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Chapter 13

The wind around her carried the scent of a hundred wolves and Alaya couldn't keep track of which to follow as the trail she thought she had vanished. The undertones of the woods nearby confused her even more, as if trying to mask what exactly she was smelling.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦, Alaya thought, searching the houses and streets around her for a sense of where they might be. The problem was all her senses were firing at once again and she couldn't deal with the onslaught so she fought against it, against what was inside of her.

𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦. 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴.

Alaya jumped at the sound of her wolf's voice in her mind, being too preoccupied with everything else to remember that little detail. She felt Adolpha chuckle once more, such a human sound but not. It held a gruff, raw undertone to it unlike her own laughter.

𝘖𝘬. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘺, Alaya replied taking a minute to stop and breathe. She felt as her wolf helped to filter the world around her again, closing them off to everything but the scents that surrounded them like colours in the air. With each breath she could smell everything. The woods, the scent of someone cooking bacon and eggs, a soft scent of a young wolf that reminded Alaya almost of candy floss. It was like beautiful layers, some scents melding together, others stark opposites.

Alaya caught the scent of lavender and the second it hit her nostrils she knew. Knew that was Noah. It was coming from just in front of them, to the left of where she had just run from. Her eyes shot open, knowing she could deal with the assault on her senses with the help of her wolf, as long as she embraced it.

Adolpha didn't pull back this time and thankfully Alaya didn't struggle under the torrent. Instead, it was as if she was completely at one with her wolf now. Everything moving as one, their limbs, their breathing, their heartbeat. Both with the same purpose.

To find their mate.

Alaya followed the trail with ease as if the lavender scent were breadcrumbs placed on the ground in front of her. They picked up speed, ignoring everything else but the need inside of them. So much so they didn't hear the confrontation up ahead until they were almost in the middle of it.

"Alaya!" Fen shouted as she came to a stop momentarily. She could feel the different emotions in his voice. The concern, the fear. It wasn't until something crashed into her, sending her flying through the air that she realised the warning that had been in her name.

Her body collided with the floor, not having a chance to brace itself before the ground bit into her skin. A cry escaped her as pain shot through her leg, a cracking sound accompanying it like some sort of messed up backing track. She rolled to her side cradling her leg to her chest as she did, whimpering as the pain flooded her.

"Stupid bitch," Alaya heard Luther's vile voice as she lay on the floor and looked up to find his amber gaze boring into her own as if she was once again in the wrong.

𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵

She heard Adolpha's surprise and she broke away from Luther's gaze to look at her leg again. She winced as she tried to move her toes, knowing it was broken. And badly.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱. 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘶𝘴, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, Adolpha urged and without hesitation, without proper thought, Alaya relinquished to her. Her consciousness rippled to the other side of her mind, now merely an onlooker.

Alaya did not realise just how much her wolf had been holding back until once more she was flooded with her entirety. The power pulsed through her body, surging through till every inch of her was more wolf than person. Her human skin felt like weak glass struggling to hold the power inside.

A tingling sensation crept down her leg, like little ants scuttling down her calf. Then it grew to a burning, not intense but not quite pleasant either. It obliterated the pain that had been plaguing her within moments.

𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦, Alaya tried to say as the burning receded but she realised that the words only resounded in her mind, her wolf still firmly holding the reins.

Adolpha relished in the freedom she now felt as Alaya receded into their shared mind, just like she herself had always done. It felt odd, this human form with hands and limbs that seemed more gangly than she was used to. But she felt all of her instincts intact and the power they both now wielded. No one could stop them like this. They were too strong and that pest Luther would find out just how strong that was. She can protect Alaya now just like she had always wanted to.

"When we are more wolf we can heal faster, be stronger. We will win," Adolpha said out loud, making Alaya sound different, her tone, like her laughter, was gruffer and more raw.

"Alaya are you ok?" Adolpha heard her mates voice but it didn't feel right. She realised it was his human side not Adoff that she was speaking to.

"Adoff? Why do you not come forth and make this pathetic excuse for a wolf pay for what he has done to us?" Adolpha asked him, confused at why he wasn't punishing this vile creature for hurting her.

Alaya suddenly sensed another presence in her mind and she and her wolf concentrated on it, letting it in completely.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥. 𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳.

Alaya heard Noah's voice in her mind but it held the same air as Adolpha's. It had a primal rawness about it and Alaya knew instantly that it's wasn't Noah.

It was Adoff.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, Alaya thought, curious as to why her wolf and his could communicate like this, without the need for actual words?

𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥. 𝘕𝘖𝘞! 𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘥, 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭

Like a car crash Alaya escaped the confines of her mind, her wolf disappearing once more back into her cage. Her eyesight and hearing became normal and everything felt so much less bright and beautiful. Her chest constricted at the loss and she reached out to Adolpha in her mind but was met with only silence. A deafening silence that made her feel so empty and alone.

"What did you do?!" Alaya screamed at Noah, his face one of shock as she started to walk towards him.

"Luna calm down," he soothed but her edges felt raw and undone and it was all his doing. He had commanded Adolpha to go. Not asked, not explained. Commanded.

"I will not calm down. How did you do it? Why?" she continued, the end coming out with more emotion than intended, making her voice quiver.

Noah bridged the distance before she even saw him move, enveloping her in a hug that she hadn't even realised she needed. She suddenly felt weak under his hold but she fought against him, not ready to forgive him for what he had just stolen from her.

"Stop fighting me please," he whispered and she paused for a moment giving him a chance to explain.

"I told you that bitch is mental. She shouldn't be allowed to remain here in our community. Once she mates then more mutts could be bred into our pack," Luther spat, ruining the moment and pulling her attention elsewhere.

"Ignore him Luna. Let's just get to the house so we can breathe," he continued in her ear. She found his deep silver gaze again and nodded, too weak to do anything else. Alaya looked over at Luther, his disgust for her rolling off him in waves. She didn't even know when that had happened. When had their friendship twisted into something of such hatred?

"I suggest you mind your tongue Luther or I'll come over there and rip it out," Fen seethed, his eyes glowing with a promise to fulfil his words if he tried to insult Alaya again. Luther turned to him but didn't meet his gaze, knowing that battle was a pointless one.

"I'll be ensuring my father votes you out, all three of you. Your father can't ignore the rules then if no one stands beside him," Luther spat, staring daggers as sharp as broken glass at Alaya. She felt his glare but hadn't the energy to turn and engage with him, knowing the battle would be pointless one anyway even if she did have the strength.

She heard as he phased, his wolf growling before vanishing from where the four of them remained. Alaya quickly glanced around the street as she lent into Noah, searching for green eyes that wouldn't ever find hers. She berated herself for even caring if Alaris was around, he clearly was loyal to everyone but her.

"What the fuck Alaya? Can you explain to me what the hell just happened here?" Fen's anger reached her ears and she turned towards him wishing she could explain but she didn't even know what to say. There was something happening to her, inside of her. She couldn't begin to try to understand it herself yet let alone voice the explanation to others. So she dropped her gaze and opted for silence.

"Seriously? You have nothing to offer me? How are you even standing after the speed he hit you at. I heard your leg snap and yet it doesn't look like anything of the last five minutes even happened to you!"

His voice held such anger that Alaya was worried that it wasn't just Luther that might wish her harm now. All she knew was that Noah had said her wolf will get her killed if anyone saw her like this. But why? What was hidden inside of her that others would fear so much?

𝘛𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳.

Adolpha spoke softly once more in her mind and the relief that Alaya felt was almost too much to contain. She almost gasped with relief at her presence and Noah must of felt her shift as he looked at her with concern.

"It was like last night. When I'm too far from Noah my wolf....... She just overwhelms me. The need is so strong I can't fight it. I'm scared Fen," Alaya breathed the last bit out thick with emotion, trying to make sure he believed her. She hated the bitter taste of the lie on her tongue but until she understood what was happening it was best to not explain all that she knew.

She stumbled a little away from Noah towards Fen and he caught her, his strong arms ensuring she wouldn't fall.

"Its alright. Let's get you to the house and let you rest. You will feel stronger later for Tunika and we can ask if she has heard of this. She was mated before so should be able to explain what's happening to you," Fen soothed and she felt panic crawling out of the pit in her stomach at the prospect of telling Tunika and her father about this.

"He died Fen. I won't reopen that wound for her, not yet. Let me rest first and see if anything else happens then I'll talk to her ok?" she pleaded, looking up at him letting him see the fear that was trying to consume her.

He tightened his embrace but said nothing more before releasing her to walk to the house.

Alaya felt Neve and Noah fall in step beside her and she let herself calm a little the further they walked on together. Noah had promised her answers and she was damn well going to get some.

He knew exactly what was going on with her.

Whatever she was, she had a feeling he was the exact same thing.

And that certainly wasn't an Omega.