The Prince’s Unwilling mate by Mutya

116 Griffin

Even if this was just a run, where we would keep our eyes, ears, and noses open for clues. It was not the same as a patrol or a mission.

Still. we agreed to go on a run in a few smaller groups. This way we could cover more ground. Running alone would be unwise, both for safety concerns. And because we might find a clue we needed to secure, the leader of the group could stay with the clue. As the others would help the rest of the army to find us. Eventually, we would always find each other, but here on unknown terrain, it could take us a little longer. Time was a luxury we could not afford ourselves.

We divided the army into five groups, Dillion, Colin, Gerald, Jessa and I all leading one group. As soon as I shifted I let Conan take over, there was a bigger chance he would find something. We agreed he would give back control the second my human form was needed. I told my team Conan would be in control and of course, they all agreed. As the Crown Prince, I have had to lead and train the pack in both forms. So letting Conan lead them was nothing new for the pack.

Even now, when my entire world is crumbling down around me, I enjoy the feeling of being along for the ride. Experiencing the speed at which we were running, the scents and sounds around us when I was not in control was different. I was along for the ride, and it felt like it. I also noticed Conan seemed unwavering about the direction where to run to. Hoping he had noticed something I could not, I was feeling good about the decision to go on this late–night run.

0.00%

11:20

116 Griffin

288 Vouchers

And then it hit me, the overwhelming scent of blood, and not just any blood. I could smell it was Ayla’s. If I had been in my human form, I would have probably crashed to the floor. My legs would have given out from under me. Now I heard Conan mindlink everyone they needed to hurry in our direction..

“It’s her blood, you all smell it right,” Nikita, Nicky’s wolf asked through

the mindlink.

We all knew it was, and normally a question that redundant had pissed me off, and it would have pissed Conan off even more. He must have heard the fear and sadness in her voice too. Nikita wasn’t stating the obvious, she seemed distraught about the fact that her future Luna and Queen had lost blood here in the woods. I had noticed how loyal the pack was to Ayla already. I knew she made an impression during the BBQ, but I never knew Nicky, and her wolf seemed to adore her.

the very first to ask if she could join me on this mission to get Ayla back. She had become a guard just to be able to. While she had always been a very skilled fighter, Nicky had seemed

going to have to give you control back” Conan’s voice pulled me

had drifted somewhere else as Conan had been getting closer and closer to the source of the blood. It was like my mind had tried to

22.97%

11:20

116 Griffin

1288 Vouchers

stomach clenched together and that weird feeling in your throat that makes you feel like you are about

need our human form to read the back,” Conan told me before

at all, it’s nothing something an animal can do. When our human spirits are in control of our wolf body, we can still read. But holding a picture in your hand is far easier than holding one in your paw. I

needed. I send two of them out to walk ahead and hopefully guide the rest of the pack

pack. I had to blink a few times to see clearly again as my vision blurred with my unshed tears. There was so much love in this picture, it hurt me to

u”

“Luv u

must have written it in a hurry. The letters were shaky, wriggly lines. It was a smart move on Ayla’s part, I was sure she was in this forest somewhere now. The blood had made it so much. easier for Conan to find the picture.

45.66%

11:20

116 Griffin

to also meant she wasn’t in

288 Vouchers

critical

our group, the others soon followed after.

told me about that picture, she must have had it on her body