Chapter 1
LUKE POV
I had my morning cup of coffee in hand as I made my way through the busy packhouse to my office for some peace and quiet. I needed some space to breathe after all the wedding preparations over the last week. Today was the day, and I was more than ready to just get it over with.
Being the Alpha of such a large pack was a demanding job and without a Luna to share the load, it was up to me to keep everything running. Daisy, my older brother Axle’s mate, had stepped in to help with the emotional aspect of caring for the pack and was widely considered the de-facto Luna, but she wasn’t my mate.
I was tired of fielding proposals from some of our alliance members who had daughters that were still unmated. At the bi-annual summit a month ago, I had decided that Melanie would be an acceptable choice. Her father Victor and I had been friends since I became Alpha of my pack. Melanie was quiet and, even better, trained by her mother her whole life to be a Luna.
I gave up waiting for my fated mate. I wasn’t getting any younger. I needed an heir, especially since Axle and Daisy had already welcomed a son, Mason. He was the spitting image of his father but definitely had his mother’s caring temperament.
He got along well with all of the kids at the daycare and was definitely showing Alpha tendencies on the playground. The other kids gravitated to him naturally, instinctively feeling his power and authority even at such a young age. He was going to be strong, just like his dad.
The werewolf council was thrilled to hear that I was taking a chosen mate and made sure to let me know as the summit was breaking apart on the last day. Internally, I rolled my eyes at their ancient traditionist view, but outwardly I smiled like the Alpha I am.
I sighed when I heard the loud knock at my office door. I couldn’t hold it in. I was irritated that I couldn’t even have a cup of coffee in peace this morning without someone needing me for something. My wolf had been restless, pacing in my mind and growling at any little inconvenience.
“Come in,” I called at as I sank into the seat behind my desk. I wasn’t dressed for the day since I wasn’t technically supposed to be working on my wedding day. I sat in lounge pants and a t-shirt with my bare feet hidden under the desk.
Alpha Victor walked in, smiling from ear to ear. “Today is the big day!” he said proudly. Melanie was his only child and at twenty-one, she was in the same predicament that I am. The choice was an easy one to make for both of us, though we had never met. All communication had gone through her father.
Victor wasn’t much younger than my dad was before he died. He always answered my calls if I had issues while Axle was away when I first assume the Alpha mantle. He had been an excellent mentor over the years. I’d seen pictures of Melanie, but that was it. Apparently, she was shy and didn’t leave her territory. It made me wonder how this mating would go, but I guess we would cross that bridge later today.
I stood and shook his hand, abandoning my coffee sadly. “Are you excited?” he asked with that merry twinkle in his eyes.
“I am,” I said with as much enthusiasm as I could muster. He seemed to buy it since he didn’t press me further.
“Melanie will be along presently. She and her mother hit a bit of a snag, but not to worry. She will be here in time to walk down the aisle,” Victor assured me with a hearty pat to my shoulder and a laugh.
I called for Nolan through the mind link and once he showed up at my office door, I had him escort Victor to the visiting Alpha suite. Once they were gone, I shut the door and went back to my cold coffee. I sipped it and grimaced, pushing it to the side.
So much for that.
I opened my laptop and read through some of the more pressing emails waiting for me. Another knock came, this one more timid than the last. I shouted for them to come in and to my utter surprise, Daisy came strolling in with a nervous expression on her face.
She was alone and immediately shut the door behind her. “I just wanted to come check in with you, Luke,” she said as she took the seat in front of my desk across from me.
“I’m fine,” I said cautiously.
“Are you really sure you want to do this?” Daisy asked with genuine concern. “You know you don’t have to, right? I’m happy to help the pack in any way I can. I’ve got The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls queued up and ready to go! Just sayin’,” she said, throwing her hands up in surrender at the end before settling back in her seat and studying me.
I couldn’t stop the snort of laughter, which quickly led to a sigh. I’d already had the same conversation with my brother just yesterday. Axle and Daisy were fated mates, so of course they were in favor of me waiting instead of taking Melanie as a chosen mate.
“Listen, I appreciate your concern but it’s fine. I’m fine. I’m happy with this decision. I have to do my duty to the pack and produce an heir,” I reasoned with her.
She rolled her eyes, which was very uncharacteristic for her. It shocked me into silence.
“For once in your life, be selfish!” she yelled at me.
She yelled at me!
I blinked, trying to decide if she really just said that to me or if I’m imagining things. Before I could say anything, she barreled on.
“Do you think the pack would be happy with you settling just to produce an heir? Or would we wish for our Alpha to be truly happy, blessed by the goddess with his rightful Luna by his side?” she asked, staring me down.
“It doesn’t matter. As far as the pack knows, we are mates,” I reasoned with a shrug.
“And how long do you think you can keep that little secret under wraps?” she asked as she cocked her head to the side.
I scrubbed my hand down my face. I was already over today, and it had barely begun. “I’ll see you at the ceremony,” I said, effectively dismissing her.
With a frustrated sigh, she pushed to her feet and walked to the door. Without another word, she slammed it behind her as she stormed out.
I linked Nolan to let him know I was going for a run. He could handle things for the moment. I needed to let my wolf run some of this anxious energy off.
He’d been surprisingly quiet about the whole situation. He wanted pups. He wanted a mate to grow old with and create a lasting future for the pack. I was shocked he wasn’t pushing me to reject a chosen mate, considering that wolves were notorious for being stubborn about it.
Either way, I was grateful I didn’t have to fight with him too. I slipped down the back staircase unseen and darted into the trees before stripping and shifting.
We ran for a couple of hours, sniffing around the borders and checking in with patrols. As I approached the main entrance to the pack, I noticed a black sedan pulling through the gates. I could see two women sitting in the back, one older than the other.
I focused my attention on the younger woman. She looked kind of like the pictures I'd seen of Melanie, but I couldn't be sure if it was her or not.
Her body remained stiff and still, her eyes never wavering to her surroundings. She kept her gaze focused ahead of her as the older woman next to her spoke. Her face was soft, with a small nose slightly upturned at the end. Her eyes were big, almost too big for her petite face. She looked no more than fifteen or sixteen at the most.
My wolf was instantly enamored with her, but I couldn’t understand why. We sniffed the air and didn’t have any hints that she could possib be our mate. But he was adamant that we follow the car. So, I let him take control as I sat back in my mind and watched.
I stayed hidden as the car approached the pack house and rolled to a stop. The older woman waited for the driver to open her door before she stepped out. The younger woman didn’t move until her door was opened for her as well.
I sniffed again, but I couldn’t pick anything up that helped me understand my wolf’s reaction to her. I tried to ask him, but he wasn’t in a talking mood. He ignored my questions as his eyes followed her up the steps. She came to a stop in front of Victor and leaned forward to kiss his cheek softly after he greeted the older woman.
Her movements seemed mechanical, scripted almost. Her hands stayed clasped in front of her. She reminded me of a doll come to life, only moving when they moved her. Doing only what they told her to do. She was short, so it was easy for her to hide from view behind Victor and his mate as they walked back inside.
I could feel Axle pushing on my mind-link, wondering where I was. I told him I was out for a run and would be back soon to get ready for the ceremony. My wolf didn’t move until the door shut behind them, refusing to relinquish control until the young woman was out of sight.
I shook my head, trying to push thoughts of her away. I didn’t have time to figure this out today. I just needed to focus on getting this wedding over with.
