Beyond the Rift

Adrian

I stare down at my hands in disgust, these are the hands that would've killed my mate without a second thought, something very much like self loathing fills my body. I start to tremble, my chaotic emotions forcing me to lose control and almost phase.

Taking calming breaths I realise something's wrong, my head snaps up and a low growl forms in my chest. She's gone. The only thing left to signify her passing was the intoxicating apples and rain scent she left behind. This time I let the phase overtake me, tilting my head back as the tremors rock through my body. Abruptly I was standing under the dark green trees on all fours my ears pricked and tail waving, all this done in the blink of an eye.

With my wolf nose I could follow her trail a thousand times easier, I could also taste her emotions, making me whine in shame. Hurt and anger taint her scent, overripe apples and mud, it was my fault. Hastily I follow the trail, my paws sliding silently through the long grass and fallen leaves. My erratic thoughts spin through my head, hurricane Lyssandra. I have to find her.

***

Maybe showing up in the middle of the night wasn't the best idea but as I was scouting the town the scent of another wolf caught me by surprise, stirring feelings of protectiveness and worry for my mate. After the initial shock of realising that I had orders to kill the other half of my soul, I cooled down and remembered it was against pack law to kill a wolfs mate. But scenting the other wolf I realised my Lyssandra was also an unmated female with no protection, the saying 'up for grabs' when applied to her, made me want to punch something.

So that's how I ended up at her door being told I was a pathetic stalker, the wolf growled at the challenge in her voice but I pushed him down and forced myself to take calming breaths, that's when I scented another male, his smell clinging to her clothes and hair. I lost control.