Bryce and Damien walked to the back of the mansion.
"Are you with his clothes?" Bryce asked.
"The guards are on their way with it," Damien replied, sneaking a glance at Bryce whose jaw was tight with anger.
"Alpha, don't lash out at him when you see him," Damien pleaded. He was quite sure that Bryce would scold Gray, and he wanted to prevent that.
Bryce stopped in his tracks, turning his head to look at Damien.
"Are you on his side?" He inquired.
"Of course not," Damien replied almost instantly.
"Then, allow me to deal with him," Bryce stated before resuming his walk.
Damien sighed, lighting a candle for Gray in his heart.
A few minutes later, Bryce and Damien approached the backyard, and they could see some guards laying on the floor.
Bryce's anger was visible on his face as his eyes swept through the guards who laid flat on the floor.
They were obviously unconscious, and their attitude annoyed Bryce who ruffled his hair in frustration.
Damien, on the other hand, parted his lips in surprise. He had no idea that the situation was this intense.
They suddenly heard a loud whimper, and they turned to look at a white wolf which was bloodied, and was unable to move.
Bryce shook his head while he walked towards the wolf.
"Do you enjoy tormenting me?" Bryce glared at the wolf who cowered in fear.
"Transform now!" He ordered, staring straight at the wolf.
Before long, the wolf transformed into a naked man who had a deep gash in his abdomen. The man had similar features with Bryce, but he looked more feminine.
"You are injured Gray," Bryce commented with his brows furrowed.
"Are you worried about me brother?" Gray smiled, but the smile caused the wound to pull, and it caused him to squeeze his face in hurt.
"His clothes," Bryce didn't bother to give him a reply, rather, he turned to the guard who had his clothes with him.
"No fun," Gray pouted his lips as he received the clothes from the guard.
"Send for the physician," Bryce instructed with his hands folded.
"Don't bother, I can take care....." Gray was unable to complete his statement as he was shut with just a glare from his elder brother.
__________
"He is fine, I have stitched up his injury, he shouldn't let the wound get wet, and probably stay away from dangerous actions."
They were currently in Gray's room watching the Physician take care of his wound.
Gray, on the other hand, had a bored look on his face while he observed his brother who seemed to be in a bad mood.
"I'm done," the Physician announced with a bow.
"You may leave," Bryce dismissed him.
"I want to speak with my brother alone," after the Physician had left, Bryce announced, and Damien left the room instantly.
"Brother, put a smile on your face, I can't discuss with you with such a look on your face," Gray pointed at Bryce's face.
Bryce turned to look at him with a blank expression.
"Who said it was a discussion? I am here to scold you," Bryce said with his hands folded.
Gray had a terrible expression on his face, "brother please, I won't make the same mistake again."
Bryce raised his eyebrows at his words.
"You said that last week, and the week before that, do you think I'd believe you?" Bryce sneered, clearly not believing his words.
"I promise," Gray promised.
"I do not believe you, again I don't know why you keep going into the woods when you clearly get injured," Bryce couldn't understand his brother's actions.
Gray was silent. He didn't have an answer to the question. He also had no idea why he kept going to the woods despite the injuries he sustained.
Bryce shook his head with disappointment evident in his eyes.
"What happened with the guards?" Bryce demanded.
"I have no idea brother, I didn't know they were tailing me, I also met them like that when I arrived," Gray replied honestly.
Bryce looked at him, trying to see if he was lying, but he wasn't.
"Tell me, what did you see in the woods today?" He asked. He had a feeling that there was more, and since Gray always got injured, there must be something in the woods, and it could be dangerous for the pack.
"I saw…" Gray whispered, eyes distant.
Bryce leaned in, "what?"
And then, Gray told him.
And Bryce froze, his face drained of color, "Goddess help us," he murmured.
______________
"Why do you look so tense?" Marissa asked Bethany who was looking around. They were currently in Bethany's room while they discussed.
"Are you unable to smell it?" Bethany asked.
"No, what are you smelling?" Marissa replied with a confused look.
"There's mint… a woody base… but—blood, faint, but it's there," Bethany replied, sniffing around.
Marissa, on the other hand, giggled, understanding what was wrong with Bethany.
"Do you think it could be the smell of your mate? Is he close?" Marissa suggested.
Bethany snapped her at Marissa immediately.
"Could it be?" She asked, while biting her lips.
"I'm just saying, but it seems so, this was how I reacted when I discovered Bryce to be my mate," Marissa explained.
Bethany closed her eyes, trying to wrap her senses around the smell. She snapped her eyes open at once.
"I want to find him, would you follow me?" She pleaded.
Marissa could sense the desperation in her voice, and she agreed.
"Thank you, shall we?" Bethany asked, and they left the room.
Bethany walked slowly while sniffing around. She was trying to find where the smell was concentrated at.
Marissa followed behind her, hoping that she would find her mate.
Suddenly, Bethany stopped in front of a door, and she turned to look at Marissa.
"He's here, my mate is here," she announced excitedly.
A genuine smile appeared on Marissa's face. Now, they only needed to know who was behind the door.
Meanwhile, Gray stopped his explanation mid-sentence, his nose flaring at once.
"What's wrong?" Bryce asked with concern.
"Mate! Mate! Mate!" Gray chanted continuously.
Bryce was surprised.
"Your mate?" He asked, and Gray nodded excitedly.
"My mate is close, and she smells heavenly, she smells like caramel, I want to see her," Gray muttered, leaving his bed with heavy movement not caring if his wound opened again.
Gray stumbles, but he isn't bothered as he is eager to meet his mate.
"Hey, be careful, you need to be wary about your wound," Bryce shouted after him, but he didn't pay attention to him.
The door to the room was opened at once. Gray and Bethany locked eyes with each other, with all their senses screaming just one word.
"MATE!" They both exclaimed at once, surprising both Marissa and Bryce.