Chapter 3 Mate

“Did you find the culprit behind the incident?” I asked, brushing my hair in front of the mirror. “No, not yet,” my beta replied with a worried expression. “Five years have passed since the incident, and we still have no leads,” he added, his tone filled with frustration. “Maybe you should let go of the past and focus on the present,” he suggested, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. I closed my fist, turning my head towards Dean, my eyes filled with determination. “I will rest until I catch the one responsible for what happened,” I declared, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “Just do what you have asked to do,” I stated, wearing my shirt and heading out the door, ready to start my day. Dean bowed his head in understanding, knowing that I was not going to give up until I found the one who ruined everything in my life. As I walked out into the morning sun, staring at the horizon with a steely gaze, “What day is it?” I asked, walking towards my car. Dean opened the door for me and replied, “It’s Tuesday, sir.” “Date?” I inquired as I got into the car. “June 15... why do you ask?” Dean responded, his tone filled with concern. I simply shook my head and started the car. Today is Henry’s birthday; the fool will finally turn 18 today. “Turn the car to pack house. I want to check on some things before we head to work,” I instructed Dean as we drove towards the packing house. Dean nodded in understanding and followed my directions without question. Maybe today I will finally get a chance to meet him. It has been 5 years since the last time I saw Henry, and I can’t help but wonder how much he has changed since then. Dean glanced at me with a knowing look, as if he could sense the anticipation in my eyes. “Why the pack house today?” he asked curiously. I simply smiled and kept my thoughts to myself, eager to see what the day would bring. “I am the Alpha; should I not be aware of what is happening within my pack?” Dean questioned, his tone slightly challenging. Dean nodded, continuing to watch me closely as we made our way to the packhouse, his curiosity evident in his eyes. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement building within me, knowing that reuniting with Henry after so long would bring about a wave of emotions and memories. He is my dear brother, but after becoming the Alpha of the pack, I have made myself different from him to keep him away from any potential conflicts of interest. I can’t let any harm come to him because of my position, no matter how much I miss him. It’s a sacrifice I have to make for the greater good of our pack. The car comes to a halt outside of the pack house, where Henry lives with other pack members. As I step out of the car, I can already feel the familiar bond between us pulling me closer to him, despite the distance I’ve tried to maintain. “Just once I want to see him without the past defining our interactions,” I think to myself as I walk towards the pack house. A sweet smell wafts through the air, a scent mix with cinnamon and pine, as my wolf howls in excitement at the thought of finding his mate within the pack house. I close my eyes, inhaling the scent deeply, allowing it to calm my nerves and reassure me that I am where I belong. I waited 5 long years, and my mate was always within my pack, but why haven’t I found her yet? The anticipation builds as I step closer to the packhouse, wondering if today will finally be the day I meet my destined mate. “Alpha..you are here?” One of the omega wolves shifts nervously, sensing my presence before I even enter the packhouse. I nod, a surge of hope and excitement filling me as I realize that perhaps today is the day my search will finally come to an end. “I want to walk through the packhouse and meet every member,” I said, my heart pounding with the possibility of finally finding my mate among them. “But why?” he asked, making me raise my eyebrow at his disrespectful tone. “Do as I say and call everyone in the living room,” I command, my alpha authority coming through in my voice. The omega nodded, turning to leave me alone with Dean as I waited anxiously for the pack members to gather. “Why do you want to meet every member?” Dean questioned, his eyes filled with curiosity. “Because I have a feeling that my mate is among them,” I replied, feeling a surge of hope and excitement at the thought. “Your mate is in this pack?” Dean asked, surprise evident in his voice. “Yes, and I will not rest until I find her,” I declared, determination shining in my eyes as I prepared to meet the rest of the pack members. I walked towards the group, my heart pounding with anticipation, ready to search for the one who would complete me. But the scent of my mate was already beginning to linger in the air, leading me closer to her with each step. I walked aimlessly around the pack, following the scent trail. My senses heightened and I focused on finding her. The thought of finally being reunited with my mate filled me with a sense of purpose and drive that pushed me forward. “Where are you?” I asked silently to myself, the urgency in my voice matching the intensity of my search. The connection between us was undeniable, and I knew that once we were together, nothing would ever be the same. My step comes to a halt as I catch a glimpse of her familiar silhouette in the distance, my heart racing with anticipation. She turns around, our eyes meeting, and a smile slowly creeps onto her face. “Alpha,” she whispers, her voice filled with relief and love. My nose tingles with the scent, but it is not the same scent that my wolf is howling for. She is not my mate. I walked away from her without looking back. But before I move, the familiar scent lingers and frails my nostrils as something heavy falls on my shoulder. “Mate,” my wolf growls, recognizing the scent before I do.