The Mate Pull

Aden watched the encasement hovering in the medical scanner with a focus that was completely predatory. Lily thought smiling a little. He made the medical team jumpy.

"Son" She had to repeat the call and touch his arm before Aden paid her much attention. "Tell me about the farm"

Recognizing his mother's attempt to distract him from the "egg" he went along with it.

"All the upgrades are just about done. I have hired several workers and gotten a superior horse stock for breeding."

"Sounds productive" Lily said dispassionately.

"It is" He smiled because he recognized the less than enthusiastic tone in his mother's voice " The property is beautiful I am thinking of growing some grapes the land is very fertile"

"I am happy for you son" Her tea cup clicked in the saucer as she placed it on the center table in front of her.

Ah, Aden thought still upset then. "I will invite you to visit soon mother"

"When is soon Aden? it has been a whole year since you moved to that far away country province."

Aden sighed, a little over a year ago he had gotten a mighty urge to move. One he could not ignore even though he was perfectly content living with his family in the central province. Doing his job as the second in command of the high royal military. He had done his very best to ignore the urge but the need had become like an itch he couldn't scratch. So finally he began searching for the place to move to.

When he had come up on the property the itch had eased. So, he had known that there was where he needed to be. In a week he had packed up and moved out to the astonishment of his family.

It had shocked his mother most of all Aden was so solid, so reliable, so always there. She had begged him to think things over (aka change his mind) but he had just told her it was something he needed to do.

She had reluctantly accepted when she saw he wouldn't change his mind. But that did not stop her from expressing her upset at the inevitable. Calling him stubborn and strong willed. Aden had just smiled knowing she was upset because she cared for him.

"I love you too mother" He had said then and he said it again now.

"Oh, Aden, you" lily couldn't contain her blush. Her youngest son always had a way of surprising her with his declarations of affection. A hug there, a kiss on the cheek here. Totally unannounced displays of love and she had missed them while he was gone. Tears sprung to her eyes no matter how old her children got she would still think of then as her babies. Her precious little bundles to be protected and loved always.

"By the way mother" He turned to look directly at her "I know you hired Frank to spy on me "

His mother gave him a look that said she wasn't ashamed "Well what did you expect? you move half way to nowhere and wouldn't take any guards with you. I am just worried about you son"

Aden laughed "and that is why I love you mother"

"Oh hush" Lily blushed with pleasure "and don't think I forgave you for not communicating more often"

Aden laughed again "Mother I humbling beg your-

Aden stopped talking as Dr. Fenryi rushed back into the room. His mother had successfully distracted him from Watching Mona's encasement. But with the entrance of the head medical officer, his laser like focus was back on it.

He got up to join Dr. Fenryi at the scanner he didn't like the look on the man's face " What is it Doctor?"

"The encasement seems to have grown in the last hour."

"Grown?" Aden repeated, confused.

"Yes the height and width of the encasement change significantly in the last hour and it has even increased in weight!" Dr. Fenryi was excited by these developments.

He began tap tap taping away on the scanner

When Aden realized he wouldn't say more, he had to stifle the urge to strangle the man. "Any other news Doc?" He said between clenched teeth.

"No, not at this time" Tap tap tap "she is still stable and health"

Before he could rip the other man's throat out with claws the door to his chambers was thrown open and a red ball of dragonate crashed into him.

"Brother!!"

The ball began to climb him like a tree " I'm so glad your home no one and I mean no one wants to go flower cataloging with me!"

Aden looked into his little sister's happy face and smiled. Her eyes were red-gold like her mother but she had red hair and dark Chocolate skin from her father. He laughed when she almost chucked him with her enthusiastic hug.

"Gracie" he managed to get out through his constricted throat. "Ease up a bit you're crushing my wind pipe"

"Oh! Sorry brother!"

She climbed all the way to his shoulders then back flipped down. Landing steadily then bowing gracefully. Aden and his mother applauded her performance.

"I'll give you an 8.5 for execution" Lily said. Her daughter pouted prettily and started to climb her brother again hoping for a higher score.

Graceann was eight years old and full of life and energy. She was the greatest surprise of Lily's life a miracle after she lost the baby before Gracie the healers had said she would be not be able to bare anymore young because of the damage the last miscarriage did.

No amount of healing helped eventually Lily had accepted the fact that she would never have an other baby. But then miracle of miracle, eight years ago she began to swell with life once more. Her Gracie was born perfect nine months later.

Lily laughed now as she watched Aden raise her above his head as per her demands. The Goddess has truly blessed me Lily thought.

"Ok, ok, no more " She tried to get her daughter off Aden but the wily minxes escaped her hold and thus began their game of tag.

Aden watched his mother try to corral his little sister however movement at the scanner caught his attention once again. The little brown hair man (Davi) Dr. Fenryi had sent to do a background search on Mona had returned and was saying something to him.

Aden didn't like the look on his face. "What is it doc?" He said on a growl. The man seemed to take a deep breath to fortify himself before he faced Aden.

"Well it seems that my colleague couldn't find anything on your mate"

"What do you mean?" Aden took a threatening step towards him "Speak clearly"

"Ah, well" Dr. Fenryi was back to his fidgety nervous self. "He searched through all the databases of the eleven provinces there was no Mona Bella found."

"What?! That make no sense" Aden frowned

"By chance did she give you any other name?" Dr. Fenryi inquired

"No"

"Any identification card found on her?"

"No"

"No family member's name?"

"No"

"Does she have a birthmark, any distinguishable feature?"

"No"

"Date of birth, Age?"

"No"

"Name of the town she was born in?"

"No" Aden felt the fire in his throat but could do nothing to stop it.

He was not necessarily angry at the young doctor, he was frustrated with himself mostly. He had behaved so out of character from the moment he set eyes on Mona. He couldn't seem to have formed a half decent thought now because he failed to get pivotal information from his little bundle he couldn't even find out who she truly was. The mate pull had been too strong and he had been too weak to resist. Even though it felt like they knew each other forever, it had just been a few hours between the time she fell into his arms and the time she turned into a bundle.

So he wanted to scream and burn something to the ground. Dr. Fenryi with his litany of questions (relevant and reasonable as they maybe) made himself the target of Aden's rage.

Dr. Fenryi saw the young prince's throat light up and he knew what was coming. But before he could be burnt to a crisp. The scanner began to beep beep beeped in alarm.

Everyone's attention turned to the machine.

"What is happening!?" The angry mate asked.

Dr. Fenryi hurriedly turned his attention to his salvation "Let me find out" A quick look at the screen showed him the issue "Your mate seems distressed, her level of anxiety has gone through the roof. "

"Son" Lily placed a calming hand on Aden's shoulders "She is responding to your heightened emotions. You need to calm down"

Aden made a visible effort to calm. Before Mona he wasn't easily taken over by his emotions but he seemed to be open and raw. The emotions close to the surface.

"My apologies Dr. Fenryi, I have not been myself lately"

"No need to apologize your highness it is always difficult dealing with the newly mated. Usually you bring calm to each other but with your other half ...shall we say indisposed, you are more volatile. The mate pull is strong it seems even in her altered state she feels the connection"

Aden simply nodded, still having trouble reigning in his emotions.

"Ah" The young doctor was back to wringing his hands

"Speak Dr. Fenryi, I will remind calm"

"We needed to know more about your mate any information that you could provide that will help to locate her origins will go a long way towards diagnosis"

"Very well" Aden shared all that he could remember from Mona's extensive rambling about her upbringing and journey to the province he was at.

When they were finished Dr. Fenryi left with his colleague. But then both Lilly and Aden realized at the same time that they had lost track of Graceann.