Chapter 3 Three

ADRAIN PIERCE

I kept running. I must have been running for hours-first in my human form, then shifting into my beast.

My hind legs pounded through the woods with brutal speed. Heavy rain soaked through my fur and chilled me to the bone, but the freezing weather did nothing to cool the fire in my blood. For an entire week, my thoughts had drifted back to that dinner. I had convinced myself the memory of that female would fade, but like a hunter stalking its prey, the thought of her kept hunting me instead. I had even considered seeing a mind healer, wondering if I had been bewitched.

My beast was no better. The fact that we couldn't perceive her beast disoriented him completely. He was practically clawing at my ribs, desperate to return to the dinner, pull her close, and breathe in her scent until he could finally sense what lay beneath.

*The thought alone is absurd.

I growled beneath my breath and pushed myself harder, my feet guiding my path through muscle memory. I ran past familiar hunting grounds and crossed the Old Stone Bridge, where the trees grew thick enough to block out the moonlight. I had no destination in mind, yet somehow I found myself standing before the gates of the Valebrook estate.

Lord Theron Valebrook-my oldest friend.

Theron and I had known each other since we were pups, long before either of us inherited our titles or learned the heavy burdens that came with our names.

Shifting back into my human form, I stepped onto the grounds. A servant immediately handed me a robe without a word, far too accustomed to my sudden, unannounced visits. I didn't bother asking where Theron was; I simply followed his scent straight to his private chambers.

I pushed the door open and caught him in the act. He had a female pinned against the wall, her moans filling the quarters as he pulled back and drove into her again.

"Oh gods," she gasped, gripping his arms. "Please, my Lord, fuck me..."

"Theron, please," I cut in, my voice dry. "Lord Valebrook, don't you think you're a bit too old for all this?"

Theron turned toward the door with a fierce glare. "What are you doing here?" he grunted, slipping out of the female before ordering her out.

"Do not take your foul mood out on me," I said, walking past him straight to where he kept his ancient wines and pouring myself a glass. "How many has it been today?"

He ignored me, heading straight for his closet to strip off his damp robe.

"When are you going to stop being stubborn and go look for him?" I asked.

"None of your business," he replied flatly, pulling a plain black robe from the lower rack and sliding it on.

"You know no matter how many females you take to your quarters, none of them will ever be your mate," I said, my tone softening with genuine concern. "You're only torturing your own heart. Gods know the battles you're fighting daily."

Theron let out an irritated sigh. "Don't give me that lecture about mates. I am not you, Adrain Pierce-I don't refuse to bed anyone who isn't my fated match."

"That's a very nice way to dodge the point, Lord Valebrook. You've never told me the full story of what happened five years ago, but from everything I know, you're the one to blame. Still, I'm not here to trade insults. All I'm saying is go search for your mate. Maybe if you kneel down and beg, he might actually forgive you."

Theron rolled his eyes, a shadowed bitter look crossing his face. "That's assuming he even wants anything to do with me. You think I haven't tried? Five years ago, I tried reaching out to him twice, but he kept moving. I'd hate myself if I became the reason he spends his life running like a criminal."

"And you think the solution to that is taking whores in your quarters every single day?" I challenged. "Five years is a long time. People change, situations change. Just give the word and I will send my own people out looking for him."

"You will do no such thing," he snapped, heading for the exit.

I followed him into the corridor and threw an arm across his shoulder. "Fine! I'll drop it for today. But know this: if things get worse, with or without your consent, I will hunt him down. I don't care if he's willing or not-I will drag him back to this estate myself."

Theron stopped to study my face, searching for any sign of a joke. But he, of all people, knew that Adrain Pierce didn't make idle threats.

A small, breathless chuckle escaped him. "I didn't know you loved me this much."

I shoved his shoulder, giving him a look of pure disgust. "I know no such thing."

"So what actually brought you here?" Theron asked, turning down the corridor. "Obviously you didn't run all this way just to dissect my pathetic love life."

The reminder brought a deep scowl back to my face. For a few brief minutes, I had actually managed to forget the face that had been taunting my thoughts for an entire week.

"Ah, my friend," Theron said, catching my expression. "I can tell that scowl isn't about business. Spill it. What's got you so twisted up?" I hesitated, contemplating whether to share it, before finally exhaling. "At the meeting with Lord Northvale a week ago..."

"What did that old, vile man do now?" Theron interrupted.

"Let me finish," I groaned. "I met someone." As we walked, I recounted the entire strange encounter to him. Theron listened in silence until I finished, at which point a slow, wicked grin spread across his face.

"So all this dramatic running is because you're interested in a female?" Theron laughed. "Well, it's about damn time. I was starting to think you were broken. What you need to do is invite her over, lose yourself in her sweet body, and everything will be fine."

"Sometimes I wonder how we ever became friends," I muttered, shaking my head. "I never said I liked her. In fact, I hate the thought of her." "And those thoughts will clear right up the second you're buried in her," Theron laughed, thoroughly enjoying my misery.

"I will do no such thing."

I turned the corner into the stone courtyard that led toward his stables, Theron trailing closely on my heels.

"So what are you going to do?" Theron asked, leaning against a post as I approached the stalls.

I selected a tall black stallion, grabbing its reins and mounting the horse in one fluid motion. I adjusted the leather grip, staring down at my friend from the saddle.

"Now," I said, checking the path ahead, "I go settle this myself."