His Wolf's Choice

by Mary Goldberger

  “Ralph isn’t too happy about his new ‘friend’,” Jordan remarked with a light chuckle although there was a dark shadow on his face.

  Leonardo grinned before shifting his narrowed gaze to Garin. “You don’t seem surprised that Whitney and Jasmine are getting along so well.”

  Garin clenched his teeth together before he responded. “Because they seem to be two of a kind, going after what isn’t really theirs to have.”

  Alec closed his eyes at Garin’s words, and he flinched. “I’m sorry, Alec.”

  “Nothing for you to be sorry about,” Alec replied in a sharp voice but there was a brief smile on his face. “Besides, like you said, it is a good reason to go home.”

  Garin chuckled cuffing him on the shoulder while Leonardo nodded his head slowly. “Yes, they are similar in that respect although Whitney…”

  His words dropped off getting Alec and Garin’s attention while Jordan shook his head a brief tightening of his face.

  “Ralph had a mate before Whitney,” Leonardo suddenly said in a low voice.

  At the narrowed looks of Alec and Garin, Leonardo gave a single shake of his head. “No, Ralph didn’t reject her. In fact, they were to be mated on the same day he accepted the Alpha position, but then she vanished.”

  At his sudden explanation, there was silence, and he continued without looking at them. “That was five years ago. He searched for three years, and then he gave up hope.”

  “But…” Garin uttered eyes narrowing in a still face.

  “Why?” Alec asked a muscle tensing in his jaw.

  “Because he found no evidence that she wanted to return,” Jordan replied with a single shake of his head.

  “Evidence,” Alec and Garin repeated.

  “Mainly rumors,” Leonardo spoke in a low voice his teeth clenched tightly together. “Around the same time, he met Whitney who coincidentally left your original pack almost a few months after you, Garin.”

  Garin wasn’t shocked by the news slightly surprised that he hadn’t even wondered about how she met Ralph. “Our Alpha was already mated, and his second-in-command had discovered his mate before I left.”

  At the information, Alec grimaced shaking his head. “She wasn’t going to become Alpha Female then.”

  “Not unless she tried to do something to them,” Leonardo remarked getting narrowed looks from the three men.

  Leonardo closed his eyes a sad frown crossing his face, but there was also a hint of anger and Jordan sighed shaking his head slowly.

  “Why do I get the feeling there is more to this story,” Alec said slowly sharing a look with Garin who had the same feeling.

  “There is,” Leonardo agreed, but he didn’t elaborate aware that the two younger men where staring at him eyes dark with questions.

  Alec went to say something when a hand on his arm stopped him, and he shifted his eyes to Garin catching the dark look on his face.

  Leonardo turned catching the same expression. “I’ve never said this especially considering that it has to do with a rejection, but I think she did you a favor, Fighter Wolf Garin.”

  Jordan’s eyes narrowed at the remark and when Leonardo headed back inside, Jordan followed after a quick nod at Garin and Alec.

  “I’m hoping that I misunderstood that,” Alec said slowly. “Because if I didn’t, that means…”

  “My ex-mate is the one that no shapeshifter wants.” Garin filled in when Alec suddenly stopped, his voice hard while a muscle clenched in his jaw at what was revealed even if there was more to it.

  Without another word, Garin went inside the house, and Alec watched him with worry on his face before he followed absently nodding his head to Jasmine who was standing outside the living room.

  She smiled at him and opened her mouth to say something, but Alec kept going seeing Jared stepping into the doorway.

  “Jasmine…”

  Alec blocked the rest of the man’s words wondering why his wolf was strangely quiet, but there was no sigh of anger or sadness coming off him.

  Heading upstairs to his room, Alec hesitated outside Garin’s guest room door before walking off getting the feeling that Garin needed to be by himself right now.

  Entering his own room, Alec closed the door and walked over to the window pulling out his cell.

  Dialing only one number, Alec felt himself relaxing while waiting for the call to be answered, and he smiled when it was finally answered by a soft voice.

  “Brianna.”

  Down the hall, Garin laid on the bed his body unnaturally still while his mind replayed the brief, but enlightening, if unfinished, conversation with Leonardo and Jordan.

  When his cell rung, he was attempted to ignore it, but his wolf growled at him.

  Sighing in frustration, he answered with a snarl. “Yes.”

  There was a brief silence before Daya spoke warily. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  Garin sighed his eyes going slightly dark hearing his wolf growl lightly at the sound of her voice. “Not really,” he denied before sighing loudly. “I just learned something that made me realize how blind I am.”

  “Oh.”

  At the simple exclamation, Garin found himself smiling grateful for his wolf’s push to answer this call. “But I’m glad that you called. How is your physical therapy coming along?”

  Daya’s soft laughter made his heart slam against his chest while eliciting pleasant sensations throughout his body.

  “According to Brianna, I’m doing better than she expected, but my leg is telling me something different,” she revealed.

  “It’ll get better,” he assured her hearing the slight discouragement in her voice.

  Again, Daya laughed and Garin relaxed back against the bed more at ease than he was a few minutes ago while they talked not touching on the subject of his return or his decision to stay there a little longer.

  It was late when they finally got off the phone, and Garin laid on his bed staring up at the ceiling recalling his words earlier words to him.

  I’ve made my choice. You can continue to find your own although I hope it is the same as mine.

  He sighed slowly closing his eyes while something inside him trembled that even startled his wolf.

  Chapter 16

  A few days later, Jordan was outside watching the training session which included his fighter wolves and Tobias. He found himself smiling when Garin and Tobias started laughing before being joined by the others.

  “He is well liked,” Leonardo remarking walking up next to him.

  “Which one?” Jordan asked with a chuckle.

  “Both.”

  Jordan had to admit Leonardo was right eyes studying the yard seeing how well everyone seemed to get along with the exception of one.

  Jordan frowned eyeing off to the side the young man with a heavy scowl on his face.

  “He alienated himself,” Dena replied joining them, and Jordan winced since she was telling the truth.

  The day after they arrived, Jared had tried to humiliate Garin which only backfired on him. Since then, the others had been wary and distrustful of him.

  “You think…” he uttered quietly.

  “Doubt it,” Leonardo replied even though he hadn’t finished the thought.

  Dena turned to him with a slight frown. “I hear that you and your pack members are leaving tomorrow.”

  Jordan nodded his head shooting her a small grin. “I have a pack to lead and there are a few things I want to complete before…”

  He stopped knowing that she didn’t like the talk about his death.

  Jordan turned his attention back to the group in the yard observing them.

  “A good Alpha mingles with his pack,” Leonardo commented.

  Jordan nodded his head believing the same thing, glancing over when Ralph joined them standing on the other side of Leonardo.

  “Yes, it also allows an Alpha to understand his members better,” Ralph added quietly observing the same scene.

  They we
re quiet when suddenly Leonardo asked, “How is your pack doing, Ralph?”

  “Better now that I’m not leading them.” It was said reluctantly, but truthfully.

  Leonardo shifted him a quick look before turning his attention back to the training session. “They are waiting for your return.”

  Ralph flinched, but he nodded his head slowly. “I don’t want to add to their troubles until I learn the truth.”

  Jordan and Leonardo shared a look while Dena looked on in confusion.

  “Finding the truth won’t be so easy,” Jordan replied with a wry grin. “Believe me, I know, but watch out for the repercussions.”

  Ralph shifted his gaze for a second. “I don’t think it will change anything…not now.”

  The three of them shared quick, understanding grins, before they turned back to the group watching members joining the training.

  The young, and older, she-wolves joined the training also except for a few including Bethea much to her disappointment.

  She was joined by a few others of Leonardo’s pack while Whitney and Jasmine hung out together ignoring the others.

  “The same goes for an Alpha Female,” Ralph suddenly remarked staring at them before shaking his head a hard look shifting across his face.

  Leonardo merely put a hand on his shoulder while Jordan remarked. “Finding the right mate whether an Alpha or not…”

  “Woman or man,” Dena inputted with a chuckle receiving nod of agreement.

  “Makes all the difference.”

  This was uttered by all three men, and Dena smiled softly leaning her forehead against Leonardo’s arm.

  “Exactly.”

  The next day, Garin stood on the porch while Leonardo and Dena saw their guests off.

  When Jordan looked over and met Garin’s eyes, Garin bowed his head in respect for the Alpha, and especially for the man who raised Daya.

  “Nice meeting you, Garin, Alec,” Tobias called out helping Bethea into the SUV.

  She grinned and waved at them before sliding in the backseat followed by Tobias.

  Jared and Jasmine uttered their goodbyes before walking over to the other SUV and climbing inside. They pulled out a second later leaving the others, and Jordan sighed shaking his head before turning to his hosts.

  “Thank you for inviting us.”

  Leonardo nodded his head putting a hand on his shoulder just as he did for Ralph yesterday. “Don’t worry, Jordan, we will back your choices.”

  Jordan closed his eyes and let out a breath relaxing. “Again, thank you.” He gave Dena a hug, shook hands with Ralph and Leonardo before heading to the SUV where one of his fighter wolf’s opened the door for him.

  “Alpha…” the man uttered a frown on his face.

  Jordan smiled. “Don’t worry. I know a shortcut for home.”

  The fighter wolf grinned and nodded his head before Jordan got into the vehicle.

  Closing the door, the fighter wolf turned to the house and bowed before doing the same. The other fighter wolf had already gave his respectful goodbyes and was waiting inside.

  Their hosts and guests watched the SUV leave until it was out of sight and then they turned to go inside just as Whitney came out a frown on her face.

  “They left,” she remarked running a hand through her hair. “I wanted to say goodbye.”

  “Unfortunately,” Ralph remarked his tone slightly cold which didn’t go unnoticed by any of the others, “they couldn’t wait until you found the right outfit.”

  Whitney flushed at his words her mouth dropping open in shock, but Ralph shook his head going past her into the house.

  “Garin, we need to talk about our departure tomorrow.”

  Whitney turned swiftly at Alec’s words, but Garin merely nodded his head following Alec who headed inside behind Ralph.

  “Garin,” Whitney called out in a soft voice only to stop when Garin ignored her. She frowned, a heavy look settling on her face which tightened even more when Leonardo and Dena walked over to her.

  “You look upset, dear,” Dena muttered although there was a scornful look on her face.

  “It’s nothing,” Whitney replied tossing her hair over one shoulder sneering at Dena before turning on her heel to go inside.

  She froze, though, when Leonardo spoke in full Alpha tone, his voice harsh. “Remember whose house you are staying in, Alpha Female Whitney, and why you are here.”

  She slowly turned to him eyes suddenly wide in an ashen face.

  “Do not disrespect my Alpha Female again.”

  Swallowing, Whitney nodded her head and Leonardo stared at her with narrowed eyes before escorting Dena into the house.

  They left Whitney, who was trembling, on the porch without a second thought walking into the house.

  Upstairs in Alec’s room, there was a meeting being held about the departure of their group tomorrow with the exception of Garin and the other volunteered wolf, Paul.

  “When are we leaving?” Jaime asked excitement in his voice which elicited laughter around the room.

  Alec chuckled sharing a look with Garin who merely shook his head.

  “Calm down, boy,” Sebastian teased putting a hand on Jamie’s shoulder. “We’re all excited about going home.”

  Jaime shot him a glare, but reluctantly subsided ignoring the sly grins he was getting from the others.

  “We will leave in the morning,” Alec confirmed his eyes darkening with anticipation, which elicited another round of laughter.

  Everyone started talking at once, and Garin stood back along with the other fighter wolf, Paul.

  “They are excited,” Paul remarked a look of sorrow on his face catching Garin’s attention.

  “Sooner, or later, you will meet your mate, too, Paul,” Garin assured him understanding the look of sorrow.

  Paul shifted him a frowning look before he sighed and shook his head. “It took you a long time to find yours.”

  Garin narrowed his eyes at him a look on of confusion swiftly crossing his face. “My mate rejected me almost ten years ago.”

  Paul’s startled eyes snapped to him. “But Daya…”

  Garin clenched his hands into fist and a muscle tensed in his jaw. “Daya isn’t my mate,” he revealed in a low tone.

  Paul was quiet for a few minutes. “That is a shame, though, Garin, because she is the first woman that I’ve seen you be serious about since you’ve joined our pack, and you seem to be happy when you are with her.”

  Garin opened his mouth to respond, but not knowing what to say, he closed it just as fast both turning their attention to their friends ignoring the laughter of his wolf who didn’t say a word.

  Alec walked over to them a few minutes later after Paul walked away.

  “You look pensive,” he remarked getting a brief glance from Garin.

  “I am,” Garin admitted with a slight frown on his face eyes drifting around the room.

  “About a certain young woman,” Alec surmised watching the frown slightly shift into a smile before it disappeared. Sighing, Alec shifted his gaze to the others who were laughing and joking excited about leaving. “I’m not sure what Paul said, but I’m assuming it wasn’t what you were expecting.”

  “Not really,” Garin found himself being honest. “I wasn’t aware that others were paying close attention to my behavior.”

  Alec gave him a startled look, so Garin clarified. “Paul was talking about meeting my mate late assuming that it was Daya.”

  Understanding dawned on Alec’s face, and he nodded his head letting out a soft whistle. “Paul hasn’t had the fortune of meeting his mate yet.”

  “I know.” It was all that Garin said, and yet there was an undertone that Alec couldn’t decipher in his voice.

  Alec clapped a hand on Garin’s shoulder almost knocking him over since he wasn’t expecting it.

  “But then again, not many are able to find another especially one that calls to you and your wolf.”

  Garin stiffened at Alec’s words,
but he didn’t reply letting his eyes scan the crowd.

  “I’ll go and take the evening patrol.”

  Alec went to stop him, but after Garin gave him a brief look, he merely gave him a nod watching the other man leave the room.

  “Is Garin all right?” Jaime asked joining him after catching Garin leaving the room.

  Alec found himself grinning before nodded his head. “He will be once he stops fighting himself.”

  Jaime stared at him in confusion, but Alec didn’t answer the question in his eyes although he chuckled.

  “He’ll be fine.”

  Jaime sighed nodding his head slowly. “I’m sure he is just missing Daya.”

  The comment elicited laughter from Alec which earned him another baffled look from Jaime.

  Shaking his head, Alec walked away to join the others nodding his head to Paul who glanced over at him.

  Garin didn’t shift into his wolf right away after leaving the house since he was lost in thought.

  You’re confused. His wolf muttered with a growling chuckle.

  Garin ignored him even though he knew that his wolf was right.

  “I wish Daya was here,” he admitted aloud, and he stilled at his own words shaking his head before he found himself laughing. “I sound like a teenage boy.”

  Too bad we didn’t meet her first, his wolf muttered. But I don’t think we would’ve appreciated her as much if we had though.

  Garin didn’t reply to his comment since he wasn’t sure if his wolf was right, and he found something in him tremor with a hint of fear.

  Growling at his own emotions, Garin shifted into his wolf howling into the sky before darting off into the woods.

  In his study where he and Ralph were talking, Leonardo lifted his head hearing the cry into the night.

  “Well, I remember doing that,” Ralph remarked followed by a slight, if humorless, chuckle glancing over at Leonardo who was frowning. “It is something we all go through when we realize the importance of our mates.”

  “He’s not there yet,” Leonardo replied with a single shake of his head.

  Ralph was quiet a thoughtful look on his face. “No, he isn’t,” he finally agreed with a twist of his mouth. “Leonardo.”