Page 83 of The Hidden Guardian

Zev pushes through the crowd, and he growls, “Renall, are you okay?”

I sit up rubbing my chest.

“Yes …” I feel tears brimming my eyes, “It’s a … bond.”

“A bond?” He sounds surprised. Several people gasp. Zev glances quickly at Lupe. “To who?” he carefully asks.

“I …” I close my eyes searching down the bond for my new mate. That’s when I’m greeted with even more pain, despair, guilt, sorrow so thick it wraps around me. I haven’t felt a bond in years and the feelings of another are so strong they make me leap to my feet. “She’s not here, she’s out there and hurt–I need to go.”

“No!” Lupe yells then lowers her tone. “You can’t leave.”

Zev nods. “We need you here Renall to protect the cave. It’s not safe out there.”

“But I have a mate now–I’m free to leave.”

Zev shakes his head. “I can’t allow that.”

“What are you talking about? She’s in trouble I must go. She’s hurting.”

“Sorry Renall, I can’t let you leave.”

I’m already rising to my feet, “Try to stop me.” I growl running past the lines of tables.

I’m about to reach the stairs when a booming voice calls. “Renall, I command you not to leave this cave to find your mate.”

His Alpha voice. Heorderedme not to leave, my feet slow and then stop before the steps. I turn my eyes narrowing on Zev in the center of the aisle. Lupe whispers in his ear.

They both look at me. Eyes serious, cold.

“Sorry.” Zev shrugs but his voice is anything but. I feel the rest of the cave’s weighted stares waiting for me to freak out, go Warrior Clan on my oldest friend. I won’t do that. It would only undermine the harmony of the cave. No, it’s not the time.

But my mate’s hurting and I can’t get to her. I will never forgive him for this.

That night is the worst. There’s nothing to distract from the pain seeping in through the bond. Guilt wraps around my heart and squeezes. An overwhelming sense of hurt echoes through me bringing me to my knees.

My mate is hurt.

I did not wait all these years for her to ignore her.

I’m on my feet before I realize it. The bond leading my footsteps blindly out the door. The cave is dark and silent as I slip along the ledge and down the stairs.

A growl echoes to me, “You’re leaving anyway?”

I turn to face Leland standing in the shadows his scarred side the only thing visible.

“I have to. She needs me.”

“You don’t deserve her.” He snarls. Leland holds no love for me. He still blames me for Cora’s death even though we both know they planned it together.

“I know.” I turn and rush down the steps.

“This is going to end you.” He calls after me, a smile on his face.

“We’ll see, Leland.” I disappear into the corridor.

I’m through the corridor and standing before the waterfall when I realize I didn’t hit any resistance from the Alpha order. I don’t care, I’ll face the consequences when I return. Right now, my mate needs me and nothing will keep her from me.

I leap into the waterfall deciding to choose my mate over my Alpha.

After all, Alphas can be replaced.