Evolution Of Dawn

Six: Deal With It

Archer Dakota P.O.V

The moon was still fully up when we arrived at the pack's border, we navigated our ways through the numerous land traps, it's one of the security measures we'd taken to protect our pack from unwanted guests.

Walking through the forest is impossible for anyone who isn't familiar with the landmarks, one of the reasons we never had any rogue attack for over ten years. Even if you'd manage to escape one trap, you'd end up caught in another, but so far it's been animals.

We pick up clothes at a nearby hut built close to the pack border for emergency purposes and dressed.

We're welcomed by my beta Anchor Bushman and Boar's son Hawk stones with two other warriors.

"Alpha", my Beta greeted bowing his head slightly and the others followed suit.

"Thank you for taking care of the pack", I said slapping their shoulders one after the other.

They nodded, silently acknowledging my thanks, I walked towards the pack's village. Not waiting to see if they follow.

"How was the journey", I heard my beta asking Ace and Boar.

"The going was fine, but the coming back was chaotic", I heard Ace say in a hushed tone.

"What happened", Anchor ask interested.

"I'm sorry beta, but it's not our place to say", Boar said before Ace could answer.

"Common Boar just a little juicy details, you're too tight lip", Anchor said jokingly.

"He found his mate", Ace whispered.

"What!", Anchor shouted same time as I growled.

Everyone fell into a hush silence behind me.

Not that the word "he found his mate" needed more emphasis before they'd know it's me, I seems to be the only unmated wolf in the pack, not that my bed was ever empty, thanks to the pack's elders I'd always have my fill from the pack's widow who is more than willing to warm the mateless Alpha's bed.

I passed through the pack's narrow village road, passing different light-out cabins on my way, it seems the whole pack is still asleep.

I walked into the pack house and went straight to my office, I sat down on the wooden chair resting my tired feet on its twin table, while I waited for the others to file in.

I look at my head warrior and gamma.

"You can go home and rest for the rest of today and tomorrow, you resume your duties by next tomorrow", I said to them in a dismissive tone.

"Yes alpha", they replied and left immediately leaving me alone with my Beta.

"Are you ok"? Anchor ask scanning me from head to toe from the corner where he stood.

"I'm good", I replied in a clipped tone.

"Good", he said looking warily and scratching the back of his head

"Do you want to talk about it"? He asked

"No, not now, I'm tired" I replied him trying not to sound irritated

"Ok, I know you just arrived and I shouldn't be bothering you about this, but there is something I think you'd want to deal with so I figured I have to wait till you get back and tell me what you'd want me to do with it". He said slowly

"How bad is it"? I asked

"Not too bad, but I figured you will"...

"Deal with it Anchor", I said cutting him off before he can finish.

"Sure, but still I'd like"...

"Please I'd like to be alone, I'm tired so stop bugging me with some shitty stuff and deal with it". I shouted annoyed.

"Yes Alpha, sorry for bothering you, and please try not to sleep on the furniture you'd be more comfortable on a bed", he said before walking out hurriedly.

I knew he care for the pack and meant well, and I properly shouldn't out my anger on him, but right now I don't care. My wolf is beating me down and I don't need him or anyone adding to my stress.

Anchor has always been a good friend and companion, and I believe he's worthy of his title so he can deal with some shitty pack matters as much as I can.

I sigh, before relaxing my back on the chair and waiting for sleep to claim me.

_____________________________________

I was woken up by a tug on my head, someone is trying to link me, I opened the link "Archer son of Dakota" I heard the tiny voice of my great aunty in my head followed by her usual tsk.

"Aunty, I'm sorry I arrived too early, I thought you'd still be sleeping, I don't want to wake you up", I replied.

"I know pup, I just thought I'd check up on you when I heard you're back". She replied.

"I will come over once I freshen up", I said standing up.

"I will be in the cabin", she said before closing the link.

I stretched and walked toward the door, and was immediately blinded by the sun's brightness as soon as I stepped outside the pack house, I shaded my eyes with my hand and headed towards my cabin.

The pack was already awake and bustling with life all around, I smelt the familiar aroma of boiling rice, and fresh meat, with spices in the air, and the sound of iron in the woods as I passed the pack's workshop and towards the trail that leads to my cabin.

I went straight for the bathroom door and stripped as soon as I closed it behind me, I scrub myself clean, walk over to the bedroom, and put on a clean breach cloth and shirt with my leather boot, I walk back to the pack house for a late breakfast.

After picking around my plate, I finally stood up and walk over to my great Aunty's cabin.

She was sitting outside on a long bench under a tree's shade, her once brown eyes now turned white and sightless with age looking into nothingness.

I inhaled her scent of herbs and spices, her scent is always comforting and smells of home and family.

My great aunty Anpao is the only blood relative I have left, though she's blinded by age, she's one of the best healers in the history of our kind. She knew about ancient medicines and herbs, she's been curing illness and diseases among our people since long before I was conceived.

"I see you have made do to your promise", she said before looking into the distance again.

"Aunty", I greeted kissing her age wrinkled cheeks, her once black hair now turned grey with age stood out on her head like a signpost. I sat down beside her on the wooden bench waiting for her to speak.

"Where is your mate I heard you found her", She said gazing at me with her sightless Iris.

I clench my jaw cussing at Ace's loose mouth, I should have commanded him to be silent.

"You don't need to cuss the wolf, I never heard it directly from him. A she-wolf was here this morning for herb, she overheard it from the pack maidens". All the pack probably already knew by now. She said gazing straight ahead.

I looked into the distance trying to control my raging temper, "I'm sure the elders would have heard about it by now too", I mutter weakly.

They all will think me weak, I'd mark my mate and she flew from me like a plague the next minute.

"Archer", she called and seek my hand, I immediately pass it to her banishing my swirling thought.

"I can feel your wolf raging", she said.

I instantly tried reigning in my wolf, "I'm sorry Aunty", I said feeling bad for stressing her with my overbearing energy.

"Where is she, your mate"? She asked

"She left", I said teeth clenched, "she ran away".

"Why?" she asked in a calm tone a mother would use in demanding an answer from her pup.

"She didn't find us worthy", it was my wolf who answered her this time. I didn't need a mirror to know my wolf is present and reflecting in my eyes right now.

"Pup, no she-wolf will ever find you both unworthy; you're a great leader, strong, brave, courageous, and wise, she might not know it yet but she will with time". She said patting my hand

"But she left Aunty, she find me unworthy and left even after I marked her". I said feeling the pain of her unspoken rejection.

"The goddess never pairs falsely Archer, she knows an Alpha needs his luna who will bear him pups and carry on his offsprings. She will come back to you. I believe she's just startled, I heard she lived with the wild wolves, even them always know to heed the call of a mate, for nature demands all to reproduce, she will return". She said looking me straight in the eyes urging me to believe her words.

"What if she never returns?", I asked holding her compelling gaze.

"I know she will return pup, and if it takes too long for her to return then maybe you should consider the suggestion of the elders for the main time". She said shrugging.

I clenched my fists at the mention of the elders

"Archer, the pack just wants to look after you just the way you are doing for them. They are concerned about you being mateless for so long, I heard you took a special liking to the young widow Maye ", why not consider claiming her for yourself for the time being? She said.

"Even if I do claim a widow as the packs and the elder's demand, then what?, she won't be able to breed my pups, or will the elders demand I mate a breeder to bear my pup too? I asked annoyed.

"Your mate will return Archer, but until then you have to abide by the pack law, you won't be fit to rule a pack with an incomplete claim. It's a matter of time before your wolf will go all sneer and growl wanting to mount his mate and when that time comes you will need a substitute until you find your mate". She said in a whisper

I scowl at her, growling.

"I'm only looking out for your pup, so quite scowling at me son of Dakota". She tsk in her small voice.

"I'm sorry aunty, I will wait until the next moon and if I haven't found her by then, maybe I will consider taking Maye till I find my mate ". I said sighing.

"Good, I wish you luck in finding her before the full moon", she said squeezing my hand before letting it go.

I nodded, and kissed her cheeks one more time before I stood up to leave, she doesn't need to elaborate her point I know my wolf will be in distress without her on the full moon, not when he knows his mate is roaming around goddess knows where with an incomplete bond.

"I will come and visit you some other time aunty", I said before walking back the way I came.

"Take your time pup", she called after me as I walked into the distance.