Chapter 5

PRINCE ANDRASTE POV

Once we left the castle we decided it’d be easier to travel in wolf form. Plus we have the added benefit of a better sense of smell as a wolf, so we’ll have more luck scenting our mate. All I can think about is my mate. What is she like? Would she like me? Finally, my thoughts started driving me crazy after we had been running for a while, so I caved and told Cade about my news through the mind link.

So, I already found my mate, I tell him through the mind link.

What! Then why are you even out here? You could be at home right now instead of spending the next who knows how long chasing out here running around. he questions.

Well, you know it is actually a funny story. Do you remember that chick that broke into the castle the other day? At his nod I continue. She literally ran into me during her little escape and BANG! Instant electric explosion! I knew immediately who she was, but I stood like a moron and stared into space giving her time to escape. She dove out of a window before I even caught a glance of her.

Man, you're such an idiot. He snickers. Tough luck though, bro. Maybe you’ll get lucky and we’ll run into her out here, he suggests.

You didn’t even let me get to the best part. She smelled like a Fae, I tell him, and then wait for his reaction.

Impossible. They’ve been dead and gone for years now. No one has seen or heard anything from them at all. His tone makes it very obvious that he doesn’t believe me, but I know what I smelt. There was no doubt in my mind that she was pure, one hundred percent Fae.

Not feeling like arguing, I just dropped it for now. He’ll see that I’m right when we track her down, and I get to rub it in his face. There is nothing sweeter than proving your sibling was wrong and you were right. Luck seemed to be on my side because the moment I finish that thought, I pick up a faint scent that could very possibly be my mate.

Hey, follow me, I think I can smell her. Her trail is a few hours old at least, but I think if we run we can catch up to her, I tell him excitedly causing him to roll his eyes at me.

I didn't think that you would be this excited to find your mate. You have been living up to bachelor lifestyle, to put it nicely. Cade grunted. He never really agreed with my constant need for women, but also just left me alone about it. 

I honestly didn't think I would be either. My head has been nothing short of a jumbled mess ever since running into her. I've gone back and forth on if I am ready for her yet or not, but the fact is that whether I am or not she is here. And I can't let her go. Just the thought of not having her around or somebody else having her sends me into an unspeakable rage. I almost didn't admit all of that to him, but of my family, Cade, was the most sympathetic and understanding. He was probably the only one who didn't give me a hard time on a daily basis. 

When our parents were telling us about the pull of the mate bond, I for sure thought they were exaggerating. Listening to you and seeing it with my own eyes has been a shock. They weren't just being typical them were they? Your whole axel shifts the moment you meet them. At my nod he continues on. I honestly think this will be good for you. I just hope that she can handle you, and doesn't decide that you are too big of a pain to tolerate for the rest of her life. Cade throws his head back howling and takes off running with me hot on his tail.

During the run I had some time to think about my situation and what I told Cade. On the one hand I sincerely wanted to continue with my life the way it is for several more years. On the other hand, you only got one mate. If I were to reject her then I would be rejecting my gift from the Goddess. Not to mention the irrational part of me that was already extremely territorial over a woman I have yet to so much as see. I realize that this shouldn't even be a debate, I should just choose my mate and be done with my ways. Part of the hold up was the fact that I saw how having a mate affected Duke. He used to be fun to be around, yet serious when called for it. We were close as ever, but the moment he found his mate he put his brothers on the back burner. I understood that his mate came first, but he completely dropped us to background. We became just a side character, and it took me awhile to adjust to not having him around any more. He was solely focused on his mate and King training. It honestly scared me to find my mate.

Would I change like my brother? I didn't want to. I didn't want to drop all of my friends and family for somebody. It seemed incomprehensible to me to drop the people who had been there for me my whole life entirely. 

I stayed trapped in my own mind for a couple hours until we came up on a tiny old cottage. Her scent was really strong here and I knew she had to be close by. Eager, I shift back to my human form, throw on some shorts I had wrapped around my leg, and go to walk in. Throwing the door open I instantly notice that the place looks thoroughly lived in, and I can smell her everywhere. This very clearly was where she was living. It smelled as though she was here only a couple of hours ago at most, so I quickly shift back and we took off.

Following the scent there is a strip of beautiful grass and flowers. It looks more alive than I can remember anything ever being, outside of our territory that is. For a second it confuses me, cause the majority of this area was dead, and while it was gorgeous, it was most definietly out of place. On the plus side, I know I’m on the right path because only a Seelie court Fae can work with nature like that.

Still don’t believe me? I couldn’t resist taunting Cade, who just rolled his eyes.

As we’re chasing the scent, I start to hear a woman talking. As the voices get louder, we slow down and start to creep closer to get a better gauge on the situation. Slinking behind a bush, I can see a vampire  holding a black haired beauty. I inhale a huge breath in and smell that familiar enchanting scent of flowers and honey, which can mean only one thing, my mate.

Right when I came to that realization I notice that vampire has let her go and is poised to attack. I'm exactly five seconds away from bounding out from behind this bush and rescuing her when I notice her change her position. She crouched down in a defensive stance, getting ready to defend herself. I pause for a moment to study her stance. I can find no flaw it, and a burst of pride shoots through me. She can fight, and from the way she holds herself, she can fight well. 

Just as they go to attack each other, I make my move. Running towards them, I intercept their fight by pushing right beside her, causing her to lose her balance, and leap on the vampire. Cade and I work together to take down the vampire, which didn't take long with the two of us working together. Once we have him decapitated, I look around and see that my mate has turned around, about to take off again, and I’m not having one single bit of that. My brain may be going haywire at the moment, but I'm definitely not about to lose her...again.

It’s funny how just having her in my presence changes me. Just looking at her makes me feel supremely happy, and a feeling of wholeness spreads throughout me. Shaking my head I can't help but think that the mate bond is a mysterious thing that I will never truly understand. 

Just yesterday I was in the bed of another woman, and was far from willing to settle down. Now, looking at her, other women don’t hold a candle to her beauty, and my inner battle is teetering to one side. She’s perfect, and more importantly, she’s mine. Finally coming to a decision, I do the first thing I can think of to get her to stop.

I shift and chuck a rock at her head, successfully knocking her out.

“Well then, I’m going to assume that this is your mate then. As much as I hate to admit it, you were right, she is definitely Fae. Though, I am curious how she’s even here. There have been no sign of them in years,” he muses out loud thoroughly confused.

“I have no idea, and to be perfectly honest I don’t care. I’m bringing her back to the castle. You think Dad will be mad? How do you think he is going to take this?” I ask impatiently. I would rather have her back to safety before she wakes up, since there is a good chance our first meeting is not going to go smooth.

“Doubt it. He’ll probably be ecstatic that you won’t be continuing your parade of whores.” He chuckles.

Wincing, I shoot him a look of irritation and growl. “Yeah, I don't know what to do anymore. I really wasn't prepared for this right now. I thought I would have another couple of years before finding her. What I do know is that after seeing her and holding her, no other woman can compare, just thinking of another woman makes me cringe. It’s seriously freaking me out! I don’t even know her name, and I feel like she’s already got me wrapped around her fingers. This isn’t supposed to happen to me. I’m second in line for king; her safety shouldn’t come before the packs, but I honestly think it would. I know I should walk away for the good of the pack. She will be a weakness for me, but I don't know if I could do it. Just the thought of her being out here alone is making me uncomfortable. And the thought of her being with someone else makes me want to slaughter any one that would dare touch her. What on earth is she doing to me?” I sound like a whiny baby, but I’m truly freaking out! I hadn’t even realized that I had spoken out loud until Cade pats me on the back.

“That’s the magic of the mate bond. You think it’s bad now, wait until you fully mate.” He laughs before turning solemn. “Just be glad that you’ve found her. I can’t wait to find my mate.”

Feeling like a complete jerk, I walk over to her, and check on where I hit her in the head with the rock. Running my fingers around the back of her head, I wince. There was a big bump back there, and it’s really going to hurt when she wakes up. I gently lift her up, and carry her back to the castle. After her telling me to pray I’m not near her when she wakes up, I know that all hell is going to break lose when she does finally come to.