Mate

Aiden’s POV

“Emmett, what the hell is taking you so long? Do you know how hungry we are?” Of course Emmett was taking his time and goddess was it getting on my nerves. He knew that I hated to be kept waiting.

“Um, ran into a slight problem, Ads. So I found Cassius, but I also found him trying to take Elara.” 

“I will fucking kill him. How the hell did he find her? We thought we had covered our tracks this time.”

 “Seems like we didn’t. He left without trouble. She is pretty shaken up seems like Jordon has been hitting her around. I am bringing her back now. He caused a scene at the burger place, so she is with me now. Any word on Alex yet?” He sounded as worried as I was.

“Just get her back safe, OK?”

Emmett had been my best friend since we could walk, so it was only fitting that he was my Beta. He was the only person that I trust hundred percent with anything that I ask of him. He is one of only a few people that aren’t scared to tell me how it really is.

Leo and Audrey were sitting at on the other side of the desk looking at me.

“How long is Emmett going to be?” Audrey asked first. The two people before me were the closest thing that I had to a family. Nikolas the Vampire King because he wanted their land had slain my parents, but he didn’t know that we had a few people of our own that helped to rid him of our land. Leo and Audrey have helped guide me as much as they can while they have been on the run and trying to run their pack.

Nikolas believes that Leo and Audrey’s first-born daughter is going to be one of the strongest werewolves that possesses a great power that no one has ever seen and so he wanted her as his queen. He has been waiting for the last twenty years to make his move.

“It seems that Cassius came across Elara today. He left her unharmed, but they know where you are. I think it might be time to tell her and move back to the pack asap.” I explained to them.

“Shit. We were hoping to tell her next month before she decided to move out on her own. But we have no choice now. She is going to be pissed at us for keeping such a big thing from her. Is she ok?” Audrey asked me.

“She is with Emmett in his apartment. Seems she has been having trouble with Jordon, but I will leave that for you all to discuss. I need to get Emmett back here to talk about Alex.”

“Speaking of Alex, have you heard anything about him?” Leo asked me. We were all worried about him.

“Not since he disappeared and since it is not like him, considering that he was meant to be watching Elara. Someone has taken him, would be my guess.” Alex is my Gamma. He is third in charge of the kingdom. So, for him to just disappear like that, something was wrong. It was stressing me out big time.

“He will show up, I am sure of it. Is Eric looking for him?” Leo asked me.

“He is.” I sighed.

“Aiden, we will find out what has happened.” Audrey said as she gently squeezed my shoulder. I placed my hand on hers, taking in her comfort.

“We need to go and talk with Elara now. If you need anything, please let us know. We will stay here tonight before we leave for the pack in the morning.” Leo told me as they both left. I pulled out two glasses from my draw with the bottle of whiskey, pouring one for Emmett as well. He walked through the door as I finished pouring them.

“Thanks man, tough day. I can’t believe that Cassius found her.” Emmett said as he rubbed his temples. We both had a bad habit of doing this when we were stressed.

“What the hell was he playing at? Did Nikolas really think he could just take her like that?” Emmett shrugged.

“She has grown up. She would give you a ran for your money. I like her Aiden. There is something about her. When you meet her, all you want to do is protect her. Jordon has been knocking her around. Her face is quite bruised from the slap he did to her today.” 

“What an idiot seriously did he really think that he could hurt Elara and not have any punishment for it? Audrey will hurt him.” I couldn’t help but feel upset that Emmett had gotten to rescue her, and I hadn’t.

“You know you can’t go there right Em. It's Leo and Audrey’s daughter.” I joked with him.

“Mm, I think a lot of guys would want to go there, but I know she isn’t that type of girl.”

“Has Eric found anything out about Alex?” Em asked me.

“Nah man, he hasn’t. There is no trace of him anywhere. It's like he just vanished into thin air.” Emmett said.

Quinlan roared in my head. I could feel Alex was dying. Someone was killing him. The thing about being the Alpha King is that anyone in my pack I can feel when they are dying.

“Fuck Em. Alex is dying.” I whispered to him. What the hell was I meant to do for him when I couldn’t get to him?

“Alex, man, where are you?” I begged for him to tell me I opened my mind so that I could hear all the mind links and I found his. It was faint, but I found it.

“Aiden, he took me. I am sorry I tried to protect her. They didn’t get anything from me, but they are about to kill me. I love her Aiden. She is my mate. PROTECT ELARA.” He screamed in my head then there was nothing but silence. Tears flowed from my eyes. Getting up from the desk I sprint to Emmett’s apartment where the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on was writhing on the ground holding her chest screaming in pain. Leo’s eyes looked at me with sadness he knew what was happening but there was nothing he could do. 

“Honey, I am here. Shh.” Audrey was trying to get through to her but nothing was happening.

“What the hell is happening?” Emmett called behind me.

“Alex is her mate and he is dying.” I quickly explained. Sitting down on the ground I pulled her into my arms allowing Quinlan to help heal her, causing some of her pain to transfer to me. Shit the pain hit my heart taking my breath away.

“Shh Elara. I promise you that Alex loved you with all his heart and soul. He loves you Elara. Talk to him, help ease his pain.” I rocked her back and forth whispering to her in her ear what to do. Then the thread that attached Alex to me snapped, he was gone. I roared in pain as did Elara. No one could say anything. Tears filled my eyes as I sat there with Alex’s mate in my arms crying. Leo placed his hand on my shoulder.

“I will take her.” He whispered I felt his tears fall on my back, as I loosened my grip on her she shook her head violently.

“No, please hold me.” She begged, and my heart ached at how much sadness was in her voice. 

“Mate.” Was all Quinlan said in my head.

“I know buddy, but now is not the time. Look how broken she is. We all just lost Alex. Later.” I told him.

“How about I take you to his bed honey. His smell will be on the bed and it will help with the pain.” I asked her so gently. I didn’t wait for her reply. Leo helped me stand up and we all walked back to my apartment. Placing her on Alex’s bed she covered herself in his blankets, sobbing herself to sleep. I couldn’t help but watch my mate.

“Aiden, are you sure its ok for her to be here?” Leo asked me.

“I am sure Leo, lets go and talk.” I suggested to them, but the pull to stay with my mate whilst she is in pain was almost unbareable, but I wouldn’t let anyone know yet because it would mean she would be more of a target. She would have to take her time and figure out she is mate also in her own time.

“I am going to stay with her.” Audrey said. The three of us went back to my office, I poured us all a whiskey.

“To Alex, may his soul reach the Moon Goddess herself.” I said as we downed the drink. 

“Ads, are you sure Alex was her mate?” Leo asked me.

“I am sure. I found his mind, he told me that she was his mate and that he tried to hold on for long as he could. But he said we must protect her. Which makes me think that it was Nikolas that took him.” 

“Why the hell didn’t he tell any of us? He is a fool. I would have helped protect her aswell.” Leo said as tears fall from his eyes again.

“My daughter didn’t even know that they were mates and now look at her. She hasn’t even joined our world yet and she loses her mate. What type of father am I?” 

“One that would protect her no matter what the cost is.” Emmett tells him with a firmness in his voice.