#4 Moonlight on the Water

Chapter 2: Knox

It had been several days since I first saw my mate. I made regular trips out to the beach and the cove where I last saw her in hopes of finding her or her scent again. After the second day, I banned my father from speaking for the foreseeable future. His attitude was only declining my mood further. Clay and my Gamma, Dover, took the brunt of most of my depression and irritation. They were good sports about it, but, by day three, they started their own searches for my mate on the beach.

I was sitting on one of the lone benches on the edge of the beach, too far from the boardwalk for tourists to bother. The sun was beginning to set on the seventh day of my search. The wind picked up and the sweet scent of my mate filled my nostrils.

I jumped from the bench just as Alistair started barking in my head. I let his instincts take control and lead us across the beach. There, at the edge of the water, was my mate. She had on a pair of cut off jean shorts and a mustard yellow crop top, looking like a dream with her sea sprayed hair and long legs. She may have been tiny, but her height was all legs and I couldn’t help but gawk at how delicious they were.

She kept her back to me as I approached but I knew she sensed my presence.

“I feared you and your search dogs would never stop looking.” She spoke for the first time and I clung to the sound. Her voice was smooth and airy.

“How could I ever stop looking for you?” I asked, stepping up beside her. She finally turned her body to look at me head on and I took the time to memorize her perfect form.

“I’ve been told werewolves are persistent.” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned at me.

“Who are you?” I asked, feeling like a teenage i***t who couldn’t form a coherent sentence to save his life.

“That’s not important. You need to forget about me.” Her words ripped through me like a knife.

“That’s not possible.”

“We’re not from the same place, this cannot work. I’m told werewolves feel the connection more deeply than my people do. I don’t want to hurt you any further. You need to reject me and move on.” Her voice was stern but her eyes revealed her true feelings. She was as heartbroken at saying the words as I was hearing at them.

I stepped closer to her and grabbed her hand before she had the time to retreat. Her skin was so cold and soft. It was damp, like she had just gotten out of the ocean.

“I won’t. I won’t forget about you, I won’t move on, I won’t choose another, I won’t reject you. I only want you. I don’t care how impossible it is.” I ducked my head so I was eye level with her, which was no easy task for my 6 foot 5 self. Her eyes searched my face, her lips forming a little o of surprise.

“Stubborn wolf.” She shook her head but a slight smirk played on her lips.

“I wish you would tell me who you are. I feel like I’m at a disadvantage here.” I grinned at her.

“You’ll just have to be patient.” She said, giving me hope for another encounter.

“However long it takes.” I promised her.

“I have to go now.” She said, frowning again.

“When can I see you again?” I grasped her hand desperately.

“Soon. I’ll call for you in a few days.” She said, removing her hand from mine and stepping towards the water.

“Call for me?” She just winked at me and waved me away,

“You have to go now.” She ordered. I didn’t want to leave but I had to let her take the lead. I turned my back on her and retreated from the beach. By the time I turned around to check on her, she was already gone. I looked around the beach, wondering how she kept disappearing on me.

I walked into the packhouse feeling like I was in a haze of bliss. For the first time in a week, I felt something other than anger and misery.

“You found her?” Dover asked immediately.

“I did.” I said with a stupid grin.

“And? Where is she?” Dover started looking around, expecting to see her behind me.

“Not here. She’s a mystery, man.” I replied, shaking my head.

“Do you know what she is, yet?” Dover asked.

“No, she won’t tell me. She tried to make me reject her.” I gulped, barely able to get the word out.

“What? Why?” Dover’s expression turned to fear.

The entire pack wanted me to find my mate and their Luna, but none more than Dover. Dover’s entire purpose was to protect and safeguard the Luna, it’s why I chose him to be my Gamma. Once he was named my Gamma, a bond formed between him and my unknown mate. He can sense her similarly to how I can sense her. The closer I get to her, the more Dover’s senses will increase and his instincts will be on high alert. If I would reject my mate, he would feel it too.

“I don’t know. She said that we come from different places and that it’ll never work.” I shrugged.

“Well that’s just not acceptable.” Dover argued.

“I agree. I refused. She’s agreed to meet me again in a few days.”

“Well that’s good.” Dover nodded, a plan seeming to form in his head.

“Dover, whatever you’re thinking, the answer is no. This has to happen organically. I can’t force anything with her. I can tell already that she’s very strong minded.” I smirked thinking about my mate.

“Do you even know her name?” Dover asked.

“No.” I was dying to know my little mate’s name, but, until then, she would just be my beautiful mystery mate.