SWNOVELS Chapter Thorns
His needs were straightforward enough, the same as his job was..usually.
Except now Cade was trudging through the underbrush with the hosting packs' Beta’s son Mikhail, grumbling about having to rescue a wolf that couldn't hold his own in a fight.
As a pack warrior, the concept of being bested in a physical confrontation was foreign to him, and Cade wished for the millionth time that he had passed on this particular assignment.
Elena Carmichael did not need a guard, her powers hummed through her tiny frame, and she was a friendly wolf anyway, who didn't really make enemies.
Cade could only surmise that his Alpha wished to protect her unique abilities from being exploited, rather than any actual physical threat, not that it was any of his business. A job was a job. It started when he got Elena to her destination, and if the Howling was unsuccessful, it would end when Cade returned her safely to the Midnight pack in three days' time.
Except Elena thought this weak wolf they were on their way to help was her mate. Oh, Goddess, what would Alpha Eric do after learning his daughter has been fated to a much lower-ranked wolf?
The Howling was only a few hours away, if it was true, then Elena would no longer be allowed to participate, and he would have to send word back to the Alpha that she had indeed found her mate and the future Alpha of the Midnight pack.
It was no secret that Elena was a bit of a mystery when it became clear that she was an Elemental and could influence the wind during her youth. Elena was sent into the jungle to train. She spent ten years there, mastering her craft, and only returned to her pack last year when she turned eighteen.
None of the pack wolves could hold a candle to Elena, she shone brighter than the sun, and Alpha Eric made sure everyone knew she was his pride and joy, a master of her craft and a pureblood Alpha since both of her parents were Alpha born wolves.
This low-blood pup would have a battle on his hands to prove his worth and suitability as Elena's mate, and Cade didn't envy him. Eric could be an arsehole if he didn't like you.
"Cade, it shouldn't be much further, uh did your she-wolf tell you if this wolf had a name?"
Oh shit, that's right, he had company; Cade was an introspective wolf, so talking for the sake of talking didn't really appeal to him, but, as yet another branch smacked him in the face, he forced himself to answer Mikhail's question.
"Miss Elena is of higher rank than yourself, Beta Mikhail, she is Alpha born to two pure Alpha bloodlines and an Elemental wolf as well; failure to respect her rank will most likely cause you embarrassment when she sends you sailing into the nearest lake with.her.mind... and no she gave no name for the wolf, except to say he is her mate and currently in and out of consciousness."
Mikhail's sigh of relief didn't go unnoticed, and as they turned onto a well-used walking track, Cade couldn't help but throw a puzzled look his way.
"Is there something I should know, Beta?"
Mikhail's ears reddened as he hastened to reply.
"No, no, no, it's just that there aren't usually random attacks in our community, and with so many wolves from out of town here currently, I just wonder if it's somehow related, oh and by the way, my dad is the Beta of this pack, I'm just Beta in training so feel free to call me Mikhail, my Mom works in the nursery, my older sister Isabella is one of the head pack warrior trainers, she’s supposed to participate in the Howling tonight, but I doubt she will, she kind of prefers her own company, and my younger sister Raeann is training to be the next pack doctor so you'll get to meet her when we present ourselves to the clinic."
‘ Wow,’ Cade thought to himself, ‘this young pup had a lot to learn about pack politics.’ In the space of a sentence, he told a warrior wolf from another pack where to locate the entire Beta family, a massive advantage to someone wanting to wipe out the pack's second strongest wolves.
"You talk too much, pup," he muttered, "Did your father not warn you about giving out important members' locations?''
Mikhail visibly stiffened before replying, "My father taught me to recognize a wolf's true intentions through body language from an early age Warrior Cade. I made an assessment and found you to be honorable. Are you telling me my judgment is flawed?"
Cade had no choice but to concede.
"Fair call, kid."
As they turned the corner, in the dim light, Cade could make out the petite form of his charge, currently sitting on the dirt with a young man's head cradled in her lap; they’d found Elena and her mate.
Elena looked up as the smell of rainforest and raspberries filled her nostrils. Her eyes landed on the gorgeous wolf striding towards her with Cade...Wait...what?
Sephora was dancing madly in her head, trying desperately to retake control, but Elena forced her back down, MATE! That can't possibly be right!
This wolf looked to be a few years younger than her, which meant he wouldn't yet feel the mate pull, but by Goddess, Elena could, her pulse was racing, womanhood moistening as she clamped her legs together, a small whimper trying to break past her lips. The smell of both males combined was sending Sephora into a frenzy of lust and desire, images of the men naked taking her from behind, using their mouths and tongues to pleasure her invaded Elena’s mind and she feared she would soon lose control and give in to her wanton cravings, for Goddess sakes, one of her mates wasn't even conscious right now, and the other was too young to know, so Elena did the only thing she could think of at the time, and as her eyes zeroed in on Cade's companion, they narrowed and a mini-tornado spiraled out of nowhere, barreling down the track picking up the newcomer and flying him out of sight, and out of smell range, what the hell was she supposed to do now, and how could Elena explain to her parents that she left looking for one mate and ended up with two??