Word Count: 1535

~Alden

It hasn't rained so hard in the Wisdom Pack for a long while.

Icy winds accompanied it, lashing against my back and side, soaking me right through to the bone. This weather is a personification of my mood. If there is even an inch of this city I haven't searched today, I would would be very much surprised. On my own two feet two. As much as the ache and protest, begging to to stop.

My building comes into view through the haze of rain. People with black umbrellas up, rushing through the weather pay me no mind. With rain drenched hair and a solemn expression, I'm almost sure they don't recognize me.

Sermon greets me at the door as I walk in. "Alpha, you're finally back."

A few other people surround me. All of them work for me, but none of their names are important right now. They tug off my jacket, tossing a towel over my shoulders. They all ask me a million questions I don't respond to. Frustrating is building within me and I feel myself want to snap. I spent all that time outside in this weather and I didn't find Kezziah. She's still out there.

"Alpha, are you okay? You should have walked out there in this weather. We can find the girl tomorrow. We can send out our best security. You didn't need to go out there yourself..."

I stop short in my step, seeing my anger in the reflection of her eyes. "Don't tell me what I should and should not do. And she's not just a girl."

When I start walking, the other staff back off.

Sermon, however, keeps after me, heels clicking obnoxiously on the floor as I approach the bottom floor elevator that should take me back to my office. I need to check the camera's again to ensure I haven't missed anything. Any clue to where she has disappeared to would help me.

"Why don't you go to bed and rest. You'll get sick," Sermon insists, following me to the door of the elevator. "We know she hasn't left the Pack. Our border patrol know she's missing."

I grab her arm, stopping her from following me into the elevator. "Why don't you tell me something useful? Like where the hell my mate has gone?"

I don't pay attention to Sermon's surprise. Her opinion means nothing to me. I don't need to touch Kezziah to know she's my mate. I can feel it. There is no other I would trek through this entire city for. Now I know this, I need to get her back.

Sermon is speechless.

I step into the elevator, leaving her behind. In a last minute decision, I send myself to the top floor, run myself a shower and strip off of my clothing. I only feel relief when the water hits my back, taking the chill from under my skin. I'm lightheaded, most likely getting sick. It doesn't matter. If we don't find her tonight, I'll be out again tomorrow, no matter what I feel like.

I bang my fist against the shower wall, the flimsy material shuddering under trauma. I rest my head against the wall.

Why Kezziah...Why don't you trust me?

~Kezziah

The ring fit perfectly.

Everything seemed to be solved until Fate led me back outside and preparing us to leave before Time got back. It was then everything dawned on me again, and I realised I have nowhere to go. No way to contact Avia. It all relies on Fate, and now I'm not sure where his plan is going to end up.

The mist outside hasn't let up, but the sky seems to be darkening in the same way the mortal world would be. I'm assuming it's all a simulation of normality. To make Time feel less alone in this quiet place.

"So, am I taking you back to darling Alden?" Fate asks, that curious, taunting smile growing across his features. He truly must be bored to pick at me.

I cross my arms over my chest. "Anywhere but."

Fate laughs, but it is uneasy. I can see him considering whether to heed my wish or not. He has brought me this far, allowed me to receive this ring, which should hopefully keep me from being detected from Time. It will give me enough time and space to hopefully find a cure for this wretched branding and mark.

"It's fairly obvious how bad you want this mate bond removed," Fate says flatly, eyes glancing down at the brand that has crept over to my collarbones. I pull the collar of my shirt up higher. "And who is going to help that?"

I narrow my eyes at him. "Are you trying to manipulate me into going back."

"I'm not doing anything," he says with a shrug of his shoulders. "I'm just telling you how it is. I don't know of anyone else with the ability to remove that brand of yours."

My teeth grit into each other to the point of pain. I'm not sure how right he is. I've always believed - or at least held onto the hope - that a healer from another Pack might hold onto some knowledge of how to get rid of this mark. But Fate knows more than I do. If he is trying to help me, then he means it when he says I should return back to Alden.

Loosening a sigh, I sink down into the mist, kneeling. "It's more complicated than just going back for his help."

"Why?" Fate asks.

He crouches down, knees disappearing into the mist. Whatever I'm sitting on is soft. I wish I could sink into it and never return. At least Fate looks somewhat sympathetic, however, I don't know how much sympathy an immortal can have about a mortal.

"He's my mate. I know it," I admit, burying my head in my hands. "I can't have two mates, can I? I don't want two mates...I want Alden."

It was the first time anything like that has come out of my mouth. I look up suddenly, noticing a smile trembling on Fate's lips. It felt strange to admit that, yet at the same time, it almost made sense. All the built up attraction I've pushed into my depths has arisen. My body wants Alden. I want Alden.

"He doesn't deserve this...this complication. And what if he doesn't even want me?" I say, throwing my thoughts out loud. Even to Fate, it seems satisfying to get everything off my chest.

I've never been this honest.

"I think you're over dramatic," Fate says honestly. I reach out and kick his leg with the tip of my foot, making him laugh. "Alden isn't a surface level man. I think if you get beyond you can learn some interesting things about him. And you could have some fun with it too, if you know what I'm saying."

"You truly are bored, aren't you," I mutter, shaking my head at him. If I can try, I would get closer to him, find out more.

Fate stands, holding his hand out to me. I take it, letting him haul me back to standing position. A bit of confidence has consumed me, but it is paired by nervousness. What if I can't get close to Alden to find out what I want to about him. He might not let me learn what is really going on inside his head.

"If you lived my life, you would be just as bored," Fate murmurs while I brush off the back of my pants.

I shrug. "Infinite power and immortal life. Sounds like fun to me."

"You'd be surprised," Fate says solemnly. I tilt my head at him, wanting to ask more questions and dive into the psychology of him too, but he shakes his head at me, and I decide against prying.

He holds his hand out, ready to transport me back to the mortal land, but I decide I have one more question I need to know. "Why did you help me. Truly."

Fate pauses, looking through his mind to consider how to answer. Before this moment, I would have assumed he had no idea who I was. It seems he has a radar for drama; especially when it comes to Alpha's. I've always seen him as the bad guy, so of course I need to know why he did this to help me.

"Boredom is always apart of it," he admits. "But also, I like when people owe me. I have the infinite future to think about."

"Of course," I say lightly, taking his hand.

Before the world falls out from under us, he looks at me, and I finally see some sense of real emotion in those dark eyes that seem to have no end. "Let's take you back to your mate. Your real mate."

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If you guys want more of Alden, the rest of available now on Radish (:

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Sinful's own story is up now on Radish! I wanted to make it apart of the Seven Sins series (which will have stories involving Cian and other characters you've seen before)

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Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼