-HERON'S POV-
Sensing my wrath, Forbes did to the guy, what I channeled to him through our mental link. He kneed him in the groin, sending him to the floor once more, clutching his mid area in agony.
He sputters from the blow and coughs as spit flies from his mouth. His face gives the most horrendous sight.
“Tell us what we need to know,” Sage angrily demands while he stands at my side. The strategy is ever the same. Forbes lunges and attacks the enemy, but Sage protects me by not leaving my side.
“She’s a troublemaker who doesn’t know how to behave for her own good,” the dark-skinned guy retorted as he leaned his injured frame against the wall for support. “We will find her.”
In my mind, I was thinking of the many ways that I wished to send him to hell. Feeling disgusted by their presence, I thought that they should all die. But they knew my mate and I had to get information to find her.
“As of now she is no longer your concern,” Sage snarled at the douchebag, “If you do find her before us, it would be in your best interest to hand her over.”
“And who the fuck are you to order us around?” The curly blonde-haired one with grey eyes furiously asked now that the pain in his groin was fading. He kneels and falters as he stands in the corridor.
“Your Alpha,” Forbes gritted, as his anger seeped.
They looked at me in my wheelchair and snickered with mockery. My wolf was prodding me to take charge and discipline these pups.
Forbes’ anger skyrockets. Like an eagle's claw, his hand seized the closest two by the throat, pulling them forward. Next, using his swift feet, he slams one of each into the other three guys' guts. The other two in his clasp struggled for oxygen. He brings his hands together so that they mightily bump their heads into each other, making them disoriented. Blood trickled from their foreheads. Then he drops them from his grasp as their bodies thud to the floor.
“We could do this all day, or you can tell us what we want to know,” Forbes slams his right fist into his left palm, cracking his knuckles.
A swarm of students begins to come out of their classes and also from the upper floors. Not wishing to make a scene or to draw unwanted attention, we had to move this out of the public building.
“Forbes, call two warriors to help you take these brutes to the dungeon,” I commanded, “Interrogate them there and get back to me.”
“There goes a good show,” Sage complains because he desired to see these guys get beat up. Though he understood that continuing the brawl here would get word to Alpha Hudson, my Dad. And that’s the last thing that I wanted.
Sage and I left Forbes to clean up and get the intel that I sought. My Beta drove me back to the cottage where we would stay until 6 pm for dinner with the family. Dejected, I went to my office and wallowed in self-pity.
My mate was my main priority. Having her run away from me lashed at my heart and boosted my insecurities. The whimpering of my wolf made me feel even worse, his dismay was also mine. How unfortunate that we lost her on the same day that we met her! Just when I felt that in her presence my life was beginning to become brighter, she left and took that light with her. At this point, since I needed an expert to track Charlotte, it was time to give Gamma Axel this function.
“Axel,” I mind-linked with authority. All wolves of the same pack can communicate telepathically once we are on pack grounds or in proximity.
“Cuz,” his stony response came seconds later. The surprise in his tone was well noted. “What can I do for you?”
“I need you to track and locate a girl for me. Her name is Charlotte Timberwood.” I said, getting straight to the point, because I needed him to start immediately. “She was last sighted at Luckingham College.”
“Roger that!” He exclaimed with excitement because he was pleased to be on a mission at last. “I will get started right away.”
“I want daily updates,” I ordered.
“Do you want me to bring her to you?” He inquired.
“No, but her status is imperative,” I said before closing the link.
The cottage was a modest, cozy home that consisted of five bedroom suites and was owned by my family, the Carters. It was close to a little lake and tucked away deep in the heart of the forest. While the façade had an aged and rustic appearance, the interior included modern furniture and amenities.
My beautiful Mate. She appeared to be a fierce woman who was 5’5 with long red hair, hazelnut eyes, and freckles underneath. She had a scar across her eyebrow and was tanned with gorgeous lips that begged to be kissed. Every nerve ending in my body experienced electric currents when they touched me.
“This is the first time that I have seen you smile,” Sage noted as he entered my office with a glass jug of lemonade.
“There was nothing to smile about before,” I said bitterly, annoyed that he felt the need to point that out. “But not because she is my mate does it mean that we will be together.”
“Then why do you hunt for her?” He pours some and hands me a glass of cool lemonade and takes a seat in the chair in front of me.
Such ludicrous! Doesn’t everyone wish to be with their mates?
“We are mates,” I gazed at the college’s pamphlet in my hand. “Naturally, we should discuss our future and intentions. I need her to tell me if she’ll be mine or not.”
“Alpha, your mate should be at your side,” Sage pointed out. I guess he was hopeful that Charlotte and I would complete the mating process, especially for the sake of the pack.
“Look at me,” I referred to my wheelchair, “What mate would want a guy like me?”
Sage’s puzzled expression showed that he was holding what he wanted to say. Instead, he drinks his lemonade.
“Let’s wait until we locate her and see what she’s up to.” I was hiding the thrill that was washing through me. My wolf eagerly wanted to see her. We both hoped that she would stay with us. Either way, I would never force her to be with me.
“Any news from Forbes?” Sage inquired, refilling his glass.
“Not yet,” I was equally anxious to hear from him.
When I first met my mate, I had no idea I would experience such a range of strange feelings. Although Mom and Dad frequently told us about it, experiencing it brought me to a new level. How could I miss someone I scarcely knew? Today was too overwhelming so I wasn't in a talking mood.
“Well, I am going to shower so that we won’t be late for dinner.” He exits the room and goes.
Left in my own thoughts, I decided to stick to a business major. That ought to quiet my mother for a while. But if they thought for one minute that I was going to attend face-to-face classes, they would have to deal with it.
My pack hardly saw me because I have been introverted since age sixteen, when I lost the ability to walk. I am eighteen years old and will be nineteen soon. Feeling insecure about myself was something that no one else in the pack could relate to. It felt like my whole life ended at that stage when I lost my ability to walk.
Now that I had seen my mate, the desire burned within my bones to have her. Truthfully, I hoped that she would elect to be my Luna. With her, maybe my life would not feel so much like a moss-filled ditch.
As reflections of her filled my brain, a smile graced my lips. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Hope fills me that Axel will not disappoint me. With his skills, I believe that some good news was imminent.
Being in the office for some time now, the hour went quickly. Sage appeared at the door holding a note.
“We received some news about psycho Ector,” he places the paper in my outstretched palm.
Undoing its folds, I read the written message with an evil smirk, “Let’s deal with this after dinner.”
~
*HERON’S POV* Sitting around the dinner table, my sister snuck up from behind and hugged me. “What’s up, little brother?” Her infectious smile always made my mouth curve into one as well. “Pretty much the same. You know how boring I am.” A frown subdued her features as her lips thinned. “If your life is so uneventful, why don’t you make things happen for yourself? Go visit your friends from high school or start college.” I glanced at Mom, who refused to look at me. She must have egged Pandia into being her accomplice. The obvious guilt was plastered on her face. “My life is fine as it is.” Dad had not joined us yet. Usually, Mom does not allow us to begin without his presence. So, something must be keeping him away. However, my Beta and Delta were here with me. “Your commanding officers should not be cooped up in an isolated cottage. If you lived here, they could contribute much more to operations.” Pandia was a replica of our Mom. Don’t tell me I will have to endure both of the
****TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter covers abuse***** *MIKAYLA’S POV* SLAP! A sudden pain stung across my right cheek. The impact of her palm sent me into shock as I tried to grasp what she had done to me. My lips busted as she gave me a second slap with imprints of her five fingers. “You bitch!” She coldly scolds, “I told you to stay away from Archie!” She lifted her right hand again and I caught it. “Pam, what’s gotten into you?” I shrieked in astonishment and shoved her hand away. I was in the kitchen collecting the dirty hand towels and mittens to take them down to the laundry. Here, at the pack house, I was one of the laundry staff. She popped behind me on the stairs going down to the basement. Sensing her behind me, I turned and was greeted by a waspish slap, then she pushed me. The basket and everything went out of my hands as I fell and my head collided with the cold tiled ground. Orphans are ranked as omegas within the werewolf kingdom. Having no living parents meant t
*MIKAYLA’S POV* Tremors filled my insides as I knocked on the door of the second study, west of the pack house. Closing my eyes, I inhaled sharply to quiet my nerves, though the rapid drumming of my heart prevailed. Lowering my head, I longingly stared at the door handle in my hand before entering the room. “Is this her?” After entering the room, I stood the standardized seven feet from the seated Luna. My hands were to my sides, fidgeting with my uniform. The heat of the Luna’s gaze filtered into the room, and multiplied my anxiety. “Yes, Luna,” Cecilia answered. My head was slightly raised to acknowledge the beautiful black hair Luna before me. She sat with her legs crossed on the white leather love seat. Matron Cecilia ceremoniously stood at her left side, overlapping her hands. Luna Phoebe had a clean complexion and highlighted her blue eyes with beige eye shadow and black winged eyeliner. Nude lip gloss painted her full lips and she wore a slim-fitted denim dress with a tur
*MIKAYLA’S POV* In the enormous dining room, I walked over to the Luna’s side. Everything that they said twirled round and round in my head as the conversation carried on. There were three angry people at the table after she made the announcement that created the raucous. With my head kept lowered, I nervously fidgeted as the Luna spoke, “Heron, this is Mikayla and she will be your new maid.” “What the hell for?” he snapped, his face contorting with revulsion and I felt my gut twist. “Don’t speak to your Mom like that,” Alpha Hudson warned his son, and he emits a growl. Then he carved into his steak. “Omega Nikki will be permanently assigned here while Mikayla takes over at the cottage.” The Luna frowns but continued to tell the young Alpha, “She will prepare your meals and do daily housekeeping. The purpose of her being there is to free up Forbes and Sage for other matters." “So you are giving me another fucking babysitter?” He glares at me and my wolf whimpers as his aura becom
*MIKAYLA’S POV* Early the following morning, after a fitful night, I got dressed quietly in a state of inflated dismay. The only things I had with me were my backpack and two old medium-sized duffle bags in which I had to sew the holes closed before I could utilize them. Sad to say, but money was a constant strain. Pam and I both graduated from high school but were unable to attend college. Wages from the pack house were minimal and only catered for fundamental necessities. My room was a 7x8 old, drafty room. A single window, dark, unpainted walls, and a two-inch mattress on the floor made the containment. Curtains and other furniture were absent. I did not ask the matron for anything because I refused to be a bother, unless they offered, though my meals there were free. I chose this on the premise of having privacy, rather than sharing rooms with bratty kids and bunked beds. I had hoped to buy a small bed although I knew that I'd have to move out eventually. Whereas some Omegas res
*MIKAYLA’S POV* Why did I roll my eyes at the Alpha? When did I get so brave? Based on his major dislike of me, I’m sure that he won’t let me off. I exited the cottage with Forbes leading the way to a white open-top jeep wrangler that was parked under a large oak tree. He got into the driver's seat and I stood there like an idiot. His eyebrows raised at me, "What are you waiting for? Get in." Climbing in the passenger's seat increased my apprehension. I inhaled, then exhaled harshly. An Uber could have taken me to the supermarket and back. I had no problem with that. Although the fare would be costly because the cottage was in the middle of the forest, which is a nowhere town. The presence of these powerful men made me feel like I wanted to pee myself, so I was not asking to be chauffeured. He fired up the engine and back out of the driveway. Making a curved turn, he steered the jeep onto the graveled path for vehicles leaving the dense forest. I was quiet. Forbes was a commandin
*MIKAYLA’S POV* “You are late, Mikayla,” Gamma Axel beckons me over to him. He was standing at the entrance of their office under the long balcony of the training center that overlooked the training field. I waited a few feet away since he was talking to his Dad, the current Gamma Chad. Both men looked so identical, with his father maintaining that youthful look. “Go and handle your business, Axel,” Gamma Chad tells his son and leaves, “I will see you at home.” Axel assumed a militant rigidity as he looked me over with his light brown eyes. “So, you’re here on punishment.” “Yes, Gamma,” I nodded and swished my right leg back and forth in the dirt, to reduce the apprehension. My eyes roll over his brawny eight pack body, and I’m in awe that his wavy flop top black hair looks so good despite his training sessions. “Have you ever trained?” He questions austerely. “No, Gamma,” I told him, straightening my body like a soldier. “Training is for everyone and you should have started fr
*MIKAYLA'S POV*The mobile phone brightened its screen to display notifications of incoming messages. A bright smile appeared on my face as I unlocked the phone to view them.3: 59 am Nikki: Rise and shine. Get to work!4: 10 am Nikki: Congrats by the way. I’m glad that you aren’t stuck in the basement anymore. Pam’s been looking for you but no one tells her anything. The Luna reprimanded her for attacking you and left her with a warning.4:22 am Nikki: Seriously, Mika! Aren’t you up yet?4: 30 am Nikki: I need to know how your first day went. Girl, are you okay?Heeding her alert, I ran to take a quick shower, then to the small closet. I sighed at the bland attire on the hanger and searched for a good jeans pants and a decent top.The waist of the jeans was loose. Have I lost weight? After searching for a belt, I pushed it through the loops and tightened the buckle to have the jeans sit on my hips. Using a brush, I bundled my blonde strands into a ponytail, making it as neat as possi