The Human In The Wolf Pack
Chapter 21

Rider

I could feel myself waking up as I searched the bed for my Vera. When my hand only found cold, empty sheets, I opened my eyes, alarmed. She wasn’t there. Before I became too panicked, I looked towards the bathroom and saw the door open, the lights off.

She wasn’t there. I went down stairs and saw that the house was empty, cold. Where was she? When did she leave? I shook my head. No, why would she go? She was perfectly happy when we went to bed. We had had a great day. She had… kissed me. What if she was taken? My panic was becoming suffocating as I raced back upstairs. Some of her clothing was missing along with her phone and wallet.

Then I noticed something. A letter rested solemnly on her pillow.Even though it was just folded paper, it seemed so intimidating. What would she say to explain her disappearance? What would that piece of paper say that she couldn’t tell me herself? I shook my head and picked it up quickly, ripping the envelope open hurriedly.

My dear Rider,

I never wanted this. I haven’t been honest with you this past month. I’m sorry, but I have been hiding something from you. At first, it seemed harmless enough, but it has snowballed into something I could have never expected. I don’t want to leave you, but I don’t have a choice. I can’t explain everything in just this piece of paper, but I’m safe.

I was given a gift a month ago. One that now feels like a curse. This gift changed me, made me less human. I couldn’t tell you, I was too scared that you would reject me. Now, it has all come back to haunt me. A man with similar gifts as mine came to me today, and said that I had to leave you. He said that I had to train, and that because of my gift, I now had a duty I had to fulfill. You can trust him, he’s a guard that will protect me until I’m strong enough to take care of myself.

Please do not worry. This is not goodbye. I will be back as soon as I can. Please, have faith in me. Forgive me, and please do not forget me.

I’ll see you soon, I love you.

Vera.

I crumpled the paper in anger and anguish. I felt my wolf pounding at my defenses, furious that our mate was gone. She can’t leave. I won’t let her. And who was she with? Her “guard”? A male? I could feel my vision turning black as my wolf fought for control. The words in the letter were becoming hazy, my mind too clouded with rage at the absence of my mate. I kept expecting her to jump out, the whole situation just a prank, but the house was quiet, her scent steadily fading.

If he f*****g lays a finger on her, I will rip him apart. My wolf started beating my mental barriers, desperate and furious. His strongest instinct? To protect our mate, who was know out of reach and with a strange male. At that thought, he quickly broke through, and I hunched over as his consciousness overcame my own. I let out a strangled howl and as my body changed, fury causing my fur to stand on its ends. My Beta, Blake, heard my howl and instantly responding with his own.

Alpha, what’s wrong? He mind linked me.

Vera is gone. She left, we must find her. I growled out, my answer short, but the words rang with an Alpha’s command.

Of course, Alpha. I’ll gather a team of trackers and warriors immediately. He said, his voice tense.

The Luna was gone. The mother of this pack was missing. This was a situation that was not only catastrophic in my mind, but it sent a uniform of panic through this entire pack. Twenty One years ago, they lost their Luna. They refused to sit by and let it happen again. So, my pack did something it had never done before. They shifted into human form, to track down our human Luna.

She will not leave us. My wolf growled dangerously.

I nodded, agreeing. Gift? Duty? None of that mattered to either of us. Her place was by our side, and I would raise hell before I let her go. While I am alive, Vera wouldn’t be going anywhere. No, not even over my dead body.

I grinned a dangerous smile as my bones snapped, shifting back into a human form. And that male guard? He better be fast enough to outrun a wolf pack, or his corpse will decorate my pack ground before the sun rises.

….

Vera

Tristan and I had been walking for hours now through the woods. My feet ached, and the lack of sleep was quickly catching up to me. Every step set me on edge, as my body screamed how wrong this was. Every fibre of my being demanded for me to return to my sleeping mate, to crawl right back into our bed and pretend this was all just a bad dream.

“Is this the plan? Walk across country?” I snipped at him, cranky.

He raised an eyebrow at me. I sighed, knowing that it wasn’t his fault. He was just the messenger, and it wasn’t right for me to take my frustrations out on him.

“Sorry. I didn’t get much sleep.”

“It’s fine. And no, I have a much better plan.” Was all he said.

The sound of leaves crunching under our feet was the only thing that occupied the space between us. It was just a bit passed four in the morning, and the air was briskly cold. I had found out that Rider was my mate at the Autumn Moon Festival on September twenty second, and it was now December. We were already well into a Montana winter, and the air almost burned in my lungs as our breath turned white in the freezing air.

Wind blew harshly, sending a chill to my bones as I shrunk into my thick jacket. The cold coupled with my sorrow a little too well as I turned to Tristan, thinking of all the things I was leaving behind. Ripley, Mom, Dad and Rose’s faces flashed in my mind. I wasn’t even able to tell them what was going on.

“Can I call my parents later?” I asked Tristan.

He looked at me, sharply, his blue eyes instantly on edge.

“You mean you brought your phone?”

“Yeah, why wo-“

Before I could finish my sentence, Tristan yanked open my bag, and grasped my phone.

“What are y-“

He crushed my phone. I gaped at him.

“What the hell?!” I yelled.

“We are on the run now. Your pack could easily use your phone to track you,” he snapped, exasperated and tense as he looked around the desolate forest.

“Think more, would you? This isn’t some sleep over,” he spoke, his words harsh as he turned his attention back to me.

I was stunned for a moment before anger speared through me, forcing a dry laugh through my lips.

“Oh yeah, because this is my idea of fun. Following around blindly after some dip s**t I just met less than a day before all because some lady from a dream gave me weird powers. I didn’t ask for any gift, okay?Leaving my mate, the one thing I never thought I’d get to have, to complete a mission that I don’t even understand! I could be in my warm bed right now, next to the man I love, but instead I’m hiking through the cold with some guy who just showed up in my house hours ago! I’m here for you, not for me. So, sorry I’m not perfectly trained in how to be a fugitive!” I yelled at him, my temper causing my face to heat up as I glared at the blonde before me.

He blinked, stunned. The mark on my wrist felt warm and it throbbed dully.

“I’m sorry, my lady,” he said, bowing his head slightly, his tone soft and compliant.

I looked at him confused, my anger running dry at his sudden change in attitude. Then I noticed it. I was levitating. Slightly, but surely, my feet were about a foot above the ground. I yelped, startled and I fell right back on my feet. I swayed, unbalanced before settling. I stood there, mind racing as Tristan watched, wordlessly.

You have more than just one gift, Vera. Terran reminded me softly.

I gulped before nodding.

“Let’s go,” I told Tristan, turning my attention back to the trek ahead.

We continued walking. Not ten minutes later, a familiar voice rang in my head.

Vera. Rider’s voice said sharply.

I faltered. Crap, the mind link. He rarely ever used it, the first and last time had been months ago, so I forgot that he could, as long as I was within range.

Where the hell are you? He asked.

Umm… I’m not sure. I answered in my mind, hoping what I projected, he could hear.

Get your a*s back here right now. He growled, his rage easily carrying through the mind link.

I felt chills run down my spine. I don’t think I had ever felt something so intimidating. It made me want to submit, but at the same time, run away. I winced, causing Tristan’s blue eyes to turn to me in question.

I can’t.

Because of this “mission” ? Speaking of which, who are you with?

Tristan. I answered hesitantly, the Alpha’s anger forcing me to respond before I could decide against it.

So you are with a male?!

I flinched slightly at the tone of his voice.

Don’t be jealous. We aren’t doing anything. I’m not coming back, Rider. I have things I need to do and that’s that. I’m sorry.

There was a pause.

Please. Don’t do this. I need you. This pack needs you. I’m going insane, Vera. His voice was desperate, and sincere. I felt tears burn my eyes. All I wanted was to be able to go back, but I needed to do this.

I let out a sad sigh.

I am too. But this has to happen. I’ve been hiding things, Ri. Important things. I have these… Abilities. And I have to save people.

You aren’t leaving. I’m sorry, Vera, but I can’t let you go.

A howl sounded, not too far away. I looked at Trenton with wide eyes.

“Run,” he said urgently, fear shining in his eyes.

And like that, we took off.