Chapter 5 Discussion

Victor POV

I remove my clothing, shower, and turn the temperature to hot. Letting the water wash down my body, I reflect on my evening at the bar. In my mind, I see Tori singing up on stage. Her sweet voice, beautiful face, and perfect body strolled across the stage in front of everyone. I couldn't help but feel the jealousy coursing through me, but I remember our eyes locking, a hint of recognition and longing. Maybe she does remember me, or at least finds me familiar. I can feel my heart racing and my breathing hasten as I hear her voice. I place my hands on the tiled walls and think about her. My mind is racing, my heart is longing, and I can feel a painful tightening in my groin. I look down and find myself at full mast and groan to myself. Thinking about what to do, I hesitantly grab myself and begin to stroke up and down slowly. I close my eyes, and all I see is her. Her perfect body was dancing just for me. My strokes become more robust and faster as I lose my breath. Before I knew it, I was stroking hard and fast as I felt my balls tighten and pull up toward my body. I increased my speed and felt the spark run through my lower spine as I released myself all over the tile. Streams of cum run down the wall and wash away in the shower stream. I watch as it disappears down the drain. I can't help but let a wave of sadness wash over me as I bring myself back to reality, finish cleaning myself, and rinse. I hear pounding on my door as I step out and dry with my towel.

"Hang on, I'm coming," I yell out as I wrap the towel around my waist and reach for the knob. I can sense my Gamma outside, and a wave of fear runs through me. I opened the door and found Eric standing there, Tammy hiding behind him, worry on her face.

"Gamma?" I tilt my head at him, and he gives me a look of frustrated fear before giving a slight bow.

"Beta...We have a problem." I glance at Tammy and then back at Eric before stepping aside and letting them in. They quickly step in and head to the bar area. He grabs her hand and gently rubs it.

"Give me a second." I grab some clothes and head into the bathroom to dress. A minute later, I returned in sweatpants and a T-shirt.

Eric was sitting on a stool by the kitchen bar, and Tammy was standing next to him with her arms wrapped around his bicep. Her head was down, and she was staring at her shoes.

I sit on the couch opposite them and stare at Eric with an expectant look.

"What is it?" I deadpan.

"Go ahead, baby." Tammy nodded her head absently and looked back at Victor.

"According to Eric, Tori told me something that you might not like. Although I don't see a problem with it since this is what she does."

"What is it that she does?" I felt uneasy in my gut and waited, somewhat impatiently, for the answer.

"Well ..." She fidgeted awkwardly, "... Tori has been offered a side job."

"What side job?"

Dr. MacDonald has asked her to care for a homebound patient. He's having trouble adjusting back to the real world.

Victor's eyes shot up, and he leaned further to hear the rest. Tammy shifted and rolled her eyes before continuing.

"He is having trouble mentally and emotionally. That is one of Tori's strong suits. Helping people manage their emotional states and return to a more typical, everyday life.

"Okay. What am I missing here?" I asked, still intrigued by the conversation.

The request originated from the Hidden Falls Pack. Eric finished quietly as if he knew the answer would upset me.

I took a moment to let the last statement sink in before reacting. Tori was going to a pack to help rehabilitate an injured wolf.

Wait....what? I felt Ivan come forward to listen in on the conversation as well.

'What did she just say?' Ivan, my wolf, perked up.

"She's going where?" I asked, not quite understanding.

" Our boss asked Tori if she would go to the Hidden Falls Pack to help the future Alpha recover from some injuries," Tammy repeated. "I don't see what the problem is. This is what she does."

"This is not good." I walked around the room absentmindedly, thinking of a way to keep her from leaving.

"If she goes, she'll be on another Alpha's territory." Tammy was not yet understanding the seriousness of the situation. She shrugged her shoulders in confusion.

We cannot enter another territory without an invitation, especially if we wish to be one of their guests. It could start a war." Eric explained.

"Why do you want her?" Tammy asked a little defensively. I sighed and answered softly without looking at her.

"I have my orders from my Alpha."

"Orders? What orders? What do you want with Tori?" Tammy was getting frustrated and upset. She just wanted to protect her best friend and keep her safe.

"I have orders to bring her back." Tammy gave a questioning look. "To bring her back home." Tammy's face showed shock as she took that in. Her eyes darted around the room as she finally understood why they were there. "No! You can't take her away! That's my best friend you're talking about! Practically my sister! Nooo! I won't let you!" She jumped from the bar and stared straight at me, almost challenging. I stood and leaned down to stare right back.

"Eric, you need to explain some things to your mate," I said in a low growl, not liking the standoff with this tiny human female.

"Baby, there's nothing we can do. Alpha says.... We do." Eric answered apologetically as he grabbed her hand and pulled her back between his legs. I did not like to be questioned or challenged.

She slid her eyes to Eric and saw a pleading look as he gently tugged her arm. She huffed a little and leaned against his side.

"Home. Your Alpha is her Alpha?" I shook my head. I looked at Eric, and he nodded his head.

My alpha... is her birth father. Every muscle in her body went limp. She couldn't believe what she heard. Tori had given her bits and pieces of her life as a young child. She could barely remember her father. She did have warm memories, even if she didn't know what they were. No feelings of fear or pain came from them. Tammy knew that Tori often wondered about her birth father. Where he was, what he was doing. Was he still alive? Did he miss her? Did he want to see her again? The fear of those answers kept her from going to find him.

"What if she doesn't want to go?" Eric and I turned slowly in her direction, clearly not thinking that that was an option. She has a life and a family. I mean, her mother just passed away a couple of years ago, but her father, who raised her, is someone she loves dearly."

"Her father has been searching for her for seventeen years. She was taken from him without his permission. He will not hurt her; he wants to know his daughter." Eric's voice held a slight pleading tone.

Tammy sat quietly for a moment, her eyes closed. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and glared at me.

"You have to tell her. You cannot keep this from her." I felt a moment of panic before hiding it. She has known her whole life that her father was not her biological father. She wants to know where she came from. She talks about finding her real dad and meeting him, whether he's an ass or not. That was always a bone of contention between her mother and her. Her mother would never inform her about him, even when Tori begged and pleaded that she had a right to know her father. But no, her mother would never give in. They would get into screaming matches for hours about it, and then Tori would storm out of the house and ignore her for months. Her stepdad knew very little but shared with Tori what he did know and anything he could find out. The worst part was that she didn't even know his name. Tori was given her mother's maiden name, and Chase couldn't even adopt her because Sara couldn't get the parental rights released from the birth father. Tori was depressed about it for a long time, even before I met her. But she has decided now that she's out of school, she will take some time to find him." I stared questioningly at Tammy.

"Does she have any idea who he is? Or where is he?" Tammy shook her head.

"Only that he is an Alpha. She mentions her childhood memories before her mother took her away. She does remember a friend who used to play with her. Nothing detailed, but it always brought a smile to her face. She recalls feeling good and happy when she thinks about him. I perked up a bit, as did Ivan.

'Maybe she does remember us!' Ivan yipped happily in his head. I nodded, and Ivan bounced around in my head like a puppy full of excitement.

"What is it?" Eric asked as he watched the expression on my face. I looked up at the Gamma and chuckled.

Ivan is having a hard time controlling his enthusiasm. Eric grinned at his friend.

"Who's Ivan?" Tammy asked curiously.

"My wolf," I answered absentmindedly as his eyes flashed to Ivan's for a second before returning to normal. Tammy nodded but then stopped. She snapped her head back to look at me and stared, as if trying to read my soul through my eyes.

"Babe? What's wrong?" He quickly stood up as if in defense.

"You're the warm memory!" She announced out loud.

I just sat there watching her, trying to catch up to her thought process and waiting to see where it leads. I glanced at Eric, who was doing the same thing.

"We have to tell her," She finally answered before sitting down again, lost in thought. I shook my head.

"No"

"What? Why?"

"My orders are to bring her back to the Alpha. After that, it's up to him to tell her."

"And how are you going to do that!? You said yourself you can't take her away from another territory. If I know Tori, which I do, she sets her mind to something and sees it through to the end. There is no talking her out of it. Who knows how long it will take?" My face fell at this information, and then I sighed in defeat. "Why can't you go with her?"

It doesn't work like that, babe; we have to be invited. An Alpha doesn't take too kindly to outside wolves on their lands. Especially Betas and Gammas. He might take that as a threat." She shook her head in frustration.

"Geez! Men and their egos! You're making this too complicated." I released a growl.

Especially those packs with which we aren't allied. They are not known for being friendly and inviting. You have no idea how our world works!" I shot at her, a little irritated with her tone.

"You are my Beta, but that is my mate you are yelling at. She is still learning about our ways." Eric stated calmly, not to anger me but with enough heat to project his meaning.

I shot him a warning glare, and Eric bowed his head. Only because he is my friend am I being tolerant of her, but the whole situation has me on edge in the first place. We have finally found Tori, and now she will be out of our reach for an unknown period.

"Whenever we intake a new patient, we visit the room to assess them. For safety, one of us takes the vitals while the other takes notes to maintain an objective view. We stare blankly at her as Tammy grumbles and paces the room.

"I have no idea what you just said," Eric announced, leaning back against the counter.

"Tori would never go in alone," She answered matter-of-factly.

"Okayyy," Eric responded. I stood there nodding my head with a grin forming on my face.

"Right. She needs someone to accompany her." I looked right at Tammy.

Tammy shot up from her seat and backed away from them, shaking her head.

"Oh no! No way! I'm not going to some den of wolves, especially when one is wounded! I watch Animal Kingdom; they get aggressive and violent when hurt!" She held her hands up as if fending off an attack.

"Baby, you can be her assistant! She trusts you, and you know what you're doing." Eric gently explained.

"Yeah? What if something goes wrong, huh? I can't defend against angry wolves! Much less to protect her! I'm a nobody, I have no wolf, you guys have wolves, Tori has a wolf.... sort of, but she can kick butt if she wants to, I can't even kick a habit....so no!"

Eric let loose a loud growl, and his eyes turned black, causing Tammy and me to jump.

"Don't ever say that about yourself again! You are not a nobody; you are my mate, my life, and my reason! I will not stand to hear...." Tammy stepped up to him and grabbed his face in her hands. With a sad smile, she leaned up and kissed him gently.

"My mistake. I did not mean it that way. I meant that I am not a wolf. I am not strong enough to do anything if everything goes wrong." Rubbing her thumbs down his cheeks, he closed his eyes and purred at the feeling. He took her hands in his and squeezed. Putting his forehead against hers, he calmed his breathing and turned to me.

"She's got a point. We can't let just the two of them go alone. There must be another way."

I sat watching their interaction and felt a ping of hurt in my heart. I was thinking about a mate and the love they share. One to calm the other in times of need. I took a deep breath; my hurt turned to longing. I felt a lump in my chest, but ignored it and pushed it down.

I must bring this up with the Alpha and see what he wants to do about it. Did she say when this would happen?"

Without looking at me, she shook her head. "No. I will have to talk with her tomorrow to find out. I could ask her about going along to help." Eric gave a small smile, and I nodded in agreement.

"Get some rest. We'll talk again in the morning. I will call Alpha tonight and let him know." Eric turned and led Tammy to the door before my question stopped him.

"What did you mean about Tori?" She turned and furrowed in confusion. "You said she has a wolf...sort of. What does that mean?"

"Well, I've never seen her change into one, so I assume she can't. Of course, she just found out I know, but I've known her for a while now. She doesn't show the desire to change that Eric sometimes does. I know she has excellent hearing and eyesight. I do think whatever is inside of her helps her with her patients. To heal and recover." She answered with a shrug.

Eric led her to the door and bowed goodnight. I closed the door and locked it.

Sighing, I returned to the bathroom to finish my night routine and changed into some boxers for bed. What the hell is she thinking? Going to another territory and healing a wolf?! That's wild, considering she hasn't been around wolves all her life. Or maybe she has and didn't know it.

All I know is that the Alpha will not be pleased by this news. It's just another roadblock for him to navigate until he can see his daughter again.

Sitting on the bed, I dialed the Alpha's number. After three rings, he answers.

"Did you find her?"