Alarick POV

 

(A few days prior)

Getting back to my normal self, I finally caught up on some work. The pack hadn’t come to any big trouble while I had been gone for those few hours, and there was a meeting coming up with the elders.

I had a pretty good idea on what it was about, not only the look for future Luna, but the invitations to other packs to celebrate my birthday.

The closest pack from us was The Misty Ice Pack, that lived south of Vanin to the west. We had always had trouble to come to complete alliance with them, to which, I could only blame my own father…Well, that was my best guess.

To the south east of us was The Striker Den, which seemed more like a black market and gambling place for Shifters. They had two Alphas there and a two beta’s, which always had me in confusion.

We were friends with the Clan further to the south, whom have also been invited to see if they want their unmated females to participate in the spar at my birthday do. That clan is called The Oasis Clan, and they only became friends when I had fully cleansed my pack.

They were the second most impenetrable pack on the continent, even though they were in the middle of the continent. Their clan was a lot bigger than mine…Their Alpha also had a bigger reputation then me...

Otherwise, I didn't speak to the other two packs south of the continent, we used to have relations but when I had awoken the Alpha within me and changed the pack around, we had lost contact. Since, I still was quite busy, so I hadn't sent someone down. I didn't want the extra work right now...

 

The best-known pack on the continent, though, was The Misty Ice Pack, whom have been around for a very long time. But, again, I’ve always had trouble with them. But what confused me about them, was the fact that they were always so close to the humans. I've heard some rumours about a few incidents...I hoped that they weren't true...

I knew that it didn't matter if they were my allies or not, as I couldn't really offer their pack anything. They were bigger, having closer to five hundred in their pack, and they didn't seem to want for anything else. Their Alpha's, now and in the past, were pretty strict and had quite a few under them to help look after those five hundred...I had always been worried that they would wipe us out, when we had been at our weakest, but I felt happy that they didn't. I respected that a lot and really did want to offer peace and stay on their good side. But then, one question made me continue to be wary of them...And that was...Why was their population staying the same?

They hadn't been at war with Shifters, that I knew, but I hadn't seen any kind of thing happen between them and Humans either. It really did make one ponder, after so many years, that they had not exceeded much beyond five hundred, it didn't make any sense!

With that in mind, I didn't want to completely trust them, and I had already told myself to never rely on them because of this. That the peace I offer will most likely just for us to live simply and not involve them in any issue, I also don't particularly like any idea of sending any of my pack members over there...Just in case...

I sighed, at the moment there wasn't any issue with them, and now no issue with The Oasis Clan...It was The Striker Den, that was the next closest to us, that was the problem...

The Oasis Clan was strong and naturally easy to figure out, The Misty Ice Pack seemed to prefer solitude and known as large and strong...But...The Striker Den was confusing and hard to figure out. Two Alphas together, why? How can a pack have two Alpha's? It didn't make any sense!

And, for me to try and understand them more, I have to make some kind of move first, and since my birthday is coming up...

I decided then, that I wanted to invite at least one person from each of them. Whether it be an Alpha or Beta, I didn’t particularly care. I'll take this opportunity to figure them out!

Of course, they had to bloody show up first!

Sigh…

 

***

 

I continued with my routine that day, personally checking the boundaries and then working late.

The next day, I went to the meeting with the elders to help them confirm everything, silently clenching my hands upon thinking of the beautiful wolf in my dreams, as I was living my life without her.

After leaving the meeting, I was pretty determined to stop the mate link, even against my wolf’s utter rage!

I know I had decided to see her one last time, but I didn’t want to change my mind anymore.

Coming back from the snowy, northern most part of the continent this time, seemed to be a lot better, and I became stubborn with my decision.

Yet, as I sat in my office, looking out of the window in a daze, I hadn’t done it yet. I mean it’s only a few words and feelings of rejection…

My thoughts instead traveled to that of my sister, whom was still alive but locked up in our dungeons.

Prior to meeting my destined mate, I had never understood my sister. She had been totally corrupted and was supposed to die, due to putting the whole pack at risk. Yet, she knew of information that I had wanted to fully cleanse the pack.

For two months, she had been confined in the dungeons, when she had suddenly changed her mind, all those years ago. And what changed her mind!?

Back then, I was incredulously freaked out…She became a huge rat, just because she had finally found her mate…

I didn’t fuckin understand it!

She had been nearly thirty and lived at least half of those years under the wing of our father. Yet, two months and she had completely changed her mind!

Thinking of it now, I wondered if I would have done the same…

I had a sudden want to speak with her, my sister, but I didn’t stand up and go.

 

My sister was partially part of our mother’s death, and I had not forgiven her. I had originally wanted to end her life, but she had pleaded with me to keep her life, even if it was in live the rest of her life in a dungeon.

I couldn’t bloody believe it!

I still don’t!

But she seemed happy, as she gets to see her mate on the outside of the cells every day, then once a month he is able to see her for half an hour inside the room. He was a lot younger than her, finding her at eighteen, and I couldn't help but think it was perfect timing. It was what I needed to get information, but not only that, my sister seemed to be ready as well.

This, gave me an interesting understanding upon the mate bond, not only did I think that it was a crazy, with the insane want to always be with your mate, but they came when needed...Or something like that...

Then...Did my destined mate come exactly when I needed her? Was it no coincidence that we had met? Is the person she is, the exact person I need at this exact moment in my life?

I sighed, I felt like there was no control over this whatsoever! When I thought about her, my feelings were of indulgence and want...Even need. Was that what it was like for my sister?

Seeing my sister and brother in law so happy, even for this, really disgusted me at first…But now…How do I feel?

I felt…Lonely…I wanted…Her by my side…

Yet, I was conflicted and knew of my previous thoughts and still believed in some of them…My inner war…Was with my choice…

Once I break the link…It’s gone…There’s no going back!

And…I just couldn’t break it…My destined mate and I…

My sister, her mate, still happy to see each other like this…And here I was away from my…From her…

Suddenly I let out a laugh, to remembering my niece. I hadn’t known that one time my brother in law had gone in to see my sister, she had been in heat…

Shaking my head, I had thought to have stopped them when I found out two years ago. But now…

I sighed, as I also knew that my sister wouldn’t probably have more pups anyway, and…They were just so fuckin happy!

It just sucked how it had all worked out uh…She being held in the dungeons, still able to meet her mate, hell, I didn’t even know that she had been marked till it was already done! Actually, my younger brother in law worked pretty damned impressively fast on that bitch! Even I was completely stunned!

The want to mark that beautiful wolf, was still quite fresh, and that was just marking her…I couldn’t possibly believe how it would be like, to go all the way…Did she look beautiful in her human form? Would she be as adorable as her wolf form?

I started to picture a woman with no face…Thinking of it as her…

A gasp left me, and I raced towards the shower.

 

***

 

The next day, was fine…Until I suddenly collapsed into a helpless heap on the ground and yelled out to a sudden pain that went through me…

Gasping and closing my eyes tight, I felt like I was hanging onto life by a thread, that everything, even laying down, was the hardest thing in the world to do…

Shifters came rushing over to me, but I never heard any of it while I balled myself up, unable to find any kind of comfort anywhere.

My wolf screamed out his grievances and was able to start taking my pain away, stating, It’s our mate! Run to her!

Huffing and panting, I felt myself able to stretch out and shakily stand up.

So that was her? So much pain…

I couldn’t think, all I felt was pure torture upon thinking of the potential death of my mate! Without saying a word, I shifted, and bolted!

Radolph got some quick words from me, but I was out of our pack’s boundary within moments.

As I ran as fast as I could, the bond link that had grown really strong, had suddenly started to weaken once again.

Quick, find out where they are!

I located where the bond link between us would lead and found myself upset. Instead of south, the way I had gone when I last searched for her, she had been north…

As I got closer and closer, the link got weaker and weaker. My wolf was desperate and yelling me to urge on and I couldn’t help but become more and more worried.

This big, troublesome, problem…Dammit…

I must go faster!

 

***

 

Upon finding a small kind of cave, I smelt the weaker, luscious fragrance of her…And blood!

Racing inside, my wolf went crazier, save her! Quick!

I shifted and ran towards her, my hands were shaking in terror as I searched for where her injury was.

My mate!

I cringed as I found it and knew now why she was in such a bad state. Silver!

A huge amount of anger went through me, as I realized she had been shot!

Taking a deep breath, I plunged into her skin and retrieved the silver bullet. I hissed as it burnt me, and I quickly threw it away.

Quick!

Shifting once again, I licked her injury.

To my displeasure, I found that silver speaks were inside of her, as they burnt my tongue as well. I hadn’t seen this type of bullet before…Where it wasn’t just one piece, that it seemed to shatter upon impact…

For the life of me, I licked until my tongue was numb! I could only offer so much of my healing upon my mate, giving her wolf some help.

When I felt her tremble, I hadn’t worried too much at first…But now, it was getting worse!

Quick!

Her wound was healed by half, but now, she became as cold as ice!

Dammit!

I wanted to give her warmth, but my wolf was angry when I wanted to scoot in between her legs…

Watch for her injury!

I could only take the next best option of covering her back. I was bigger then her, so she should still be able to gain quite a bit of warmth, even if I was behind her. Her wolf didn’t seem to have alpha blood, yet I felt some kind of strange alpha about her. She was…And she wasn’t…Shaking my head, I tried to focus.

Getting as close as I could, I put my big paw against her white beautiful fur and suddenly went into a daze…

 

She was right here, next to me. She felt so good, her beautiful fur. I wanted to rub myself all over her.

I felt my protectiveness and possessiveness, as I wanted my scent all over her.

I put my head to her neck and suddenly felt myself hurting once again…I had seen it earlier, but it had totally left my mind.

This neck collar poised a problem. Not only to get it off, but because it was there in the first place!

Rage went through me once again, at my mate being hurt like this…

I wanted to help heal her neck too and went to lick, but my wolf told me not to bother.

Her injury and staying warm is more important, save your licks for that.

It’s not like I could help too much with her neck anyway, so I somewhat agreed to saving my saliva and tried to focus once again.

I whined and snuggled more into her, even putting a back leg over her. She was still so cold and shivering, like a new born pup. I suddenly felt extremely glad that she was in her wolf form, it might have been harder for her to keep warm here in her human form.

I placed my tail over hers and whined again at how much she trembled. Really, it was driving me insane!

She wasn’t healing, and she was so cold…If I hadn’t of come…

Whining again, I tried to cover her more, wishing for her to warm up! Demanding it even!