The Prince And His Mysterious Mate

Puzzle

Caleb POV

The moment Rain left my room, Mace went wild within me. It was both a gift and a curse, having a dire wolf. My wolf was not like the typical wolf - he was incredibly strong and larger. But with that strength came a feral nature, often taking control of me when angry or in disagreement. It was a curse my father Zane had struggled with for a long time as well. Only thanks to my mother, he now had control.

Thoughts of Rain consumed me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that she was in trouble. I had seen her with that man outside the coffee shop, and it didn't sit right with me. However, I tried to maintain my distance, not wanting to frighten her. She wasn't a werewolf, so she didn't feel the intense pull I did after just a few minutes in her presence.

When I called her and heard her voice with another man, my wolf surged forward. I knew I had to take action to find her. And when I saw her with that man's hands on her, I was surprised that I reached her before I completely lost control. Thankfully, she came back with me willingly, not fighting me.

But as my wolf calmed, I could sense her discomfort. It wasn't just being around me in that moment, but it was also how she was dressed and acting. It wasn't who she really was. The question nagged at me - who was making her act this way? I needed to gain her trust so that I could help her.

Sitting down on my bed, I focused on the link between my parents and me. As I reached out to them, a faint buzz filled my mind, and before long, my mother's voice echoed in my head. She asked how I was, and I took the time to explain what I had learned about the unsolved disappearances in the city. I shared how certain areas seemed to emit an ominous aura as well.

I told her how I found my mate, although her scent was faint. The only way I could discern it was her was when I shook her hand. My father, Zane's voice, chimed in through our link, saying it sounded like when he first met my mother. He cautioned me against pressuring her too much, urging me to allow her to become comfortable in her own time.

Continuing our conversation, I expressed my suspicions that she might be in trouble. I told them how I had trailed her to a rundown bar in the heart of the city. When my mother inquired about the establishment, I informed her of its name, "Above Ground," even admitting that the name itself seemed rather foolish. My mother's tone turned sharp, emphasizing the danger of the place.

She explained that the bar had existed even when she lived in this city, and that it was under the management of a lady named Ray. Ray had connections with both the vampire lords and the Alphas, often granting favors to them. My mother's words left me even more worried, as she warned that the majority of the bar's patrons were involved in illegal activities.

"You will have some help come tomorrow," my mother's voice boomed through our link. "You have a surprise substitute teacher for one of the classes at the academy."

"Who?" I asked.

"Colson," my father Zane grumbled over the link, his voice filled with a hint of annoyance. A vampire who had a complicated history with my mother, but had somehow become like family to me. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"How are Alex and Kali doing?" I asked.

"They are good," my mother responded. "Kali is still struggling with shifting, but Alex is helping her through it."

We spent a short time talking and then we ended the link.

Settling in my bed, I tried to relax. Just as I was on the verge of drifting off to sleep, a noise from outside caught my attention. It was faint, but unmistakable.

I glanced towards my window. For a split second, I could have sworn I saw someone peering in, but when I approached the window, there was nothing there.

Cracking the window open, a rush of cool night air filled the room, bringing with it the most captivating scent. It was Rain's scent, but it was strong and unmasked. She was close by, somewhere outside.

"Go find her," Mace growled in my head, urging me to take action. Without wasting a second, I grabbed my jacket and left my dorm, ready to search for her again.

Once outside, I strained my senses to track her scent. Just as it grew stronger, a loud crash broke the silence. Did she notice me and make a run for it? Her scent surrounded me, but I couldn't see her. Suddenly, I glanced up and spotted two legs dangling from the roof of our dormitory. The roof access was closed off, meaning she must have either broken the door or climbed up. My bet was on the latter. She must have peered into my room, causing a chuckle to escape me. I found the fire escape and ascended the building.

Finally, I saw Rain sitting on the edge, dressed in what seemed like pajamas. Her intoxicating scent overwhelmed me as she remained oblivious to my presence. I approached her silently and took a seat beside her on the ledge, startling her. She removed a set of earbuds from her ears. "Let me guess, I'm breaking another rule by being out on top of the building," Rain said, not bothering to make eye contact. "It's blocked off, but no, you are not," I replied, gazing out at the city.

"Why did you come up then?" she asked. "I heard someone and came to investigate," I admitted. "So, are you like campus police or something?" she playfully asked, turning to me. "I guess something like that," I responded, observing her. "It's late, you should really be getting rest," I suggested. "I'm just observing classes, so no real work needed," Rain slurred. "You're drunk as well. You should not be on the edge of a tall building like this," I cautioned her.

"Afraid I'll fall?" she teased, as her scent began to calm. How was she able to mask it so effortlessly? "Who are you, Rain?" I asked, catching her off guard. "Rain, but you already know that. Have you been drinking as well?" she laughed. "No, you just seem like a mystery. A mystery I want to solve," I confessed. "You're not the first to say that, but I can promise you, I'm not worth solving," she replied, standing up.

"Running from me?" I asked.

"You said I should get rest," she responded,

walking towards the edge of the building. Instantly, I stood up, pulled her back, and held onto her tightly. "Don't worry, wolf. I never fall," she assured me. The sensation of having her pressed against me drove me to the brink of madness. I didn't want to let go, but for now, I had to. My wolf growled the moment I released her.

"Don't worry, one day we will hold on to her, and we won't let go. But for now, she needs to get comfortable and trust us," I reassured my wolf in my mind.

As our eyes locked, I could finally see she felt the same way as me. I could feel the intensity of our connection in her gaze. But just as quickly as it came, she broke eye contact, purposefully avoiding me.

Without hesitation, Rain looked at me once more, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. And then, to my astonishment, she ran and leaped off the building.

"RAIN!" I shouted, my heart pounding in my chest as I sprinted towards the ledge. But she had vanished, leaving no trace behind, not even her scent. How was it possible for her to survive such a fall?

As I climbed down from the fire escape, my mind raced with questions. I walked back to the dormitory, knowing that chasing after her may only make her more uncomfortable around me. To my surprise, her faint scent greeted me as I entered the building, growing stronger as I approached her door. Leaning against it, I marveled at how she had managed to return so quickly and unharmed.

Once in my room, I reached for my phone and noticed an unread message from her. "My door is unlocked if you need to check that I'm following the rules," it read. I shook my head, replying, "Lock your door. This city is dangerous. See you in the morning."

Pulling off my shirt, I brought it to my nose, catching a lingering trace of Rain's scent from when I held her. As I got into bed, I closed my eyes, determined to unravel the mystery that surrounded her. "I'm going to figure you out, Rain. I'll be the one to solve the puzzle of who you really are and get to the bottom of the trouble in this city," I whispered, surrendering myself to sleep.