Fix You (The Playlist BOOK 1)

Song - Take a Chance on Me By ABBA

After blowing out my hair and lining my eyes with liner and mascara I stare at my outfit.

He was wearing black jeans, a white tshirt and beat up Doc Martins when he left. I don't need a ball gown here.

I pick a dark green bodysuit that makes my eyes pop and and a pair of tight, light wash jeans.

I hear the door close downstairs and my heart flutters. I step out of the room and see him over the balcony. He's setting a few to-go cartons on the counter.

I walk down the stairs slowly and he looks up. He smiles and leans against the counter, watching me walk toward him.

"How do you look so good after not sleeping?"

"Well, Alpha, I have youth on my side," I say sweetly.

He throws his head back and laugh, "you calling me old?"

He lifts me up, setting me down on the kitchen island, handing me one of the cartons.

"I don't usually eat breakfast, I start my day early with meetings but we can push them going forward. I'll go with you to the packhouse for breakfast."

"I would like that if you're sure you don't mind rearranging your days."

"I don't mind."

I open the carton and smile. Strawberry stuffed french toast. He was listening last night. I'm sure there is a loaded meat and cheese omelet in his carton, with a side of crispy hashbrowns if they were available.

He pulls himself to sit next to me and grabs his carton. I smile when he opens it. I was listening too.

"You ready to meet everyone?"

"I'm nervous but yeah, I'm ready."

"Good because I was stopped by at least twenty people asking where you are. In about an hour we're going to the dining room where everyone will be gathered."

I rub my hands against my jeans.

"They are all really excited. You have nothing to worry about."

He kisses my forehead before putting his arm around my shoulder. We sit, our feet dangling for a few minutes.

"I know this might be too soon but I was hoping we could have a Luna ceremony soon. We could invite your aunt to come out."

"Elijah, I..." I stop, trying to word this correctly, "I don't want to rush you. I understand why you didn't want a mate and why you were upset when we met. I don't want you to do things you aren't ready for on my account. With everything you've been through I understand that you might want to take things slow, warm up to the idea of a mate..."

He smiles down at me, "Admittedly, I still worry about the power you have over me. I'm the Alpha but... fuck, Sorsha, you own me. The more time we spend together the more I realize I was wrong. My mom was sick and my dad didn't leave her, I'm not sure that's entirely the fault of being mates. He loved her. I wanted something to blame. Regardless of how I felt the Moon Goddess put us together. Every second I spend with you the bond grows, my feelings grow."

He's saying everything I want to hear but I'm nervous. I don't want him to switch it up and regret moving too fast later.

"I just don't want you to feel trapped."

He sighs and wraps his pinky over mine, "I don't feel trapped. You're so understanding and perfect, I don't feel trapped, Sorsha."

He jumps down from the table and walks around the island. His back is turned to me and he's fumbling with something on the counter.

I clutch my stomach and laugh as soon as the music blares through the speakers.

"If you change your mind,

I'll be first in line.

Honey, I'm still free!

Take a chance on me!"

The infectiously happy song blasts through the kitchen. I jump down and dance, barefooted through the kitchen.

I turn to him and make my face as serious as I can. He quirks his brow as I start doing some of the ridiculous seventies dance moves my aunt always does.

He steps forward and grabs me, kissing me roughly. I steady my hands on the hard planes of muscle in his chest.

A throat clears loudly behind us and we break apart like two teenagers caught making out.

Beta Julian is leaning against the entrance to the kitchen.

Elijah steps back and turns the music down.

"Sorry to interrupt, I knocked but... the music. The council representative for training and warrior registration needs to reschedule his visit."

"He was supposed to come in three days. When does he want to come?"

Julian raises his brows, "tomorrow, he'll only stay one night instead of two."

"Fuck! Tomorrow?" He turns to me, "I really love training warriors, I fucking hate the politics and council involvement. They're constantly breathing down my neck. Feel like watching warrior qualifiers all day tomorrow?"

I laugh, "absolutely!"

He turns back to Julian, "you heard her! Set it up."

Julian bites back a smile before turning on his heels and leaving.

"Let's go do a quick tour before your introduction. The trainees would love to meet you and they don't get to come to the meeting. We'll stop by."

"Why don't they get to come?" I ask as I sit on the floor to slip my socks and vans on.

"Only eleven percent of the group ran the course in qualifying time. The whole group will be running drills this afternoon," he smiles at me.

We walk out into the sunshine together. We take a path through the forest to avoid running into a bunch of pack members that will want to stop and talk.

When we get to the training grounds there are rows of young wolves line up in sections. One group at a time is running through a drill where they shift midair and roll under coils of barbed wire.

Elijah point to a large cabin, "thats where visiting trainees stay. We usually have anywhere from ten to twenty visiting wolves staying here. Each training session is ten weeks long. We have four different levels. Only elite wolves make it through level four. They end up working as security to the elders, jobs like that."

He's obviously very proud of the program he's built, as he should be. Its known as the toughest, most thorough warrior training available. Three wolves from my pack completed level one. I know one plans to come back for level two. Even the level one trainees came home with impressive results. I can't imagine what level four looks like.

"This is quite the set up you have here, Alpha."

His eyes darken and he grabs my waist just as yelling breaks out on the course.

We turn to see a wolf caught in the coils. He thrashes, snagging the skin on his face, ripping it open.

A medic runs over with a kit and wire sheers. The wolf is too frantic and won't lay still.

"There's a shot of theobromine in the kit," another medic yells to him.

"No!" I scream and before I can even think my feet are moving. I'm sprinting toward the medic.

"Don't give him theobromine!"

Elijah is right behind me. I kneel down in the grass and the wolf thrashes, spraying blood across my face.

"Look at me," I tell him calmly, placing my hands on the sides of his face. He snarls but begins to relax. Elijah quickly cuts the wire and pulls it gently away.

"Can you shift?" I ask the young wolf, "your fur is making this more difficult."

He whimpers but complies.

"Give him the shot now," I tell the medic.

Once the boy is free they clear him from the field.

"Theobromine?" I yell at the medic, "what's the matter with you?"

"That's a standard procedure stimulant when a trainee is panicking!"

"Were you trying to kill him?"

The medic pales, "of course not!"

Elijah grabs my hand to get my attention, "why not theobromine?"

"It's toxic in wolf form. Humans can metabolize the enzymes, wolves can't. They were about to poison him."

A deep, angry growl vibrates from his chest.

"We have never lost a trainee, aside from being the best, we pride ourselves on being the safest. People trust us with their children," his voice booms and the medic cowers.

"How long have you been here?"

"This is my second month, Alpha," the medic mumbles nervously.

"Get the fuck out!"

Elijah rolls his neck, trying to control his wolf.

"Everybody clear out," he yells at the group and everyone quickly disperses.

He turns to me and his dark eyes stare into me. He grabs me in his arms, lifting me off the ground.

"My wolf biologist mate," he smiles against my cheek, "thank you, Sorsha. That boy isn't a visitor, he belongs to this pack."

I chuckle and then blush when I look over his shoulder and notice the crowd gathered around the fence. Pack members are huddled together, watching.

He kisses my cheek before yelling at them, jokingly, "get to the dining hall!"