Chapter 7

Kael’s pov

I slipped behind Adrian’s house. The night air was cold, but my wolf barely noticed. Ghost was restless, his nose moved to the ground tracking that scent that has been bothering us. It was stronger now, like something inside this place was calling to us. Ghost wasn’t asking, he was clawing on the ground and growling, wanting to chase and claim. Calm down boy, this isn’t the right way.

I shifted back and walked back to my house with no clothes on, not caring who saw. My body’s been a weapon for a long time, and if people stared, that was their problem. Stepping into the lodge, I heard gasps from the living room. Dante and Jaxon were on the couches with some girls who shouldn’t have been there. They were wide-eyed, blushing, and staring at me. I saw hunger in their eyes, the kind I didn’t want.

If they were wolves, no one would care, but they weren’t. They were witches and were practically drooling. I ignored them, walking across the room with nothing to hide. My wolf liked the attention, but I didn’t care.

I slammed my door shut behind me, yanked open my closet, and grabbed clothes. The hypocrisy of what I was about to do hit me hard. Just minutes before, I had yelled at Misha for mentioning Adrian’s party, acting like she was crossing some line, and now I was dressing to go to that same party.

I pulled on black pants, grabbed a white shirt, and hesitated. Maybe I shouldn’t go but Ghost was pacing in my chest. He wanted to go, convinced the answer to that scent was waiting.

“Going somewhere?” Dante asked from the door, his arms crossed.

“I’m going out. Alone”.

“Alone? Don’t tell me you’re going back to Misha. Isn’t it time you end that? You have had your fun and your dad won’t approve if he finds out.”

I glared at him. One thing I won’t miss once I become the Alpha is people questioning my choices or my dad trying to control me from wherever he is.

“Not that it’s any of your fucking business, I’m not going to see Misha.”

I turned to the mirror, buttoning the shirt. I paused, I looked like I was going on a date, not heading to enemy territory. I ripped the shirt off, tossed it aside, and grabbed a polo and jeans instead.

Dante stayed put. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just hungry.” My voice was short.

He frowned. “Then order something and stay home. No need to—”

“Dante? Do me a favor and shut up,” I snapped.

I walked through the lodge, past Jaxon and the girls. Jaxon was already entertaining some of them, the smell of sex in the air is strong and irritating. I didn’t look at them, I walked right out the door. Outside, the night was cool. The scent hit me again, I inhaled slowly closing my eyes. God, I wanted to bury myself in it, sweet vanilla mixed with fruit, plus something deeper, like the forest after rain. Ghost snarled almost breaking through. I opened my eyes and they turn bright gold as Ghost pushed forward, impatient. My chest rumbled.

“Kael,” Dante said carefully, “your eyes. You’re losing it.”

I gritted my teeth and forced Ghost back. I’ve worked for years to control him. Now wasn’t the time to lose it, especially walking into enemy ground, that could practically start a war. I took a deep breath and looked at Dante seeing the worry on his face. I don’t know why he is so worried, I haven’t lost control of ghost since………

“Go back to your girls. I’ll be back.”

Maybe I was too harsh, but he just nodded and stepped aside.

I got to the mansion, the music is so loud it shook the walls, the laughter is louder, and the air smelled like booze and smoke. Typical Adrian. He threw parties for chaos, because breaking rules was his thing. He thinks he is bigger than the rules and can do whatever he wants to. I pushed through the crowd, Ghost was on edge, wanting me to move faster. The scent was close, I made my way straight to the kitchen, it has to be there.

The kitchen was quieter, but not much. Some vampire girls and omegas were stacking trays and refilling drinks. They looked up when I came in, and the room tensed up. They knew who I am. I looked around, checking the food, but nothing matched the scent. I frowned.

“What else have you got?” I asked.

One of the vampire girls looked down, holding a glass tight. “That’s it, sir.”

“It can’t be. The food smells a bit like vanilla”. The girls just shrugged. Fuck. If it’s not here, then one of the guests has it. I inhaled deeply, the air smelled like fear, but underneath it, there it was again. That scent, so sweet, warm and alive. Vanilla and fruit, like sunlight after rain. It snaked under the door, curling around me until I needed to follow it.

I breathed in hard, my vision going gold. Ghost surged against the control I barely held. I turned from them, ignoring their trembling, and went back to the hallway. The place was full of students doing stuff that would get them kicked out of school. Wolves, vampires, witches……it was a nasty mix that made my skin crawl. I pushed through, ignoring the stares, whispers, and the touches. I locked onto that scent, following it through the house, until it led me like a trail.

I followed it down the hall, through the lounge, and then I heard his laugh. Adrian. I see him leaning down, smiling as he talked to a pretty brown haired girl sitting on the couch. She is bent over a plate of food that’s looks bigger than her.

I inhaled deeply again and froze. My breath rushed out, it was her. She smelled like vanilla and fruit, like rain and earth, like something that felt like home. She smelled like……Human. No fucking way!

Then Ghost growled one word that made me panic.

“Mate”.