The Scent That Changed Everything

 Dominic's POV 

  “Find her." I ordered, running a hand through my hair.

  Sebastian, my Beta, looked at me like I'd lost my mind…maybe I have because that was the only explanation for what was going on in my head.

   The first time I managed to fall deeply asleep in months and of course it happened on the night I shouldn't have closed my eyes at all. A part of me was certain it had everything to do with her sleeping beside me.

   "Alpha,” he started, which was never a good sign. But I paused, waiting for him to continue. "As much as I'd like to, you do realise that this was a party and she could be in any Pack by now?”

   I glared at him, and he lowered his head, muttering an apology. "Is there anything you remember about her that could help me find her?”

   I thought about it for less than a second, "she's fucking gorgeous! She has the most beautiful blue eyes and she smells like…” I trailed off, "she smells like fucking life itself.”

  Sebastian blinked once. Then twice.

  "... that's not really helpful, Alpha.” He paused, looking at me as realisation dawned on him. "Is she your mate?”

  My smile disappeared. 

    Mate. The word landed wrong every time I heard it. And it wasn't because I didn't like the idea of having someone who completes you…goddess knew I wanted it, but after spending seven years looking for someone who didn't want to be found, it felt more like a joke than a promise.

  I sighed, “Kael didn't recognise her wolf, but there's something about her…one that I can't get out of my head, one that feels like she's mine." 

  Kael let out a growl, "she's ours.” He rumbled.

     The problem wasn't that he was wrong, but the fact that I felt it too. Which didn't make sense, but before I figured out what the fuck was going on, she was mine and I don't think anything could change it…not even the moon goddess herself.

   When I first saw her dancing, I knew it was over for me, her body moved in a way that should be illegal, her fresh rain and blooming Jasmine scent made it difficult to even breath properly and fuck…the way she fits in my arms, no doubt she was sculpted for me.

   “I'll have Orion retrieve the CCTV footage," Sebastian said instead, “but before that, your meeting with the elders starts in thirty minutes." He finished, and without waiting for a response he left.

   Taking a much needed breath, I grabbed the document Sebastian had arranged the previous day before convincing me to attend the party. His excuse being that he might meet his mate there…but it also explains why he didn't see her. The idiot in me was too carried away to even ask for her name believing she was going to be beside me when I woke up.

  “Well, you couldn't be any more wrong.” Kael murmured, "if you keep at this, I fear for the future of this Pack." He added, and I just rolled my eyes.

   "Alpha,” Zayden called, and I stopped in my tracks to face him. 

   He showed me an invitation, causing my brows to furrow in confusion. "I wanted to remind you about the Mating ceremony of the Alpha of Redveil Pack.” He said.

   My confusion deepened, "isn't he married?” I asked, remembering that I'd gotten an invitation for that as well, but didn't go because of some other reason.

  "Apparently, she wasn't his mate.”

  My hand formed a fist, "what an idiot.” I thought. "If he knew he wanted his mate, why the fuck didn't he wait?" 

  “Send them a gift pack or something, I'm not going." I told him, and didn't miss how his eyes widened. It was never a good sign. “What did you do?" 

  He shot me a sheepish smile, “You can't blame me," he started, taking a step back as if that'll save him if I wanted to do something to him. “Beta Sebastian already responded, he said you need to go out more…and in his defense, he sent it a week ago." 

  I took a very much needed breath before turning to leave. I'd deal with both of them later.

   The meeting with the elders went the same as all the other times they manage to get an audience. They wanted an heir to carry on my bloodline and they also wanted a strong she wolf and they think bringing in the daughter of one of them would change my mind.

   She was beautiful no doubt but the girl from last night has ruined any potential relationship with anyone that wasn't her.

  "With all due respect, Alpha Dominic,” one of the elders started, "we've had enough patience…" 

   I stood up, putting an end to whatever he was going to say. “Then keep at it." I told them. The room had gone quiet now, an angry look settling in most of their faces except Zayden, who looked amused.

   I let my gaze sweep across their faces slowly, making sure each of them felt it. “When I choose my Luna, it will be because I fucking want to, not because you lined up candidates like a breeding list.”

A few of them stiffened.

 Elder Marrow, the eldest of them, cleared his throat. “Alpha Dominic, tradition–" 

  “Has nothing to do with my love life.” 

 Zayden coughed into his fist, badly hiding a grin. I shot him a look before facing the Elders and warning them to stay in their Lane before I do it for them.

  The meeting ended without a clear conclusion, much to their disappointment.

   "Since when do you have a love life?” Zayden asked as we went back to my office.

  "Since I laid eyes on the girl who made it difficult to breathe properly. Who made being separated from her feels like I was drowning." I thought, but just shrugged.

  Two days later, I was sitting at the back of one of my cars, staring blankly at the window while Orion drove. 

   The search for my mystery girl was not going anywhere. Sebastian was convinced she was in one of the neighbouring Packs based on the CCTV cameras. But I was growing impatient without any results.

   "I heard Alpha Lucien banished his wife.” Orion said from the front seat.

   "He makes shitty decisions with Pack matters, this doesn't surprise me." I murmured absentmindedly. “Are we almost there?" We weren't there yet but I couldn't wait to leave already.

   “In an hour or less." He replied, and I groaned, pulling out my phone and playing the video from the camera that captured my girl and everything else blurred into the background.

  Kael paced inside me, restless. "We should be looking for her, not attending ceremonies we don't give a shit about.”

   "Tell me about it.” I muttered.

  Orion glanced at me through the rearview mirror but didn’t say anything.

  The car cut through the forest road, tires humming low against the asphalt. Then it hit me.

Sharp.

Rotten.

Wrong.

My head lifted slowly. “Stop the car.”

  Orion didn’t hesitate. He braked hard, gravel crunching as we rolled to the roadside. His posture changed instantly… alert. “Rogues.”

    Although it wasn't my Pack, their smell was distinct. And like other rogues, they were up to no good.

   “Don't tell me you're going to check it, Alpha." Orion asked, but I was already out of the car. The warriors following behind us had also stopped, their eyes scanning the area.

  Normally, I wouldn't pay attention to them as much, but I needed something to direct my frustrations on and they were perfect.

   I followed the smell into the forest and with each step, something felt off and it didn't take long before it hits me.

   She's here." Kael growled as the familiar scent of rain and blooming Jasmine hit me.

    Kael took over as we ran towards the scent. In no time, we were standing in an open space and the girl I was dying to find was there but she wasn't alone. 

  The roques turned to face me, recognition flashing in their eyes. The one holding her immediately released her arm, taking a step back.

    “Make sure none of them escape." I ordered without looking back as I rushed to the figure now lying helplessly on the ground.

    Struggling to keep Kael from ripping their heads off for even touching her, I carried her in my arms, running back to the car.

   “I'll kill them.” Kael growled, "they hurt her.”

  I agreed, but for now, getting back to the Pack and getting her treated was priority.

   Her scent wrapped around me again… clear, undeniable. Mine.