Four

CHAPTER FOUR.

RYDER.

Pacing relentlessly and -for the umpteenth time- checking my wristwatch, I was growing more impatient.

It's been two hours since the disaster of a party. Father has ordered me locked up in my chambers, away from any interactions. He wouldn't even let me speak to that Roland - guy, who'd been rushed to the hospital over a minor shoulder dislocation, courtesy of Red's massive claws.

Father thinks I've lost my mind and I might attack another random victim, but he was wrong about me attacking 'random' victims.

The man had something that was calling out to me. He was no random victim, he was attacked for a reason…the scent.

Right now, I got the scent stuck in my head, and staying in here was driving me insane. I needed to be out there, demanding that I see this…Hara. I was dying of curiosity about what she might look like, and how she could be able to arouse so many things in me, with just the whiff of her scent. If she was indeed my mate, then I can't help but wonder what she's made of, literally.

Father sent a message minutes ago that he'd be visiting my chambers with Alpha Zed and requires that I'm at my best composure. I'm trying to be but the name 'Hara' and the scent trapped in my head make it impossible.

The door threw open and I looked up expectantly, but my expectations fell short as it was just Jason, with a frown and a confused look.

“What foolishness have you done, Ryder?!“ 

His tone ignited my rage anew, and I flashed him a furious stare, holding down my growls.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insolent but this is crazy! Everyone's talking about it. They think we're trying to start a war,“

“That's nonsense!“

“I'm afraid it's more than that, Ryder. It's alarming. It's disastrous. It's chaotic. What is going on with you?“

”I don't know either. That's why I'm trying to figure it out. “ I ruffled my curly hair in distress. A thousand emotions were rumbling inside of me, and I can't seem to get a hold of any. And it's worse than my wolf being restless, demanding for her. That Hara - lady.

“What's there to figure out? You should be looking for a way to solve this. You almost killed a man in the ballroom! It's been helter-skelter for everyone since then. Your Father has been trying to control the situation…“

“I'm afraid the only way to control this is to get that man's supposed -mate. I need to see her!“

“Why in the goddess's name would you wanna see someone else's mate? What is this, Ryder? What's going on? I don't understand…“

“It's my wolf, Jason!“ I flared up, grabbing his collar and pulling him closer to my teeth-clenched whisper. “Listen carefully, I doubt this makes any sense but I think this is a mate thing. Red is calling out to her. Now the only way to calm him is to bring her to me. I need to see her. I need to figure this out!“

The confusion in Jason's eyes increased and I'm left speechless. Dejectedly, I let go of him and sat on the edge of my bed

I covered my face with my palms, hating the pathetic feeling that was creeping up on me.

“This whole thing is unfair to me. 27 years of existence without a mate and the first time I feel something extraordinary is with someone else's mate. What ill luck,”

I waited. Seconds passed but still no response. For a moment, I wondered if he'd left, but when I looked up, he was still standing there, frozen.

“Jason!“ 

He was startled, snapping out of whatever deep thoughts he was having.

“Yeah. Uh…wait, so…My God! This is gonna be a disaster. No doubt,“ He was visibly trembling as he took a seat beside me. “But how sure are you that this isn't just any other ordinary thing?“

“You've known me for as long as ever, Jason. Would I attack some stranger over some ordinary stuff? It was the scent. He had it on him. He admitted it, that it was from her. From his mate, Hara,“

“And there lies the problem, Ryder. She's his mate. You can't go after someone else's mate, especially when that someone is a trusted member of the palace council of another pack,“

“I just need to see Hara. After that, I'll know if I'm gonna be diving headlong into this hell or take another route. But I must see her. I have to,“

Jason stared at me for seconds, his lips quivering to get some words out but not wanting to. Finally, he said, “I don't wanna be rude or pessimistic, but deep down, I hope you don't get to see her. Something tells me it wouldn't end well if you do,“

“Watch it!“ I reprimanded, but it was more of Red, getting sensitive by his callous choice of words.

He jerked off the bed to his feet, taking slow steps backward and shaking his head in disbelief.

“I can't believe this but it's happening. This is a mate - thing for real!“

“Told you so,“

“But your mate has a mate, so this is like some love-triangle shit. I don't see this ending well, not at all,“

“I don't wanna look further into the future. I'm all about right now. But one thing's for sure, I'm not rejecting this bond. I waited too long for today, and despite the twist, I'm still gonna have it. I'm gonna have her,“

“Even with her mate alive and healthy? What are you gonna do to get her to leave him?“

“If I'm gonna have her, then he surely wouldn't be staying alive for too long,“

“You're…you're…gonna kill him?“ Jason gawked.

“Not me, but Red. With the way he's going about it, I think he's gonna fight the universe if need be. I'm all shades of Hara right now. She's all I'm thinking of, it's insane,“

“Insane doesn't come close to describing what the situation is. Wait till your Father gets a whiff of this logic of yours. Then you'll realize how messed up this is,“ Jason was pacing back and forth, his face wrinkled with worries.

The dude was scared for this pack and the mishap that might befall them if it turns out I'd have to fight them for Hara. Jason was -in a few words- scared of the pending bloodshed.

I, on the other hand, wasn't exactly scared. I just didn't want it to lead to bloodshed. It's been years since we last had pack fights because of the ongoing peace treaty between all packs of this region. It'd be shameful to destroy it over something we could just reach an agreement about.

I'd wanna talk to them and hope they see my reasons and hand her over, then there wouldn't be any need for war. I just hope they'd be willing to…

“In all my years of existence, I've never heard of a mate who gives up his mate for another. There's no possibility of that, none.“ Jason stated matter-of-factly, pausing his pacing and turning to me.

“But Jason, c'mon. Let's try to be positive about this whole thing, alright?  So what if she's got a mate? If she realizes I'm the right mate for her, she'd be willing to leave him, right?“

“And I've never heard of a mate who willingly leaves her mate. Well, except she breaks the mate bond. But would she? I mean, if she's got a doting mate, why would she wanna leave him?“

“She has to!“ 

“Okay, take it easy, man, alright? I'm just saying. This will not be easy. That's all,“ Jason appealed, signaling that I chill. 

A deep sharp intake of breaths did bring about a bit of calmness. I couldn't keep up the conversation.

Jason seemed to be saying just the wrong things, and I couldn't risk aggravating my wolf.

“You should leave,“ 

He nodded. “Your Father arrives any minute. Will you…“ He paused, waited, and shook his head. “Never mind. I better go,“

Just then, Father walked in with Alpha Zed. Jason quickly bowed. I did too, just to Father. Alpha Zed gave me an abrupt bow.

Father was confused at the sight of Jason. “What are you doing in here?“

“I sent for him, Father. But he was just leaving,“ Jason gave me a bow, which I knew had a reasonable amount of gratefulness for covering his nosey ass. He quickly left the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Son, I know this isn't something you do a lot, but you must apologize to Alpha Zed for your recklessness at the party!“ Father ordered in all his regalia. He was an obstinate man. Defying him was close to impossible, as you'd be needing lots of guts and stamina to do that. 

”It was no recklessness, Father. It was my wolf, Red. I think he found his mate, our mate,“ I hated being so forward, but there was no time to beat about the bush. It was a ' once in a lifetime thing and I wasn't about to handle it trivially. 

“What?!“ Father had this look like I'd lost my mind. “What are you talking about, Ryder? You found your mate at the ball?“

“Yes, Father. I sniffed out her scent on him, the man I'd attacked. I have reason to believe he'd just been with her before he came for the ball,“

“But that's impossible!“ Father retorted. “If I'd heard that man correctly, he'd just been with his mate,“

“Exactly, Father. I think his supposed - mateis my destined mate. Red had recognized her scent instantly. It's never happened before.“

“Ryder, are you listening to the nonsense you're uttering?!“ Father roared, vibrating the four - walls of the castle. Alpha Zed was swept with fright. “How can you claim someone else's mate?!“

“Father…“

“In front of the Alpha of this pack, you're making your intentions of snatching away another man's mate known. Have you got no pride?!“

“I don't understand it either, Father. But all these will be resolved if I set my eyes on her. Let me speak with Hara. That's all I request of you, Father,“

”You are shameless, Ryder. But thank the goddess I'm willing to let your stupidity slide. You'll apologize to Zed and we're all gonna pretend like we never had this conversation!“ 

Father was quick to dismiss my arguments, but I wasn't having it.

He had to realize I was damn - serious.

“I hate to be this man, but it's either they let me talk to Hara, or I stride the streets alone in search of her. Now, I can't assure you the safety of whoever stands in my way. So, Father, what's it gonna be?”

Father was taken aback by my rigidness. It was the few times I challenged his will. 

“Son, I think you've lost your mind,“

“On the contrary, Father, I've never been saner,“

“Then get your acts together!“ He barked, stamping his foot. “Have you got no idea what will happen once you lay a hand on another man's mate?! Even the goddess will strike you down for going against her will!“

“The goddess will understand. After all, she created this twisted fate.“

“Ryder!!!“

“Let me see Hara, Please Father! I need to see her. That's the only way I can be sure if this is real or not,“

Father said no words and just had an intense, rage-filled stare down with me. He mind-linked me to the many calamities that could befall our pack if I try to destroy a bond made by the goddess herself. He went ahead to name all the past Alphas of our pack and how they'd found their mates. He was mind-linking, so Alpha Zed had no clue we were still bantering. 

Everything Father said was useless as I had just one reply, “I need to see Hara,“

He broke the link, going over to slump on my bed. His expression was gloomy. But then he gave the order, “Bring that Hara here!”

Alpha Zed bowed and exited the room. We waited for a few minutes and he was back, rushing in with so much distress.

My wolf was instantly alarmed as we awaited whatever he had to say.

“I'm afraid she disappeared, Alpha-Prince. Hara is nowhere to be found!”

What?!