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“Nolan took off and told me not to follow him.” I glanced over at his pile of clothes. “I should go after him.”
“Wait.” My other dad looked amused. “Sebastian, his entire world changed in a weekend and you’ve had someone with him every second of every day.”
“Anders, there’s a reason for that.”
“I know, Leslie, but everyone needs some time to themselves.”
“So what you’re saying is give him some space. He’ll come back.” I sighed and rubbed my face.
Leslie wrapped his arms around me. “My baby boy, I know this is rough, but yes.”
“Why are you patronizing me?”
He tilted his head and gave me the dreaded “mom” look. “Oh shit. I smothered him.”
“Sweetheart, you meant well.” He opened his arms to hug me. “I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”
Pop nodded to the pile of leaves near the orange trash bag. “Want some help?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, and we all walked over and, with their help, I filled up the bags Nolan got.
After we filled them, I placed them strategically around the yard. Then I finished raking the last section of leaves.
My dads went back home, and I went inside to shower. The house felt empty without Nolan here.
I didn’t mean to suffocate him. I just wanted to protect him.
Going to the closet, I saw his nest and got down on all fours to sniff inside. It smelled like a perfect combination of us.
I glanced at my watch and realized he’s been gone for couple hours.
“That’s gotta be enough time to sort through things, right?” I asked the empty nest. “This is ridiculous.”
I missed my mate, and I was going to get him and bring him home.
Getting up from the floor, I stripped down and went through the house to the back door, stepped outside and shifted. Nolan’s scent hung in the air as I followed the scent to the woods.
I picked up his trail, heading to the clearing we first met in, and I trotted along, still following his scent. Memories flooded in of meeting him there and romping around. Then I walked him home, and he seemed so happy.
Shit. I hope I haven’t been a controlling prick. I know he can take care of himself, but he’s my mate, my love. I wanted to protect him. I wanted to keep him safe.
Trotting along, I thought about his sweet scent. I bet he’s resting by the stream. Last week when we went for a run he had so much playing in the water, then we took a nap curled up together.
The closer I got to the stream and the clearing, the more other scents I picked up, and my hackles stood up. Something felt wrong about this. Letting out a howl, my paws dug into the earth and I ran faster.
The scents were familiar; they belonged to Grimclaws, and they were fresh. Along with the new tracks in the moist earth.
Without the leaves on the trees, I could see further, but the conifers still offered camouflage. As I sprung up over a downed tree, I saw the clearing ahead.
I pushed myself to run harder and the moment I step from the woods; I saw the clearing was empty. My nose hit the ground, snuffling to smell what transpired here, and it led me to the stream.
There beside the stream were droplets of blood, and my mate’s scent disappeared.
It can’t just disappear.
I darted around, sniffing the shore, and going back towards the middle of the clearing. His scent disappears about a foot from the stream.
Lifting my head, I let out a howl. Not like the one when I thought I would see my mate. This one is a declaration, filled with intent.
