"Loving and fighting, accusing, denying. I can't imagine a world with you gone. The joy and the chaos, the demons we're made of. I'd be so lost if you left me alone."

~Chord Overstreet, 'Hold On'

~~~

*Elias's POV*

My paws smack against the forest floor as I launch myself forward, dashing between the trees. The wind whips around me as the life of the forest hums in my ears, connecting me to my surroundings.

I can feel the air blowing through every stand of my red-brown fur, making me feel nearly weightless as I practically fly through the wooded area.

It's been too long since I've gotten to run with Maverick, so I was overjoyed when Mateo suggested that they let us out for a run. Just like how Mateo has been Easton's best friend, Maverick has been mine. He's my soul brother and my Beta; the wolf I know would always have by back no matter what.

That is, unless he's the one jumping on my back.

We tumble in the grass and dirt after Maverick tackled me, knocking me off my feet. I snarl, snapping my teeth at him as a warning. Maverick barks a laugh, clearly not taking my threats seriously. Not that I can blame him.

'Fucker,' I growl at him as I pull myself off the ground.

Maverick shakes the dirt out of his deep brown fur. 'Maybe you shouldn't let your guard down,' he shoots back teasingly. 'It was pretty easy for me to take down our mighty Alpha.'

'I don't have to keep my guard up around you.'

'Clearly, you should. Wouldn't want the pack to see their Alpha getting his ass handed to him.'

My lip curls back over my teeth. 'Okay, let's go! Try to pin me.'

The teasing gleam fades in Maverick's eyes, replaced with a challenging glint. 'Wait, seriously? You want to spar?'

I crouch down, ready to pounce. 'Why not? It's been too long since our last sparring session. Show me what you got, mutt.'

Maverick mimics my stance, crouching low to the ground. 'Bring it on, mongrel.'

Keeping our eyes locked on each other and our heads lowered to the ground, we both wait for the other to make the first move. Our postures are rigid and statuesque, both of us knowing that it's advantageous to not attack first. You let your opponent strike first, carefully analyzing their movements and predicting what kind of fight they're putting up. Whether it's calculated and precise, or rushed and aggressive. Figuring that out at the start of the fight gives you the best chance of being victorious.

Of course, Maverick and I were trained together as pups, so it's like fighting another copy of yourself. We've been sparring together for so long that we can predict each other's moves based on the flickering of the eye.

A twig snaps, making my ears twitch. Someone is close by. My Alpha instincts are to track down the intruder in case they're not from our pack, but my pride doesn't want to look away from Maverick. If I look away, he has the upper hand of me letting my guard down. Again.

The scent of lavender and pine hits my nose, and I immediately straighten. That scent... it's familiar. Who...?

Before I have a chance to finish that thought, Maverick's large wolf body tackles me to the ground for a second time today. I yelp, kicking at him with my hind legs to push him off of me. We wrestle on the ground, trying to pin each other as I become increasingly aware of that heavenly scent. In my frustration, a burst of energy hits me and I use the extra strength to pin Maverick to the ground.

He huffs in surprise, and I growl for him to submit. When Maverick turns his head to the side, exposing his throat to me, I know I've won. Climbing off of him, I whip my head around in search for the source of that scent.

A silver wolf stands next to a nearby stream, watching us intensely with glowing blue eyes. My heart leaps into my throat when we lock eyes.

Maverick trots over beside me, curiously looking at me and the silver wolf. 'Is that—'

'My mate,' I finish, feeling elation coursing through my veins. Easton has gotten to spend time with Landon, but this is my first time seeing his wolf. My mate. I'm drawn to him, magnetized by his allure. He's absolutely gorgeous in his true form, gazing at me with bright blue eyes.

'I'll leave you to it,' Maverick says before darting away, through the trees. Taking a deep breath, I slowly walk towards my mate as to not startle him.

He doesn't back down as I approach him, meaning he recognizes me behind my status as his Alpha. He might not feel our bond yet, but he probably knows about me and Easton through Landon.

'Hello,' I use the pack mind link to single out his mind.

'Hi,' he responds shyly, his voice slightly deeper than Landon's.

'I'm Elias, but I'm assuming you already knew that since you were watching me.'

He huffs. 'Don't get ahead of yourself, hotshot,' he fires back, amusing me as Easton snorts from the back of my mind. 'I wasn't watching you. I just... happened to be in the same area.'

If I could, I would raise an skeptical eyebrow. 'Oh really? Landon just happened to shift at the same day and in the same place as Easton, putting us both in the same area? You're saying that was a coincidence?'

My mate turns his head away; his embarrassment rolling off of him. 'Well... maybe I was curious about you. Easton claims to be Landon's mate, which means... you're mine.'

You're mine. The words send my heart rate into overdrive, enough to make my tail wag.

'Easton was right,' I tell him. 'I am yours. Although, Landon failed to mention to us what your name is.'

'Leo,' he answers, and I mentally smile. Leo.

'Leo,' I echo with a purr. 'It's too bad you can't feel our bond yet. Easton is pretty set on us waiting two whole years before we mark you.'

'And you're okay with that?' Leo questions, tilting his head to the side adorably. I understand his concern. Our human components aren't as attuned to our Moon Goddess as we are, so we feel the bond more intensely. If waiting is painful for Easton, it's going to be twice as bad for me.

'Not really,' I admit. 'But it's not like I have much of a choice. We may be two souls in the same body, but everyone knows it's really the humans who call the shots.'

Leo steps towards me, his scent intensifying as he gets closer. 'So... if I were to say I wanted to mate right here, right now... you wouldn't?'

I'm stunned silent by his question, not having expected him to be so bold. He looks so beautifully tempting; his silver fur shining while his blue eyes sparkle. I would be lying if I said I wasn't eager to mate with him and mark him as mine, but...

'No,' I answer him truthfully. 'I wouldn't. I love Easton too much to break his trust like that. Besides, you don't even feel the bond yet. It wouldn't be right.'

Leo nods, his ears twitching happily. 'You passed.'

'Passed what?'

'I was testing you,' Leo says nonchalantly. 'To see if you're a good wolf. I'm glad that you are. It would've been a shame to reject the Alpha.'

I balk at that. 'You would've rejected me if I said I wanted to mate?'

'No,' he barks a laugh. 'Goddess, you don't read sarcasm easily, do you?'

I growl, stepping closer until our noses are nearly touching. Leo sobers, his eyes widening at how close we are.

'You should be careful of how much you tease me, baby,' I warn him lowly, catching the way he shivers at the nickname. 'One of these days, I might just pounce on you.'

Leo's jaw drops, and I back away from him with a mental smirk. After gaping at me for a few seconds, he shakes his head to recollect himself.

'Pervert,' he scoffs, and I throw him a wink.

Goddess, I'm going to have so much fun loving and fighting with this wolf.