Runt (Completed & Editing)

Leave Me Alone

Shane's POV

I had been searching for Nova for a good hour before I finally found her sitting in the tv room about half way through watching a movie. How she managed to evade me for so long will forever be a mystery to me. She was adorably curled up on one of the large custom made seats with my king sized red fuzzy blanket and a bowl of freshly popped popcorn. The saltly smell made my mouth water, it had been a while since I had had time to sit and watch a movie. Nova was singing along to one of the songs as the little lights floated up into the sky, disappearing into the darkness. I wracked my brain trying to figure out what movie she was watching, once the main characters came up on the screen the name popped into my head. Tangled. She was watching Tangled. I smiled to myself, watching Nova as she flung her arms out to the side, hitting the high note with ease.

"About time you showed up." Nova giggled, the singing forgotten, putting a handful of popcorn into her mouth before looking up at me innocently. Her blue eyes sparkled and I smiled down at her. I looked at her eyes, really looked. They were gorgeous, deep blue with flecks of green by the iris. Although Nova was smiling, the smile didn't reach her eyes, as if there was something else wrong. Something that she wouldn't tell me easily. I recognized the look from when Andrea would have something going on that she didn't want to talk about. Eventually she would come to me about it, but I had to be careful about what I said. With the look in Nova's eyes, my heart broke in two, hating that at some point in time, something had happened to her to solidify that broken look. My wolf whimpered at the pain that we saw, and in that very moment, we decided together, that we would do everything in our power get rid of the pain that hid in her eyes.

"What makes you think I was still looking for you?" I teased, kicking myself from not responding right away. She was damn good at hiding. I had searched the entire house and grounds, trying to sniff her out but somehow she managed to completely avoid me. My search had only been partially frantic, becuase I had no idea where she was, although could tell from her feelings that she was safe.

"Because Eric came in five minutes ago and said you still couldn't find me." She smiled broadly, the smile once again not reaching her eyes. I sent Eric a quick passive agressive thought, recieving only a laugh in reponse as he said that I had finally met my match. Indeed I had. My friend had no idea how right he was. I rolled my eyes and sat down next to her as she shifted in her seat. I pulled the blanket over my legs, tucking her snugly under my arm. She let me pull her against me before resting her head on my shoulder. My hand absentmindedly weaved my fingers into her hair as I let the soft delicate strands float down from between my fingers landing softly against her smooth shoulders. She had changed her clothes and was wearing a purple t-shirt with white lettering proclaiming the name of some school sports team. I didn't have a clute where the school was located but I figured that it was from the area that she had lived before she traveled down to Texas.

"What brought you to Texas?" I asked Nova quietly, looking down into her eyes as they clouded with emotion. I felt her body tense as she focused on her breathing. She closed her eyes tightly, as if recalling a memory too painful to relive. I rubbed my thumb against her arm as a silent sign off support before she moved my hand away. I let it fall down to her waist as I rested my hand against her hip. 

"I wanted to see my friend. I planned on leaving for Wyoming...today" She whispered. If it hadn't been for my acute hearing I wouldn't have heard her. Fear struck me to the core, I couldn't lose her. Not after I had finally found her. She couldn't leave me. I wouldn't allow it. She was my mate, the Luna of my pack. Thoughts raced through my mind, pulling at every emotion that I had every had. Every possible worst-case scenario played in my head as the thought of her leaving me became a very real threat. I forced myself to remain calm, now was not the time for me to get emotional. I struggled to keep my breathing steady and my heartbeat even.

"Why Wyoming?" I asked gently, continuing to thread my fingers in her hair. Savoring every single strand that passed through across my skin. I reveled and cherished every moment I had her in my arms. The thought of her leaving was too much to bear. I forced the racing thoughts from my mind, not wanting to send off my anxiety toward her. She had enough to worry about, she didn't need an overprotective mate right now. An overprotective mate that might lock her in their room just to keep her there. I had heard of other males that had done that to their mates, and I had always promised myself that I would not be one of them. I would respect my mate and her wishes, if she wished to not be with me, than as much as it killed me, I would let her leave. I didn't want her to be unhappy with me, I had enough people unhappy with me already.

"It's the least populated state." She whispered in reply before setting the popcorn bowl down in the seat next to us and leaning forward to place her elbows on her thighs. I rubbed her back gently, trying not to force the issue. My wolf howled internally, trying to reach out to her. Trying to get her to let us in. She slowly stood up and walked out of the room. I paused for a moment, watching as she wrapped her arms around her stomach defensively. Her shoulders slouched and I could've sworn I heard her sniffle. I pushed the blanket off my lap to follow after her.

"Nova, I didn't mean to upset you." I called, running after her while she walked quickly upstairs. For being so small, she was incredibly fast. Pride swelled within me for a moment, knowing that when we were done mating, that she would be an amazing Luna for my pack. She ignored me and continued walking, heading toward the kitchen. What could possibly be so horrible that she would want to go away? "Nova!" I called again. "Please." I begged, pain filling my voice as I realized that she might actually be leaving me. I had just gotten her, had only spent one night with her tucked in my arms. Only got to hear her laugh a handful of times, to see her smile. Her happiness was all I wanted for the rest of my life, if only I could take away all the pain that she was feeling.

She spun on her heel at the top of the stairs and glared down at me. Her eyes were red and brimmed with tears that threatened to fall. My heart broke as she curled her small hands into tiny fists at her sides. Oh my love, what happened to you? I fell to my knees on the stairs, my hands curling into fists with the anger at whoever had hurt her. She was so innocent, small, and perfect. She ran her hands angrily through her hair, leaping over the last three stairs and into the entryway. 

"Leave me alone." She growled over her shoulder as she threw open the front door and ran into the fading light. Her voice was full of sadness, pain, and unanswered questions. I followed after her, relaying a thought to Eric as to what was going on. I didn't wait for his reply as I stood in the grass trying to pick up her scent. I turned my face to the sky when smooth gust of wind from the west hit me. I sprinted off in that direction, knowing there was a dangerous cliff at the edge of the territory. A dangerous cliff and an unpredicatible mate, what could possibly go wrong?