The Invisible Trace
1101 Words
Chapter 3: The Invisible Trace
Adrian was already out of his chair when the scent reached him again.
Sun-dried peaches and white blossoms.
It drifted faintly through the hallway, almost impossible for a human to notice, but Silver recognized it instantly. The wolf had been restless ever since the scent first appeared, and now it was pulling Adrian toward the source with an urgency he could barely control.
He followed it toward the rear entrance of the pack house.
A silver pickup truck was rolling into the courtyard.
Maria was in the passenger seat.
The moment she stepped out, the scent became stronger.
Adrian crossed the courtyard before he had time to think about what he was doing.
"Adrian?"
Maria stopped when she saw him approaching so quickly.
He didn't answer.
His eyes went straight to the dark jacket she was wearing.
The scent was strongest around the sleeve.
"Where did you get that jacket?"
Maria glanced down.
"This? I've had it for months."
"Who touched it?"
She frowned.
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Who touched the jacket today?"
Maria's confusion deepened.
"I was at the grocery center, Adrian. I came into contact with plenty of people."
Adrian stepped closer and inhaled again.
There was no mistaking it.
The scent wasn't Maria's.
It was someone else's.
Someone who had touched her jacket.
Silver pushed hard against his mind.
Find her.
Adrian clenched his jaw.
"Think carefully. Did anyone touch you or the jacket?"
Maria stared at him.
"There was a girl."
Adrian's expression changed.
"What girl?"
Before Maria could answer, a low growl came from behind her.
Theo had stepped out of the pack house.
His eyes had turned gold.
Bruno was awake.
Theo immediately moved between Maria and Adrian, his entire posture becoming protective.
"Back up."
Adrian stopped.
"Theo."
"I don't know what is going on, but you're standing far too close to my mate."
Maria touched Theo's arm.
"Theo, I'm fine."
"I know you're fine."
His gaze remained fixed on Adrian.
"I'm asking why our Alpha just ran across the courtyard to interrogate you about your jacket."
Several warriors nearby had gone quiet.
They were watching.
Adrian noticed them and lowered his voice.
"I smelled something unfamiliar."
Theo's brows pulled together.
"On Maria?"
"On the jacket."
"And that's enough reason for you to question her like this?"
Adrian said nothing.
Theo's suspicion grew.
"You're hiding something."
Maria looked at Adrian.
"Are you?"
For a moment, Adrian considered telling them.
Theo was his Beta. Maria was family. If anyone had earned the truth, it was them.
But his mind immediately went to Redwood.
Their scouts had been appearing near Blackwood territory for weeks. They had tested the northern borders, watched patrol routes, and disappeared before Adrian's warriors could catch them.
If Redwood discovered that Adrian had found his mate, they would use that information.
And Adrian didn't even know who she was yet.
He didn't know her name.
He didn't know that she was human.
He didn't know whether she understood anything about the supernatural world surrounding Blackwood.
Most importantly, he didn't know whether Redwood had already noticed her.
Until he found her himself, her existence had to remain a secret.
"No," Adrian finally said.
Theo's eyes narrowed.
"That wasn't convincing."
Adrian ignored him and looked at Maria.
"What happened at the grocery center?"
Maria sighed.
"I bumped into someone."
"Who?"
"A young woman."
"What did she look like?"
Maria studied him.
"Why does this matter so much?"
Adrian's voice remained controlled.
"Just answer me."
Theo's head tilted slightly.
He was beginning to realize that whatever Adrian had smelled, it had something to do with this woman.
Maria folded her arms.
"She was young. Probably new to Ocala. She was shopping with another girl."
"Did she tell you her name?"
"No."
"Where does she work?"
Maria thought for a moment.
"She mentioned starting a new job."
"Where?"
"Ocala Community Hospital."
Adrian went still.
The hospital.
Five miles from Blackwood territory.
Silver surged inside him.
Mate.
He forced the reaction down before anyone could see it.
Theo, however, was watching him closely.
"You know her."
Adrian met his gaze.
"No."
"Then why did your eyes just change?"
Adrian's expression hardened.
"They didn't."
Theo gave him a humorless look.
"Adrian, I've known you for years. Don't insult me."
Maria looked between them.
"What is happening?"
Adrian turned toward her.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
"That usually means there is something I need to worry about."
Despite the tension, Theo almost smiled.
Maria had always been the only person capable of challenging both of them without backing down.
Adrian looked at the jacket again.
He could still smell her.
His mate.
Somewhere in Ocala.
A human woman who had unknowingly left the first trace of herself on Maria's jacket.
And if Adrian was right, she was already inside the hospital.
He couldn't let Redwood discover her before he did.
"What time did you leave the grocery center?" he asked.
Maria frowned.
"Why?"
"Maria."
She sighed.
"About an hour ago."
Adrian nodded.
He had enough.
Theo stepped closer.
"Where are you going?"
"The hospital."
Theo's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"I need to speak with someone there."
"About what?"
Adrian paused.
He couldn't tell him.
Not yet.
"I'll explain when I have something worth explaining."
Theo clearly didn't like the answer.
Neither did Maria.
But before either could argue, Adrian turned toward the pack house.
"Theo."
His Beta looked at him.
"Double the northern patrols tonight."
Theo's face immediately became serious.
"Because of Redwood?"
"Yes."
"Do you think they're planning something?"
"I think they've been planning something for weeks."
Theo nodded slowly.
"I'll handle it."
Adrian started toward the house.
Behind him, Maria called out.
"Adrian."
He stopped but didn't turn.
"Whatever you're looking for, be careful."
For a moment, he closed his eyes.
She had no idea how right she was.
He continued walking.
The moment he disappeared inside, Silver spoke again.
Mate.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"I know."
Twenty-five years of searching had led him to one simple truth.
His mate was no longer somewhere beyond his reach.
She was in Ocala.
She was human.
She worked at the hospital.
And she had absolutely no idea that an Alpha had just discovered her existence.
Adrian reached his study and grabbed his coat.
He would find her.
But he would do it carefully.
No announcement.
No unnecessary attention.
And no one outside Blackwood would know why he was going.
Because if Redwood was watching the borders, Adrian wasn't just searching for his mate anymore.
He was trying to find her before his enemies did.
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