The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

AZRIEL’S POV

It’s been one week of intense sorrow and pain.

Since the portal of the dark forest disappeared and the message from the luna was sent to the Alpha, I had not set my eyes on him.

The atmosphere of the pack seemed like we were in mourning. Everyone moved about conspicuously, bearing the pain of our Alpha.

I couldn’t believe it myself. Over the years, despite trying to bring Zadok out of his slum by insinuating his mate was dead, a part of me felt she was still alive.

Call it a beta’s instinct, but I just had this silent resolve that the Luna couldn’t be dead.

Unlike Shilhi, whom I watched explode into a million pieces, she didn’t explode. Ithra disappeared – Just like they had disappeared from the packlands and entered the dark forest.

Hearing Aaron repeat what he said to me, everything in me kicked against it. I couldn’t believe that my half-sister and Luna was dead.

Acknowledging that fact in my head made a new wave of sorrow fill my heart. I couldn’t understand why because we never had a cordial relationship, and I didn’t have an opportunity to confirm if truly she was my sister.

I didn’t trust anything Shilhi said, no matter how true it seemed.

Getting up from my bed, I walked to my window, needing some fresh air when I heard a powerful howl coming from the Alpha’s Chambers.

I felt my heart break all over again as I heard the sorrow and pain attached to the howl. For seven nights straight, we listened to the painful howls of our Alpha wolf – Kir.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Every single time, I’ve fought the urge to barge into his chambers and comfort him, but I knew he’d rather be alone as he came to terms with the loss of his mate.

A pain he had refused to acknowledge until the appearance of Aaron.

I returned to bed, dabbling with thoughts of how life would be if Ithra were not dead, and how different things would have been, had she not shown up in our territory.

Zadok would probably be mated to the strongest she-wolf. He might have come to terms with the fact that he was cursed, while I stood in the sidelines, watching him rule with who would have been my mate.

I knew Athaliah had the hots for him, and it was only a matter of time before he accepted her advances. She was the strongest shewolf after all.

*****

The next morning came with an announcement to the werewolf race.

Another mating ceremony was in the corner. I went to Zadok’s office with the invitation as I had done for the past three years. Unsure of what to expect.

Three knocks in, and I heard him order me in.

I stepped inside the office and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Zadok was seated in his office, looking like a shadow of himself.

His eyes darkened, and he was as pale as a vampire. He seemed like he wrestled with the devil and barely made it out alive.

“If you are done moping, then you should get to telling me why you are here, Azriel.”

His voice was groggy as he spoke, but I could tell he was trying his best not to be hostile, and doing a shitty job at it.

“There’s a letter from Cole.” He sat up, and I handed the letter to him. “He is hosting the mating ceremony this year and he specially invited you over.” I gritted my teeth as I remembered the asshole, “I’m sure he wants to confirm the rumours. This is his way of finding out if you are still as strong as he knew. Only God knows what he has planned.”

Zadok didn’t utter a word. He read through the invitation with a clenched jaw and dropped it on the table with a sigh.

“I’ll send word back, telling him you can’t make it,” I said, picking up the invitation,

“No.” Zadok surprised me with his words. His lips stretched to a closed lip smile and I was shocked. “and why would you do that, Azriel? Don’t you think it’s about time I attended a mating ceremony? It’s been what? Three years?”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “You want to attend the c-ceremony?” I asked, wondering who was before me.

“Of course not.” He said and I felt my heartbeat reduce. “But since he is very curious about what is going on with me, Don’t you think I should show up?” Zadok got to his feet, easily towering over me. “I need to make a statement to those slimy Alpha’s with any stupid intentions against my pack.” He said, “I am the alpha, and it’s about time I took on my responsibilities of protecting the pack, don’t you think?”

I swallowed, wondering what the hell happened to Zadok overnight.

“And what better place to do that than the annual mating ceremony?” He asked with a smirk.

“You are going?” I asked. “You are going to attend the mating ceremony?”

His silence confirmed my words. And with the firmness of his stance, I knew there was no talking him out of it. His mind was made up.

“They might think you want a mate.” I blurted out and mentally slapped myself after the words were out.

“Who knows,” He shrugged, “I might pick a mate while at it. I need a Luna after all.”

I heard the bite in his voice when he said the word luna. He was still hurt. And was doing a terrible job hiding it.

“Do you think we should visit the Celts Clan?” I asked the thought that boiled in my heart since the portal disappeared.

Zadok’s face grew grim, “And why would we do that, Azriel?”

It was a miracle he hadn’t chopped off my head. I took it as a green light to continue. “Shilhi made the first portal. And from what we know, the ancient clan is the Celts clan. Maybe we can get them to create a portal like the one she created, to assess the dark forest.”

Silence. The silence in the room felt nauseating.

“And? What happens if they create the portal?” Zadok growled, “Of what use is the portal to us?”

“Alpha. I understand you are hurt by Ithra’s-”

“Don’t you dare,” He cut me off with blazing eyes. “Don’t you ever say her name in front of me, do you understand that?”

I wanted to speak but I decided against it. “Yes, Alpha.”

It was stupid to bring up his hope again when there was nothing concrete that proved she was still alive – Except the killer instinct that pressed in my heart.

“Good. Rally the people. It’s about time I addressed their concerns.”