The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ITHRA

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Golden coins, sparkling jewels, mirrors, and other priced artefacts simmered in their millions. A hidden treasure cave!

“Calm down,” Zadok said, “Remember, we don’t touch anything.” He swallowed, “We will be fine if we don’t touch anything.” He repeated, but my jaws were on the floor, and I didn’t think they were coming up soon.

“How did this get here?” I asked the question that plagued my mind. “Just how many years has it been hidden here?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps a thousand years?” He suggested, sounding perplexed. “Who knew there was something good in this forest? No wonder people risked their lives to come here.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Zadok took a step forward, and I followed him. “I don’t think there are any records of this place in the dark forest. There would be more people seeking to try their luck at wealth assuming there was such information.”

I stopped by a treasure chest sitting on a rock, “It feels so unreal.” I said, eyeing the glittering contents.

“Whatever you do, don’t touch anything,” Zadok warned. “I have a bad feeling about this cave. Hopefully, we get out of them before the day runs out.”

I nodded my head and followed him as we journeyed through enough money that could serve for many generations.

At some point, I felt the gold call at me. I shook my head, hoping I was hearing things, but Zadok confirmed my assumptions.

“Did you hear that?” He asked in a low tone, and my eyes widened.

“You heard it too? I thought I was losing it.” I answered, feeling relieved that I wasn’t hearing things.

“These things are enchanted. That must be why this cave is the most dangerous place in the forest. I can feel the darkness within it.” Zadok quickened his steps, “just in case they are truly enchanted, then we need to get out fast. Don’t look at the treasures. Keep your eyes on the path.”

“Alright.” I did as he said, wondering how eye contact would influence the enchantments if they were truly enchanted.

I didn’t have the liberty to ask questions. I decided to leave it for later. We continued in a comfortable silence until I heard a very familiar voice call out to me.

“Ithra..” That was my mother. I knew that voice even in my sleep.

I turned around, and my eyes immediately spotted a mirror glass. Its edges glowed with precious jewels, and the more I stared at it, the more alluring it became.

Don’t touch anything. Zadok’s warning rang in my head, and I turned around, taking a huge breath.

“Ithra! Please! Save us!” I heard my mother’s voice again. This time around, it was loud, clear and frantic.

Her voice sounded so distressed that it ebbed at the chords of my heart.

Without a second thought, I turned around and came face to face with her. “Mom?” I stuttered, unable to believe my eyes.

Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, “We are dying. The wall is too weak. Help us.” She said from the glowing mirror.

My heartbeat increased. I rushed to the mirror, wondering how it was that I was seeing my mother. “What do you mean?” I asked, eyes open and ears rapt for attention.

“We don’t have much time, Ithra. If you can see this, you are in the dark forest, on a mission to save us all. Please hurry! Or it would all be in vain.”

Her words were a stab to my heart. Before I could respond, she disappeared, leaving the mirror empty and reflecting my face.

“No! Come back!” I cried and grabbed the mirror.

“Ithra! NO!”

Zadok was too late because I had taken the mirror from its position. I was already a thief.

“Zadok..” I cried, feeling a burn in my heart, “My mother. She was right here.” I struggled to speak, “I just saw her a moment ago. My clan is in danger,” I sobbed.

“Drop it, Ithra.” He said in a calm voice.

“I already broke the rule. You need to go before something bad happens to us both.”

“Don’t be silly. Drop it, and let’s go.” He urged, slowly coming towards me.

I didn’t know what came over me. But I couldn’t let go. At that moment, I believed I deserved to die, and I couldn’t let Zadok die with me.

“Don’t come close,” I said, taking a few steps back.

“Then drop it, or I swear to whatever you hold dear, I will pry it off your hands.” His tone was frustrated as well as serious.

To stop him from doing anything stupid, I dropped the mirror. It fell on the ground, breaking in half.

“Dang it! You couldn’t have let it down more softly?” Zadok asked in an exasperated tone.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said, suddenly feeling brave.

Zadok did a double take but nodded shortly after. He grabbed my hand and immediately took off in a sprint.

I joined him, running from nothing in particular. Running with Zadok brought an exhilarating feeling – like I was untouchable, on top of the world.

“Oh no, you don’t!” A fierce voice said from behind us, and I heard the sound of a billion coins hitting on themselves.

The noise was so much that it stopped Zadok in his tracks, and I covered my ears with my hands. What in the world?

“Run.” Three letters and one word. I took off with Zadok, gunning for the cave’s door a few metres away.

We would be running for a while.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew through the cave, taking us off our feet.

“It’s been a while since I met another one of you greedy humans.” It said.

While I tried to get on my feet, another wind blew through the cave, making a joke of our attempts at getting up. This time, I fell on my back, and with shock, I realised it was no ordinary wind.

Standing before me was a black dragon, who was anything but pleased to see us.

“A hybrid?” He cocked its head to the side, and its fangs bared in an evil smirk. “Even better.”

The dragon picked me up with its feet, and I was up in the air in seconds.

“Ithra!” I heard the far cry of Zadok – who was a few feet below us.

“Don’t leave me,” I cried, never taking my eyes from him.

At that moment, I realised that the thought of never seeing him again was worse than the probability of losing my life.