We settle into the chairs, Nina positioning herself beside me as we face Alpha Edward. Beta Ryan returns with glasses and a pitcher, filling them up and passing one glass to Alpha Edward, another for Nina, and the last for me.
‘Beta Ryan tells me you are here to search for your mate?’ Alpha Edward leans back, sipping his drink with an air of curiosity.
‘Yes, Alpha Edward. I am,’ I affirm keenly.
‘Well, aren’t you an eager Alpha to be wanting to find your mate so soon?’ Alpha Edward chuckles, a warmth in his eyes that betrays a hint of nostalgia.
‘Very eager, Alpha Edward,’ I reply, mirroring his good-natured tone.
‘I see. Let’s drink, and I’ll have the she-wolves called up.’ He mind-links Beta Ryan, giving the command to assemble the unmated she-wolves.
We follow Alpha Edward out the door, where two dozen she-wolves stand, their eyes alight with hope. A collective hush falls over them as they see me approaching. I move to each one, searching their eyes for that magic connection of the mate bond, but my wolf remains calm, the mate bond silent. I shake my head subtly at Alpha Edward.
The disappointment echoes in the soft sighs and murmurings of the she-wolves as they realize none of them are my fated mate.
A pigeon, its wings cutting through the air, flies over my head and gracefully lands on the stone windowsill of the packhouse. ‘Hmm, it’s a messenger bird,’ Alpha Edward notes, his eyes tracking the bird's movements. He takes the paper scroll delicately from the bird’s leg, his expression shifting as he reads the note.
His eyebrows scrunch together in a mix of confusion and concern. ‘You never told me rogues attacked your pack?’
‘Oh, didn’t I?’ I stammer nervously.
Alpha Edward reads the note aloud. ‘We are sending this letter out to all packs to inform them that Shadow Crest was under attack through the night by a pack of rogues who followed the orders of Vanessa, who you may all remember as Alpha Zenith’s daughter from Shady Crest many years ago. Their attack failed, and Vanessa, along with her mother and her band of rogues, have all met their demise. Regards Alpha Ryker and Luna Astrid.’
‘When we were under attack, Nina was targeted. So, I had to leave Shadow Crest to keep her safe,’ I confess.
‘Well, now you can return since you know Shadow Crest is okay,’ Alpha Edward suggests reassuringly.
‘It’s not that easy, Alpha Edward. Nina will remain in danger until I find my mate. Until then, neither of us can return,’ I explain.
‘I don’t understand how finding your mate will keep Nina safe?’ Alpha Edward presses, his expression shifting to one of genuine concern.
‘It’s complicated and information I cannot share without further endangering Nina. We thank you for your time, Alpha Edward, but we must make our way to the next pack. I’m sure it won’t be long until you hear the rumours of why Nina is in danger. Could you reply to my parents' message and tell them I will return once I find my fated mate? Nina and I would appreciate it.’
Alpha Edward nods understandingly, a mixture of sympathy and understanding in his eyes, and we leave.
Once we're out of sight, Nina's fingers tighten around my arm. ‘Skedaddle Dash,’ she says with urgency, and in an instant, we port halfway through the woods. The world whirls around us, and the abrupt displacement leaves me momentarily disoriented.
‘We should set up camp for the night here,’ she suggests as I stagger, my equilibrium still catching up with our magical transportation.
‘Sure,’ I mumble, barely able to form words as I stumble towards the bushes. The nausea that follows is inevitable, and I empty the contents of my stomach into the underbrush. Nina retrieves a bottle of water from my bag and hands it to me with a sympathetic expression.
‘Thanks,’ I rasp, taking the bottle and rinsing my mouth.
Once my stomach is reluctantly back in place, I muster the strength to collect sticks scattered around the forest floor, bundling them together. The air carries the scent of pine, and a cool breeze rustles through the leaves overhead.
‘Inferno Flamo,’ Nina utters, her voice a soft incantation. The bundled sticks catch fire, flames dancing to life. The warmth begins to push back against the chill of the night. The firelight casts flickering shadows across Nina's face.
‘Are you ever going to warn me before you cast a spell?’ I grumble, still recovering from the sudden magical exertion.
‘Umm, probably not,’ she smirks, her eyes sparkling.
I shake my head at her and smile.
We sit by the fire beside each other to keep warm. I eventually lie on my back, gazing up at the stars, the vastness of the night sky stretching out before me. Nina joins me, lying on her back as well, the crackling flames casting shadows around us.
'I miss my parents,' Nina confesses. I can hear the vulnerability in her voice.
'I miss my family, too,' I admit, the flickering firelight reflecting in my eyes.
'Would you believe I'm even missing May?' Nina adds, surprising me with a touch of humour.
'You, miss May? Never,' I tease, a smile breaking through the sombre mood.
'What if it's months or years until we see them again?' Nina asks with worry.
'We have each other. You and me now against the world until I find my mate,' I smile.
'Yeah,' Nina frowns, a shadow passing over her face. She stands up suddenly. 'I'm going to go for a walk.'
'I'll come,' I offer, ready to accompany her.
'No, please stay. Some time to myself is what I need. I won't go far. I promise,' Nina says with a hint of sadness.
'Oh, okay,' I agree reluctantly, watching as she disappears into the darkness of the woods.
When Nina returns, her eyes are red and puffy, betraying the tears she must have shed. 'Are you okay?' I ask her with worry, lacing my voice.
'No, I'm not. I just want to sleep,' Nina replies, lying on the other side of the fire, distancing herself from me.
Why is she pulling away? Did I say something wrong?
I lie awake until she is sound asleep, the crackling of the dying embers the only company in the quiet night. When I wake up, the morning light paints the surroundings in a gentle glow. I glance over to where Nina slept, but she's not there.
'Nina, Nina!' I yell in panic, my heart racing. There's no sign of her. 'Nina!' I scream frantically.
'What? Why are you yelling like that?' she says, appearing from the woods with hands full of berries. I rush over to her, my hands finding her shoulders, examining her from head to toe.
'Are you okay? Where'd you go? I thought something bad happened to you?'
'You were still asleep, so I thought I'd pick us some berries for breakfast,' she explains, her eyes filled with sincerity.
I pull her into a tight hug, squashing the berries between us.
Nina sighs. 'Well, there goes our breakfast.'