CHAPTER 3

Lyell's Point Of View

"Alpha, guards are guarding the storage room. Five to be exact," Gemma, one of the gammas informed me through the mind link. I stood my feet on the oak tree and searched around the area.

"Gemma, Torin, and Riaz, I believe you can take them down. Make it quick and quiet. And get me all information you can find in there."

"Yes, Alpha," Gemma replied.

"The rest of you should meet me at the front gate in ten minutes. And Riaz, don't touch anything I don't ask you to."

"Not even pretty diamonds," he whined.

"Not even those. We're here for business, not to steal. Don't touch anything unimportant," I warned.

"Yes, Alpha," He replied grudgingly.

"Good. Meet me at the gate in ten. Go," I cut them off and turned my attention to the guard at the front gate. I jumped down from the tree and landed stealthily on the ground.

My wolf, Dex, has been pining since we got here. The air shifted a few minutes ago, a new scent perhaps? My wolf has not shut up since about it. It has us both on edge constantly. My wolf has no idea what it is but he is nervous, he is never showing emotion, not to me or anyone and it's really starting to agitate me further.

"It's MATE! Mate is here! She's close, I can feel it! We must get close to mate... I've never smelt this before! It's her...we must get to her! Mate!"

What he said made me freeze. Mate?

Just as I was about to freak out, sniffing the hair like a fucking hound dog and barging recklessly into the palace grounds to look for proof, my beta's voice came through the mind link.

"Alpha, we found something that might interest you,"

Mate! Let's go see mate!

Oh, for fuck's sake!

"Alpha?"

"Is everyone alright?" I say back, trying to get Dex's voice out of my head.

"Yes, Alpha, no one was noticed,"

"Good. You all come to the gate. I have something I need to find."

"What is it, Alpha? We'll find it for you."

Mate! She's close.

I shut my eyes, trying so hard to keep Dex in control. "No, this is something I have to find myself." I said, my voice coming out thick as Dex tried to take over me.

"Yes, Alpha,"

I shut him out and climbed up the tall fence of the palace. I jumped inside and landed at the back of the treadmill. When I was sure the coast was clear, I stepped out. I walked further and a guard passed me by.

"Who are you?" He demanded.

I paused. The smell coming from him smelt heavenly. I sniff the air and it's coming from around him.

"Are you deaf?!" He smacks my shoulder. I pulled him by his collar closer to myself and sniffed in his scent. He was in contact with her. Did he touch my mate? The thought of him touching her made my blood boil.

He tried to smack my hand off but my grip was stronger. "Where is she?" I demanded authoritatively.

"Who?"

My wolf came out forcefully, my eyes turning red, "the girl you just touched! WHERE IS MY MATE!" I growled out to his face, making him lower his gaze, submitting to the authority of my wolf.

"I don't know who you're talking about," he cried. I grabbed him by the neck and held him above the ground. My anger came off in waves. Dex was in control of my body.

"S...she's..u..up th..there," he strained out, pointing up a vine wall.

He is trashing at my hold and I release him, cursing at my wolf for doing whatever the fuck he wanted. I planned to come here and leave unnoticed.

I rubbed my hand down my face and squint my eyes, my senses flooded with her heavenly smell. I need to see her. I need proof. I need-

"Who are you?" I glanced at the lowlife on the floor who was gasping for air. Suddenly annoyed by his presence, I hit a weak spot in his neck and he fell unconscious.

I jumped high and landed on the balcony of the building.

I walked a few distances before I came across a hairpin. I picked it up and sniffed it softly.

MATE!

It's her!

Could Dex be saying the truth? I have a mate in Raven Pack right now? Who is she? Is she younger? Older? What does she look like?

I itch so much to find the answers to these questions. I squeezed the pin in my palm and turned in the other direction. My mate is no more here. I jumped down the wall and raced toward the direction of the garden. Yes! I can smell her. Her scent is even stronger.

I halted at a right turn. I felt her presence. I turned right and took quite careful steps toward the stables. My heart was thumping wildly, Dex grew more agitated as her scent grew stronger and stronger.

I got in through a small door and paused when I saw a feminine figure.

IT'S HER! IT'S MATE! LET'S GO TAKE HER!

No. I shouldn't be rash. Even though it was hard, I controlled Dex and approached her slowly. She suddenly turned to one of the stalls, trying to open it.

"Shit, it's locked!" She cursed in annoyance, turning to another. She tried opening that one too but it was also locked. She was restless as if she was hiding from something. I sighted an approaching shadow. No, I must save her. Using my super speed, I ran to her and pulled her out through the back door. Her breath was shaky and her body was trembling.

She raised her head to meet my gaze and just like that, I was frozen.

I didn't expect it to be her.

"So it's you," I said in disbelief.

She batted her long eyelashes in confusion.

It's her.