The Guardian

Two

Connor listened or well pretended to listen as his mother rambled on and on about mate this, and mate that. Honestly, Connor had become tired of hearing about mates and finding his own. He'd humored his mother and went to surrounding pack's in search of his mate, but in the end, had returned empty-handed.

He hadn't caught scent or seen any signs of his mate being near. In the beginning, he had been excited about finding his mate, but as the years went on, and with no results and leaving him still mateless he pushed the depressing thoughts away. For all he knew, his mate had died.

"Connor! Are you even listening to me?" Isabeth growled with frustration as she smacked the back of her son's head. She knew he hadn't been listening to her, and while she knew she could be a nag now and then a mate was serious business, and her son didn't seem to care about his own happiness. She knew he'd die for his family and his pack, but he also needed to have something to live for. A mate would do that for him, give him added motivation.

Connor winced as his mother's hand connected with the back of his head, and he sighed. "Mother, I've told you. I've searched the pack's. What more do you want me to do? Go out and check out the surrounding woods?" He ended sarcastically and knew by the look on his mother's face that she was less than amused by his attitude.

"No, not really. But, I would like for you to be serious about this. You need your mate, why can't you understand that?" Isabeth tried again, to make her son see sense. "A mate is so much more than you can comprehend. I wish I could explain everything, but I can't. I know you wouldn't understand me."

Connor nearly rolled his eyes, he remembered very well his mother's lectures. A mate wasn't just a breeder, but she was everything. She would be the reason he woke up, the reason he returned home, she would be the light to his darkness. Overall, Connor had summed it up to his mate basically leading him around by a leash.

He wasn't keen on the idea, but regardless that's what it was. He had his emotions in control, but supposedly with a mate, his emotions would go haywire. He didn't want that either. His pack needed a strong leader, and someone who was reliable. Not someone who thought with the wrong head.

"Mother, please I've heard this so many times. I really don't need to hear it again." Connor said, not giving his mother a chance to corner him again, he retreated from the room throwing back that he had some training to attend. When he had finally freed himself from his mother, he was immediately jumped from behind. Connor heard hushed laughter and could feel the smaller body of his brother against his back. "Joey, what have I said about sneaking up on me?" Connor asked sternly, though was continuously impressed by his eight-year-old brother's stealth.

Connor turned the moment Joey was off his back and stared down at him. Joey looked up at him, his lower lip slightly puckered as he spoke, "y-you said that I shouldn't ever sneak up on you, because you could accidentally hurt me." Connor nodded, and Joey's face instantly brightened as he added, "but I know you'd never hurt me. You're my big brother, and you said you'd always protect me!" Connor shook his head, amused. Joey was so sure that he'd never hurt him, but Connor was trained and had been in battles. Even on his territory, his body reacted before his brain could comprehend. He could easily send Joey flying into a wall without even realizing who it was.

"I could hurt you Joey, but I'd never do it on purpose. And, I will protect you, just as I protect everyone else." Connor ruffled Joey's head, earning a laugh from his brother. "Go play now, but remember to stay in the courtyard." He sighed when his brother disappeared, and went about his task. He was overseeing the training of the newest wolves today, and he had to keep his head in it. He had to make sure he could point out, and pin points every and all weakness so that they could be corrected. One weakness known by the enemy could mean death to that wolf.

*

*

A few hours later Connor returned to the pack house, his body covered in dirt and sweat. He wanted nothing more than to shower away the filth, but he needed to make sure that everything was as it should be before he retired. When he came closer to the pack house he could see several members surrounding the front door, and as he drew closer, he heard his mother's frantic voice. "Have you seen him? Was he with Adam??" Connor moved quicker, making it through the small crowd and stood in front of his mother within seconds.

"Oh! Connor!" Isabeth sighed in relief when she saw her son approach her. "Did Joey go with you? I can't find him, he knows he's not allowed out at sunset, and he still hasn't returned."

Connor tensed, knowing from the fear he read in his mother's eyes that she'd also seen his change. Connor grabbed hold of his mother and led her back into the pack house while linking his Beta Jake and four of his veteran warriors. "Mother, stay inside the packed house," Connor said, moving back towards the front door.

"Connor you can't expect me to just sit here!" Isabeth yelled, following her son, but instantly stopped when he turned on her.

"Mother, you're to stay here in case he comes back. I- when he does mind link me and we will be back, but you aren't to leave this house until I return and that's an order." Connor was unapologetic, his main concern was for his brother who had disappeared. Connor turned his back and left the pack house.

He met up with his veterans and Beta a few feet from the house. "Find Joey and bring him home. We don't stop until he's found, understood?" Connor received a choir of 'yes Alpha's, and then continued. "Search the perimeter of the territory, find his scent whoever finds it be sure to link the rest of us. Go!" Connor ordered, splitting off from the other's, hoping to cover more ground. He sent up a silent prayer to the goddess to look out for his brother and prayed he wasn't harmed.