Chapter Four

"Maya, we would only go to disturb his Majesty, you know that!" Chase said with a deep frown, looking down at his mate who had held on to him and had followed him to the palace, both were standing in front of the palace building.

She started sniffling as if she would cry any moment "But you promised I would see Kaiden on his birthday but you didn't bring me and that day had passed" She said tugging at her husband's warrior regalia.

Chase looked down at his mate who had been behaving a bit strange for a while.

"Would you even just leave me for a while, it's not as if I would disappear from you" Chase said with a frown.

Maya pouted seeing the frown of her mate "You don't love me anymore, you don't!" She exclaimed, crying.

Chase laughed, he looked at her and his laughter suddenly died down seeing that his wife was crying and not joking.

"Jeez! Maya!" Chase said as he tried to hold back Maya who had disengaged from him and was walking into the palace "Maya, honey!" he called but she continued walking at a fast pace, pulling up her long beautiful sky blue gown which seems to be hindering her.

"Greetings my lady" Servants greeted on seeing the mate of the third in commander to the Alpha, leader of the warriors, she answered with a nod as she continued walking in haste to the throne room where she could perceive the Alpha's strong scent.

"Jeez! so much energy!" Chase complained as he stopped to catch his breath, his mate seem to be full of so much energy this morning unlike on other days "Is she eating meals that give super strength" he thought to himself, he could catch up with her on other days but today she seems to be very fast and that was coupled with the fact that she acted strangely, he looked forward and saw Maya dashing towards the throne room.

"So much strength!" He exclaimed as he raced to catch up with his mate.

Kaden had one of his hands at his waist as he checked the books on the shelf, he was searching for which to read, he gave a small smile as he saw a particular book, pulling it out, he perceived a very strong scent of a female, he creased his brows as he wonders who was the owner of that scent, it was somewhat familiar but he couldn't place the person

He frowned all the more as this scent had some of his third in commander mixed with it but it seems–

He paused and turned just as he could hear the person's footsteps.

"Kaiden!!" Maya's voice rang out.

"Maya?" Kaiden called in surprise "I–" he was cut off as Maya jumped on him hugging him tightly, he winced in pain as she unknowingly pressed on his injuries-filled body.

Chase who had entered in time to see the reaction of the Alpha, frowned, apart from his scent and his mate's he could perceive that scent, Silver? ... he wonders.

Chase moved near to them, he rolled his eyes as Maya reported him

"Kai?" She called him as she disengaged from him, Kaiden smiled, remembering that, that was the name she had always called him.

"Yes Maya" He answered as he took the book and both went to seat down on the couch.

"Chase deceived me," She said with a frown, "He told me he would bring me to the palace to celebrate your birthday with you but he abandoned me and went around chasing after other females" She accused as she looked at Chase who shook his head.

"Really?" Kaiden said, playing along.

They had all know the Maya's story ... She wasn't an inhabitant of Crescent Glove Park, she was brought to the park when she was much younger alongside some others, their Park was conquered by his late father l, he could remember vividly that those they had brought to the park were so grateful to his father cause their Alpha was a tyrant.

"Yes," She said and pouted childishly.

"You want me to displace him as my third in commander so you would lock him up and he wouldn't be able to chase any female around?" Kaiden asked making his face serious.

On hearing what Kaiden has said, Chase stopped the scent of Silver he was trying to decipher.

"Wait? Seriously!" He asked looking at Kaiden who looked serious "That was a joke right?" He asked to be sure but both Maya and Kaiden looked serious.

Maya tilted her head to a side, she brushed back the strands of her black hair, twitched her mouth for some seconds, and said "What if I pluck out his eyes?" She asked.

Kaiden grinned "You are such a genius," Kaiden said, giving her a thumbs up and nodding.

"Are you guys serious?" He asked with his eyes widened, both Kaiden and Maya looked at him and nodded.

"You will have to apologize to Maya," Kaiden said while Maya nodded.

"Why would I–" He stopped as once again the scent of Silver seems to wave under his nose whenever he turned in Kaiden's direction.

Did he use– the thought and immediately wave it, of course, hoping against what he thought?

"See," Maya said pointing at Chase who was still standing, gathering his thoughts together "He wouldn't apologize for a cause–" She stopped midway as Chase walked towards her, bent down, his hands on her lap his hands soon found hers, and he caressed.

"I'm sorry" He apologized, he stared at his mate lovely while Kaiden watched.

'Is this what having a mate could be?' He wonders, he took his gaze away from them and settled it on the book he was holding.

Maya hugged Chase, he sniffed the air and the scent of Silver hit his nose, it was so strong and it was coming from beside him, from Kaiden.

Oh goodness! ... Chase exclaimed mentally with fear.

He disengaged from his wife, and he stood to his feet, his wife took Kaiden by the arm and dragged him up, Kaiden's face contoured in pain which again Chase saw.

Chase almost shouted as he saw a big bruise just where Kaiden's sleeve has been lifted.

"Let's go outside," Maya said and went with Kaiden.

'Garry!' Chase called as he mentally linked Garry.

'Yes,' He answered.

'I could perceive that scent on Kaiden' Chase said with panic and that only made Garry on the other end agitated.

'What scent?' Garry questioned.

'Silver' Chase dropped the bomb.

'What the hell do you mean Silver?' Garry questioned-concerning ng his tone.

Chase nodded as if Garry was there with him 'I confirmed and I also saw a big bruise on his arm just above his wrist, I saw it while Maya dragged him up' he explained.

'Maya is at the Palace?' Garry asked.

'Yes,' Chase answered with a roll of eyes knowing what his friend would tease him.

'Seem you got a hell of work to do, family man' Garry teased, Chase rolled his eyes 'Keep your eyes on him, don't let him out of your sight' He said firmly.

'Okay,' Chase answered and cut off the link.

Chase hurried out of the palace, he looked around but didn't see both Kaiden and Maya.

"Did you see the Alpha and Maya?" He asked just as one palace worker wanted to step into the building.

The older woman nodded "Yes, they went on a stroll alongside Madam Dera" She said, pointing to the direction in which they had gone.

Chase nodded and hurried off.

...

Chase stood beside Kaiden while Madam Dera stood at the other side some distance away plucking some flowers.

Chase wonders if Madam Dera could perceive the scent of blood and Silver emanating from the Alpha.

He looked at Madam Dera whose eyes were on the Alpha, soon her eyes caught that of Chase, they exchanged glances and opened up their mental link.

'The Alpha looks weak' Madam Dera stated, she looked at Chase who nodded slowly.

'You know why?' He asked.

'No' She answered, Chase, creased his brows

'What about you? Do you know why?' She asked.

Chase decided against telling Madam Dera cause she might become fearful and that could make Kaiden suspicious if she begins to act fearfully around him.

She waited for his response but got none, she averted her graze from Maya and settled it on Chase wondering why he didn't answer her but then she knew the reason, Kaiden's graze was on Chase who was staring at his mate with an innocent look.

"Do you know why she is hyperactive?" Kaiden asked as he saw the creased brows of his third commander, thinking Chase was confused about his mate's strange behaviors.

Chase turned to him "No, why? She told you anything?" He asked.

Kaiden shook his head slowly "You will soon be a father" He said.

Chase blinked, processing the information and finally he seems to get it "Oh goddess!" He exclaimed as he looked at Kaiden who gave a small smile.

Madam Dera frowned "You don't know?" She asked in surprise as she stared at the happy man who shook his head in the negative "Slow man" She added.

Kaiden smiled as Chase rushed to hug his mate who looks confused but hugged him back.

Madam Dera smiled "I love beautiful scenes like this," She said, her smile widened.

Kaiden looked at his nanny, he saw her happy smile, he sighed sadly...

'if only he could just feel that emotion called happiness and not this void' He thought.

Madam Dera looked up to see the Alpha's eyes on her, she smiled all the more.

"A good news indeed," She said, she looked at the mates again, Chase had told Maya and both of them were jumping happily like kids "That slow man!" She said and chuckled, she looked up again when the Alpha didn't comment, still, she met his gaze in her.

She looked around maybe there was something he was looking at but there wasn't.

"My lord?" She tapped him, Kaiden shook a bit, seems she had broken him from some thoughts "You are lost in thoughts" She said.

He stared at her with his sad droppings eyes and looked away, she sighed with understanding, she knew that the voidness had taken over him again.

He placed both hands behind his back, down his waist, he turned and wanted to walk away when Maya rushed to him.

"You going to be an uncle!" Maya yelled happily but Kaiden deep in her world didn't respond but kept walking.

Chase exchanged a glance with Madam Dera.

"Kaiden?" She meet up with him, tapping him, he came to a stop, he looked at her "Are you mad at me?" She asked, he shook his head "You just ignored me!" She exclaimed sadly.

Kaiden forced a smile "I'm sorry" He apologized, Maya nodded, she intertwined her hands with Kaiden's, and both continued walking.

Chase would have playfully complained about the closeness but now was the time, so he just watched and was somewhat grateful to have a playful mate

As they walked on, Kaiden wondered what could be wrong with him.

'Did I do anything wrong?' He continued to wonder as he tries to remember if he had ever gone wrong.

He kept walking but his mind had wandered off to nowhere in particular.

"Kaiden! See!" Maya yelled happily as she pointed at some flowers, it wasn't the call that brought him to reality but it was the pain he felt due to how Maya had unknowingly pressed against his arm.

He nodded "Beautiful," He said, then stopped as she ran towards it.

Kaiden could see the happiness Maya got from the beautiful Flowers on her face.

'Would I ever feel happy?' He questioned as he stared at Maya whose face was shining with happiness.

Maya walked to him and again intertwined her arms which cause pain to shake his arm ... he winced quietly.

"See" She held the flower up at him, he forcefully stretched his lips to form a smile, and his mind began to drift away again.

Pain.

He remembers... Pain always made his mind stay with him. He held Maya tight, the pain shot through him again, and he tightened his grip as the pain increased.

He was about to tighten his grip again when he seems to realize she was his best friend's mate and damaging a part of her body doesn't speak well, he relaxed his grip and slowly his mind began drifting into nothingness.