Page 329 of Awakened

My vision blurs, spinning in and out of focus. I sway toward the scent of my Fated Mate and nearly stumble, then remember I need to lift my feet to walk.

But it’s hard to think with her Scent in my nose. Hard to make my brain work when my soul is screaming out for her.

I need to find her. Need to hold her. Need to mark her in my scent. I’ll wrap her in my arms and tell her she’s safe, that she’ll never have to worry about anything ever again.

A whimper pierces the air, and at first I think it’s an Omega. But no… I know that voice. It’s male. Familiar

Vaelenor.

It’s been years since I’ve heard my brother make a sound like that—a sound of agony mingled with devastation—yet it has the same effect now as it did then.

My vision snaps into focus, and right on its heels, the rest of my senses come back online almost all at once. I spin, searching for my Packmate.

My Alpha is still mostly in control, insisting we find our Mate. But my brain is throwing up red flags one after the other, shouting that something is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Why is he so upset? Didn’t he just smell our Omega? What’s happening?

My gaze finally lands on my Packmate, standing in the copse of trees a few yards away, eyes locked on something over my shoulder.

Moonlight filters through the canopy, making it impossible to mistake his expression.

He’s… wrecked.

His face has completely drained of color. His eyes are bright and wet with tears. As I watch, he blinks, and two tears fall from his lashes and down his face. He doesn’t seem to notice, just like he doesn’t seem to notice the six that follow right before his face crumbles and a sob tears up his throat.

His agony is sharp and painful, and each second that passes it only gets worse. It erupts down the Bond, flowing into me and making my hands shake with fear.

In four long strides I cross the clearing. I reach out, grip him by the shoulders, and force him to look at me.

My fucking heart is slamming against my chest. My instincts are screaming at me to find our Omega before we lose her somewhere out in these woods—Fates, where is she? Why is she out here?—and I’m so fucking overwhelmed with emotions—his and mine—that my voice comes out far harsher than I intend.

“What the hell is the matter with you?”

He doesn’t answer. His mouth parts but no words come out. He meets my eyes, and the horror and pleading in his do nothing to help my anxiety.

Adjusting my grip, I lean in and snarl, baring my fangs. “Tell. Me.”

Our Omega's scent is stronger now. So much stronger. Fates, she must be close. The wind is blowing her scent right to us. We need to fucking go! Find her before it’s too late!

At the sound of footsteps behind me, I whirl around, instincts going on high alert now that I know my Omega is somewhere close. She might be in trouble. Might need me to protect her.

When I see Caelan and Soren crossing the clearing with somber expressions, I exhale in relief. And I know he isn’t going to care, and probably won’t be happy for either of us—which we totally deserve—but I can’t help myself. I could never keep something like this from my brother—even if he does hate me right now.

“We found her. We—we can scent her. Do you smell that? It’s our Mate. Our Scent-Match.”

Caelan just stares at me with the same stoic look on his face.

“Did you hear me? I said we scented our Mate! She must be close, Caelan. In the woods somewhere. We caught her scent on the wind, and we need to find her, but Vae⁠—”

My Packmate makes a choked, strangled sound, and I whirl back around right as his legs give out and he falls, crashing to the ground on his knees with a broken cry.

Every emotion disappears as dread fills my body. My fingers and toes are suddenly ice-cold. I sway, throwing out my arms to steady myself.

What… what’s happening?

“No need to go searching through the woods, brother.”

Caelan’s voice drops dangerously on the word brother.