CONNOR

"I am sorry for hurting you, solnyshko," I whisper, cuddling my little human close. She sighs, laying a soft kiss on my chest, making my wolf preen, and then looks up at me. Her brown eyes are shining with so much love that for a moment I forget who I am.

"I am glad it was you. I never thought of having sex with anyone much less of my virginity yet here I am thinking that it was a very different experience from what I expected," she whispers.

"I hope a good one," I ask, nervously. I've never felt like this before. I still remember the times when I had sex with any human, my wolf used to claw inside my mind, showing his displeasure at being touched by a female but with Catrina, he's been surprisingly calm and I, for a moment even felt an eagerness to mark her, especially when I came. The urge was so strong that I accidentally bit off a pillow which I have now stashed below the bed to avoid being asked questions about it.

"I think the best one," she teases me, a playful look in her eyes and her face glowing with post-coital bliss. Goddess! I think I am falling for this girl.

"So, let's go for a second round?" I ask, pushing that uncomfortable thought out of my mind and pulling her body under me. She wiggles a bit but then freezes.

"We didn't use a condom, Connor," she whispers, her brown eyes wide with fear now.

Fuck!

"I know, but nothing will happen," I assure not knowing how to tell her that a werewolf can't impregnate anyone else. A werewolf is compatible only with another werewolf.

That, she is not and so her chances of conceiving are nil. That's one plus point of having sex with humans but even then, I have never had unprotected sex. This was the first time.

"Are you sure?" she asks, her fingers now running in small circles over my chest. She's not angry with me for not using a condom, in fact, she's seeking comfort from me, just in case anything does happen.

"I promise, Catrina. Nothing will happen to you. I am clean and this was your first time. Talking about pregnancy, I just don't think it'll happen. Your period stopped yesterday, didn't it?" I distract her, knowing that talking about periods is not her favourite topic of conversation.

"But wear a condom now," she whispers and I go to argue but she adds in a small please which leaves me with no other option.

"Okay, but I like to be inside you without any barrier," I tell her but she just smiles at me serenely. My little sun!

My eyes open slowly, the remnants of the dream still lingering heavy in my mind and my body ready to claim our mate except she's not here. She's miles away with her family and I am here alone, trying to handle the mess that my father left behind again.

Her scent on the pillow is almost gone. The night she slept in my bed now feels like an eternity ago. Only a strand of hair that was left behind on my pillow is proof that she was really here. I don't know why but I have kept that strand of hair with me.

I need her with me or I am going to lose my mind like I did yesterday when a few of my pack members want to follow my dad's path and go, rogue.

That's another matter that I now have to deal with because the person is my father's beta. If he goes then most of his family goes which reduces the number of my pack but will also cause unnecessary paperwork. Both for the human law enforcement as well as for the elder council and I am not interested in paperwork, at all. Damn him and damn me for being put in this situation.

If only Catrina were here, this situation could have been much more bearable and I wouldn't be feeling so lost with my wolf's constant displeasure and sulking attitude. It doesn't let me work.

The faster I solve this issue the sooner our mate will come back home.

~~~~

A commotion in the hallway of the packhouse is the only thing I hear when I enter.

"Silence," I yell, letting my Alpha command seep into my voice making everyone obey me. The crowd finally stops their argument and stand silently with their heads bowed.

"What's wrong, Yuri?"

"Alpha, Isaac here is leaving our pack and wishes for his daughter to travel with him," says Yuri. I watch my Beta with the question clear in my eyes.

What is it to Yuri if she leaves with her father? Why specifically talk about her?

"I claim Isaac's daughter, Ivory as my true mate," declares Yuri, making Isaac growl profanities at him and the said daughter gasps in shock. I ignore the males and look at the daughter, motioning her to come forward.

Ivory's head is slightly bowed in respect as she walks over to me. The girl is dressed in a long-full-sleeved dress. Who dresses like this on today's date? I think my father's beta was just like him. Making a quick decision to let the said female have a say in this, I order both Yuri and Isaac to leave us alone.

"So, what do you think about it?" I ask Ivory who still refuses to look me in the eye. She's of age, I know only that much about her. She's 21 years old but since her father didn't want her to be a warrior, he didn't send her to the school and at that time, my father was the Alpha who obviously approved.

Ancient Pack!

"Alpha, my father completely believes in your father's ways and he never approved of Yuri even as a capable wolf," she begins but I shake my head at her.

"I don't care about your father. Do you claim him as your mate?" I ask, pushing a command, and watch as her head springs up to look at me directly in the face. Her face is red and her mouth is trembling now.

"Yes, Alpha. He's my true mate. My wolf recognises him and we've been secretly dating since the last year. Yuri has asked for my hand a lot of times but father has not given his blessings," she whispers, her eyes welling up in tears.

"As an Alpha, if I give my blessings then your father's blessings won't count, you know, right?" I ask to which she nods but still looks unsure.

"Yuri," I call loud enough that the female in front of me flinches and then shakes her head. The poor girl has been forced to become submissive.

"Yes, Alpha," asks Yuri who immediately goes to stand beside his mate. I watch as she subtly shifts toward him as if seeking comfort. The gesture confirms my decision and I call out for her father and family.

"I declare Ivory Blakeslee, daughter of Isaac Blakeslee as the true mate of my Beta Yuri Darokbranor. I give my blessings to them and as a form of that, I'll be hosting a claiming ceremony for them, tonight."

"That's not fair. I am her father and I don't allow this mating," snarls her father.

"I am the Alpha and what I say is the law. Don't make me repeat myself," I roar, making my words and command clear causing the entire group of people to bow down on their knees.

What kind of barbaric behaviour is this to keep your own daughter from her true mate? Fucking obnoxious wolf!

~~~~

Finally, things are falling back to the usual routine. Yuri and Ivory have their own home now. Only Isaac and his mate left the pack whereas Ivory's brothers Victor and Caleb chose to stay and serve as the pack warrior.

Yuri's mate is an exceptional submissive yet determined she-wolf who makes a good Beta female for the pack. They make a good power couple which allows me a bit of space to work on my own problems.

My phone rings effectively breaking my train of thoughts and I pick on the third ring.

"Come here, now," commands Fenris from the other side, setting my wolf on the edge.

"Is Catrina fine?" I ask, not thinking of anyone else at the moment. I don't even care that it could be something about my mother. It's my gut and my wolf that tell me that it's something related to our mate.

"I don't know. She's not home yet. It's been an entire day now and I've searched the entire forest for her with my men. I need you here," he says but I am already walking out the door of my office and into Yuri's.

"I'll be there," I reply to Fenris and hang up.

"Yuri, I have an emergency. My mate's in possible danger. I want you and your mate to temporarily take charge. Make sure that no one goes out of the pack and no outsider enters the pack. Put a curfew. Secure the borders and keep an eye out for rogues. Xanthos might have planned something," I order and am assured when the couple stands up and assures me.

With that, I make my way to my home and start packing essentials.

~~~~~

Every step that I take when I walk towards Fenris's home makes my wolf more and more agitated. We are furious that my mate disappeared, especially when she is under the King's protection.

"Excuse me, Alpha Connor. We'll have to check you first," says the dumb wolf who's guarding Fenris's home. I growl at him and stand still waiting for him to get done.

As soon as he is done, I walk towards the house and bang on it, hard, controlling my urge to lift it off the hinges and throw it aside.

Fenris opens the door and wisely doesn't say even a thing. "Where in the hell were you when she got lost?" I roar, marching up to Fenris wanting to throttle him.

"I didn't cage my cousin, friend. If you thought that I would keep her locked up then you were mistaken."

"Oh, now don't you dare be diplomatic with me," I growl, holding the lapels of his shirt and getting into his face.

"I want my mate back," I roar, not caring that I am disrespecting the reigning Alpha of Recrania.

"We'll get her back," he assures me, although his eyes have turned black.

"We start searching for her, now," I growl.

"I've already sent my men to search beyond the school territories. I think it's Xanthos again but I am not sure how he contacted her."

"Xanthos is very slimy. He might have called her or something or maybe he slipped in," I grumble ignoring the fact that Fenris is now beginning to get riled up.

"You forget that my security is very tight. It would be very difficult for Xanthos to slip in," he snarls at me and now, my answering anger makes me take a step toward him.

This time Fenris responds and the next second I find myself being thrown on my ass with Fenris gripping my neck in a death grip.

"I won't tolerate disrespect when I am on your side. When I say we'll get her back, it means that my entire pack will help her get back. Remember this, before disrespecting their efforts in securing this place," snarls Fenris in my face. His canines have lengthened and now I feel a little uncomfortable with all that dominance pouring out of him.

Realising that me blaming him and him calming me down is actually putting Catrina's life more in danger, I nod my head and bare my neck a little in surrender. Fenris watches that movement and lets me go, getting back on his feet. He offers his hand to me which I take, grateful to have him as my friend in my tough time.

"Sorry for the slip," I whisper, massaging the back of my neck in the hopes of getting the stiffness out of it.

"That's fine. I bet Xanthos is more scared of you than me at this moment," muses Fenris.

Damn right! He should be. He's got his place booked in hell and I'll be the one to push him in it.

~~~~

"Henry is missing, Beta Cayden," says one of the pack members who have gathered here for questioning. I don't like sitting here and do a human investigation but Fenris says that it is a much better option than run around and waste both energy and time.

"When was the last you saw him?" asks Cayden while Fenris is talking to someone on his phone. I can't hear him he's far and maybe he's got some magic working. These witch cousins of him make me uncomfortable. More than that, the blood-sucker gives me the creeps.

His eyes are a glowing fire ever since I have seen him and him, me, and I think I know the reason for his anger. He's my mate's godfather. I didn't know but this new bit of information can be the cause of my early demise.

The vampires are known to tear open their prey and then suck their blood till the prey's dead. I glare at Calum when he chuckles at my thoughts.

"Keep it in, idiot," I mutter when he laughs outright at my grumbling.

"Will you focus, Alpha Connor," growls Cayden from the other side of the crowd where he is questioning two females. One is a bit older, probably this Henry's mother and the other one appears to be his sister.

"Well, if you could just let me do what I want, I'll be able to focus much better," I growl in return, hoping that I could just run off and search the Crimson Shadow territory. That's one big place for rogues to hide, especially with all those traps and tricks laid down by the late King Adrian. He's not alive but his traps, the unknown ones are still there and it'd be hell for a werewolf to accidentally slip and get his hides burnt off while he's alive.

"You are happy to go. That way we'll get rid of your careless ass," mutters Cayden and that's when my wolf snaps. In a second, I am over Cayden, growling in his face for the disrespect. How dare he say that I don't care about my mate?

"Watch your mouth, Beta," I roar in his face but the wolf in front of me doesn't back down.

"Pray to the Goddess, Alpha. She's been lurking in that damn forest just to get rid of your memories," growls Cayden in my face, making me realise that I am at fault here. It's because of me that Catrina was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"ENOUGH!"

Fenris marches toward us with his eyes looking furious and his canines descended. His pack bows down on their knees unable to bear the dominance oozing out of him. I stifle my urge and keep standing, bowing my head while watching Cayden who's on his knee, willingly.

"Cayden, lead a search party to the river and beyond. Don't go lurking into the rogue territory, just skirt around and sniff out something for me," orders Fenris to which Cayden nods and immediately gets to work.

"You," says Fenris pointing towards me and I freeze. My wolf is baring his teeth, angry for being told to wait. I don't have the patience to sit and wait for news.

"Yes, Fenris," I mutter, keeping in my growl. Don't want to disrespect him in front of the non-werewolves. It puts in a bad impression about our pack dynamics.

"Where's your father?" he asks. I shake my head in a negative.

"I defeated him in a dual and he ran off. His Beta, Isaac also left with him."

"Okay. That explains things. We found a couple of rogues on the south of the school territory," he explains.

"Fuck. I am going to kill him," I growl taking a step to run towards the school but Fenris shakes his head.

"It's not your father. It's Isaac Blakeslee and some rogue. Looks like your father's changed sides," he says. Great! Just when I thought that things are running smoothly.

My mate's missing and my father's gone rogue evil. Fuck my life!

"Fenris!!" someone calls the King but I am far away in my mind, thinking of ways to end my father.

"What is it Nora?" asks Fenris.

"It's Cayden. I lost his trail just after he crossed river Lena. The same spot where you fought Xanthos," informs Nora and I feel another wave of rage bubbling inside me.

Damn Xanthos! Motherfucker!

~~~~

Thank you for reading! 

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