Chapter 6 An Alpha friend

Claudius's POV

I have been a wreck all day. I haven't been able to eat. I have laid here most of the day, staring at that stupid spot. 

It's taking everything in me to stay in this house, and not go out there to stop him.

Today is the day... He's leaving.

Everything in me is screaming to go stop Noah and beg him to stay.

I turn my head and look at the clock and my stomach drops, I whimper when I see the time. Unable to lay here and do nothing, I race out the door. I don't go to the pack house, instead, I head for the drive that leads to the main gate, and out of our territory.

I stopped behind a tree and dropped my clothes before shifting and pulling them on. 

I'm just in time, and I feel the tears already running down my face as I hear the cars coming. I step out from behind the tree and hold on to it for support. I see the car coming and my heart pounds in my chest. 

I see his beautiful white hair in the passenger seat. His head turns and we lock eyes. I step forward as the tears run down my face, and I reach out for him and scream his name. 

"NOAH!... Please, don't go!" I scream, and like a fool, I run after the car. Calling his name, I ignore all the vehicles behind him. I don't even pay attention to the people who I know are looking at me as if I'm crazy. 

I push on the link and he doesn't open it. I see the car getting further and further away from me. I'm crushed as I fall to the ground and break down crying. I desperately push on the link.

Wanting to beg him to stay, wanting to beg him to come back... But he doesn't open the link, and somehow that hurts more. Because I know he knows it's me. I keep trying until I can't feel his link anymore, letting me know he's way out of the territory, and too far away for the link to work any longer. I lean forward and scream as loud as I can before punching the ground over and over again. 

It's so hard to breathe, the air around me feels like it's been sucked away, and I struggle for each breath. I don't know what's happening. I claw at my throat, desperately trying to breathe before I feel Niko come to the surface forcefully and take over. 

I feel the shift begin as he forces it and throws me in the back of my head...

....

Niko forced a shift on me that day. He said I was having a panic attack and I wouldn't respond to him. He took over so I could breathe. 

He stayed in his wolf form until the next day. He didn't think it was safe for me to come forward before then. 

I couldn't function for training so I took a week off. 

It was just too hard. Every time I looked at the field I saw him, even though he wasn't there.

It's still hard, and I can still see him on the field, even though he's not here. 

A week after he left, one afternoon there was a knock at my door. I was shocked, and nervous when I opened the door and saw the Alpha sitting there.

He was worried about me, which surprised me. I sat on the porch and talked with him for at least an hour. 

And since then, he comes to see me once a week. He either brings lunch, or dinner, depending on what time of the day it is. 

Xander came over and built a ramp on my porch just for the Alpha's wheelchair. Talk about weird. Not the fact that my porch has a ramp, but it's the Alphas. They went through all this trouble, just so the Alpha can come here once a week to see me. 

I was so nervous in the beginning. I mean, it's the Alpha! The biggest one I've ever seen in my entire life! I've never felt an Alpha with an aura as strong as his, and the man's not even using it. Just being around him makes you want to submit.

But when he comes over, he has a smile on his face. It almost seems as though he wants to be here. Like he's actually interested in me and cares about me. It's the first time in so long that anyone has cared about me.

I was confused at first as to why he was doing this. The only thing that makes sense is Noah must have told him about me. He must have told his father how I feel about him. 

Thaddeus must have known how hard this was for me and knew I needed someone. And I'm not going to lie, It feels so good to have someone over here. Even if it is only once a week for an hour or two. I find myself looking forward to it, and excited when he comes over. 

And the food is delicious! I'm not the best cook, and I don't normally have a lot of food in the house. I usually live off of peanut butter and jelly and other types of sandwiches, or a bowl of cereal. 

But now once a week, I'm guaranteed to have at least one hot meal, which is quite nice. 

"I see you're clearing this area out over here, what are you going to plant?" Alpha Thaddeus asked as he looked from the picnic table, then pointed to the area I cleared out yesterday. 

"Oh, yeah I was working on that yesterday. I'm going to plant some vegetables. I always wanted my own garden. I don't know why I've never done it before now." I said before taking another bite. 

"Can I ask you something?" Thaddeus said and I nodded my head since I just took a bite.

"I never see you at the pack house, or at any of the events. I have never seen you with anyone... Do you have any friends?" Thaddeus asked and I looked down at my plate for a moment and shook my head.

"No," I said quietly, keeping my head down. For some reason, I just couldn't look at him when I answered.

"So you're all alone back here, huh?" Thaddeus said, already knowing the fact that I don't have a family. I still remember the day I came here. 

I ran away from my uncle. I had finally had enough of him and I took off when I was 14. Things were getting so bad, I was afraid that if I didn't leave, he would end up raping me.

I was a rogue, and I was on my own. I took care of myself for 2 years. I lived in the woods. The first year and a half was the hardest because I couldn't shift. It made it hard to hunt, especially since I didn't have any weapons, or tools to hunt with. 

I was constantly hungry. I found this pack a few months before I turned 16. They have the largest field of crops I have ever seen. It was full of so many different things to eat, it blew my young little mind. 

I would sneak in early in the morning, and fill up one of my shirts with enough food for the day, then sneak back to my bush where I lived in. 

It was a large grouping of bushes, with an area in the center, big enough for me. It was the coziest spot I had found in those two years, and I didn't mind it.

When I was 16, and winter arrived, is when things changed. I was cold, and the crops were gone. I never took into consideration that I was living off of their farm, and there would be nothing to eat during the winter.

I was so hungry, starving, and getting weaker by the day. I was desperate, so I went closer to town, looking for food. Unfortunately, I was spotted by a little girl who began screaming the hateful word rogue. 

My small scrawny wolf tried to run as fast as he could, as I was being chased. I was so scared, I thought for certain they were going to kill me, especially when an incredibly large black wolf appeared out of nowhere and tackled me. 

I remember whimpering and crying as he bit my scruff, then forced his words into my head. "Shift!" Unable to resist his command, I shifted right there. I curled into a ball crying and begging them not to hurt me. 

****

Flashback:

Third Person's POV 

"What are you doing here?" A deep voice with authority asked.

"I-I'm sorry, please don't hurt me. I was just trying to find something to eat. I'm sorry, I'll leave. I was just hungry, I didn't mean any harm."

Thaddeus let out a sigh, feeling bad for the little wolf. He was skinny, way too skinny. He was shivering, in the freezing cold snow.

The Alpha reached up and took the blanket from Xander, and the little boy cried out and flinched when Thaddeus touched him. His fearful eyes looked up at Thaddeus confused when he laid a blanket over his body and picked him up out of the snow.

"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. You're freezing. Xander, carry him back for me."

End of flashback

****

Claudius's POV

That's how I came to the Midnight Moon Pack. It was only a month after my 16th birthday when Thaddeus found me. I lived in the orphanage for just a little over a year before I got this little house. 

The orphanage was nice and all, but I didn't like being around that many people. I just wasn't used to it. It was always just me and my uncle, I was never allowed out of the house, because of what I am. I had to stay hidden inside so no one would find me. 

"Yeah, but it's okay. I don't mind being alone." I said, pushing my food around on the plate with my fork.

"I know you say you don't mind, but everyone needs someone."

"It's okay, I have Niko."

"You know what I mean. Of course, our wolves keep us company, but you need physical company as well...

I'll tell you what, I'll keep coming over here once a week, but I would love it if you would come to the pack house and visit me at least once every other week, starting with this Friday. We have a small gathering every Friday. We have a barbecue in the backyard and a little bonfire. I would love it if you would join us. What do you say?" Thaddeus said and I couldn't help but smile. How could I say no.

"Okay, I'll be there," I said and Thaddeus smiled.

....

I nibbled on my lip as I paced back and forth. I stop and look out the window. I can see the Alpha, Xander, and Marcus standing outside looking down the driveway, waiting for the approaching cars that are still a bit a ways away. 

I begin pacing again, trying to fight the urge to run out of the packhouse, and down the road to meet the approaching car. But the Alpha told me to wait in here so they could greet him first. 

It's been 6 months... Six very long months since I last saw him. I know Noah hoped the time away would make my feelings for him disappear. But they haven't. They are still there, and just as strong. I've missed him terribly, and I'm dying to see him. I pass by the window and stop then quickly move forwards when I see the car pulling up in front of the packhouse.

My heart pounds in my chest as I watch the back door open. My breath catches in my throat when I see his white hair as he begins getting out of the car. 

I watch as he runs and jumps into the Alpha's lap, his father. I'm quite certain he has a death grip on his father. Or maybe it's his father that has a death grip on him. They're both hugging each other, and it's clear how much they missed each other. 

I watch as he takes turns and hugs Xander and Marcus before another little person steps out from behind Samantha. He clings to Noah, and I can tell he's terrified of our Alpha. 

I don't know who he is, but he looks like he can't be more than 14 years old. He's very small and very thin, and he looks terrified.

My heart skips a beat when Noah looks up toward the pack house. Is it me he's looking for?

My heart begins to hammer in my chest, pounding against my ribs as he walks toward the door. 

I feel frozen, as though my legs don't work and my feet are glued to the ground. My eyes fill with tears as I hear the door open, he's really here.

I couldn't help but wonder if he was going to be mad that I'm here.

I heard his footsteps as he stepped into the room and the door closed. I turn my head and my eyes land on his beautiful face. 

He looks sad, and he takes a hesitant step forward. My legs suddenly began to work and I quickly run to Noah, throwing my arms around him as I hugged him tight.

I hear Noah let out a breath as he slowly leans into me and wrapped his arms around me. I felt his face press against my neck as he hugged me. It took everything I had not to cry.

His amazing scent that I haven't smelled in 6 months washes over me. My eyes closed as I hugged Noah and squeezed him tight. It felt so good to have him in my arms again. 

I felt something falling between us and he quickly reached between us to grab it. I pulled back and looked down to see what it was.

"What's that?" I asked, and was blessed with a rare moment when Noah blushed, as he looked down at what he was holding. 

He then held up a small little stuffed animal that looked like a bird.

"Claudius, meet Birdie!" Noah said with a bright smile on his face. I couldn't help but laugh. It was so cute. I reached up and grabbed the little stuffed bird to get a better look at it. As soon as I brought it towards my face I smelled a strange scent that had me taking in a breath, shocked.

My nose flared as I tried to find the scent and smell it better. I brought the bird to my nose and took a deep breath in. My eyes widen when the most incredible scent invades my senses. I quickly pulled the bird back and looked at it, before looking at Noah.

"Who had this? Who touched this?" I asked, feeling my wolf running laps through my head, excited.