Chloe's POV

I groan as my eyes finally flutter open, meeting the sun's gaze as it peeks through my blue curtains. I roll onto my back, stretching my body in a long, drawn out pull that has my legs shaking. I pause when I feel a slight ache in the base of my spine. Why am I so sore?

The events of last night hit me in the face, hard, as I remember the exact reason why my body aches so deliciously. I sigh in relief over feeling my hunger and body being recovered from being neglected for a week.

Remembering previous events has me turning in my bed, expecting to see Alex sprawled across my bed and I prepare myself to kick him out of my room in annoyance but draw up short when I see the other side of my bed empty. Glancing around the room, I realize there's no trace of him any where. And though I was just thinking about rudely kicking him out, the revelation upsets me.

At this, I begin to wonder if the whole ordeal was just my imagination, only the soreness in my spine and the sated feel of being fed convincing me otherwise. I raise myself from the bed, swinging my legs over the side to pull myself off the comfort it provides me. But before I do, I come across a piece of paper on my bedside table that wasn't there before I went to sleep.

Chloe,
Here's my number (xxx) xxx-xxxx
If you ever need me, call me but if I don't pick up I live in the Autumn Falls pack in the east side of the city.
- Alex and Toby

   I scoff at the note, crumbling it, almost going to throw it away, but instead I put the crumbled paper on the table. As if I'd ever need him. I finally get off the bed, and head to the bathroom to relieve myself. As I go to turn on the shower, there's a knock at the door. Not bothering to hide my naked body, I exit my bathroom and pad the the front door.

   Without looking at who it is, I throw the door open, not caring who sees me, used to people seeing my body anyway. I am unsurprised to see Thomas, though I am confused by the dark circles surrounding his eyes. He smiles though as he greets me.

   "Damn, Trouble." He says walking past me to enter my apartment. "This is the first time I've seen your dick on soft." He chuckles, his usual icy tone warmed by the humor. I roll my eyes at his childishness, not needing his 'humor' at the moment. As I stated before, he's ever the gentleman.

   I only glare at him as I go back to the bathroom, Tom following me and closing the door. He hops up on the counter, leaning against the mirror as I turn the shower on and step behind the curtains. He again strikes up conversation as I wet my body underneath the hot spray of water.

   "So I saw Alex coming into your apartment yesterday."

   "Is there a question in there, Thomas? Don't think I forgot the was you rated me out to Chandler." I tell him bitterly and there's a pause before he answers.

   "What are you talking about, Trouble? I haven't talked to Chan since the other day when we went for ice cream." My hands pause from lathering my hands in shampoo. So how did he know? My mind reels but moves on as Thomas continues talking. "He was terrified, you know."

   "Of what?" I ask him absentmindedly, not believing that the strong alpha male from last night was scared to simply come to my apartment.

   "Probably of rejection, anger, and most simply you. You weren't exactly inviting your first encounter." I shrug my shoulders, forgetting Tom can't see me, as I wash the conditioner from my hair.

   "Well he was fine when he woke me up. He fed me and left me, though last night or this morning I'm not sure." I don't mean for my tone to be bitter, but it is as I tell Thomas about Alex walking out on me.

   "Well that's good." Thomas's response makes me frown, my hands gripping my washcloth a little tightly as I lather it in my favorite wash.

   "Why do you say that?" I keep my tone curious, though I can't stop the frown that's taking over my face.

   " He knows that you would've hated to wake up and see him there. I mean you don't even want a Mate and you only used him for his body, right? It's good he knows his boundaries." My heart clenches as he relays what was probably going on in Alex's head when he left, his wording making me sound callous and mean. "He left last night, I heard him leaving your room about two hours after he arrived."
So he did leave last night. As soon as I finished using him.

   I silently gag at the feelings crawling up my chest, locking them away deep in the empty abyss my heart used to be. "Yeah, if he was there this morning I would have kicked him out." Thomas hums his agreement. I rinse my body off, and turn the spray off with a flick of my wrist against the handle.

   I open the curtain, accepting the towel Thomas holds out for me.

   "Have you met his wolf yet?" He asks, studying his face though he gives nothing away himself.

   "No," I answer frowning, but I did learn that his name is Tobias." And I suddenly feel the urge to go to Alex and meet Tobias. Maybe leaving him unable to speak will ease my nerves. If I have to deal with the two the rest of my life, I may as well get acquainted.

   After drying myself I head to the drawer set in my room, pulling out a pair of skinnies, skipping the option of a shirt and throwing on a wind breaker that reaches mid stomach. My black Toms complete my outfit.

   "Hey, I'm going out. You want to come?" I purposely leave out the destination so I won't have to explain my thoughts. To my surprise though, Tom refuses.

   "No thanks, Clo. My Slip is getting too close. I have to make preparations with Chandler." Usually I would fight to get him to stay, though I always end up losing that battle. But the tone his voice holds has me nodding. He waves as he heads out the door. He probably woke up on the wrong side of the coffin. I snicker as I grab my keys, phone and wallet and follow him out my apartment.

✨✨

   I follow the last sign on the road until I finally come across a sign that reads, "Welcome to the Autumn Falls Pack." There's a building in front of me that seems to be for visitors, but I ignore it, instead grabbing one of the map pamphlets that hanging outside the building. I snort at the lack of security as I scan the lists of names and addresses until I locate one Alexander Hall, Beta to James Wood.

     As I head towards his house, I shake my head at how easy it was to find his location, though I know werewolf culture is exactly like it world wide. Werewolves are some of the strongest species in the world. They're extremely open and don't hide anything, but one has to be careful not to take the openness as stupidity of trust. They're able to fare extremely well against anyone who threatens them or their family, so having a map of everyone's names and houses doesn't phase the wolves one bit.

Rounding the last corner, my eyes find the house that's his and I can't hold back the frown that crosses my mind. The building, while clean and the lawn manicured, seems so empty even from a distance. As if it was missing the love and care that the other house I've passed. I ignore the thought as I climb up the steps.

Even though he probably heard me approaching, I knock on the door to announce my presence. After a minute or two, I realize he's either not answering the door or he's not home. I knock one last time, but announce my name, this time.

"Uhh, it's Chloe. Your...the guy from last night." My mind and mouth stumble over the word Mate, but it's quickly forgotten when I hear a series of crashes and scrambling that gets closer to the door. The door is swung open in the heartbeat, a wild and tired looking Alex coming face to face with my amused face. I watch as he gulps nervously, before his face settles on one of neutrality and a whisper of dominance.

He leans against his door frame, a calm smile settling over his features despite the mad dash that was made to the door.

"Hello, pup."

~~~~~~~
So Chloe went there on his own accord. What happens next. And what's going on with Thomas?

Thoughts?

Comments?

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