The Missing Guardian

Chapter 9 - Feeling like the prey (North)

Kiron (North)

The pull to get back was becoming stronger, something was off and it wasn't the same as the feeling of the residual energy left by Jasmine.

This was different, a tension hanging in the air causing Khoda to be on high alert as if we were walking into battle, almost as if we were exposed to the barren landscape that winter had provided.

"I think we should make our departure, it's safer in the pack lands."

Ash notices my discomfort as I say this and he nods his acknowledgement.

Jasmine seems tense as well, standing near us, her body language now somewhat defensive. Did she pick something up as well?

We begin our walk back, it is going to take a while in our human form. Especially now with all the slush that will lie over the landscape since the sun has come out.

The feeling inside of me grows as if we are being watched, but I pick up no other scents except our own. But the overwhelming sense is starting to make me panic. But as an Alpha, I must stay composed for those with me.

Just as we enter the woods again, Jasmine stops and looks around.

The trees stand as our only defense against the unseen right now, but their skeletal frames give me little comfort.

"You feel it too?"

She doesn't reply but simply nods at me before turning and looking for something further into the trees, her brow creasing as she searches through the never-ending white that lays before us.

Asher is also starting to look around nervously, but none of us can pinpoint what it is.

I notice how he becomes protective of Jasmine, he has positioned himself in front of her and I smile to myself watching my Beta protect a female, something I wasn't sure he would do again.

Suddenly she spins around and looks directly at me, her hair wild in this moment and she reminds me of a warrior princess. I can see Asher's attraction towards her.

"Follow me, I have an idea."

Without any further explanation, she turns on her heels and heads down a different path.

"We are being stalked, I can feel their presence but cannot scent them, similar to the last time we were ambushed. "

Khodas warning sending alarm bells ringing. I need to get us out of here, but Jasmine would not be able to keep up and even if we were to carry her, it would still slow us down, leaving us vulnerable. It would take my warriors a while to get here in wolf form even if I called on them this instant.

My eagerness may have put us all in jeopardy, again...

Following Jasmine toward a hill in the distance, I'm worried we are cornering ourselves, but she knows these areas better than us, so I let her take the lead.

But I ensure to take in every detail as we get further into the white laden tree coverage. Walking as quietly as we can but very aware of our foot prints left behind us.

As we approached the hill, I notice a cave, hidden behind a bush that, luckily, still has foliage, not easily recognizable as you walk up the hill, the uneasy feeling of being caught with our backs against a wall made me hesitant and I stopped just before the entrance.

"Trust me Alpha"

Jasmine whispers to me and I sigh, realizing that I don't really have a choice. I have to stay with them and being out in the open would open us up to a number of possibilities.

Slowly, I followed her into the small cavern hidden on the side of the hill.

Asher is watching the entrance while I keep an eye on the surroundings. There doesn’t seem to be another entry into the cave, which makes me feel trapped.

I watch as Jasmine begins pulling out a bottle from under her skirt, and in this moment I am desperate for any magic she may have up her sleeve or up her skirt.

I watch as she pours a clear liquid on the floor while muttering incantations under her breath, I wonder to myself if I should

link my warriors in case this does turn pear-shaped.

I am just about to link my Delta when a fire starts where Jasmine poured the liquid and begins growing fast, but not outward, only upward, like a wall of flames.

I am temporarily stunned and forget what I am doing, instead looking at the witch who is now smiling up at us once more.

"Who wants to go first?"

I can't tell what she wants us to do, I can feel my brow rising as I ponder her words. First for what? I must look confused because she began to giggle at my expression.

"Wow, you guys really aren't familiar with magic are you?"

I laughed at her question and at the accuracy of her words. Asher hasn't said anything, simply staring at the flames now in front of him. Almost in a trance, his concentration now solely on the flames that are bursting upward.

"You want us to walk through the flames?"

Words finally made their way from within him. Ash doesn’t like fire. When we were captured they did something to him with fire that no one could get him to admit. He's never been the same...

"It's not fire, it's a portal, it just appears like fire, I promise."

I can see her pleading with him with her eyes, desperate for him to believe her.

"Portal to?"

I have to ask if it's leading us to safety. I will tackle him through the flames if need be.

"To your border"

Without any further thought, I lunge toward them, picking Jasmine up first in my left arm and then dragging Asher with my right straight towards the flames.

Khoda, in agreement with my plan, is telling us that whatever is on the other end of the portal is less dangerous than being trapped in this cave, with whatever is outside lurking towards us with our backs against a wall.

As I grab my best friend, he realizes what is happening and begins to resist my efforts. I knew he would be difficult. That's why I chose to use my right arm to grab him.

I have him under his arms, his body being pushed by my own, but he digs his heels in, creating a break in the momentum, but not enough to stop me and we all go barreling through the flames in a heap.

Not as elegant as I would have liked, but in the situation, I will take what I can get.

There is no heat thankfully, but as we land on the other side, my stomach feels as like it has been turned inside out.

A sensation of being light headed mixed with a pulling and pushing feeling that can only be described as being dragged from every limb while simultaneously being pushed into a small space.

As we untangle ourselves, but before we can see where we are, both my Beta and I roll over opposite each other and begin to be sick, the need to retch unbelievably overpowering.

"The first few times always make you sick, sorry I didn't have time to explain that. "

Jasmine says getting up and looking down at us, a smile spread across her freckled face.

I slowly start to feel normal again and look up to work out where we are. cautious of the outcome. My rash decision could lead us into something far worse than what we were in.

Strangely enough Khoda doesn’t seem phased by the magic, normally he would be giving me a headache, yelling his outrage at my spontaneity. But he seems quite content at the moment.

Glancing up, I see the edge of our borders, the snow sprinkled on the bare trees leading up to the main gate and I laugh at how accurate her portal was.

I lift myself up before helping Asher up from his knees and making sure he is alright.

"That was uncalled for."

He bites at me once he's on his feet. Brushing himself off and taking deep breaths.

"You were never going to get through that without a push and you know it."

A cocky grin begins to appear on his face before he begins to laugh at the craziness of the day.

"Alpha, there are guests at the pack house awaiting your arrival, I have seated them in the foyer to your office."

My Gamma mindlinks me, at his words Khoda’s hackles bristle and his senses heighten as if we were walking into dangerous territory. What is going on today? I can't seem to catch a break.

"Who is it?"

My frustration evident as I hadn't scheduled any appointments today, who would arrive uninvited?

As I am pondering this I notice Asher suddenly straighten up while sniffing the air. A deep scowl takes over his jolly disposition.

A sense of dread begins to build in the pit of my stomach, if Asher is acting like this it can only mean...

"Alpha, its Alpha Thorin and his daughter Lady Amica, they arrived about ten minutes ago."

Crap...

How do I proceed in this mess, I'm unsure how Asher is going to react and with Jasmine here, this could end badly if not dealt with in an appropriate manner.

"Very well, I will be there shortly, ensure that they are taken care of, get the Omega's to take them refreshments and offer them a room while they wait."

With that I close the link, and look at my Beta, ready to deal with whatever reaction he may have.

Though to my suprise Asher is just standing next to Jasmine, his arm slightly brushing against hers, his eyes directed straight towards the pack house, as if he can see her sitting, waiting for our return.

"Why is she here?"

He mindlinks me before I can say anything.

"I don't know, I was just informed of their attendance. I think I should handle this one."

I have to get him to walk away from this, only heartache awaits him in my foyer.

He simply nods before taking Jasmine’s hand and walks away from the main gate, around the side to our private residence at the back of the pack.

I can see Jasmine’s confusion as I watch them walk away.

He will have to explain it to her. I have another of his females to deal with right now.

I walk up to the gates, nodding to the guards on duty as I walk toward the pack house up the hill.

What is Amica doing here? How am I going to tolerate her in the same room as me, time has not soothed the anger at what she did.

I blame her even if I won't tell anyone. She played a key role in the attempt to destroy my best friend, regardless of whether she knew what was going to happen or not.

I decide to shower and be presentable before this encounter occurs. I just hope that Ash stays away long enough for me to get rid of her.

I head into the pack house and go straight to my bedroom at the top floor. I ascend the stairs smiling as pleasantly as I can to whomever I meet along the way. desperate to keep my dominance at bay for those around me.

But as I make it to the fifth floor my smile drops at the sight before me.

There standing at my door is none other than Amica herself, a smug smile on her face.

She has cut her blonde hair to a pixie cut, but her round face and blue eyes are exactly the same as the last time I saw her, thinking of the past brings with it my rage at her for how she cut down Asher and weakened him moments before he needed his strength the most.

I glare at her as I stand and wait to see what she is thinking.

"Hi."

I watch as she gives me a small wave and her cheeks go a slight pink colour.

"What are you doing here?"

My answer spat through tight lips as I try to reel in my contempt for the woman standing between me and a shower.

"I thought it best I spoke to you before my father does. "

Her words make me stop, her father is the Alpha of stonewall pack, an island pack to the North West. We have had an alliance since my father was Alpha, why would they suddenly be on my doorstep, now, years after what happened between my Beta and Amica.

"Please, It will only take a few minutes and then you can see why I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. "

I run my fingers through my hair as I process what she is saying. I decide it best to talk to her, but not in my bedroom, Asher would never forgive me so I lead her to the other side of the entry way without saying anything further.

I take her to my makeshift study across the hall, its meant for a guest bedroom or nursery but I haven't found my mate yet, so for now I have it as an extra study for late night paperwork.

I open the door for her and wait for her to enter before walking past her to behind the desk and taking a seat, watching the blonde in front of me do the same. She is undeniably beautiful but I know the pain she has caused and that's all I see now.

"My father is here to see your father, as you are 32 and haven't found your mate and I am now, well for lack of a better word, mateless, he has concocted a plan to ensure his Alpha lineage isn't wasted. "

Her words start the cog in my brain, how is her father thinking this was a good idea knowing the history. What would my father say to this arrangement, how do they think this is going to play out?

"And what exactly were you expecting me to tell my Beta when he asks why I am taking his Goddess given mate as my chosen mate, regardless of whether or not you rejected him?"

The anger inside of me now spilling forth with no remorse, the mere thought repulsed me. I could never betray my best friend like that.

"I'm not a fan of the plan either, but as I gave up my choice of male, I am grateful that at least it's not someone worse."

Her words are almost pleading, maybe a long time ago, before Asher discovered Amica was his mate I would have jumped at the opportunity to mate with her.

But now that desire has turned to disgust.

I decide I need to figure out how to respond to this in a diplomatic manner without offending Alpha Thorin or being forced into a mating arrangement that will only end in me losing my best friend.

"Thank you for bringing this to me first, I will think the matter over and will discuss this further with you all later once I have cleaned up and had a moment to process. "

I begin to rise in a gesture that this conversation is now over, but she doesn't move and instead looks up at me with hooded eyes.

"We could have some fun you know, just saying it wouldn't be all bad. "

Her statement catching me off guard as she looks me up and down like you would someone you want to see naked, Khoda makes his distaste for her very known as he begins making retching noises to distract me from thinking of her in a s****l way.

"That may be true, but if you don't mind I need to take a shower and have something to eat, I'm sure my father has already invited you to dinner and you must be tired after the long trip. "

I try and answer as nonchalant as possible, I will have to have a word with my father before we meet with Thorin.

I begin to walk toward the door and wait for her to get up and walk past me before walking her to the stairwell. Once I stop and wait for her to catch up, I notice her mini skirt, the heels, the way her shirt pushed her cleavage up. Make up on her face and jewelry adorning her throat, but her collar left bare to reveal Ashers mark now faded enough to not be visible.

Seeing her like this takes me back to before everything happened and she was merely the Alpha's daughter that we gave refuge to in our land. Growing up with her had most certainly made me wonder if she were my mate and what it would be like to have her under me. I had spent many a night envisioning it.

But that was a different time, now that I've seen what she is capable of, the mere thought of her in an intimate sense makes my skin crawl.

"Make the right decision Kiron, I am the best choice, where else are you going to find another Alpha's daughter? Our children will be strong with exceptional blood running through them. "

"And what of Asher and what you did? What of the damage you left behind in your wake?"

I don't hide my digust at her comment, turning, I head away from her into my room, ensuring to lock the door.

"There is something wrong with that she-wolf Kiron, her wolf is pining for her mate, I could feel her pain."

Khoda’s not wrong, she is most certainly not herself but I can't see the bigger picture, what do they gain by pushing this?

"Alpha, just checking in, have you spoken to her?"

Asher’s mind link comes through as I begin to take off my clothes to head to the shower.

"We spoke briefly but I need to figure out what's really going on, please convey my apologies to Jasmine for me?"

"She has returned home and will return when she has found more and we are ready to discuss what she found today."

"I'm sorry this is happening, I want you to know that I have your back in this. "

I need to let him know that regardless of her father's status I won't let my pack be pushed around by bureaucracy.

"I know man, you sound stressed, why don't you join me for a nightcap? I'm sure we both could do with a distraction. "

I laugh at his insinuation and consider it after the day I've had. I need the distraction right now, something to take my mind off the current events and silence the unknown.

Khoda starts flexing as I step into the shower, he doesn't like my distractions as I call them. Goes on and on about how we will regret them once we find our mate. I can feel the headache forming already.

"Yeah maybe, I'll think about it. "

I know Khoda will cause such a headache that I will be in pain for hours if I think of doing anything right now, even if I desperately crave the feel of a woman.

"See you tomorrow man, I'm staying at the house tonight, I really don't want to run into her."

Ash says before closing the link, I can only imagine the mischief he is going to get up to alone at the house.

As soon as I accept defeat and give in to going to bed early Khoda relinquishes his hold in my brain and the headache begins to dissipate.

I start processing all the information that we got today, Hunters are back...

That's a huge revelation on its own but then to throw in Rogues, what could they be planning?

All throughout history Hunters have only ever worked with humans.

Refusing to medle with magic, eventually they were driven from the main land and we haven't seen or heard from them in just over twenty or so years.

Why would they be back? And how do the Rogues fit in? Was that actually the scent of a Rogue? It had the same tones but it definitely reeked of something far worse.

Maybe as Jasmine had mentioned they were experimenting on the supernaturals, but for what gain? They already knew our weaknesses, centuries of battles had taught them all they needed to know.

I speculated every angle over and over again in my head as I showered and then switched the water off and grabbed a towel and started drying myself off, switching to auto pilot as I carried on with the toughts in my head.

And then to add to my frustration, Alpha Thorin has concocted his own dillusional

image of what his daughter's future will look like. I know he was disappointed when Amic came of age and I didn't claim her as my mate, but this is going too far.

I wonder who else he has tried to pass her off to? The disgraced Alpha's daughter now begging for any Alpha to take her in. Is she truly so desperate for a title that she would try and seduce me?

"She is a desperate, scorned female, she may become a problem if not handled correctly. "

Khoda adds to my inner monologue.

I agree with him, Amica has always gotten her way, one way or another being the spoiled only child to a revered Alpha has turned her into an entitled adult with a temper.

I need to speak to Jasmine and Asher first though, figuring out what is going on with the people in my pack is paramount.

It supersedes the trivial needs of an aging Alpha.

Forcing myself out of my mind and focusing on my surroundings I realize I am dressed and ready for work, as if I were ready for my day to begin. But at eight thirty at night...

"Asher you busy?"

I decide to test my luck and try get my Beta into work mode. Im never going to be able to sleep and I may as well spoil his fun for the evening.

"Nope, I was actually just about to link you, Jasmine came back with books to go over, she just popped the kettle on if you feel like joining us."

I smile thinking about Jasmine in our home, ordering Asher around.

There definitely is something about her that intrigues me, as if she were meant to be apart of the family.

Though I felt like that about Amica at a stage, now she is trying to force herself into my Luna position before I even have a chance at meeting my mate.

I shake off the thoughts and grab my leather jacket off the bed before leaving my disheveled room and descend the stairs to the main entrance, putting my jacket on as I go.

As I come the ground floor, I hear laughter from the Dining hall, my father must be entertaining our guests. I decide to be polite and greet Alpha Thorin before heading home.

Remembering this morning when I met Ash at these very doors, filled with a renewed hope. I can't help but think what a day it has been since then.

I enter the hall to find the benches and tables that seat the pack have been cleared and a large banquet table has been placed in the middle of the expansive space, a full dinner with all the trimmings laid out before the four people seated at the large table.

My father notices me first and stands with a wide grin in my direction. His bulky form taking up more space than others.

"My boy, we are finally graced by your presence this evening, Alpha Thorin and Lady Amica arrived earlier, I knew you were busy so I took the liberty of getting them comfortable. "

I always admire my fathers decorum, he is the epitome of politically correct. He can charm anyone who tries to take advantage.

"My apologies for my tardiness, I had important business to see to."

I say as I shake Alpha Thorins hand and smile at Amica.

"Ah yes, Alpha business is never ending it seems. "

Alpha Thorin responds, I can see that time has not been kind to the man in front of me, his large frame now rather withered and beaten. His hair practically silver from the gray hair.

"Unfortunately so, the elders are arriving in a few days and I have just been informed that we have further information I must verify tonight, so as much as I would like to sit and enjoy the evening with you all, I must depart, can we meet in the morning to discuss any matters you may wish to discuss. "

Alpha Thorin smiles broadly at me. I can see through the smile though to see he is put out by the fact that I haven't prioritized them. It gives a me weird sense of satisfaction at his displeasure.

"Of course, we did arrive unannounced and will be staying a while, so please, no rush, we can speak tomorrow. "

His answer well thought out as he makes an effort to pin me down on a time to see them.

"Besides this gives me more time to reminisce with your father about the old times."

I smile at him before looking at my father with a grin.

I lean down and kiss my mother on the cheek, I can feel her smile against my lips. I wonder what her views on this are, she is a firm believer in the Goddess and accepting anyone but your mate is a sacrilege my mother would not tolerate.

"I wish you all a good evening, I will be with my advisors for most of the evening but we can sit down tomorrow afternoon if thats alright and discuss then. "

"Of course, I'm sure the old Alpha and I have enough stories to keep the ladies entertained for the evening. "

Alpha Thorin says and seats himself again next to his daughter who is looking away from my mother and her deadly stare from across the table.

I nod politely and leave the dining hall through the Omega entrance mindlinking my dad as I reach the door leading outside.

"Can we talk in the morning, before I meet with Thorin, I have matters I need to discuss with you and maybe you can enlighten me to our guests true intentions. "

I need my father on my side, it will make things alot easier as I can use his skill set in politics to figure out how to move my chess pieces to align correctly so that the least amount of damage is created overall.

"I think it best we do that, Thorin has alot to say for someone who wasn't available when this pack needed him."

I can hear my dad's resentment in his statement and smile knowing we will be on the same page come tomorrow.

He cuts the link and I look out toward the pack lands, proud of where we have come over the years.