THE MATE'S BOND

　　As the morning comes the only thing on Ethan's mind is to get home to Camilla. Since he has found her, it is required of him to be with her. Staying apart will become physically painful for him if he continues to be away from her.

　　He picks up his phone and dials Max's number. "Max, come to my room it's very important," Ethan says on the phone.

　　"Yes, Alpha!" Max responds on the other end of the phone and Ethan ends the call.

　　To pass time till Max comes to the room, Ethan goes to take his bath and prepare himself for departure. He takes a quick shower and brushes through his hair. He puts on a simple black t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, for a casual look. He is putting on a white pair of sneakers when a knock comes on his door, signaling Max's arrival.

　　He finishes with his shoes and proceeds to open the door for him.

　　"Good morning, Alpha, did you sleep well?" Max says as he steps into the room that has become both a room and an office since they had arrived in the town.

　　"Let's not talk about me right now. How are you this morning?" Ethan says walking to the dressing table to pick up his phone.

　　"I am fine, Alpha," Max says hesitantly. Ethan sounds like he had a bad night and he is all dressed up so early. Max observes him closely before opening his mouth. "Alpha is something wrong? I heard you called Lady Zara last night. Did everything go well?" Max asks.

　　"First, you will have to seat down. Asking so many questions at once is going to give the both of us an ache in the head." Ethan types away on his phone not looking up at Max.

　　Max lowers himself cautiously on the couch and waits for his Alpha to say something.

　　But Ethan continues to type on his phone, paying him no attention. Max starts guessing what can go wrong and his brain points at the strange liquid they found in those basements. Yes! This must be what is on his mind!

　　"Alpha, are the results on the liquid out?" Max asks, feeling proud of himself for being up-to-date with the happenings around him.

　　"No, it's not that. Actually," Ethan says putting his phone away and looking up at Max, "I need the car keys." He opens his palm in front of Max, flexing it in a way to tell him to drop the keys.

　　Max's heart started beating in his chest and his head was working faster than normal. What did he do? Why is Ethan taking the car keys away from him?

　　"Alpha, did I do something wrong?" His voice shakes in fear as he wonders what he could have done to offend Ethan to the point of wanting to collect his car keys from him.

　　Ethan folds his arms across his chest and he smirks, "you didn't do anything wrong, Max. I just need the keys because I want to head out for a few days."

　　Max's face morphs into a frown as he tries to understand Ethan's words. He has been driving Ethan for as long as he remembers and not once has he spread any of the things he sees to outsiders. No one ever knows the people he meets because he doesn't share such information not even to the Beta. He is a loyal and trustworthy worker.

　　"But Alpha, I can drive you anywhere you want! Why should you drive yourself? If it's something I did wrong, please tell me. I consider this just to be an honorable act. I pride myself on doing it!" Max cries out.

　　"Max, I know you are a very loyal man. That's why I giving this job to no one else but you..." Ethan tells him.

　　Ethan's latest words are even more complicated than the first he said. If he knows Max is loyal why is he taking his job away and what job is he giving to him when he is taking it away!?

　　"I don't understand," Max says, moving to sit at the edge of the couch.

　　"I want to return to the Estate for a few days but I need someone to be in charge, while I am away. As soon as Adam finds an answer to his tests, I will return and we can find a permanent solution to the problems here. Do you understand?" Ethan asks him.

　　Max passes a hand over his nose, as he stares intently at Ethan. "I can take you and bring you back as soon as you want me to, Alpha," Max says.

　　Ethan's smirk grows even larger. "Max, I need you to stay here as their Gamma, till I return."

　　Max's world starts rotating and believing his ears is like accepting to live on a dream. How can he a mere, werewolf at the bottom of the hierarchy be given the responsibilities of a gamma?

　　"Alpha please, don't get my hopes up like this. I- I like my job as it is!" Max stammers.

　　"Have I ever gotten your hopes up for no reason Max?" Ethan asks him slowly.

　　Max thinks about it carefully before answering. "No, you haven't."

　　"Now, I am telling you like your Alpha that you are staying here as their Lord until I return in a few days to find a permanent solution," Ethan says.

　　"But alpha, what about the elders and stakeholders. They'll never support this!" Indeed, those set of people will never accept Ethan's decision without putting up a fight. They'll rather they take the position than an ordinary werewolf-like Max, take it.

　　"I am giving you this job as a temporary position. When I get back, we will do the normal procedure. If you do well in these few days, you stand a lot more chances than the elders and stakeholders combined," Ethan assures him.

　　Max nods his head, as he can't produce any sound. He has become overwhelmed with emotions. He is so excited, he can scream out loud even. But he tries to control himself. He has never imagined being called a Lord and now Ethan was giving him the opportunity.

　　"I am the ruler of this town. They survive because of me. I think they have very little to say about who is seating on the ruling chair. Now, I have to go, give me the keys..." Ethan says

　　Max fishes out the keys from his pocket, he hands them to Ethan. "Did something happen back at the Estate?" Max asks, getting worried about the main packhouse.

　　"I am not sure, though they haven't called for days now. I need to go settle something else with the business and come right back," Ethan tells him.

　　He is lying to him. He hasn't been in contact with Peter, but he has been talking to Camilla every day and she is the reason he is going back home. He and his wolf need to be close to her. He needs to feel her warmth before returning to this town.

　　"Okay, I'll try to do my best here," Max says.

　　Ethan gets up and starts heading to the door. "Thank you, Max, please don't let me down," he tells him. Not kike there is a lot of work to be done aside from regular pack activities which are mainly recordings of members and visitors into the town. Any other thing that can arise, Ethan is certain Max can handle it.

　　"I will not disappoint you, sir!" Max repeats also getting to his feet.

　　"If anything comes up that is beyond you, do not hesitate to call me, okay?" Ethan says before walking out of the door.

　　He takes step two at a time, excitement taking over him at the prospect of seeing his mate in a few hours.

　　The few guards that are already on duty bow to him as they see Ethan approaching. He responds but his mind isn't there anymore. Reaching the car, he unlocks it and pulls the door open. Inside, he fixes the key into the ignition box and starts the car. He reverses back and then zooms off to the main road. As he passes the abandoned part of the town where they had seen the excess food supply and the strange liquid, he notes are people now freely move around the streets as they try to salvage what they can from the old structures. When he gets back he will have to either demolish the whole place and erect a new estate for them or turn it into some kind of park, whatever the people will want.

　　He is already in the city by the time the sun is at the center Of the sky, shining with all its splendor. Ethan's heart skips a beat as he approached the house. Camilla is close.

　　The security at the gate opens it for Ethan's car to drive through. He darts the car into the parking space and alights from it. His wolf is already dying from anticipation as he steps into the house, his destination being Camilla's room.

　　He slips into the house without anyone seeing him. He reaches Camilla's room and knocks gently, not waiting for her to open it, he pushes the door open.

　　His eyes land on Camilla's wet body as she is rushing from the bathroom.

　　Water from the shower she just stepped out of drips from her red hair. Her skin glitter as the light above her reflects and bounces on the droplets of water on her soft skin.

　　Ethan feels his wolf purr and it takes every amount of control in his body to keep from rushing to her and taking her right at that instance.

　　"Ethan!"