Chasing A Runaway Mate

Wren Wren's skin prickled and pulled taut as he fought to keep his wolf under control. The wolf had been unusually quiet after Katina had walked away from them. She had not rejected him, but her reluctance to even be in the same room as Wren was a heavy blow. Now that Wren was in the car and on his way to leave the pack, Lachlan - his wolf - was thrashing. He had had enough of Wren's sensibility and wanted to run to Katina. Lachlan was sure she wouldn't be able to resist him. "You better step on it, laddie," Wren said to Scot through gritted teeth. "You OK, Commander?" Sean asked after sharing a look with Callum. "Just peachy," he snapped. "Scot, the faster we get to that plane, the better," Sean said. They drove in silence, but Wren knew the men in the car had questions. He had the same questions, but he wouldn't push Katina. She was young and Wren remembered what it was like at that age. He, too, had wanted to carve out a path for himself. Which is why he had joined the Council in the first place. Now he was thirty-two and had finally found his mate. As a young man, Wren had never wanted a mate, but as he settled into his role as a Commander, Wren found himself longing for that connection with a woman. The few women he had taken to bed had barely scratched an itch. Silently, Wren wondered if he was being punished for some reason. Why else would he find his mate only for her to be young and unwilling to accept him? It had taken every last bit of his resolve not to chase after Katina when she had left him standing in the kitchen. Once or twice he had spotted her in the gardens through a window and his heart had ached seeing her beauty. She was petite with eyes he knew could see right into his soul. Wren had watched her silver hair shine as it caught the light when the sun broke through the clouds. He wanted nothing more than to run to her and crush her small frame to his chest. Katina might be small, but he could see she was strong. She was perfect. At least for Wren. He wondered what she had thought when her eyes bore into his in the kitchen. For a moment, Wren entertained the idea that maybe Katina didn't want him because he was ten years older than her, or she didn't like what she had seen. It had been in the middle of the night when someone knocked softly on his bedroom door. When he opened it, Alina, Katina's mother, stood in the hallway. Wren had been surprised to see her, but invited her in. He could detect traces of his mate's scent on the woman, and it gave him some comfort to smell it, even if it hurt not having his mate with him. "Please don't give up on her, Wren," the widow had said as she sat in a chair by the window. "I think you are talking to the wrong person." "She is young and has always struggled to accept a more traditional role within pack-life," Alina continued, as if Wren hadn't spoken. "With... with her father's death... Just don't give up on her." "I will not force something on her she doesn't want..." "She doesn't know what she wants," Alina pleaded. "Luna Alina, with all due respect, whatever happens or doesn't happen between your daughter and me is our business. I appreciate you shedding some light on the matter, but I think it best if we don't discuss this any further." No, Wren was certain Katina's reluctance was due to her own insecurities. Once this war was over, he would reach out to her again. Hopefully, by then she will be able to see past her grief and her concerns. Katina It had been three days since Wren had left and Katina was more restless than ever. She had watched the car as it drove off from the second floor landing. When the car disappeared around a bend, she lost control. Thankfully, no one had been around to see her shift into her gray wolf. The wolf streaked through the forest, keeping the car, which held her mate, in sight. When the border came into view, Nika, Katina's wolf, slowed and came to a stop. She didn't want the Enforcers to see her. The wolf felt betrayed by Katina and reluctantly, finally, gave control back to her. Katina was walking along the shoreline of the lake when her phone vibrated in her pocket. Expecting to see a message from her mother or Rose, Katina retrieved it. Surprised, she saw her brother's name on the screen. "Brother," Katina said as she answered it. Her voice bounced off the nearby trees, amplifying the sound. "How are you?" Black asked, sounding slightly uncomfortable. They hadn't spoken much since their father passed away, but things had seemed a little easier between them. "I'm fine. And Rose is fine. I take it that's why you called?" "Actually, I called you because I wanted to talk to you. If I wanted to know how my mate was, I would call her," Black said in clipped tones. Katina smiled, happy she could still push her brother's buttons. "And what can I do for you, oh great Alpha brother of mine?" Katina asked sarcastically. "You know..." Black paused and Katina could hear him taking a deep breath. "I just wanted to let you know that we've finalized things at the Council and will head out tomorrow." "Oh. Right. OK." An uncomfortable silence stretched as the siblings didn't know how to talk about these things. "Are you OK, Kat?" Black asked sincerely. His tone made tears prick at the corner of her eyes. "Not really, no," she confessed. "Is there anything I can do to help? Want me to kick his ass?" "No, Black," Kat chuckled. "Just... just make sure you both come back alive." If Black was surprised to hear Katina's concern for Wren, he didn't show it. "I promise I'll watch his back," Black answered. After they had said their goodbyes, Katina returned her phone to her back pocket before turning to face the water. The reflection of the trees was disturbed as a breeze picked up and sent ripples racing across the surface of the lake. Sighing, Katina decided that it was time for her to find her way in life. She couldn't pretend she enjoyed her way of life anymore. Turning around, Katina set out to head back home and have a serious talk with her mom.