The Alpha's Burden
POV: The Alpha
The forest stretched endlessly before him, quiet and still under the weight of his thoughts. The full moon, high in the sky, bathed everything in a cold, silver light. Sultan took a deep breath, inhaling and savoring the scent of the pine trees, the damp earth, and the multiple scents of his pack members as they patrolled the territory and its borders. This Sultan was his world, the one place where he could truly feel at home, at peace.
But tonight, even the tranquility of the forest couldn't soothe the growing tension hackling inside him. His muscles were tight, coiled with the restless energy that had been building for the past few weeks. His wolf paced restlessly in the back of his mind, growling, agitated, demanding action.
Find her!
The voice of his wolf rumbled in his mind, low and insistent. His wolf had been more vocal lately, more demanding. It wanted what he wanted: their true mate, not just someone to idle by with until she came along like that had been doing before. She was still out there, somewhere just beyond his reach, and it was driving him mad.
"I know; we'll find her." Sultan thought, his brows furrowing as he stared out over the darkened forest.
His wolf's response was immediate, sharp with impatience. "We've waited long enough. What's taking so long? She's close. I can feel her. Can't you feel her?"
Sultan clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to growl out loud. Of course, he could feel her. That was part of the problem. He felt her more and more each day, like an invisible thread pulling him toward something—or someone—just out of reach. It was Like trying to grasp something just at the tip of his fingers that he just kept missing.
"I feel her," he answered, his mind calm, but his wolf was anything but. "But we just have to be patient."
His wolf let out a low, angry snarl in his mind. "Patient? We've been patient. Too patient. You should be hunting her down, not standing here doing nothing."
Sultan's hands curled into fists at his sides, his eyes scanning the forest with sharp intensity. He knew his wolf was right. He had been waiting too long, and the restlessness had grown unbearable. But finding his mate wasn't as simple as hunting prey. He couldn't just track her scent and drag her back to his pack. Even though the thought did sound pleasing, hunting his mate down, bringing her back here, and having his way with her. The thought alone had him turning rock hard. He groaned; unfortunately, that wasn't how things work; he and his wolf knew that even if it didn't want to admit it.
"She'll come to us," Sultan said firmly, trying to soothe the wolf within. "We have to—"
"She's already here," the wolf cut in, its voice a low growl of frustration. "You feel it. I feel it. She's close."
Sultan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his thick hair. His wolf was right. For the last few days, the pull had grown more substantial, the connection more tangible. His mate was near—he could feel her, almost taste her in the air, though he had no idea where to begin.
"You've got that look on your face again," Cameron's voice broke through the thick silence. The Beta stood beside him, his arms crossed, watching Sultan with a knowing expression.
"What look?" Sultan grunted, though he already knew what Cameron was getting at.
"The one that says you're thinking too hard," Cameron said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "About her."
Sultan's lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't have a choice," he muttered. "She's all I think about lately."
Cameron nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "I get it. But you can't let it consume you, Sultan. The pack needs you. They're already starting to talk, wondering why you haven't made a choice and taken a Luna already."
The mention of the pack sent a fresh wave of frustration coursing through Sultan's veins. His wolf snarled in agreement. "They don't understand. She's the one. No other female will ever compare."
"Let them talk," Sultan growled, his voice low. "I'm not choosing anyone who isn't my true mate."
Cameron glanced at him, his expression cautious. "I know, and I agree with you. But not everyone in the pack feels the same way. You know what they're saying. A Luna would bring stability. And some of them think... well, they think you're losing focus."
That word—"focus"—felt like a slap in the face. Sultan stiffened, his amber eyes narrowing. "I'm more focused than ever," he growled. "I'm protecting this pack daily, ensuring we're ready for anything. That's is the focus."
Cameron raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I know that. But you know how they are. Fear makes people doubt, even when they shouldn't."
Sultan's wolf growled low in his mind, angry at the doubt within the pack. "They don't know what we're dealing with. They don't feel what we feel."
"No, they don't," Sultan agreed silently, his eyes scanning the city's distant lights on the horizon. "They'll understand when I find her. Everything will make sense and fall into place once she's here, as it should be."
Cameron exhaled slowly, clearly reluctant to push the matter further. "Alright. But it would be best if you found her soon, Sultan. The longer this goes on, the more restless the pack gets."
Sultan didn't respond. He didn't need to. The pressure to find his mate was already a constant weight on his shoulders, and the last thing he needed was a reminder. His wolf was howling inside him, frustrated with the waiting, eager to claim what was his, his mate.
"We're wasting time here," the wolf grumbled. "We should be out there, scouring the city. She's close. I can smell her."
Sultan tensed. He had avoided the city for so long, preferring the wild, open spaces of the forest. The town is overfilled and crowded with humans who had no idea the supernatural world even existed. It wasn't his territory, But if his wolf was right—if she was there, then he had no other choice.
"Fine," Sultan said to his wolf, feeling his satisfaction ripple through him. "We'll go. But don't get reckless. We still don't know who she is."
The wolf huffed, impatient but eager. "Doesn't matter. We'll know her when we see her. I'll know."
Sultan turned back to Cameron, and his decision was made. "I'm heading into the city tomorrow."
Cameron blinked, his surprise evident. "The city? Why?"
"I need to find her," Sultan said simply. "I've felt the pull for days now, and it's getting stronger. She's there. Somewhere."
Cameron hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Do you want me to come with you?"
"No," Sultan said, his voice firm. "This is something I need to do on my own."
Cameron didn't argue. He knew better than to question his alpha instincts, especially when it came to matters as important as this. "Just be careful," Cameron said, his tone serious. "The city's not our territory. And if there are any rival packs or rogues lurking around, they'll be watching."
"I know," Sultan replied, his voice low. "I'll be careful."
But deep down, he knew there was no being careful when it came to this. His mate was out there, and he would do everything it took to find her.