Let’s Go

Edward’s POV

The SUV pulled up in front of the pack house, and I couldn't help the grin spreading across my face. Three months away at Alpha training had been long enough. I was ready to be home, take my place as the future Alpha of the Dark Fang Pack, and get back to the life I'd left behind.

The driver climbed out and hurried around to my door. He opened it, and I stepped onto the pavement, barely getting a chance to straighten my jacket before someone came flying toward me.

“Edward!”

I recognized that voice before I even turned around. It was… Lena.

She launched herself directly into my arms, and I caught her with a laugh, tightening my hold around her waist as she wrapped her legs around me and locked her arms behind my neck. Her familiar scent surrounded me, and for a moment, it felt as though I hadn't been gone at all.

“Lena, sweetheart,” I chuckled, holding her securely while she pressed herself against me.

“Baby, I missed you!” she purred, nudging her nose against mine.

I leaned down and kissed her lips briefly before pulling back with a grin. “Of course you did.”

She laughed and gave me another quick kiss before leaning away enough to study my face. Her eyes searched mine, and I knew exactly what she was about to ask. We'd discussed it plenty of times before I'd left for training, and now that I was eighteen, she wanted an answer.

“Baby, since you're eighteen, does Dixon recognize me as your mate?”

Her hopeful expression made me hesitate for a moment. I didn't want to disappoint her, especially after she'd been waiting for me to return, but I wasn't going to lie to her either.

“Dixon says he can't tell.” I lied. I had to tell her something. Something that wouldn’t hurt her.

Her face fell immediately. She pouted, pushing her bottom lip out as her shoulders slumped. “He can't tell?” she repeated.

I shook my head. “No, sweetheart.”

Dixon let out a low growl. ‘She's not our mate.’ His voice was serious, leaving no room for argument. ‘I would know if she were. I'd be able to scent her, and I don't.’

I glanced at Lena, who was still watching me with disappointment written all over her face.

I understood why she was upset. Growing up, everyone had always said we would probably end up together. We had been best friends since childhood, and she had always been the girl I expected to have by my side when I became Alpha. Hell, she was the one I wanted.

We'd spent years together, sharing secrets, attending pack events, and making plans for the future. She knew me better than almost anyone, and I knew her just as well. I couldn't imagine having someone else in her place.

I lifted one hand to her cheek, brushing my thumb across her skin. “Don't worry about that right now, sweetheart. You're the one I choose.”

She searched my face for a moment, apparently deciding whether she believed me. Then her expression softened, and she leaned into my touch. “Promise?”

I smiled. “Promise.”

She finally slid down my body, her feet touching the ground. Before I could release her completely, she caught my hand and laced her fingers through mine. “Come on. Your father has been waiting for you all morning. You should have seen how many times he asked whether you'd arrived yet.”

I laughed as we started toward the entrance. “Sounds like him.”

“He's been running around making sure everything is perfect. The ceremony, the decorations, the guests. Honestly, I think he's more excited than you are.” She giggled.

“That's because he's finally getting rid of his responsibilities.” I couldn’t help it. That sounded just like my father.

“Edward!” she exclaimed, laughing as she swatted my arm.

“What? It's true.” I shrugged my shoulders. I grinned at her, and she shook her head as we approached the front doors.

The pack house looked exactly as I remembered it, although there were more decorations than usual. Dark banners hung from the upper balconies, and the entrance had been dressed up for the ceremony. Warriors stood along the front steps, while pack members moved between the house and the grounds, carrying boxes, arranging flowers, and making last-minute preparations.

Everyone seemed to be in a hurry.

I supposed I couldn't blame them. My father had decided that my return from Alpha training would be the perfect occasion to officially hand over leadership of the Dark Fang Pack. By the end of the day, I would no longer be simply the Alpha's son. I would be the Alpha.

It was about time. I'd spent three months learning what I needed to know, training with other future leaders, and proving that I was capable of handling the responsibilities waiting for me. I had no intention of returning home only to be treated like a child.

My father had made it clear before I left that I needed to be prepared for the position. I'd taken that seriously. An Alpha couldn't afford to be weak or indecisive, and I intended to make sure everyone knew that the Dark Fang Pack was in good hands.

Lena squeezed my hand as we climbed the steps. “Everyone is waiting to see you,” she said. “You should have heard the girls talking about your return.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Should I be concerned?”

She shot me a look. “Don't even think about it.”

I laughed. “I'm only asking.”

“You know exactly what I'm talking about. Half the unmated females in this pack have been waiting for you to come home.” She sighed.

“Then they'll be disappointed when they realize I'm not interested.”

“Good.” She lifted her chin, looking satisfied. “Because they can keep their distance.”

I shook my head, amused by her possessiveness, and followed her through the doors. The moment we stepped inside, the familiar scent of the pack house surrounded me. Voices echoed through the hallways, servants hurried past with trays and supplies, and warriors stood near the staircases, discussing security for the ceremony. It was a complete mess.

I hadn't even made it ten steps before several pack members stopped to greet me. I returned their greetings with a nod or a brief smile, accepting their congratulations while trying to keep moving. I wanted to see my father before the ceremony began, and I knew he would expect me in his study.

As Lena and I continued down the corridor, I caught sight of several familiar faces. Some of the warriors who had watched me grow up approached to welcome me home, while others simply stepped aside to let us pass.

I liked the attention. There was no point pretending otherwise. I'd worked hard at the academy, and I was proud of what I'd accomplished. Returning home to a pack ready to celebrate my future was exactly what I'd expected.

Still, something wasn't right. I slowed my steps. A scent drifted through the air, faint at first, but unmistakable enough to make Dixon stir. ‘Mate.’ His voice was sharp, and the single word sent a jolt through me.

I stopped walking. ‘What?’

‘Mate. I smell our mate.’ He repeated in an irritated voice.

I looked around the crowded hallway, my eyes moving from one person to another. There were warriors near the staircase, a group of pack members gathered by the sitting room, and several people hurrying toward the back of the house. But nobody appeared to be reacting to anything unusual. No one was staring at me. No one seemed to be searching for someone. Everyone continued with whatever they had been doing. I frowned. ‘Are you sure?’

Dixon growled, his irritation pressing against me. ‘I know what I smell, Edward.’

I glanced down at Lena, who had stopped beside me. “What is it, baby?” she asked, noticing my expression. “What's wrong?”

I hesitated. I could tell her what Dixon had said, but I didn't see the point in upsetting her over something that might not even be real. She was already disappointed that Dixon hadn't recognized her as my mate, and I wasn't about to make things worse by telling her he thought he'd found someone else. Besides, Lena was right here beside me. She was the girl I'd always expected to choose, and I had no intention of changing my plans because Dixon thought he'd caught a scent. “Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. “I thought I smelled something.”

Her brows drew together. “Something?”

“Probably nothing. Come on. I need to see my father.” I started walking again, deliberately ignoring the low growl that rumbled from Dixon.

He wasn't happy. I knew that much. He continued muttering about our mate, insisting that the scent was real, but I refused to let him distract me. Whatever he thought he'd discovered, I wasn't going to chase after a stranger in the middle of my homecoming. I had a ceremony to prepare for, a pack to lead, and a future to secure. I wasn't going to let a mysterious scent interfere with any of that.

We continued down the hallway, and for a few moments, everything seemed normal again. Lena was telling me about the preparations, explaining how my father had arranged for guests from neighboring packs to attend. I listened while she talked, occasionally responding, though part of my attention remained fixed on the uneasy silence inside my head. Then I took another step. The scent hit me again. Stronger this time. I stopped so abruptly that Lena nearly walked into my back.

Dixon surged forward, his growl so forceful that I felt it in my chest. ‘There! That's our mate!’

My fingers tightened around Lena's hand. The scent was sweet, warm, and unlike anything I'd ever encountered. It slipped beneath every other smell in the hallway, drawing my attention toward it despite my best efforts to ignore it. I turned my head, trying to locate its source. Nothing. Just people moving around, talking, laughing, and preparing for the ceremony.

I couldn't understand it. If Dixon was right, our mate had to be somewhere nearby. Yet no one was reacting, and I couldn't see anyone who seemed to be looking for me.

Maybe Dixon was mistaken. Maybe the excitement of returning home had unsettled him, or perhaps the scent belonged to someone passing through the pack house. Whatever it was, I wasn't going to let it control me.

“Edward?” Lena's voice pulled me back to the present.

I looked at her. “What?”

She studied my face, her earlier excitement replaced by concern. “You keep stopping. Are you sure you're okay?”

“I'm fine.” I forced a smile and squeezed her hand. “Let's go.” She hesitated before nodding her head.

We continued toward my father's study, and I focused on the familiar hall ahead of us. When we reached his door, I finally released Lena's hand and stepped forward. I lifted my hand toward the handle. That was when I heard a very loud scream.