Aurora stood transfixed gazing largely at Sage. She hadn't expected he would ever tell her he would be leaving her alone to go on a journey out of the pack. She couldn't believe her ears as well as she couldn't believe that he would ever wish to leave her all alone. "Tell me you are telling lies. You can't be serious," Aurora divulged, feeling devastated.
"I'll be back in some days, promised," Sage vowed as he strode after Aurora who had stomped her feet away. "You know I have to do this," he told her.
"Rae is there. Other shifters are there and you, the Alpha of all people want to leave his pack? Why exactly?" She inquired, still walking away.
Sage suddenly grabbed her arms and pulled her to face him. "I'll miss you," he conveyed and placed a peck on her lips. Aurora frowned at him and pushed his hands off her and walked away.
Sage heaved a truce sigh and watched her leave. He had no idea she would decline his decision. He just prayed she forgives him. He continued into the pack building but ambled his way to Alpha Cowell's chamber. Alpha Cowell guards immediately bowed their heads in greetings and moved to open the door for him to get in. He entered and met Alpha Cowell having a rest. He bowed his head while Alpha Cowell gave him one of his sweet smiles.
"I hope you've been doing great, Alpha?" He demanded.
Alpha Cowell raised himself to a sitting position and nodded his head. "Surely, the same goes for you?"
"Yes, Alpha. I've been doing just great," Sage responded and went to sit on top of the bed beside him. "I came to inform you that I'll be leaving the pack to attend to the trivia matter going on," he told Alpha Cowell.
"What have you got this time?" Alpha Cowell asked and Sage went on to explain to him all that they had suspected he asked the Alpha if he had ever known anyone who held grudges against him.
"Yes, Sage, there are a lot of packs jealous of this pack, you know? We are enormous and strong, so I guess you understand what I meant?" He asked and Sage responded with a yes. "Good. Not all packs show us that they don't like us but they don't. The only pack that had shown us that they truly don't appreciate us is the Autumn pack but you found out they are not behind the assassin's attack, right? Alpha Huston doesn't hide it if he ever wants to fight us." Alpha Cowell disclosed. "If you plan to leave and find out about the assassins, it's your choice. You're the Alpha now so I have no say in your decision."
"Thank you so much for your support Alpha," Sage appreciated.
Alpha Cowell tapped his shoulder in the assurance that he was always there for him.
"What have you been forgetting these past days?" Sage inquired and Alpha Cowell laughed.
"I forgot a lot of things now, Sage but it's normal okay?" Alpha Cowell assured and Sage smiled at him.
"I'll take my leave now, Alpha. Please be strong," he pleaded and stood up from where he sat. He bowed his head and strode out of the chamber.
Sage hurried out of the pack and with his inhumane speed, he fled to his house which he had long visited.
Immediately Zara smelled him, she screeched in happiness and ran to the sitting room. She gave him a warm hug before synchronising all over his body. "I can see you're doing great as the Alpha," Zara teased and pushed him slightly on his chest.
Sage chuckled and held his mother's cheeks before placing a kiss on her forehead. "You did a great job bringing me up," he told her and Zara blushed.
"Of course," she said and took his arms. She led him to one of the living room couches and asked him to sit while she went to prepare his latte. She came back with the latte and gave it to him which he comprehended and drank some from it. "Why aren't you here with you mate?" Zara asked with a frown on her face.
Sage shrugged, "She's angry with me," he divulged with an unhappy look.
Zara hit him on his shoulder and he winced, squeezing his face in pain. "You should never argue with your mate," Zara warned.
"I didn't argue with her, I only told her I was leaving the pack to attend_"
"What?!" Zara shuddered.
"Mom, you have to be calm," he muttered when he heard footsteps of his father scurrying down to where they were. He knew instantly his mother's scream had made him come running out.
"What's the noise?" Beta Cowell growled.
"Nothing, father," Sage retorted, "We were discussing me leaving the pack."
"Why?"
"My Beta and the fighters I sent to check out the badge returned and informed me that the badge is used in different packs by those who are learning the combat skills. However, no one of us has ever heard of the badge which means there is something we know nothing of," he disclosed. "So I have to go and find out how we can stop the assassin's attack before they become a threat to us."
"Till when will you be back?" Beta Craig requested.
"I don't know yet, but we will make sure we return after a week."
"You have to be careful and make no one notice you're an Alpha," Beta instructed.
Sage nodded his head, "My scent is hidden, it's very rare for anyone to discover who I am," he assured them and took his mother's hands. He caressed them softly and pecked on each of them.
Zara ruffled his hair, "Be safe," she told him.
"I will, mother," he swore and stood up from where he sat. He bowed his head in respect to his parents and they watched him leave.
Beta Craig took his mate into his arms and hugged her, "He'll be back safe as he promised," he told her and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I'm glad he's becoming the authentic Alpha," she mumbled beneath the hug.