His Disguised Mate - Burgov Series II

5. Ilia

"Nice piece of land our Alpha has got himself." - Dan, one of our more experienced warriors, said, looking around the blissful forest.

"He sure did, but you'll cuss it tomorrow, when we'll have to come all the way here to train your lazy asses." - I answered with a smirk, and two other guys I brought with me started chuckling.

"Well, forgive me Gamma for being in my mid thirties and preferring the comfort of my own bed. You kids don't get it yet." - Dan said in his good-natured manner. He is a great guy and I enjoy his company, so that's why he's almost always one of the men I take with me, on every scouting job Vanya gives me.

"Oh, I do appreciate the comfort of my own bed, and especially all the fun it offers." - I said wagging my brows, and two other guys, who were just a few years older than me started catcalling, while Dan shook his head with a smile. - "Alright guys, spread out and check if the land is clear. If you come across a rogues encampment don't attack on your own, but mindlink the rest. I don't want any casualties. And remember about the sensors Beta Grisha gave us. Position them all around the border and mark the spots where cameras could be on the maps. Clear?"

" Yes, Gamma!" - the three of them said in unison.

" Great. I'll go North, the rest of you pick your own destinations. I want everything to be swept by the nightfall. If nothing goes wrong we meet here at six. Now, go."

We all undressed and put our clothes into the carriers my sister designed, that were easy for our wolves to pick up. It's basically a small bag, but with a handle made from plastic, and it's easy to position it around your neck, so that our snouts could stay free in case we needed to protect ourselves. It's not restricting our moves, and in case we need to quickly shift back we have everything with us. Sasha really is an inventive little creature.

I shifted into my ash wolf, and sprinted deeper into the forest. My beast may not be as big as Vanya's, but I'm almost as big as Grisha, but with way greater speed and agility. Grisha is more like a tank on four paws, while I can sneak on someone unannounced and track even the cleverest animals.

My senses make me feel in the woods like I was home. That's why I always preferred a casual run rather than a political games my brother thrives in. My nose is able to catch even the faintest scent of a deer walking around the perimeter around two days ago, even though it was raining recently. My ears hear everything. Starting with a blue jay, flapping its wings on a nearby tree, and ending with a splashing of a stream a few yards west. The woods are my kingdom, and I'm the best equipped entity to rule in it.

Alphas can be bigger and stronger, charismatic and attract other wolves with their aura, making them blindly follow orders. But the bloodline I inherited is making me the most dangerous wolf in the wilderness. Something I learned to appreciate with time.

It wasn't always like this. I was embittered and envious of my brother's status, and even though she never flaunted it to anyone, I knew Sasha also took after our Mother. As a kid I often thought I lost the genetic lottery, but now I actually think I was lucky. Seeing my brother always worried and tense, with a new wrinkle every week, I come to realize being an Alpha is no fun. And while I like being on top of the food chain, I could never be happy with all the responsibilities Vanya carries everyday.

I don't mind following his orders, especially since our relationship isn't as servile as it tends to be in other Packs. We build the Harvest Moon together, joining our blood, sweat and tears. Even the money we used to pay for the land belonged to all three of us, making me co-owner of everything. So what does it matter that my brother is the captain of this ship, if the ship itself belongs to me too? It's actually a sweet deal, because if we hit an iceberg, I won't be the one who would have to steer us the other way, but in normal circumstances I have a say in everything. Like I said, a sweet deal. But it does make me responsible for the safety of my home.

Vanya trusts, and rightly so, that my heightened senses would be the best way to secure our new lands. If anything or anyone threatening our Pack is out there, I would surely find it and be able to call for backup if needed.

My paws hit the forest floor, and I could feel the connection with this land building inside me. My wolf has already claimed those lands as his own and he's determined to chase unwanted guests away. But so far I haven't met a soul. Rogues, if they even were here, probably heard about Harvest Moon taking over, and they simply left, before it was too late.

I stopped by the stream and drank some water, listening for any disturbing sounds, but it seems to be just me here. I raised my head and through the trees glanced at the mountainside that marks the end of our lands. That would be a perfect place to set some move detectors and probably one camera. I don't expect rogues to enter our grounds from there, because that would be a suicide mission, but through the years we had a few accidents of dumping a strange cargo into forest. Some trash from redneck humans, and even one corpse. So it's better to know beforehand than to answer all the inconvenient questions of how that man ended up there.

I started running towards the steep, having some strange feeling in my gut. And just like Papa wrote in his guidelines, the Gamma should always trust his gut.

I shifted into my human form and started placing move motions, and kept my eyes open for the perfect spot to set the camera. The treeline seems like the perfect spot for that, especially since a few hundred yards above, on the mountainside, was going an interstate route.

I climbed on the tree and started screwing the small electronic device to the tree bark. Then I pinned my location to the app, for Grisha to come and connect the camera to our system later.

But when I was climbing down from my lookout spot, something strange caught my eyes a few yards away. I jumped down, and rushed towards another tree, and the closer I was getting the stronger stench of dried blood was getting.

My wolf started raging in me, demanding to be let out, but I needed to investigate the place first.

It smelled funny. Sweet, and reminded me of Christmas, when Mama decorated oranges with cloves and the smell spread everywhere. Back then I said it was disgusting, mostly to be an annoying brat, but Mama knew deep down inside I liked it. And how could I not, it was comforting and in my head that's how happiness smells. Well happiness with something musky and sour in it.

But the sweet smell and fond memories it brought, was short lived when I found traces of blood on the tree, and human hair next to it. It looked like a crime scene, and whoever the scent belonged to, didn't seem to be in the best condition, if he or she is alive after all.

I followed the scent deeper through the woods, finding a bloodied handprint on the bark, and a few places person fell, or even crawled. I have no proof, but I'm afraid that at the end of this trail I might find another body to dispose. f*****g perfect.

The scent and crawling tracks led me to the clearing that marked our border from another side. But even though whatever it was, was out of my hair, being outside the Harvest Moon, I had to check. Okay, maybe not had to, but once again my gut told me I should.

At the other end of the clearing stood an abandoned shack, probably used as a hunting post, and the scent was getting stronger from there. I slowly stepped closer, looking around for any signs of danger or ambush, but my feet would carry me here either way. It's like I couldn't stop myself. I rounded the building making sure I wasn't entering a trap like a rookie, and then I pushed the door open.

Just one step inside and I knew I would find the source of the smell here. The question was if the person was still alive.

In a small, dimly-lit room, thanks to a single dirty window, I found a small frame curled on the floor, but at least breathing steadily. Oh thank the Goddess, I wouldn't want to explain this one to Vanya.

I gently nudged the person with my foot and after a painful groan, the intruder rolled on his back and opened his eyes.

Mate

I felt it right away when the most mesmerizing blue eyes landed on me. Together with a comforting scent there was no denying that I just stumbled, literally, on the other hall of my soul.

But that couldn't be.

Not only was this the last thing in the entire world I wanted for myself, but the person in front of me was a badly battered young boy. I'm no gay! I don't play for the same team, so why would the Goddess give me a guy for a Mate. Maybe it was to make my decision so much easier. Yeah, that must be it.

His short light brown hair and a bloodied face, with soft features, held a lot of fear. He not only had a busted lip and eyebrow, but he overall looked like he was barely holding on to life. But that didn't stop him from watching me like a caged animal, waiting for his oppressor's strike.

"Who are you? What's your name?" - I asked, but the boy didn't even flinch. - "I know what you're thinking, but it ain't gonna happen. I don't want a Mate, so just tell me your name and we can go our separate ways."

The hurt flashed in his eyes, but then he scowled, which made him grimace in pain.

"Good. I don't want you either." - he said in a raspy voice, and his gaze held a lot of hatred. Man, he might be beaten like a stray dog, but the guy had a spirit. I respect that.

"Then tell me your name, and we'll be done here." - I said, but his breathing got faster and he started wincing every time his chest raised from an inhale.

"F-f**k you!" - he breathed out before he passed out.

Damn it. That's just my luck. Like I couldn't find him at his full strength to complete the rejection.

So what am I supposed to do now?

I could leave him here and no one would ever know. He would most likely be dead before tomorrow morning. But no matter how tempting that is, I'm not a killer. I may not want him, but it's not the reason to let him die like that, no one deserves that.

"f*****g hell." - I muttered to myself, combing my hair to the back with annoyance.

There will be a lot of explaining to do after all. But I don't have any other options.

I crouched down and lifted his frail body. He weighed even less than I suspected, at least walking back with him wouldn't be too much of a pain in the ass.

Yeah, that's exactly the plan. Help him heal, ten reject him and send on his way. Perfect plan, and nothing can go wrong. Unless he tells someone about our bond.

I got back to our briefing spot, where I already found Dan sitting on the hood of the SUV and picking on his nails with a knife. My warrior arched his brow, when he saw me with my strayed Mate, but didn't say anything.

"Don't even ask, you wouldn't believe me either way." - I said going to the car and putting the limb body on the back seat. - "Mindlink the guys that they would have to run back home. I need to take him to see Norvin. You can stay and wait for the rest or come back with me."

Dan nodded and his eyes immediately glazed over, then he stepped to the driver's door.

"I'll do the driving." - he said - "If he wakes up and is aggressive, you'd have better chances of putting him down."

I nodded and climbed to the shotgun, glancing to the back if the boy was still breathing. Thankfully he was. At least that one was going according to the plan.

However, it would be one hell of a task to explain it to Vanya.