The Missing Guardian

Chapter 11 - The Pull. (South)

Nightshade (South)

Two hours have passed since the Northern and Western Fae arrived, and thus far we have discovered barely anything. Except that they are as old as the day is long and as dry as the barren lands claim to be.

We told neither of them who Blake was and just let him listen in on the conversation. Offering no explanation for his presence. They didn't care to ask either or were too polite to question.

In the whole dance of politics that ensued, I have gathered as much information as they would share. Carefully cataloging what I can in my head.

The Fae from the North teleported in with the aid of a coven in the North East and the Fae from the West traveled South by carriage and then were teleported when they reached the Dust witches in the South West.

Neither of them had heard or seen Twig. They haven't come across anyone from the South in years. I wasn't expecting them to arrive with our answers on a platter.

They did mention a few important details that would come in handy though. How the world has changed around us.

The Humans have risen in power in the Capital. Luckily, none of the humans have a Hunter scent, but are ruthless nonetheless. They have also gained favour with the witches in the North.

This makes my quest to find Twig harder. Humans are difficult to deal with, especially if they are in the pockets of witches. I absorbed as much useful information as I could while pushing the trivial etiquette out as quickly as possible throughout the exchange.

The last bit of information was strange, stories of people disappearing without a trace and never being found.

This worried me the most. Twig could be one of them, lost in the night with no way home.

I didn't ask questions, merely allowing the conversation to flow, deciphering between what we could use and what needed to be investigated further.

I saw Blake doing the same. I think he and I are on the same page. His matter of fact expression was effortlessly on his face, the only way I could tell when something they said bothered him was by a slight twitch in his jaw. Otherwise, his face did not give away any indication of any emotion, in fact, he looked down right bored.

I was surprised, to say the least, when he managed to reign in his dominance. I couldn't feel that there was an Alpha in the room.

My father taught him this, how to manipulate different species by concealing his Alpha aura. It was for his protection back then, but it is very convenient in politics now.

The Snow Fae promised to send sprites to all the Fae tribes with word of Twig, while the Wind Fae will start a search for her from West to East.

We do not mention that the Tree is damaged or the prophecy, just of the attack and that Twig is missing.

By the time they are escorted out, I am exhausted again, feeling like we are scrambling in the dark for a crumb. So many pieces that don't fit together.

The Sage stands, pulling me from my crippling thoughts and back to the present.

"I must consult the scrolls and send for a few elders. I can hopefully bring more information to the table once I've done this."

Spring stands as well. I think we've all had enough for one day.

"I will take the sapling to the healers, at least we have one."

She dips her head and follows behind the Sage, who smiles once she catches up and they start their own conversation.

My mother and father haven't moved, both are now staring at Alpha Blake and I, with accusatory eyes.

Blake looks just as confused as I am as we look back at them.

"Okay, why are you looking at us like that?"

I ask, finally breaking the tension in the air.

"Don't you two get any ideas into your head, I can see the warrior flashing behind your eyelids. "

My father answers me, a serious look on his face.

"We need answers, and the best way to get them is by going and getting them. "

I answer honestly, not hiding my intentions at all. Blake smiles next to me.

"I agree, I think I've been cooped up in the South for long enough, no one knows who I am or what I look like, and if I can find out more about what happened during the dark war, well... That's the cherry on the top."

He is smiling mischievously now next to me and I feel like we are teenagers again, looking for trouble to burn energy.

My mother simply drops her head into her hands on the table and groans in frustration. Her despondance was evident in her next words.

"And what plan have you already concocted?"

Blake and I answer at the same time, proving our friendship yet again.

"Rogue hunting. "

My mother looks up at us with tears in her eyes. I can see her desperation in trying to keep us home, but my mind is already made up.

"You're going to get yourselves killed out there, we need to stay together and regroup not split and divide. "

She barks back at me, her frustration laced in every word.

"I understand your hesitancy, but we need more intel. Trying to read through ancient scrolls is only going to tell us the past and we have lost enough time in the present as it is."

I'm waiting for her to suggest that we send scouts but I didn't want anyone else to know the sensitive information we now knew. We couldn't afford to entrust this to anyone but ourselves. I was ready for this argument. But Blake spoke up before she could.

"I must agree again, the South has been hiding away, and understandably. I was a child, but I'm a grown man now, with no experience to test my training. Twig is like my sister and when mine went missing, everyone rallied behind us and searched the rubble with their bare hands, sending trackers miles for clues."

He stops and looks at my father, who is looking back at him with understanding but concern.

"You healed me and helped me grow, it's the absolute least I can do, and if a war is coming, we need to be prepared and the only way we can do that is to see first hand what we're going up against, it's all connected and we only have the scraps left behind to piece it together, before it's too late, we must prepare."

I slump my shoulders as I feel the pull on my heart, how am I going to explain to Aliya that I have to leave... But if I don't, a far worse fate will fall on her. I have to be strong and get through this mess first.

My parents seem to be contemplating his words while I was having an inner struggle with the mate bond. It broke my heart thinking of the way this should have played out.

I should have found her anywhere but in the midst of a war zone. She would be shy at first, and then slowly start to make jokes at my expense as we got more comfortable... Over time...

As if sensing my distress, Blake pats the back of my shoulder, I look up at him and see understanding wash over his face.... He knows.... I sigh as I realize that she must have told him, of course she would. He is her Alpha.

Why didn't I realize that he knew? His snickers at my expense when he first arrived... Of course he knew.

"What are we missing?"

My mother's inquisitive gaze upon us now, her questioning starts with haste.

I sigh deeply knowing that as soon as I tell them a shred of information, they will

use it to try to make me stay.

I have to be careful about how I deal with this. I am uncertain of the ramifications surrounding our situation and need to tread with care.

But I also cannot lie, my father would know instantly. That's his gift, he can pick up the faintest hint of dishonesty.

I have to give them just enough information that they are satisfied but not enough for them to become overbearing.

"I think I may have found my mate..."

I don't get to finish before my mother is out of her seat and by my side with her arms around me, squealing in excitement. My father now grinning at me with a knowing smile.

"Oh my sweet boy, who is she?"

I barely make out what she says through the squeals.

I wait for her to reel in her emotions before peeling myself out of her grip and holding her shoulders, an arms-length away.

"This is new and sensitive, I need to handle this with delicacy and I can't do that if you are watching. Please give me some time so that I may talk to her before all this chaos takes over."

I watch her nod at me but she is only barely containing her excitement and I can't help myself but to smile at her, finally relishing in the warmth that the mate bond brings.

I hear Blake laugh behind me as he watches the encounter unfold. His booming sound makes us all laugh lightly as we think of the meaning behind everything.

We should all be celebrating. Finding my mate, regardless of who she is, means we have favour from the Gods again. The world has shifted.

But right now we can only chuckle for a few minutes at the joy of it all and the completely wrong timing for such events.

As the room goes back to silence, I look at my mother with pleading eyes. She must understand why I have got to speak to Aliya first.

My mother doesn't say anything but pulls away and smiles at me. I can only hope she is too busy sorting everything out to interfere.

"Well, we must go back to the healers and do what we can for the Tree."

My father thankfully says ending the questions as well as a reason to slip out while their busy.

"Please escort Alpha Blake out Nightshade. I'm sure he would appreciate the company. "

My father confirms my suspicions as he reaches down for my mother's hand and helps her up.

Mother looks at both Blake and I with a worried smile.

"We are not done with this conversation, gentlemen. Do not go running off."

Her voice firm and decisive, leaving no argument about her decree.

We both nod, knowing it's useless to fight it.

I watch them leave, hand in hand, before looking over at Blake, who is smiling at me mischievously. I roll my eyes at him, knowing he is going to berate me about this...

"So... You found your mate..."

Here it comes. I'm never going to hear the end of this. I sigh and stand, indicating that it's time to go, but Blake doesn't move.

He crosses his large arms across his chest and pushes back in his chair, looking at me with the cockiest grin I have ever seen him pull.

I realize that I'm not getting out of this and sit down again, waiting for the barrage of questions.

"So when exactly did you realize that my Beta is your mate?"

He starts strong right off the bat, making me think back to the battlefield and the moment I saw her through her wolf’s eyes.

"When we found Twig with the young ones."

I may as well be honest, she probably told him everything while I was thrashing around and bossing everyone to search for Twig when we had only barely survived the attacks.

I run my hands through my hair, trying to figure out how I'm going to survive leaving her behind now that I've found her.

"Are you going to talk to her?"

His question blind sides me. I can see the concern for his Beta evident as he asks.

We all grew up together, Aliya being a fair few years younger than us, her father was the man who saved Blake during the dark war. Their family took him in after he lost everyone and he became a part of the family.

Aliya was the baby of the family, basically Blake's little sister, who would follow us around with daisy chains and giggle if we pulled funny faces at her. She could tussle with most of the bigger kids as she got older and didn't let anybody boss her around.

She became a real fire cracker throughout her teenage years. Blake and I were always bailing her out of some or other kind of trouble.

When she turned sixteen, she joined the warrior training, ready to defend her adopted brother when he became Alpha.

We hardly saw her during her training years, and then, when she had finished at nineteen, Blake asked her to be his Beta, since her father had requested his retirement.

I forgot it was her twenty-first birthday the night before the attack. Most Wolves find their mates when they are eighteen, but Fae can only detect theirs when they are both twenty-one.

Not that anyone had found their mates in a very long time. We thought it might have to do with sealing the borders and everyone's mates were out there somewhere, but unwelcome until it was safe. I never allowed myself to dwell on the prospect of ever finding my mate to be honest.

But finding Aliya just made sense. I've always secretly thought she was beautiful, regardless of how inappropriate I thought it was to have those thoughts, she is, after all, my best friend's little sister in all sense of the word.

I watch him watching me, he is testing me, seeing my reactions to remodel his own.

"Of course I'm going to speak to her."

I finally justify, realizing I was lost in my own thoughts.

"I have no idea what I will say, but I will speak to her, I promise. "

How do I have this conversation with him? This is awkward and uncomfortable. dangerous territory for me...

Blake's smirk is only growing, which makes me uneasy. He is like a wild animal when it comes to his family, which is one of the many reasons why I respect him, but ultimately, only fractionally, fear him in this moment.

"Oh relax, I'm glad it's you, and not some slimy wolf with his grummy paws all over her."

I instinctively react, reaching for my weapon on my hip at his insinuation.

This only makes him laugh even harder.

But he stands and raises his arms in surrender but with a satisfied smirk.

"I mean no offense, I'm merely stating the obvious, my friend. "

I shake my head at him, there's no use arguing over a comment, we have far more important details that need addressing.

" So... How do you propose dealing with the situation?"

His question confusing me: what situation?

"Which situation?"

"The situation with Aliya, you never came for her yesterday."

I hang my head in shame when he answers. I don't know how I'm going to explain what happened yesterday. I became a monster when I realized my sister was gone.

I should have gone to see her. I should have explained then, but I was so wrapped up in myself I simply pushed it to the back of my mind. Pushed her to the back of my mind...

"The truth... It's all I have. "

I shrug my shoulders. I don't have any excuses to fall behind except for simple, utter fear for my siblings.

"Well, here we go."

With those words, Blake starts walking out of the pod. I simply nod and follow behind me.

We walk in silence to the entrance. The mutedness of the inner Tree, now clear and craved. Without it, everything feels off. I shake off the uncomfortable atmosphere, now even more determined than ever to fix this somehow.

Waiting for us are two guards who will assist the wingless Alpha through the bark and to safety.

The tension rolling off poor Blake, though as we come up to them, is palpable, which is unusual. But it gets worse as we get closer. He is normally very careful about keeping his emotions hidden, but I could feel the fear seeping from him.

We approach, they nod in respect and reach out to help Blake, but suddenly I realize what his apprehension stems from. He's afraid of flying...

I watch him take a long breath and lift his arms, allowing them to harness themselves to him. I know better than to say anything and to merely pretend I don't notice. We all have our vices, mine glaringly obvious. But he has not mentioned anything about my behavior after Twig's disappearance and for that I am grateful.

I can turn a blind eye when he closes his eyes and grips tightly to the man next to him from anxiety.

As we take off, I keep my eyes on the bottom of the Tree, where water has collected over the years, our sustenance and survival now about to perish under our feet.

I glance forward to just check where I was going, ignoring the ever so slight whimpers coming from Blake.

Nodding to the guards at the access point, I watch for a moment as the Alpha squirms in the hold of the others and I hold back my laughter at the sight. Priding myself on my own self restraint by not ridiculing him.

Slowly, we descend to the dirt below, where a healer is waiting to turn the poor man to his rightful size.

As I land and transform into my larger being, I feel someone pounce on me from out of nowhere. I fall back from the force and fall onto the sand at my feet with my attacker on top of me.

Before I can even react, I feel my arm being jerked up. I am waiting for the pain to hit me, bracing myself for any form of pain they intend to lay on me. But there is nothing, while I rigidly prepare for the attack.

Cautiously, I open my eyes and come face to face with curly chestnut hair that smells of rain on a spring morning. I am entranced by the smell for a moment before I look at my arm to see Aliya inspecting it with an intense glare.

She drops that arm and turns to raise the other, inspecting every inch of it, and then looks directly at me while straddling me as I sit on the floor. I am bewitched by her, unable to do anything except stare and take in her eyes as they gaze over me. Scanning every where, checking me from head to toe for injuries, I can only presume. I cannot believe how enchanting she truly is.

"Are you hurt?"

She finally addresses me, a stern look on her face as she reads my expression.

"No, are you?"

I mumble my reply, uncertain of what she will do or how she is going to react now that we are mates, not that we have claimed one another.

"No."

And with that, she raises her arm and I watch in slow motion as she directs her palm directly at my face, before I can even comprehend countering. I feel the sting of her hand against my skin, along with the intoxicating tingles that erupted from our skin contact from the mate bond.

I accept my punishment and hang my head in shame. I have no excuses for not going to her.

But just as I start to get used to the stinging sensation on the side of my face, she catches me off guard again by wrapping her arms around me and snuggling into my chest.

I inhale her scent and drape my arms around her waist, pulling her into me. Trying to get as close as possible to her in this position, absorbing as much of her as I can.

We sit like that, in our own little bubble. Ignoring the world around us while we just take each other in. Nobody dare disturb us, we all grew up respecting the bond, even if we haven't seen it in a long time.

Her scent engulfs me, and I drown in the warmth that she brings. How did I ever live without this before, how did I function without her? How am I going to function when I leave?

Far too soon she pulls away and looks up at me with her big hazel eyes, unshed tears building up on the brims of her eyes.

"Did you find her?"

Her question haunts me and I look away from her in shame, shaking my head slightly with the utmost disgust at myself.

I feel her palm on my face again, but this time she is gentle and I savor the instant electricity that sparks between our skin as her fingertips touch me.

I feel her pull my chin toward her ever so softly. I don't fight it and before long I am facing her directly.

"Are you ashamed to be mated with me?"

Her blunt question throwing me abruptly and I immediately look into her eyes. I am captivated by them for a minute before I answer.

"Never."

Honesty, I had to be brutally honest, regardless of the consequences. That's how I was raised. The true beauty of the bond comes from the intimate truths that you share with each other. If you intermingle lies and half truths, your bond can fester, rust away with every untrue word spoken.

I watch as she nods, her eyes downward, brimming with unshed tears, making the hazel glisten in the most beautiful way. I could sit with her forever, just simply admiring her and be completely content.

But our moment is interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat next to us.

Hesitantly, I look up to the silhouette of a very large Alpha staring down at us, his arms crossed across his chest, a look of bewilderment as he knits his eyebrows together.

"If you two are done rolling around in the sand for now, could we go? I'm starving and lunch is going to end soon."

Blake whined, quite literally, whined at us and we both burst out laughing. As gently as possible, I lift her off me and stand up, helping her up too.

Dusting ourselves off, I glance at my best friend who is now wearing a smug look of satisfaction at what he had just witnessed. I wonder if he secretly had hoped she would be mated to an Alpha, one who could make her a luna and take her away from the hardships in the South. But I can see that regardless, he is happy she at least got to find her mate.

I then look at Aliya, she is the epitome of beautiful, her sleek, but firm physique that lights your desire while knowing that if she denies you, she could crush every bone in your body in a fight, but its hidden under her feminine hips.

Her face is the most exquisite thing my eyes have ever laid upon. Innocent and sweet, with freckles splashed over her nose, ever so faintly, with a cute nose and petite lips.

I cannot believe my luck that this woman is my mate. I just pray she accepts me and I don't mess this up. I truly hope she understands why I have to do what must be done.

I follow them as they start the distance between The Tree and Copper Moon. When Aliya is with Blake, she is in full Beta mode, giving him a full debriefing.

I am once again amazed by her, she is the full package.

We walk as they exchange information in code words so that the locals won't understand the confidential intelligence they are sharing. I could decipher it if I really wanted to, but my focus is on an incredible ass walking in front of me.

Wow... I never noticed how sexy she was before. I lost track of the entire conversation as I simply watched her walk ahead of me. Her hips swaying discreetly as she kept up with the overly large man next to her. I didn't even notice when we passed through the three sisters and left them behind.

Leaving the shelter of the trees and into the scorching heat, across the distance between the lands. But I didn't notice the surroundings or the few people who walked passed us. I was lost, watching the amazing creature just ahead of me.

It was only when Blake turned around to look at me, did I come back to reality. Obviously, he had asked me something and I hadn't responded due to my attention solely on the woman in front of me. Every thought I had, disappeared, like I had become spellbound by her.

But as he turns around and sees what I am doing, he slaps his forehead and grunts. It doesn't help that I have a full smirk across my face, enjoying my view.

Aliya turns around, confused at the commotion, looking between Blake and myself as she tries to figure out what's going on. I merely smile innocently at her, feigning purity.

"I'm going to guess you didn't hear what I said..."

Blake says from under his palm, eyes facing up. Praying for strength and patience right now.

"No, I'm afraid not, I was distracted for a moment."

I relish internally as I watch him squirm as I say that, because he knows exactly what was distracting me. He shakes it off quickly and merely repeats what he was saying.

"I am going to have some lunch then, go speak with the council and elders... Give you two... Some time to talk.. "

I can see he is uncomfortable discussing this in front of his Beta, and I decide to not push his buttons any further, so I nod and look down at the sand, trying to take the grin off my face.

We continue to walk toward the pack lands, which are coming up just over the horizon. But this time in silence, I have a feeling they may be mind linking one another but, I am not certain and don't want to interfere.

Though when I hear Aliya giggle slightly, I am convinced he told her what he caught me doing, and I try not to chuckle myself.

As we come up to the back of the pack, I see the Alpha begin to veer off in a different direction from Aliya, and I can't help but antagonize him just ever so slightly by shouting...

"Where are you going? Why don't you want to hang out with us?"

I see him shake his head but he doesn't respond and walks away, toward the pack house. I turn to Aliya, wondering what she has said to him.

I can see her cheeks blush but with a smile on her face as she looks at me.

"I think we should talk."

I nod again at her remark, letting her lead the way. I follow her to her cabin on the outskirts of the pack, secluded and yet attached to the rest of the pack housing.

I love thier houses, Elegantly made with mud and hay, circular structures with thatched roofs, cottages that housed everyone in the community. Being Beta, she had one of the biggest cottages in the pack, but still modest compared to the pack house itself.

I let her lead me through the front door, into her living room, with oversized furniture that looked incredibly comfortable, shelves with row after row of books and a little centre table.

A fireplace in the corner that goes into a small kitchen.

It was exactly what I pictured, when I thought of her. Everything matched but in a very mismatched manner, though neat and tidy with hints of her personality shining through.

This is the first time I have been here, it would have been inappropriate before...

O God... What am I going to say?

But before I can even process what I need to say, she begins talking first.

"I know you have to go find your sister."