Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 91: 91

"Maybe. The need isn't mine, but my animal's; I can't control it."

"Well... my wolf feels satisfied being fed by you, so I believe our animals agree on that," I confessed.

"Then we have your answer," he said.

I licked my lips, wiping off the excess blood, and looked around, admiring the small insects flying above our heads, as well as the birds perched on the tall tree branches.

"Are you satisfied now?" he asked.

I wagged my tail.

"Yes. You hunt so well, you're a great alpha provider," I sighed, sounding like a horny dog.

He straightened up, seeming pleased with the compliment, as if I had inflated his ego.

"I'll hunt much more for you."

"You're going to spoil me."

"I'm your male, companion, and alpha; it’s my duty to keep you safe, satisfied, and well-fed," he asserted, resolute.

Everything was more intense when we were transformed; all of our senses became even sharper. I inhaled, taking in his scent of fresh pine and damp earth, noticing how it was even more perfect than I remembered.

"You smell good," I commented.

He made a sound, which would have been a laugh if he were in his human form.

"And you, little wolf. It’s incredible how our senses become considerably sharper when we’re transformed, don’t you think?"

I barked, agreeing with him.

It was liberating to be transformed, and even more satisfying to have him by my side, watching him hunt for me, feeling protected with him as if nothing could reach me.

I felt vulnerable in my animal form, which is why I had avoided transforming in the past few months. I was afraid of being caught by Hunter, hurt by a hunter, or wounded by someone. But with Fenrir by my side, these fears were nothing more than irrelevant, trivial worries.

"We'll run a bit more. I'll send a few men to check what can be salvaged from the deer meat," he warned.

I ran beside him, exploring parts of the forest I didn’t know. The wind hitting my face was delightful, and the thick layer of fur kept me from feeling cold.

"Are we really safe out here?" I asked, when we reached a point far away from Dăneşti, close to the border of another village.

"No one will come near you, not while I’m by your side, little wolf. I’ll kill anyone who dares to get too close."

I sat on my hind legs, feeling a lethargy hit me, a deep sadness. He picked up on my emotions and moved closer.

"What’s wrong?" he asked.

I exhaled a sorrowful grunt.

"I’m worried about Selena. Her birthday is coming up, as well as her first transformation. She’s out there alone, with no one to support her," I lamented.

He sat next to me.

"I’m searching for her, Sava, but so far, I haven’t heard anything about any wolf. No one in the town knows or has heard anything about Selena, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop looking for her. I’ve sent the men I trust the most to search for her," he whispered.

"I know you are, and I’m grateful for that. But... I won’t have peace until I find my sister. She’s the only family I have left. I feel responsible for her, as the older one. I won’t be at ease until I find her," I affirmed.

"We’ll find her, I promise," he reassured me.

Fenrir rubbed against me, licking and rubbing, in affectionate gestures, trying to distract me from the longing I felt for Selena. I let out some soft murmurs, approving of his actions and asking for more.

The mood became light and fun again. I felt fed and satisfied, just like him.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt so... happy, as I did at that moment beside him. As if it were perfect, as if we had been made for each other, like destined partners.

I ignored the absurd thought, trying to stay grounded. Fenrir wasn’t my destined partner, he was Catalina’s. A wolf only had one partner in their life.

I wouldn’t fool myself, even though it echoed in me like an alarm.

Abstaining from thinking too much, I enjoyed every second, transformed by his side, relishing the feeling of safety and freedom.

***

POV Fenrir Dăneşti

I analyzed the reports of the last shipments of wood that were sold while I was away, helping Savannah deal with her heat. I was satisfied with the results, Anton and Andrei did a great job.

With the pack, things were going very well, and with the little wolf, even better. She shared the bed with me every night, staying safe in my arms during sleep. The entire last week, we slept in the chaos that was the nest she created, and she wouldn’t let me dismantle it in any way.

It wasn’t very comfortable sleeping in a bed full of clothes, but I did it to please her. She seemed to appreciate my scent and my company.

She also got a bit strange at times. She would growl at me while she slept, unaware, before smelling me and calming down. She was more skittish and aggressive. I had no idea what her problem was. She didn’t seem bothered by this behavior, so I wouldn’t be either.

The only thing that still worried me was the damn traitor. Hunter was quiet, but he wouldn’t stay that way for long. His life goal was to get his hands on Savannah, while mine was to kill him.

Just thinking about the mere possibility made me angry, ready to rip heads off. My wolf lost control at the thought of Savannah being in danger.

Anton drummed his fingers on the table, thoughtful.

“I noticed something different about you,” he commented.

I dragged my eyes to him and dropped the reports on the table.

“Like what, for example?”

He shrugged, pressing his lips together.

“I don’t know... you seem lighter, more open.”

“And that’s good?”

“It’s been many, many years since I’ve seen you like this, so relaxed.”

I sighed, rubbing a hand through my hair, pushing the strands back.

“I think it’s time to leave my past behind,” I confessed. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while, wondering whether I should do it or not, but... it seems like I no longer have a choice.”

“What do you mean?”

I slouched back in the chair, resting my back on the backrest and placed my feet on the wooden table, assuming a relaxed posture. I crossed my arms in front of my body.

“My wolf chose Savannah’s wolf. It’s like there’s some... connection between our animals. It’s been that way from the start. That’s why I lost control when I smelled her in heat, lost in the middle of the forest.” I blinked. “That’s how I felt when we transformed, and I hunted for her.”

Anton narrowed his eyes.

“Do you think Savannah could be your destined mate?”

I shook my head with a slight gesture.

“I don’t know what to think or believe, I just know she’s too important to me. I can’t even bear to imagine a life where she’s not around anymore.”

He laughed, swaying his body.

“That, to me, smells like passion, love, or whatever you want to call it.”

I huffed.

“It’s just a connection coming from our animals, Anton. Stop seeing love where it doesn’t exist,” I snapped.

I no longer felt the pain of Catalina’s death. She was like a good memory of moments I lived, and, in a way, they helped me become the man I turned out to be. I didn’t feel guilt, bitterness, or anything when thinking about Savannah in her place. We mated, I took her for myself, so being the queen of Dăneşti was her right.

I spent too much time clinging to the past, grieving her loss. And although I still cared for her and would always remember the omega fondly, it wouldn’t be the same anymore.

Savannah came into my life to change things, and she succeeded in digging a hole all the way to my heart, touching me in some way. Being with her made me happy, just like sharing moments with her. My wolf felt satisfied in a way it never had before.

I’ve been letting go of the past over the months, thinking less and slowly getting rid of it. The first strong trigger I felt was when Savannah was bitten and almost killed in the forest. The desperate feeling, the pure agony, was something I didn’t think I could feel with such impact. She was too important to me, so much so that I could barely control the fear of losing her. I didn’t care about my life, only hers. And I had never been so grateful to be mated and arrive in time to save her.

Then came the early heat and the three days we spent together, sharing each other’s company, satisfying each other, and succumbing to our wilder nature. It was there, in that moment, that I noticed there was no longer a past for me, only Savannah and what I was feeling for her.

Something had changed between the two of us, I just didn’t know what it was yet. I found myself hunting several times throughout the week, even when it wasn’t necessary, just to provide for her. My instincts led me to that. I wanted to see Savannah satisfied, fed, and safe.

I stared at Anton.

“I need you to keep Savannah company this afternoon,” I said, clicking my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “I’ll need to step out for a bit.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to Vanóia, I need to find out, with Jax, why the inhibitor didn’t have the expected effect.”

“You think it was a problem with the shipment?”

I laid my head back against the chair and stared at the ceiling, thoughtful.

“I have no idea, to be honest. I’m going to take the leftover capsules and try to figure it out with him, if it was a problem or if it was just Savannah’s body ignoring the herb.”

“And if it’s the second option?” he asked, curious.

“Well... let’s just say we’ll have a lot more lapses like that. If what Alexandra says is right, Savannah won’t calm down until she’s pregnant, and I’ll never be able to give that to her.”

Anton rubbed his thumb over his lips.

“Are you sure?”

“What do you mean?”

“She could be your destined mate, so she could, yes, get pregnant by you. Did Savannah open her womb?”

I squinted my eyes at him, frowning.

“Yes, a few times.”

“Then Alexandra is right, her wolf advanced the heat to get pregnant. She wants a pup and won’t rest until she gets one.” He whistled, and a spark appeared in his green eyes. “If you two are destined, she’ll get pregnant at some point. Now, if you’re not... well, good luck to both of you, you’ll spend a lot of time in your lives facing the cycle.”

“That’s why I need to talk to Jax. He needs to find a way to improve the inhibitor. Her wolf might advance the heat every damn month. And not that I’m complaining, because I love fucking her, but... it can be exhausting.”