Taken by the Alpha

The Missing Scent

=Alaric=

I stumbled into the kitchen after coming to the conclusion my father was nowhere near me. Doubtful he’d care about my exploits last night, and if he was still pissed about yesterday it was in my best interest to stay away until after the full moon. My siblings on the other hand weren’t scarce. 

Hildr smirked watching me carefully judge where everyone else was. “He’s not here.” She huffed. “I’m not sure where he went.”

“Mom?” I questioned, easing my worries and sifting through the cabinets for some breakfast. 

“Probably with him. I know better than to go searching for them.”

“Smart.” laughing I took a box of cereal and turned to the fridge, “Don’t mention I was here.” I glared back but noticed my sister was well buried in her phone to care.

“Don’t have to worry at all.” She waved hoping I’d just leave her alone, “Just consider you owing me a favor.”

“Anything in particular?” rolling my eyes I could only guess what she had in mind. 

“How about next full moon I’m able to hang out with my friends.” It wasn’t a question, she was smart enough to phrase it with inflections in her voice that told me she was going to get her way no matter what I said. 

“Fine.” Turning my nose to the air a whiff of something strange flashed by. It was like lavender and roses flooding a field. “Do you smell that?” I had before, but this was mixed with desperation and freight.

“Yeah.” She stood up dropping her phone. “What is that?”

=Natasha=

Once Alaric left it took only moments before there was a knock at the door. I had little option but to allow the person to enter and much to my disappointment it was Alexandria. I stood confused about what could happen next. This girl clearly hated me, but here she was keeping the door propped open. 

“Alex?” I looked around expecting Alaric to come back any moment.

She wasn’t too happy with my confusion as she stood to the side waving her arm, “I’m not going to keep this door open much longer. Just go, run out head straight for teh woods don’t turn, don’t look back, and don’t make any unnecessary sounds.”

So she was helping me? Something bout this offer rang sinister. She had been nothing but hostile toward me yesterday and now all the sudden this? “What’s the catch?”

“You can wonder that while making your escape.” She growled, “Just get as far from here as possible.”

Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth I took my leave running as fast as I could down the hallway out into the small village. Each step brought me closer to the line of trees, but my worry grew. If I continued on this journey wouldn’t Alaric find me? He was a large wolf, certainly capable of running far faster than me no matter the head start. 

The trees welcomed me and soon the village disappeared. I maintained my course making sure to not turn just as Alex had said, but I could feel it. I was being followed. I wasn’t sure by whom, or how many there were, but I felt it. Maybe it was that damn bracelet and those supposed wolf emotions, but I just knew at this moment I was prey.

=Alaric=

The scent trail ended suddenly far into the woods. Something had blocked my nose, but I knew it was Natasha. She was gone. If I returned to the pack my father was surely waiting for me ready with an “I told you so.”

My paws dug into the earth searching as hard as I could for any sign she was near, I just couldn’t go back empty handed. “Theo! Bruno!” I called through the pack link commanding them to join me in the forest. Their wolves bounded through the trees, each of their noses twitching as they lost track of the scent. 

“What magic is this?” Theo turned hoping something else could explain it.

“Magic?” I laughed, “If it was magic then we need Izzie.”

“Something’s wrong.” Bruno growled, “I need to go.” 

“Bruno?” We both called after him, but his mind was caught on something else. 

“What’s his problem?” I turned to Theo who tossed me a worried wine, also unsure.

“We should head back.” He sighed still searching the area, “Whatever happened Izzie needs to be brought out here.”

Defeated, I had to agree, we both left the forest returning as I felt the familiar anger from my father waiting for us outside the guest house. Izzie had already been brought from her cottage and was surveying the damage. My worst fears were being realized, Natasha was gone, and everyone knew it.

=Bruno=

Thank the mating bond for my insight into the situation, but it was at this moment a curse. Alex was hiding something from the pack and when she called me home I felt that hatred boiling. I spent most of my adult life trying to make her happy, sure I wasn’t an alpha, but my position still gave her power in the pack. When Natasha was brought there though we both felt her power slipping. We both knew Alex was never going to stay in her position, but I was always ready to let it go, she on the other hand was raised to think she was something more. 

What I felt out in the woods, that scared me more than anything. Alex was somehow to blame and I needed to get away from Alaric before I gave him the wrong idea. I passed the guest house where they were keeping Natasha, Alaric’s parents were already scoping the joint and Izzie was sure to find out the truth about what happened. Hopefully I could convince Alex to turn herself in, or at least learn there was more to the story than what I most feared. 

“Alex?” I called shifting quickly as I entered out house. She didn’t like wolves on the carpet so I made sure to wipe my feet before entering. Alex was in the kitchen washing the dishes, which was not at all what she ever did. “Alex, what happened?” I barked when she refused to answer me.

“The dishes got dirty.” She smiled over her shoulder continuing to hum away as she scrubbed.

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.” I loved this woman to death, but she was definitely going to send me to the hospital if she continued to act this way.

“If you’re wondering dear.” She growled, “I took care of a pest problem.”

“If you hurt Natasha-”

“Relax,” huffing she turned the water off drying her hands on a towel before turning to me, “She’s going to be fine. My father’s pack is going to pick her up and then-”

“Shut up!” I barked rushing over to cover her mouth, “If you speak one more f*****g word-”

“You’ll what?” barking back she tossed my hand down, “You’re going to turn me in? Fine, my father will negotiate us for her anyway. We’ll get out of here and-”

“Are you f*****g mad woman!” I yelled. I was left with few options at this point. Tapping into the pack link, I sent out to Alaric what she had done. My only hope was that in coming forward we’d be given a shred of leniency. 

“Pathetic.” Alex sighed as she took a seat on our couch. “Go ahead,” she continued, “Tell your alpha, but my father’s pack has the girl. Nothing we can do to stop it now.”