Chapter 44: First Impressions

Abioden

Today's mission was unlike the normal missions given to the King's Elite Guard, the so-called “clean-up crew”. Rather than entering the pack lands to hunt down enemies of the council, they were here to meet with Lycan King and plan another attack for the next day. Planning was always done in the kingdom or at the council compound; they were never called to a random pack. From their base, normally they would go straight to the target, preferring to keep a low profile, but there was something about the Blue Moon Pack that had the King calling for them. Being a creature of habit, these changes made Abe uncomfortable.

The trip had started like any other, with the team crowded into two armored vans, some sleeping while others just relaxed on the drive. There were many theories as to why they were being called to see the King, and why the King was at this location, to begin with, but each was more outrageous than the last. Abe had participated in the speculations at first, but things quickly changed when they got close to the pack lands.

No one on the team seemed disturbed at the forested area, but in his mind, his panther Bast had started pacing, warning him that something was going on.  He did not know precisely what, but he felt something in the air and wanted him to be on guard. When Abe voiced his concerns, the entire group shifted their focus, hearing him out despite the fact that no one else had the same discomfort. Bast’s instincts had saved the team from danger more times than any of them could count, so they took the warning seriously, pulling over at the side of the road a mile before the border.

All of the shifters left the vans on the side of the road, but as they walked, the feeling just kept getting stronger. Bast was struggling to take control, wanting to figure out what was going on. He knew that there was something different about this place, and he had to figure out what it was. This is what had triggered him to splinter off from the group to do some of his own recon, with Kayden, a giant bear shifter, and his third in command.

He sent the others to the main gate in two teams. There, they would follow the King's instructions and enter the pack through the main entrance.  After checking in with the Alpha, as protocol dictated, they would meet up with the King, where Abe and Kayden would intercept them after having circled to the back of the pack to determine what was going on. This was a strategy that had served them well in the past and seemed fitting for the current situation.

They circled around the perimeter, far enough out to evade detection before splitting up. They each took a different direction, mind-linking through the King mark to keep each other updated on their positioning.

As soon as Abe had gotten to the other side of the pack and began to make his way in, he realized that someone was waiting to ambush him. The mere thought of a single wolf being able to get the jump on him made Abe laugh internally. He had been training daily his entire life and earned his position as a team leader through skill and cunning.

No one got the jump on him or his team; their lives depended on it. While he had detected the threat, he was impressed that this wolf had detected him at all. When he had leapt down, intending to scare the would-be assailant, he had discovered a golden she-wolf so beautiful it caused his breath to catch in his throat. Through their link, Bast had started shouting “Mate”, beginning to move forward, trying to force him to claim her instantly. They had been looking for their mate for many years, and neither he nor Bast had any intention of losing her.

Suddenly, he wished that he had pressed the King for more information when he had called. He prayed that whatever was going on in this pack could be easily resolved because he would not be leaving until this wolf was by his side. He stood paralyzed, unsure of what to do until he shifted, needing to speak to her. Because she was a wolf and did not have the royal mark, he could not link her from his panther form.

As he moved toward her and introduced himself, he saw her brace, causing his heart to freeze in his chest. Abe was proud of being feared. He helped to keep the peace in the shifter world, and his actions saved countless lives. Seeing her fear, and not knowing the reason for it, broke Abe in ways that even he did not understand.

“Please shift, little wolf mate, I would like to meet you. My name is Abioden, and I have been looking for you my entire adult life.” Not one to beg, Abe was faced with his greatest fear: finding his mate and losing her.  Before he could speak again, she took off, running faster than almost any shifter he had ever encountered until she pulled away, leaving him behind. He knew that this was not the end of the process, though; he was here to work with her Alpha, and he would find a way to meet her again.

When he managed to catch up, it was only to discover his beloved King was no longer alone. His entire life, he had known about the King's son and granddaughter. Their deaths had triggered a change in the King, a focus on justice and revenge that had created the idea of this team.

Apparently, the death of the infant had been a lie, somehow the lost princess was alive and living in the secluded wolf pack. His head was swimming with questions, but judging by the looks of concern, this was not going to be something that was discussed publicly.

Deciding that he needed to take some time to gather his wits, he watched as a small timber wolf raced from the woods with a scrap of fabric and a medallion clutched in her jaws. When she raced up, a beautiful young woman met her, accepting the items before bidding her to shift and rest. Abe watched the young woman, impressed by her looks and the way she carried herself, but knew she was not his mate. The wind carried a scent that drew him, but not Bast. Moments later, another beautiful woman, identical to the first, came from around the dais, the wind bringing her identity to him.

His mate had an identical twin, yet they were not both his mates. He took a moment to think about this change in the situation. Normally, identical twin shifters shared a mate because they were part of each other's souls. The only exception to this was when they were blessed with gifted wolves. This was because the Moon Goddess blessed each twin separately. In these rare cases, the human sides were identical, but the wolves were not. In his entire life, he had only heard of one other pair of shifter twins that had been blessed this way.

From his position, he watched as the competitor returned in her human form, and all three women cheered and celebrated together. Moments later, Luna joined the group, throwing her arms around the other women. Their joy was honest and apparent to all to see; he could not stop the slight hiss that escaped from seeing another's hand touching his mate. He did not care that they were friends until she bore their mark. Bast did not want anyone else's hands on her.

The feeling of the King's hand on his shoulder calmed him as he turned and looked at the closest thing he had ever had to a father. With a twinkle in his eye, he leaned close. “So you finally found her. And given that you did not react when Makayla ran by, only when she returned, she must be blessed.” Abe was shocked as he looked at the King, not realizing that he was so obvious in his infatuation.

"I do not yet know this young woman well, but I will say, she is a fierce and loyal warrior, a good match for you, my son." The King's voice was filled with emotion as he looked at the younger shifter before him.

Unwilling to deny it, he simply nodded while staring at the celebrating women. One had made a comment that triggered his mate to throw her head back and laugh, the sound floating across the air like the most beautiful music.

“Do you know who she is? She ran before I could even get her name.” There was no one else in the world he would open up to about this, but he needed to know, and the King might be able to give him the information he desperately needed.

“Her name is Makenzie Sharpe. She and her sister Makayla are working to form Luna’s Guard." Marcus' words caused the panther shifter to flip his head around. The Alpha stood with a small smile, tugging his lips.

“Being the leader of the King's team, I already know that you are strong and capable, but I will say you have never faced a challenge such as this. She is brave, strong, and stubborn to a fault. She is also one of the people I trust most in this world. Do not hurt her, or you will face me.” The Alpha put enough command behind his words to force Abe to submit, something that rarely happened and caught his attention.

Lifting his head, Abe was smiling at this new information. Not even looking at those that watched him, he whispered. “She is perfect.” He did not seem to care that anyone present would be able to see his rapidly growing infatuation with this woman.

The King and Alpha look at each other, realizing that this was going to be an entertaining struggle to watch. Neither was sure who would come out on top.

The King looked over at Marcus, linking through the royal mark he now wore. “So Alpha, would you object if I changed out the team leader for tomorrow's mission? I think that I will need Abe here to coordinate with your warriors on my granddaughter's safety.” Even though the mind linked to the King could not disguise the laughter and happiness in his voice.

With a snicker, Marcus merely nodded. He was more than happy to force the two mates together and watch the fur fly.