Rising Within

Late

Elias

I marched my way up to the cafe in the middle of the shopping centre to grab Dionne the coffee she requested. I didn’t know how I felt about her working overtime, but I hoped she’d at least be paid for it.

I took a moment to bask in the thought of how her scent consumed me through the roller door, but she smelt a little different today, than I had remembered. I felt my whole body yearning to be in her presence again and my wolf struggled to conceal himself. My skin prickled, almost hurt with the urgency to shift and race back to her.

It wasn’t the same feeling I had felt when I had first met her, this was different.

My fingers began drumming on the table as I saw the coffee being brought my way. I thanked the waitress and briskly walked back instead of waiting for her at the cafe like she requested. My pace propelling faster without breaking into a run to save the coffee.

Something felt wrong. VERY wrong. I should have realised what the change in her scent meant, Dionne was in some kind of trouble. My heart pumped so loudly I could feel its rhythm beating through my throat and into my head.

F**k this!

Ditching the steaming cups into the nearest bin, I zipped past the lingering crowds breaking into a run. It felt like forever before I reached the jewelry store and the anticipation of finding Dionne safe ate at me. Why did I feel such a powerful connection to her if I couldn't confirm she was my mate? Maybe it worked differently because she was human?

Now that I was here, my spine prickled with pins and needles and my nose burned. The store perimeter smelt different, how did I not pick this up before? The roller door was still down. It was also silent behind it, but there’s absolutely no way I passed her on the way here. Frantically, I pounded on the aluminum door, unapologetic of my display. Under the weight of my fist, it shuddered with each echoing bang.

“Dionne?’’ My call sounded strained and desperate, but I didn’t give a s**t.

No, no, no... My mind was in overdrive. Although I wanted to check behind that door and make sure she wasn't hurt inside, my wolf demanded I find her. He was adamant that she wasn't in there, Dionne was gone!

What’s that smell? Some kind of chemical? And another scent I recognized but couldn’t place.

My wolf’s howl resonated in my head at the thought of losing his mate momentarily distracted me, but I shut him right up… we had to figure this out and I knew deep down to my bones my girl didn’t leave willingly. I felt our connection, there’s no doubt she felt it too. Where ever she was hiding, I would find her.

But where the f**k is she? Where am I supposed to look? How far could she have gotten? My internal monologue battered me with question after question until I willed my mind to stop and think.

My wolf clawed to the surface, wanting to break free from his restraints. Rage sifted out of me in puffs. I needed to get out of here. I needed him to track any trace of a scent while there was still time.

I scanned the surrounding area outside the centre looking for any sign of her. The attempt was futile and the frustration made me claw at my hair, tugging it to feel something.

There, Over there! We can shift and you can track her down! I urged my wolf.

The donation bin in the corner of the car park provided just enough cover to shift. Luckily, the last of the cars were slowly making their exits, but the grocery store workers wouldn't be far off from making their exits too.I just felt sorry for any f***er that got in my way now, but I was glad that my wolf and I were on the same page. We would not stop until Dionne was safe.

We doubled back to the entrance of the shopping centre. The scent was faint, but we could still make it out. It was slowly starting to darken outside, so the night’s disguise was yet to offer us any stealth, but we were out of time, and this was the only option. I knew there was no way we’d be mistaken for a stray with our size, and a wolf this close to civilization would stir a panic. So we had to be quick and absolutely careful. I stripped to shift and carefully tucked my clothes away to retrieve them if need be. My wolf snapped his jaws and shook his fur, obviously gearing himself up for the chase.

Luckily, the scent carried on and with our full force forward I became desperate for answers. For now, we would block it out until we had our mate.

She was the only thing that mattered. I couldn't fail her!

Mate…We uttered in unison before we took off into the coming night with speed on our heels and adrenaline pumping in our heart.

We will make her ours! We will never let her out of our sight again!

Dionne, I'm coming for you!