"I feel stupid when I pray. Why the fuck am I praying anyway if nobody's listening?"

~Demi Lovato, 'Anyone'

~~~

*Easton's POV*

"Are you sure?" I whisper in shock. "How is this possible?"

My dad shakes his head while scratching his beard. "I don't know either. How they've been able to get through those packs' security is beyond me."

"Fuck," I run my hand over my face. Over the past few months, two Alphas from other packs have gone missing. No one knows how they're slipping through the packs undetected, or even who they are. It's speculated that it's a group of rogues since they're targeting the heads of the packs. My dad just informed me that a third Alpha has been reported as missing.

"You need to be on high alert," my dad instructs. "Whoever they are, they could come after you next."

"There's no way," I shake my head. "Those other packs were smaller, less guarded. We're the biggest pack in the area. There's no way they would break in here."

"Easton," my dad starts firmly. "I'm not going to tell you how to run your pack. You're the Alpha now, and I trust you'll do what you think is best. All I'm asking is that you take this matter seriously, and be cautious."

"Of course," I sigh. "I'll order Mateo to have the warriors on high alert. Landon won't go anywhere without guards, and the same goes for you, mom, and Leon. Even though it's only been Alphas going missing so far, we shouldn't take any chances."

Dad nods his head. "Good. I'm glad you're taking this seriously."

I incline my head, and he turns to leave my office. Once he's gone, I slump in my chair and run my fingers through my hair.

Why does he feel the need to micromanage me? Does he not think I've been doing a good enough job as Alpha over the past four years? I don't need his fucking help.

'He's just worried,' Elias argues in a quiet voice. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop.'

I furrow my brows. 'You've never apologized for that before.' When he doesn't respond, I push forward. 'What, is there something you want to say?'

'No,' he answers quietly. 'There's nothing.'

An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach. 'Elias, you can tell me. I won't get mad.'

'Are you sure?' He questions sharply. 'Because it seems like I can't say anything without you getting mad and shutting me out. Goddess, Easton, do you know how much that fucking sucks? Being trapped in a dark box within your mind, not being able to talk to you?'

'Elias—'

'And what about Leo?' He stresses, the pain obvious in his tone. 'I haven't gotten to see my mate in so long. I can barley sense him with the way you've been shutting me out. How would you feel if you couldn't see or talk to Landon?!'

A crushing guilt weighs on my chest. He's right, I haven't been giving much thought to my wolf lately. I've been so concerned with keeping him oblivious to the voice, that I've neglected his needs completely.

"I'm sorry," I whisper aloud. "I've been so terrible to you. There's just... a lot on my mind lately, and I don't want to burden you with it all."

'Easton...' Elias's voice softens. 'It's not a burden. As your wolf, it's my duty to—'

"How about I make it up to you?" I cut him off, hopefully distracting him. "I'll ask Landon if Leo is up for a run."

'Yes!' Elias cheers excitedly. 'Yes, yes, do that!'

I chuckle at his enthusiasm before using our mind link to reach out to Landon. He tells me that they'll be free in about an hour, after he's finished at the school for the day. Elias prances happily in my head for the next hour until Landon tells me that Leo's ready. We meet in the open wooded area behind the pack house before stripping our clothes off. As per usual, I let my eyes rake over Landon's naked form. After four years together, he still blushes and swats me away before shifting. Chuckling, I follow suit and allow Elias to take over.

***

It's dark by the time our wolves shift back. By the exhaustion of my body, I can tell Elias did a lot more than just running. And by the slight limp Landon walks with, I can tell it had to be intense enough for effects to carry onto Landon's human form.

"Are you alright?" I question as I help Landon get dressed.

"I'm okay," he waves me off, but the wince he fails to hold back gives away his lie. Once we're both fully dressed, I scoop him up in my arms. "H-Hey!"

"Yes?" I ask innocently, and Landon scrunches his nose.

"I can walk, you know," he huffs, but still loops his arm around my neck for support.

"I know," I smile, placing a soft kiss to his temple. The action makes Landon relax in my arms as I carry him back to the pack house. I don't release him until we're back in our room, and I can gently set him on the bed. Tugging his pants and shirt off, I leave him only in his boxers for sleeping. Landon's eyes fixate on me as I strip completely.

"Going commando tonight?" Landon raises an eyebrow at me, his bottom lip becoming trapped between his teeth. His heated gaze fixates on my rapidly swelling erection.

"Why? Like something you see?" I tease him. The teasing quickly stops when Landon's tongue darts out along his bottom lip, and a growl rumbles low in my throat.

"Easton," Landon whimpers, squirming. His pink lips look so wet and inviting; it drives me nearly insane. Standing up tall, I run my fingers through my mate's soft blonde hair. From where he sits on the bed, he keeps his blue eyes stay fixated on my erection.

"Say please," I instruct with a smirk.

"Please, Alpha," he whines, knowing that title is my undoing. Groaning, I guide my erection to his lips, which he parts so obediently for me. I trace his pink lips with the swollen head before pushing into his warm mouth.

***

"You're so fucking perfect," I groan, pulling away from his swollen lips.

"I'm glad you think so," Landon responds with a slight pant. "Are you feeling better now?"

I halt my action, my eyes flicking to his. "What?"

He frowns at the defensiveness of my tone. "You've been really stressed out lately. Did this help relieve some of the stress?"

Help, I think bitterly. Everyone around me thinks I need fucking help. I don't need help. Not from anyone.

"I'm going for a run," I say coldly as I pull away from him.

"Wait, Easton..." Landon scrambles from the bed as I pull on a pair of shorts. "Why are you mad? I just wanted to help."

"I'm not mad," I snap at him, making him flinch. "I just don't appreciate my mate only having sex with me because you think I need fucking help."

He recoils, as if my words burned him. "Babe, you're taking it the wrong way! I want to have sex with you because I love you. And because I love you, I want to help you."

"I don't need help!" I roar angrily. "Goddess, why does everyone in the fucking world think I need their goddamn help! I don't need help! Not from my dad, not from doctors, and not from fucking you!"

"Doctors?" Landon echos, his brows furrowing together. "Who said anything about doctors?"

"I'll be back in a few hours," my voice is sharp as ignore his question, slipping on a pair of shoes and running out of the pack house. I can hear Landon calling after me, and I shut out our mind link.