Witch Way to an Alphas' Heart

Mate

*Kaine's POV*

All these evil witches. It made him almost nauseous to be suddenly surrounded by them. The brief relief he felt stepping through the portal into the forest was quickly replaced by this revulsion. Witches were an abomination. Instead of existing with nature they bent it to their will. They were little better than humans with their complete disregard. The world would be better without them, and perhaps soon it would be.

He sent a mind link to his Beta as they walked through the woods, his piercing gaze never leaving the wiry woman. She seemed so tiny that he could snap her like a twig, but she radiated power and authority. Her scent of embers matched those fiery locks, and her stormy gaze never wavered in conversation. She was someone to keep tabs on.

Keep a lookout for an ambush. These witches can't be trusted.

This tour was impromptu but he didn't know if they had a communication system like mind linking. Witches were mysterious, he didn't understand their magic. Now would be a perfect time to take down the leader of the Eclipse Moon.

Yes Alpha. Came the instant response, his handsome face with slight stubble carefully neutral. His Beta was the epitome of perfect Betas. Reliable, strong, level headed. A little promiscuous as were most dominant werewolves but what he did on his free time was none of his concern. He always abandoned whatever he was doing at a moments notice when called.

As the trees fell away to the large clearing, he inspected the little houses that dotted the area. It was surprisingly...quaint. Kaine didn't know what he expected of his enemy. Blood sacrifices and effigies perhaps? There was none of the sort however. Childrens laughter filled the air, and whichever witch came close bowed their head respectively to Esmeralda, softly touching their head then chest and muttering 'Spirits be with you.' Particularly sharp witches noted the Alpha with wary eyes. They didn't have the sense of smell like werewolves to tell different races, but the strongly attuned could feel it in a primal way. Most had never seen a werewolf however so had nothing to compare it to. He gave them all level stares until they dropped their gaze first, his inner wolf softly growling.

And then suddenly Esmeralda stiffened, and all at once veered sharply to the left as they entered the business district. "I'll show you the training grounds." She tried to say nonchalantly, but there was an uncharacteristic tremor in her voice. And the very slight, almost missed scent of fear. What suddenly made this powerful woman panic?

And then he smelled it. The most intoxicating fragrance of a spiced wood, but somehow fresh and cooling. Like mint. Like a waterfall in the middle of the woods. His head snapped to the right despite Esmeralda, his focus honing in on two girls giggling as they exited a small cafe with drinks. The black haired girl could have been a rock for how tunnel visioned he became at the freckled girl with burning copper locks and warm brown eyes. His wolf Ashen howled before fiercely growling the one word he never thought he'd hear here.

Mate.