"I will not be ignored," Terrence raged. "Be warned I will have no mercy on any of your pack members who wonder onto my territory." He stormed out the door his betas on his heels.
"So, my boy," Hunt turned smiling at Rowan, "when do I meet the girl?" Rowan's betas began to chuckle while Hunt's looked at the group confused.
"Girl, my friend? I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," Rowan denied staring daggers at his betas.
"Son, you have been absentmindedly glancing out that window this entire meeting. You are never absentminded even in your youth you were dreadfully focused. Not to mention you've never lost control of your wolf before. Now there is only one thing that could disrupt a man of your bizarre attention and control; a beautiful woman! Am I right Dom?"
"Actually yes!" Dom said laughing "He just ran into her in the street where she managed to steal his wallet. His face was priceless. I. . ." Dom swallowed the rest of his words and fought a smile at the irritated look he received from his Alpha and best friend.
"Yes, well. I must find her now. If you don't mind my friend, her trail is getting cold with every second we waste." Exasperated Rowan stood up from the table.
"Of course son. Go on then. Find your dear mate with my blessing and don't forget to invite me to the celebration."
"I'd never forget you dear friend." With that Rowan waved to his friend, and exited the building his nose in the air searching for the scent of warmed honey and roses.
-----
Quickly Rowan headed to the last place he had seen his elusive mate. His betas followed close behind him through the thinning crowd. Night was approaching causing the vendors to close their stalls and people to head home clearing the streets. Finding the place he was looking for Rowan closed his eyes and brought his wolf to the foreground of his mind. Thanks to the gifts that came with being a werewolf his scenes were enhanced. He was able to pick out distinct scents even in the streets of the city. Taking a deep breath Rowan searched the air for the lingering scent of honey and roses among the odor of a well populated, prosperous city. A growl rumbled through his chest as his wolf picked up the faint scent. Dom grabbed his shoulder right before Rowan could take off.
"X, hold on. Tell us what you are thinking." Rowan had completely forgotten about his betas the moment he stepped out of the conference.
"Dom I'm going to find my mate. I can smell her I just –"
"Do you have plan? What can we do?" For once Rowan didn't have a plan. His wolf was getting more agitated with every second that passed. Rowan had to contain his wolf while he thought.
"You guys head back to the compound. I'll return once I've found her."
"Alpha, we can't just leave you out here alone. We'll stay, help you out." Johan said.
"Yeah, man" Dom said with a straight face. "What if she tries to steal your shoes this time. We need to protect you." Johan and David hid their wide smiles behind their hands. The death glare they received from their Alpha couldn't stop the laughter from bubbling over.
"I will call when I get a chance," Rowan clenched his jaw and ignored his betas.
"Are you sure you don't need to us? We can stay," Dom said seeing the distress and tension in his Alpha and tried to reassure him.
"No, I need to do this alone. Now get back to the compound. I will talk to you later." He waited just a moment to make sure his orders were followed then Rowan caught the scent and followed it up the street.
"Okay guys, let's go," Dom said sparing his Alpha one last glance. The three men turned as one and headed back to the car.
------
It was well after nightfall when Rowan found himself outside a sordid motel. He had followed his mate's fading scent down dark alleys, up and down barely lit streets, and astonishingly across roofs. He had traveled all over the city until he came to the end of his search. The motel was dingy beige with sickly green trim. Only one of the street lights still flickered outside and the parking lot was littered with trash. Suspicious looking people lingered outside and all Rowan could think about was finding his mate and getting her out of the repulsive place. She was not safe here. His wolf howled in sorrow at the conditions he found his mate living in. He couldn't imagine what she had been through that would land her in this position but he was determined to liberate her. He vowed to himself he would give her the world and more.
Walking towards the building Rowan's dark, massive figure scared off most of the unsavory characters congregating outside the motel. He could still catch a trace of his mate's scent in the air but he wasn't sure exactly where it led. Entering the motel he approached the counter.
"What do you want?" The dirty man behind the glass sneered at Rowan. His stringy blond hair was thinning and plastered to his rat like face. Rowan could smell his awful stench through the glass that separated them. He wore large-framed glasses that he pushed up his sharp nose, a filthy yellow bowling shirt, and a name tag that identified him as Walter.
"I'm looking for a girl –"
"You have to find your own girls. But I'm sure there are still some out on the corner," Walter smirked. Rowan wrinkled his nose, unable to keep the intense disgust of his face.
"No, I'm looking for a specific girl" he growled. "She's petite, hazel eyes" his eyes began to glaze over as he thought about her. "She has long chocolate brown hair, smooth skin, and she's just perfect."
"Wow, yeah I know her. She checked in earlier tonight. But I can't just be given out her room number . . . without a processing fee of course," Walter said suggestively. Rowan was torn. On one hand he needed her room number and on the other he was furious that the slimy bastard would be willing to give up his mate's safety and privacy for a little cash. The mere thought of someone comprising her safety caused Rowan's control to slip. Slamming his fist into the glass he glared at the startled man "You will tell me where she is and if I ever hear of you giving out customer information again I will kill you!"
The smirk vanished from Walter face as a sense of doom took hold of him. The glass separating the customer and the clerk was installed because of the unsavory characters that often threatened the employees so Walter was used to threats. But the vicious snarl and glowing eyes of the man before him coupled with the spider fractures branching out from where his enormous fist had struck the glass terrified him. Walter was shaking as he hurried to give him the information he requested.
"Sh. . . sh . . . she requested room 201" he stammered anxiously.
"Where is that?"
"Next to the stairs and overlooking the back parking lot." Walter huddled behind the counter as far away from the glass as he could his long nose quivering in fear. After giving the trembling lowlife another menacing stare, Rowan turned, fists clenched, and stalked out of the building.
He was so close. In a few moments he would finally come to the end of his quest. His mate would be in his arms. Rowan was so intent on reaching her room he was slightly startled by his phone ringing loudly in his pocket. Exasperated, he pulled out his phone. Seeing Dom's name on the screen he picked up the phone.
"Dom, I am about to get to her room. Is this important?"
"X, do you know what time it is? You can't go to her room at two in the morning." Rowan halted in his climb up the stairs. He didn't realize it was so late and now he was faced with the fact that he also didn't have a plan. Rowan had never been so nervous in his life. Even his first year as Alpha had not been as nerve racking as the prospect of meeting his elusive mate. His thoughts were frantically running through his head. How would he introduce himself, what did he say to her, would she feel the mating pull as strongly as he did, would she accept him for what he was. He was so distracted that it took awhile for him hear his second calling his name.
"Rowan . . . Rowan, tell me where you are. You need to get back to the compound." The stress in his friend's voice caught the attention of the Alpha within Rowan.
"What's wrong Dom? Is the pack ok?"
"Alpha Terrence might have been on to something. The wolves on patrol tonight detected the presence of unfamiliar wolves on our territory."
Suddenly, Rowan realized that he had completely disregarded his pack in the search for his mate. He had responsibilities and work he had neglected by spending the night finding his mate. He had never been so conflicted. He yearned to reach his mate and finally complete his soul yet his pack depended on him as well. With great pain and effort Rowan descended the stairs outside his mate's room. His wolf howled in protest but he argued that there was nothing he could do at the moment. He couldn't bring his mate back to an unsafe compound. His wolf reluctantly conceded. Giving Dom directions to his location and orders for Johan, head of the trackers, to gather their best hunters and search the forest, he hung up the phone and returned to the reception area of the motel.
Walter looked up as the door opened and began to cower at the sight of the man before him. Somehow he seemed even more dangerous than before. Grabbing a piece of paper and a pen off the counter he wrote down his phone number.
"Now you listen to me," Rowan whispered threateningly. "You will call me immediately if the girl checks out before I return. You will call me immediately if you sense she is in any danger. You will do this or I will return and tear you apart." Walter vigorously nodded his head clutching the phone number deeply affected by the powerful feelings of danger rolling of the man. Disobeying this man's request never crossed Walter's mind. He didn't doubt the threats of the hulking figure. Rowan's wolf reveled in the lowlife's submission.
With one foot out the door Rowan stopped and turned. Noticing his hesitation Walter's quivering increased. "By the way, the girl in room 201, what is her name?"
Walter rushed to retrieve the information, "She signed in as Layla,"
"Any last name?"
"N . . . No sir. Just Layla,"
Rowan gave a small smile. "Layla," he whispered the name to himself. He liked the way it sounded. It fit the small girl so well. He walked out into the inky darkness and waited for Dom to pick him up in the pack SUV.
Walter heaved a sigh of relief at his departure.
_____
The black SUV had pulled up outside the motel and Rowan signaled for Dom to let him take the wheel. Rowan gripped the steering so hard his knuckles turned white. "Tell me what's going on at the compound," he growled.
"Like I told you on the phone, X. The team on patrol sensed unknown wolves. Johan is currently taking the trackers out into the forest. He should be able to report by the time we return. There is nothing we can do until we return." Rowan nodded his head his thoughts flitting from the threat to his pack and the mate he was leaving behind. He had never felt so powerless before. Wisely, Dom fell silent he could feel the tension coming off his Alpha in waves. He had not wanted to call is Alpha about the situation at the compound while he was searching for his mate but he knew Rowan would have been furious if he had not been notified.