The Royal Wolf (The Tormented Mate Series Book 3)

*Leah's POV* "Mom! Have you seen my keys?" I yell from the other room. A few minutes later my mom comes and stands in front of the doorway, handing me my keys. "Are you sure you want to leave?" "Mom I have to get out. I am 26 and haven’t found my mate yet. I have searched all over our pack and the neighboring packs. Your little girl isn’t little anymore I have to get out and shine on my own." Hugging me, "I know, I am just going to miss you. You are the first one to leave and I don't know what to think." "I’ll be fine, mom. I’ll call often and I’ll come home before too long. You probably won’t even notice I am gone." It's been a whole year since I lost my twin brother in a war between our pack, hunters, and vampires. Being a royal wolf, you would think it would be easy for me to find my mate. Who wouldn't want to be with me? I possess powers and I know I am pretty. It makes me feel like something is wrong with me. All my younger siblings have found their mates. My brother Tyler even has a pup and one on the way. I just need to get out of here and find myself and find a mate. I feel suffocated and feel like I am just living my life for my family instead of trying to make one of my own. Grabbing my bag, I head down the stairs. My parents are waiting by the door. "I am ready to leave. No crying. I will be fine." I say to both. My dad hugs me tightly. "We know, we will just miss you. We know you need to find yourself, and we respect that." "Thanks dad. I love you both and I’ll call when I get to my destination." Hugging them both I toss my bag over my shoulder and head to the car. As I head out of the driveway both my parents are waving me goodbye. My adventure is beginning now. *Wyatt's POV* Things have been different in the pack since I lost my mate, and the pack has lost their Luna. Two years and I still feel lost and heartbroken. I’ve become harsh and distant. Our pack is now known as the vicious pack. We don't take no for an answer, and we will tear anyone apart who gets in our way. I don't like what we have become but now at this point I don’t care. Losing my mate and pup has made me a changed man. I remember the feeling I got the second I lost them, I could feel my heart break into two pieces. I remember trashing my office and locking myself in my office for days afterwards. I still didn’t cope well without her. She was the heart of the pack. She kept me sane. I know I am out of control. There is a knock on my door. It's my Gamma, Tristan. "Wyatt, can I come in?" "Door's unlocked." I grumble to him. Entering the room, he closes the door behind him. "Me and Josh wanted to see if you wanted to go on a run later?" "No. You two go. I am fine here." "Wyatt, I know I haven’t brought it up in a while, but I really think you should go. You haven't shifted since.... well, you know. You need to connect to your wolf again." "I am fine. I don't need you to patronize me. Leave and go for your run." I say loudly. "Yes, Alpha." He says and leaves the office. He's right. I haven't been on a run since the last run I went on with my mate. Not shifting makes me a weaker Alpha, I know that. I just can't bring myself to do it. Without shifting I have become fiercer with my pack and those that come unto our pack lands. I don't give chances to outsiders, and they usually get thrown into cells. They get the choice to stay in the cell or become a slave to the pack. Most in the pack don't agree with my ways, but I don't care. This is how it will be for now on. *Josh's POV* Watching Tristan close the door to the office I take a deep breath. I knew Wyatt wouldnt come. I am worried about him. I don't know how to help him; I don’t think I can. I can't imagine losing my mate. "I knew he wouldnt come with us." I speak to him. "Nope. I don't know what we can do anymore." "I don't think there is anything we can do; besides just hope he comes around. You ready to run? I could get my mind off everything." "Yea let's go." I speak. Shifting helps us bond with our wolf and keeps us vigilant to things around us. We always run through the border of the pack. I always feel freer when I run, and it helps clear my mind. My mate and I have been fighting lately. She wants us to leave our pack and go join another one. I don't blame her. We have become such a negative thought and feared by other packs. We used to be a welcoming pack. That all changed when we lost our Luna. Lost in my thoughts I feel my mind link open. It's Tristan. "Do you smell that?" He says to me. I raise my nose up. "Yes, a new scent. Wyatt will want them. Intruders are not welcome." Racing towards the new scent, Tristan catches up and runs beside me. We are catching up and fast. They must not sense us, or they would probably be running faster. That or they don’t know they have run into the wrong pack lands. Catching up with the intruder, I tackle them. Baring my teeth. "SHIFT!" They do as I say and shift to their human form. A female. I immediately regret making her shift and feel helpless. It is not often we get females. I just automatically figured they were a male. I should have caught her scent more before tackling her. Getting off her quickly, I shift to my human form. "I am sorry. I didn’t catch your scent before asking you to shift back." I help her up off the ground. She dusts the dirt off her. "That's okay I am in your pack lands. My name is Leah. Nice to meet you." "The name is Josh, but I hate to inform you that you have come into the wrong pack lands. We have to take you to our Alpha." "Every pack has their own rules, I am fine with going to meet your Alpha. Lead the way." I feel bad for what is about to happen to this girl. She seems nice and sweet. Now she is about to either become a slave or live her life in a cell. If I wasn't the beta, I would just let her go, but I have dedication to my Alpha. She follows me and it isn’t long before we make it to the pack house. I knock on the office door. "Wyatt, can I come in, I need to speak to you." Instructing me to come in, I ask Leah to wait outside. "Wyatt, we have an intruder." Turning towards me he glares at me. "You know what to do, why are you bringing them to me?" "Well, she seems really nice, and I was hoping you could make an exception. We need to change the way this pack works and get back to our roots." I ask gently. "You know the rules. Cells or a slave. No other options." He yells at me. Going outside the door, Leah looks at me with a scared look on her face. I know she heard the conversation. Before I can speak, she interrupts me. "I will not be forced to stay here or be a slave. Do you have any idea who I am?!" "I don't have a choice, it's my Alpha's orders." I say quietly. Wyatt must have heard her outburst because the door opens quickly, and he almost takes it off the hinges. "I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE!" He screams. Laura turns around getting ready to speak and she freezes. The only thing that comes out her mouth is "Mate." Wyatt stumbles backwards. Quietly he speaks. "Mate."