Crossing Paths With The White Wolf

Natalia P o V

I could only hear random words here and there. Something about a sister. Helios walked back inside a lot happier than when he went out. His phone beeped and I could hear a man asking in a baby voice "Come to daddy. Come on. That's my girl!" followed by a woman's yipping before she yelled "Cory! No biting!" Helios chuckled before he began texting back before he passed the phone to Gonzalo. I felt Hestia purring at the sound. I had to school my face and looked down at my pancakes. I felt his deep masculine chuckle all the way down to the tip of my toes, making them curl. There was a soothing warmth to it that made me want to hear it again. I finished eating to get my stupid hormones under control, determined to ignore the pull of the bond. I felt Hestia growl at my thoughts but she didn't block me. We had business to discuss today.

"So what time is good for you to discuss getting Eun-Kyung back," I asked the table in general as I got up and took my plate to the sink. I began scraping at the burnt pan, now that it had been soaking.

"Well, we kind of hit a -" Sebastian began.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Actually, Markus just gave me an idea," Helios said.

"Oh?" Theo answered and I turned around.

"We're heading over to pick them up in three days. They are going to be helping us get her back. They are expecting all of us there," Helios said, and that got Sebastian and Theo excited. Whoever they were, it was clear that they were close. "Three days is too long!" I said. "Am I just supposed to sit on my laurels while she's going through goddess knows what? I made a promise to her parents. If you can't help me, just give me the money you promised me and we'll be on our way," I huffed. "I wasn't finished, Natalia," he said, and I could hear the annoyance in his voice, though I couldn't see his face from where I was at. "We hit a dead end yesterday. The location they have her in is restricted air space. We have no pictures, no surveillance and no layout. If we assume he's a regular buyer of endangered or rare animals, it's likely well protected. He's also a rich and retired Silicon Valley CEO. I don't know what kind of gadgets that buys him. We need to approach this carefully so no one gets hurt. No, we should go to the address Eun-Kyung is and do surveillance. If we can extract her safely, we will try, but if Celeste is expecting us, then I highly doubt the chance will present itself before then."

"Who is Celeste?" I asked, trying to ignore my own feelings of jealousy. Stupid mate bond. Stupid bond only I feel. Why am I the only one made to suffer this stupid need to feel whole? I've fought it before already and it hurt like hell to feel it break. Hestia had almost lost her mind on the first one, never having experienced the rejection before. We had almost lost control. Something we hadn't done in a long time. The others were easier, knowing what to expect, but it still hurt like a b***h.

I don't want more. She huffed at me.

You would rather feel the loss when we're that much more in love? - I asked her. It was the same conversation we've had many times before as she would beg me to go look for a mate. Her soul craved it. That feeling of completeness. I would have to take a lover when it happened, to try to get her back into control, but it was never easy. She didn't accept replacements.

Love is always worth it - She said.

You say that because you hide from it when it snaps. I have to feel it - I was interrupted by Helios' answer. "She is a friend of ours," Helios said.

"Let me try this again. Why is her expecting you, an indication that we won't be able to get Eun-Kyung back? Unless..." I see him turn around to look at me and I see him nod as I figure out what it means.

"She has the gift of sight, but it is not public knowledge..." he said with an implied threat in his voice. Hestia bristled at what sounded to her like he was choosing to protect her from us, his mate. I quickly remind her that he doesn't know this, but it barely helped. "I don't have a habit of talking to other packs," I said through gritted teeth.

"Can I ask you a question?" Theo said. My eyes snap to him and I give a curt nod before turning my glare back on Helios. "Do you even belong to a pack? We may not be able to smell the same way wolves do, but there's still an undeniable stench to rogues. You don't smell like a rogue, but...you also don't smell like them." I didn't need to look at him to know he was talking about the girls.

"I don't belong to any pack and I am not a rogue," I said. "Then how?"

"Most white wolves have a unique gift that lets us create a mind-link bond to anyone with whom we have a personal connection. A good friend, mate, lover, etc. That connection simulates the connection to a pack and keeps our wolf sane. I don't need to belong to a pack. Packs only want to control us," I explained.

"Because of your healing abilities?" Helios adds.

"Yes." and other gifts, I think to myself.

"Are.. Are you going to stay or go?" Helios asks.

I sighed, "If your friend has already seen that she's helping you get Eun-Kyung, then you know I'm staying."

He grins slightly, "She's expecting us. As in all 7 of us."

"Then why ask?" I growled.

He shrugs and looks out the window. "Just because I know you'll get there eventually, doesn't mean I know your choice right now. I wanted to know if I should take you and the girls to get some clothing. You should wear more than my sweatpants." My face heats, "Oh- I need a shower first." I say and I move towards the stairs. I stopped at the steps and looked at the girls. "Behave and yell for me if you need me."

An hour later, we're in an SUV. Theo and Sebastian went home to pack and they are renting a larger vehicle for us to travel and Gonzalo went to gather his things. We were meeting back at Helios' house for dinner. Helios kept frowning at the girls and it was starting to bug me. They were being good. Quiet and behaved. He took us to a store and told them to grab whatever they wanted. I was going to tell them to only grab enough for a few days, but hell, after what they went through, they needed something happy happening and my mate- Helios. Not mate, I mentally scolded myself - Helios was clearly loaded, so I doubt it would put him in financial trouble. I went and grabbed a few things for Eun-Kyung. There was nothing here in my size, so I assumed that we would hit another store after and just went to stand with Helios as we let the girls shop. He looked like he was in his own thoughts, his eyes following the girls everywhere they went, a frown on his face. What the f**k was his problem?

"What is your problem with them? Not a kid person?" I growled lowly at him.

"What is your problem with them? Not a kid person?" I growled lowly at him.

He turned to me with confusion in his eyes. "Pardon?"

"You keep frowning at the girls. If you mind them around, just let me know. We can get out of your way." I hissed. To my surprise, his eyebrows shot up, he began laughing. "What's so funny?" I said, trying not to let it show how much I enjoyed his laugh. I crossed my arms and looked away.

"You're right, I do want them out of the way," he said, making me snap my eyes at him, but he was smiling. I opened my mouth to speak but he didn't let me. "I have been wondering if you would let me ask the Crescent Moon Pack if the girls can stay with them for a few days when we get there. They have gone through enough already. I don't know what we're going to find when we get there, but I trust that my sister wouldn't have sent me on this journey without it involving significant risk. I don't want them near the danger," he said. My stomach fluttered at his concern. "Crescent Moon Pack is filled with women that have been through terrible things before they were rescued. They couldn't be in better hands while we free Eun-Kyung. I know you have no reason to trust me, but I don't think they would be safer anywhere else." He finally looked away from the girls and his brown eyes pierced into mine, and straight to my soul. "Please think about it." I nodded, not trusting my voice not to purr like Hestia was doing in the back of my head. We headed back to his place and I went up to take a cold shower. Everything about this man was driving me insane. Stupid mate bond. I growled in the shower. I didn't ask for this. I don't want another mate. Why can't you just leave me alone? I asked the moon goddess.

We deserve to be happy - Hestia answered for the moon goddess.

Just to plunge into darkness again. I won't do it. Get that through your thick skull. - I told her. She didn't deserve for me to speak to her this way, but I was frustrated. I felt alone. Why couldn't she and Selene see that this was for the best? I couldn't handle the heartbreak. I wasn't that strong. I punched the shower wall enough to crack a few tiles. s**t, I shouldn't have done that. Helios was already nice enough to let us stay here. I didn't need to destroy his property. I turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around me. I exited the bathroom to run into a hard, warm, brick wall. I gasped as I felt the sparks explode down my entire body as I felt two hands grab my shoulders to stop me from bouncing backwards.