Chapter 30

Chapter 30

~Andrew POV~

‘Where is she?’ Rusty growled impatiently as we stood there looking for her. I know she’s out there… here. I can smell her like she’s next to me but I cannot see her. The boys wrapped themselves around my legs frightened at my bizarre behavior. They can’t understand why I’m standing here, sniffing the air erratically waiting like a crazy person.

‘I don’t know Rusty. I can smell her like she’s standing next to me.’ saying while turning my head to see on all sides of me. It feels as if I could reach out and touch her. Like she’s that close. But nothing. Then I hear faint sniffles and crying making me look down. My heart broke for the boys scared out of their mind not understanding.

“It’s ok boys.” I say while placing my hands on each of their backs patting gently. “It must be nothing…” ‘it’s not nothing!’ Rusty interrupted growling out. ‘Rusty, the boys are beyond frightened. Let’s take them home then we can try to find her later.’ hoping he gets the point and understands we still have the pups, which he must have because I felt him recede slightly, huff out and sit in my mind.

“... Let’s head back ok? I thought I smelled something, or someone, but I must have been wrong. Everything’s fine now.” reassuring them as I bent down to their level hugging them. My eyes finding the spot in the brush again where her scent came from glued to it as a life line. Waiting for something, anything to happen, but nothing did.

Packing up our things, stuffing them back into the bag we brought to the lake, I shifted, allowing the boys to jump on Rusty’s back once more before heading back to the packhouse. Finding the links to the Alpha and Luna reaching out to them, ‘We’re on our back back. Please meet us at the packhouse. I need to speak with you both… urgently.’ It wasn’t long before a reply was returned. Both asked if everything was alright with the boys, which I assured them the boys were fine but that I think someone was out there. I could sense their nods before they cut the link.

~Timber POV~

After receiving the mind link from Andrew, nervousness rushed through me. I couldn’t help the feeling of something bad was going to happen. Pacing, one arm hugging myself while I chewed on the thumb nail of the other hand. My mind was racing with what happened to make our Beta of all people link us for an urgent meeting.

Jonathan didn’t seem concerned yet I could feel his apprehensiveness through our bond. The room was thick with the elemental auras. “Relax Timber. We will know soon enough what’s going on. Andrew should be here shortly. Stop pacing. You’re starting to give me anxiety… and you’re causing a runway to form on the carpet.” he said chuckling, as he wrapped his arms around me from the back rubbing my arms. His embrace calming me somewhat, enough that the aura died down a little.

Hearing the back door open our heads snapped in that direction to see two frightened boys and a concerned looking Andrew in tow.

“What happened?” concern laced my words as I knelt down to examine the boys before hugging them both tightly. All he did was hang his head and wiggle it slowly. Johnathan and I shared a look before looking back at him. “Boys, how about you let mommy and daddy talk with Uncle Andrew for a little bit while you play with Magda?” caressing the side of their heads soothing them as I spoke.

“Ok mommy.” they said back, but the bubbly joy they normally have wasn’t there. Kissing the side of their heads they went to Magda who had just walked into the living room. I nodded and mouthed a thank you to her which earned me a slight nod and smile in return.

Getting up from the kneeling position I was in, I stood next to Johnathon before addressing Andrew. “Now Andrew, what happened?”

He sighed heavily like he was defeated and plopped down on the couch. His head hung, face in his hands. I looked at Johnathon who was just as confused as I was. My heart broke seeing him like this. Our brave outgoing Beta… looked defeated. Broken.

Letting go of Johnathon’s hand, I walked over and sat next to him rubbing his back. Hearing a low growl that escaped Johnathon at the touch and glared at him. Now was not the time for his possessive nonsense.

“I found her. I can’t believe I finally found her.” was all he would say over and over shaking his head still in his hands. Looking up to Johnathon I could see the shock in his own eyes. Putting on a smile I replied, “But that’s a good thing, isn't it?” He just shook his head. I swear I heard a slight sob come from him. What the heck is going on? I thought to myself before looking back up at Johnathon who also has a very concerned look on his face for his friend and Beta.

“Andrew, if you found her, go get her. Bring her back. You know she’ll be accepted in the pack as your mate. If you’re worried about that if she’s a rogue or something. Something can be worked out man.” He said, trying to reassure his best friend from forever, that she’d be accepted. But Andrew just leaned on his elbows barely lifting his head before speaking.

“That’s the problem.” defeat written all over his face. “I don’t know what she looks like. I never got to see her face.” Johnathan and I shared another brief look.

“What do you mean Andrew? I thought you said you found her. How did you not get to see what she looks like?” Johnathan prompted this time.

“I don’t know, it was like she was invisible? I could smell her as if she was standing right next to me. But…” he trailed off. “I smelled her in the brush near the lake at first. I could hear her in there. Her smell was intoxicating as I struggled to keep Rusty at bay. The boys were starting to get frightened at his erratic behavior.” pausing to breathe. “I know she was there. The brush stopped moving, still and quiet, but… her scent was so strong. I swear I could have reached out and touched her. It was that strong around me.” looking between us shaking his head in disbelief of his own words. “But… She wasn’t there. I couldn’t see her. Not even the boys could see her. They couldn’t even smell her, not like I could.” placing his head back in his hands crushed. “What am I going to do? How am I going to find her again now that I’ve found her? Rusty is going crazy knowing she’s out there now. That she’s so close.”

“Ok. Andrew, I need you and Rusty to not fall completely apart. You are still our Beta and have responsibilities.” Andrew nodded his head in agreement. “However, if you say she’s out there, then we will help you find her. Any she-wolf found will be brought here for you to… sniff out. If she’s her, then…” Johnathan said, leaving his words open for a moment giving me a slight nod.

“We will welcome her, no questions asked.” I finished the sentence for him.

“But what if we never find her? I don’t think I can keep Rusty from going feral if that happens. He was already more than a handful without having her for so long before, but now that he knows she is out there somewhere… I don’t know if I will be able to control him if we fail.” he still sounded defeated but Andrew has waited a really long time for his mate. He deserved to be happy. They both do, him and Rusty.

“We won’t fail Andrew. We will find her, whoever she is.” I tried to reassure him, but his doubt was a heavy cloud suffocating me.

“But what if she doesn’t want to be found?” he questioned again.

“Then we will cross that when we get there. We will deal with Rusty at that time. You are more than our Beta Andrew. You are our children’s uncle and my best friend from our youth. I got you and Rusty. We’ve been through too much to allow you to crumble into irreconcilable pieces.” Johnathon also reassured which seemed to help. Although barely, I think.

“Now, let’s get ready for this impending war Shamira is bringing.” Johnathon said, bringing us back to our other situation.

“Where are we on the preparations? Does everyone have the new stealth uniforms?” Andrew asked, putting his game face back on. It is always interesting to watch men fall apart over a mate to be thrown deep into battle plans in an instant. A small chuckle left my lips at the immediate change. Both men looked at me like I was the crazy one. Arms crossed over their chests in contemplation.

“Nothing.” smirking to myself, waving off their intrigued glances. “Andreas informed me yesterday he was almost completed with another few hundred or so newly essenced suits that need activating. I was heading over this this afternoon so we can get them to more of the men. The sooner I can activate them the better.”

“I agree. Timber you go ahead over there while Andrew and I train the men and… see about this mysterious mate of his.” he nudged Andrew with his elbow on the latter playfully, giving a wink. Andrew seemed to be grateful for the assistance of his Alpha and friend, smirking playfully back with a nod.

“See ya boys!” I called out with a lifted hand wave before disappearing to the Southern Border lab.

~Layana POV~

‘Why did you do that, Layana?’ Mayra asked, upset and frustrated that I wouldn't show myself to our mate.

‘I don’t know. I just… I don’t know.’ Having a mate was never in the equation for the life I set up for myself. Mom always said a mate was more of a curse than a blessing. She never understood why we could not choose who we loved but had to succumb to the higher calling of a destined mate.

‘You felt the pull. I know you did! Now I will never find him again.’ Mayra sulked and whined loudly. ‘He wouldn’t have left us, Layana. He was made for us!’ she purred relentlessly at the latter comment.

‘You don’t know that. They all leave for someone else. He’s no different. I don’t want nor need him.’ the bitterness of my words stung as she howled in over exaggerated agony from them.

‘Oh calm down Mayra. If you really want to see him again I know the direction he went. We could scope him out. See what pack he resides in.’ appeasing her. She could be so irritating with her insistent whining. I don’t know how full blooded werewolves deal with their wolves all the time, giving an eye roll.

‘Really!?! Oh thank you Layana! You will love him too, I know you will. Once you get to know him.’ she bounced in excitement, her words overflowing with gratitude.

‘Yeah whatever. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one Mayra. But whatever to get you to stop pestering me about it. Remember, you cannot touch or speak to him, we will be cloaked the whole time we look. No exceptions!’ I demanded, as my condition for doing this.

‘Which way do we go?’ she asked eagerly. Acting like a lovesick teenage girl.

‘He went off to the west of the lake. The opposite direction we came from.’ I thought I felt her tense before the feeling was gone. What was that about? I thought, but didn’t push it. After checking in and getting debriefed with the coven, I took us to the lake where we saw him. His scent was still there, yet ever so faintly, before walking off in the direction his wolf took off to.