The Alpha's Mate

11

Jace's POV

"What do you mean, you can't track them?!"

The best tracker we had, Max, stood on the other side of my desk, staring at the ground. We are wolves, but he can't pick up even a trace of their scents? It's impossible! They're just two humans, and there's no way they'd know how to mask their scents. Especially with all the fear they'd been feeling, they'd stink from miles away.

"I'm sorry, Alpha, but there's nothing to pick up on. It's like they had disappeared straight out of the infirmary. And I mean like teleported away."

"That's impossible." I growled and slammed my fist down on the desk. "I've lost my mate once, it's not going to happen again. Find her. Find her now."

Max bowed his head and quickly left the room. My wolf was growling nonstop in my head and I was on edge, ready to snap. I raked my hands through my hair and sat down heavily on my leather desk chair. The mate bond felt empty and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't feel her emotions, her thoughts. Both my wolf and I needed confirmation that she was okay, that she didn't think of us as a complete monster.

But we couldn't feel anything.

I growled again and let my head drop onto my desk. Frustration boiled inside of me. My little mate isn't going to slip through my fingers so easily! She won't reject me! She can't! I need her...

"Jace!"

The door burst open and my brother stood there, hope shining in his eyes. I slowly sat up straight and eyed him warily. He shut the door behind him and walked over, placing both hands on my desk and leaning onto it. I crossed my arms and scowled at him. This better be good.

"What, Caine?"

"You've fully mated with Laylee. Obviously. So you can track her!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Feel for her and follow the bond!"

I laughed humorlessly. "Don't you think I would've if I could? I can't feel her, it's like a void. No emotions, no thoughts. If I didn't know better, I'd think her to be dead."

"But that's it! You were searching for her feelings, her thoughts, so you were searching inside of her for answers. You failed to think about taking a step back and just feeling for her, in general. If you do that, then we can track them and get our mates back."

I sighed at my stupidity and rubbed my temples. "Okay, okay. I see your point. Just give me a second."

I latched onto the bond and instead of using it to try and probe into Laylee's mind, I used it to feel her. She was alive and healthy and... running. I scowled, but focused on the landscape as she ran with Misabelle. They passed a sign indicating one of the local campsites and I grinned, opening my eyes to look up at my brother.

"Pack up, we're going camping."

Laylee's POV

Misabelle snatched Rhys from my arms as we ran. Tears were drying on our faces from the harsh winds beating at us. Cora snuggled closer to me for warmth and I tucked her blanket tighter around her. God, I hope my babies don't get sick because of the weather. I looked up and saw us passing a sign indicating campsites ahead.

Yes! Civilization!

"Go left, Laylee!" Misabelle ordered me and I didn't argue, just sharply changed directions. We know that Jace could be watching through our bond, so I had set up some mental blocks, praying it'd keep him out.