Axton POV

I tried to press for more information about Zea's mother, but Layla wouldn't budge. She seemed to want to protect the woman, but I will do the same. I can't understand why she would purposely withhold information that could be the key to finding this woman.

As I walk back to my office, I try to come up with why she wants to keep Zea's mother a secret. Who could this woman be that I couldn't at least be told her name.

I was so lost in thought, I almost don't catch the light humming coming from behind my office door.

Confused on who would dare trespass into my space, I slam open the door and I'm surprised to find the little girl sitting before me. Zea doesn't jump at my loud entrance, but instead continues to look down with drawn eyebrows at what she was holding.

After a moment, she lifts her head to meet my gaze. I give her a small smile as I watch her look me in the eyes. Amusement fills me as her eyebrows slowly raise in a questioning expression.

The first thought I have is of how she reminds me of the one I lost. But the second the thought crosses my mind, I immediately push it to the back of mind before the painful reminder can be felt.

"Why do you have a picture of her?" she asks inquisitively. I could hear the tint of sadness in her voice as she points to the frame sitting in her lap.

I look at her in question before asking, "Who, Zea?"

Slowly lifting the frame into her hands, she turns the photo around and into my view. I feek my wolf start to stir in my mind as he whines and howls at what is in front of us.

"Put that down," I order her, my alpha tone seeping in my words, "Now!"

Don't hurt her! Knox yells at me.

Her small form starts to shake as silent tears fell down her face. Immediately forgetting my pain, I try to comfort her. But the second I move forward, she shrinks back into the chair.

"Zea I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" I start but she bolts out of the office before I can even get the words out. I hear her sob as she runs down the hall.

What did you do that for? Knox scolds me, We must protect her, not hurt her!

I didn't mean to, I try to tell him, but he just brushes me off and ignores me. I can't understand why my wolf is acting this way towards one little girl. What is it about her that he needs to protect?

Still thinking about Zea, I walk over to my desk. Slowly swiveling in the chair, I stare down at the lonely frame as her bright smile stares back at me. She was so happy the day I took this photo. She had it framed so I would always remember that day on the beach.

It was our first actual date since I had met my mate at my birthday party. We swam in the morning and then spent the entire day just sitting around and talking. Even though we had just met, it was the day I knew I loved her.

I just continued to stare down at her face, completely surrounded in my past world.

A knock on the door draws me out of my thoughts. Quickly sliding the frame back into my top drawer of the desk, I call for the person to entire.

"Alpha," Walker walks in, "I got a call from some of the scouts."

"What do you have?" I ask him, devoid of all emotion and getting straight to business.

"The rogues are stirring and a big group of them are heading straight here."

My wolf growls at the thought as I rise from my seat, "Double the border patrols. If a rogue is spotted, it dies. Understood?"

"Yes Alpha," he nods and walks out to enact my orders.

I move to sit back down when my wolf starts to stir in my mind and starts clawing to be let out. Not wanting to deny him a run, I rush out of the house and towards the forest surrounding the pack house. When I reach the edge of the trees, I shift into my giant black wolf.

I quickly scan the area before I take off running. The feeling is liberating as I push my paws into the dirt around me, taking in my land.

Go to the north border! Knox growls at me.

Why? I ask him, becoming more confused at his recent behavior.

She's in danger! Hurry up! He pushes, trying to take control.

Who's she? I ask him, but he doesn't get a chance to reply.

The cool breeze picks up, carrying the stench of multiple scents close to my territory.

I let out an angry growl, Rogues.

I sprint in the direction of the familiar odor as Knox grows angrier at the thought of rogues on our territory. Coming to a clearing, I pause at the tree line, waiting for the rogues to cross my path. I push my body into the ground as I watch the two wolves come into my view.

Without a second for them to process what's happening, I pounce from the forest bed. I swiftly dig my teeth into the neck of the first rogue, tearing out his throat before dropping him onto the forest floor.

Turning my attention to the second wolf, I take in his form. He has a brown coat and a small frame. I watch as he slightly shivers when he watched his friend die. Taking pity on this horrid creature, I move quickly for his throat.

Pushing my canines into his fur, I swivel my head. The echoing snap sounds through the trees as the life disappears from the rogue's eyes.

Lifting my snout in triumph, I throw the rogue's dead body into the soil. I raise my head to the stars and release a howl into the night, signaling the rogues' deaths.

A breeze picks up slightly, blowing the leaves about around me. Sniffing into the darkness, I smell it. The one scent I have been begging to sense for the last seven years. The scent I thought had been taken from me forever.

It's her, it has to be.

My mate.

Find her! Knox screams to me in need.

Stepping over the dead wolves, I set off into the forest. Running without watching where I'm heading, I push my legs harder to chase the fleeting scent. I have to find her.

The scent becomes stronger as I near the pack house. Quickly shifting behind a tree, I grab a pair of shorts from one of the hidden spare piles and sprint out of the forest and onto the path.

I lift my nose again as I take in the perfect scent in front of me. Vanilla and honey invades my senses as I take in the woman standing with her back to me.

She's covered in blood and dirt as she looks up to the house. Her blonde hair cascades down her back as her scent is blown to me once more.

Mate! Knox calls out.

"Ellie?" I call out, every ounce of hope I have seeping into my voice.

I watch as her demeanor stiffens slightly and she turns around to face me agonizingly slow.

The second her eyes reach mine, my heart lifts. She stands in front of me the exact same as the day I lost her. My eyes scan over her petite frame as I see every part of the woman I lost.

"Axton," she breathes out.

The second my name leaves her lips, my eyes go straight to hers. Her green hypnotizing eyes that I have spent hours staring into now hold back so many secrets.

"Ellie," I repeat as I make a step forward, but I halt as I watch her quickly raise her hands to signal me to stop.

"Don't."

It's the only word she said. She doesn't want me to come to her. I don't understand.

What is wrong with mate? Knox whines at her rejection of our touch.

"Ell-" I try again but I am cut off by the sound of the front door slamming open.

We both turn to the little patter as Zea comes sprinting out of the house as fast as she can.

"Mommy!"

I watch the scene unfold around me as if I had stepped outside of my body. The word froze me in my spot as I watch her jump into the arms of my mate. Ellie lifts her up as she holds Zea close to her chest, tears shining in her eyes.

Those secret green eyes catch mine as I silently plead with her to tell me the truth.

Is Zea mine?