Page 59 of One True Mate

“Okay, well we knew the possibility was there and there's hope that like the Longhorn and Collier Packs, no challenges will come from it.”

He didn't look too optimistic about it, but I needed to hold on to the hope of something.

“Is Kelsey ready?”

I shrugged. “Mom seems to think so. Elise and Lily are singing her praise and she's started working out with Vanessa some too, but I just don't know. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch her fight. I hate that I've put her in this position.”

“She's strong, Kyle, with her own advantages, but we need to be especially cautious that she does not let her little secret out, especially with the Bulgarians coming into town.”

“I understand, and I'll talk to her.”

He sighed, “There's one last thing, Kyle. It has been noted just how close the two of you are becoming and it has been requested that you not live together for the remainder of the challenge period.”

My hands balled in fists and I held back a growl, “Is that a request or a command, Sir?”

“I'm sorry, Son. It's a command.”

“You know we can't do that.”

“You'll see her everyday here in the office. We will not request she be reassigned. But at night, she needs to sleep at the cottage or you need to move into the main house for now. I'm sorry, it's not negotiable. Your combined scent has upset several potential challengers and it grows stronger every day. I know we initially dismissed this, but Kyle, I'm worried.”

“But Dad, you know, I can't do that. I need her.”

“I know, Son, that's what worries me. What would happen if your bond somehow completed before the month's end? What then? What happens if Kelsey doesn't survive a challenge? I can't risk losing you to that because I sat back and let the bond grow too far. No, the Council discussed thoroughly last night and it is a unanimous decision. I will speak to Kelsey on my way out. This is how it must be. No further physical contact between the two of you. Is that understood?”

He let his alpha powers flow over me as I gritted my teeth and tried to fight it. “Understood, Sir,” I snapped.

He nodded resolutely and left me to my own thoughts, fears, and worries.

Two weeks, it's only for two weeks. I can do this. I chanted those words to myself over and over trying to make them true, but how was I going to survive without my mate for two whole weeks? I hadn't dared tell father that I suspected his concerns were already a reality. The only sign of a full bonded pair I hadn't yet seen was feeling each other’s physical pain, but I could feel her emotional pain loud and clear, and I knew when my dad told her the news. It was like a punch straight to my heart.

I wanted to run to her. I wanted to comfort her, but that was exactly what I wasn't supposed to do. So instead I paced my office feeling like I was trapped in a cage. My wolf wasn't taking too kindly to the feeling either. I needed to leave. I needed to run.

When I felt the absence of Kelsey's presence, I left the office and headed for the woods at the rear of the building. I undressed and changed quickly, taking off at a full sprint, my wolf caught a scent and headed west towards the river. I slowed in approach, crouching low, and wondering what he was hunting. Then I finally smelled it too. It was so strong, and my wolf sat back and howled, demanding attention.

Kelsey. Her small blonde wolf sat staring out into the water and turned at our howl. I'm so used to being consumed by her scent, that until I was practically on top of her, I had no idea what my wolf was hunting, or that he was hunting our mate.

She approached hesitantly with her head lowered to me. I hated to see her like that. She was every bit the alpha I was, but right then she just looked broken.

We had never successfully communicated through our bond in wolf form, but I reached out and tried anyway feeling the connection had grown over the last few days. I was right.

“Kelsey, are you okay?”I asked her, and watched as her head shot up, and her eyes bugged out in shock. My wolf did a little dance of joy at the recognition.

“Kyle? How is this possible? I thought we couldn't communicate in wolf form.”

“Only fully bonded mates can as far as I know.”

Her wolf shook its head in horror, looking far too human.

“No, don't say that. Please don't say that. Your dad told me what that could mean. We can't be fully bonded.”

“I don't know, babe. If not fully, it's close. I've felt every sign I've ever heard but one so far.”

“That's good then, right? One means there's still hope.”

“Hope for what, babe?”

“Hope that if I don't survive this challenge that I'm not killing you too in the process!”

---