Derrick's POV. I strode through the dense forest that surrounded my mansion, those huge trees cast long shadows in the bright yellow light of the evening that was on its way. Right before me, the air had become so thick with tension that I could barely think straight. It was so much that in my chest, I felt an ominous feeling gripping my heart. Sophia, my mate, was still nowhere to be found, and an unrelenting worry that I had tried to calm persisted as it clawed at my heart. "This is meant to work!", I said as I tapped my chest again and again. My mind reached out, attempting to establish a telepathic link with Sophia. It was the right thing that occurred between every mate, but for some reason, ours couldn't. The connection was weak. My senses were flickering like a dim light

