Alexander was still trying to collect himself as he stood there, watching Ayla.
She was still standing between Titan, this unknown man, or wolf, and a tree.
For hours, he had been terrified that something had happened to her, and she was running around the woods with some other man.
The fire in his veins was bringing his blood to a boil.
While the others in the group were just happy that they had finally caught up to her, he was just stewing.
A feeling that he never thought he would feel, jealousy.
He was jealous.
That was, until Raphael and Phoenix realized he was saying anything to her yet and addressed him.
Until that point, he was trying to maintain his composure and not let the fury fly, but once the attention was set on him, he couldn't help himself.
"Who the fuck is he?"
Five simple words that let everyone in the group know that he was fully aware of the man standing next to Ayla, and he was not okay with it.
Alexander wanted to know why the others seemed not to care that he was there.
What was it about the whole situation that seemed to be fine with them?
Ayla was missing and just happened to turn up with another man.
No.
That was not okay.
So they weren't in a committed relationship, but that was not okay.
"Alexander, what's the matter with you? He helped me. Why are you acting like that? Are you really playing the jealous man right now?" Ayla asked.
Titan tried to make sure his face hid the look of pleasure that was begging to come out and play.
"What's wrong with me? Do you not see the problem with this? How would you feel if I disappeared for a whole night and showed up with another woman?"
Ayla was not in the mood to deal with this, not when they had a timeline to stick to.
"It's not like that."
"Then how is it? Hmmm. His smell is everywhere. All over you."
Ayla was starting to get angry, what are you even talking about?"
"Really, Ayla. That's how you want to play this?"
The last thing Ayla wanted to do was argue, especially in front of the group in the middle of the woods.
"This is not what we should be focused on right now. We have to get to Julius. Don't we. So, let's get moving. Titan is coming with us, by the way. He's a good, strong warrior who can help. Does anyone have a problem with that?"
Her question was clearly directed at Alexander.
She was not okay with his behavior and how possessive he was trying to be.
One thing Titan was making sure to take note of.
Don't act like Ayla belongs to you, check.
Alexander wasn't finished talking, though, "Ayla, you can't just decide you don't want to talk about it. What is it, you went and fucked him, and you're done with me now."
Ayla turned her head quickly, and if her eyes were daggers, they would have pierced through his skull.
"How dare you. Just because you were my friend and were there for me doesn't mean you know me. You don't own me. I am not yours. I am free to do what I want when I want. We were never in a relationship. It was nice. I cared for you. This jealousy, not so nice. What I do from now on is none of your concern."
Alexander was looking at her as if she had lost her mind.
"You can't just dismiss everything because you're mad at me. Ayla. Talk to me."
Ayla smirked, "I don't live in your cage. You disrespected me. No one disrespects me. Now, let's go get Julius."
No one in the group could even bring themselves to look at Alexander.
Ayla was a proud person, and it was clear that she was not one to tolerate what he had tried to do.
The girls puffed their chests and followed behind Ayla's heels.
They were proud to be her friends in that moment.
Titan looked back at the guys before following the girls, "She didn't sleep with me. She was just wounded, and I helped her. That's all. Best of luck with that situation."
He definitely made sure to leave out the fact that he tried many times and that he was the one who wounded her.
Grinning from ear to ear, he lined up with the girls who were ready to shift and head off again for their destination.
Titan knew that since she wasn't entertaining Alexander anymore, he might actually have a chance now.
Now that the party was all together, they could start making their way again.
They might not all be in good spirits anymore, but they were there.
This had been a harder trip than any of them had imagined, but they were making it.
With any luck, they wouldn't have any more delays, and they would make it by nightfall with minimal stops.
As Ayla hoped, having Titan with them was beneficial.
He knew quicker paths to take to cut off time, and they managed to avoid any more run-ins with the dark coven that day.
It was a quiet day of full-on running with short stops for stream water and small game.
Just as they intended, they made it just outside of the pack borders around twilight that evening.
When they reached that point that had a pack meeting.
They decided it would be better to rest and meet with the Moonlight Shifters in the morning when they were fresh and rested in the morning.
Plus, that would give them all day to spend looking around for Julius and taking it all in.
That night had the most beautiful, bright moon, but the vibes between a few members sitting around the circle weren't the warmest.
To make it a bit nicer, Titan had made a small fire for Ayla, knowing she thought that fire-roasted rabbit had been delicious the night before.
After the fire was set, he took her off to scrounge up a few for them and the others.
What he really had up his sleeve was using the terrain to his benefit.
He knew that just north-west of their location were some hidden caves that held beautiful flowers and small euphoric scenery that moonlight lit through the roof.
Most of them had little hot springs and streams.
That area in particular was a romantic haven, which also housed critters that wanted to hide from larger prey.
Since Titan took the lead, he hoped she wouldn't suspect anything as she steered her indirectly toward them.
Meanwhile, back at the camp, Alexander was letting his frustrations run free while they were gone.
"Why would she trust him so easily. She doesn't trust anyone, yet she trusts him. She just met him. Give me a freaking break. Really."
Stella tried to help, but it didn't, "It isn't that easy to explain. He helped her, just like you did when she was vulnerable. Then, you came in like a big, jealous bonehead. No woman wants that. I mean, we do, but not like that. You accused her of being a slut. Sorry. Not cool."
"I did no such thing. I wouldn't do that," he snapped back.
Raphael jumped in then, "Yeah, you did, bro. You did everything but say the words. That situation is finished. Ayla wasn't even your girlfriend, and you did all that without making things official first. Even I know better than that."
Rhae raised an eyebrow at him, "So does that mean you want to make things official with me?"
"I would love to, but I'm worried about what is going to happen with Moonlight Shifters. If you stay there, how will that work? I can't leave Dominic. We would be in two different places. Honestly, I was waiting to see what happened there first."
Rhae thought for a minute, "Okay. Let's see what happens there first," she said as she pointed ahead.
Stella, who was sitting in Phoenix's lap, looked into his eyes, "Same with us then. We will see how the visit goes and what happens. Then, we decide on us?"
"Yes!" Phoenix replied and kissed her.
"Well, isn't that just fucking peachy. Everyone is all smoochy, smoochy, kiss, kiss. I just lost my partner before we even talked about it. She's off doing Goddess knows what with that oaf. Whatever," Alexander said as he walked over to a far-off tree and threw himself down into the roots and curled up in his wolf form.
The others tried their best not to laugh at him, but it really was hard when he pouted like that.
While the others were talking and pouting, Ayla was being led into a cave of wonder and beauty.
Even though she had trailed a rabbit inside, it was the last thing on her mind.
She was taking in all the glimmering reflections of the last bit of light that filtered in from the setting sun.
Shifting to her human form to use her words and dip her fingers into the pool of water, "This is amazing. Did you know about this?"
The water felt hot to the touch, but perfect in every way.
"Do you want to get in?"
Ayla didn't even have to think about it, "Yes."
"There are natural steps on the side over there."
He guided her over to the area he had referred to and held her hand as she stepped down.
As she predicted, he followed her in.
She led herself to the far side, submerged herself in the water, and let it pull out all of the stress she kept stored in her muscles.
Titan lowered himself into the water as he stalked his prey.
His eyes were hungry, and there was only one thing that he wanted, but he would be patient.
"Don't look at me that way, Titan."
"What way? I didn't think I was looking at you in any particular way."
Ayla rolled her eyes, "Of course you didn't. Don't think I don't know what you're up to," she said as she finally went back far enough to find a wall.
Titan had been slowly pushing forward to close the gap between the two of them.
All the while making it seem like it was innocent.
Like he wasn't purposely getting closer to her.
He wasn't completely on top of her, but he was within her proximity.
"What are you playing at. Getting me all alone in the cave so you can pin me down again? You promised you wouldn't. You've already broken that once."
"Yes. I have, but I only did that earlier because I thought you were in danger. It was, well, innocent. Not to pin you down the way I want to."
Ayla let out a small huff and closed her eyes to lay her head back on the rocks.
That was a mistake.
Meanwhile, Alexander knew that it didn't take that long to hunt and bring it back.
Deep down, he knew something was going on.
"Do you guys think Ayla is okay. Should we go after them?"
Raphael and Phoenix knew how most wolves were.
They knew it would be a bad idea for Alexander to go looking for them, especially Phoenix.
"No. I don't think you should look for them. If anything, Ayla is probably blowing off some steam. They will be back before long. If they aren't, then Raphael and I will go look for them. Okay."
"Yeah, yeah. You two are just worrying about what I'll see and what I'll do if I see them together. I get it. It's whatever."
Phoenix looked worried but impressed, "You always were a smart one. I'm not saying they are doing anything. Sometimes, it's better not to know. You know. If you go, she will just think you're being jealous of Titan again."
"Yeah."
He might have said he was okay with not looking for them, but he wasn't.
Alexander knew that he just had to wait for them to get distracted with the girls again, then he could sneak off and find them on his own.
What harm would it do to see for himself if Ayla and Titan were actually hunting or doing something a little less innocent?
Plus, it was a chance for him to work on his hunting and tracking skills himself.