Completing the puzzle

“OK, wait. She is what??” I ask to Zeke.

“Adam, we had an agreement.. You… - “ Avery speaks to Adam.

Adam raises his hand, as an indication for Avery to stop talking. Avery knows he wants some answers and decides to let him.

“You… , I heard mom calling you Zeke, right? Again: Eve is what?”

Zeke looks at Avery and she nods at him, of approvement. “Eve is a chosen one, Adam. I’m not sure how it’s possible or where she’s from. But, I know for sure she’s a chosen member too.”

“And how are you so certain of that? Why are you able to ‘feel’ our energy?” Adam reacts.

Zeke frowns his forehead. “I’m not sure, honestly. I’ve always had a great connection with my wolf. My senses are incredibly well evolved. I can sense, hear, see clearer and further than the most wolves. That's what makes me a good warrior too.”

“Why should we trust you? What if you’re lying. How do we know you’re telling the truth?”

“I brought myself a backpack. My phone’s in the front pocket. There are pictures of her on it. I made them the moment I had to accompany her to our pack.”

I mindlink Joshua, asking him to bring me his backpack. A few minutes later he arrives, and without saying a word he leaves the basement. He told me before he didn’t want anything to do with the intruder, he was not ready yet.

I toss Zeke his phone, and he starts searching into his phone. Soon, he shows us a picture. I look at it, and see the beautiful face of Eve. It looks like she’s asleep, laying on the backseats of a truck. Somebody is holding her head, and the sight of him being close to her makes me furious.

I feel things I haven’t felt before. Not only anger, frustration and helplessness, but also an urge of being close to her and this jealousy. Yes, jealousy. I’m jealous at the guy who’s holding her head on his lap; also if it’s probably for protecting her for the bumpy roads.

I want to grab the phone out of his hands, smash it to the ground. I want to yell and simultaneously I want to cry. My body starts to shake and I’m losing it. *No! Eve, I need you here. What’s happening to me?* I ask myself, not be able to talk out loud.

I start walking back and forth the basement, trying to control the feeling and restlessness that fills my body. *Ace!! What is this? ACE?!* I try to make contact to my inner beast.

I look at mom and ask: “Mom? What’s happening?”

---

-Avery POV-

I see the confused look on his face when he asked me what’s going on, and my mother’s heart is aching. I’ve watched him for the past few minutes and I think I know what’s happening. It’s like I watch myself, almost 17 years ago.

It’s the picture of Eve, the sight of her was triggering this explosion of emotions.

“Adam, it’s Eve, isn’t it…?”

The moment I say her name, he almost shifts. His eyes glows insanely bright and his fur is starting to cover his skin; Ace is coming to the surface. His Alpha aura is shining incredibly bright, while he growls out loud:

“SHE’S MINE!”

Yep. I thought so. Eve is his fated mate.

---

-Adam POV-

The moment I said those words, I froze in place. Eve is my fated mate? She’s mine? It all makes sense now, the restless feeling. The urge to find her. The picture of her triggered our bond. I feel how our bond is growing. But at the same time I’m twice as worried as before I knew she’s my mate. Shouldn’t I be able to feel her? Feel her wolf or her emotions? Even more questions are forming in my head. I hear mom’s voice:

“Adam, relax. Focus on me. We will find her, I promise!”

“But mom, I - I can’t feel her! Shouldn’t I be able to feel her at this point? I just found out who my mate is, and the restless feeling isn’t gone.. Why?”

“Darling, you just saw her picture. You haven’t seen her in person. The only reason why you’re feeling this way and knows she’s your fated mate, is because you know her already. She’s not a stranger to you. Besides, you’re sixteen, so you’re able to recognize your true mate now. But she isn’t, Adam. She is not sixteen, yet. The bond is only forming from your side - you can’t make the full connection until she’s able to recognize you to. This is normal.”

It makes sense. But I’ve troubles to control Ace. He wants to dominate my body, he’s ready to shift and search for her. I make contact with him.

*Ace, I know you want to see and find her. But we can’t. Please, calm down. We need to make a plan, first.*

*Oh hell no, Adam! She’s our mate! I need to rescue her.. She’s all alone over there. I’m so sorry, Adam. You’re not strong enough to hold me, yet. I’m gonna take over…*

*NO, Ace, don’t….*

But it’s too late. I feel how he pushes my human side away and takes control. He shifts, incredibly fast too, and starts running. I directly mindlink mom:

*I’m so sorry mom, I couldn’t hold him. I’m so sorry…*

Surprisingly, it’s not mom who reacts, but Aura - her wolf:
*Go, my darling. Ace knows when to stop. Trust him, he knows and feels more than you think. It’s called instinct. And nobody is better in instinct than he is.*