CHAPTER 39

AYLA

We had been lying down on the sand, watching the golden ball slowly keep going down. There was a slight breeze in the air, cooling our skin. This was perfect.

I had my head laid on Soul's chest as I felt his hands running up and down my back. Everything was just so good.

"You know, I still feel guilt about everything that's happened." Solomon confessed.

I lifted my head and rested my chin on his chest, "You don't need to, Solo. I've forgiven, I've moved past all of that. You don't need to carry it anymore."

He nodded his head, "I know that. But I think this is my own burden that I carry. Just thinking about what I was like back then, when I was such a bastard to you. I don't think I will ever get over that. I won't even fully forgive myself for what I did." He assured that our eyes met as he said, "I want to let you know, Ayla, that everything I have done in my life so far, every decision was made because I love you," My breath hitched at this confession and my heart ached, in a good way.

He continued, "I will spend the rest of my life building up to being the best mate I could possibly be for you."

I shook my head, "You're already the best mate. I mean, yeah we had our bad moments, but that doesn't mean that you're not a good mate. You are Solomon. That's why I came back to you, that's how I forgave. Because I saw the goodness in you, I saw everything that you've was purely for Milo and I. How could not be the best mate?"

The sun was finally going down under the sea. The last shred of it's golden light hit us brightly. I closed my eyes and soaked it in.

I opened and looked at Solo, seeing his have been on me this whole time. He cups my cheek and runs his thumb over my cheek, "Beautiful."

I smiled shyly, "I love you, Solo."

He smiles back and says, "And I love you, my little wolf."

***

Later on we drove back to the camp. We were walking together, hand in hand when a strange smell lingered in the air.

Solomon immediately halted. I saw him tilt his head, his brows drawn strongly together in concentration. He lifts his head up in the air slowly and his nose wrinkles as he sniffs. A low growl vibrated out of his chest.

My eyes scanned the area, seeing if anything was our of the ordinary. I gulped and my hand tightened in Solomon's. He returned the gesture.

"Solomon?" I whispered.

He pulls my close to him. He let go of my hand and instead wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him protectively.

"Someone is watching us." He whispers. His eyes are intensely looking all over the place.

I sniffed the air again, and my eyes widen. These were not rogues, "It's Kendrick's pack."

Solomon's growl grew. A rustle in the bushes caught our attention. Two wolves leaped out of them. Solomon tightened his hold on me and pushed me behind him. He snarls at them dominantly.

The two wolves snarl at Solomon. I wanted to shift, I wanted to change into my wolf. But I couldn't. She was too weak. I had not shifted in almost six years. Kendrick never let me. If I were to shift, it would be equivalent to a first shift, if not worse.

I was vulnerable.

"Come on!" Solomon shouted. As they creep towards each other for a fight when a howl sounded in a distance.

The two wolves stilled and their ears perked up. They both glanced at us and snarled before taking off towards the howl.

I sighed in relief, but that was short lived when Solomon turned to me and said, "I'm going to go follow them."

My eyes widen in shock and gasped, "What? No! You can't! I'll come with you if you do!"

Solomon shook his head, "No, little wolf. Go back to the pack and tell them what happened. I will text them a location. Okay?"

I shook my head, "No! You have to stay here with me! You can't leave me! What if something happens to you?"

Solomon grabbed a hold of my cheeks firmly and looks into my eyes, "I have to do this, this could win us the war, little wolf. Please...do as I say, Okay? Please."

I sighed in defeat and nodded my head sadly.

Solomon gives me a soft smile before kiss me. I hold on to his face and kiss him back. As we separate I slap his cheek, "You come back to me! Okay? If you die, I'm going to raise you from the dead just so than I can kill you myself."

Solomon chuckles, "I get it. Be safe. And make sure you run. Run fast and go tell Xander."

He shifted into his beautiful wolf...And then he was gone.

I turned and sprinted as hard as I can. Worry ate at me. Tears built up in my eyes at the thought of losing him when I only just got him back. Around about three minutes later, I saw the fires up ahead. I was close.

I sprinted through the camp yelling, "Xander! Xander!"

He stomped out of his tent, with Lizzy following worried.

"He went after them!" I said while freaking out.

Xander frowns, "What? What do you mean? What's happened?"

I sobbed and said, "There were two wolves from Kendrick's pack, they were following us, Solomon was about to fight them until they took off. He ran and chased after them. He said he's gonna go follow them. He said he'll text the location."

Anger consumed Xander's face when he yelled, "Damn it, Solomon!"

Other members of the pack had climbed out of their tents. Including, Noah, Mia, Eddie, Zapora, Lincoln and Sophie.

I glared when I saw her. Forgot she was even here. And then it clicked. I stomped towards her and yelled, "You knew about this, didn't you?"

I was going to launch myself at her before Xander came and pulled me away. I shoved him off, "We have to go save him! he's going to do something stupid and get himself killed!"

Xander was breathing heavily while he gripped his hair in stress. I looked to some of the warriors and ordered, "Go into the woods and track him. If he's not back in the next two hours we send a search party to find the stupid bastard."

I shook my head, "No we have to do it now!"

Xander held a phone to his ear, waiting for an answer. HE threw the phone away with a big yell, which I am assuming is because it didn't work.

"There's no signal. We won't even receive a text message of his location, even if he sends it."

More tears flooded my eyes. No. This can't be happening. Kendrick had taken everything from me, he can't take Solomon too!

"Ma?" I turned around and saw my son stand in front of the tent rubbing his eyes. He asks sleepily, "What's going on? There's so much noise."

"Oh my baby." I ran to him and fell to my knees. I pulled him into my chest and said, "Papa, is on a mission, a big mission. It's very dangerous. But he will come back, okay? Papa is going to come back."

Two hours had gone by, the warriors came back. They said they found some prints, but they lead to nothing. We can only assume that they caught him.

We were all gathered in the big tent. Xander sat there seriously, looking into the fire, deep in thought. Lizzy was by his side. He had his arm around her waist.

I physically started to feel ill from worrying so much. All of these different scenarios plagued my head. I looked up past the fire and saw Kendrick, he smiles wickedly, "As I've said before, precious. You will never be rid of me. I will take everything you hold dear and consume it with fire."

I stood up and yelled out, "NO!"

Everyone stared at me wide eyed, but I didn't care. I looked at Xander, "I am going out to find him, even if it kills me. I cannot wait around here while my mate is our there!"

"You will do no such thing," Xander growled, "Me and others will, not you. You cannot get hurt. Solomon would not be happy knowing you are out there, in danger. We will go."

I knew I could not argue against the Alpha's word. I growled and stomped my foot.

The Alpha stood up and looked at the men, "We will split off into twos, go search for two hours in different directions, if you can't find anything, come back."

I sighed in relief, knowing Xander is putting his full effort into this. I sat down near the fire as I watched all of the men go out in search for my mate.

Please let him be okay.

Milo was drawing with Xavier, Kieth and Lily.

"They will find him." Lizzy said. She squeezed my shoulder in comfort.

I grabbed a hold of her hand and smiled sadly.

Luciana nodded her head, "He is very attractive, babe. So he will come back." I roll my eyes, but couldn't help, but smirk.

Zapora was sitting next to me and said, "Solomon is strong, he will get through this."

The first pair of warriors along with Migeul came back. My heart lifted in hope. They both saw me and sadly shook their heads. Okay, that's okay. There will be more warriors to come back.

Fifteen minutes later, Noah and Eddie came back. I sat straight, waiting for anyone else to follow, but no one did.

Noah looked at me and shook his head, "I'm sorry, Ayla. We couldn't find anything."

My hope was dwindling. I prayed. Please...please bring him home.

I was instantly on guard when Sophie came in. I growled, "What do you want?"

She came and sat on her knees. Mia was behind her watching her expectantly.

Sophie bowed her head and said, "I'm sorry for my behaviour."

I was taken back by her apology.

She raised her head, "I've been living in fear...for so long. I've let it control me all of my life. And you were right, I am a coward. I didn't do what I should have. And I'm sorry, Ayla. I've never really believed in myself. My father made sure to keep me weak and broken so than I could be controlled. And he succeeded. I have been passed around all of these men my whole life, but it never worked out because they would find their mates. And I was jealous because I always wanted a mate," Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, "I want to know what you all feel. I want to feel loved and feel protected and safe...because I never had any of those things."

Her tears fell from her eyes. I knew she was being genuine. And in a strange way, I felt more connected to her. We both went through similar things. We were controlled my Kendrick, leaving us broken.

I went to Sophie and I could see her tense, waiting for me to explode, waiting for me to probably punch her. But instead I let go of the hate. I put my arms around her and pull her into a hug as I whispered, "I forgive you. We are both broken, Sophie, but that doesn't mean we can't be fixed. You will find your mate, and when you do, your love will be epic."

I pull back to see her face, it was red from her crying, but through her tears she gave a shaky smile and I smiled back.

Lincoln and Xander came back. Xander walked in frantic. He searched the place to see if anyone else had found him, when he didn't, he fell to his knees.

My own tears fell from my eyes as a deep anguish was weighing down on my chest. I couldn't handle it.

I looked at Sophie and saw she was looking at something wide eyed. I frowned and followed the direction she was looking at...it was Lincoln.

He was staring right back at her, intensely. Oh my.

"Well that was a lot sooner than I thought." I said to myself.

Lincoln stepped forward and said, "Mate."

Sophie smiled shyly and said, "Mate."

I was happy for them, I was glad that Sophie found her other half. But that just reminded me of the fact that I might have possibly lost mine.

It was late at night. Everyone has been back for a couple hours. We didn't know what to do. We didn't know if Solomon was alive or not, was dead or not? We didn't know anything. And it scared me.

Xander was restless, he was sitting down with his knee bouncing fast. Lizzy was sitting next to him just as worried.

I heard people outside the tent murmuring. It annoyed me. They were all probably assuming he was dead. He is NOT dead! I will not accept that.

And the murmuring got louder. I frowned what are they even talking about out there?

Then Xander's phone made a ding noise, alerting he got a text.

He slowly grabbed his phone, he looked at it and frowned.

I stood up and took a step forward, "What does it say?"

"It's from Soul."

My eyes widen in hope, "What does it say?"

Xander's brows were confused as he read, "Here."

My face scrunched in confusion, "What?"

The murmuring outside got even louder. Xander grunted and stormed outside. Everyone followed. People were talking and crowded around something. Xander pushed through, making the crowd part slightly.

And there stood a bloody and shaking, Solomon. I felt the worry lift from my shoulders. The crowd pushed through, trying to get a better look, which made me stumble back. I tried to get through the crowd to get to my mate, but people kept moving around.

"Solomon!" I shouted out.

"Ayla?" I heard him shout back.

Tears stung my eyes at hearing his voice. I thought I wasn't going to ever hear that again. The crowd finally parted, revealing him.

Xander was holding him up. Solomon was scanning the crowd intensely with eyes full of longing. As soon as he eyes landed on me, they softened and he sagged as if in relief. He limped toward me and I ran to him. I cry as I cup his face, he was all bruised and cut.

"Oh Solo. No," I cry quietly.

He smiles at me weakly and cups my face and said, "I will always, come back to you."

He pulled me into him tightly. I gripped on him tightly, scared to let go. But he was here, battered, but he was here, and that's all that matters.