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Chapter 3

Blake POV

My wolf gradually calms down the further I get away from the packhouse, whereas really, with the pack run going on without us, he should be itching to get back and run alongside his friends. I try not to dwell on what that might mean as I drive, turning the radio up and enjoying a rare moment of solitude. Being Alpha of a pack of rowdy wolves, and living in the main packhouse, means I am never truly alone. And since taking over as the head Alpha for the region, things have gotten significantly more hectic. With ten packs under my watch, there is always something that needs to be done.

I love it. It’s what I wanted. I worked so hard to get that position and I remember the satisfaction I felt when I found out that the council had chosen me. But there is always a price to pay for success, and that price is privacy. Even when I’m locked in my office or my living quarters, there is always someone or something waiting for me. Work to be finished. I haven’t had a day off since I started. 

The cabin is the only place where I ever get to be on my own and where I know that there isn’t anyone right outside the door about to demand my time or attention. There’s nobody at the cabin that I need to impress, or who’ll judge me if I let my guard down and just relax. I’d like to spend more time there, even if I’m still working on my laptop, but I won't find my mate locked away in the middle of nowhere. I sign and scrub my hand over my stubbled jaw.

Maybe that is the true price of my success. Not having the luxury of time to travel to other packs looking for her. And look where it’s gotten me, hiding from my pack in case they figure out that I’m losing my mind. Lonely and unmated. If this is what success looks like, I’m not sure I want it.

My phone ringing interrupts my thoughts. I grit my teeth and force a smile onto my face before answering so my frustration doesn’t come across in my voice. My patience is not what it should be, but that’s not Jenna’s fault.

“Hi Jenna,” I answer, knowing exactly what she’s going to say before she says it. I can picture the panic in her pale blue eyes when she realized I was gone. To say that Jenna doesn’t like surprises would be an understatement.

“Max told us you had to leave, but Blake, I haven’t had time to prepare the cabin. If you’re going to stay up there for a few days for meetings or whatever, I need to get some supplies in. You should have warned me.”

She sounds out of breath, and I can hear the chatter of the rest of the pack in the background. They must be just finished. I can picture them all tucking into the food Jenna always arranges for when we return, before having a few beers and catching up. Their Alpha should be there with them. I swear I can feel their unease from here.

“It’s fine, Jenna. It was a last-minute thing. I’ll sort it,” I state, not wanting her to fuss or to get drawn into the details. Jenna is sharp. We’ve known each other since we were pups, and she knows something is off about this. She knows my schedule better than I do.

“Don’t be silly. I’ll grab some stuff from here and follow you down. I can stay and help while you’re working like I normally do, and...” she presses, continuing to ramble on, making plans to join me at the cabin. Ignoring what I just said. 

“No!” I shout, before grimacing when there is stunned silence on the other end of the line. “I’m sorry for snapping Jenna. I’m just exhausted. Please, don’t worry. I’ll stop and pick up some stuff. It’s just going to be me, so there’s no need to go to any trouble.”

“Fine,” she mutters sulkily, and I roll my eyes. It’s clearly not one bit fine. She’s angry that she isn’t invited along. But she knows better than to push me when I’ve made up my mind about something. I’m just about to hang up when she continues.

“But Blake. I saw your hands shaking earlier. I think I know what’s going on and I’m worried. Talk to me,” she pleads softly, and I can hear the genuine concern in her voice. The soft click of a door closing and the gradual fading away of the background chatter tells me she’s moved somewhere more private. Rather than being relieved to have someone other than Max to talk to about this, I’m annoyed at the intrusion. It’s my personal business. Mine and my mates. And an Alpha does not like to admit any weakness. I certainly don’t want the pack talking about it.

“It’s fine, Jenna. I’m genuinely going up here to work and clear my head. I’m not quite as old as you seem to think I am. There is still plenty of time for me to sort something out.” I try to sound light-hearted and make a joke of it, but I can tell by the long pause that follows that she’s not buying it. Jenna has known me a long time and we work closely with each other every day. She knows me better than most. And how stubborn I've been about waiting to find my mate. 

“You mean you’ll consider taking a chosen mate?” she asks, a note of hopefulness in her voice that’s impossible to miss. She doesn’t want me to suffer. We’ve spoken many times over the years about what we’d do if we never found our mates. Jenna is younger than me though, and she’s not of Alpha bloodline, so the urgency for her isn’t as great. She regularly tries to suggest suitable females from other packs that I could date, but I always refuse.

“Maybe. Look, I need to go, another call is coming through,” I lie, guilt gnawing at me. I don’t lie, but I need to get off this call.

“Ok.” She sounds disappointed by my abrupt end to the conversation, but I ignore it. Jenna is my friend, and she works hard for the pack as the manager of the pack house, but my love life is my own. I need to have something for myself. “Drive safe.”

When the line goes dead, I exhale loudly and thump my head back against the headrest. Since when did who I date, or don’t date, become a topic of discussion? I need to shut any talk about it down now or the next month is going to be even more painful than the last.

A red neon sign for Earl’s diner blinks ahead of me. It has a small gas station with a convenience store tucked in beside it on the small lot. My wolf lunges forward as the faint scent of something delightful tickles my senses. I do need to pick up some food, anyway. It may as well be here since he seems so desperate to get some fresh air.

As I pull to a stop and step out, it becomes clear exactly why he's so riled up. She was here, and recently. 

My wolf howls in my head and claws at my insides, desperate to get out and track the most delicious scent I have ever come across. I scan up and down the road desperately, but can’t see any taillights disappearing from view. Hopefully, someone here can point me in the right direction. I stride with purpose towards the tiny store and a bell jingles as I push it open. A scrawny kid looks up at me nervously from his phone when he sees me make a beeline straight for him.

Every cell in my body is on fire, and adrenaline floods my body.

My mate. I’ve finally found her. 

Comments (3)
goodnovel comment avatar
Elaine Gibson
Don’t know about that
goodnovel comment avatar
Abugu Tim
alloying with intrigues and action
goodnovel comment avatar
Karina Vazquez
Oh no, he missed her. Do not make it a habit Blake, lol
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