AXEL WOLFF
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Felix's Diner
#235744
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This shit was the kind of shit that made Axel wish he had skipped this shit hole years ago, before Al even thought to hit the road and leave him behind. He had never been one for pep talks and words of reassurance, but more often than not, his job as Alpha forced him into scenarios in which the only thing to do was talk it out like a high school counselor or something.
Sydney grabbed his forearm and pulled him away from the counter, holding him close enough that he knew something was horribly wrong. Axel's throat bobbed slightly in response, and for a moment, Sydney might have caught concern in his gaze. He hated this game of not knowing, for he couldn't help but worry if something had happened to one of his own wolves. Axel couldn't help but worry about Ellis, poor Ellis, and if he had managed to get himself into something. Perhaps he ought to call the pack in, have them check in with him lest shit hit the fan without him knowing.
But Johanna managed to clear the air in her perfectly timed arrival, catching Axel's attention as Sydney looked back to her phone.
"Hey, Jo," he started, walking towards the younger wolf. "No one's hurt, Sydney just got a text from June, and she's checking i-" Axel was speaking quickly, too quickly, probably, and so he almost missed it as Sydney spoke up again. Until, of course, he caught his brother's name.
The idea of Albrecht returning to Bellingstone was comical. Or, rather, it had been comical that morning when he first heard the rumors. But now? Axel was familiar with the way rumors spread through Bellingstone, but they had always been rumors of little importance. Albrecht's disappearance had rocked Bellingstone - and while rumors of his return had certainly sprouted during his early departure, it would have been like telling an old joke to spread a rumor like that now. Unless it had some sort of basis in truth.
As he processed the possibility of Al actually returning, Axel clenched his jaw slightly, wringing the dish rag in his hands slightly, and then more violently. Axel blinked quickly all of a sudden, forcing himself into the present. The pack needed him, now more than ever. And jeez, didn't that thought just nauseate him ever so slightly?
"If...if Albrecht is back," he started softly, leaning on the counter so that he could keep Johanna and Sydney close. "Nothing changes. He's still the asshole he was - there isn't a place for him in this pack." But, looking over at Sydney for a moment, he knew exactly what she meant. She wasn't worried about the structure of the pack, about keeping Al away - after all of these years, she still missed the bastard. Axel couldn't help but exhale sharply as she left to carry the boxes into the back. It was a relief Johanna broke the pressing silence.
"I couldn't even begin to think of why he'd show up now." He leaned on his elbows, still clenching the rag between his hands. "He's up to something - I don't care what it is, but I don't want him anywhere near this town - let alone the pack...or Sydney."
He straightened up once more as Sydney returned to the space behind the counter. The diner seemed packed now, and a sense of claustrophobia was weighing on him. By the door, Ivan gave him a slight wave, and Axel returned it half-heartedly.
"I need to call a meeting. Now." Axel was pulling out his phone as he spoke, punching a hurried message out to the group.
To: The Pack
i've heard the rumors. we need to talk. diner ASAP.
Sydney grabbed his forearm and pulled him away from the counter, holding him close enough that he knew something was horribly wrong. Axel's throat bobbed slightly in response, and for a moment, Sydney might have caught concern in his gaze. He hated this game of not knowing, for he couldn't help but worry if something had happened to one of his own wolves. Axel couldn't help but worry about Ellis, poor Ellis, and if he had managed to get himself into something. Perhaps he ought to call the pack in, have them check in with him lest shit hit the fan without him knowing.
But Johanna managed to clear the air in her perfectly timed arrival, catching Axel's attention as Sydney looked back to her phone.
"Hey, Jo," he started, walking towards the younger wolf. "No one's hurt, Sydney just got a text from June, and she's checking i-" Axel was speaking quickly, too quickly, probably, and so he almost missed it as Sydney spoke up again. Until, of course, he caught his brother's name.
The idea of Albrecht returning to Bellingstone was comical. Or, rather, it had been comical that morning when he first heard the rumors. But now? Axel was familiar with the way rumors spread through Bellingstone, but they had always been rumors of little importance. Albrecht's disappearance had rocked Bellingstone - and while rumors of his return had certainly sprouted during his early departure, it would have been like telling an old joke to spread a rumor like that now. Unless it had some sort of basis in truth.
As he processed the possibility of Al actually returning, Axel clenched his jaw slightly, wringing the dish rag in his hands slightly, and then more violently. Axel blinked quickly all of a sudden, forcing himself into the present. The pack needed him, now more than ever. And jeez, didn't that thought just nauseate him ever so slightly?
"If...if Albrecht is back," he started softly, leaning on the counter so that he could keep Johanna and Sydney close. "Nothing changes. He's still the asshole he was - there isn't a place for him in this pack." But, looking over at Sydney for a moment, he knew exactly what she meant. She wasn't worried about the structure of the pack, about keeping Al away - after all of these years, she still missed the bastard. Axel couldn't help but exhale sharply as she left to carry the boxes into the back. It was a relief Johanna broke the pressing silence.
"I couldn't even begin to think of why he'd show up now." He leaned on his elbows, still clenching the rag between his hands. "He's up to something - I don't care what it is, but I don't want him anywhere near this town - let alone the pack...or Sydney."
He straightened up once more as Sydney returned to the space behind the counter. The diner seemed packed now, and a sense of claustrophobia was weighing on him. By the door, Ivan gave him a slight wave, and Axel returned it half-heartedly.
"I need to call a meeting. Now." Axel was pulling out his phone as he spoke, punching a hurried message out to the group.
To: The Pack
i've heard the rumors. we need to talk. diner ASAP.