Free the Wolf

Chapter 20

"It smelled just like you."

"I didn't see the boy you mentioned. But I saw a couple of rogues passing around a beanie, just like the one in the picture. They were sniffing it and laughing. They had a sinister smile etched on their faces."

"I tried to get closer, but they caught my scent. I didn't think twice, and ran until I bumped into you."

The boy looked up with fear. Not wanting to defy the alpha, but wanting to get his point across.

I looked at the young boy, kneeling on the ground. He didn't look to be more than 8 years old. I sighed. Frustrated that I couldn't find my mate and was about to let it out to a young boy.

I calmed myself and my wolf before asking in which direction he came from. to which he pointed.

I looked behind me and signaled all the wolves to start searching the surrounding area from which the boy came. I crouched down and looked at the boy. he was terrified and I understood. being surrounded by a lot of huge wolves I would be scared too.

I gently grabbed the young boy's arm and pulled him up while asking for his name; which was Ezra.

I gently asked, " why are you roaming the woods alone?" To which he replied. " my parents were rogues. They were killed while hunting. they were just trying to get me some food and they crossed a pack border by accident chasing a rabbit" He shifted his gaze toward his feet and started sniffling.

My heart clenched. He looked only 8 years old. My heart clenched knowing he was all alone in these woods not knowing where he is. I'm just glad nothing happened to him.

I called for one of the warriors and I gently grabbed Ezra's hand and guided him toward my warrior.

I looked down at him gently and said. "This is Johnny. He's going to take you back to our home." He started shaking and grabbed my arm. He looked up with tears brimming his eyes, shaking his head no. I squatted down to his level and quickly explained that nothing is going to happen; that johnny is one of my strongest warriors and he will not let anything happen to him.

" I have to go find my mate. After I find him,I promise I will come back for you." I gently patted his head.

He was still hesitant and trembling. But he let go of my arm and followed johnny safely to the pack house.

I traced back with my beta and the rest of the warriors. I transformed back into my wolf and went back to searching for my mate.

This went on for a while which felt like hours when finally we were able to catch my mate's scent. We quickly followed his scent until it led us into an abandoned cabin.

" I need you to search the surroundings for anything that catches your glance. The rest follow me to investigate the cabin."

I circled the cabin and noticed that the cabin looked abandoned. The wood was chipped, windows were broken. Weeds were wrapped around the house like a blanket. The door was slightly open.

I shifted back to my human form and cautiously walked towards the front door. My beta and best warrior were by my side in an instant. We slowly entered the cabin and weren't surprised by what we found. The inside was just the same as the outside. Objects were broken and strewn around the cabin. A Dining table was knocked over, and Pieces of glass were all strewn throughout the room which I assumed were from the broken windows.

We looked throughout the whole cabin and nothing grabbed my attention until something caught my eye in one of the rooms.

It was a hoodie. The one he always likes to wear at school. I grabbed his hoodie and brought it towards my nose and sniffed, his scent was still there meaning that this was left behind recently.

I clenched the hoodie and swiftly walked outside. The acting beta and my strongest warrior met me by the front doorstep once again. Without a word, I passed the hoodie towards the acting beta. They caught on.

I left the cabin and quickly mind-linked the rest of the pack.

"This is my mate's hoodie," I said While passing it around. Each member carefully got his scent.

Track his scent. If anyone finds it, inform all of us immediately through the pack link. Do not... I repeat do not proceed on your own. We will meet at this location in an hour. Then we will proceed on what to do next.

Everyone nodded their head in agreement and separated into their designated groups while I walked toward the current beta and other warriors. Once everyone gathered, we shifted into our wolves.

We all split into four groups covering north, east, south, and west.

My group covering the north side, while the current beta covers the east side. Sam's group covered the south side; finally, the current lead warrior and matt covered the west side.

we patrolled for what seemed like miles until sam pack linked saying he finally caught his scent. my wolf was overly ecstatic as we were closer to getting my mate.

we all met at the run-down cabin once again. the current beta and Matt explained the situation; that his scent reached over the border of Missouri. and started planning our next move, as soon as we all come to an agreement we start moving.

I'm coming, Ashton!