The Designated Mate novel Chapter 17

Pulling my keys from the engine, I swung my door open and went in such of an axe. Surely there had to be one somewhere around this place. Walking around to the back, I discovered a beat-up shed looking like it was going to collapse any minute. Carefully easing the doors open, the inside was filled with rusting yard tools.

"YES!" I yelled happily while throwing my hands up into the air. I had to dig around for a few minutes before finally locating an axe. I dragged it behind me as I walked into the woods and tried to find a tree that was reasonable for me, but all I was finding were massive ones that appeared to be hundreds of years old. Walking just a few more feet, I found the smallest one I've seen yet and decided to give it a try. Pulling the axe up like a baseball bat, I swung my arms forward to take my first hit, but the head of the axe came loose and flew behind me.

I stopped, stunned at what had just happened while peering back and forth between the handle in my hands and the metal piece that was a couple feet away. I threw my head back and began laughing hysterically at myself, needing to lean against the tree for support as my stomach began to ache with how hard I was laughing.

Once I finally gathered myself, I grabbed the blade that flew away and jammed it onto the handle and gave it a few test swings before deciding I was good to go. Raising my hands once again, a few remanent giggles tumbled from my lips before I swung the axe forward and made contact with the tree.

"I did it! Oh my God I'm really doing it!" I cheered for myself. Seconds later, though, I hit an impasse. I couldn't get the axe out from where it was wedged in the wood. I jerked and pulled for minutes, but it wasn't budging.

"C'mon!" I growled angrily before digging my feet into the ground and pulling back with all my might. Sweat accumulated on my palms, causing the handle to slip from my grasp and send me tumbling to the forest floor. I screamed out in frustration before slumping backwards onto the ground, staring up at the sky in defeat.

I laid there for a few minutes before I heard a loud ruffling noise to my left. I shot up to my feet and frantically searched the surrounding area. My heart rate started to decrease when there wasn't another noise for a few minutes. I decided to just forget about the axe and ask Jason if he could help me with it later. I started to back away when I saw a quick glimpse of those same yellow eyes in the distance.

"Yes and no. I would've called you sooner, but the Alpha took me and your mother into custody for questioning because we were the most obvious accomplices. They were finally forced to release us because they didn't get any information about you out of us, but they've flown in an investigator from The Council to help find you..." She trailed off, worry lacing her tone.

"I don't know what's going to happen, Kiara, but my new Luna just filed a persecution transfer form to send to The Council. They'll probably pull the investigation once they receive the paperwork, but I'm praying they don't tell my father why. How are things looking right now?" I asked.

"They're not looking great. Alpha Williams is threatening to start a war. He's given us three months to locate you and bring you back to him before he takes action." She murmured quietly. I sucked in a deep breath as a pang of pain shot through my heart. Now because of my selfish action, my whole pack - and even some members of Alpha Williams' pack - will be hurt.