STAWP | Chapter 39

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Logan

"He what?" I shake my head. At least that explains why the wolf was keeping a distance and then disappeared, both yesterday and today. He was making sure I was going to stay with my mate and be there to protect her. What I don't get is why Saffron would need guarding in the first place.

"I thought you knew," Saffron tells me.

"Knew what?" I ask. It's not like she's in danger. Her poor excuse for a father sold her, like a piece of meat. There's no reason he'd still be a threat. What reason would he have to come back? Would he try to hurt her? Steal her away? "What did Father say?" And why didn't he say it to me?

"He didn't actually tell me about the guard." Saffron whispers. "I saw him watching us this morning when we got to school. I'm pretty sure he was following us yesterday, too."

"Yeah, I thought there was someone out here." I agree. I'm surprised at how strong Saffron's senses are. When Father finds out, he'll be impressed. Between that and her speed as a wolf, maybe he'll even overlook the rest of her issues. Assuming I can teach her to link. "I'll talk to Father about the guard."

"Don't," Saffron begs. "Please?"

"Why not?"

"I don't think p—," she makes a popping sound and pauses for a second, then changes her mind about whatever she was going to say, and says instead, "um... I don't think Alpha wants me to know."

"I'll tell him I spotted the guard."

"Please don't?" Saffron whispers, looking up at me hopefully. "Just don't tell him I know?"

I sigh. My poor mate is terrified of my father. She probably thinks I'll get her in trouble. I can see the worry swirling in her eyes. As if her spotting the guard is the end of the world.

"I won't say anything," I tell her. It's not like it really matters, now that I already know. Plus, I'm glad Father has a wolf protecting Saffron. She's already so traumatized. If someone tries to hurt her just when she's starting to feel safe—or if something scares her—she might never get over being an Omega. Father's right to have someone look out for her long enough for her to gain some confidence. Plus, if Saffron's asshole father does show up when I'm not around, it'll be good to have the guard on hand to take care of him.

"Come on, we're almost there." I pull Saffron through the last set of trees.

We get to a clearing with a playground in the middle and Saffron looks around. This spot is filled with so many happy childhood memories. Laughing as my parents pushed me on the swing, scrambling up the slide, playing on the monkey bars. I want to ask Saffron if she has memories like that from her own childhood, but I'm worried it'll upset her. It can wait until she's stronger, when her past no longer haunts her and I don't have to watch everything I say and do around her.

"So, how do we do this?" Saffron asks nervously. She shuffles her feet and then looks up at me shyly.

I grin and lead her toward my favourite tree. When I was little, my parents and the Betas would take Jasper and me on picnics. We'd eat under that tree and Jasper and I would chase each other around the trunk and see if we could jump high enough to reach the lowest branches.

When we got older, we started climbing that same tree, and would hang out on near the top, looking down on the world. We wouldn't see much, except the clearing and the tree tops—this tree is nowhere near tall enough to see the pack house—but that never really bothered us.

We've also done homework under the tree, with Zara and Jess and other wolves our age. When it's been my family's turn at playground duty, I've gotten the little kids to gather around at this very spot and told them tall tales of powerful wolves saving their packs from rogues or defeating great dragons. I've even snuck out to this tree at night to make out with girls from the pack. Not Jess, but other girls, when I was younger.

Now, I want to bring my mate here and share my favourite tree with her. I touch the trunk affectionately before I sit down and lean my back against it. One day, I hope we'll make our own memories here, maybe even starting today. The tree where Saffron learned to link.

The thought makes me smile. It's a beautiful, sunny morning and there's nothing better than being out here. Everyone's still sitting in class and here I am, cutting class with my mate. It may sound unbelievable, but I've actually never cut class before. As the Alpha's son, I have to set an example for everyone else in the pack, so I always pay attention and take notes. Even when I wish I could leave. I mean, there's only so much of Mr. Hanks droning on and on about Spock that any Wolf can take. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's a decent teacher. Mr. Hanks, not Spock. I just wish he didn't keep trying to convince us math is fun.

I look up at Saffron and pat the spot next to me. She starts to sit down, and I grab her arm and give it a tug. Saffron loses her balance and fall squarely in my lap. Right where I like her.

For a second, my wolf and I get so distracted by the feel of our mate that all I can think about is what it feels like to hold her. Her butt is warm against my thighs and her hair feels soft against my face. I lean in and take a deep breath, inhaling my mate's scent. I almost forget why we're even out here, and it takes me several minutes to focus on what's really important.

I have to teach Saffron to link before Father finds out. Zara knows, which means she's going to tell Jasper. Obviously, she shouldn't even be talking to him, let alone sneaking around with him the day before his birthday, but I know they'll probably try to be alone at lunch, and probably again tonight. Jasper won't tell anyone Saffron can't link—I can trust my Beta to keep a secret—but the wolves in Mr. Hank's class are a problem. They already suspect something's up, and if they try to link with her again, they'll get suspicious. Then, word will get back to my father, and he'll confront me, and... and...

I feel the pressure building. What if this lesson doesn't work? What if Saffron can't link? I mean, ever! What if she just wasn't meant to be Luna, and we're forced to leave the pack and go rogue? What if I never see my pack again, or my parents, or Jasper, or... I force the thoughts away. I need to focus on teaching Saffron not worrying about what will happen if I fail.

Now, how to begin? I try to think of the steps I take to link, but it always feels so natural that I'm not really sure about the mechanics of it. I focus, open my mind, and... I guess I can start there.

"Okay," I tell Saffron. "I'm going to say something over the link and you see if you can hear me."

"How—" Saffron begins, but I cut her off.

"Just try to open your mind," I tell her.

"But how?" She persists.

"Close your eyes and try to relax," I suggest. It can't hurt.

Saffron nods, but I can feel tension coming off her in waves. She's tense and her back is ramrod straight, as if she's afraid to lean into me. I take her hand in mine and rub my thumb against her wrist soothingly. Saffron just tenses up further.

"I can't," she whispers and scrambles off my lap to sit on the grass facing me.

"Better?" I wink at her.

Saffron blushes and nods. She's so obviously into me she can't control herself, and that knowledge makes my grin spread wider.

"Relax," I tell her. She looks anything but. "Take deep breaths, in and out."

Saffron nods and starts breathing. Within seconds her posture changes, her body sinking into a comfortable sitting position.

Even at this distance, I'm able to tune into her pulse and breathing. Though the enhanced wolf hearing helps, I think it has something to do with her being my mate. I'm more aware of her and can sense her more strongly than any other wolf.

Over the link, I tell her she's beautiful. I expect her to blush, but get no reaction.

"Make sure to clear your mind," I add and Saffron nods.

I try again, mentally shouting random things over the link. Dogs are purple. The sky is falling. Father eats shoes for breakfast. I hope to startle a laugh out of Saffron when she does link, but nothing happens.

Disappointed, I try shouting over the link next, kind of like I would when a wolf is really far away. I picture Saffron is across the clearing, and try linking again and again.

I remind her to relax, to focus, to clear her mind and to breathe. I keep trying and trying, but it just doesn't seem to work.

"Come on, Saf," I beg. "You can do this." Belatedly, I realize I called her Saf instead of Sofie, but she doesn't complain.

"I'm trying," she whispers. A slight smile crosses her lips and she takes another deep breath. Her eyes remain open this time and she watches me as I talk over the link.

Please hear me. Please, I beg. "Anything?" I already know she can't hear me, or she would have answered, but I have to ask.

Saffron shakes her head and my heart sinks. Now what?

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