Dereks POV

"Ok, I need a break!" I say standing up, stretching my arms above my head.

Chris looks over at me and chuckles while shaking his head.

"You're hopeless." He sighs before standing up.

"I'm not hopeless, I'm just bored! It's a nice day and I'm stuck in here." I whine much like a kid being forced to do homework.

He laughs at my sulking resembling a child before giving me an out. "Come on, we'll go for a walk."

I jump up quickly and we head outside to enjoy a needed break.

"I hear your mate's doing a good job as Luna so far. People love that she fights well and visits everyone." Chris tells me as we pass by some members, who smile and nod in respect as we pass them.

"She's doing amazingly. I was told by the lady who runs the orphanage, that she visits daily and plays with kids. Mila even asked me for funding to fix the place up a bit." I tell him proudly, she never fails to amaze me.

I start feeling anxious and scared but it's not me... It's Mila... why would she be feeling scared?

"Its great she shows interest..." Chris trails off before looking at me weirdly. "Are you alright?" He asks seeing me in thought.

"Something's wro-" I'm cut off by a sudden feeling in my stomach. Its like a small ache, but it takes me only a second to realise it's because of Mila. We know when our mate is harmed but mainly get some mildly painful sensation where it is.

"What's going on?" Chris looks me over frantically.

'Mila, baby are you ok? Why are you on edge?' I mink link her hoping she's just doing an afternoon training session and perhaps she actually found someone a challenge.

"Something's wrong, Mila was scared before and then my stomach felt pain but it's hers not mine. I think she's in trouble, she's not replying to my mind link either." I tell him feeling worried at how out of character this is for her.

'Trav, do you know where Mila is right now?' I ask hopeful he can shed some light on the situation.

'Probably at the waterfall. Why Alpha?' He asks curiously but before I can reply I feel that sensation again in my cheek.

Quickly pulling my hand up to it, Chris looks worried too.

"Go check she's not training." I order Chris.

"Yes Alpha!" He runs off.

'Mila! Where are you?' I ask frantically.

'6 tough rogues... second in command.... waterfall...' She finally replies and my blood runs cold. She even sounds exhausted threw the link.

'Chris she's being attacked by the second in command rogue and 5 other rogues. Tell Nathan to follow you with some warriors and go straight to the waterfall. We don't have time to waste!' I yell in hope we can get there in time.

'Baby please tell me what's going on.' Feeling helpless, as I run towards where she is.

'Got hit hard. Waited til patrol was further. I'm sorry....' She breathes out to me.

I start to panic when I realise she's getting weaker. Pushing myself as hard as I can but I'm still a few minutes away.

'I love you Derek' I hear before I feel another sensation on my face and lose her link.

Fùćķ!

'Hurry up! She's been knocked out!' I tell Chris and Nathan urgently.

We need to hurry! My wolf even screams desperately.

I know! I growl back pushing my legs as hard as I can.

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

Finally arriving at the clearing with the waterfall, I frantically look around for Mila.

I've tried to mind link her but I can't even get that connection. My wolf and I are on edge and it's not a good thing at the moment. I need to think clearly.

"Alpha her scent is over here!" Chris shouts from the tree line.

I look over towards him looking frantic. Inhaling deeply I pick up her lingering scent of strawberries.

Racing over towards him before we follow her scent with the warriors by our side.

I slow down as another scent hits my senses.

Blood....

Patrol are ahead with the trackers already ahead trying to find her.

We keep running in the direction of the edge of our territory but her scent beginning to get harder to follow.

We must find her! My wolf yells angry that she's slipping from our fingers.

The next thing I know, I'm yelling in pain one second then on all four paws the next. When we forcefully shift, it hurts. Wolves take over during times they feel it's needed, so it's not too common.

I feel like I'm watching a movie as my wolf takes control, his sense of smell intensifies from his control and he bounds off at incredible speed where he's picked up traces of her scent.

The warriors and patrol are trailing behind me and after a short amount of time, I've caught up to the trackers.

"We lost her here Alpha. It appears they got into a vehicle of some kind." One tracker says while bowing his head.

My wolf growls lowly as a warning. He takes in as much as he can but sadly the fuel from the vehicle has taken all of her scent away.

He lets out a painful and angry howl for the loss of our mate. The birds flutter out of trees from its volume, I suspect the entire pack either heard or felt the pain we're feeling. My pack members that are with me bow their heads for the loss of their Luna.

Chris slowly approaches with his hands held up in surrender. "Can you give Derek control again please?" He says gently, knowing not to order an Alpha let alone an Alpha whose wolf took over.

He growls lowly but agrees, he's feeling useless in the situation. My eyes change from pitch black to my typical green. The pain I feel doesn't change though. I almost collapse from how useless I feel.

'Chris gather those who will be of importance and meet in my study in one hour. Nathan, you're to join us after setting up teams to try finding her scent again.' I command through our pack link.

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

After I'd heard both agree, I run back to the pack house. Once at the tree line I shift back before putting on a pair of shorts we leave around.

I race up to our bedroom and slam the door shut. After changing into some jeans and shirt, I feel my anger rising and I begin pacing pur room.

We should have got there on time...

I should never have agreed to her not having an escort...

Why didn't patrol find them?

What do they want with her?

Her words float in my head 'Waited til patrol was further.'

It hits me like a tonne of bricks... they waited for a time when my patrol was far away enough to be able to get in and out. They were who has been watching her.

"Those bàśťàŕďś!" I yell as I storm into our bathroom to splash water on my face.

After drying my face off, I look in the mirror, my anger still raging inside me. My eyes are flashing a mixture of green and black.

My anger getting the better of me and I start destroying our bedroom. I punch countless holes in the walls, rip the book shelves from their spot, tear the television from the wall and throw the couch across the room. My feelings are everywhere from angry, failure, sadness and missing Mila terribly. But worst of all, not knowing if she was ok.

After fifteen minutes most of the stuff in here is ruined. My anger draining from me as I look around our bedroom... and she still isn't here...

I slump down against the wall that's now sporting many holes. And just stare at the only thing unbroken, a photo frame of us on our first date. It's my favorite photo, we're laying on the picnic blanket with her pulled into my arms while she takes the photo in selfie mode. My favorite part is the smiles we're both wearing, laughing at the failed photos prior.

Silent tears fall down my face as I just stare at the photo. I hear a frantic knocking before our door swings open with a manic looking Greg searching until his eyes land on me.

"Is it true?" He says in disbelief. "Is she really gone?" He asks still in a state of shock, voice cracking slightly.

I simply nod my head, not taking my eyes off the photo. I hear a *thud*, turning to see Greg on his kness ghostly white. "No..." he whispers.

After a moment, he looks around and realises the state of our room. He turns back to me shocked before visibly swallowing. After he clears his throat he asks, "We're going to find her, aren't we?"

Remembering the people gathering in my study, I decide my time for sulking isn't now. Standing to my feet before walking to Greg to help him up, I stare straight at him before confidently answering him.

"Yes. Now come help us find her."

I'll find her if it's the last thing I do.

-------------------

Happy reading
*!lilnickyc!*