The Hunt

Chapter 33

We have done many studies on the soulmate bond that exists between supernatural species. Especially that of the werewolf. We have yet to determine where this bond truly came from. If it came from some ritual that was set in place long before documentation, or if it happens to be part of the disease that is lycanthropy. The werewolves themselves do not have much written on the origin of their soulmate bond, just that it is treasured above all else. 

Hunter’s Codex, werewolf lore, pg. 160

All the air was sucked out of the room. At least that’s what it felt like. It couldn’t really have been, Alpha Andrew was still talking at his desk, Alpha Bailey nodding in agreement to whatever was being said and the others watching on. They were talking about the next step to take to keep Michelle safe now that it was confirmed she was one of us. 

But all that was lost on me, I couldn’t breath. It was like a blow to the gut, knocking the air out and I couldn’t find it again. Curling over, I grabbed on to the edge of the desk, gasping but couldn’t find the air I needed. Hands gripped my shoulders, yanking me back up to stare into the face of Alpha Bailey.

His mouth moved, telling me something. It looked like he was saying breath. Couldn’t he tell I was trying? I gasped again, this time air came flowing in, burning my lungs as they filled up. Then it hit. The emptiness. 

She wasn’t here anymore, I couldn’t feel her. 

“No. No, no, no!” My breaths kept coming in short gasps, the room around me going in and out of focus. Black spots floated in my vision as I fought the pain that bloomed in the pit of my stomach. “No!”

Everything was falling apart, fracturing, breaking into pieces without a single sound. I couldn’t feel her anymore, the bond it was broke. Like someone took the fragile pane of glass that it was and let it shatter into a million little pieces. No longer recognizable and impossible to put back together. 

“Will!” Caden was there now, gripping the side of my face. His eyes flickered back and forth as he looked at me, only for a look of horror to wash over the concern. “What happened?”

“She’s gone.” The words croaked out.

“Shit.” He disappeared. 

In the back of my mental turmoil I could hear him issuing orders. Alice, telling the alphas that we let this go on for too long. My father, coming around, his hands gripping my shoulders, not letting go. 

He was telling Alpha Andrew that we needed to fix this, find them and fix it. Through the muddiness, there was something working. He was right, this needed to be fixed. How, I wasn’t sure. Find the ones responsible. But how? 

I placed my hand on my chest, forcing myself to even out my breathing, regaining control. It wasn’t happening. My feet carried me over to Caden, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him out of the room.

He tumbled after me for a moment, catching up by the time we reached the front of the building. “Where are we going?”

“Her place. That’s where she was and I need you to drive.” The sun beat down on my face, blinding me for a moment as we stepped out.

“Wouldn’t it be faster to shift?” He pulled his arm from my grip, searching his pockets for his keys. 

“Maybe, but it’s safer not to.” The fresh air and calmness of the world set in a feeling of derealization. Everything around me seemed unfamiliar, like it was a dream and I wasn’t really there. “Besides, I don’t think I would ever come back if I left as a wolf right now.”