His Fallen Mate (Elemental Series #1)

Stress

Seraphina's POV

My voice began to fade as my throat became parched. It's been 4 hours and the sun is almost setting, yet we still haven't found Naam. Neither the wind nor nature could find her. I'm curious where she's gone because her aroma can't be scented. We checked almost the entire forest, but we couldn't trace her footprints.

"NAMAKA!" I yelled again, but there was no reaction as usual. Tired, I chose to sit on one of the trunks while chasing my breath. I closed my eyes for a moment and placed my hands on my knees. Namaka, where are you?

"Ember, what are we going to do now? It's getting dusk."

I don't want to return home without finding Naam. I stood up again, staring at the almost black woods where the light that had been piecing through before had slowly faded.

"Ember, we should stop for now and continue this search operation by tomorrow," Aria said, "remember that we too had a family waiting for us."

I felt so helpless, and I didn't know what to do. I don't want Naam to think I've given up on her, but Aria has a point. I took a deep breath before submitting to Aria's proposition. I offered one last look around the jungle, but there was no trace of Namaka. Iceland is a large country with a thriving technological industry. Should she have phoned to let us know where she is? Not this one, where we're desperate to find her but have no idea where to look.

I massaged my throbbing temple as we headed back to the car. We had just reached the road when my phone suddenly rang. I lazily look at it and my brows immediately furrowed after reading my sister's name on the screen. Why is Kia calling me? Confused, I swiped the answer button. While Hera and Aria were at my side watching my every movement.

"Sera...Niccolo came," she said hesitantly at the other end of the call. Niccolo? My eyes widened as I realized what she was saying.

"What? Why?" I screamed unintentionally as I became more frustrated. Why would he visit the pack now? What kind of misfortune is this now that I have some important matters to do?

"I don't know Sera, but your mother wanted you to return here as soon as possible. The emperor wanted to see you; they'll wait for you until tomorrow," Kia continued. In annoyance, I bit my bottom lip and scratched my head. I feel like I'm in a sea, battling against the chaotic waves and refusing to follow the currents. As the Alpha's daughter with royal blood, I'm constantly reminded of my priorities. Naam and Novoland are both my responsibilities, but my friends are more important to me than the Empire.

"I can't, Kia...tell mother I'm handling a very urgent matter right now."

"You know what will happen if you defy your mother; you should know that better than I," Kia reminded me.

If I don't obey the order, my friends might be included in my Mum's rage. I'm at a loss for words. I wanted to find Naam, but the chains of my obligation prohibited me from doing so. I am not a free bird who can freely travel the world if I want to, because each of my hands is bound by an unseen shackle. I was left feeling hollow after the conversation.

"Is that Kia?" Aria inquired, confirming who I was talking to earlier.

"Yes."

"What happened, you look sad?" Hera said, studying my face.

"Niccolo arrived in our pack and asked to see me," I said quietly. Their expressions changed to one of shock. They knew we couldn't disobey the Emperor. It's one of the regulations that's been in place for a long time, and breaking it will result in a punishment. This is the sad fate of hybrids. Somehow, I wish I was just a regular she-wolf or a lycan, since they are their own masters.

"It's still six o'clock Ember, you could still book a ticket; come on, let's hurry and get to the airport," Hera said after a minute of quiet. They grabbed my hand as they rushed back into the car. I turned around and stared into the deep forest as if my soul had been left there in search of Naam. I'm sorry, Naam, but I have to leave.

Fortunately, there was still an open flight when we arrived, so I immediately booked one.

"We will call you tomorrow for an update, Ember," Hera uttered. I smiled bitterly as I bid goodbye to them. It feels as though I'm abandoning them to handle the situation. It doesn't sit right. I don't want to leave them, but I have to or I might just worsen the situation.

I was wide awake during the whole flight because my thoughts kept coming back to Naam. I tried calling her phone again, but it is still inaccessible.

As the flight attendant made the announcement before landing, my gaze was fixed on the monitor.

"Please check around your seat for any personal items you may have brought on board with you, and exercise caution while accessing the overhead bins, as heavy things may have shifted around during the journey."

I decided to use my phone after the FA gave the passengers clearance. After unlocking my phone, my forehead immediately creased as I saw 20 miscalls and 30 messages from Kia. I proceeded to click it out of curiosity...rolling my eyes after reading the contents of each message. Kia keeps sending me the same SMS. Annoying.

When the captain switched off the 'seatbelt fasten sign,' I quickly got from my seat and exited the plane. Then I waited for my luggage before leaving the airport.

"What took you so long? Everyone was already at the office awaiting your magnificent arrival," Kia sarcastically said as she greeted me at the door. I gave her an irritated look at which she only laughed before following in her footsteps. Despite feeling jetlagged and having had no sleep for the whole flight, I managed to appear passable. Strange, yet I feel so light while walking, as if I'm high on drugs.

The room fell silent the moment I stepped in. I could already feel a powerful aura inside even without looking for who it was. I sat behind Kia on the couch while scanning the room. My gaze was drawn to the man reclining on the solitary sofa, his crimson eyes fixed on me, and a sneer formed on the side of his lips.

I tried not to roll my eyes since I didn't want Mom to nag me again. A covert pinch on my waist caused me to groan while twisting my head to look at Kia. I furrowed my brows, irritated by her conduct.

"You didn't greet your Emperor," she whispered firmly, emphasizing the status of the person in front.

I tried to put on a phony smile as I softened my gaze on Niccolo.

"I'm sorry for being late; why do you want to meet me?" I said, my tone slightly unhappy.

"There's no need to pretend, Ember; I know you don't like seeing me," he retorts. I rolled my eyes subconsciously at his comment. He knows I don't want to see him, yet he's here. Niccolo is beyond an incomprehensible ruler — an unreasonable tease.

"Oh sure, excellent to know, but why do you still come here?" I challenged him. It didn't even take seconds when I heard my mother's strict voice reminding me of my manners.

"I simply came here to remind you that you only have four months left and I see you still don't have a mate," he snidely observed.

I cast a peek at Mum, who simply shrugged. She's of no help when it comes to this. Fine, whatever.

"You don't need to remind me, Niccolo, and could you just stay in your Kingdom? I still have time to complete my things, and you don't know what's going to happen in the next few months."

Niccolo merely laughed and gave me that condescending grin. I lifted my brows in defiance of his arrogant expression. Niccolo suddenly stood up alongside two of the men, who I assume were his royal knights. He's leaving now. Is that it? He only wanted to see me to remind me of the deal. How annoying!

Mum told me to send Niccolo to the gate, which I wholeheartedly disagree with. Why should I send that man off when he has feet and security to protect him? If they're talking about hell, I'll gladly send him away, but they're not, so no.

"Ember Seraphina!" Mum yells once again, but I'm not in the mood.

"No, mom, stop pressuring me. Isn't agreeing to marry Niccolo enough, and now you're forcing me to act all good with that man? Come on, you're better than that mum," I irritably said as I exited the office without paying attention to her further arguments. I'm just exhausted. I want to sleep.

I immediately lie on my bed the moment I enter my room. My phone rang just as I was about to shut my eyes. I hurriedly rose up, picked up my phone, and swiped the answer button when I saw Hera's name on the screen.

"Hello?"

"Ember, bad news," Hera said nervously over the phone. My heart began to race and my palms turned chilly.

"Bad news?"

"The warriors of Oceania pack found a dead corpse on the west border; the body was already unrecognizable, and they claimed some wild animals were the culprit. Some people say...her parents claim it was...it was Naam," Hera said, sobbing.

I feel like the orbit of my world had stopped in an instant upon hearing Hera's revelation. Dead body? I shook my head incessantly, refusing to accept the possibility. No! Naam can't be dead. She claims the body is unrecognizable, implying that it cannot be a hundred percent correct that it's Naam.

"Hera, are you sure it's Naam? Our friend may be weak, but she can fight," I responded, swallowing the painful emotion that had begun to crawl inside of me. Naam is a good daughter, yet she is no coward. She is always capable of putting up a solid fight. I can feel it...Naam is alive.

"The dead body had our friendship bracelet, Ember. It's hard to believe but...but that's the truth that we can't deny," Hera added.

No. Tears unconsciously flowed down my face as I froze. My phone slid off as my knees wobbled and I tumbled to the floor. It can't be. But how can I dispute the fact when there is already evidence that the dead person is Naam? Our friendship bracelet was fashioned just for the four of us, so no one else could have a copy of it. I painfully sobbed until there were no tears left to shed. I crawled on my bed as I cried myself to sleep. Naam, I'm sorry for being a useless friend.