POV: Caden

Rubbing my temples, I try to force the anguish out of my body. Two hundred letters down and I've never despised myself more. She practically declared her love for my cheating ass. Her letters never once describe her hate for me, only disappointment and agony. How could I be irresponsible with the one person who means the world to me? If only I hadn't slept with other women. Maybe then Jessica wouldn't have gotten the crazy idea of becoming queen.

Thinking of her sends my blood to boil. She knew my mate had been contacting me through letters and hid the evidence. What would have happened if she found out who my mate was? Would Jessica have hurt her? Had her goons taken her out and tortured her?

Standing up I scream as my fist goes through a wall. She has to be safe. I would never forgive myself if I caused her physical harm. If I find out she has one hair out of place from Jessica and her goons, I'll kill them. They don't know the meaning of the word cruel, but I promise on my life they will.

My parents weren't the only people in the room with me. After I read the first letter, I reached for another. I felt as if I would die if I stopped reading them.

My father grabbed a blanket and threw all the letters on it before carrying it to our family room. My mother requested Jason and Nikolai help read the letters. At first I was hesitant to allow them to read such personal details. They are love letters, something you don't go around sharing to other men.

Plus I'm not one hundred percent sure of Nikolai's intentions. I know for a fact he is hiding something from me.

The six warriors I sent to follow him around found him with a beautiful black haired female. He may have thought hiding her face against his chest would prevent me from finding out who she was, he was wrong. I knew he would find the two men in sitting in the car watching him. They were in the parks parking lot for crying out loud. Who wouldn't notice them? That's why I placed two females with children. These two woman took their own children to the park which made it more realistic.

Camera phones are miracles. Pretending to message their husbands they took multiple images of Nikolai and his soon to be mate.

I had a computer expert enhance the images, blowing them up. To say my breath was taken away would be an understatement. She was beyond beautiful. If I could reach out and brush my fingers across her smooth delicate skin I would have. To this moment I feel drawn to her image. If only I had a picture of her full face. She kept her back to them. One glance at the children was all the females had to snap pictures.

My first thought when I saw them was what idiotic mate would cheat and throw her away? Was Nikolai telling the truth or was he stealing her away from an unsuspecting male.

I will find out who her mate is, one way or another. For all I know Nikolai threatened him to leave her. Slowly turning around I stare down my best friend. Could he be so cruel as to keep a male from his mate? No I can't believe that. I've known him nearly half my life. He wouldn't betray me in that way.

Knowing how badly I crave to hold my mate in my arms, he wouldn't deny another male his. Then what is he up to?

"Caden come here and read this." Obeying my mother I rush to her and snatch the letter out of her hand as nicely as possible.

__________________________________________________

Dear My Love,

You took my breath away this morning. I nearly caved in my resolve to stay away. Seeing you in your royal garments warms my blood. I wish you would wear them more often, though I know they are only for special occasions.

I believe I'll be dreaming of you leaning against the golden wolf with the sun shining down upon your handsome face for years.

Maybe one day, I'll be wrapped in your warm arms as we both look out across our kingdom. I can dream right?

Have a lovely day, my Prince.

                    Love always

                             Your Mate

____________________________________________________

"I don't understand mother. What does this letter mean other than she finds me desirable?" Reading these letters have warmed my soul. She has feelings for me still to this day. I might have destroyed my reputation in her eyes. That didn't matter to me in the least bit. I can and will change for her.

Other women don't stand a chance against her. Reading her farewell letter shot fear into my heart. I never thought I would know such terror. The thought of truly losing her did something to me. Shook me straight, you could say.

"She is a servant Caden," she replies.

"How is that possible? We interrogated all of them the night of my birthday ball." How could we have missed her? Does she have a secret hiding spot, even from the guards? "Are you sure she is a servant?"

"She is speaking of the night on your eighteen birthday. You wore your royal attire, but before you entered the ballroom I found you gazing out at the sunset. You were leaning against the golden wolf. Only the royal family and servants are allowed near that room. She would have to been standing in the room to see you lean against the wolf."

Sitting down once against, I plant my head in my hands. "I can't believe she has been that close to me this whole time." Does she watch me? "How many times do you think she stood next to me and I had no clue to who she was?"

"I want to know how she can mask her scent. Marcus should have been able to sense her even if you couldn't. He hasn't. I've never known a wolf, let alone a servant to mask their own scent without years of practice." Leaning against a couch, my father holds my mother in his arms. The desire to feel one ounce of love they share digs a deep hole in my heart. Will she give me the chance or was that really her last letter?

"My King, if I may speak?" Jason asks permission.

"Jason, your my second son, you do not have to ask for permission to speak if it concerns Caden's mate." Waving his hand at Jason, I smile at my father. I've always cherished how my father takes care of the people I befriend.

"You mentions how werewolves could master masking with years of practice. Who might they go to for practice?"

Standing up, I don't wait for my father to reply. There is only one man I know of who could possibly train a werewolf to mask their scent. Hope blossoms in my heart. I pray to the goddess he knows who my mate is.

One step closer to finding her. I won't stop until I die. She will be mine, no matter what.

Reaching the healing quarters, I barge in without permission. At this point in time I could care less if the man was clothed.

"Nathan, where are you?" Hollering for the healer, I start searching the multitude of rooms.

Suddenly a skinny short kid races out in to the room, nearly colliding head on with me. "Your highness, please forgive my grandfather, he is helping give birth four rooms down."

Gulping, I take a step back. The dire need to find out if Nathan taught a servant to mask her scent consumes me. Enough to barge into a room where a female is birthing a child? "Ask your grandfather if he has trained a female servant the talent of masking. She would have had brown hair and anywhere between the ages of ten and seventeen. " The only woman I will be near while giving birth is my own mate. The child can deliver my message and return with the answer.

Bowing, he rushing out of the room to do my bidding.

Instead of yanking my hair out at the tension building throughout my body, I start to pace.

"Caden, you need to relax. If you find her today all you will do is scare her. Breathe man, breathe." Punching Jason in the gut does no good other than to create a grunting noise out of him. "Did you have to use your alpha strength man? You could have killed me. I'm trying to help you." Bending over Jason takes deep breaths of air.

I hadn't realized I used my alpha strength. Is he right? Am I losing it?

"Your highness, I regret to inform you that no, my grandfather has never trained a female servant in the art form of masking." Bowing the kid steps away as my fits connects with the concrete wall above his head. Not an ounce of pain rushed through my body.  

Skinning to the floor I take deep breaths. I was so close to finding her. Why can't I get a break? All I ask for is to get at least a glimpse of her beautiful face to hold me over. If I have to wait for her eighteen birthday for my dishonorable deeds, so be it.

"He did say he's heard a rumor of a female servant with the ability to mask her scent naturally. It's been told she doesn't know how she does it." Clearly the kids is scared out of his mind because he screams as I advance him.

"Caden, you're scaring the poor kid. He is the messenger." Jason and Nikolai jump in front of me. "Son, my name is Jason. You have nothing to fear from your Prince. He will not attack you, I promise." Bending down, Jason becomes eye level with him. "Your Prince is searching for his mate. The female we are asking about, we believe to be her. Is there any information you believe could be important to us?"

"I do not know Sir, but I can ask my grandfather, if you would like." Beaming he jumps at the idea of please his Prince. If he were to aid in finding the lost Princess, there would be a special gift waiting for him the following day no doubt.

"Yes, please," Jason says.

"Jason, I do not know how much longer I can survive without her. Marcus and I crave her touch. The feel of her smooth lushes' skin has been imbedded in my mind since my birthday ball. If I do not have her in my arms with in the month, I believe I might go in sane.

"You can't give up hope Caden. Her first letter told you her eighteen birthday is coming to pass. If this lead doesn't pan out, you can't lose faith of finding her. For all you know her birthday could be tomorrow."

Hope once again flourishes in my heart at Nikolai's words. Could he be correct? Continuing to pace I become excited. Could her birthday be tomorrow? Will I finally be able to relish the warmth of her body snuggled within my strong arms? I can only pray.

"My Prince, he isn't sure who she is, though he does know she is a gentle soul. Pure of heart. Rumor has it, she cares more for others than herself." How is it possible to know beautiful information about her and not her name?

"Caden, Jason has informed us of what transpired with Nathans grandson. The stress is sinking deep within your soul. No more reading letters today."

"Father!"

"No! I command you to take Jason and Nikolai for a run. Do not return until your paws can no longer hold you upright. Tomorrow we will resume reading the letters. All five of us need a break..."

"No.."

"Yes, even you Caden need a break. Otherwise, you will burn yourself out. You will need strength once you find her. Being a dead man walking will do you no good. Now go for that run before I have guards escort you outside." Cutting the link with my father, I grudgingly head outside to run for the rest of the afternoon.

*******************************************************************

Book 1 & 2 are completed on www.patreon.com/TessaT. Book 3 will begin posting July 2022.

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