THREE

KAEL’s POV

Heat prickled his skin the minute he set foot inside the large house. His nose scrunched as it picked up a scent. It was familiar, like something he was accustomed to but he couldn’t seem to recognize it. Shaking his head, he shoved the scent off his mind and followed two of his men farther into the house.

He had not planned on making that journey that night but the latest information he learned at the last minute of the Bouchier couple theft, snapped at his last restraint causing him to travel through two kingdoms, through the storm down to the Bouchier resident. And now that he was here, he vowed to make the most of it, make them scapegoats so that nobody would ever think of crossing him again.

“Search the whole house and drag out any living thing you see. Man, woman, baby and pets, I want all of them here at my feet.” He said in a low commanding tone. The two men nodded and began searching the house.

A few minutes later, the men appeared with Valerie, Anthony and a sobbing Julian. The guards pushed them to their knees and shoved their faces down until they were kissing the floor.

“These are the only people we found in the house.” One of the men spoke and walked into the dark area of the living room where Kael sat. He had a low buzz cut and a slit on his left eyebrow.

Kael nodded. “I believe you are well aware why we are having this discussion today, Valerie and Anthony Butcher.”

“Al…Alpha Croft?” Anthony spluttered as he exchanged nervous glances with his wife.

“Hmm,” Kael hummed as he unsheathed his small knife and began examining the shiny object. “I am glad you recognize my voice, honored even, that you didn’t brush me off your mind after stealing from me.”

“We will never forget you, Alpha. Legends like you could never be forgotten.”

“Seven point two million dollars. It is a legend too, no? I’m sure you haven’t forgotten about that either.”

“Seven…seven point…we don’t seem to understand what you are talking about, Alpha.”

The guard still in the light tossed a thick document to Anthony and it fell on the carpeted floor with a muffled thud before walking into the shadows to stand with Kael and his other friend.

Anthony grabbed the book and quickly flipped through the pages. The pages contained pictures of him and Valerie stealing from Alpha Kael’s house, pictures of their bank account history and their shady forgery at the art gallery. Anthony's face fell as he realized he had been caught, slowly, he passed the document to Valerie.

“I am sure that refreshed your memory well enough.” Kael’s nose twitched again. The scent was getting stronger. Leoric, his wolf, stirred awake in him and Kael clenched his jaw to keep him down.

Why was this happening to him? He has never experienced his wolf trying to take over him, he has always been in control of Leoric. Always.

“We can explain this, Alpha Kael. We…we.” Valerie began to speak.

The front door loudly creaked open and they all fell silent. Anthony and Valerie exchanged glances. From the dining room, the soft squelch of shoes against the tiled floor was heard.

“You have a guest by this time?” Alpha Kael asked.

“No we’re not-” A strong, intoxicating scent filled Kael’s nostrils immediately clouding his brain. His head spun wildly, making him dizzy. Kael ran his fingers over and over through his hair as he shook his head to clear his mind from the scent fogging his brain.

‘Are you okay, Alpha?’ One of the men, with full hair which he packed in a bun, asked Kael through their mind link. He was Harry, the Alpha’s Beta.

Before Kael could answer, Leoric growled restlessly trying to take over Kael’s body. Harry exchanged glances with the other man as Kael shook his head vigorously. He wouldn’t lose control in this house, not when he was about to exert dominance.

“Mother.” Kael raised his head to the soft voice that rang throughout the dimly lit dining room. “Anthony, what is going on? Why are you guys on the floor?” His eyes remained on her as she combed back her dripping wet hair with her fingers and crouched down in front of Anthony.

Just as the strong brain fogging scent came, it disappeared. And its place was a faint sweet scent, so faint, it could be easily missed. Kael closed his eyes and dragged in a deep breath, taking in the scent; Jasmine and roses. The scent felt familiar, but save from a few minutes ago, Kael was sure he had never encountered them before.

He had never had a cause to pick up such scents.

But why now? He thought to himself as he watched the lady interact with Anthony and Valerie. Why was the scent strong when she was far away but faint now that she is near?

‘Do you smell that?’ Kael asked Harry through their mind link.

‘Yeah. Fear, it’s pathetic. The boy is old enough to father children yet he looks like he would shit his pants.’

Hmm, Harry doesn’t smell that.

“You cannot come into a person’s house and intimidate them, show yourself or I will be forced to harm you.” The lady’s voice pulled him out of his reverie and he turned his attention back to the issue on ground. Her voice was unusually soft but it had backbone though faint, but it was there.

Kael stood up from where he sat and cautiously walked to the lady. His eyes flickered between orange and green as his wolf sought for dominance.

‘This is she, Kael?’ Leoric growled.

Kael took in the lady before him. This close, the scent completely vanished and she smelled like every other person he had come in contact with; weak.

What is it with this lady?

Her brown eyes kept their gaze on Kael’s face, not wanting to lose their supposed staring contest. Her wet hair fell loosely over the side of her face, the curls slightly visible in them. Her small nose flared and she bit her lower lip to keep her temper, no… fear, she bit her lower lip to keep her fear down.

‘Talk to her, Kael,’ Leoric said. Kael could feel his excitement as he jumped up and down in him. Excitement Kael couldn’t seem to place. ‘Ask for her name.’

“What is your name?”

“Elara.” Jasmine, roses. The name carried the scent and wafted through Kael’s senses. He felt Leoric settle down for the first time since they arrived at the house.

Kael nodded once. “Elara.” The name rolled off his tongue just as Leoric howled.

‘Mate!’