Lost

Caleb (Ch. 13)

Last night was a s**t show. Complete and utter s**t!

I spent half of the night searching for Nadia at Travis's insistence. I found nothing at the clearing and the tracks she left in the snow were gone by the time I got back. I was able to track her scent all the way to a stream but after that there was nothing. One thing is certain she's no longer alone. A wolf travels with her, but I only figured that out because of the paw prints in the dirt next the stream.

I might as well head back home. There is nothing to find out here, plus my patience is dwindling. I should've ignored Travis; I've wasted too much time out here that could've been spent coming up with a plan to find her. But seeing him on the couch, bruised and battered. I had to do something for him, and this is what he wanted.

It takes a while to get back to the manor. Sitting in my truck I contemplate going inside or going home. The sun is already starting to rise and I'm too tired to deal with everyone. My car smells of Travis, I smell of Travis. Not even getting out I drive over to my place. Once inside I head straight for my closet. Stripping off my jacket and toss it on the floor, remove all my clothes and put them in the hamper. Grabbing fresh clothes and a towel, I head for the shower. Feeling more myself, I check everything before heading back over to the manor.

Making my way back, Christian and Damian flank my right and left side. It isn't until we get closer to the house that Christian shifts, "Did you find anything more out there?"

"No," sighing, "Nothing. It's like she wasn't even there. The snow covered everything, but I did find some wolf tracks near a stream."

"So, she's not traveling alone," he looks at me to clarify."Maybe, but this wolf isn't like the ones around the property. I couldn't get much off its scent." Shrugging, I open up the back door, Christian walks through and Damian shift back before going in he says, "Maybe mom has found something out?"

"Yeah, Maybe," looking at the backyard, I whisper "Where are you mate?"

###

Inside we find everyone gathered in the living room, watching the TV. There live on TV is none other than Tobias, "I want to thank all those helping us to find my fiancée. It's such a tragedy what took place in Utah this past week. I just want to say that if you see her, please let reach out and let me know."

"Well, there you have it Cindy, that was a clip from the press conference Tobias, son of Mayor Bolverk had to say regarding his missing fiancée. Whose family died in a tragic car crash this past week. She is still missing, and the local police and locals are still looking for her. If you have any news on her whereabouts, please contact the police or the news station."

I can't believe he went to such lengths to find her. If only finding her would be that easy. We've been trying to locate her for a week and last night was the closest we got, and we only got that close because of Travis's injuries. Mom mutes the TV and turns to us, "Did you find anything?"

At the same time, we all say, "No."

Sighing she sits by Travis head, stroking his hair she looks at him. We can all tell that this is hurting her. If it was anyone of us, she'd be acting the same way. The fact that she can't do anything about it for free of the King Bolverk retaliating or kidnapping her makes it even worse. For a while we all hang around in silence. So, far everything that we have tried to do has been unsuccessful. Part of me believes I might never find her.

I should be grateful for that; I never wanted a mate let alone a fated mate. But if what my mother and father have is anything to go by then maybe it's not so bad. Who am I kidding this could be a disaster. I should just forget all about her and help my father with protecting our pack from whatever is to come from Tobias and his father. That's exactly what I'll do, put aside this mating bullshit and focus on what really matters. All that matters is that our pack is strong, my brother gets better, and my mother is safe.

During my internal musing someone ordered pizza, when it gets here mother ushers us all to the kitchen and tells the healer to send for her if Travis wakes up. While we're eating Ralph gets a text from a pack member, looking at my dad, "You have a call in the office. Apparently, the guy will only speak to you."

Getting up from the table dad follows Ralph out the room. Not long after the healer comes and tells us Travis is awake. Mom checks him and comes back to bring him some pizza. That's where father find us, in the living room watching Travis eat a whole box of pizza. With perplexed expression dad says, "I need to see all of you in my office."

With that he turns away, heading back into the office. We all follow him in, Ralph's face is set in a stern line, and he looks like he wants to start breaking things.

"What's going on, Derek?" mom asks, looking at him with worry.

"It's nothing to worry about sweetie. I just got off the phone with the King of all vampires."

"Why would Marcel call? What could he possible want?"

"Do you think he heard about what's going on with the Fae," Damian asks, everyone looks at him to explain, "I mean Tobias was all over the news talking about Nadia and the news anchor mentioned here a couple of times," shrugging, "It makes sense why he would call especially if she is his daughter."

"So, what did he say," I ask.

"He informed me that if we were to help Tobias and his father in finding her that he would make sure the whole pack died out," he says with a scowl.

Chuckling mom says, "He wouldn't do that," she giggles some more.

"Why wouldn't he?" Ralph asks her. She continues to laugh and it's confusing as to why she finds this to be so hilarious when its nothing but.

"Simple, it would expose him as the King and the only living Vampire strong enough to take back control in Europe."

"So, it's true. Bolverk has started a war?" father rests his head on his folded hands.

"Yup, it's all everyone is talking about. But there is also a rumor that he has also killed the Royal Shifter line as well. A lot of the other female Alpha's aren't sure who is going to take control now that we don't have the royal family anymore. Some of the older councilors have banded together to search the lines for anyone with a smidge of the royal blood line."

"You've been busy these past weeks. Why haven't you said anything sooner?" father asks her.

"We all had enough going on and with Tobias in the area and Caleb finding his fated. It just didn't seem like the right time to mention these things."

"Still, you should've told me. This changes somethings, but we'll discuss that at a later time," he sighs, the air around him looks drained, "After Marcel threatened us, I informed him that there was no way we would help Tobias, because Caleb is her fated," he pauses.

"Do you think that was wise to tell him, that her and I are fated mates?"

"Honestly son, I don't know. While he didn't sound too happy about it. He did stop threatening the packs existence."

"Does he know where she is?"

"Yes," before I can ask my next question, he raises his hand to halt me, "But he will not be assisting us with finding her, until he is absolutely sure we won't give her back to the Fae. He also requests that you don't bond with her and to bring her directly to him."

Shocked by this mother yells, "He can't be serious! How can he ask such a thing. It's not his place to tell them they can't do the bonding ceremony."

"Mother," she looks at me with strained eyes, searching for something. She most of found what she was looking for because she nods her head, "So, he wants me to keep my distance. Yeah, that isn't happening. He won't be the one to tell me who I can and cannot bond with."

"That's what I told him. Surprisingly he said good, any mate of his eldest daughter needed to have a backbone for what is about to come. When I tried asking him what he meant he told me, we'd find out if she wanted us to," still confused he continues, "Not sure if he meant Nadia or someone else, but the point of the matter is, he is in contact with Nadia. He knows where she is and is the only person, she is slightly willing to trust. He did give me one bit of advice he said if we found her it's because she wanted us to not because we're skilled and that she has a companion with her that also needs protection."

"The she-wolf," I say.

"What she-wolf?" Travis asks.

"While I was out looking for her at your insistence. I picked up the scent of a she-wolf with her, but I couldn't figure out anything else. There was something different about it. It wasn't like the other wolf scents."

Travis has this faraway look on his face, but it's gone just as fast as it came. When he feels me starring, he knows I saw. Shaking his head, I let it drop for now. Later I'll get him to tell me what that was about. A lot is happening, we've kept ourselves in the dark for most of it, staying on the Fae king's good side. Now that all seems like it's going to change. May the Gods help us.

After dad fills us in on everything, Damian, Christian, and I decide to head out. Against mother's better advice, Travis decides to leave with us. As we get closer to my cabin the air surrounding it, seems to change. The air is filled with a combination of scents, sand, sunshine, rain, and strawberries. There's also the scent of a shifter, but the only thing I can gather from it is that the person is female.

The silence stretches as we all look around for anyone in the surrounding area. Seeing nothing shift, we continue moving forward. Their scents get stronger as we near my front door. Seems to me that Tobias' fiancée and her friend made themselves welcome in my home. Inside their scents are fainter than they were outside.

"She was here," Travis says, to himself he whispers, "Fated."

Following the scents, Travis goes from the living room to the kitchen, then he makes his way down the hall to my bedroom. Following him we find him standing in front of my closet. Their scents are the strongest here. Not waiting any longer, Damian bangs on the door, "Either you come out or we come in?"

None of us move, inside we don't hear anything shifting. Ignoring Damian's waring growl, I open the door. At first glance everything looks fine, but at a closer inspection. I notice my leather jacket stained with Travis's blood is missing and that my university sweatshirt is missing. Travis goes to the corner of my closet and sits down.

"She was right her," leaning against the wall he closes his eyes and inhales.

"Who?" Christian asks.

"My mate."

Looking at him, "Are you saying that the she-wolf walking around with Nadia is your mate?"

Cracking his eyes open, he says to me, "Yup." With that he lays down and closes his eyes.

Leaving him in the closet, we head back into the living area. Once in the living room, Damian plants himself on the sofa. Christian takes a seat on one of the bar stools and together they discuss everything that went down these past three days. At some point they go back to talking about Tobias and his outrageous demands. Apparently while I was out looking for Nadia on my own, he had called again threatening the pack if father didn't turn over Travis.

"We all know that isn't going to happen. Father would never turn any of us over. Especially if what Marcel says is to be believed, a war is coming and we're all going to have to choose a side," I say, walking down the hall I shout, "I'm going to shower. One of you start dinner." Not bothering for a reply, I grab some clothes from the closet and head for the shower. In here is permanent with Nadia's scent. Just know that she was in my space and felt safe enough to linger so long. That thought alone ignites something inside me.

Leaving the bathroom, I hear arguing coming from the kitchen. Once there I see the fridge door open and Christian and Damian glaring at me with angry stares.

"What's going on?" Travis asks on a yawn, coming up behind me.

"What's going on, is there's no food," Christian bellows.

"That can't be true. I bought a ton of stuff two days ago," I tell them, searching the fridge and freezer. Slamming the doors close,

"f**k!"

"Okay, well I'm going to order pizza. Do you at least have beer?"

Sarcastically, Damian says, "That's the only thing she didn't eat."

It doesn't take long for the pizzas to get here. Once we've all eaten our fill, Damian leads us all back to the living room. I know what we're all thinking. But none of us want to bring it up or touch on the matter that we are going to war. It's just a matter of whose side we're on. Tobias will assume we'll be on their side, but once Nadia is found that could all change.

"Out of the three of you I don't know who's more depressing," Christian says. Grabbing my attention, I notice that I wasn't the only one lost in my own thoughts.

"What are you talking about," Travis asks.

"You know what I'm talking about. Since you've woken up you haven't made not one joke. You're all serious and deep in thought. What could you possibly be thinking about so hard? If anything, you have a s**t ton of explaining to do about why and how we found you," Christian implores."He's right you haven't told us how you got attacked and how you aren't dead, because you should've died. Mom even said without the help you got even if we found you in time, she might not have been able to save you."

"Don't even start you're the broodiest of us all. You hate the fact that you have a fated mate out there, yet you can't seem to let yourself be happy with the fact that the bond has already started to form," I give Travis a confused look, as the twins nod their heads in agreement.

"What do you mean it's started to form?"

"Mom said she could see the string attaching you to Nadia. She said it was more like a braid, on one end is your soul which looks like a deep blue line and on the other it's attached to a dark purple line," using his fingers he shows us how they are attached, "Right now they aren't twisted or braided together but mom said they are joined. It's just a matter of time for the bond to get stronger."

"How do you know so much?" Damian asks.

Giving us a sheepish look, he continues, "Well, you see, my own bond has started to form."

"What!" we all yell.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he shrugs his shoulders, "Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell us," I ask.

"I was going to but then all this drama happened," he grumbles, "Plus, I can see the dark purple all over the place."

Looking around I see nothing out of the ordinary, "What are you talking about now?"

"Her essence. It's all over the place."

"Since when can you see peoples' essences," Christian asks.

"Since I woke up," Travis shoots back, getting defensive.

"Look we're not mad at you. We're just worried about you Trav. You scared us all, mother especially."

"I know," hanging his head, "I'm sorry. I was trying to find Nadia's location as is, but I got distracted by a scent I haven't smelled in a long time. So, I started following that instead and then I ran into Tobias's men. Things got heated, they had a she-wolf trapped in a cage. When they weren't paying attention, I freed her and shifted to attack them. Next thing I know I'm blinded by pain and being carried by a bear. When I came to again, Nadia is there healing me and forced the change," getting off the couch he starts to pace the living room, "I was dying. I could actually feel my soul leaving me. Part of me thinks it might have," he stops pacing and looks at me, "She saved my life. I'm indebted to her. I will fight and protect her no matter what you chose to do. My fated is with her right now, protecting her."

After his declaration, he leaves us. Out the window, we see him head toward the stream. "He's right, you know" looking back at Damian, "Lines have been drawn and if we don't make a stand. We could lose our baby brother. Hell, I don't want to fight against him in a war."

"Who knows what powers he has now. Before it was tracking and seeing into the future for a couple minutes, maybe a few hours. Now we just don't know," Christian says, shaking his head. He gets up and follows the path Travis took to the stream.

"Maybe we were too hard on him," I say to Damian, "He just woke up. His life would have ended if not for whatever Nadia did."

"I know that, but we still don't know what Travis did in order to protect himself."

"Yeah," taking the last swig of my beer, I loss myself to my thoughts. The stress of the past few weeks is starting to take its toll on all of us. Getting up I tap, Damian's shoulder and point out the window. Both Christian and Travis are shifted and ready for a run. Nodding his head, we head out to join them.

Shifting by the stream, my midnight black coat makes my wolf's eyes more vibrant. Trotting with my brothers, we find ourselves chasing after one another. Soon we're so deep in the forest that I'm surprised when Travis bolts past me heading toward the mountain range. Since Christian and Damian are off hunting, I follow Travis. His wolf is agitated, pacing back and forth. Sniffing the ground and air around us, all I can pick up is Nadia's scent. Getting closer to him, I start to pick up other scents as well. One of those scents is that of the she-wolf traveling with Nadia. Trying to move forward, my skin sizzles and I growl out. Whimpering Travis, signals for me to move back. Next to him, we sit there looking at the area. Standing, I rush at it again, something snaps out at me and a sizzle attack by body.

Growling and snapping at the invisible force, my wolf and I become agitated. Pacing, Travis just watches me. Snarling at him, he huffs and growls low at me. Sitting across from him, we stare at each other. Looking over my shoulder once more, I growl at the invisible force. Looking at him, I see he's focused on something above us. Moving toward him, I follow his line of sight. There about 10 meters from the valley we're shielded from a cave opening. Smoke flows from the entrance.

Together we howl, in sorrow that we can't reach them. Somewhere in the distance, other wolves join us. A shadow rushes to the caves entrance, instantly I know it's her. Feeling the pull, I let it search out for her and mingle with her link. Just as quickly as I felt her warmth and peace, it was blocked off from me.

Howling once more, I turn and run back to find the twins. Travis is hot on my heels. We've found our fated mates. Now comes the hard part, keeping them safe.