The Tripartite Mate Bond Chapter 102: CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TWO

“KANE’S POV”

I dropped the car keys on the desk in the penthouse, the only place where what was left of her scent was still in.

It's been a miserable month for the three of us and another day of searching for the entrance to the dragon domain which according to the dragon twin of Lyra was located at the edge of the forest that separated us all supernaturals.

We'd also been dealing with the Council and their rules. I'd just gotten back from the many meetings where I'd spent a long amount of time defending the fact that my mate was a dragon rider and that it was my duty to protect her, hence the lies.

The elevator opened at the lobby of the penthouse and an equally weary looking Ares entered with his twin in tow.

We were all tired and frustrated and the pack even felt it; everyone avoided us and we took turns heading to each other's packs to deal with issues that arise every day.

Somehow, the vacuum her absence created was so big that we tried to cope by spending time with each other, looking for her, leading our packs and hoping against all odds that she comes back soon.

I loosened my black tie and the buttons on my shirt, heading to the fridge to get a bottle of water.

“I have an idea,” Ares said and I swiveled so fast I would have had whiplash if I wasn't a werewolf.

We had run out of ideas last week, everyone coming up with nothing but different ways to cope.

Without knowing it, Aurora had burrowed deep into our hearts and mind, her absence now showing how deep it ran.

Everyday, Axel got her favorite rose flowers, hoping she'd returned and I could see he was losing hope. They had been having a little tiff before she was taken and he had been practicing the words he'd say to her once she got back.

But with each terrible morning that passed, we lost a little bit of hope.

“You and Elena are close right?” He asked Axel and the guilt that covered his expression was palpable.

“The bitch was responsible for my rift with her. I've been avoiding her since so there isn't any closeness. In fact, there never was, I don't even know what got into her mind to make her try kissing me,” he said in frustration.

I guess he'd been trying to explain the situation to Aurora before the battle that turned everything in the supernatural world upside down happened.

“I noticed but in case we've forgotten, she's also a dragon rider. She's connected to the other dragon, the angry one,” he said and we all looked at him, the idea connecting in our heads all at once. It's one of the things we noticed, how connected our minds were. It's made us stronger mentally and physically, helping us navigate these difficult times and keep our packs safe.

“But won't she notice that I'm probably coming close to her because of this?” Axel asked apprehensively.

“Bro, you don't see how she looks at you. She'll do anything you ask, in fact you don't even need to lie to her about it,” Ares replied.

“Yea, give her the idea that she stands a chance with you. She's been looking for attention from a lot of wolves in my pack. Give it to her and hopefully, her dragon can take one of us in,” I said, a plan forming between us as we began to feel a little bubble of hope.

“AURORA'S POV”

It's been five days and even though I'd thought it'll be monotonous or boring, it was the exact opposite.

I spent my mornings and evenings training my mind and body and read lots of books during the day.

I was so excited I didn't even bother eating the dinner Miranda brought for me in the night as she had done every night.

As I walked downstairs, I took pride in knowing no one needed to wake me up anymore. I was up before the rest of the mansion, dressed and ready to kick Ravena's butt again today.

I'd finally bested her in physical combat yesterday and I wouldn't shut up about it for the whole day, telling everyone I could.

Yea, take that power hungry parents!

I skipped down the stairs two at a time but then I paused. Everywhere was unusually quiet.

That would have been normal considering how early I was up but then, we had night guards that always kept themselves awake talking and playing games.

I knew because I'd tried running away on the second day of my mini imprisonment. Don't ask me how it went but here's a tip; I'm still here.

At least, the experience made me more determined to get stronger and if it took me burning down the entire mansion to escape, I would. I was already feeling emotionally sick in a way no one would understand.

I'd tried explaining my situation to Ravena but Dragons riders didn't usually have mates. Your dragon is supposed to be the one having a mate but from Lyra’s escapades of recent, it was obvious we were the rarest of our species.

“Of course, have you seen me?” She chuckled in my mind and I knew the reason for her excitement. She didn't sleep in her pit.

“Of course Lyra. If anyone would be different, it'll be us. Can you notice anything or am I being paranoid? Everywhere is eerily quiet,” I said to her as I got downstairs and true to my observations, there was no single guard in sight. The entire mansion looked abandoned and even Ravena, who was supposed to meet me at the front so we could run together, was nowhere to be found.

“I just asked Tharros and he said his rider is not responding. In fact, you and only a few others are awake in the entire mansion,” she told me and I felt the slight panic in her voice that she was trying to suppress.

“What do I do? What is happening?” I asked, my heart skipping several beats in apprehension. I know I was stronger now but I didn't really know what the problem was.

I really prayed this was some sort of prank because I felt that familiar shiver down my spine that preceded the attack on my pack, DarkMoon.

As I turned towards the huge golden gates, hoping to get some clarity from the security house that was stationed on both sides of it, I heard the panicked voice of my dragon.

“Come to the keep. Run Aurora!” she shouted in my mind, her tone putting my body on survival mode and I followed her directions, running as though a minute's delay could be fatal.

As I ran past the gym, through the garden that connected to the different pits that each dragon lived in I heard footsteps behind me and instinctively, I turned around.

“Flynn! I've been looking for you since I got here –” I began, pausing in my tracks, a ray of hope coming through the cracks of my troubled heart but Lyra wasn't letting me and as Flynn ran towards me, a couple of men who covered their faces behind him, I finally understood the panic in her voice.

“Don't stop Lyra! Run,” she screamed in my mind but it took me a second too long to get over the shock and betrayal I felt in that moment.

As I began running towards my dragon who was fending off other dragon attackers, tears began pooling in my head.

“Come on Aurora, this is not the place for a mental breakdown,” I croaked to myself as I ran.

Before I could get to her, I felt the rough hand of my once savior and tutor grab my throat, and pressing a damp cloth to my face.

When would I get a chance at happiness? I wondered as my world turned dark.