Chapter 4 Let's go

Draven POV

As the son of a pack leader, I didn't have the luxury of spending my teenage years playing with friends or sneaking out to go to parties.

Every moment of free time was spent on rigorous training to build my body and my mind for the position I was bound to inherit.

Unlike others my age, I realized pretty quickly that having true strength was the only way to protect the things I cared about. Which were my pack, my home, my people.

I shouldn't have had to become a pack leader before I even turned eighteen. But after a rogue attack snatched my mother from us, my father became a shadow of himself.

It was hard to see him that way. The strongest warrior I knew was slowly wasting away. The name of his dead mate never leaves his lips.

But I didn't have it for too long. Within a few months of her death, he followed her, and teenage me had to step up to the responsibility of ensuring my pack's survival.

Luckily, I soon discovered I had been blessed with an ability that helped me conquer all the packs that had tried to take over after my father's death.

Not only did I kill those Alphas and pack leaders who'd lusted after my home, but I replaced them all with new people who would be loyal to me.

Finally, I could rest. Or so I thought.

Then the whispers started. Little comments from pack leaders who tried to recommend their daughters to me at every turn.

Servants slipping into my room at night or somehow falling into my arms while walking, even when there was nothing to trip them.

After months of relentless nagging from my advisors, I finally agreed to have a mate, but on one condition.

I would only accept the one given to me by the goddess. I would search for her in all the packs under my rule, and if I failed to find her, then they would give up and never mention the matter again.

Despite knowing the chances were slim, they'd agreed. So I was now on my way to yet another pack, to search for a mate that I didn't need or want.

Goddess helping me, I wouldn't find her on this trip.

************

When we arrived at Windborne, Carter greeted me with a wide smile. "It's an honor to have you here, Alpha Draven."

My lack of a response didn't dampen his smile one bit.

"Alpha Draven, Carter called, gesturing to the highest table in his pack hall. "Please sit and allow us to entertain you for a while. The maidens will be called out shortly."

So I sat down and waited. First, the warriors came in and had sparring matches. I watched at first, but soon lost interest when I realized they were repeating the same few moves over and over again.

In a real battlefield, they would have been wiped out already.

When the unmated females were lined up before me, a few stared at me while making little movements with their bodies as if they could somehow seduce me into picking them.

I snorted with cold laughter, and they immediately withdrew their gazes and bowed their heads.

That was more like it.

I moved from one maiden to another, self-satisfaction blooming in the pit of my stomach as I confirmed my mate was not among them.

Seems like the goddess still favors me after all.

I turned to Carter and shook my head, trying to appear regretful. "None of them are my mate."

His eyes, which had been wide with hope, dimmed instantly.

I sneered inside and got up to start leaving, but he stopped me. "Alpha Draven, you may not have found your mate, but I still wish for you to enjoy your time fully here.

Wind Borne pack is known for our hospitality. How could we just let you leave so soon, just because we weren't blessed with the honor of being tied to your pack by marriage?"

I paused for a moment. He's a smooth talker, but he was right. If I left, rumors would likely spread saying I was so disappointed at not finding my mate that I immediately left angrily.

**********************

Carter had excused himself for a while when a woman suddenly burst into the hall. She was bruised in several places, but none of the pack members batted an eye.

I raised an eyebrow. It looks like the Wind Borne pack is worse than I thought.

She bowed to me, and I nodded, permitting her to speak. Her words surprised me. She was a small woman, but she stood boldly in the center of her pack and renounced them, despite knowing they would probably attack her for it the moment I turned my back.

Or perhaps, that's what she had been banking on. My presence here was the perfect opportunity for her to escape the pack without fear for her life. I watched her with a quiet appreciation. This one had the heart of a warrior.

However, her next words shocked me and everyone in the hall.

No, not everyone. I could see the anger instead of surprise on Sophia's face.

I looked to the woman again, when suddenly a sweet scent assaulted my nostrils. It was a blend of cinnamon, vanilla, and honey, and it was coming from her.

My wolf, Ash, was already urging me to go forward quickly and investigate.

I walked towards her, and he was smaller than I had expected. She barely reached my chest, but to her credit, she didn't step back even as I moved closer to her.

I cradled her face in my hand, surprise coloring my voice as I said, "Mate."

Carter burst into the hall and tried to attack my mate. My wolf Ash bristled, ready to attack, but I held him down as I faced Carter and pushed my mate behind my back.

Sophia soon came forward to try to resolve the situation, but her words had Ash bristling even more.

He spoke to me 'Don't tell me you won't punish this woman for speaking badly about our mate?'

I released Carter's hand and asked him. "What exactly happened?"

He shifted uneasily on his feet for a while before explaining the situation to me.

I frowned. "Do you mean, no investigations were conducted, and my mate was punished just because she came out of the room?"

He tried to defend himself, "That's not all, Alpha Draven. When she came out, her hands were deeply covered in blood. She was obviously the murderer."

I stared down at him in silence. Was he stupid or just pretending to be?

"What child, upon seeing their mother lying in a pool of blood, would not try to touch her?

Are you taking me for a fool, Carter?" I finished lowly, a growl slipping out of my lips.

A low moan of discomfort came from behind me, and I turned, only to see my mate fainting.

I immediately stretched out my arms to catch her and pulled her closer to my chest as I said, "This isn't over, Carter. I'll be expecting a proper explanation."

I nodded to my beta, Lucas, who had stood silent beside me all the while. "Let's go."