Chapter 27

[Greyson]

The rogue's bile stench disappeared at the water's edge, washing all traces of where he could have fled.

I stopped in my tracks to accesses my plan, which was absent at the moment. Running out the house without a strategy was a bad idea, but I just couldn't stand still and do nothing.

Holding on to what sanity I had left in me, I let out a loud angry growl that resonated across the field. The birds resting above the trees hastily flew off their branches and avoided me.

No one was safe when I was as angry like this.

The more time I waste, Celeste could be miles away from my grasp. My knuckle-white fists shook as I thought about that insufferable rogue.

Staring at the water rippling across the surface, I listed the possible places the rogue could have hid Celeste. What were his objectives? Were would he go?

To town, to Gran's house, to the forest to fetch a pail of water...

Hell, I had no freaking idea.

Falling backwards, my butt hit the ground and I lifted my head up in desperation. My fingers thrust into my hair and slid back under my jaw, as I rested my elbows on my knees.

The blood on my bandage was now dry and brown. I needed to change it, but that was not my main concern.

There were no qualms about finding Celeste. As soon as I had her that worthless man was going to wish he had died the day he murdered someone of my pack. And was it ironic that someone was my grandfather?

Celeste's blood relative, her grandfather, killed my grandfather.

It was so unrealistic.

Grandfather of my mate, or not, that rogue was mine to do as I will for kidnapping what was lawfully mine.

But where do I start looking for them?

One second I was happily kissing my mate, then I sense something, I shift and fly in front of Celeste to save her from the bullet. I thought I saved her, but when I wake up everyone tells me she's been stolen from me.

The rogue's scent was lost.

Then it hit me. All these years reading tons of books in my father's library finally proved useful at this moment. Like all mammals, we eventually perspire and when that mutt does, I'll have his scent locked on.

When I get to the other side of the waterfalls, I was going to let my nose guide me. Then my wolf would use our mating bond. Getting up, I brushed the dirt off my pants.

"Greyson!"

I looked over my shoulder. Dad strode my way with infuriated zest in his eyes. Next to him was Beta Robert with his two maddening sons.

"Grey, you can't just jump the gun and act on your own! I'm your right hand man. It's my job as your beta and best friend to help you!" Leo shouted.

He could have stopped that rogue from stealing my mate while I was unconscious but that didn't happen. These men were useless. I would have done so much more than let Celeste be abducted.

Leo didn't understand how it felt to have a mate. The amount of pain and worry I was experiencing at the moment could petrify a normal human to their knees. With my wolf expressing his emotions as well, I was a volcano ready to explode.

"Greyson, if you cross that maze, you will endanger this pack. Don't be selfish son. If you just wait, we can scout the men to chase after him. You can direct them to her through mind link. Just project your wolf's instincts into their subconscious and-

"Shut up." I snapped. "I'm not going to order people to do my work. She's my mate and how dare you say I've endangered the pack!" My voice thundered so loud that dad stepped back. "Wasn't it you who told me that without her, we didn't have a future for this pack?"

Dad held his tongue. He knew I was right.

"Vincent and I will look for her Greyson. Just stay here." Leo tried grasping my shoulder but I wasn't in friendly terms right now.

Stay here. Stay here! Does he know how impossible that was for me right now?

I evaded his touch and snarled. "Stop treating me like I'm delicate. I'm not a baby, not am I a human. I know how to take care of myself."

"Oh yeah? Then how come you got hurt?" Dad pointed at my bandage.

"If Celeste wasn't the target, I would have easily evaded the bullet. What I did was to protect my mate. You would have done the same for mom or Lexie!" I yelled at him.

"Greyson, if you step outside the protection of the maze, every wolf, rogue and power seeking alpha out there will know exactly where we are located. There is no eclipse to protect you. Remember, our bloodline can only go out once a year; when the eclipse suppresses our command."

"Doesn't that make us cowards?" I bit back. "If we are that great than how come we hide?"

As they absorbed what I said, I turned my back and ran towards the maze. There was no time to waste another minute. Whatever danger I was going to face outside, I can deal with it later.

"Damn it, Greyson." Dad muttered.

Behind me all four of them shifted and ran after me.

I could hear their paws splashing into the water and as the maze engulfed us into its darkness, our noises synced together in echoes.

Dad's bark bounced across the walls of the tight space. He was warning me to stop, but I smirked at such ludicrous request. As I ran, the water from the stream splashed across my back. The bandages soaked it all in and the crusty bloodstains started to blotch.

Because I was used to patrolling the maze, I knew the inside framework like the squares of a chessboard. Within minutes, I could spot the large body of water that laminated the light from the outside; where the waterfall hid the maze exit.

When my body slammed into the water, my body shivered at the cold. I swam farther down and followed the light coming from the other side. When I was halfway, something grabbed my ankle and tried to pull me back.

I looked over my shoulder and saw my dad. He had turned back into his human form. I shook my foot hoping to get him to let go, but he kept a tight grasp.

My mouth opened and oxygen escaped my mouth. I quickly ran out of air to breath and I struggled to swim. Next thing I knew, two people pulled me from under my arms and drew me out of the water.

As soon as my lungs could grasp air, I coughed and threw up water. My body was dripping from head to toe. My hands and feet were dragging against the dirt. The ground softened between my fingers and I clenched the mud.

"Now that we are on the other side, what do you want to do?" Dad's feet were right next to my face. I looked up and meet his annoyed glance. "I doubt we can drag you back, unless we knocked you out."

I scowled at them, daring them to even touch me.

Dad sighed. "This was your idea Greyson and as it being your absurd plan, you are responsible for this mission, Alpha."

For the first time he was letting me call the shots. If it weren't for the circumstances, I would be astounded.

"Let me tend to your wound first." Leo helped me up. He always carried a small first aid pack in his cargo shorts, if he wasn't on official town duty. The package was sealed in a plastic wrap so it wouldn't get wet.

"You can do it later, we need to-

He grabbed the back of my neck and shoved me down. "Let me help you, you stubborn wolf." As my second in command, he showed very slight respect for me.

I groaned and glared at Robert. "Aren't you going to condemn him for insolent behavior?"

"You're not the alpha yet." Robert chuckled.

"Our pack will die out with these two, I swear it." Dad mumbled to himself.

Just to piss him off more I said. "Well we might as well end it with a bang."

He sent me a look that would have sent an ordinary man six feet under.

As Leo rebadged my wound, dad evaluated our surroundings with his senses. "There is no one in the forest, except for the woodland creatures."

I felt like I've been in these woods all my life, but in reality, I've only been through these woods once and that was during the eclipse.

It was where Vincent stood right now Celeste first saw me in my wolf form and called me by that sill name "fluffy".

"Do you sense her?" Robert asked.

I closed my eyes and listened, heard and smelled for any signs.

My nose caught one scent. "West. There is a strong scent coming from that way. I think it's her."

"Do you smell the rogue?" Dad asked.

I shook my head. "No, but time will tell. He will eventually start leaving tracks for us to follow."

"And it won't be long before another pack smells us out." Dad prompted. "The more we stay outside like this, our presence emits across the area like a radar beam. Other packs will be curious about the unfamiliar authority and will flock here like fruit flies."

"Then we better hurry." Robert rung his wet shirt and shook out the water from his hair.

"Dad, stop it. You're acting like a dog!" Leo groaned.

Vincent laughed and held out his hand to give his brother a high five.

"You two this is no joking matter." Dad frowned at them, which sobered them up.

"Sorry Alpha." Leo replied.

"Leo, Vincent, you two follow Greyson and guide him around. This may be our territory, but my son and I are not familiar with the town as you two. Robert and I will go to town and scout the wolves in out pack to help us with our search. The more people the faster we can find that rat."

I nodded. "If you find him let me know right away."

"And Greyson, if you find him first, do not do anything irrational." Dad warned me.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever." I couldn't promise him that.

We split up; dad and Robert scoped the perimeter of the town to gather as much of the wolves in our pack to help.

Following my nose, we were lead to a path that sparked my memory. It was like I had been here before. I had gone through these woods and felt the familiar slopes between my feet.

"Grey, I think we're going the wrong way." Leo muttered.

"Why?" I said.

"This is taking us to Diana's house.

Ah Shit. No wonder I felt like I remembered this place. I was here before when I took Celeste. This was where her grandmother lived-where she had stayed for the past couple days before I stole her.

I just lead us in a dead end.

"It's okay man. Let Vince and I search the place. We need a better idea of Celeste scent so we can help you track her."

The idea made my stomach twist. My wolf was growling with the idea of Leo and Vincent sniffing through Celeste's underwear.

"There's no need." I told them.

"Are you sure? We can-

I stretched my arm out in front of him. "I'm sure." I said a little too irritated and Vincent pressed his lips together to show me he was going to shut up now.

"I've got an idea." Leo stopped in his tracks right when we were standing underneath the porch in the back yard. "Why don't we take a visit to Marty?"

He smiled at me as if he had solved the greatest mystery of the universe.

"No is not the time to drink tea and crumpets." I growled.

"No, man. Marty comes from a long line of trackers. If you've ever lost something, he could find it easily. Even if it's been hundreds of years!" Leo exclaimed.

"That last part isn't proven." Vincent pointed out.

"Whatever, but it would be no surprise if Marty could."

"I've only meet this Marty person a few times, we haven't formally met." I said.

Some wolves in our pack rarely visit inside the maze. Because throughout the years wolf families have intertwined with humans and they choose to only do minor errands for the pack. Like watchers, they observe in the shadows and report to higher officials like Leo and his family.

However, Marty's family held an important role in our pack. Whenever we needed something to be found, we call them. For years we haven't really needed their skills, but to day would probably be their moment to demonstrate their talents.

Vincent chuckled. "Marty's kind of a mouth full."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"You can never get a word in with the guy." Leo commented. "Let's just go to his shop and you'll know what I mean."

My god this man needs duck tape.

"Holy smokes! You're the next Boss! I mean the Boss' Junior! The prince of the packs! The next in line! The next head honcho! But you're not next in my line...Oh man, I forgot about these people. Let me cash out what they want to purchase and I'm going to abide to your ever command your holiness!"

His costumers looked at him strangely, while Leo and Vincent snickered behind my back.

"Can this guy really help us?" I asked.

Leo nodded his head. "All this stuff was found by him and he refurbished all of it. When people don't claim their lost items within the year, he sells them. He gets a lot of money from this business."

Behind the counter, Marty yaps away at his last customer completing her on her interesting feathered hat and then offers her a discount on two of his woman's hats in the back of the store.

"Buy 1, get the second half off! I have a perfect hat that would go great with your striking shoes!"

He ushers her to the back of the store and when they come back, the woman is holding three hats, a trench coat and a vintage jewelry box.

"See what I mean?" Leo mutters behind me.

"He intimidates people to get them to buy more from his shop." Vincent picks up a glass figurine of a dolphin.

"Don't touch, Vince. If Marty see's you touching his things, you won't be able to leave this shop until you buy something." Leo warns his brother.

Vince immediately puts the item back where he found it.

"So what can I do for you young prince? I must say, you are quite threatening coming to my shop with bandages." He points out the bindings peaking out from the inside of the jacket I wore.

Leo had given me his police jacket before heading to town, saying walking around bare-chested with bandages would catch people's attention.

"A rogue has breeched our territory." I responded with irritation. "He took my mate."

Marty's bushy brows arched in interest. "GASP!" He covered his mouth with his hand and actually looked surprised. "The Taking occurred already? My, my, how the time flies! I missed it. I also missed your party, sorry about that, but I run this shop for humans too. I can't just leave my shop unattended, you know? My I think my parents went though, or I think they did. I'll have to ask them and ask them if they took pictures. I'm sure you looked wonderful. And your woman-Oh! That reminds me...So who's the lucky gal? Is she gorgeous-of course she is! To be with you-you luck dog. But wait! What did you say about the princess being missing! How dreadful, !-

I raised my hand up to stop his blabbing. This guy could talk forever. "Leonardo and Vincent tell me you're the guy to ask for missing things?"

Marty's face sobered. "Unfortunately, I can't find things on the run."

"But you are a tracker."

"Yes, but as you can see." He motioned with his hand. "I only find objects."

For heavens sake! I glare at Leo and the idiot shrugs. "Leo, can I talk to you privately?"

He hesitates. "Sure."

I grab him from the back of his head, which makes him cringe. We walk over to the corner of the store near a pile of grandfather clocks. I whisper, "I thought you said he could help us!"

"He can, or I thought he could!" He gulps.

"What kind of renowned family line is this? You spoke so highly of them and this is all they are-lost and found items?"

"Maybe they're some joke?"

I grumbled. "No, their family records are in my dad's library. I've seen the track record..." I look over my shoulder. Marty is accusing Vincent of touching his things and now he was berating him to buy that glass dolphin. "It's him...he's spent so much time in this cooped up store he forgot what it's like to be a wolf. Do you know when was the last time he got out of this store?"

"I think...never. I've never seen him outside of this shop."

And there you have it.

Staying inside all day never gets anything done. People need to have variety in their lives to be holistically healthy.

"We're taking him with us."

"Huh?" Leo looked at me in disbelief.

I walked back to were Vincent and Marty were arguing over a piece of glass.

"You." I growled behind Marty and the short guy jumped at my voice.

"M-m-me? What about me? My name's Marty and-

"You are coming with us and you will prove that legendary nose of yours." I grabbed the back of his shirt. "Leo, make sure his shop is securely locked. Vincent, flip that sign closed."

Marty struggled in my grasp. "This is madness. I've never closed my shop this early in my life. Not in my father's life, or my grandfathers, or his father and so on. How dare you-

A hard rumbled growl radiated from the core of my chest. "How dare I, what?" I spat in his face.

He visibly turned white and eyes expanded in size. "Never mind."

That was probably the shortest sentence he's ever said in his life.

NOTE: Dec 24, 2016

HAPPY HOLIDAYS YOU FREAKISHLY AMAZING PEOPLE!!! I'M BACK!!! I've graduated and I'm ready to write again after a year of constant chaos. I have edited this book again so you will find some changes to the style of writing. This book has been closed off from the public but I have made it visible once more. SO YOU BETTER BE GRATEFUL, you marshmallows! Let's make one thing clear though IF YOU COPY MY BOOK...I WILL FIND YOU.

BE WARNED. xo