Chapter 5 – The Scent That Shouldn’t Be

Ryker’s POV

I wake up too early—and immediately regret it.

My head is still spinning from too much eggnog last night.

I lie there for a second, pressing my hand to my head, trying to stop the dizziness.

Duke is pacing like a caged animal—worse than his usual restless self.

I drag a hand over my face, pushing myself up. “What now?” I groan under my breath. “Why are you awake? It’s not even time for training.”

Duke doesn’t answer; he’s focused on something else.

My gaze travels over my room. Quiet. Bed a mess, boots by the door, last night's half-drunk eggnog still on the dresser. Nothing out of place.

“Seriously, man,” I grumble. “Go back to sleep... there’s nothing—”

My voice dies the moment I catch it. A scent. Easy to miss if I weren't already awake.

I frown, drawing a slow breath. Berries. Sweet and sharp, coating my tongue.

Not the fake kind from the kitchen. Fresh. Rich. Real. My body goes completely still.

I breathe in again — stronger now, coming from the door.

“Mate!” Duke exclaims, and something slams through my ribcage.

I sit up straight, shaking my head.

“No way,” I reply. That's not how this works. We would've known — felt something before now.

But the scent only intensifies, wrapping around me until I can't think straight. I force myself to focus.

I swing my legs off the bed and stand, catching myself as I sway.

My skin feels too tight, like something beneath is trying to break free.

“She was here,” Duke says.

“Shut up,” I mutter, but I'm already moving.

The closer I get to the door, the stronger it gets. Not just sweet — something else underneath too.

I open the door, half-hoping to find her there.

The hallway's empty. The scent lingers anyway, taunting me like it's a game.

I step into the hall, scanning both ways. This has to be some kind of joke.

“She didn't come in,” Duke says, sounding almost disappointed.

That unsettles me more than I want to admit. “But she was here,” I mutter. “Right outside my door.”

Kael's bedroom door is open. Even he's up, already dressed. Of course.

“You smell it?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I reply, voice rough.

Another door opens. Soren steps out, runs a hand through his hair, takes one breath — and goes still. “It's here too,” he says.

I look between them. No one says it. We don't have to. Kael nods once.

“Check if it's the same scent.”

We move as one.

Mine first — the smell is strongest there, thick enough to feel tangible.

Then Kael's, a different undercurrent, his own scent mingled with it.

Then Soren's — same thing. All three of us. Was someone messing with us?

We stop in the middle of the hall. Duke isn't pacing anymore, locked on something I can't see.

“She came to us,” I say.

“But didn't enter our rooms,” Soren adds quietly.

Kael's expression tightens. “So why didn't she?”

I shrug. Why would our mate come to our doors and then walk away? That's not how this works. She should have come in.

“Find her,” Duke growls.

Kael catches the flicker in my eye—the same one in his. “Track it,” he orders. “We need to find her and figure out why.”

We follow the scent down the hall. It’s easy.

Too easy. Like she didn’t even try to hide it.

I don’t like that. Are we walking into a trap?

My heart almost stops when I realize where the scent is leading.

I freeze.

No.

Ayla.

A shaky breath leaves me.

“No way,” I mutter — but it's already past disbelief.

Something else is moving under my skin, sharp and uncomfortable, and I don't have a name for it yet. I'm not sure I want one.

Soren goes still beside me.

Kael doesn't move.

Her scent is everywhere here — fresh, clinging to the walls.

“She went to her room,” Soren says, brows drawing together.

“Seems so,” I mutter, pushing her door open without knocking.

The room is empty but warm. She was here moments ago — I can feel it.

“She bolted,” Duke observes.

I step inside, scanning the room. Her old schoolbag hangs over the chair. Her books are neatly stacked on the desk. Everything small and careful.

“Why come to us and then leave?” I ask.

“Because you told her she’d be homeless today,” Soren says.

I wince. I never expected her to be my mate.

“She felt it,” Kael says, distracted by her scent. “She knows. She left before we could humiliate her again.”

“She’s ours,” Duke snarls. “I want my mate!”

I don’t answer, but something in me shifts.

This isn’t just instinct anymore.

Now it’s personal.

“We better find her before she crosses the boundary,” Soren says. “Else it’ll be too late.”

Kael nods, a spark in his eyes. “Let’s see how far she thinks she can run.”

I nod once, a slow smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. She ran from her mates. From me.

“Yeah,” I mutter. “Let's find out.”

****