My Mate, My Mystery

The war Begins

~Anthony's P.O.V.~

I feel sorry for the one who has to face the frustration that I am feeling right now. I am literally seeing red as I make my way out of the castle to the location Connor had linked. As my eyes fall over the scene, my frustration grows to anger and pain. The sentry was Evan, our youngest and most promising, he had such a bright future promised to him.

His body lay in what should have been a face down position but with how his neck was twisted, his face was staring up at us with eyes frozen and glazed over with a look of shock that reached his mouth. The gruesome sight showed he was surprised by the attacker. They were experienced enough to be able to sneak up on Evan and get close enough to wrap their hands around his head and twist violently. This is the work of an experienced and strong killer.

As I look around. I spot two sets of footprints; the first set, human, coming from the woods and leading to Evan's body. The second, wolf prints, leading from the body back towards the woods. These prints were large indicating the attacker could have been an Alpha wolf. Connor must have been reading my thoughts as a look of worry crosses his face. Why would an Alpha wolf waste his time going after a lone sentry. perhaps this was a warning,marking the territory he vows to claim as his own.

I follow the wolf tracks with my eyes, just as my gaze reaches the woods they also see Xena standing at edge looking in. A loud growls eminates from me before I can stifle it. I told her to stay in side with the women and children. Connor chuckles shaking his head as I shoot him a deathly look and stomp over to her, he thinks it's funny that my mate is disobedient.

I grab her arm more forcefully than I intended. She spins around swinging with her free arm, clipping me in the chin. Her large doe eyes wide with surprise, then narrow when she sees it is me who grabbed her like that. Her faces contorts into a "who the f**k do you think you are" face that actually makes me laugh out loud.

"I told you to stay inside" I say trying to hide the amusement from voice. She lifts her face in defiance " I am a Gamma wolf, one of the best warriors in my pack. I do not belong cowering inside" She spits out as she trys to jerk her arm from my grip and turn from me at the same time. I tightened my grip just in time and pull her back so she is snug up against me, our faces so close that are noses barely touch and her scent envelopes me, driving me crazy.

Ignoring my urge to kiss her, I make sure my face is stoic and void of any of the emotions that are causing chaos in my mind, I give her a devilish smile and whisper in her ear as I wrap my hand around the back of her delicate neck . " you are mine and will do what I say, always!" snapping my teeth together for dramatic effect. Trying not show her just how much effect she has on me.

She doesn't cower or even back down, instead she pushes her body into me more. Tilting her head to give me better access to her neck and smiling right back at me, challenging me. My pants feel way to f*****g tight and the world seems to crowded. I want to throw her down on this ground and show her who she belongs to.

Connor breaks my into my thoughts, reminding me of the situation before us. How could I forget that? This why I didn't want another mate, they are nothing but a distraction. I walk away from her abruptly, leaving her standing there staring after me with a confused look on her face. As the distance grows between us I feel my body fighting me, wanting me to turn around and go back to her, even Enzo seems restless. I hate this feeling of need that I have for her, I will not be vulnerable ever again, I will not give into it. I pick up my pace trying to put even more distance between us, hopefully it will let me think clearly.

I meet up with Connor in woods, he is trying to track the massive prints, to see which direction they left in. His s**t eating grin, makes me want to pin him to the ground. " I see you handled that" he laughs out looking over at Xena who was also coming into the woods instead of listening to what I said. " shut up and tell me what you found!" I say as my eyes never leave her. Watching her curiosity, as she looks around at everything, not bothered by the fact there is a murderer on the loose.

I spot something on ground a few feet in front of me. Its a small leather bag, bound by what looks like hair, It contains what feels like bones and other items. Connor smacks the bag out of my hand before I can open it. "That is witches magic, you don't know what type of spell it is, it could be dangerous to touch" he states as he bends down to get a closer look, the worry on his face deepening as he adds more to himself " I need to get our witch out here to look at it, but only when we have cleared the area"

A chill spreads down my spine as I scan the woods looking for Xena. My need for her to be safe overrides my irritation with her disobedience. I see her bending over looking at something, about to reach down and pick it up. I scream her name as I am already in a full sprint towards her, my heart pounding in my ears. I didn't make it in time as her hands grab what looks like a bunch of sticks or bones woven together. The moment she touched them the colored completely drained from her face, an expression of confusion and fear covered her face. I reached her just in time to catch her before her head hit the ground. Her eyes still open wide with and eery blank expression.

Connor was a couple steps behind me, rushing to help me look her over and check her vital signs. Her eyes are following our every move, trying to scream for help as tears well up. I was so angry I shook her yelling at her for not listening to me. Connor, grabbed my arm, trying to calm me down, telling me everything was going to be ok. I don't believe him though, we don't know anything about magic and this magic did this with just a touch, it is powerful magic.

We retreated from the woods not wanting anyone else to be hurt. We would have to bring a witch out to help us locate each trap and hopefully help Xena. My heart wants to explode with pain but I hide my expression as I carry her to the castle, holding her tight. We will fix this, we have to.