As soon as Lucy had fallen, Levi reached down to check her for injuries. He knew that he had acted the way that a doctor should have in the situation, but was still concerned with the girl's well-being. The instant that he reached down toward the slumped brown wolf, he heard a feral growl emanate from Eli's throat. Levi looked up toward his Alpha, whose face bore a threatening expression and whose body tensed as though he were holding himself back from something.
"Woah, there..." Jonah began, turning to approach his friend and stopping in his tracks when he saw the wild glint in Eli's eye. Jonah, who had stood still watching Eli's bizarre reaction to Lucy and the girl's surprising shift, had now begun staring intently at his friend. Eli had reacted to the girl in a way that Jonah had never before witnessed.
Eli had become Alpha at a young age, forced into the position after the death of his parents and many of the pack elders at the hands of a rival pack when he had been less than twenty years old. Though Jonah had been fourteen at the time, he had recognised the change in his surrogate older brother when, through family lines, the responsibility of leading a pack had landed on Eli's shoulders. The combination of losing his parents, who had been his only family (and Jonah's too) and suddenly losing his youth as well had caused a shift in Eli's personality that had permanently altered him. He became more withdrawn and more cold around everyone except Jonah. Jonah knew that this was because after the incident, he was all the family that Eli had left, regardless of their lack of a blood connection. Eli had thrown himself into his position and embraced it fully, working hard to make a better life for the pack. And he had succeeded in many ways. He had given them safer lives through training pack members in combat techniques and improving security. He had also single handedly increased the quality of life and brought the pack into the new millennium by improving the financial standing of the pack business that supported their lifestyles and allowed them to maintain their community. The downside of this was that Eli had become the textbook workaholic. His serious manner regularly made it difficult for him to show much emotion, and yet here he was using a gentle touch and welcoming body language toward some girl that he hadn't even been introduced to.
And who's a prisoner and possible rogue to top it all off!
Jonah was completely flabbergasted. And when Levi had gone to touch her, Jonah could have sworn that he growled in a way that was positively...
possessive?
What the hell was going on with him today?
Jonah made to speak again, ignoring Eli's glare. "What's up with you, man? He's just making sure she's okay. She did collapse, after all." Jonah motioned toward Levi and Eli followed his gesture, the two men now focusing on Levi as he attempted to lift Lucy, still in wolf form, into his arms.
Eli realised the man's intent and moved to do it himself. "Levi, let me." Eli reached down and gathered the wolf easily into his arms, brushing off the other man's attempts. Levi was getting old and wasn't in the greatest shape any more, and Eli didn't need the pack's only doctor pulling a muscle and putting himself out of commission.
I may very well be needing his services again soon with the way this one fights,
he thought, looking down at the bundle of chocolate fur in his arms.
And such soft fur at that...
Eli felt a calmness with her in his arms, her body heat radiating against his core and her scent, even stronger in her wolf state, wrapping around him like a boa constrictor threatening to cut off his airways. He realised that he was still painfully hard.
That won't do.
He chastised himself for his lack of self control, burying the thoughts of burying something else of his... preferably in the delicious specimen in his arms. He cleared his throat, looking up at the other men whom he had temporarily forgotten about and noticing the uncomfortable atmosphere in the room.
"Eli... we need to talk about this one. She needs help." Levi looked at his Alpha pleadingly, and his honest concern for the girl showed in his eyes. Eli was thankful for having good men like Levi in his pack. He knew that he could always trust the older man's judgement.
"You're damn right she needs help. She's clearly unstable and she's a threat to the pack. She needs to be taken care of. You know what I mean, Eli." Jonah shot stubbornly at the Alpha, desperate to have his opinion heard.
Eli didn't even show that he had heard Jonah's words. He simply wouldn't entertain the thought of ever harming her.
She's mine... forever.
He almost shivered as he felt a surge of protectiveness and possessiveness over her, marveling at the strength of his emotion toward the girl that he had seen for the first time only minutes before. He had to put her down somewhere before he did something to her that he would regret.
"You're right, Levi, we need to talk about her. Let me just - uh - let me find her somewhere more comfortable, make sure she's safe - I mean, make sure she's being watched, you know. Give me a minute." Eli practically ran out of the room, embarrassed that he had stumbled over his words in front of his subordinates. For a man that regularly projected such a strong image of power and dominance, he was quickly being unwound by the little wolf in his arms. Finding a place for her was another matter. He wouldn't take her back to the cold, sterile hospital ward. She needed warmth, comfort. But he couldn't be the one to give it to her. He didn't even know her name, she was already in a state of practical hysteria and he could imagine the intimidation that his presence would bring.
And intimidating amounts of arousal,
he thought as he recalled her obvious agitation when he had touched her. He smirked, instantly flooded with male pride. She was already doing bad things to his ego.
Before Eli had realised it, he was at the doors to his bedroom. If anyone had questioned him carrying another wolf on his way there, he hadn't noticed. He had been in such a daze as he thought about his little wolf, but his own wolf howled gladly at the prospect of laying her down in his bed. As he entered the room, he placed her softly on his bed and drew the covers over her, trying to make her as comfortable as possible. The effort was probably futile as she was still unconscious, but there was a part of him that distinctly wanted her experience in his personal space to be as enjoyable as it could. He looked down at her, breathing deeply where she lay. She really was a beauty, even in wolf form. She was petite, practically delicate, but his wolf could tell that she had the potential to be strong and fierce. His other side knew that she would be a mate that he could be proud of.
Wait a minute, 'mate'? Who said anything about that?
he questioned, wondering when his feral part had gained such control over himself. Eli was a hardworking man. He had no illusions about that. He knew he often stifled his need to hunt or take a run when he had too much on his plate, which was practically always.
My wolf's been frustrated for a long time and I know he wants to get out. I'd better be careful or this girl will make that happen.
He took one last look at her before turning and heading out the door, locking it as he left.
After all, she is a security risk...
Locking the door would have to do for now. The thought of someone else alone with her, guarding her... even the thought made his blood boil. He really wouldn't be able to hold himself together if that were happening.
I'm sure Jonah's overreacting anyway. The boy's got a fighting streak in him.
Reaching for his cell phone in the pocket of his pants, Eli dialed Jonah's number. "Come to my office with Levi as soon as you can." he ordered his Beta. "He's right - we have to talk about this little wolf."
