Seraphine dug her paws into the ground with force. Mud splattered up her legs as she ran through the misty mountains. She tore through familiar forests until the first hints of Hickorywood appeared over a hill. The inviting lights of the arts district pierced through the late night darkness. She swore she could smell the bread and pastries at the pack’s bakery as she traveled down a path she knew by heart.
Home was in sight. She quickened her pace. She had news to share.
In the unused stable on the pack house’s property, Sera shifted back into her human self, holding onto the power and confidence she felt as her wolf until the last possible second. She tugged on the wrinkled pair of trousers and shirt she’d abandoned there earlier and raced towards the back door of the large, modern cabin where the Pitch Mountain Pack lived. The front faced the city, but the back of the cabin looked towards the low, old mountains.
As soon as she opened the door, the smell the crackling fire and freshly made coffee welcomed her home.
“Sera!” Parisa called out.
She had hoped to have a moment to change into something more presentable before seeing her Alpha. Pulling on the hem of her shirt to straighten it and running her fingers through her short, light brown hair, she slipped out of her boots and walked towards the living room with its well-loved, mismatched sofas and chairs, and shelves bursting with the pack’s collection of books.
Parisa sat in a green wingback chair with a pot of fresh tea, coffee, and leftover treats from the bakery on the small table beside her.
“I’m back,” Sera announced with a smile, warming her hands by the fire. “And boy, do I have some news for you. Alpha Clyde said —”
“Wait.” Parisa held up a hand. Her long, dark brown hair was perfectly styled and pinned back, the way it always was. The rich, saturated colors of her tailored dress paired well with her tanned skin. “Is this better said behind closed doors?”
“Probably. Though does it really matter? Everyone can hear everything in this house.”
“It’s best to at least try.”
“So should we head to your office?”
“And let this tea grow cold? Let these snacks be eaten up by some other hungry mouths? I think not.” Parisa leaned forward and patted the seat of the sofa diagonally across from her. “Sit. The news can wait.”
“But it —”
“It can wait,” Parisa repeated in a tone that couldn’t be argued with. She let her words hang in the air before her expression brightened again. “Besides, I feel like we haven’t properly talked in ages.”
Sera chuckled, rounding the sofa to take her seat and enjoy the coffee and the fruit tartlets that were on a plate next to her mug. “We talked this afternoon.”
“About work.” Her eyes traveled the length of Sera’s body. “Looking a bit scruffy, azizam.” Parisa took a sip of her tea.
Sera didn’t know what the word meant and Parisa always dodged giving her a direct answer. Her Alpha said it with a fondness that made her not worry about it too much.
“The scruffiness is part of my charm.” Sera splayed her fingers across her chest. “It says ‘look how down to Earth I am!’ Plus, I was in a rush. There wasn’t much time to be neat.”
“There is always time to be neat, though I’m still sorry I sent you off so quickly after the end of your shift. But Clyde insisted it was urgent and I —”
“Had to meet with distributors, I know. And I don’t mind because it’s —”
“Part of your job as Beta, you were going to say. It’s almost like we can finish each other’s —”
Sera raised her mug. “Cups of coffee.”
“Oh please, spare me. I couldn’t have a sip of that stuff. Only tea for me.”
“Meanwhile I’m a truly cultured individual who enjoys both.”
Parisa scrunched up her face. “You can keep your culture and your hot bean juice.”
“You make a fine cup of hot bean juice for someone who hates it.”
“I’ve had enough practice making it for you all these years.” Parisa took another sip of her tea and leaned back in her chair. “Jo was looking for you earlier.”
Sera attempted to keep her expression neutral. “Were they?”
“Yes. They seemed quite intent on finding you, too. Something about maybe starting a new task at the bakery.”
“Oh, that’s exciting.” Sera felt like Parisa was trying to read her, and she was probably succeeding. Sera did an awful job at hiding how she felt. She cared for Jo as their newest pack member, but being around them dug up a lot of things she’d rather leave buried.
“Sometimes I wish the pack approached me like they do you, but it’s best to leave some traditions intact. An Alpha is meant to lead the pack. A bit of distance helps with that. It’s my darling Beta’s job to be the bridge.” She smiled.
“A job I hope I do well,” Sera replied, tone lighter than she felt as that insecurity she always carried with her started growing.
“You know you do.”
Sera shrank at the compliment. She was grateful when Parisa steered the conversation elsewhere and Sera could focus on eating a fig tartlet and drinking coffee instead of the weird feeling in her chest or the weight of the news she had yet to share.