The Warrior's Child (Completed)

Chapter 5

Kamaria

Hugging Brendon was the perfect remedy for everything I have been feeling since my father died. I loved them, but all of the hugs from my mom and Summer didn’t make me feel like this. His hug wasn’t taking away all the pain, but it was comforting to my bones. Like laying in a cloud. My reflexes make me hug him back and I don’t want to let go. I feel as another hand rub my back, and I’m pretty sure it’s Summer. I take a deep breath to calm down as I feel Brendon separate from me slowly. I want to pull him back in, but I resist the action. Summer’s arms replace his and it just doesn’t feel the same. I separate, wiping my face as Brendon walks out of the door. I catch a small whiff of the absolute most delectable scent. My heart starts beating fast and I can feel hope flicker inside of me. I extinguish the flame quickly. I had given up on that a long time ago. Then I hear Stella say the words I thought I would never hear concerning me.

“Mate”

I look back at the door Brendon just left out of. I’m too shocked to believe what I just heard. I am sure that he already has a mate. My wolf has to be mistaken.

“Summer, that was Brendon?” I don’t even know how to form the question. Or even what question I’m trying to ask.

“I know, he’s changed a lot since we were kids. He finally got over that shyness.”

“Yeah, crazy.” I barely want to ask because I like this feeling of elatedness, but I need to come back down to reality. “And...his mate?” I don’t really know what I’m supposed to say. Do I tell her what I heard and felt?

“He hasn’t found her yet.” She says kind of hopelessly. I can’t hide my shocked look as I look at her. “Why?”

I struggle to get the words out and just abandon them. “Let’s get out of here first and then we’ll talk about it.”

Brendon

I link one of the Deltas to send Samuel to my office. That way he is in there as soon as I get there. I walk into my office with Stephen just a couple steps behind me. Samuel stands up and bows his head to greet me, but I put my hand up not wanting to be bothered with any of the formalities. I go behind my desk without taking my seat. Stephen stands at the corner of my desk and Samuel abandons the idea of taking his seat again. I feel like fire is radiating off of me.

“Samuel, we need to get a grip on whatever bullshit is happening around here.” I don’t intend to be so aggressive to him, but I can’t control it right now.

“I agree sir. There was another human attack. The people are getting restless and want to meet with the parks and recreation representative."

I look away, gritting my teeth. That representative is my father and the former Alpha of this pack. He has been distraught about this whole situation. Being that the humans are getting more upset with yet another attack explains why he wasn’t at the funeral today. Him and Abe were good friends, he wouldn’t have missed it if it wasn’t important.

“How is the victim?” I finally ask.

“There were two victims. They are stable now, but it was a scary situation at first.”

“This must have some connection to Abe, but I can’t figure out what. What I do know is that there was something sinister behind his murder.” Both Stephen and Samuel look at me shocked at my word choice. Even when dealing with supernatural hunter situations we don’t refer to the casualties as murders. Those classifications are saved for situations with malice intent. I look back and forth between the two of them. “Look, this wasn’t a simple hunter situation. There were no traps, bullets, or darts. Someone administered a drug into his system that was designed to travel slowly to his heart. They wanted him in pain until he died. The location had to be exact to cause only temporary paralysis so I am pretty sure whoever it was was in close proximity.”

“So you are saying someone snuck up? ...On Abe?” Stephen couldn’t even get the sentence out.

“That’s not something that’s easy to do.” Samuel said.

“I should know, I tried.” Stephen mumbles, rubbing his shoulder clearly remembering the time Abe almost ripped his arm off his body when he tried to sneak up on him during a group spar.

I let out a small chuckle. It’s what I need to calm myself down. I take a seat in my chair and can finally speak more calmly. “Samuel, I can’t sit back and do nothing after what I witnessed a few days ago. And today…” I let my words trail off and take a deep breath before I continue. “I need this situation handled.”

“I understand, sir” Samuel says.

“And please -”

“I will keep you updated on the victims' recovery.” Samuel replies to my request before I can let it out. He takes his leave and closes the door behind himself. I am so grateful we have an inside man to keep us in the loop.

Stephen takes a seat on the corner of my desk, looking at me with concern. “So, what the hell is up with you?”

I lean back in my chair looking at the ceiling for few moments then look over to him with a smile. “I found her.”

“Found who?”

“My mate. I found my mate.”

Stephen looks at me with his eyes as wide as they will go then squints like he’s waiting for the punchline. “You playing.”

I can’t help it, I’m grinning, “Honest.”

“When? Where is she? Who is she?” He asks, excited now.

“Let’s see. This morning. With your mate. And-”

“Kamaria?!”

I nod my head grinning impossibly wider. I’m so happy to finally be saying this out loud. “Oh, thank goddess!”

Samuel stands up from my desk, walks up to me and gives me a firm clasped handshake with a one armed hug. “I’m happy for you, for real, dog.” We part as he continues, “So have you two…?”

“We haven’t been able to talk. She’s been so distraught about her father I don’t think she’s realized the bond yet.” Usually the mate bond is strong enough to interrupt anything we are doing, but grief is that one emotion that blocks our connections to our wolf senses.

“Have you told Summer yet?”

“No. And don’t tell her. I want to talk to Kamaria first.”

“Yeah, you raging out about Abe makes way more sense now.”

“It’s eating me up from both ends. As Alpha. As her mate. This s**t should have never happened.”

“I agree. Well, are we done here? Do you want to see your mate or hang around here all night?”

“I definitely want to see my mate. Link, Summer and see where they are.”

“Already did. Upstairs. My place”