A Run

Helena was relieved when Romeo didn't follow her into the packhouse.

She needed time away from him, she needed to make sure that he didn't sway her decision.

She'd just finished getting dressed when her phone buzzed on her bed.

When she saw that it was a message from Alphonse she couldn't help but smile.

He'd been a constant in her life since she'd moved and had been one of the few people who were privy to her real identity.

Alphonse: Make it home?

She smiled at his concern.

Helena: Back at my childhood room. Mom and Dad planned this whole homecoming dinner for me.

Alphonse: And your step-siblings? Were they tough on you?

Helena: No, never.

She couldn't help but smile as she thought of Romeo and Rae. Despite everything they were her best friends.

Alphonse: Call me tonight.

Helena stared at her phone while she debated what to do.

'He's always been nice,' Hera told her.

Alphonse: I'll call you. What time do you think your party over there will be done?

'It's just a call, right?' Helena asked her wolf.

'Yes, a call from a friend,' Hera said agreeing with her.

Helena: Shouldn't run too late into the night since preparations are in full swing for the Alpha Rite and Blood Moon Ball.

Alphonse: Are you staying for the Blood Moon Ball?

Helena: Of course not.

Her reply was quick. She intended to leave the night of the Alpha Rite and she had every intention of sticking to the plan.

Alphonse: Will you be back by the Blood Moon?

Helena stared at her phone. Was he hoping that she would be back by then?

She didn't even know how to respond to that question. If she said she would be would Alphonse want to meet up on the Blood Moon?

Helena had always made it a point to lock herself in on the Blood Moon. She didn't want to meet her mate. She didn't want that kind of bond that could break a person.

And what if the wolf she was mated to was not a good one? Could she reject him? Could she survive rejecting him?

Sure if it was Romeo she'd be happy, more than happy, but if it wasn't him would she survive the disappointment?

How did she even end up thinking of Romeo? She was thinking of Alphonse and his stupid question.

She shouldn't think of Romeo, not after all the deliciously dangerous things he could do to her body.

"Helena!!!!" she heard Rae call out as her best friend banged on her door.

"What?" Helena grumbled as she opened the door.

"Soooo…." Rae giggled.

"So what?" Helena huffed while her eyes wandered to the door across the hall, Romeo's room.

"He still stays there," Rae said. It seemed that her wandering gaze was not as subtle as she thought. "He didn't move out."

"I'm not asking, Rae," Helena grumbled as she pushed past Rae and walked down the hall.

"He doesn't sleep around either!" Rae called out.

Helena's breath hitched at the thought of Romeo sleeping with other women, for some reason it bothered her, but like her, he was entitled to a past, to his fair share of partners.

"Don't need to know that," she called out. "I'm going for a run."

She didn't bother to wait for a response from Rae while she made her way down to the first floor of the pack house and out through the back door.

Helena quickly sprinted off of the porch and past the pavilion that had been set up for tonight only stopping as she stood before the treeline.

Closing her eyes, Helena took a deep breath savoring the scent of the woods behind her home.

'It's so hard to find a place like this when we're in the city,' Hera grumbled. 'Why did you have to pick to work with a pack in the city hours away from home?'

'Because it's hours away from him,' Helena answered.

Hera was silent as Helena let all her pent-up emotions flow. Tears fell from her eyes as she fell to her knees. She sat there for what felt like thirty minutes just savoring the sounds and scents of home.

There was truly nothing like it and when she was here she was at peace.

"Home," Helena whispered.

'Let's go for a run,' she told Hera as she stood up and slowly began to take off her clothes.

Shifting felt more freeing than anything else and when she'd transformed into the black-furred Hera they quickly took off on a run.

The forest might have grown since she was last back, but her connection to the land allowed her to easily run through the woods.

'I've missed this,' Helena told Hera as she let the wolf have her fun, running, jumping into rivers and even into the lake, and chasing after smaller animals.

'We could always come home,' Hera reminded her.

Helena sighed but didn't answer.

Her wolf knew why they couldn't come home, why she chose to stay away.

When Helena looked up she noticed that it was getting dark, she quickly steered Hera back toward the pack house. They had a few more weeks to savor being home.

As she entered the kitchen she heard the familiar voices of her mother and Rae.

"Maybe if we tell them to go to the caterer and just not show up something will happen—"

"And who are the them you are talking about, Mom?" Helena asked with her hands on her hips.

"Oh, no one," her mom said pretending that she and Rae hadn't be caught red-handed plotting to make Helena and Romeo spend time alone.

"It didn't sound like no one, Mom," Helena said in a stern a voice as possible.

"It's two young members of the pack," Rae said as she shared a look with their mother. "No one you know."

Helena sighed and shook her head.

"Look, I don't need the both of you plotting to get me and Romeo together, it's just not going to happen," Helena said as she put her foot down. "I'm never taking a mate."

In her frustration, Helena stomped away leaving her mother and Rae stunned in the kitchen.

When Helena reached her door she let out a sigh.

She couldn't resist the urge to look behind her at Romeo's door.

Was he in there or was he with their dad making final preparations for the transition of power?

Helena was certain Romeo would make an amazing Alpha, it just made her sad that she wouldn't be around to see it.

She was about to enter her room when two strong arms were wrapped around her waist and she was pulled away from her door and into Romeo's room.

Everything had happened so quickly. She was about to counter whoever had grabbed her but all of a sudden, she was surrounded by Romeo's scent, and his lips came crashing against hers.

She had every intention of pushing Romeo away, but those intentions seemed to go up in smoke as he deepened the kiss.

Helena could feel herself reacting to his lips on hers when he pushed her against a wall and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Fuck, why did you pretend this wasn't happening between us Helena," Romeo said, breaking the kiss.