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CHAPTER 12
ONE YEAR LATER.
RAIDEN
Another pointless day in the office doing paperwork, instead of being out there in the woods, searching for Lily. An entire year and a half had gone by since her disappearance and still, not a single trace of her had been found.
“Mind if I come in?” My mother’s gentle voice sounded from the doorway as she peeked into my office.
“Please,” I gestured for her to come in and jumped up to embrace her.
“Darling, how’re you holding up?” She asked with that same look of sadness which seemed to follow her around whenever she was near me.
I plastered a fake smile onto my face before meeting her gaze. “I’m fine, thank you, Mom.”
Walking around the desk, I once again took my place as she lowered herself into a leather chair opposite me. She always sat in the same one. Dark brown with a blue satin throw-pillow. It was my father’s office before it had been handed over to me and I hadn’t had the time or will to change anything yet.
She smiled at me. The sort of smile that told me she wanted to have a conversation I wasn’t going to like. I groaned internally, wishing I could be anywhere else.
“You know, it’s been more than a year since you’ve turned eighteen.” She began reluctantly. Yup. That’s what I thought. The mate conversation. I’d been anticipating it for weeks.
“Mom, please,” I said, dropping the fake smile and staring down at my desk in frustration, “you know I don’t want to talk about this.”
I didn’t want to look up and see the pity in her eyes. I didn’t want to talk about this again. And most of all, I didn’t want to think about finding a mate, when every part of my being knew that Lily had been meant to be mine.
“Just hear me out, Ray.” She said, scooting to the edge of her chair. “I’ve put together a trip for you and Gunnar to visit all of the neighbouring packs. To introduce yourself as our new Alpha. You never know, maybe you might find your mate in the process.”
My blood boiled and I found myself biting the inside of my cheek, working hard to keep my anger and frustration at bay. I couldn’t remember the amount of times I’d told her that I knew who my mate was and that I refused to settle for anyone else. She either didn’t believe me or was stuck in an endless loop of denial. Whichever it was, I didn’t want to hear it. It changed nothing. My mate was somewhere out there, and I couldn’t get to her, no matter what I did.
“Gunnar’s also searching for his mate. If you can’t do this for yourself, then do it for him.”
Her eyes bore into me from across the desk, but I couldn’t make myself look up. I knew she was only trying to help, but I wasn’t ready yet. I didn’t want to face the truth that Lily was probably dead. Lost to us.
I knew all too well that the pack would need a Luna in future, but I couldn’t say goodbye yet. Swallowing hard at the tightness in my throat, I took a deep breath and lifted my face.
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll let Gunnar know this afternoon.”
“And you will accompany him on this trip?” She asked, wringing her hands in her lap.
I nodded once and watched as a smile broke out over her face. It pained me, knowing I was going to disappoint her yet again.
SEVEN YEARS LATER
GUNNAR
The sound of my mate’s laughter filled the air as she dragged me through the woods. Mia was vibrant with life and, complete with an attitude capable of summoning a storm. She was perfectly suited for me; the only female who could ever handle me and live to tell the tale. Light danced through strands of auburn hair as she glanced over her shoulder. I was blessed beyond belief. Her brown eyes sparkled with mischief, her mouth pulling into a breathtaking smile.
I didn’t know where she was taking me, but it was a surprise that I would apparently love. Usually, I wasn’t a fan of surprises, but I trusted her and she knew me better than anyone.
“Are we there yet?” I nagged, deliberately acting like a little kid.
A chuckle sounded from ahead, but her pace didn’t slow. Mia’s grip on my hand tightened as she jumped over a large rock, dragging me along with her. I merely had to step over it. She was petite compared to me, although most people were. But Mia, she was a raging fire trapped in a tiny body.
When she glanced at me again, I sent her a silly pout, earning me a giggle. Gunnar, one. Mia, zero.
“So, how far is this place?”
“You’ll know it when you see it!” she yelled, jumping over another rock. The terrain became steeper and rockier as we climbed.
