Chapter 1

ALPHA JAX'S POV.

I awoke with a start. I felt a strange and unfamiliar sensation stirring deep within me. It was as if a dormant part of my soul had been awakened. I sat up, wondering what this feeling was. I couldn't put my finger on it.

My eyes were drawn to the orb on the table beside my bed. For the first time ever, it glowed brightly. I had never seen it glow before. I couldn't help but  feel surprised at the sight before me. The orb was a mystical object that had been in my family for generations. If the orb glowed, it could only mean one thing - my mate was out there and she was of age. I had waited many years for the orb to glow. At a point, I gave up, thinking I didn't have a mate. 

There was only one problem though. How could I find her? Where exactly was she?

I can worry about that later. Now, I need to bask in the excitement that I had a soul mate after all.

I closed my eyes and sent a message to the head guard.

"Gather some of the guards for me outside now" I told him.

With a huge smile, I got up from my bed and made my way downstairs, holding the orb in my hand. As I walked down the corridor, the maids bowed their heads.

"Good morning, Alpha" they chorused.

"Lovely morning, isn't it?" I spoke with a smile.

I didn't miss the surprised looks they gave each other. I didn't blame them. I wasn't the type to usually smile and talk to people. Even as I passed by, I could still feel their eyes on me.

On my way to the living room, I saw the butler.

He stood up straight when he saw me and bowed his head "Good morning, your highness"

I couldn't resist the urge to playfully pat him on the back. I even adjustrd his tie.

"Good morning. Relax, my friend," I teased "No need to be so uptight all the time. Let's enjoy the day, shall we?"

The butler too opened his mouth in surprise. I couldn't help it. After a long time of feeling like I would be alone in this world, I finally realized that there was someone out there for me after all. I couldn't help but feel excited about that.

Just then, Mallory Smith, my beloved aunt, emerged from the living room. Her brows furrowed in confusion. She walked towards me and placed her hand on my neck, as if checking my temperature. I could see the worry etched in the lines of her face, 

"Jax, are you feeling alright?" she asked.

Instead of a response, I lifted her off her feet and spun her around. She gasped in surprise.

"Aunt Mallory, fear not," I laughed, setting her down gently. "I'm fine"

"Well, you're in a good mood. What's happened? Is there something I don't know about?"

The mate-orb has finally activated. It means that I have a mate after all."

Aunt Mallory knew how scared I was of being alone for all eternity. She knew everything about me. Most time, she would be the one to comfort me and tell me to have hope.

I expected her to be happy for me but her reaction didn't change.

She held my hands and looked into my eyes "Do not get your hopes up"

I looked at her in confusion "Why would you say that?"

"Finding your mate does not guarantee that you will find all that you need to be truly happy. You might not even like her"

Her words made me feel a bit uncertain. I waved it off. I was determined to find my mate and secure my position even more as the Alpha of this pack. I needed a Luna by my side to rule efficiently.

I squeezed her hands in mine "I'll be fine, Aunt. Don't worry about me. I have. A good feeling about this. I'm sure I'll find happiness"

She didn't look too convinced "Just be careful. Don't get too excited. The more excited you are, the more disappointed you'll be if everything doesn't go as it should"

"I understand"

"What do you intend to do now?"

"I want to follow the directions of the orb. I want to try to locate my mate"

"So soon?"

I shrugged "Why wait?"

She shook her head "I really hope she's worth it. It would break my heart to see you disappointed"

"I'll be fine, aunt"

Giving her hand another squeeze, I turned away from her and made my way outside. As expected, a group of guards stood there waiting for me. The head guard, Matt, stood in front.

He bowed his head "As you ordered, your highness"

"Thank you. Well done."

"Jax" a voice called out to me.

I turned to my side and saw my Beta, Navi, walking towards me.

"What's this about?" Navi asked me "Why do you need guards? Is there a problem?"

I showed him the mate orb. It still glowed, shining brightly. Navi looked surprised.

"Wow" he breathed "Congratulations"

"I don't know where she is but since it's glowing brightly, she shouldn't be that far. If the glow was faint, that means she's far away from me"

"You want to go looking for her?"

"I want to try, at least. She could even be a member of our pack"

"Where do you want to start from?"

"I was thinking of going round the pack. If I don't find her then I'll head into the woods. She might be on the other side"

Navi smiled at me "I'm happy for you, man"

"Thanks"

"Can I come with?"

"No. You should stay here and fill in for me. I don't know how long I'll be gone. There are a lot of pending documents on my desk that need to be attended to"

Navi nodded "I'll stay. Good luck"

"Thanks. I'll definitely need it"

A convoy was already waiting for me. The head guard opened a car door for me and I got in. As we started to move, I wondered what the day would bring. I tried to imagine who my mate was. Was it someone I already knew?

Well, I guess there's only one way to find out.