Chapter 3

Hunter’s Pov.

~A few days since arriving in California. ~

“Mate is close!! Mate is hurt! Find Mate!!”

Seiko kept barking the same words in my head as we got closer to the area where the sweet smell was emitting from. He was pacing and panting so much that I was about to go crazy.

I didn’t even know what was happening at the moment, I couldn’t even think. The sweet caramel mixed with sandalwood smell added with Seiko’s craziness was making me act like a madman. I just needed to know where and from whom it was coming from, else, I’d lose my mind.

This is the second time I will be getting this smell since I entered the country. The first time was faint, unrecognizable, and contaminated so I didn’t think much of it plus I was just too busy so it slipped my mind. But now that I am getting it again, the smell is so much different from the last time… it is much stronger, closer, and Mine!

I am sure of it, I have never been sure of anything in my entire life as I am sure of this. But why is this smell important to me? Why is my heart restless and panting and why is Seiko so concerned about us meeting whomever this fated mate is?

He knows the routine already, even though he has always cursed me for doing it, but still, he was already accustomed to our routine so why was he bothering so much about it and why am I also indulging him?

My legs seemed to have suddenly gotten a mind of its own as it was now revolting against my head. The more I tried to turn back from this very unwanted journey, the more I ran full speed in the direction the smell was the strongest.

This was not supposed to happen, especially not now that I am making arrangements to mate with Alpha Tristan’s daughter to strengthen and increase the wealth of my Pack.

Ever since my mate, Anna died while trying to save me in that bloody war, I promised myself never to love another, never to want another… I would be ruthless, unforgiving, deadly, and wealthy. I would bring terror and tears to the hearts of anyone who dared to plot against me, my Pack, and my family.

I promised myself never to be vulnerable again, never to be in any kind of relationship because, to me, the mate bond was just a tool the Moon Goddess used to tie people down to destroy them. We all are probably just a game of chess to her and her officials, she gives us fated mates and takes them back when she pleases to keep us weak and under her control.

~~~

I finally got to the area where the smell was strongest and I was baffled by what I saw. “Did I make a mistake? Is my mate really living in this shit hole or is my eyes deceiving me??” I thought to myself as I stared at the area for minutes. Even though the Moon Goddess hated me as much as I hated her, she went too far pairing me with a Human who lived in such abode!

Has no one told her she abuses her powers?!

I pushed the tiny window open and squeezed in. It was cold, dark, and shabby, it was no place for a person of my caliber but my legs still pushed me in. Even though it was dark and dead silent, I could clearly see a small frame curled up in the excuse of a bed. She was covered in bruises and was clothed in what a lunatic in my Pack would not even agree to put on.

Because of the way she curled her tiny self on the even tinier bed, I could not see her face, but I could see the fresh wound dripping blood from her head. There were all kinds of marks on her body from whips to slashes to smashes, she had them all and I know this because I order them to be done to people who cross me.

Her breathing was ragged and bated, I could tell by how it sounded and by how her tiny body heaved with each deep breath she took, it was clear that she was struggling to breathe. She looked weak but strong, broken yet alive.

Something about her felt familiar, was it her smell, that awfully resembled my late mate, or was it the way she curled to sleep, that was exactly how my late Anna loved to sleep.

“Claim her! Comfort her! Someone hurt mate! They must pay for it!!” Seiko kept ringing the words in my head, but I ignored him.

“She can never be my Mate, Seiko! Why would I want to accept a battered, poor, and weak Human as a Mate huh? After so many years of rejecting ladies far better than her, you think I will settle for someone who has nothing to offer me and the Pack?

“Look at her Seiko, she looks like someone who will die from just a single touch of my hand. The responsibilities that come with being a Luna of a Pack such as Silver-Dawn will break her more than she already is. We will reject her and mate with Alpha Tristan’s daughter, and that is final.”

He wailed, barked, and howled sadly but my mind was made up. Mating with this fragile girl was the last thing I would ever consider doing, and it wasn’t only because she lacked the characteristics a Luna should have, it was also because she was capable of evoking strong emotions from me.

None of the other fated mates I had rejected had a quarter of the impact she has had on me in the last ten minutes of being here, and even though I was trying to keep my emotions in check so as not to encourage Seiko’s waywardness, seeing her battered so badly angered me more than any other thing has. I wanted to tear the people who did this to her slowly and fiercely, till they were only just a bunch of bones. 

I reached out to touch the wound on her head and my heart ached against my wish when she flinched from the pain but I didn’t remove my hands, I rather applied a little pressure on the injury and it healed. 

With great effort, I finally managed to tear my eyes away from her body and I turned around to leave, but not without first making a mental note to find her within the week, reject her, and throw some money in her face so she can at least take care of her miserable life.

Finding her wouldn’t be a problem because from the corner of my eyes, I could see a tiny uniform which I am sure is hers. I quietly walked towards where it was hung and checked the name of the school.

‘Crest-vile Academy.’ I said to myself, rolling the name multiple times in my tongue to remember where I had first heard the name from.

Taking my phone from my pocket, I dialed my Beta’s number and he picked on the second ring, “Jeremy, what do you know of Crest-vile Academy?”

“Crest-vile Academy? I believe it is among the schools under our corporation, And it is also the school Felicia attends.” My Beta, Jeremy replied with a hint of surprise in his voice.

“And who the hell is this…Felicia??” I asked, completely oblivious of who the bearer of the name was.

“Typical you, only you will forget the name of the person you are about to get mated to,” I could hear the sarcasm dripping off his words but I chose to ignore it.

“Felicia is your future mate Alpha! You should have at least tried to memorise her name; it was written in the journal I dropped on your table. But anyway, why are you asking about that suddenly, and where the hell are you??”

“Nowhere you should be bothered about mum.” 

“Alpha, please be serious. Alpha Tristan has been blowing my phone up! And he is threatening to call off the engagement if you do not pick up his calls!”

I scoffed and laughed boisterously when I heard the threats, it was evident that Alpha Tristan had begun to exaggerate his importance to me. Just because I wanted to mate with his daughter so I could strengthen my territory, does not mean that I cannot wipe off his Pack from the face of the earth if he angers me, He must have probably forgotten with that small brain of his that I make the threats, not the other way around.

“Tell him to do whatever he wants, but while at it, he should kiss the Innovatech Ventures goodbye! But before doing that, I want you to set up a meeting with the Managing Director of the Academy and tell him I will be visiting for a quick and short meeting.”

“What date would you like for me to tell them, Hunter?”

“Any day within this week will be fine, Just find a day and set it, I ended the call before turning around to stare at my little mate. She was no longer curled up like a ball and was now breathing normally but her face was still facing the opposite direction.

Seeing her looking much better brought a smile to my face and made me involuntarily want to comfort her but I held back when the remembrance of my late mate hit me, the horrible way she died, and the promise I made to her late corpse.

“I guess we will be seeing each other soon, Mate.”