Finding Her Way Back

Chapter 6

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ETHAN

The burning in my hand was fading into a dull, yet comforting ache. It didn't hurt, not even when I touched her, but it was surprising to say the least. I couldn't do anything but stare at my hand as it continued to dull, as if the further she got from me, the more it became a whisper.

Everything in my body screamed at me to follow her but my feet wouldn't move. I could tell she was a wolf right away, even over all the stench in this city her scent surrounded me like it was my own. She smelled of wild flowers after a fresh rain, it clung to me, invaded my nose and thoughts. "You fool, that is our mate, why are you just standing here" My wolf Felix scolded me. " She didn't even react to us, how could she be our mate? She would have sensed it too, instead she took off" I argued, and just as he was about to respond, I felt someone touch my shoulder and before I even turned around I knew it was Abby.

I used to enjoy her touch. She was the first human I met when I moved to the city, and has since become my closest friend, I had given up finding my mate after 6 years of searching and we had just decided to move our friendship up a notch but now, as she ran her hand down my arm I felt disgusted and had to fight the urge to recoil. "How is this possible? why didn't she notice us" I spoke inwardly to Felix as I watched him crouch down and give a soft whimper, clearly this realization hurt him, and I needed to find her.

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SARAH

I have spent years training, I would watch the warriors train from my classroom window when I was younger, I would fight trees or wrestle boars. When I started living in the pack house, Alpha Fredrick would train me, all to say, I was no stranger to running. However, I had run probably 6 blocks as fast as my legs could carry me and was not only completely out of breath but also nauseous.

"Who the f**k was that" I said into the emptiness around me. I could still feel his touch on my arm, hear his voice ringing in my ears and Nyla was still panting and full of desire, that was now joined by a deep-rooted need she felt for him. "This is a mate reaction, but I only got the scent of human and the garbage that fills this city when I tried to scent him, he smells no different than the rest." We were confused and didn't know how to figure this out, surely the Moon goddess wouldn't give us a human mate?

Looking around, however, I realized that whoever he was, was the least of our concerns. At the moment, we appeared to be lost. I hate to admit that I wasn't paying attention to where we ran, I just knew we needed to get away from him as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, where we ended up looked like a part of the city that wasn't meant to be bothered. It took Nyla all of two seconds to regain control over her body and she was up, on all fours, waiting. We could only hope it was safer than it looked, especially being broad daylight.

It was moments like these I really wish I had a cellphone, so I could call Cecile. I looked around again, trying to picture the route I ran but it was no use. My mind was running as fast as my legs were and watching for landmarks wasn't in the mental chaos. "When we get home, we should request being put on staff" Nylas random suggestion threw me as I tried to figure out why she would pick a time like this to suggest getting a job.

"We can't mind link Cecile because we are not a gamma, we are not a child of Alpha and Luna nor are we employed by them. We are 18 now, so that takes away adoption, and we cannot just change our rank so to prevent something like this, we should be under their employ." Nyla quickly offered her explanation, and I was taken aback at how I never thought of this, but mind-linking was a wolf thing so of course she would know more than I do about it. "I know I should know this but refresh my memory, why can we not mind-link the Luna of the pack we belong to?" I asked slightly annoyed at the situation. "Could you imagine the headache it would cause the Alpha and Luna if everyone in the pack could just drop into their mind with all their silly requests and complaints?" Nyla explained with a slight bite behind her tone. All I could do was nod at the very valid reasoning.

The nausea from running had subsided, leaving behind a different knot in my stomach as I realized I still hadn't eaten yet. I hadn't exactly planned on leaving the house this morning so I didn't have my wallet, I checked my pockets for any forgotten cash I would have stuffed in them last time I wore these jeans, but there was nothing. I signed as I began my way down the open street, it was quiet, not a person in sight. Garbage pushed up at the bases of the buildings, leaking out to scatter the sidewalks. Just in basic cleanliness it was a big difference from where we were shopping.

A older woman pushing a shopping cart full of groceries had turned a corner, stepping onto the main street as she began to walk in our direction. Relief rushed me body as I ran towards her, a smile lighting up my face. "Excuse me" I called as I waved, the woman stopped as I reached the end of her cart, returning my enthusiasm with a smile of her own. "I am a little lost and I was wondering if you could help me?" I asked, as Nyla was cautiously smelling the air and deeming it wolf free. The woman seemed to be considering my question as she began walking again, reaching for my arm to pull me along "of course, of course, where is it you need to be" she asked with a voice that sounded as if she was trying to gurgle water at the same time.

I thought about it for a minute and realized, I didn't have a street name or anything to give her so she could provide direction. "Uhm, I do not know the name of the area, just that there was a bunch of vendor stands, and a large parking lot" I said sheepishly. The woman chuckled and immediately started coughing, as I stepped closer to try and help she waved me off, "I'm fine, I'm fine. You, however, just mentioned every block in half this city" she chuckled again. "I need to get these bags put away, follow me, I am just around the corner here. My grandson delivers things all over the city, he might be able to help you." She continued, what choice did I have really. She seemed harmless enough and I had Nyla if I really needed her, so I decided to follow the old woman.