Chapter 5 Mate

• THREE WEEKS LATER
• OLEANDER
• “Hello?! Is anybody home?!” I had been standing at Inga’s place for more than an hour, but no one was answering. It didn’t help that there was no bell or anything I could ring.
• I knew it was late, but it was only 8:30 p.m., which I didn’t think was too late for visitors. It didn’t help that there was no bell or anything I could ring. I knew it was late, but it was only 8:30 p.m., which I didn’t think was too late for visitors. They should still have been awake. So, I called out again, but there was still no answer.
• After pacing up and down the wall, I stopped to see if it got lower, so I could have a peek inside. I could climb over the wall easily, but that would be trespassing. Plus, what if someone was watching? I had never been here before, and I didn’t think anyone had, except maybe Sage, so just jumping over the wall wouldn’t have been right.
• After not being able to see or hear any movements inside, I stopped, placing my hands on my waist in defeat as I looked around and checked out the surrounding areas.
• There was a creepy vibe about the place, and why would someone want to isolate themselves like that? The place was already a mile away from the city, but there were still high walls, making it impossible to see what was going on inside. No wonder Inga was kind of weird.
• Watch your mouth, Oleander. One day, she’s going to be your Luna. That is, if Sage ever returns. I muttered to myself, reprimanding myself for disrespecting my future Luna.
• It had been three weeks since the attack on Sage’s family, and the morning after I found him, my father organized for him to get out of the country. He was still unconscious, but my father used his contacts to get him on a patient transport that was going overseas. We didn’t know who the hunters who attacked his family were, so it wasn’t safe for him to be in this city anymore.
• As Alpha Raegar’s Beta, my father assumed leadership of the pack and initiated an investigation to uncover the identity of these hunters, the method of Sage’s discovery, and any additional information they might possess.
• Did they know about us all, and were they just biding their time? Everyone had been wondering about that since the incident, but it wasn’t the only question on my mind. I had not seen Inga since then either, and my father didn’t think it was a good idea to look for her, but I had to.
• They didn’t care much for her because she was a human, and Sage had not introduced her to the pack as his mate yet, but he introduced her to me, and I had to do something. Which was why I came to her house to look for her, but I was giving up.
• Maybe she found out what happened and ran, or worse. Whichever one it was, there was nothing I could do.
• I let out a defeated sigh and headed to my car. Getting inside, I started the engine and made my way home, but I had to make one more stop as I entered the city to see Cozy Corner, a small diner that made the best sandwiches in town, even better than Mom’s.
• Since I lived on the other side of town, I hadn’t visited Cozy Corner in a while, so I made a quick stop to grab one, two, or maybe four sandwiches to share with my dad. He also liked their sandwiches. I exited the car and headed inside.
• “Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Gianna, the cashier, said with a smile, coming around the counter. She and I used to go to the same school, but she dropped out because her mother was ill. I dated her younger sister back when I had a reputation, and she didn’t like that and she ended up convincing her to dump me. All for her sister to get knocked up by someone worse than me. At least I would have been there for my kid.
• When she started dating the other guy, Gianna came to me, wanting me to get back together with her sister because she had now seen that her sister could always do worse than me, but I wasn’t about that anymore. She apologized for poking her nose into our business, and I told her we were cool. I wasn’t angry at her or anything. Her sister wasn’t my mate; we were only having fun. After that, she and I became friends.
• “What’s up, bro?” I said as we pulled each other into a one-armed bro hug in front of the counter. She said it had been a while and asked how I was doing. I gave her a watered-down version of how I was feeling, and we caught up a bit.
• She was right; we hadn’t seen each other in a while. She was on the clock, so she headed behind the counter and asked me if I wanted the usual. I said yes, surprised that she still remembered. I asked her to make it for my dad as well. She gave the order to the kitchen staff, and while I waited, I ordered some coffee.
• Just then, the door chimed, indicating another customer. She acknowledged them before turning to make coffee and asking how my mother was. I opened my mouth to respond, but just then, it hit me. A strong, familiar scent flooded my nose, and I froze. It was like the world shifted as the sweet, intoxicating fragrance enveloped me, unlike anything I had ever experienced.
• It was a blend of wildflowers and honey, warm and alluring, and it ignited a fire in my soul, consuming me entirely. Every fiber of my being was drawn to it, to her, and my heart raced, while a primal instinct surged within me as Ezra, my wolf, stirred in my head, both our worlds ceasing to exist.
• We both knew what it meant and just then, she spoke with the most beautiful voice I had ever heard. Slowly turning around, we locked our eyes, and for the second time, my heart ceased in my chest while Ezra echoed in my soul.
• Mate!