23.

I started to dial her number before I caught myself and quickly ended it. Then I pulled up the message tab and typed a text to her.

'Hey. Hope you had a wonderful night's rest. Would you like to have dinner with me at Mama's house?' I pressed send before I could stop myself.

I didn't know what came over me to ask her that. It feels like I am trying to officially introduce her to my family, even if they've known her for years. But then, I promised Mama I would try, so this is me trying.

My phone pinged with a text and I quickly tapped on it.

S- 'Can't. I'm working late tonight.'

I frowned as I read the text, my mood instantly deflating.

M- 'I'll come see you then.'

S- 'I just told you I'm busy though...'

M- 'Enough that I can't even see my mate?'

S- 'Oh, so now I'm your mate? Now you want to see me?'

M- 'Kitten...'

I debated on what to say next because I've already messed up so many times and I have to rectify that if I want to keep my mate.

M- 'I just want to...see you.'

S- 'Gotta go. Something came up. Bye!'

I balled my fists tightly, staring down at the message thread and her clipped response. I don't like it. I totally do not like it.

So, I dialled the number of one of my men who's always keeping a close watch on her, and asked where she was. He mentioned the old Fiko Park, which has now been turned into a healing facility by Natasha.

I stood up, took a quick shower, trimmed my beard a bit, and dressed in a white caftan with a black cap. Then I hopped into the car I rented and drove to Fiko Park, eager and desperate for just a quick glimpse of my mate, of the woman who had made me return to this kingdom without prior plans. This kingdom filled with so many bad memories for me.

I let down my shields, drawing onto the thread of bond between us as I called to her through it. Last night, I took a gamble by dismissing my shield, and man! What a gamble it was. Because all I wanted was to draw her to me and kiss those lips. To pull her tightly against my body and feel her curves blend into mine. To hear her soft moans and cries as I filled her up again. As I mark her. As I make her mine over and over again.

But I didn't do any of that. I reigned in control of both Amadi and I, who seems to always react violently when in her presence, pushing at my sanity in a bid to take over.

Which was...weird, because Amadi always wants to remain locked in me. Because he was scared of going feral.

The drive to the park was short, possibly because I was at full speed. I parked my car in front of the large building, with people going back and forth. My eyes wandered around, taking in the new scene before me. The Fiko pack, which was once a dark forest rumoured to be cursed, was nothing like it was before. Buildings were scattered all around it, and people were moving around, with loud chatter of their voices filling the air.

The queen, my sister-in-law Natasha, and Aiden were the ones who rid the pack of its past darkness and made it into what it is today. To say that I am proud is a major understatement.

I stepped out of the car, and a gust of wind, as though it was something sent, hit me hard on the face. For a moment, I blanked out, disoriented at the overwhelming sense of something grabbing at me from the inside.

I choked, and Amadi surged forward in a force I couldn't contain, nearly knocking me out in the process.

But then I held back, holding onto the car door I still held open as I struggled to steady my breathing. To stop the feeling of something crawling on my skin. But nothing I did seemed to help. Nothing stopped the voices shouting in my head, screaming in my ears. Nothing stopped the cold shudder that had washed over me, or the crawling sensation on my skin.

I choked again, slumping to the ground as I heard the distinct sound of people creating a crowd around me.

"Mav?" Sherneil's voice floated through all the chaos, I could still hear her voice, still see her standing over me as my gaze turned blurry.

And before I could say anything more, Amadi roared in my head.

'Karanakai!'

I finally let go, succumbing to the darkness calling at me with Sherneil's worried face the last thing I saw.