***THIS WAS A DOUBLE UPDATE AND I HOPE YOU DID NOT MISS CHAPTER 18***
Chapter 19
~ A few weeks later ~
"There's only been one attack so from the rogues over the last few weeks, so I want you to make sure that everyone on border patrol has their eyes and ears peeled. Any activity is to be reported to me and I want you both to look over this personally." I stared at my Beta and Gamma who immediately nodded in understanding as we all sat in my office in the packhouse.
"I just don't understand why they've suddenly gone radio silent on us after their attacks have been getting worse over the past twenty years." Charlotte mused as she stared at the table as if it held all the answers.
"Agreed, it makes no sense. Whatever they're planning must be big." Penelope pinned with her eyes, "Really big."
I knew exactly what she meant. I felt it around the atmosphere of the pack. It was way too quiet and something was going to happen.
Sooner rather than later.
"We just need to get ahold of one." I thought, "But we'd have to do whatever it takes to make the rogue sing."
I wasn't going to act like it was below me. Killing rogues was apart of my nature and if I had to do some messed up things to get ahead of their plans, I will.
For my pack and my mate.
"And the hunters haven't shown up either." Char pipped in.
"Are you sure Callum was telling the truth? Because there hasn't been any sign of a human either." Pen noted.
"He didn't lie." Was all I said because I knew he didn't. I trust him now. And I know he wouldn't break that now. But they were right, the rogues and hunters are missing in action and I felt the knot of unease in my stomach.
Heavy footsteps approached the door and from the scent, I knew it wasn't Callum so I rolled up the map of the pack where we just marked off some patrolling strategies.
A new plan being scouting in the trees, the height will give us a vantage point. But I wanted my most trusted warriors on the know before we trained everyone.
I trusted my pack, but I couldn't risk my only plan right now. Too much was at stake.
'It's Finn.' Charlotte rolled her eyes as she mind linked both Pen and me.
'Be nice.' I waved at her.
'Speaking of Finn,' Pen looked at the door before her eyes flashed back to my own with worry, 'border patrol said they've seen him disappearing in and out of the pack territory. Any idea what's going on?'
My eyebrows creased as I sat up straighter in my chair, 'Disappearing? I know he hasn't been around much but I wasn't aware that he's been leaving the pack.'
Pen's eyes narrowed as there was a knock came on the door and he opened it up without me answering. But that was typical pack behavior.
Charlotte and Penelope gave me warning eyes as the stood from their seats.
"Hey ladies, am I disturbing?" Finn asked as he gave us all his usual warm smile.
"No, we were just about done here," Charlotte grumbled as she walked towards the door and as Pen trailed behind.
'You need to ask him where he's been, Everette.' Pen stated before she closed the exited the office and left the door wide open.
"Is it just me or were they looking at me like I ran over their puppies?" He quirked up a brow.
I forced a smile on my face as I got out of my chair and walked around my desk, "They're just worried about the rogue situation."
"I thought the rogues settled down?" He questioned.
"That's the problem," I muttered blandly as I leaned back against my desk and crossed my arms.
"I guess it is peculiar." He mussed. "Have you come up with anything on getting to them yet?"
I shrugged, "Still thinking about it."
His eyes narrowed at my cool tone, "Are you alright? Did I interrupt something? I could leave." He gestured to the door and I felt bad for giving him the cold shoulder but I had to know.
"I heard you've been leaving the pack territory." I assessed him as his eyes widened in mild surprise and panic but it was gone in an instant, "Care to explain where you've been sneaking off to?"
Sighing, he walked over to the couch and sat down, "It's not what you think."
"And what do I think?" I asked.
"That I'm plotting against you? I don't know but you're looking me like Char and Pen did." He scrubbed his hands down his face before facing me after I didn't give him an answer, "I've been looking for her."
"You've been looking for who?" I asked utterly confused.
His eyes flickered across the room as he avoided eye contact, "My mate."
And it all made sense.
I deflated with relief as I left my statue position and sat beside him on the sofa, "Finn, why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to but I didn't know how'd you react." He shrugged.
I took his hand between my palms, "Did you get her scent?"
His eyes found my own and sadness was embedded in his irises, "No, I've just been holding on to hope."
"She's out there, I know it." I assured him, "But it's too dangerous to go on your own Finn, with the rogues and maybe even the hunters. We'll find her, I promise you."
"What if I don't?"
"You will. It will happen when the Moon Goddess wishes it to happen. Don't go running around the forest with hope, it will only put you in danger." I stated.
"Fine." He grumbled.
"Promise me." I tugged on his arm and a smile played on his lips.
"Promise." He whispered, "Tell me about Callum, about the mate bond."
My eyes lit up with excitement as gushed about Cal. Our relationship has just been on a constant high and whenever he was around, I felt like I could breathe better.
~ Callum's POV ~
I flexed my fingers now that the damn splint was finally removed. I was never punching a wall again.
Spraining my wrist prohibited me from too much. Like holding my mate the way I want to.
With the thought of Ev in my head, I knew she'd be happy that Kitara finally removed the damn brace from my wrist.
I walked out of the infirmary as I spotted my cousin, Penelope, walking down the staircase.
"Ev still in her office?" I asked.
"Yup." She answered before walking out the front door. Wasn't really much of a speaker, but her siblings and her where alright.
The entire family I didn't know existed all welcomed me with open arms and after being alone with gramps all this time, it was refreshing to be in a house filled with family of my own.
But I missed the old rascal though and I hoped that he was alright. I told the old man he didn't have one thing to worry about and I'm not even there to pull through on my promise.
I knew he would understand though, once he knew I had my girl I had to take care of now. I just wished the two most important people in my life could live in one place though, so I could take care of them both.
It didn't seem like a possibility anytime soon though.
As I made my way up the stairs, I stopped in my tracks before I hit the landing on the third floor.
Everette's laughter filtered down the steps. Who the heck was she talking with is Charlotte and Penelope left her alone?
I took another step up and from the staircase, I could see straight into Ev's office. She was with that fucking bastard, Finneas, or whatever the hell he was named.
From my distance, I couldn't make out what she was talking about and I knew she didn't sense me because she didn't turn my way.
However, I could see as clear as day the way she held his hand between her soft palms.
Time was frozen solid as I looked at her animatedly talking about something with Finn who sat too damn close to her.
The green-eyed monster reared its ugly ass head as I stood there and wondered why the hell she was sitting and chatting with Finn.
And the ache in my chest didn't make it any better.
My fists clenched at my sides as I looked at the wall and my healed up wrist. Should I?
I could imagine Finn's face as the wall, may ease the anger.
But I didn't. The last thing I wanted was to look like some over controlling mate.
That's what we are. Mates.
And it's that thought that stops me from barging up the stairs and into her office.
That and the fact that I couldn't deny her a spare moment with her friend. Bastard or not, I knew they were close.
Spinning on my heels, I quietly turned away from them and made my way back down that stairs and out into the backyard.
June was out there watching over some little running around and playing tag. Her eyes found mine and she looked at me worriedly.
Unsurprisingly, I've become good friends with her and Max. While Max was a clown at best though, June always gave me the best advice. She was the mother of our little group of friends.
"What are you pouting about now?" She asked knowingly as her eyes went to my hands and sighed with relief.
I only punched the wall once but I could tell from her expression that she thought I did it again.
"The bastard," I grumbled as I sat down on one of the outdoor chairs.
"Who?"
"Finneas," I clarified as she giggled.
"Care to tell me more?" She asked but didn't push.
But like a little child, I spilled my guts, "He's with my mate, laughing it up."
"Stop pouting Callum." She threw a stuffed toy at my head, "I'm sure they're just hanging out. They were best friends at one point you know."
I glared at her, "That doesn't make it any better."
Her eyes looked thoughtful, "If you're that bothered by it then why aren't you with her?"
"Because..." I trailed off as I tilted my head towards the sky.
"Because?"
"Because what I feel for her isn't just some stupid mate bond!" I finally admitted as I lowered my head and looked at June's unsurprised expression, "What I feel for her is in my bones, something I can't shake but I know damn well it's not the mate bond. That intensifies things sure, but it's not what's making me fall for her."
"Then what's the problem?" She asked confused.
"The problem, Juney, is that Ev may only feel whatever she feels for me because of the mate bond. Bringing me here and us being together may just be because of the expectations that she has to fulfill and acting upon it out of obligation to the pack." My tone dripped with hurt but heck if I cared right now.
June's eyes softened in a motherly way, "I don't think that's true Callum."
"But it could be and what makes it even worse is Finneas. They have a past, I know that. And those feelings they had... have for each other is as real as they come. Whatever Everette feels for Finneas is not because of the mate bond. Her feelings for him aren't influenced by the stupid bond whereas, for me, it does influence her." I've never felt this level of anger or need to punch someone's face but Finneas just kept sounding like the perfect target the more I sat here knowing he's upstairs with my mate laughing away.
June's soft voice pulled me away from my murder plans, "When have you ever known Ev to do something that she doesn't want?"
I folded my arms like an insolent child, "She didn't seem to keen on having me around me around when she found out I was a hunter."
Before she could say anything, a little boy, no older than six ran over to us with tear-stained cheeks.
"June!" He yelled at her and we both immediately flew out of our seats and ran towards the kid.
It was then that I noticed the other four kids were missing. I felt my heart drop to my stomach as the boy tried to control his tears.
"I-i-in the f-forest. They're in the f-f-forest." He cried.
"Go find the Alpha, she's in her office," I told the kid and he stood frozen in place like he was shocked.
But whatever he saw, those other kids were out there and June and I took off towards the forest.
We didn't have to get far before I saw three of the four missing kids spotted us and ran towards June.
"Take them back, I'll find the other one," I told her but she ignored me as she told the kids to go find someone in the packhouse.
Dashing further into the thick forest, I finally spotted the child.
The little girl stood frozen as tears ran down her cheeks and a wolf, which was most definitely rogue, circled her as if she was its next meal.
"I'll take care of him," June said as he moved to shift but I grabbed her arm and pulled her behind me.
"No," I muttered before commanded the fire in me to spread into a circle around the rogue.
Feeling the flames lick through my veins, in a matter of seconds, the rogue was trapped and I ran forwards and snatched the girl by her arms.
As I turned back, there were about eight rogues surrounding June.
Holy shit.
Gently, I set the little girl on her feet and looked at her straight in the eye, "When I tell you to run, you run okay?"
In her dazed state, she nodded.
I stiffened my back as I stood straight. Assessing the rogues and their proximity to June, I called upon the fire.
"Run," I muttered to the little girl and she took off back towards the pack and set the rogue afire that went to grab her.
The little girl narrowly escaped the evil creatures as the rogue howled in pain from the fire.
I called on the fire again but before it could escape me, something solid and hard hit the back of my head.
And I was out like a light.
A/N
***THIS WAS A DOUBLE UPDATE AND I HOPE YOU DID NOT MISS CHAPTER 18***
Chapter Update: Saturday-ish?
ð Please don't hurt me?
Cookie *chuckles nervously* ðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðªðª
At least we know how Cal feels... hehehe ð¢ This chapters hurts.
I'm sorry. ð *Cue: AC/DC- Highway to Hell* because that's where I'm headed.
Song: SYML - Meant to Stay Hid
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-Shania. ð¾