that Caleb finally found her. Mary hadn't suspected anything coming off from Elena, well she hadn't she said anything anyway.

Since the announcement, Elena has avoided the Packhouse. Lucas spent most of his time with her and his parents would often visit but Caleb had yet to go over. He knew he should but he wasn't sure if he could.