Chapter Six: It's Really Her

Kaiden’s Point of View 

Standing behind my desk in the study and going through the pack's report. Though my body was here, my mind clearly wasn't, as finding my mate was the only thought that clouded my mind.

Just as I was scanning through the files, Slade became restless and agitated all of a sudden, I could feel him pacing round my head and it was giving me a headache.

Even though Slade is very active at night, he has never been this agitated before and that was giving me great concern.

“Slade, what's wrong?” I asked as I momentarily abandoned the files. I can attend to them later.

“I don't know but I feel that something or someone is coming. But I can't tell what it is,” he replied as he continued pacing, this time around, more fierce that I had to hold onto the nearest wall for support.

“Calm down buddy, are you planning to kill me?” I cussed as I held onto my throbbing head.

“Sorry but we need to go out there, Kaiden. I have a feeling that we're both going to regret it, if we don't take any action,” he replied.

I had no choice but to step outside, what if it was some kind of dangerous threat? The well-being of my pack comes first.

I stepped out of the pack house, leaving the familiar warmth of the structured halls and the soft glow of lanterns behind. The silence outside felt different, heavy and watchful, as if the trees themselves held their breath.

I scanned the entire premises but nothing seems out of the ordinary. “Slade, there's nothing here. I think it's just one of your wild guesses”, I said as I sighed in frustration.

“I know what I'm feeling Kaiden, and it's approaching fast. And also what do you know? I'm the wolf here and you're just the human” he scowled and I could feel him roll his eyes.

What an arrogant wolf!

“Whatever! Why don't we go for a hunt? Maybe that would calm you down”, I suggested as a smirk appeared on my face. One thing apart from finding our mate that Slade couldn't resist, was going hunting.

I allowed him to take control of my body as we raced into the forest. Just then, we sighted a big bull and decided to give it a chase. Immediately it set its eyes on us, it started running, one thing that excites Slade the most, was having to chase his food.

We paused for a minute to give it a chance to run, then with Slade's voice laced with mine, we whispered. “Game”.

In less than five minutes, the bull was already laying lifeless beneath our feet. Then out of nowhere, the sweetest scent I've ever perceived in my entire life hit my nose, and I tried making it out. It smelt like fresh roses, vanilla mixed with something between almond, honey and wild fruits.

The scent made the hair at the back of my neck erect, and Slade's pewter gray eyes completely took over as his eyes darted round the forest, desperately looking for who the scent was coming from.

“Kaiden, can you feel that?” He asked as he ran his eyes around.

“Yes I can, and this time it's stronger than the others”, I responded as hope started building up in me. Maybe….. This is it.

“We have to look for her, Kaiden. She's somewhere around here”, he said as he moved our body forward.

“But, what if it's just one of those fake mate bonds. I don't think we can take any more disappointment, Slade” I said as I whispered in skepticism.

“I know but I can tell that this one is real, I can feel it, and deep down within you, you know this one isn't like the others”, he sounded really convinced but I was still having some doubts about it.

“But……”

“But nothing, Kaiden. Even if it's just to satisfy my curiosity, one thing I know for sure is that, we are both going to regret it, if we stand here doing nothing” Slade interrupted as he continued to move our body forward.

“And….. What if you happen to be wrong?” I asked.

“Then we'll both accept it that we don't have a mate” he replied as we started tracing where the scent was coming from.

Slade growled lowly, sensing my hesitation. “Keep moving,” the wolf urged, his tone edged with impatience.

After tracking the scent for almost thirty minutes, it led us to the edge of the silver abyss, one of the most dreaded places in Aethoria.

“What sort of a joke is this?” I suddenly voiced out as I facepalmed myself.

“Of all the places for me to find my mate, it happens to be here, a place filled with rogues and spirits” I added as disappointment clouded my mind.

“Let's get out of here”, Slade said and I could feel him hurting. Just as we were about to leave the edge of the abyss, a loud and shrill voice caught our attention.

“Somebody help!!! Ahhh!!!!” The voice was clearly coming from down the abyss.

“Kaiden, the scent is stronger down there. What if our mate is in danger?” Slade growled, the thoughts of my mate being in danger was enough to make my blood boil.

But I had to be cautious, it might be some sort of trick from the spirits down there. Just to be sure, Slade used his eyes to check out what was at the bottom of the abyss.

And I was met with an ugly scene, a girl was surrounded by wolves and not just any type of wolves, they were rogues. The stench coming from them was enough to identify them, rogues have this rotten smell mixed with dried blood that they always carry around with them.

“Mate is in danger”, Slade growled in anger and with one powerful leap into the abyss, we landed right in front of the girl.

She looked frightened and was covered with blood and wounds, and she looked really pale, as if there was no more blood in her body.

Seeing her in that state drove Slade mad, and before I knew it, I lost all sense of reasoning as he took full control. My muscles bulged, straining against my clothes, and dark fur erupted over my skin in a twisted dance. My eyes gleamed a dangerous shade of pewter gray, almost feral, and my teeth sharpened into something wild. My hands flexed, claws curling from my fingertips. Slade’s fury was a fire coursing through me, reshaping me, turning me into something barely human.

He stood protectively over her and a snarl tore from his throat, low and guttural, vibrating with pure wrath.

Immediately the rogues saw him, they moved back in fear clearly wondering where we came out from. One of them didn't stay, he fled.

And with another snarl, Slade leapt into the air with unseen speed as he tore one that dared to lung forward apart before attacking the rest in a flash, snarling as each of their heads came off. The satisfying crunch of bone echoing in my ears as its lifeless body hit the forest floor. Their stench filled the air—a mix of rot and dried blood that clung to my senses like a foul mist. Slade’s fury pulsed through me, a raw and primal need to protect her, to kill. Every muscle tensed, each strike landed with deadly precision as the scent of rogue blood mingled with the earthy damp of the forest floor.

His eyes darted into the darkness of the abyss as he saw the other rogue fleeing for dear life, running as fast as its speed could carry it. A dangerous glint flashed through Slade's eyes as his lips curved into a smirk.

“Game!” Slade voiced out and with a whoosh of air, he landed at the back of the rogue and plunged his hand into its chest, yanking out everything that dwelt there, bones inclusive, a painful scream tore out of its mouth and it dropped dead.

Silence blanketed the abyss as the last rogue fell. The forest held its breath, the night air heavy with a mix of blood and earth. And then, cutting through it all was that scent—roses, vanilla, and honey—so intoxicating it drowned out everything else. Slade stirred, his need pulsing through me like a heartbeat unable to ignore the pull. The scent was like a balm, but edged with fear, making me want to protect her, to hold her safe in the dark stillness.

“Mate needs us”, Slade said as he turned and with speed as fast as the wind, he stood before the girl, bent and held her. Now the moment of truth was here, time to find out if she's really the one.

She shifted backwards as fear ruined her pretty features. Seeing her afraid of us made me sad but I looked at her, assuring her that there was nothing for her to be scared of.

My hand reached out almost instinctively, feeling the heat of her skin through her torn clothes. Her heartbeat pounded under my fingers, erratic and weak, and I could feel her warmth slipping away. I held her close, inhaling that incredible scent again, as if to memorize it.

Slowly but desperately, I turned her neck sidewards and a growl rumbled in my chest when I saw it. A beautiful silver crescent moon surrounded by water droplets adorned her neck.

It's her…. It's really her.

“Mine!!” Slade growled out as he held her close to his chest. But she was looking really terrified and before I knew it, she slumped in my arms.