She caught the surprise in the tiger's eyes as Aiden said that Tobias was the alpha now. She didn't seem to understand so maybe her pack bond wasn't stripped from Aiden when he was killed? Or maybe she'd never had a pack bond in the first place so nothing felt different to her. Alexis wasn't quite sure how it all worked since she'd never had but one pack in her entire lifetime. The tiger was very intriguing to Alexis since she'd never seen a weretiger before. She watched the female lay her head on Aiden's lap and close her eyes as if trying to calm herself and wondered if she was picking up on the tension in the room. She seemed close to Aiden and Alexis felt her respect for him only growing. He must have been a great alpha to have such bonds with his pack. As Aiden reached out to caress her fur, she made a deep purring noise as if she found it pleasant and Alexis titled her head some in curiosity. So werefelines must like to be petted too just as domestic cats. She had never really found herself liking the contact so much when she was a fox.

She usually just squirmed away from Tobias every time he'd tried to pet her like an animal. When Tobias reached out to caress her fur too, Alexis held her breath, almost expecting the tiger to retaliate but she was surprised when the tiger allowed the touch though she didn't seem as relaxed by it as when Aiden touched her. Must be a trust thing. She certainly wouldn't be trying it. She rather liked her hands where they were. She watched as the tiger then made her way toward Raven and she felt herself stiffen instinctively but she felt no bad intentions coming from the tiger so she held her ground. As the tiger rubbed against Raven, she could sense that the gesture was comforting and protective in nature. This made her feel better about the tiger being so close to her best friend and she relaxed some. The tiger turned her gaze on Alexis then and she met the tiger's eyes evenly but her own gaze sparked with respect for the much larger creature. She wasn't trying to challenge her but she was curious of her and wondered if they'd ever meet outside of this room after today.

She finally turned her gaze back to Aiden, watching the internal struggle between him and Tobias over the idea of Aiden being alpha again. Aiden seemed almost shocked and speechless and it seemed to be taking a lot of thought on his part so maybe there was much more to it than simply being the leader of the pack. She watched him and Tobias lock eyes and then Aiden murmured something softly and the moment felt almost secretive, like two best friends sharing moment in confidence. It felt wrong to listen in and so for this moment, Alexis turned her gaze away to give them privacy, feeling it was the right thing to do. She knew not what would come of this moment. Would she continue to live here on the Ark and help out the pack or should she take a step back, maybe set out to find her own place now that Aiden was back? She knew that she had friends here but she was still an outsider looking in and it didn't feel complete. Something was missing. If she wasn't pack then she shouldn't be here.

Aiden seemed almost distressed by Raven's tears, telling her that she needn't be sorry unless she sold everything. It was like he was trying to lighten up the mood some since she didn't think Raven would ever do something like that. Of course she knew that most men weren't good with tears so this was probably his best reaction. Then Aiden reached into a bag and pulled out a card, handing it to Raven. She overheard his words to her but since she didn't quite understand what he meant since she didn't see any wolves on the card, she turned her attention to him nodding at Tobias that there was more gifts. Surely the meeting would be breaking up soon so they could have their brotherly moment. Then something magical happened. Alexis had never seen alpha-ship moved over willingly before. She'd only ever seen her family fight tooth and nail to move up in the pack ranks and she'd seen people die over that much coveted rank but never had she seen someone give it up willingly to someone else.

When Tobias shifted his gaze down and submitted to Aiden, it was almost like she could see the energy and authority shift from one person to another. It was truly magical and she was holding her breath without knowing it. Then Tobias noticed Raven's distress, mimicking her hand gestures before asking why she was sad. Again, Alexis felt that cold stab of an intimate moment, one where she didn't belong. She took a step back toward the door, her gaze averting as she tried to figure out how to excuse herself. She heard Tobias say that he didn't see any wolves on the card either and despite herself, her lip quirked in humor that at least he was willing to say what she wouldn't. Then she heard the sound of a soft kiss and could only assume it was Tobias and Raven before Tobias said gently that she wasn't sad anymore. The moment was only getting more mushy, it seemed. Then Tobias asked if they could go get the presents now and she knew the meeting was breaking down soon enough.

She heard Raven say that the business was well intact, that she was even creating things for his sister Nadya and her family. She didn't know that Nadya had left the pack and wondered if she was even still in town. She had made good friends with the other panther. Now they were talking business and Alexis didn't understand a word of it. Maybe it was better if she just made coffee at the cafe. Then Raven was apologizing again and calling herself a bad pack member because she couldn't believe that Aiden was back. Alexis didn't believe that made her a bad pack member in the slightest but she also knew it wasn't her opinion that counted. She heard some shuffling but couldn't bring herself to look up, not even when she heard Raven explain to Tobias that Aiden wanted to take her to see wolves somewhere. That must be what the card was about. But she was only growing more uncomfortable and knew she needed to make a move and soon. She looked up, finding Aiden's gaze.

"I'm truly glad that you are back and doing well. I wish your pack all the best."

She turned, her gaze finding Raven.

"I shall find you soon, Raven."

Then she made her way out of the room, only letting her breath out once she got well out of the doorway and halfway down the hall. She was starting to feel cramped and breathless in there, like her chest couldn't expand all the way. She didn't belong here. She didn't belong in that room. She was just a liability to the pack, a were that couldn't be fully trusted and so she would take her leave. She had been brought here by Raven to protect her and she would always appreciate the kind gesture but she didn't feel that she needed protection anymore. She had grown in strength and confidence with her powers and she knew if she ever came across Frost again, she could at least give him a run for his money. She would survive, she was sure of that. But seeing Aiden and how he was with his pack members only reminded her further and that which she didn't have. A pack of her own. She didn't fully belong and it was getting harder to accept it. She couldn't continue to live day to day on this boat pretending that she belonged.

She made her way to the room she'd thought of as her own, picking up the duffel bag that she'd already packed her few belongings in. Just some clothes and a few sentimental things, gifts from Raven and Alexander mostly. She had already decided earlier on that she would be leaving. She just hadn't gotten the chance to actually do it. She didn't know where she'd go but she knew somehow that she'd survive. She'd survived this long without a pack. She would continue surviving. She was getting pretty good at that. She threw the duffel bag over her shoulder and walked out to the railing of the Ark. Looking over, she could see the dock down below and a few workers walking idly by. It wasn't a small leap by any means but it was better than walking below deck to reach the exit. That might mean walking past someone and she didn't need Raven telling her to stay. She knew her friend wanted to protect her but she would be fine on her own. She was sure of it.

She took a deep breath then leaped right over the railing, landing nimbly on her feet on the docks below. She was light so it didn't make that big of a noise when she landed. Straightening up as if nothing happened, she hoisted the duffel bag further up on her shoulder and made her way into the warehouse district, letting her feet lead the way.

alexis wilde