THE MASKED MATE

CHAPTER FIVE

Kael

Something was wrong.

I could feel it deep in my bones. For one thing my wolf was restless making it pretty hard to share a consciousness when I could feel him visibly yapping about. The past week had been really horrible.

For one thing there was an increase in feral rogue attacks over the past week, which was looking more like a plot to weaken our defenses in order to distract us from the ongoing war.

This was a hard time for the pack, there have been measures put in place to protect women and pups and all wolves who had seen their first shift were required to join the warriors. Everyone had to be able to defend ourselves and it seemed more quickly than ever that very hope of a diplomatic end to this war was out of the table.

Right now, I was working on a pact with the River Vine Pack, it was obvious that they had no means of winning this war alone. I happen to strike a deal with their alpha in order for us to join forces so as to have an advantage in this war. They would retain their autonomy while being a part of my pack. Numbers were important to win this war and numbers I would get.

“Alpha” my beta Mikal said entering into my office head bowed.

“This better not be about my mother again I’m not in the mood” I said exasperated.

“I’m afraid not Alpha. A rogue has been captured trying to enter into our borders but she is not feral and she happens to be without a wolf” he said and I stood up abruptly “where is the rogue now?” I asked “She is in the cells now Alpha”

“Lead me to her”.

As I neared the cells my wolf became antsier. What was the matter? I don’t think I could handle any more of this. Wolves took a part of our consciousness, and although we weren’t able to communicate with them quite literally using words, they were able to send signals that helped us understand the situation. But my wolf hadn’t made an attempt just remained antsy which in turn left me restless. I felt like I was about to lose my mind.

“Mikal do you smell that?”

“Smell what Alpha?”

I ignored him and followed what seemed to be the most intoxicating scent I had ever perceived in my entire life. It smelled like freedom cliché as it may sound, the kind of smell that could be characterized as refreshing, pinewood, mint, rosewater. Never have I witnessed such a mind-blowing array of distinct smells mixed together in perfect synchrony.

And then I saw her. It was as though my entire world stopped for a minute and restructured itself to roam on an axis that was her. She was beautiful, even now dirty, battered, chained to the ceiling she was still the most beautiful wolf that I had seen.

And from the look on her face she felt it to only for a second before the dreamy look on her face disappeared ad it was replaced with a snarl, so vengeful that it was enough to snap me out of my daze. She was a rogue and that meant she was no good.

“Let me the f**k go!” she spat struggling to get out of the chains.

“I must say that is a futile attempt. You are never getting out of here not unless you tell us what your aim is “I replied and she scoffed.

“What if I didn’t want anything I was just passing by” she said and I rolled up my sleeves to my elbow, an intimidation tactic I used on captives more often than not, drawing it out making their mind race a million minds per second wondering what would happen next. I felt her eyes follow my movement but it wasn’t fear in them more of a battle between lust and something else, hate? But I had no Idea who she was so that couldn’t be right.

“You seem like a smart wolf now tell us why you came here and maybe we’ll let you go” I said and she spat on my face.

Before I could react Mikal had already stepped in front of me and backhanded her hard across the face. “Don’t you dare disrespect my alpha like that again you disgusting abomination”.

In that moment I lost control of my wolf and I pounced on Mikal holding him by the throat and lifting him up so that his legs wouldn’t touch the ground. His eyes bulged and if I had applied anymore pressure then I would have killed him in the blink of an eye and in that moment I don’t think I would have had any regrets.

“Do not touch what is mine!” I so much as barked into his face. What was this? It was like I was living in my body but only as a spectator, no control whatsoever over what I was saying or doing.

“I’m sorry Alpha!” Mikal squeezed out and I so much as flung him aside.

“Get out!” I bellowed and in the blink of an eye we were alone. Everyone had left, Mikal and the other warriors.

“Are you ok? I asked and moved my and to touch her face. Once our skin touched it was as though we were joined together by our souls the pull was too much to deny. Time had stopped something strange was happening.

And that’s when I felt it the mark that appeared on my arm. It hurt like there was I was getting a tattoo. The girl screamed and it seemed like the same thing was happening to her as well. What was this?

A then she kept on screaming something else was happening. I didn’t think twice before unlocking the chains that she was held by and she kept on screaming. “What’s wrong?” I asked frantically.

I was when I heard the first bone c***k that I knew what was happening. I placed her on the ground and shifted backwards to give her some space. This was something she had to do on her own or else it had a high tendency to go very wrong.

She was experiencing a shift, and since it hurt this much it was probably her first shift. But then she was supposed to have gone through tis at adolescence. And Mikal said she had no wolf.

What were these marks and why was she turning now?