Chapter 6: The Search

Ethan's POV

For years, the prophecy haunted my dreams. At last, I was ready and set out to find the one name whispered by destiny, Jessie, the mate I had never met.

“Brother, would you mind sitting over the affairs of the company for a while? I asked Dennis, my stepbrother, who had just come into my room.

 “Huh?” he spat out the gulp of juice that he had sipped from the glass of juice he was holding.

“I know you heard me,” I immediately tucked my white shirt into my black trousers.

“You are leaving, why?” he stared at my already packed boxes.

“The prophecy, Dennis”. When I was conceived, the wolf seer had told my late mom and dad that I had been destined to marry outside our pack.

“The prophecy? Why all of a sudden, though?” He pressed on.

“I keep on getting this urge about it lately, and the prophecy has kept on ringing in my dreams stronger and stronger like I need to do something,” I breathed out. “Please help me with the sleeve's buttons”.

“How are you going to find her? You don't even know the pack you are heading to.” 

“I got her name from my dreams, Jessie, and she is in the Eastern region. That could help me with the search.” 

“A name? Eastern region? Are you being serious right now? There are many packs in the Eastern region and definitely thousands of she-wolves bearing the name Jessie,” Dennis lamented.

“Then it's my duty to find the particular one I am fated to,” I patted him twice on the shoulder.

Maria, my stepmother, stepped into the room just as I zipped up my box.

“You are really leaving?” she asked, her eyes filled with fake concern. “I overheard your conversation with your brother.” 

“Yes, mother. I really need to discover more about my fated mate. Nevertheless, I will be back soon”.

 But what about Elena? I thought things were getting serious between you two?” she added.

Dennis leaned against the wall with a teasing grin on his face. “Yeah, Mom. Even marriage, remember?”

I let out a slow breath, straightening my shirt. “I have left Elena for Dennis,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “I figured he wants her more than I ever did.”

Maria’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What are you talking about?”

Dennis pushed off the wall, his grin fading. “What’s that supposed to mean? Elena is your woman.”

I turned to him, locking eyes. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. “Oh, really? So you knew that. And yet you couldn’t keep your hands off her that night. The way you held her, the way you touched her, like she was already yours.”

Dennis froze. “Wait.. what?”

Maria turned to him in shock. “Dennis? Why would you…he..”

“Don’t worry, Mom,” I cut in before she could say more. My voice was steady and final. “It is over between me and Elena. Dennis can have her. I am not upset. She is not my mate.”

I grabbed my bag, and my chest felt strangely light. “I am going to find the one who is,” I said.

“We will miss you dearly,” She said as she leaped over and hugged me.

“I wouldn't take long, ma”. I hugged her too and gave Dennis another pat on his left shoulder. “I will be back soon”. 

I stepped into the car and started my journey.

I checked into one of the hotels under my company in the Eastern region. I was already frustrated from the endless search for my fated mate. “Get me more bottles of wine,” My drunken self said to the nearest Omega in charge of drinks.

Suddenly, my eyes caught the sight of a face I had never seen but yet familiar. The aura was similar to the one I had smelled in my dreams. “Jessie,” I called, like I knew her.

“Yes, mate,” she turned, holding an almost emptied bottle of wine. She was in a sea blue dress that brought out her perfect curves. Her dazzling eyes were filled with an unexplained sadness.

“I want her,” My wolf moaned.

“Mate,” She said again. This time around, she came closer, leaned towards me and rested her head on my shoulder. My eyes widened, and there was something that was awoken inside of me. Something I had never felt for any she-wolf. 

“I am stuck with Derek, I didn't want to marry him but had to because my father gave his word for my safety,” She said, like she was now conscious.

“What am I going to do? I'm hurt, I'm married but lonely” tears formed in her beautiful eyes.

“Married?” I got confused. “I guess you are too drunk right now,” I tried grabbing her by the hand.

“I'm not drunk, I am….” Then she passed out

“Hi, I'm Derek, and that's my mate.” Derek suddenly appeared from nowhere, 

“You are Derek, her mate?”

“I'm sorry for the trouble,” he said as he carried her from my arms. 

“She is mated to another?” My heart ripped apart as I watched them leave.

“Shit, damn it,” I woke up in the middle of the night. She was married. I felt my whole world crumbling in the twinkle of an eye.

 “My fated mate, married?” I asked myself while rubbing my head with both palms.

“If she were married, why then the pressing urge and repeated dreams, the wolf seer can never be wrong”. “Why would she say all those words? Why did she call me mate? Something is definitely not right, and I need to know what it is”.

With a picture of her face and already perceived aura, I set out in search of her.

After days of searching, I got to locate her Pack's street. “There is something off about everything around here.” I was lost in thought when suddenly, I heard a loud thud. I followed the route from where the sound came from, and then I arrived at the particular building. There was a pool of blood, but no one in sight. Something about it drew me in; it was as if the blood itself was screaming my name, pulling me closer with every step I made. The air around me grew thick. I was charged with a strange energy that made my wolf stir restlessly. My heartbeat quickened. I knelt, my fingers were trembling as they hovered above the dark, liquid. The moment I touched and sniffed it, a familiar scent hit me like a punch to the chest.

“Jessie,” I groaned. The sound I made was rough and desperate.

Immediately, I rushed into my car to follow the aura of Jessie's blood to wherever she must have been taken. “I know you are still alive because I can still feel your heartbeat. Please hold on, hold on for me,” I prayed earnestly and desperately. “I shouldn't have let you go in the first place”.

I was getting very close to her. Suddenly, I heard a crash; a big truck had smashed my car. 

 “Je..ssie,” I coughed out blood as I managed to crawl out of the car. I struggled to open my already dying eyes, and across me was a grav

eyard, Derek and Gaty burying her, alive. 

“No… No,” I howled inside and gave up the ghost.