His Mate

REX

FIVE YEARS AGO

The scent was incredible, all my favorites lined up in one—strawberries and vanilla, with a dash of jasmine. But then it goes and is masked with the scent of sweat.

But where the hell was the scent coming from?

Arlo, my wolf, was pacing around in my head but not saying a word. He was acting strange and even more since we got to the training ground.

Since it was my twenty first birthday today, I knew there was a possibility of me finding my mate. There was a slim chance of finding her today, but I could only hope and since my brother and I are twins, there was a slight chance of us having the same mate which neither of us wants.

Shaking my thoughts away just to hear our Alpha Harrison shout. “Five more push ups and then we are done.”

I watched the pack members do what he asked. My eyes scanned around watching everyone do the push ups. We were doing this for the new delta team we would be putting together.

Training is done every morning here at The Moon Stone pack. Mostly all the pack members are qualified trainers and even warriors in the making but there were a handful here who were just starting out.

Arlo looked through my eyes and seemed to be getting more frustrated. He keeps showing himself every so often, which is not what needs to be happening now.

Ignoring him, my eyes go to the side to see

I always admire the connection between Penny and Pippa since it was only them left from their family. They lost their parents in a rogue attack two years ago, when Pippa was only fourteen. It was heart wrenching to watch two people go through something like that.

My brother, Colt and I still have our parents. Many times, they have invited Penny and Pippa over to ours for meals. It was the right thing; my mother would say but Colt and I didn’t care. Colt and Penny are close. There has always been speculation that they could be mates. I wanted to believe that so much since they look good together.

My eyes moved back, and I realized that everyone had completed. I was to be the new gamma for Alpha Harrison, alongside my brother. We all grew up together with his beta, Jude. We were called the four musketeers in school since we never were without each other.

“What do you think?” Alpha Harrison said, leaning toward me and pulling me back from my thoughts. “Do you see anyone here who will be classed as a Delta for our new unit that we are making.”

Today we were checking out to see who could join our delta team. This team would be sent to packs to help train others within different packs. There were a few I noticed that would be considered but I need more time to get to work with them.

“Maybe,” I said, looking around. “I need another three training sessions with them all to see.”

Alpha Harrison nodded and let out a sigh. “That’s it for today,” he shouted, stepping forward. “Training will be every morning at nine before everyone starts work. School too will be an hour later. I will see you all tomorrow.”

Everyone dispersed, while I turned to Alpha Harrison. I was supposed to be heading the delta team when we selected people. My brother was going to help organize the ones here with Jude’s help.

Arlo heaves a sigh and grunts, which makes me look back at him. He says nothing, only stares. This is not like him to be on edge. I wonder what got his furry butt in knots.

“Are you looking forward to the party later?” Alpha Harrison asked, which made me look at him with a grin.

“You know I am,” I said and glanced toward the pack house where I spotted my brother heading toward the training grounds. My eyes went to Penny, who was standing with another pack member, talking but there was no sign of Pippa. “Maybe we both will find our mates.”

At the mere mention of mates, Arlo comes closer just as I motioned toward Penny, for him to look. This may be when we find out the truth. We all want to know if they are mates. Alpha Harrison looked over to where I motioned till he spotted my brother coming to the pack grounds.

In slow motion, my brother slowed down his pace and sniffed the air. His eyes frantic till he lands on Penny, who seemed to be tense. Penny, Colt and I have the same birthday and are the same age, so today is a triple celebration.

“Mate!” They both said together, which made my lips curl up in excitement. Finally, it is set in stone, and the moon goddess has placed the two people who are meant to be together.

Penny moves away from the pack member she’s talking to and walks over to Colt, who jogs over to her. I watch him wrap her in his arms and pull her toward him. “I knew it,” he murmured, which was loud enough for us all to here.

Alpha Harrison and I moved toward them to congratulate them. I sniffed but the scent I had scented earlier wasn’t Penny, which I was grateful for. Colt and I have our own mates.

Arlo huffed and moved back, which I ignored him. I knew I had to talk to him later to find out what the hell was going on with him.

“Congratulations brother!” I said, grinning. “We have our own mates then.”

Colt chuckled and nodded.

“Thank the noon goddess,” he said, pulling Penny closer to him. “I kept praying for my mate to be Penny and for her to be mine alone.”

I smiled and looked toward Penny, who was now blushing from his words. “Welcome to the family, officially.”

Penny laughed.

“Now I don’t have to feel so bad when I come over,” she said. “Before I thought it was all for sympathy, but now I don’t get to feel like that. I am so happy to be part of the family officially too.”

I grinned. I was happy for my brother and Penny, no one deserved each other more than them two.

Even though I was happy for them, I felt a little gutted that I didn’t find my mate. It was hard to muster to be happy when all your friends are with their loved ones.

Alpha Harrison found Luna Eleanor three months ago at an alpha council meeting where she attended with her father. It was nice to see our alpha find is true mate. Luna Eleanor came here to live shortly after. Alpha Harrison and Beta Jude went to collect her, which then resulted in Beta Jude finding his mate, Dana. Beta Jude stayed behind while our Alpha and Luna came back.

It only took another week till Beta Jude and Dana came back to the pack. The Luna and the beta female have become close, even taking Penny under their wing. They also had their suspicions about Penny and Colt.

“Hey, Rex,” Colt said, placing his hand on my arm which made me look back at him. “All we need is for you to find your mate and the whole gang will be mated.”

I kept a straight face but nodded. There were not any high hopes for us finding our mate in the same day.

Shaking my thoughts away, I placed a fake smile on my lips and looked at my friends. “I’m going to go for a run,” I said, which only made them stare at me with concern, or even pity. I hated that.

Without saying anything to them, I walked away and slowly started into a jog till I got to the forest line.

Arlo was uneasy again; I could feel him again acting strange.

“Seriously, man,” I muttered. “What the hell is wrong—”

Before I could even finish my sentence the scent from earlier came wafting toward me again.

“Follow it,” Arlo growled. I said nothing and did as he asked.

Could this be our mate?

I sniffed the air and let my nose guide me to where the delicious smell was coming from. I walked further into the forest until I stopped behind a tree.

“Mate!” Arlo chanted, when I stared ahead at the person who had the scent. My eyes widened when I spotted who the scent belonged too.

This had to be some kind of joke.

She can’t be my mate.

She’s sixteen.

She won’t even know who I am to her, not for another five years.

Arlo howled when he came closer to see. His eyes stayed on her, while I was having a mental breakdown. This couldn’t be happening.

Arlo pulled back, making me look at him. His eyes searched for mine for answers. “Why aren’t you happy? We have found our mate,” he said, cocking his head to the side.

“Arlo,” I murmured. “We can’t accept her, not now at least. She’s only sixteen. We will have to wait. It is against the law to even acknowledge her as our mate.”

I watched my wolf for a moment and watched as realization set in from the words I had told him.

A whine escapes him.

This is going to be torture for us. Not being able to be near her.

“Mate!” He whispered when I looked back and watched her for a moment. She was sitting by the lakeside reading a book. She loved reading, that part I noticed.

My head was in a tailspin about who my mate was.

It was none other than Pippa, Penny’s sister, of all people.

There was so much going on in my head, but the only question that stood out was—how was I going to explain to everyone about this?

What the hell am I going to do?