17 Chapter 17: (1/2)

〰 Levi 〰

I stared up at the greenery around me in hopes that I'd see a black wolf appear in my vision. My chest burned with the need for her to be around me on such a special day, but she didn't want me.

She wanted her old mate.

I picked a piece of the wood off the railing with the knife I was holding, clearly remembering when Nava threatened me with the knife. She did not like the idea of getting close to someone again when I first meet her, so I was well acquainted with all her weapons.

Now with Nava at her old pack, I couldn't help but feel a throb of jealousy since she didn't need me anymore. She had Thomas and her parents.

I had my parents and brothers too but... It wasn't the same warm feeling I had when I was with her.

She meant so much to me...

But I had to know if I meant anything to her.

Which is why it is keeping everything inside of me to hold myself back from going back to her.

It was so hard...

I just wanted to be by her side.

Yesterday around this time, she had opened herself to me only to throw her walls yet again. I thought that maybe she was sorry for putting me at arm's length only craving attention when she wanted it... But it wasn't, I felt her pure joy and happiness that just broke me.

Was she truly happy without me...?

Was it better that I stay away from her?

Am I causing her so much grief...?

I felt something buzzing in my pocket making me sigh and lean back to slip my phone out of my pocket. Confusion filled my painful thoughts when I noticed it was Thomas calling me.

”h.e.l.lo?” I ask, surprised that he was actually using the number I gave him when we first met. I never expected him to call me.

Honestly, I was silently hoping that it was somehow Nava.

”Hey! Merry Christmas dude! How are you guys over there?” He asks in a happy tone while I took the knife in my hands and picked off a piece of wood on the railing.

”I'm still alive... How is she?” I hesitated to ask, but I couldn't help myself. If she was happy, then I would be happy. But if she wasn't... then I'd go back and change that.

At this point, I didn't care. Her happiness overrode my pain of being without her.

”What do you mean, dude? She left this time yesterday and was heading to you. Has she not made it back?” Thomas questions when I stood up and stared out to the quiet forest.

”No. She hasn't... Let me call you back in a moment.” I quickly hung up on him and closed my eyes, feeling for her but I was only met by darkness.

A darkness that was forced, not placed.

I hurriedly dialed Thomas's number and entered into the coven. He picked up within seconds as I rushed past the joyful families that were opening presents.

”She's not there, is she? She may have got caught up in some snow. Her wolf is ignoring h-”

”No. Something is wrong,” I told Thomas, softly patting High Priest Ivan when he glanced over at me. He noticed my expression, pressing a soft kiss on his mate and getting up to follow me. I noticed the little girl that was nestled with Faye see me, quickly standing up to follow us.

”What do you mean? She's a hunter, Levi. She does this sometimes and the trek here took you guys two days. She may still be heading there.” Thomas a.s.sures me but I knew better than anything.

Nava was in trouble.

”When Nava was captured by a.s.sa.s.sins, I tried many times to contact her through our mate bond but was blocked by some kind of force. That force is acting upon me again.” I told High Priest Ivan and Thomas before opening the back doors. ”I am going to find her, stay by your phone and tell her parents,” I order Thomas even though he held more authority than I did.

”Her parents aren't here. They left on some trip yesterday morning, but I'll contact them.” He agrees before we ended the call.

”Huntress Nava has disappeared again?” High Priest Ivan asks me when I nodded and turned to him.

”Yes. Her disappearance feels too familiar to when the a.s.sa.s.sins captured the ladies.” I told him as the little girl tugged on my jacket, her face reddening from the snow. ”Go inside, Ari.” I waved the deaf girl, Ari, away.

”Mom?!” She yelled loudly, referring to Nava while I nodded and kneeled down to her.

”She is in trouble,” I spoke slowly to her when Ari placed her hand on my lips. ”Mom is in trouble,” I repeat for her as her face fell with fear. ”We are going to get her.” I motion to High Priest Ivan and I before she pointed to herself.

”Ari wants to go!” She shouts, not understanding how loud she was being since she was deaf.

”Ari can't go,” I told her and pressed her small hand to my lips. ”Ari must stay and be brave.” She frowned but nodded before hugging me and running back inside, closing the door behind her.

”I didn't know I was going.” High Priest Ivan comments to himself as I rolled my eyes and stood up.

”Just think of this returning the favor to my mate for saving your daughter.” I point out when he rubbed his jaw with an amused expression.

”Boy. You are getting good at compelling me to help you out. Alright. Let's start the tracking spell so we can find Huntress Nava.” He rose his hand to the ground, starting the spell as I nodded and quickly follow suit.