Page 15 of The Wolf's Mate

Rip

Hettie isn’t in our room when I go to check on her in the morning before my duties. I may still be uncertain about the human, but she’s still my responsibility to keep safe. She’s also not in the dining room or kitchen. None of the guards I pass can tell me where Hettie is. Thorne checks with Tallie, but Tallie hasn’t seen her since last night.

How did she get past the two guards stationed outside our room? Why the fuck did no one alert me about her disappearance? I should have better prepared everyone for the human’s arrival.

“Where the fuck is she?” I snarl. Anger heats my body, bringing my wolf close to the surface. I’ve had Hettie for a day, and I’ve already lost her. Ender is going to be pissed, and my chances of saving my pack will diminish to almost nothing.

“I checked with everyone on duty last night. Only one reported that a civilian saw a woman in red walk through the woods,” Thorne says. “Her scent lingers in the house. I think she might have snuck out during shift changes.”

I’m already heading toward the front door, with Thorne keeping pace beside me. I smell Grass more than I smell Hettie, which provides me with a faint link to her.

When I reach the front, two alphas stand guard by the door. “Have you seen her?” my poorly concealed anger slips through in my tone.

The guards share a look with one another, not eager to be the first one to speak. They are wasting my time. Each moment without Hettie puts her in more danger. What kind of King Alpha loses their Luna on the first day?

“Seen who, King Alpha?” one guard inquires, and it’s a test of my will not to throttle him where he stands. I almost do, but Thorne places a hand on my shoulder in warning. I can’t lose my temper.

“Hettie. Our future Luna,” I grit through my teeth.

The man’s eyes widen, and something akin to nervousness blooms in his expression. “We’ve seen no one leave, King Alpha. Shift change happened not too long ago, and, regrettably, the front entrance stood without guards for about five minutes during that switch. Perhaps she left then.”

“And why the fuck did you not wait until the next watch came to take your posts?”

“We thought the packhouse was secure, King Alpha. It was no more than a few minutes,” he says, like his assurance means anything.

My wolf nearly breaks through the surface. His anger fuels me as I clench my fist. As mad as I am at the alphas guarding the front door, I know deep down they aren’t the real ones to blame in this situation.

Without another word, I push past the two guards and head outside. Thorne follows, but I hold up my hand. “Stay here in case she comes back. I need to go find her.”

Thorne, my best friend since we were children, eyes me worriedly. He’s known me long enough to know I won’t change my mind, which is why he relents, nodding. “I’ll search for her in town.”

I don’t engage with him any longer. I’ve already let too much time pass. As soon as I descend the stairs, my dire wolf rips free of my body. My bones and body reform, and a howl bursts free. It is one of distress, so those on duty know to be vigilant.

My senses are amplified in this form. I rack my brain to remember her scent, since it’s mingled with so many others out here. I told her she smelled like a dog, which isn’t entirely true. She also smells of honey and a dash of lavender.

I catch the scent of Grass. If the dog is out here, then Hettie shouldn’t be too far from him. I saw the way she stared at the giant softie. Losing him would cause her immeasurable pain. I don’t mind the dog. He’ll make a good companion to Hettie, but not if he leads her into the damn forest.

Because that’s where the scent is taking me. Finding her with a mating bond would make this so much easier. I would know how she’s feeling. Sense where she’s at instead of running blindly through the woods, trying to catch her scent. But I didn’t go through with the ceremony yesterday because I didn’t want to overwhelm her. That changes today. She can hate me if she must, but I would rather her hatred than her death on my hands.

The dewy ground makes traction difficult. Branches crunch under my paws as I push my legs harder. Soon, a soft voice sounds from somewhere ahead, and I know I’ve found her. Relief doesn’t come over me like I thought it would because, mixed with Hettie, another scent comes to the surface. One that makes my hackles rise.

I know that scent. I’ve smelled it before, but the memory is fleeting, and I can’t remember where.

When I break through the clearing, Hettie is there, shaking, with her arms wrapped around Grass, who looks equally spooked. The scent here is stronger, and I smell it all over Hettie. Mine, my wolf growls, not liking the idea of another person touching her.

Seeing that she is okay flips something inside of me. The anger I’ve been trying to keep at bay explodes. My dire wolf growls before I shift back. Hettie’s eyes go comically wide.

“We’re okay. We’re fine,” Hettie says over and over again. The words barely register. I hear nothing but the sound of my heart drumming in my chest. Hettie slowly backs away from me as I continue to descend on her.

The woman’s back hits a tree, and her eyes dart frantically around. She’s a doe, cornered by the hunter. I can almost taste her fear, but there’s something else there. Something I’m not willing to name yet.

I don’t stop moving until our bodies are mere inches apart. I cage her in with my arms and tower over her. She’s so damn small, even compared to omegas. Despite the obvious fear in her eyes, she sets her pouty lips in a firm line. “Back up, Rip.”

“No.” And because I’m a dick, I press closer to her.

Hettie sucks in a breath. She molds her body to the tree, trying but failing to put any distance between us.

“You are not to leave the packhouse alone.”

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