His Alpha's Guardian novel Chapter 16

It was now an hour later and I had one of the Omegas showing the two Elders to a room. I was sitting in my office, finishing up the last-minute financial documents that Oliver never got to finish. I had left notes for my dad and Elijah, detailing the extra stuff that I had added to the pack and what days I had everything done on.

I stood up and walked over to Justin’s makeshift desk. I sat in his chair and pulled the jacket that was hanging on the back of it on top of me, using it as a blanket, as I inhaled his scent.

Goddess, I miss you, Justin. I miss you so much.

I looked at his desk and I saw an older picture of us. I picked it up as the tears dripped down my face. I held the picture to my face and placed a small kiss on it. I turned the frame over and took the picture out of the frame. This picture was going to come with me. I folded the picture and placed it in my pocket. I curled up in his desk chair and draped his jacket on top of me before I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

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I woke up several hours later to the annoying dinging coming from my phone telling me it was time to wake up. I shut off the alarm and stood up, stretching my muscles as I heard my bones pop and crack.

I looked around the room, realizing that I must have fallen asleep in my office, which I had not intended to do. I grabbed the jacket and walked around to the door and opened it, right as Oliver was about to walk in.

“What are you doing here? It is the middle of the night?” I questioned him.

“I was looking for you. I have been looking for you all night. You never came back to your room and I was worried about you. Your father told me that you were leaving and did not know when you were going to be coming back. Were you not going to tell me that you were leaving?” he asked me, hurt registering on his face.

“Ollie, don’t be like that…this entire situation has been hard on me. I was going to say goodbye to you. I just feel like you would have talked me out of my decision and right now, this is what I need. I need a small break from the pack, so I can learn my role in life without my mate. Ollie, I will return. I just need time away. I promise I won’t be gone for too long.”

Oliver stood there for a few moments, not once taking his eyes off me, before he took a step forward and pulled me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him and held on tightly.

“Just promise that you will not do anything too stupid or reckless.”

“I promise I will leave the recklessness and destructive behavior to a minimum,” I whispered.

“Thank you.” He bent down and placed a kiss on the top of my head.

I stepped out of his arms and I left him standing there as I made my way to my room and grabbed my suitcase. I ended up having to have my mom help me pack the suitcase. I still refused to step into the house with everything reminded of Justin, so I gave her a list of what I wanted and she went and grabbed it for me to pack up.

I quickly grabbed my bags and rushed to the front stairs of the pack house to wait for Tate and Carlos.

I heard rustling coming from the trees and I peered in that direction and I did not see anything. I took a few steps off the porch and walked a little closer to the woods.

“Whoever is there, show yourself!” I screamed to the woods.

I took another few steps closer and I was suddenly hit with the overwhelming smell of sandalwood and orange blossom. I shook my head, willing myself not to even think about it. It isn’t possible. He is dead, Kataleya. Dead. You are imagining things. But is he though? We never found his body, even though I felt our bond snap. I heard his final words. We thought maybe one of the rogues had taken off with his body, but now I can’t be too sure what happened.

I wish I could talk to Skye, but I haven’t been able to. Each day I try to push her forward, but it is as if I am all alone here. I haven’t talked to her since that night when she told me that she was going to recede to protect our unborn pup…

‘Aziel? Gael?’ I called through the link.

‘Yes, Alpha?’ they both responded simultaneously.

‘Can both of you check out the forest area to the west of the pack house? I keep hearing something over there. I just want to make sure that no one has been able to breach our territory…I am about to leave, or I would do it myself.’

The link was quiet for a moment before Aziel was the first to respond, ‘Sure thing, Alpha. Are you planning on eventually coming back to your pack?’

‘Of course, Az. I just need some time to do some soul-searching…I am hoping the distance away from the pack and everything that reminds me of him will help me to move on. I need something that will keep me busy. I think this will be one of the best things that I can do for myself during this time,’ I quickly responded. I knew that there were going to be pack members that would think that I was abandoning them, but I was not. Not really. I just need time to process my lost. You can call it running or whatever the hell you want. Truthfully, it does feel like I am running. If I was stronger, I would stay and face this head on. Face my demons that lurk here, instead of running for them and leaving them for another day.

‘Of course, Alpha. We will miss you. Take care of yourself. And Alpha? If you want someone to talk to, I am still here. You lost your mate that day, but I, also, lost my best friend. I know that it isn’t the same thing, but I am hurting too.’

‘Thank you, Aziel. Take care. Both of you. If you need anything, I am still a phone call away.’