EMPIRE

5. Confrontations

After recovering from my momentary, albeit, unpleasant bout of sickness we've found ourselves at our station. It seems like it's taken us a lifetime just to get here. My mind is in an uproar, my Wolf incredibly unsettled and my stomach is still threatning me with the promise to upchuck if I don't stop pacing. But how can I possibly stop?

My Mate is in the territory at this very moment. A Wolf's life leads up to this point. To find your Mate is of the highest honor, how two beings can merge to become one in body and soul. It's what Wolves dream about until it finally happens. It could take centuries to find your Mate, some don't find them at all. How can I stand here, armed to the teeth with weapons and armour, knowing that he is out there. I know he sensed me as well, an instant link had been established between us. We could communicate were we to reach out.

However, I cut off the link as I have cut off all links with anyone outside the Dark Warrior division and the Alpha's. I don't even have a neural connection to my father at this point in time. My job is to serve my people and lead my team. I AM the leader and I cannot afford to be distracted. Were anything to happen and there I am off with the fairies, I would be held accountable for the outcome. These soldiers look to me for guidance upon this mission and although it seems completely irrelevent compared to the discovery of my Mate, I cannot have him talking into my head during these hours.

Therefore, the Mate link is temporarily offline.

It was incredibly painful to cut the link, even momentarily. It caused me to sway on my feet and trigger a massive migraine. I even had to sit down for a while due to the fierce pain streaking through my entire being.

Necessary.

I trace my free hand over the Scorpion Evo in my hands, the submachine gun only weighing a little despite the destruction that it can wreak upon the enemy. Funny how something so unsuspectingly small is only known for the mass death that it is the direct cause of.

I inhale lightly and force myself to look away from the mechanisims of the weapon in my grasp. We've been out here for many hours but I can't allow myself to lose concentration on the mission. Focus.

"I need to take off my shirt," Talon groans from behind me to Xkalah. I raise an eyebrow and turn to see Talon whining as he pulls at the collar of his armor. The air has been heating up to a slow boil over the last few hours, quite unusual for this time of year. Xkalah rolls her eyes and glances at me, her lips tugging up in a smirk. My own mouth twitches in amusement but I turn away before an unwanted smile appears.

"Focus, soldier," I call out, trying to keep my voice firm.

I'm sure he responds to me but I don't pay attention to his words as my full attention is drawn to a new scent that I barely pick up. I frown and inhale deeply, sweat, moisture, soil, body odor... then I smell it. The faint waft of unfamilar wolves. They aren't from our territory or any of the surrounding.

Talon and Xkalah become quiet, their small chat coming to an immediate halt as they both come to notice the smell. Kale, who'd posted himself two hundred yards out in front of us immediately establishes a link with us.

"Alpha, we have bogeys inbound. 400 yards out north. They've caught our scent and they're moving quick."

I clench my jaw and respond while picking up my pack off the ground, attaching the extra mags onto my belt and pulling my helmet onto my head before clipping it in.

"Copy that, message recieved. Can you identify?" I flick my gun's safety off and turn to Xkalah and Talon, waiting for Kale's response.

"Blood Rite pack, ma'am."

I nod slowly, I had known it would be them. Who else could it possibly be? My Mate isn't with them, I know this due to the fact that I can not smell nor sense them at all. This calms my nerves a little, knowing that I would not have to face my Mate while potentially fighting them. I can only pray to the Moon Goddess that I don't run into their Alpha.

Talon and Xkalah immediately look to me for instructions, and I turn to Xkalah, "alert the other squads. I want you hidden and untraceable, wait for my signal."

She nods and moves to obey. I clench my jaw and turn to my Beta who has moved to stand a couple feet before me. His eyes are hard and focused waiting for his instructions. Kale mutters in my mind their positions, updating me every five seconds or so. I inhale deeply, trying to calm my pounding heart.

"Alpha?" Talon murmurs, his voice cutting through my thoughts. He doesn't talk aloud, the Wolves are close enough to pick up on our conversation now were we to speak physically.

I flick my eyes up to meet Talon's, before licking my lips and responding, "I want you hidden." His brows furrow and his jaw clenches, before he can protest I continue, "now, Talon. Wait for my signal."

To my shock he leans in, his fingers brushing over the side of my face. I blink, unable to respond. Before I can say anything his hazel eyes narrow and he pulls his hand away from my cheek, his caress gone. He disappears into the foliage and I allow myself to breathe. What the hell was that?

Unproffessional and inappopriate, I guess. The skin burns painfully where he's touched me, the initial Mate link rejecting Talon. I swallow, my stomach tumbling with confusion and mixed feelings.

I shake my head and fix myself in a defensive stance, lifting the gun and resting my finger next to the trigger.

"They've arrived at your location," Kale all but whispers to me. I sense his voice waver a little. I exhale lightly, slowly turning my head to scan my surroundings. The scent has gotten stronger and I clench my jaw tightly, anxiety building. No doubt they've arrived. The air is too still, the silence too loud.

Then I see it and my heart leaps into my throat. Straight ahead of me the bushes are thick and still. Simply a lump of plantation, nothing can be seen past it. However, the longer I stare the clearer the inside becomes, allowing me to gaze right through the dense leaves.

To see a bright pair of yellow eyes staring right back at me.