chapter 2

LAYLA POV

The wind blew softly carrying with it the sweet smell of wet wood and lemon. I sniffed the air again and again as I drove closer to the pack house. I knew what the smell meant. my mate is close by. perhaps in the pack house ahead as the smell grew stronger. I fought against my wolf, shifting nervously as I drove faster. I have waited all these years for this. I could imagine the smile on mum's face when she finds out I have found my mate. I know dad would be happier. i wished my mate to be all I'd always imagined; tall, built, definitely not ugly and not to miss out, a war wolf. I have always had a thing for war wolves. Dad is the beta of the pack and a war wolf.

He adores mum and my brother Theodore, if not for his loyalty to you alpha and the pack, dad's first priority would have been his family nonetheless it isn't too bad as it is his next priority.

so, I guess I wanted my mate to be strong as well just like my dad.

The scent of my mate hit me intensely as I drove to a stop in front of the pack house. Definitely my mate is somewhere inside. I wondered what I smelled like to him. Guess he should be feeling uneasy now too. I thought. with a quick check on myself using the car's side mirror, I saw my light blue eye stare back at me. my shoulder-length light brown hair covered my head accentuating my caramel skin. I quickly cleaned my sweaty face, taking deep breathes to calm my nerves.

okay...Clara. let's go get our mate. I said to my wolf. I stepped out of the car, moving at a measured stride to the door.

"Hey Layla... you're back earlier than expected". my dad called out to me from the kitchen.

"yes dad". I hugged him, " Anna got the papers ready before now; all I need was a pick up". I said, peeking around to see if my mate was anywhere.

"oh..." he raised a brow. "Anna has her ways when it comes to that anyways ". he chuckled.

"Are you alright, dear? you seem uneasy".

I knew it. I knew dad would read me out with all my fidgeting and the anxiety written all over my face.

"you didn't lose the papers... did you?" he asked quickly .

"No, I didn't lose it, dad". I saw the relief on his face.

How can you fail in an assignment giving to you by your alpha?. A treaty paper isn't something you'd lose and get patted on the head for. I can't imagine what would happen if I lost them.

"so, what is it dear?" He asked as he placed his hand on my shoulder looking me in the eyes, "I've never seen you this nervous before and more, you look pale. what is it?" He asked with a bit of authority in his voice.

I fought myself to look away from him as another wave of wet wood and lemon scent wash over me. "Dad... I....I " I turned at the sound of voices. I was interrupted by the the alpha.

"Layla... I see you're here already. Got the papers?" He asked calmly.

I tried to focus on him but my eyes rested on the handsome young man beside him. I saw his eyes widen as it met mine. This is him. my mate. just like I had wished; tall, medium built, blue eyes just like mine, same hair colour.

pretty! Clara screamed. our mate is as pretty as us. I felt my face turn red my wolf's description of our mate. is this what mum and dad felt at first sight? I could live in this moment forever as I felt lost in his blue eyes.

alpha derrick cleared his throat loudly to snap me out of my daydream. I blushed deeply as I peeked at him under my lashes.

"just hand over the papers". He said trying his best not to laugh. he and my dad shared a knowing look.

"yes, alpha" muttered. I quickly handed the files still blushing. I am going to kick myself after this.

he turned towards the door. "I think I'll need my beta in my office". he said to my dad who stood still with a huge grin pasted on his face, he stared.

Dad hummed for a while before getting his bearing then exited the kitchen quickly in quick long strides.

I stood there for goddess know how long, shifting my weight from one foot to the other like a little girl. I have waited twenty three years to find my mate and here he is, right in front of me.

"you are so pretty ". my mate said in the sweetest voice I have ever heard. I blushed deeply. I saw a quick movement and before I could react, I was enveloped in his arms.

His scent just was just perfect. I inhaled him deeply returning his embrace.

"I can't believe I found you here". his voice tickled my senses.

Just hug me forever. I thought.

"Not much of a talker... uhn?" He asked lifting my chin. "oh my... I could stare into those eyes forever".

"you are just perfect ". I regained my voice. his eyes shone with love.

"we are made for each other after all". he smiled. "we are perfect together ".

I glanced around meeting the eyes of several pack mates. I guess all the pack members already heard by now that I've got my mate.

"let's talk". I whispers to my mate, nodding my head towards the window. He apparently understood the situation quickly. he pulled my hands and walked quickly out of the house. we sat by the fountain in the garden catching up on ourselves.

my mate turned out to be a beta's son of a pack in the Eastern province. He is also part of the wolf's council. what luck! he is on visitation on the to the northern council headquarters which happens to be the pack house. to crown it all, he is a war wolf in training.

we were so lost in our sweet conversation that we didn't notice the sun was about setting. I jumped up when I heard someone scream.

Layla... meet me in the pack house now! I heard my father through the mind-link.

"Dad needs me in the house now". I told Calhoun, my mate. we both ran to the house joining a crowd of pack members gathered around Jason, another pack members; Theodore's friend. Jason had just shifted when we stopped at the house. he was bloodied with claw marks all over him. A chunk of flesh was missing from his side.

"Dad?" I called as he stepped out behind an angry alpha derrick. "what is happening?"

His face was filled with sadness. Anger rolled off him. I could feel the rage. something was wrong. Jason is a strong pop and he had always accompanied theodore around. Theo... I thought. I haven't seen him since I returned. that was like an hour ago. it is quite unusual of him not to seek me out by now.

"Theo..." I muttered. I stared at my dad. Anger flashed in his eyes, then sadness. it then hit me. theo was in trouble. my sweet little brother is in danger.

"what happened...?" my mum beat me to the question ".

Phillip?" her eyes swirled with anger as she desperately reached for her mate.

Dad held her close. A tear fell from his eyes. I felt my mate draw me closer wrapping his arms around me. he could feel my despair.

"they've got him, Sophia ". Dad said softly.

"who?" I asked as tears threatened to fall.

"Atridge...." he muttered. he held mum closer.

The alpha's voice stopped me from asking the reason why the Atridge pack would want Theo. " I want all war wolves to head out to ridge forest ". he growled.

"Ridge forest?" I looked at alpha derrick as he turned to my mum. "why the rigde forest?"

"Sophia... he is fine". he said calmly but quickly. "I don't know how he is doing it but he is holding up. we just have to get to him as quick as possible ".

"I will show you quick". mum screeched. the air tensed as her power flared. she is the pack's witch and a strong one.

"hold hands..." she commanded. all the war wolves including the alpha and dad joined hands.

I will die before someone lay a finger on my brother. I thought before grabbing the hand of the war wolf closest to me.

"No, not you..." my dad began to say but the world blurred and the environment changed.

light faded out and I felt the air thicken. my eyes shifted as I took in my new environment; the rigde forest. the darkness was so thick but my wolf's vision could make out every detail. I took a step backward feeling mum's raw power flared, lightening the area we stood.

"I am here with e" my mate whispered. he held me close.

I saw mum move quickly to the left. A bolt of pure white energy blazed out of her hands towards a shadow.

"Not my son". she screamed.

I zoomed in on the dark figure, surrounding it were eleven... no twelve huge shadows. they all ran towards the dark figure. As the ball of energy got closer, the dark figure turned. I saw it's almost white hair stick to its face by sweat and blood. then, it's green eyes widened as it saw the coming energy.

I gasped as I saw the dark figure clearly.

Theodore was surrounded by twelve wolves. not just any war wolves but twelve killer wolves.