The Alphas Hidden Mate

Chapter 7; Illusion

CRACES POV

I tried to think of a way to somehow sneak Serena in but there were so many people in the estate that the chances of us bumping into someone were incredibly high and not impossible. 

Serena, just wait. I can't let you in now. It would be impossible for you to sneak in without someone seeing. I explained to her. 

I miss you though She replied. I sighed. 

I miss you too but you want us to remain a secret, you're going to have to wait to come here. I told her. 

You're right. It's too risky She replied, realising the risk. Just hurry up and get back soon. 

I won't waste another second, Princess. I'll be there as soon as possible. I told her. The connection was severed and I went to go back to my room to shower before hurrying back. I took the stairs just as quickly as I did earlier and Seiko paced relentlessly in my head. He adored Serena, even more than I did and was an even bigger simp. 

As I reached my door, I noticed that it was ajar a little and I instantly become hyperaware. I entered the room slowly, prepared for anything. However, what I saw on my bed, I really wasn't prepared for. Gabriella lay on my bed, provocatively. She wore only a very thin, sheer, white robe that was open. Her naked body bared on the bed. She smiled when she saw me enter and spread a leg further. inviting me.

It was all I could do to not throw up at the sight. How in the world did I ever think that she was hot? Compared to Serena, she was simple, average. Serena was on another level and she had such an elegant grace and beauty, so natural, that it took my breath away. Gabriella, on the other hand...well, she looked like a cheap, tacky barbie doll compared to Serena. We really needed to figure out how to handle Gabriella. I couldn't sleep with her, no matter what. It would hurt both the mate bond and us physically.

"Looks like you're all sweaty. Perfect. Now, why don't you get me a little sweaty too, babe?" She purred, crawling to the edge of the bed. 

"Don't call me that." I said to her, moving to my closet to get some new clothes. She frowned. 

"What do you mean?" She asked, tilting her head, confused. 

I sighed. "Don't call me babe. I'm not your babe, Gabriella." I said, moving to the bathroom. I went to close the door on her but she had caught up and put a foot in the doorway, stopping it from closing.

"Excuse me, what the hell is wrong with you?" She asked me, annoyed. 

"Nothing is wrong with me, Gabriella. I'm just tired that's all" I said. I started getting changed despite her watching. I really didn't want to deal with her right now, I didn't have time to deal with her crap. I guess I had to though. 

" 'I'm just tired'...yeah, right. You've been avoiding me for weeks now and it's getting on my nerves." She said, infuriated. I pulled my jeans up and buttoned them before turning to face her again.

"Why are you here, Gabi? What do you want?" I asked her, exasperated. 

"We had a deal, remember? We were going to be self-chosen, mates because we didn't have any. I am the perfect mate for you, Crace. You honestly couldn't find any one better." She boasted. "And you know it. So why are you avoiding me like the goddamn plague?" She said, hurt. I rubbed my face, tired.

"Gabriella, I'm avoiding you because I have other duties as an Alpha, besides mantaining my image with you. I have paperwork I need to do and I have to make sure things are running smoothly within the pack. I cant do that if I'M CONSTANTLY f*****g YOU!" I shouted the last part, losing my cool. Seiko was ready to emerge too. Why was everyone testing my patience these days? God! 

Within seconds, the scent of fresh rain and the forest surrounded me, instantly calming me again and I took the second deep breath of the day, inhaling the scent. Seiko was instantly placated and he became docile again. I, too, had calmed down. 

Gabriella stared at me in shock. Crap, I had to fix this quickly. "Sorry for snapping, babe" I said. My stomach flipped uncomfortably at me called her babe. "I'm just under a lot of stress recently, dealing with pack stuff. I promise once things get back under control, we can have some time, yeah?" I asked her, looking at her earnestly. She continued to stare at me. 

"Okay, but I will hold you to it, Crace. I won't wait around forever, despite our reputations," She said, sighing. I smiled at her and pecked her on the cheek. Ugh. The things I do for love, huh?

"Thanks, Gabi. I gotta go. Gotta deal with some more pack stuff. I'll see you later, yeah?" 

Gabi nodded. I took that as my cue to leave, grabbed my stuff and dashed out the door. God, I couldn't wait any longer to see Serena.

SERENA'S POV

I had a short shift at work today. So when I got home, I decided to do one of my favourite things; read. I was relaxing in my bed, reading a book when all of a sudden, I felt it. This immense spike of anger and rage filled my heart. My breathing became laboured as I felt it encompass me and cloud everything. It was all I could I think about; this anger at something...someone. I didn't care who or what was causing it but I was ready to destroy it. My skin prickled and I felt hot, red hot. I walked to my small, narrow mirror that hung on my bedroom door and what was reflected back shook me to my core. My eyes had turned black as coal, my lips were formed in a snarl. I looked feral. 

Serena, calm down Anika said to me, calmly.

Calm down?! I snarled at her. She didn't react.

Yes, calm down. She repeated. I snarled some more and growled at her. Uhm...what the f*ck? I've never growled at anyone or anything in my entire life.

What do you mean 'calm down'? I asked her, infuriated that she could even suggest such a thing.

I mean exactly that. Calm. Down. 

Why? I asked her, frustrated.

Because this isn't your anger that you are experiencing. 

WHAT?! 

It's Craces. His anger and rage is being fed through the mate bond to you, and affecting you just as much. She explained, simply as if it were the most obvious thing.

Does this happen to all wolves when they have a mate  I asked her. What could possibly be causing Crace this much anger and rage? Suddenly, my thoughts began to clear again and worry filled me instead.

I know that all wolves can feel their mates emotions. However, them being affected by the emotions, on the other hand...not to my knowledge She pondered, thoughtful.

Oh...I said. Interesting... I could still feel Craces' anger but it was no longer affecting me. I sent thoughts of calm and peace to him. I closed my eyes and imagined an aura drifting from me to him and surrounding him. Within  seconds, the anger and rage coming from him was gone. I smiled, pleased.

Interesting... Anika said, head tilted. I looked at my reflection and I was back to normal, thank god.

What? I asked her.

Perhaps it works both ways... She said before retreating to the back of my mind. I frowned and dismissed it.

I went back to my book, trying to kill time before Crace came back. It wasn't too long before I felt his anger again but it was muted. It was like leftover anger. I linked him. I wanted to see him, to calm him with my prescence. He eventually assured me it wasn't the best idea and I agreed. There was too much of a risk of being seen at the estate. Hell to the no, was my thought.

It reached late afternoon and I felt another flare of anger coming from Crace. Oh, my Alpha. What a day he must be having. I took another calming breath and closed my eyes, imagining that aura again. The anger subsided and I bit my lip, anxious. I hope he isn't too tired today for the picnic. I would understand but I was truly looking forward to it.

Ten minutes later, I heard a knock on the door. I dropped my book on the bed and ran to the back door. The smell of chocolate hit my noise and I opened the door and jumped into his arms. Crace wrapped his arms around me and breathed me in. Our mate bond strengthened with the contact and bought both of us serenity. Any worries or troubles that I had instantly melted away. Honestly, there were no words for what I felt when I was in Craces' arms. Wait, there was one word...home. We stayed like that for a couple of minutes, allowing the bond to heal any part of our souls, whether they be troubled, angered or restless. Eventually, Crace walked inside with me clinging to him like ivy. 

"Well, this is a nice welcome" He said, smiling at me. I looked up at him as I dropped to the floor.

"I have been so worried about you! I felt your anger through the bond. It was intense." I told him. "You got so angry twice today. What was going on?" I asked him. I grabbed his hand and led him to the bedroom.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I forgot that you could feel my emotions through the bond. Although, the strangest thing happened. Your scent somehow surrounded me not long after. No one else could smell it but I did. It was like you were right there with me and it really helped me calm down, both times." He told me, frowning. 

"Oh yeah....about that...." I began, awkwardly. "So first, I should mention that when I felt your anger, I actually absorbed it into myself through the bond. It was really bad. I almost shifted for the first time and it was really scary. It was like I was no longer myself. I became anger. I even growled at Anika, my wolf - and I never, ever growl!" I said, incredulous.

"F*ck. I'm so sorry! How did that happen? How were you able to absorb my anger?" He asked me, stressed. I shrugged, just as confused as he was.

"I have absolutely no idea. Anyway, once I realised that it was your anger and not mine, I got a clear head. I calmed down and then I imagined sending you that calm and peace. I kind of imagined an aura flowing from my soul to you with that serenity. Within seconds, I felt you calm down and I wasn't worried that much anymore." I explained to him.

"That is so odd. What you are saying explains what I felt. The aura must be the forest scent I smelt and felt earlier. Again, how is this possible, though? No wolf has ever been able to absorb an emotion and then calm their mate down with their aura? At least, not to my recollection." Crace said, confounded.

"Again, I have no idea. I just followed an instinct I had and it worked. Although, Anika did wonder if maybe it worked both ways. She didn't say anything more though. I was just so worried about you that I didn't really care how or why it works but it does. Do you think it works with you?" I asked him, intrigued. He played with my fingers a little, thinking it over.

"No clue. I'll have to test it out a little later, though. It's definitely something to think about." He finally said. I sighed. This was a lot to think about but honestly, I couldn't care less. Being able to calm my mate down when he gets as angry as he was today, it's a blessing. I was glad to have the ability.

"Can you not mention it though, to anyone? I know you're curious and that's fine. However, if you ask someone about it, they'll ask their own questions and you'll have to tell them about me." I pleaded with Crace. 

"You know I wouldn't tell them about you." He said, honestly. 

"I know but then they'll get suspicious and they might snoop or something and then they'll figure it out themselves. Please. Just don't worry about it, yet. We have plenty of time to figure it out. Let's just enjoy this while we can, okay?" I fiddled with my quilt cover, not looking him in the eye. If I did, then he would see how scared I was of being found out as his mate.

Crace grabbed a hand to stop me fiddling, and tilted my chin up so I was looking at him. "Hey. I promise you that I won't ever let anyone find out about us until you are ready, okay, princess? If that means that I don't research into this ability for a while, then so be it. I'm with you until the end of time." He promised me and I smiled at him, happy with his answer. 

"Okay." I said, leaning into him. He wrapped his arm around me in an embrace and sighed.

"Now, I don't know about you but I have had one hell of a day and could use a power nap with my mate. What do you say, Princess?" He asked me. I nodded, already feeling exhausted from the day. "Okay. Let's take a nap, then when we wake up, it will be the perfect time for our picnic" 

We laid down on the bed and Crace spooned me. I fell asleep within seconds, feeling the mate bond work its magic on me. I had never felt more at peace than I did now...