The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ITHRACopyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Zadok and I spent the night camped very close to a river.

After everything we’ve been through, we resolved to rest and continue our journey the next day.

“I needed that,” I said, joining him beside the fire after having a much-needed bath.

“That river has got to be the best thing we’ve experienced since we came to this forest.” He joked, and I smiled in agreement.

I looked at Zadok, and I felt my heartbeat increase. I couldn’t pinpoint how exactly I felt for him. He managed to diffuse every doubt I had about him and the werewolf community.

But why was I still afraid to trust him with everything? I couldn’t shake off the guilt in my heart, knowing that I was keeping something from him when he so bravely fought for my life, even when he had an opportunity to bail out.

“What are you thinking about?” Zadok jolted me from my thoughts, watching me with keen eyes.

“Nothing serious,” I said, bowing my head.

Zadok sat close to me and took my hands in his. “I want to hear it,” he raised my jaws with his hand, “Tell me.”

“Why?” I asked, still not meeting his eyes.

“What?”

“Why didn’t you bail out? Why didn’t you let me go?” I asked, needing to know his reason.

I needed to know if I could trust him.

“Because we are in this together. We are partners, remember?”

I wasn’t convinced. “You had an opportunity to continue with this journey without me. Heck, he could have handed the Ghost Orchid to you, and you wouldn’t need to continue in this darned forest again.”

“You don’t believe that liar, do you? It was all a game. He said so himself.” Zadok said, “And even if he were speaking the truth, I would never be interested. Either I do this with you or don’t do it at all.”

The sincerity and passion behind his voice were my undoing. Knowing he followed me with such a sincere heart made me feel worse. What happened when I eventually got my powers and took the orchid for myself?

How broken will he be when he finds out I haven’t been sincere with him?

“Ithra,” Zadok called, tightening his grip on my hand. “I can never leave you. It hurts my heart to think that you may have doubted my returning to get you even for a second.”

I couldn’t bear it anymore. “What happens when we get to the forest’s heart? What happens when we need to face off to get the orchid at the end of the day? You had an opportunity”

Zadok placed a hand on my lips, effectively shutting me up. “Don’t. Don’t say it.”

A frustrated sigh escaped my lips, and I got on my feet, needing some space between us. “It’s inevitable. There’s no use denying the reality.”

Zadok got on his feet. “There’s no use stirring these waters. When we get to that bridge, we will cross over it. For now, we are partners, and hell will freeze before I let anything happen to you. Is that clear?”

I didn’t budge.

“Do I need to use other ways to get you to open that mouth of yours? Because I can think of quite a few.” He said, coming dangerously close to me.

“Okay, okay!” I said when his hands circled my waist.

“Good. Be a good girl and go to bed. We have a big day ahead of us.”

******

We were ready to take on the forest the next morning. Zadok and I walked through the dark forest and soon, we were in the maze of truth.

“It’s hardly a maze,” I said, observing the empty land before me.

“It’s the dark forest, Ithra. It should be a sin for anything to be normal around here.” He remarked, leading the way.

“I think it should be named the dessert of truth. Except it can’t pass for a dessert with this atmosphere.” I opined, getting into step with Zadok.

“I genuinely don’t care about what it is named, Ithra. I just hope we don’t get to see any more creatures. I’d appreciate a safe journey through.” He said, looking through the book. “From my deductions, this should be the longest walk yet and the last place before we get to the forest’s heart.”

I couldn’t explain how I felt. “Are you serious?” I asked in a soft tone.

Zadok looked up, and our eyes connected. “Yes.” A brief moment passed between us, and he shrugged, “The good news is that there are no known creatures or beasts that inhabit the area,” He looked through the empty sparse of land and added, “For obvious reasons. So we can journey with rest of mind knowing we won’t be caught unaware by any profaned beast.”

“That’s so strange,” I remarked, moving faster. “I would think the deadliest beast will be hanging out very close to the heart.” I exchanged looks with him, “For obvious reasons.”

“You can’t blame them. What’s deadlier than a century-old dragon? That was tailor-made to send every traveller to their death.”

“And yet you killed it,” I added, proud of the man before me.

“We killed it.” He said, and I felt butterflies in my stomach.

Yeah, we did.

We continued our journey silently and accompanied one another when the worst happened. I knew we were wrong to think that it would be a free ride to the heart of the forest.

Suddenly, a man wearing a black cape appeared before us, with a black glow around him. Zadok bared his claws, having buried his knife in the dragon’s heart.

“I mean no harm.” The man declared and let down his cape. “Alpha Zadok Kir Roman.” He called with an evil smile, “Never imagined I’d see the day you come into this forest,” His gaze moved to me, “Not to talk of bringing a witch with you.”

“I don’t know who you are. Neither do I care to know, but I promise to get rid of you if you don’t get out of our way.” Zadok growled, his fangs elongating, as well as his claws.

“Easy, Alpha.” He said with a smirk. “I have no problem with you.” His gaze returned to me, “I just wanted to see for myself. I needed to see if her powers were restored.”

“What are you talking about?” Zadok asked confusion in his tone.

“You didn’t know?” he laughed, “But of course, she won’t tell you. She’s a witch after all.” The caped man teased, leaving me in the middle of the ocean. “I wish you a fruitful journey, Alpha.” His gaze flickered to me. And he let out a mocking laugh, “Good luck!”