A Blood-Like Rain

— Kaden —

I began to panic.

We were heading to battle, but I smelled my mate. I smelled my mate!

I tried to track the direction the smell came from but it was so faint I could hardly notice it. I moved in circles half in a daze. I found a line, a line she must have been traveling, but I couldn’t tell which way she came from and which way she was going. And I tried to sniff both ways to see which seemed the strongest, the freshest.

Sam noticed my change in behaviour and got closer. When I noticed him, I raised my hand to make him stop. I was afraid his sheer presence would make me lose her scent.

It wasn’t completely irrational either as my own scent on her tracks was enough to nearly destroy what little clue I had.

I went in further.

I followed one side of the track all the way to a small stream, then I lost her. I checked all over, on the other side, everywhere. The track ended here. My best guess was she walked in the stream for a while, the water masking her scent.

I didn’t realize I had bolted in that direction, until I heard Sam running to catch up.

We were far now. The noise of my men, faint in the distance.

“What is it?” asked Sam worried.

“I found her,” I said in desperation. “I lost her.”

“Who?” he asked confused.

“My bloody mate.”

“Fuck! Now?”

“Yeah.”

“This is not a good time for this.”

“I know,” I growled in frustration.

I walked for a while, following the stream. I still couldn’t pick up her scent, so I stop.

“What now?” asked Sam.

“I go the other way,” I said.

I went back on my track. It was easier to go by the scent I just left than try and pick hers again. I went at a dead run, Sam could barely keep up.

clearing again

are you

to where I was when I found her.

what direction she went from but I know this side leads nowhere.” I pointed at where we went. “Which means this is my only chance.” I pointed

our convoy then back

but if I don’t give this a chance—.” I didn’t dare finish

“I know,” he said.

catch on quickly,” I said. “I just need

is still time until nightfall,” he said looking

There was time, but

nodded. “Keep this quiet. Just in case it leads

He nodded. “Wait…” he said. “You’re going on your own?” It just dawned on him as I turned

tight here,” I told him.

alone. That’s your own rule.”

I looked in the direction

it’s a

know, but I think I need to do

make sense.”

I said in frustration.

looked like he was about to

said go,” I insisted.

to

my phone out and waved it at him behind me. “We keep in touch.” And I disappeared

smell got a little stronger and my heart did a backflip. This was the direction she went

wood. I covered

was probably walking, which explained why I was catching on, the track being a few hours old

the woods and the mountain, it was hard to believe someone would travel here. A little further, there were some paths that would be far easier to travel.

The word of Sam resonated in my head.

if this is a trap?

Was someone trying to get me away from civilization, from

I should slow down, think about this, but my feet didn’t seem to connect with my

cross, so why risk getting her feet wet far in the woods, otherwise? Then was she doing the same thing here?

visible anymore, the orange glow slowly turning to midnight

out of

wolf eyes, my vision was getting limited in

close, I knew it.

suddenly

run relatively silently, but at this pace, I would have sounded like an elephant to anyone with heightened senses. I slowed my trek to a walk, silent, undetectable. The wind was coming from behind me, no one

pick up speed, and I smelled

the autumn ground as a child, of the feeling of strawberry juices running on your tongue, of a stormy night of April, of a warm blanket in front of a fire in the dead of winter,

outline, barely visible at the edge of