Mate by Fate, Bound by Love

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*Adrian’s POV*

I kept calling out to Ian, but he wasn’t answering. He remained awfully quiet. I begged and pleaded, but to no avail. Deep down, I sensed something coming-danger drawing nigh. It’s all the more reason why I couldn’t bear to think that Ian had disappeared again.

The last time this happened, it was far from funny. I was lucky Ian had shown up at my lowest point.

My head was swimming with thoughts. I had to find a way to save Lena, guilt gnawing at me after giving Claire consent to do whatever she liked. I knew that at this very moment, Claire would be hatching her plans to find the black witch.

I called my Beta, who rushed in.

“Go check if Claire is in her chambers. If she isn’t there, check her father’s place as well,” I ordered.

“Yes, my lord,” he said and left.

After a while, he returned, reporting that Claire was nowhere to be found in or around the pack’s abode. He also mentioned that some guards and maids were missing. I knew instantly that she had begun her journey to find the black witch.

Oh, what a relentless daughter of a bitch. She was going to see her plans through to the end.

“Get our warriors and strongest men. Tell them to secure the area and prepare for anything. I sense looming danger, though I don’t know where it will come from. Just tell them to stay alert,” I commanded.

“I’ll do just that, sir,” he replied.

“Also, take two of our strongest to watch over Lena’s cell. Tell them they must not take their eyes off her for a minute. If anything happens to her on their watch, they’ll answer with their heads,” I added grimly.

“Understood, my lord,” he said and left to relay my message.

My mind was still unsettled. I kept calling to Ian to come back, but nothing happened. It was as if he had gone to another realm. I couldn’t feel his presence like I used to.

I hated feeling this way-powerless and in need of help. Unable to calm myself, I stood up and went to Lena’s holding cell. Upon arriving, I saw the two wolf warriors assigned to watch over her.

“Leave us,” I ordered.

As they left, Lena’s voice cut through the silence. “Have you come to finish what you’ve started?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“Oh! So now you’re going to play dumb like you don’t understand what I’m saying?” she retorted.

Honestly, I liked this new Lena. She was more outspoken. This recent change in her made me want her more, but… you know I can’t be with a spy.

“I’m not playing dumb. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.

“Okay, so why don’t we ask your alter ego, huh? He’ll probably remember since your brain is too small to,” she taunted.

I saw what she was trying to do-attempting to anger me and awaken Ian. Little did she know that at this point, Ian was gone, and I had no idea when he’d return from wherever he’d disappeared to.

“Do you want to get yourself killed?” I growled, feigning annoyance.

“That’s more like it,” she said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.

“More like what?” I pretended not to understand.

“More like the big, bad, merciless alpha wolf you are. Always ready to tear down his enemies. I can’t believe I fell for such a man-a man with no regard for life.”

I could tell she was only trying to provoke me. I wondered what she hoped to gain from this. Maybe she was trying to determine if it was me or Ian standing here talking to her.

“Danger is coming,” I blurted out, watching for her reaction.

I needed to see if she knew anything, but her face remained expressionless. Instead, she burst into laughter.

“‘Danger is coming,'” she mimicked. “So what? Do you know how you sound, Adrian? You sound afraid.”

“Afraid?” I scoffed. “I’m Adrian, and nothing in this world is strong or big enough to make me afraid, Lena. The little time you spent with me should tell you that.”

Truthfully, I was scared, but I wasn’t about to admit it to Lena. That would be a blow to my pride and a stain on my image. I’d rather die in silence than let anyone know I had lost my big bad wolf persona.

“I would be disappointed to see you afraid,” she paused. “So tell me, where do you sense this danger from? What kind of danger is it, and why are you here telling me about it?”

“I should be asking you about this danger,” I replied, deflecting.

“Don’t tell me we’re still on this spy nonsense,” she said, laughing hysterically.

“You haven’t given me a reason to believe otherwise, Lena,” I said, pacing around the cell.

I could sense the danger getting closer. One striking ability of alpha wolves is sensing danger, and mine is unnaturally heightened. It’s been helping me keep my pack safe.

“Why are you pacing around like a scared cat?” Lena prodded.

“I’m not scared,” I growled.

“That’s it, right there. The big bad wolf I know,” she said, a hint of mockery in her voice.

“So tell me, what’s eating you up?” she asked, her tone softening slightly.

“What are we? Friends now?” I asked, suspicious.

“Oh, definitely not. We’re sworn enemies, but the fact remains that you’re the father of my child. I’m not as heartless as you all are, to not care for a living being,” she said angrily.

I felt touched by what she said. Despite the fact that I had imprisoned her and given Claire the go-ahead to fetch a black witch to remove her child and put it in Claire’s womb, she still cared about me. I was touched but didn’t show it.

Now was not the time to be moved by sentiment.

“Who did you tell about us?” I asked, masking my emotions with feigned annoyance.

The air between us crackled with tension as I waited for her answer, my senses still on high alert for the approaching danger.