BOUND

Cyrus

It was no surprise how little effort we had to put in anymore. Coming in and taking whatever, we wanted without a second thought. I wanted to rough someone up. I was bummed, tonight I thought for sure would bring out a fight but people were getting smart. They knew better than to mess with my family.

We were in and out of the outpost without a single scratch. Even though I was ready for a good fight. However, like always, the second Dom saw my face come through the backdoor, he submitted without a second thought. I was an Alpha and he was smarter than he led on.

“Alright man, if we don’t hurry back your sister is going to rip me a new one. Literally.” Dre climbed up into the driver’s seat, grinning from ear to ear.

He was always in a good mood right after a job. A job well done, even if I did say so myself. It was getting late. The moon had reached further up in the sky so by time we got back to the manor, the ceremony would be over and hopefully cleared out. Hopefully.

“I’m not kidding man, that woman is just plain mean. I seriously feel bad for you guys growing up.” I climbed in the passenger seat, and pulled out my phone.

I was expecting this job to take a lot longer. Now what was I going to do? Go to the party? I shook my head, there wasn’t a chance in hell. I didn’t feel on the mood to deal with another mateless ceremony. A random wolf wasn’t going to help me tonight.

“Oh come on, she can’t be that bad.” I held back a laugh. Knowing damn well, he was a brave man. Marrying into this family. Yet he did, and for the past few years has made my sister very happy.

“I talk a lot of shit, but I’d be lost without her.” Dre pulled out into traffic. Headed back in the direction of the manor.

“Just wait til you mate. I’ll pray for that girl.” That made me chuckle. “It’s not going to happen man.” But even as I said the words, a burning sensation appeared in the pit of my gut.

What the fuck? I placed my hand over my stomach, feeling a sharp pain.

Draven looked over at me. A concerned look on his face.

“You good man?” I looked up to him, still cradling my stomach in my hand.

I shook my head. “Yeah, just bad heartburn I think.”

I looked out the window, watching as the city flew by as we drove. Trying to draw my mind towards something other than the heat inside my stomach that seemed to be growing the closer we got to the manor. We would be there soon.

I took out my phone. Sending a quick text to my brothers.

Mission took less time than I thought. Headed back. -S

I looked around the truck. Feeling off somehow, even though I couldn’t figure out why. I could sense it. Something was wrong.

“You sure you’re alright man?” Draven asked obviously catching a hint to my sudden mood change.

I shook my head, not knowing what the hell was going on.

I clenched, my fists til my knuckles started to turn white.

“I don’t feel so good man.” I admitted finally, when I had no other choice. What the fuck was happening to me? .

Draven’s face housed a look of concern. He had known me longer than most and knew first hand I wasn’t one to fall weak. I was an Alpha, someday a king to our kind. When I found a mate of course. I wasn’t given the luxury of being able to fall short.

“What’s wrong S?” Draven pulled the truck over, outside a quiet diner that was about to close for the night. With everyone being at the ceremony business was more than likely slow and they had chosen to close early.

“I feel weird, man.” I pointed to my stomach. “My gut, I can’t shake this warming sensation. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s uncomfortable. And it’s getting worse.” I described the pain to Draven, hoping he could think of something I might have missed.

We sat in silence for a while, the warming continuing to grow in the pit of my stomach. I looked outside the window, up to the moon. It was minutes from being peaked.

Suddenly I felt a strong undeniable pull towards the direction of the manor. I looked over to Draven, who sat in the driver’s seat unfazed. Could he not feel it too?

“I don’t know man. Maybe you just need rest. You’ve been a busy man.” Dre looked me up and down. The concern still plastered all over his face.

That wasn’t it. I didn’t know what was happening to me, but I know where I had to go to figure it out.

“I don’t think that’s it.” A sharp shooting pain, spread throughout my body suddenly. Causing me to hunch over and cradle my stomach. “Fuck, Draven what is happening.” I wiped the sweat from my forehead. This was getting worse. Something was happening.

Draven looked over at me, his eyes searching my face. Cars flew past us, the world outside the truck window along with it.

“Oh man, hold on.” Draven started the truck, and pulled out of his parking space into traffic in the direction of the manor. As he did, the shooting pain that was there before began to diminish slightly.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked, the air I was holding in returning to my lungs. The pain was disappearing as we headed towards the manor. Dre’s face was twisted into a smirk, as he tried to hold back a laugh.

“This isn’t funny, man. What the fuck is going on? If you know something just tell me.” I asked, feeling clueless. Something I avoided at all costs. I was a freaking Alpha after all, and being left in the dark wasn’t somewhere I wanted to be. Ever.

“I won’t know for sure until we get to the Manor.” Dre pushed down on the gas pedal a little harder.

I looked out my window, seeing we were close. Less than fifteen minutes away.

“Draven. Do you know what is happening or not?”

I wasn’t one for games. I had a really bad feeling. I just wanted to know what was going on. Whatever it was I could handle it.

“Don’t freak but I think you mated bro?” he said pushing on the gas a bit harder. “If I am right… She is close. Really close. We have to get you back.”

I laughed. Louder than I think I ever have in my life. Draven had to be wrong. I mean he had to be, right.

We were miles away from the manor when I first started feeling like this. If she was at the manor, how could I possibly mate with her from that far away. Unless she was a new wolf. Who was about to go into heat.

Every nerve in my body stood to attention. Dear God, this cannot be happening.

I was an Alpha after all. Was that it? Was that why everything felt so intense?

“Your wrong. There’s no way.” I stated, praying he was wrong.

We were less than ten minutes from the manor, and my palms began to sweat.

“Cyrus, you’re forgetting that I have already mated… I know it’s not what you want to hear but it’s happening. You knew it would one day.”

He was right about that. I couldn’t deny that I knew this would happen one day. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it to happen tonight. I wasn’t sure how to feel about meeting my mate. I liked my lifestyle as it was. I did what I wanted, when I wanted and with who I wanted too. I will be the first one to admit I could be hard to deal with. And unlike Draven, I refused to become anything less than I already am. I won’t let this woman change me like my sister changed Dre. I just wouldn’t.

“What do I do man?” I asked, my voice nothing more than a whisper. I had known Draven a long time. I knew he would always have my back, no matter what the situation was. He was a good friend, and an even better brother. There wasn’t a single other wolf I would entrust my life with, including my brothers.

“Find her. The moon goddess will do the rest trust me.” I thought back to the stories I had heard from Dre, as well as my brother Dean who had already mated as well. How it was the most natural thing. I hoped it would be the same for me.

“This woman, whoever she is, is more important than either one of us can even begin to imagine. She is the future queen after all… Your sisters are going to freak out.” A smile spread across his lips. He was enjoying my torment for the time being. I would let him have his fun. Only hoping he couldn’t sense how terrified I was to return to the manor. Everything was about to change.

“Yeah, I can only imagine.” I thought about the rest of my siblings and how they each would react to the news of me finally meeting my mate. I looked out the window as we turned into the estate.

“Dre, I don’t think I’ve ever been afraid before.” I spoke the truth. I had never had a reason to fear anything before. Not in battle. Not in life. Nothing. But now, as we pulled into the driveway of the manor, one thing I could not deny. I was absolutely terrified.

Andrea

As he left, the heat that I had felt in my stomach before had slowly began to disappear. I frowned realizing I was missing that feeling immediately, even though the burning was uncomfortable. I guess that was what being in the presence of an Alpha felt like. I shook off the last remaining thoughts of him.

Suddenly, the music died down completely, and all the wolves begin to quietly make their way to the main hall of the estate. I quickly followed the others cradling my wine glass in hand as I headed inside.

When we were all inside, I spotted Liam next to a few others. Making my way over to him, I spied Daniel standing near two other males on a grand staircase. His gaze fixed on me. I blushed feeling warm all over again.

“Hello and welcome.” One of the men spoke. His voice was loud, bringing order to the room. “We are pleased you all could join us, for tonight is a night that I’m sure we all will not forget for some time.”

I looked over to Liam, his face full of excitement.

“Indeed, my brother, is right. Tonight, we pay respect to our ancestors and for most of us; receive our true mates.” The other male said, his green eyes scanning the crowd.

I looked to Daniel, who’s eyes were still fixed on mine. Causing me to blush, even in a room full of other wolves.

“So now without further ado, go fourth and celebrate. We wish you all the best of luck in finding your mates.” Daniel spoke finally, his eyes finding me once again standing in the crowd. I had frozen in place, not able to hide my grin.

The same heat I had felt in my stomach before was returning, stronger than ever. I winced, almost in pain. I grabbed on to my stomach, trying to ease the sharp pain accompanying it.

The moon must have hit its peak. I could feel it, and by the amount of people shifting into their wolf form, everyone else could feel it too. I couldn’t hide my excitement. This was it. Please let tonight be the night.

Suddenly, a strong sensation coated my whole body. I could feel him. My mate. The electric pull towards my mate was undeniable. It was as if my inner wolf was in control, even though I had not yet shifted. I allowed my feet to lead the way with her guidance. Moving in their own accord. I trusted my instinct and knew my inner wolf would know what to do.

I moved throughout the grand hall. Dodging people and wolves alike. I could feel the heat in my stomach growing. As if the worse it got the closer, I was to my mate. Guiding me in the direction I needed to go. I smiled to myself, as I looked around seeing wolves make their way out of the grand hall and into the woods. This was the whole reason behind tonight, a growing of our kind. Finding our true mates.

As I climbed a set of stairs, leading up to the upper story of the grand hall I spied Liam, hand in hand with the same female he was with before, just as they were about to leave the grand hall and enter the forest to shift.

I could not believe it, Liam had found his mate, and the look on his face told me he was madly in love with her already. “Congratulations.” I mouthed, as he spotted me. He gave me a reassuring nod, and disappeared like so many others, into the forest hand and hand with his mate.

I continued to follow the feeling in my gut through the hall. Almost the whole place had cleared by now. Only a few scattered guests remained, searching for their mate. I could smell him, but my nose had felt like the smell was coming from multiple different directions now. I felt like I was running in circles. Or he was.

Maybe the ancestors did not give me a true mate after all. It was uncommon but happened. I continued to follow my inner wolves’ guidance, determined to find my mate, until I made it to a dead-end hallway with a set of huge golden doors.

I looked around, not seeing anyone around. I did not want to intrude. But I had to find him. I could sense him. He was so close. I reached out to knock but before I could, I felt that same warmth I had earlier.

I slowly reached out and knocked on the golden doors. “You may enter my dear.” A voice, I recognized from earlier tonight said from the other side of the door. I turned the door handle and entered the room, my eyes widening as I saw who was on the other side of it.