Haunted by the Mysterious Alpha

CHAPTER 8

Calix’s POV.

Mate!

The world around me stood at a standstill as I watched her from atop the cliff, under the blazing afternoon sun.

A butterfly fluttered in her face and she brought forward her hand and it perched on her. The innocence when she smiled and talked to the little creature tugged my heart with warmth. She is kind and beautiful.

More than anything, I wanted to stay back and watch her. I could watch her all day and not get tired, but not today. I am on a mission. I am out for the head of my enemy and nothing was going to hold me back.

So with one last glance at my mate, I reined my horse in the other direction as I prepared for the descent down the cliff, only to hear my mate scream. It is with shock that I flung around and searched for her and she was no more on the bridge.

Where did she go?

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I scanned the perimeter for her and I noticed a grapple in the river.

Curiosity washed through me and I reined my horse to face the river again. I looked closely in the water just as she broke out from the surface and screamed. “Help me!!”

The world moved beneath me. With eyes widening in fear, I spurred my horse to motion. “Hia!” Never have I galloped this fast as I descended the cliff and rounded the forest. “Hia!” No, I didn’t round the forest entirely, I sought for the closest opening to the river. The leaves whipped my face and the branches tugged at my clothes. “Hia! Hia!” A few more gallops and the forest gave way to a flicker of light. And the riverbank came to view.

I jumped down from my horse and ran, peeling off my cloak in a single movement. I bolted for the bridge and dived in.

The water enveloped me, a cold grip against my skin, my heart pounded as I searched the deep for her. Where are you, mate? And then I saw her, passed out and sinking towards the bottom.

My heart gave a lurch, a few more strokes and I pulled her into my arms. Expelling rings of bubbles as I glided for the top.

Every stroke toward the shores sent me into a frenzy of panic as I glanced at my mate and she wasn't breathing. I pulled us to the shore, carefully lifted her from the water, and gathered her in my arms.

A rage of desires coursed through me as our bodies touched, but that was the least of my concern as I gently lowered her on the sand and listened for her heartbeat. A good thing she had a little thump in there.

I performed rounds and rounds of compressions on her but none of them seemed to work. “For pity’s sake!” I cursed and raked my hair.

Again, I listened to her heartbeat as a daring thought flitted across my mind. This time, I leaned close and settled my lips over hers. A jolt of energy surged through me at the contact of our lips, stirring in me something inexplicable. The mate-bond?

I opened my eyes and leaned back just as she budged and vomited mouthfuls of water. I rubbed her back and gently laid her back on the sand.

My mate panted, her eyes still closed, when she reopened them, I was sure time stopped.

I stared into a pool of the most beautiful blue eyes, they drew me in and at the same time held me spellbound. My mate glanced at the sky and then she saw me, the dilation of her pupils revealed that whatever I felt, she felt it too.

Perhaps, I felt it more as I leaned closer and studied her delicate features which were almost like that of a goddess.

She had a long black hair which poured around her shoulders in waves, lips as red as strawberries, and high cheek bones. Her skin was smooth and creamy and I became aware of her scent; a mix of lavender and myrrh.

A smile tugged my lips. Perfect! My mate was perfect. She opened her mouth as if to speak but instead, her gaze landed on the tattoo on my left arm visible under my soaked tunic. She stared ravenously at my torso, and her gaze was back on my face. I smirked seeing how her eyes flickered with need and innocence.

Suddenly, it flashed in my head, my revenge mission and the time which was ticking fast against me. Stifling a curse, I jerked to my feet and headed back to the forest. “Wait!” I heard my mate beckon.

More than anything, I wanted to go back to her arms, to lay next to her and together, we stare at the beautiful afternoon sky. But like I said, not today. A certain alpha must pay today for the pain he’d caused me; a head for a head.

I picked up my cloak and wore it, and then climbed my horse. “Hia!” Her sweet scent clouded my senses as I spurred my horse and galloped through the forest.

According to Mr. Westley, Cathena has a hamlet on the outskirts, rounding the hamlet will save me time and usher me faster to Cathena where the trade fair was taking place. “Hia! Hia!”

Minutes later, I arrived at the village, jumped down from my horse and mixed with crowd. My first stop was at a lively stable where I handed over my horse. The streets before me bustled with life, the sounds of merchants haggling and children shouting echoed off the stone buildings

Where are you, Alpha Thane Zac Blakesley?

Dragging a breath, I wore my cloak over my head and camouflaged with the crowd as I headed for the one place I was sure I’d see him; the shores! He’d either be arriving or leaving, anyone which is fine by me as long as I’ll have his head in my hand at the end of today.

Minutes later, I arrived at the shores of Cathena to the sight of the Great Carrack and the Night crawlers leaving, already halfway across the water. A wave of fury crashed through me and I fought the urge not to punch the air.

I suddenly regretted not coming with my ship. I huffed, staring at my enemy’s ship, the weight of my failed mission sinking in.

It was dusk and a handful of the guests were leaving. The shore was overtly crowded.

“Are you sure she wasn't on the ship?” a male voice asked behind me.

“Yes. I personally watched them board the ships, she was not with them. What's that?”

“She’s not in the settlement either. Randolph has asked us to comb Cathena and find her.”

I tilted my head to the men conversing behind me; one look at them and I knew they were Azaleans, except for the fact they were staring at Alpha Thane’s convoy as they spoke.

Who is this ‘she’ they were talking about? It must be my enemy’s daughter. And Randolph? Perhaps a second in command to Thane. The men turned to leave and I followed them; I do not know why, but there was this irresistible urge to follow them hence I did.

There were more of them in Cathena, combing the place for their princess, whosoever she is?! In stealth, I watched them.

“Randolph has asked us to fall back,” a new face joined them and announced.

The urge came again and I followed them; a mix of camouflage and curiosity, as they rounded the village and arrived at the hamlet on the outskirts of Cathena.

“Do not mock me!”

“Of course I will mock you if I choose to. I mean, one minute she is left in your care, the next minute I come back from the trade fair and she’s gone!”

I watched a man and a woman argue, it quickly dawned on me who the man was; Randolph, judging from his poise which had an air of authority, but the identity of the woman remained obscured.

“....pray that you find her sooner or later or else you’d be the one writing a letter to Alpha Thane telling him exactly what happened to his daughter!” the woman shrieked and they continued in their argument.

“There she is!” somebody clamored in the background.

The world spun and for a moment, I thought I was dreaming. But no, it was real. Shockingly real.

It was as though reality had twisted, leaving me adrift in a sea of confusion, unable to find solid ground. All sounds ceased and everything seemed faraway as my mate stepped into the open.

No... no, that can’t be right. Moon goddess. You're joking, right? There’s no way you paired me with the daughter of my enemy!

My world shattered in an instant, the pieces falling away so fast that I couldn't catch them. Because of her, I’d missed a chance at exerting revenge on Alpha Thane. I’d missed a golden chance while saving my enemy’s daughter.

The sound of my own heartbeat thudded in my ears, louder and louder, drowning the outside world as pure rage surged through me. My hands clenched into fists.

I watched as the woman grabbed my mate and yanked her across the hamlet in a way that made me want to react, to rip off the hands of the woman but then again, the identity of my mate comes surging through me. She’s Alpha Thane’s daughter! An heir of my enemy is the same as my enemy.

Dragging a breath, I turned and left, almost absentmindedly as I headed back to the lively stable for my horse.

“Hia!” I rode for home. The memories came crashing in my head; the moments I had her in my arms, that moment I placed my lips on hers; that stupid mate-bond that left us spellbound as we remained lost in each other's eyes. A spark of anger sizzled inside me. “Hia, hia!” I spurred my horse.

The sun was now a hue of crimson, the day’s heat has surrendered to the cooling air of the dusk. I galloped down the Mugo forest and by the time I arrived Tyr, the sky was now a blanket of stars.

At sighting me, the guards at the gates raised the portcullis, and I saw them– Han and Leia, they were pacing the terrace.

I continued to the courtyard and reined my horse to a halt. I jumped down from my horse and headed inside. Han and Leia exchanged glances and followed me.

“We were almost worried about you,” Han said.

“Is everything alright?” Leia asked. I was too angry to speak, I continued to the foyer.

“Speak to us, you’re getting us worried.”

I stopped and flung around. “What!?”

They stopped and stared at me. “We just want to know what happened,” Han said. “Were you successful with the revenge?” he asked.

I freed my face from the hood and raked my hair. “No.” I shook my head. “I wasn’t successful with the revenge.”

Leia and Han exchanged glances. “What happened?” they asked.

“I– I,” the words got stuck in my mouth as I struggled to keep my anger under check. “I missed him by a few minutes.”

Leia glanced at Han. “How? But you left early,” she said.

How do I tell them? Where do I begin?

Dragging my breath, I turned and continued up the stairs. “Calix?” Leia called.

“I met my mate!” I blurted and turned around to the widened gazes of my cousin and beta.

“We do not understand, Alpha Calix,” Han said, holding up a hand in the air. “You have always dreamed of meeting your mate, always looked forward to that. Why suddenly upset? What does that have to do with your revenge plan?”

“Yes,” Leia concurred.

“My mate. She is the daughter of my enemy.”

“What?”Leia grimaced.

“She’s Alpha Thane’s daughter?” Han asked.

Gnashing my teeth, I stared at them. “Now you understand why I’m upset.” I turned and darted up the stairs amidst the bows and curtsies of the servants. I headed to the last floor, to my room and yanked the door open.

“Here you are, Alpha Calix.”

“Where have you been, my lord?”

And my gaze fell on them, sprawled on my bed like last night.