“What do you mean Brynlee is missing!” I demand, Stepping towards my Aunt. Jett puts his hand out, stopping me from getting to close as my rage explodes. My Brynlee, my Goddess given Mate, is missing. The crowd watches on in silence, the scent of grief and sadness heavy in the air.
“What the hell happened?!” I demand, letting the power of my blood radiate. That Quincy guy steps forward, an apologetic look on his face before he turns to my Aunt. She nods at him and he sighs before turning to face me.
“Two days ago Brynlee was given the go ahead to take two days off after helping in dealing with Alpha Viren of Onix Moon.” He begins explaining, looking into my eyes. I sniff the air, scenting the truth to his words before I nod for him to continue telling me the timeline of events.
“I was out hunting with Quest, our Head Hunter, when she sent a link out to the pack stating she will be on her days off and also to not have anyone bother her.”
“Especially us Hunters and Warriors. I still wince every time I think about the last time we bothered her on her day off. Never again.” Another wolf, a lanky man with a mess of black hair on top of his head, cuts in.
“Quest Cyprian, Head Hunter.” This wolf introduces himself while Quincy glares at him.
“I was with Brynlee when she receive Caspians forwarded email you sent out. She was impressed by the way.” Quest continues before Quincy slaps him on the back of the head. If I wasn’t so angry right now after learning my mate is missing, I would have laughed at these two.
“As I was saying, there was about thirty minutes of silence before she reopened her link to the pack only able to say four words, “At cottage. Help me.” Then the link went dead.” A look of pain crosses Quincy’s face and a she-wolf, one I recognize as Jennifer a former wolf of Pine Moon, steps forward and places a hand on Quincy’s left shoulder. His left hand comes to squeeze it and I wait for him to collect his emotions.
“I was the closest to her house but it was too late. She was gone by the time we got there and we couldn’t recognize the scent of the two wolves.” He finishes, eyes closed as a tear slips down his cheek.
“I knew what you did to Brynlee. She told me.” His eyes open and a look of anger is directed to me. It is then that I realize he is the wolf that helped Brynlee through the pain all those weeks ago. I don’t know whether I want to thank him or throttle him, but one thing is clear. The relationship between Brynlee and him is something more than friends with how everyone glances at him with pity and me with anger.
“Take me to her house, please.” My words are tense from the anger, but I don’t blame anyone in Crescent Phoenix. They did nothing wrong.
“Why?” Jennifer asks, eyeing me with suspicion. I roll my eyes at this question, concluding that anyone who used to be a part of Pine Moon have become completely loyal to Crescent Phoenix. Anything I say or do will be met with push back and suspicion.
“Because I have visited and met many packs, Alphas and Betas. If anyone is to recognize the scents left there, it will be me.” I answer, turning to look at the she-wolf. Last I saw her, Jennifer was an Omega. Now she is a warrior and I can sense she is growing stronger. The conversation that Caspian and I had back when we found out about Golden Fang. How Brynlee would step up and help them if she could. It seemed we were spot on without realizing it.
Caspian. Turning to face my friend, I see a look of guilt on his face. He must have realized that I concluded he has been talking to Brynlee this whole time.
“After I find Brynlee and we are back at Crescent Phoenix, expect to meet me in the training ring.” I warn him, not happy he kept important information from me. Caspian rolls his eyes ignoring my threat and I suppress a growl before I turn back to Quincy, Quest and Jennifer.
“So, are you going to let me help find my Mate-”
“Ex-Mate.” Quincy cuts me off but I ignore him
“- or are you going to wallow and not do anything?” My gaze turns to my Aunt and she ponders for a moment. My Uncle has joined us, arms wrapped around my Aunt. He is watching me pensively, his body positioned in a way to protect my Aunt if need be.
“I will take you to her cottage, but on once condition.” Quincy finally answers after a long pause of silence.
“Anything.” I agree, happy to see he is letting me help.
“Brynlee did everything to build a life without you. You can sniff the scent, but you can’t enter her home.” He warns. My rage grows and I take a few deep breath to settle myself. Quincy is Brynlee’s friend. If I attack this Head Warrior now while angered, she will never forgive me.
“She is my Mate.” I counter back once I feel calm enough to answer.
“A Mate you rejected no matter how noble the cause.” He scoffs out. Caspian steps closer to me, ready to step in and stop me from doing anything stupid. I give him a small nod, reassuring him that I am in control of my emotions and won’t attack anyone, and he backs away with a raised brow.
“Fine.” I agree through gritted teeth. Quincy smirks at my answer and motions for Jennifer, Quest and me to follow him. He leads us to a blue Jeep - one that smells like Brynlee when I open the door – and I frown. She must have spent a lot of time in this vehicle for her scent to linger.
Instinct tells me I need to end the person that will be a hinderance in getting back together with Brynlee, but I take a deep breath and breath in her lingering scent. It’s been so long since I smelt her cinnamon-sugar scent and I feel like a parched man finding water in a desert.
“You climbing in?” Quincy asks, sliding into the driver side and turning on the vehicle. Without answering him, I climb into the passenger side, the Jeep moving forward before I can barely close the door.
The drive is quick, Quincy seemingly fine with taking the direct rout when I thought he would take a scenic rout. I am thankful for this and soon we end up in the driveway of a small cottage, Brynlee’s truck sitting in front with the view of a familiar lilac bush beside us. I chuckle, thinking back to the tantrum Tanya threw when she found out the bush was gone, a large three foot deep and four foot wide hole left in the ground that Caspian has jokingly asked me if he could push her into.
Silently we all exit the Jeep, Quincy and the other two staying back watching me with angry glares while I slowly make my way to the front door. I can taste the stale-ness of Brynlee’s scent coming from inside the house. Concluding the scent of her kidnappers will be barely there with two days passing, I close my eyes and step forward. Quincy lets out a growl of warning as I sniff the air and grow closer to the door but he doesn’t move from where he stands.
Focusing further, I scent the pine that the cottage was built with, scent the rose perfume of my aunt and the chocolate scent of Chase. It is clear those two spent a lot of time here.
Finally, I scent two scents that are barely discernable. I know these scent, have met the brother’s before and know who they work for. I had a feeling this might be the case and honestly I want to throttle my Aunt, Uncle and Quincy for not coming to this conclusion and instead try to blame me.
Snarling, I march towards Quincy and grab the collar of his shirt, letting my anger and power of my Alpha blood radiate around us.
“You are a bunch of morons!” I snarl out, our noses touching as I glare into this so called Head Warrior’s eyes.
“You could have saved her if you had used your pea sized brain and realized Onix Moon took her!” A sudden sharp pain from my groin has me releasing Quincy and dropping to my knees. I suppress the scream that threatens to rip through me while Jennifer and Quest move to help me from falling over.
“What’s wrong?” Jennifer asks, concern in her eyes as the two help me to stand.
“Some one is trying to fuck Brynlee.” I answer, anger coursing through my body. It is clear who this someone is as I take a deep breath, the pain disappearing a few minutes later.
“Now you know how it feels.” Quincy scoffs, anger radiating off of him in waves and clashing with my own. I ignore his taunt, knowing by now that he has helped Brynlee through every painful moment I caused her. Without another word, we pile into the Jeep and make our way back to the pack house.
After the two scents and the pain I just experienced, we need to form a plan to save Brynlee and fast.