Lucien's POV
"It's over between us."
"What? What do you mean, man? She's also your accountant. Are you really going to let her go?"
"Yes. She had her time. I've gotten over her." I replied to Derrick who was stunned by the news I gave to him.
I guess he wasn't expecting it, he was one of the people that wanted Anna to be my mate. But I'd sworn that I would never have a mate…
My ears twitched when I heard the crunching of dry leaves underfoot from a distance.
"Did you hear that?" I asked, looking at Derrick.
"Yeah, I surely did. Could be our antelope waiting for us." He laughed aloud. "See, I told mother we were going to do better today. U-uh!" He jumped happily as we strolled to the area we heard the noise.
I shook my head, smiling. Derrick had always been the happy soul since childhood. You could say we were opposite of each other. Sometimes, people wonder if he was actually my twin because we had no resemblance both in looks and character.
Most said I was cute whilst Derrick was gorgeous. They were right. Derrick was drop-dead handsome. Sometimes, I envied his looks. But then my weighty aura compensated my not-good-enough looks. It always gave me out, making who I was obviously known to people. Sometimes, I felt uneasy with it but what could I do? I was an Alpha.
"Oh-Oh, there's nothing." Derrick said, as I looked at the empty trap-hole covered with dried leaves. The wooden stakes on it belonged to my father. We had stolen it three days ago from his storage. Father cherished this thing so much and wouldn't have given us if we asked nicely. He loved hunting and was the best during his time. I guess he passed the spirit to Derrick and I, making us win the top prizes for the best hunters in every Annual hunting game.
"Let's go." I said, turning to go back, and then my senses were activated by a wave of strawberry and vanilla scent. It was faint. Almost not noticeable. I paused, and looked at the direction it came from. I noticed Derrick was also sniffing.
"Did you smell it?" I asked him.
"Yes, I smell blood." He answered.
"Blood?"
"Yes, man. Blood. What? Did you smell something else?"
"Yes." I answered, following the faint trail of scent.
The trail of scent led me to two giant trees where the scent was stronger. But there was nothing. No one. Just trees and dry leaves which littered the ground.
"Man, there's nothing here." Derrick said.
"Ssssh." I raised a finger, signaling him to be quiet.
I needed to focus. There was someone here. I could hear the slow heart beat of a person and I could also hear footsteps approaching from a far distance.
I stooped down having a closer look around and noticed the drop of blood on one of the leaves. Looking further from it, there was another drop of blood. I followed the blood drops and was thrown aback with the sight I found.
"Derrick." I called, and he came.
"A girl in a hole?" Derrick muttered.
I took a step forward but was held back by Derrick's hand.
"Wait. You can't go near her, what if she is dead? This could be a trap. You can't touch her. Your fingerprint must not be found on her." Derrick said.
"She's not dead. I can hear her heartbeat." I said, moving forward and he stood back watching me drag her out of the hole.
"Oh man, who would do this?" Derrick asked, when he saw she had bleeding injuries and a horror-looking broken hand. You could tell from the look on her pale face that she was in so much pain.
"Come on. Let's take her to the hospital." I scooped her into my arms, as we walked to the car.
It's evening. Derrick and I have been waiting in the Pack hospital since past noon. An hour ago, I sent Derrick home so he would inform mother and father of the situation and also take a little nap.
Doctor Ywelda walked out of the emergency ward. Ywelda was my classmate in college. She's one of the Redmoon Pack doctors. She called me into her office.
"Alpha." She called.
"How is she, doctor?" I asked, not wasting any time.
"We saved her. She had serious internal injuries, but these injuries weren't gotten from abuse. I would say she was involved in an accident because that's the only explanation to it."
"Her hand?" I asked.
"We fixed it."
"Warriors are already out searching the area. I'm closer to finding out what happened." I told her and she nodded.
"When will she be awake?"
"Tomorrow, next or in three days. It depends on her now."
"OK doc. I will check on her briefly."
I stood up, walking to the door when she called my attention.
"Excuse me, Alpha." I turned to her.
"Your concern for this she-wolf is beyond ordinary. May I know why?"
"She went through a lot. The least I can do is show concern." I explained, as the doctor nodded, and I stormed out of the office afterwards.
Was I showing too much concern? My wolf had been moody since we arrived at the hospital. All my attempts to get him to talk failed. I walked into the VIP ward. It had high security and only members of the Alpha families had access to it. I wanted her here so no one would get to her or hurt her in my absence.
I nodded to Kelvin, my Gamma who was standing by her door. He was an extra measure of protection. Yes, I didn't want to take any chances. It's my job to protect her even if it's just for now. "Just for now? What do you mean?" My wolf questioned.
"Fuck off Lucy! You played me the silent card earlier."
"That's because I feel bad for our mate. I can feel her pain."
"Oh, you already claimed her as your mate."
"She is our mate and we have to protect her."
"Yeah, we will, for now."
"I don't get you. She's our mate and we're protecting her forever."
"No buddy. I'm not, because she won't be my mate after now."
Lucy became silent and withdrew himself. I thought he was going to pull a fight, but he didn't. I guess he understood my point. Just as I peered at the little shewolf, Lucy forced himself back into my head "Aaargh!" I screamed, holding my head as I tried to mindlink Lucy to quit the torturing. The ringing pain in my head persisted, my vision was now becoming hazy. I managed to find a chair and sat down, trying to get my balance but the ringing in my head only worsened.
"Alpha." Kelvin called, as he rushed in.
"Get away!" I roared, and he withdrew back to his post.
My mind was unstable. Lucy's thoughts were overpowering mine.
"She's our mate. You would accept her and protect her forever." Lucy insisted.
"NO!" I shot back.
The pain became more intense, and unbearable and I laid on the floor, while warm red liquid flowed from my nose, and stained the ceramic tile.
"LUCIEN!"
*
*
*
Opening my eyes, I met my mother's worried ones.
"Mother." I called, my voice coming out raspily.
The excitement that immediately crossed her face got me smiling.
"How are you, son?" She smiled broadly.
"I'm OK."
"Hey son. You got us all worried. You and Lucy should learn how to settle your scores without having to be brutal." My father instructed, and I nodded.
My head ached slightly. My throat itched, and my mouth was as dry as a desert.
"I need water."
Mother quickly retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge, and brought it to me. I gulped in the entire content of the bottle at once, quenching the burning thirst in my throat.
"How long have I been here?" I asked.
"Two days son." Mother answered, my eyes widened. Two days already? It explained why I was so dry.
"How's everyone doing?" I asked, looking at my mother and father.
They exchanged glances I didn't quite understand.
"Everyone is fine. The Pack activities are going on as usual." Father answered, as I nodded, looking away when I suddenly remembered the little she-wolf.
"Oh goddess!" I jolted up, hasting to the door.
"What's the problem son?" Mother asked, concerned.
"The little she-wolf." I dashed out of my room, hurrying to her room.
I was angry when I didn't see Kelvin standing by her door. "He better have an explanation for not being here." I murmured, as I walked in and was met with an empty room. Where did she go? I turned to go to Ywelda's office and met her halfway to her office.
"Alpha." She called nervously.
"Where is she?" I asked, not being able to control the storm that was rising inside me.
"Um. Alpha. I… I.. don't know. She ran off last night." she stuttered.
"Ran off? From a well secured hospital?" I growled. I didn't miss how pack members tried to pass unnoticeably as my aura slipped off, others took other routes to avoid me.
"I… I don't know how, Alpha. But the pack warriors are searching for her." Ywelda's face peered down. I could sense her fear. It rose with every second she remained in my presence.
Mother rushed in. "Son?"
I signaled Ywelda to leave, and she scurried off immediately.
"Derrick, Kelvin and other warriors are searching for her. They have not been back since last night." She said,
My eyes darted to the wall clock at the lobby telling me it's 5pm.
I reached out to my warriors through the mindlink. Only Derrick's connected which meant he was near.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"At the market." He replied.
"Are you trying to buy some foodstuff when you're supposed to be finding the she-wolf?"
"Chill man, her trail led me here, but it stopped at the center of nowhere."
"What do you mean? Did she fly?"
"I don't know. There's no trail of her further and there's no sign of her around either. Someone must have taken her."
"We can't be sure of that yet. Have you heard from Kelvin and the others? I can't reach them."
"That's because they're scurrying around the pack borders."
"Anything from them?"
"Nothing yet."
"Wait for me. I'm coming to you." I said, cutting the mindlink.
How difficult was it to find a little she wolf who probably had no idea of where she's going. I scoffed unbelievably.
"Go home Mother. I need to change."
"Here." She gave me a bag. She had packed a change of cloth and shoe in it.
"Thank you, Mother." I said, walking to the closest convenience.
I changed into a black Jean that hugged my thighs, a black T-shirt, and black boots. I felt Lucy slowly coming up in my inside. He had been dormant since I woke up.
"Let the weight off Lucy. I need help to find your mate."
"Our mate." He again insisted.
"Yeah, our mate." I said facetiously, rolling my eyes.