Five.
The lion swung the door wide open and stared at Elijah with a huff.
"I thought I might find you here," Felix said, casually standing with his shoulder leaning against the door frame.
"Is she alright? She didn't come out." Elijah responded, his worry about his mate overpowering all his other thoughts and making it impossible for him to notice the pity in the other man’s tone as he spoke.
"Yeah, yeah. Colt texted me about ten minutes ago, she’s home, safe and sound," Felix's response had the dual effect of both relieving and confusing Elijah.
She was safe, but she didn’t come outside.
"But how?” He blurted out, “I have been here and...." he said, being instantly cut off by Felix as he became slightly irritated by the idiotic responses of the supposedly powerful alpha wolf in front of him.
"Yeah, and Colt knew you were here, there are security cameras, Man." Felix answered, with a roll of his eyes while he pointed up to the camera lens on the wall. "And there's also also the strong likelihood she knew you would be listening to our chat and deliberately misled you. She can be..." Felix paused, searching for the right word "tricky like that I guess."
Elijah stood dumbfounded for a second while his brain processed all the information he had just beed given.
His mate had tricked him, he couldn’t help but smirk momentarily at her success, despite how it inconvenienced him.
The man he originally perceived as competition was showing his grace by coming out to let him know what was going on.
His mate’s name was Colt, thos made him smile. He played it over in his head, it was a strong name, masculine even. But she herself was so innately feminine. It seemed to suit her, despite logic pointing to the contrary.
Then he suddenly slumped back against the wall behind him, and looked at the lion appraising him, while reining in his annoyance at being tricked, his admiration of his mate’s name, and focused on the lion in front of him instead.
"Just why exactly are you here telling me this? " he asked eyebrow raised, getting straight to the point.
Felix half shrugged, "Because, as I’m sure you know, lions don’t have pair bonds. We mate in prides and then move on. Yet, I love her, and I have never wanted to mark anyone before in my life. Till Colt. But, I respect the bond of true mates and you are hers.” He sighed wistfully, “Also, I know that you are going to need all the help you can get, even if for now that's just me letting you know, that guarding our back door really isn't necessary."
Elijah struggled to suppress his growl while he took in what the lion was saying. Despite the honest declaration that he wouldn’t oppose Elijah’s claim, this male was professing emotions that he shouldn’t have where Volt was concerned.
When he regained his composure at the lion's declaration, he realised this may be the best opportunity he got and he spoke, "I really screwed up she won't even risk being around me now will she?” The lion’s grimacing response was all the answer he needed, “Shit!" he exclaimed, giving in to the growl that broke from his throat.
Though, this time it was clearly aimed at himself and not his feline companion.
Felix yawned, becoming bored of the wolf’s self deprecating comments and checked his watch. "Look,I.have to get back, but I will be honest with you. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself; there is absolutely no way you could have approached Colt, without her running for the hills."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Elijah demanded instantly taking offence at Felix's words.
"Calm yourself, I am not being offensive." Felix gestured, rolling his eyes and waving both hands up in the air. "She has always been crystal clear, she never wanted to settle down and be mated. Colt, has always been clear about that one. So, you my friend have your work cut out for you if you are going to get her to change her mind. Now me on the other hand, my breaks just about over and there is a bachelorette party inside with my name on it," he stated, wiggling his eyebrows.
This made Elijah pause. He needed to think. Looking at the lion in the doorway he nodded at him quickly.
"Thank you for your candor, Lion. It’s appreciated." he remarked, then began to walk away, the wheels of his brain turning as he headed back to his cabin.
As his mind played over and over their conversation and everything he had learned, he had to admit the one thing he was happy about was his new found knowledge about his mate’s name. But, damn it, on instinct alone, he didn't want to like the lion who had been touching his mate. However, Elijah found he was warming to the guy and his honesty, it was most enlightening.
Because, although Colt may not want a mate, that doesn't mean she won’t want Elijah once she gets to know him. He will just have to woo her the old fashioned way, with time, patience and a massive dose of romance.
He just had to get her to give him a chance, because Elijah was definitely sure about one thing, he was utterly determined that there was no way what so ever, that Colt was getting away from him.
Phoning his Beta and Gamma, he told them to meet him at their cabin. They had been oddly quiet since everything kicked off in the bar, but now he had work for them to do. His hunt was on and he did so loved a good chase.
When Zachary and Marcus arrived back, they barely got in the door before Elijah was barking demands at them. Right now his aim was to try and find out as much information about his mate as possible. Any information he could use as he pursued her.
“Marcus,” he instructed, “Find me as much information on her here at the resort as you can, her schedule primarily, but beyond that, I want details on the resort itself. I'm sure you said it was built up from scratch in the last two years, so that requires money. Where did it come from? Who does she owe? You know the drill!" he demanded of his Gamma.
Elijah was in take over mode, and anyone who held a debt over his mate was his first priority.
“Zachary, use your police contacts, I need to know where she is from. Specifically, does she have any pack ties. I know she's human but there's a she-wolf in there under the surface, I can feel her. I want to know what sort of pack kicks out a member for something that ridiculous. Also, if you can, I want her likes and dislikes, any allergies, medical records, hell search for criminal records too if you will?" He stopped his tirade of demands as his fellow pack members just stood there looking uncomfortable.
They were obviously trying to hold something back by the look of their tight mouths and raised eyebrows. "What?" he asked.
Then Zachary spoke, " Eli, can I say something to you with respect and honesty?"
“I would expect nothing less of you" Elijah replied.
“Okay, but can I say it to my best friend rather than my Alpha?" Zachary smirked, knowing Elijah was not going to be happy.
Elijah looked between the two momentarily, "You mean you want a free pass, where I don't instantly grab you by the throat and remind you of your place and who you're speaking to?" he growled out despite his eyes glinting with mischief.
Zachary just shrugged, "Basically, yeah." He sighed, not in the least disturbed by his Alpha's threats.
"Hurry up then." came Elijah's response, as he rolled his eyes.
"Holy Shit! Our Luna has one hell of a right hook! If it weren't for the bar blocking her power moving through, she would have laid you out!" He exclaimed, which followed with both Zachary and Marcus bursting into guffaws of laughter at their Alpha's expense.
Elijah wanted to be pissed off at them, but he couldn't take their disrespect seriously when it came because of admiration for their Luna, his mate. He could feel pride swelling in his chest at the thought, she was strong and would help him lead the pack and the next generation well.
Shaking his head at his friends he asked, “Are we done now, can we get on with things?"
Zachary stifiling his laughter spoke, "Yeah, yeah, I got it find out her profile etc."
"Marcus?" Elijah spoke.
"Hmm, sorry yeah I can actually give you a bit of information I already know, erm, from when I booked." Marcus chimed in, "Though, I have to say this is vastly approaching stalker territory."
Elijah growled, then said "What do you know?"
"Well, for starters Colt Merrier is very hands on in the running of her business, including teaching self defence sessions to guests. There are three group sessions a week and guests can book private one on one lessons." Marcus stated, remembering part of the website.
"That's very helpful indeed, how did you find that out, when you booked?" Elijah asked, wondering why his Gamma was looking into self defence classes.
"Well, to be honest I was just reading through the website activities online when I booked the stay.” He answered, while advertising his eyes, “But, there is some interesting information about the ethos of the place, that would be worth you looking at Eli." Marcus said, sitting onto the comfortable couch as Zachary brought them all a beer from the kitchen fridge.
"Send me the link please" Elijah asked, "There's something else isn't there?"
Marcus nodded, taking a gulp of his beer, while feeling incredibly awkward. "Yeah, that's the other thing, and it is in the website too.” He stated, more reassuring himself than anyone else, “She isn't a human-wolf hybrid boss. The ethos of the resort on the site describes why she decided to build this place. Why its important to her that there is a safe haven for all." Marcus gulped.
"What is she then, SPIT IT OUT ALREADY!" Elijah yelled, getting pissed off at his Gamma’s hesitant attitude.
"Her father is a wolf, " Marcus stated "But, her mother is a Scottish Wildcat."
Elijah froze momentarily, before shaking his head "A cat? Seriously, but she has no animal. How is that possible?”
"The link is on your phone. Read through the site. You will find it answers almost everything" Marcus said, putting his mobile back in his pocket. "I am going to hit the hay, see you tomorrow guys."
But he barely got a nod, Elijah was now too absorbed in reading through the website literature, to notice Marcus' odd behaviour. Which was because there was one thing he left out, but that would wait till tomorrow – Marcus only knew about the resort in the first place, because Colt Merrier was actually his first cousin, and it was his birth pack that had kicked her and her family out.