Her True Mate

Chapter 13 - Inflated Egos

* 4 Years Earlier*

Dakota’s POV

She giggles and nods, taking my hand and leading me back towards her side of the forest. I take in her backside as we walk. I growled in approval at her round ass. I can picture taking her, and my dïck tightens painfully. I adjust myself. She hardly notices. She is explaining her pack to me, and I don't pay attention. I don't care if this pack is mine. I will change it to my liking. My excitement at the thought makes me puff out my chest. I want to be Alpha. I deserve that position. I am a strong warrior and fierce leader. Men in my pack cower to me.

“We are here!” I hear her melodic voice and see a grand pack house. It's a giant lodge against a vast mountain range and lake that almost looks silver in the snow. I see where they get their pack name from. Yes, this will do nicely as my future home. She continues forward, and several wolves are looking at us with interest. I noticed some hot she-wolves and shook off her hand, pretending to brush back my hair. I saw those she-wolves that were hot as hell watching, and I winked at them.

They blushed and looked away. We entered the pack house. It's warm and inviting. Young wolves are everywhere. What the hell? The pack house should be reserved for high-ranking wolves, not children, destroying everything! I clench my fists and remember I'm here for a meeting, and this is not my pack. I tried to relax as we continued to her father’s office.

“Thank you, gorgeous,” I said, stroking her cheek. I didn't need to smell like her at the moment, so that was all I did. The walk took care of her lingering scent.

“I'll find you when I am done.” She smiles, nods, and turns away. I knock twice, “Come In.” A deep voice calls out. Alpha John is a good-sized man and can hold his own in a fight.

“Alpha John?” I extended my hand to him, keeping my voice friendly. He extended his own, but what he said next, I was not expecting, “It’s Alpha Mark. My father is over there,” he pointed to another gentleman on the couch I missed on my way in.

“Alpha Mark, my apologies. Alpha John,” I said and reached toward the older man. “I wasn't aware there was another in your stead,” I said to John, not bothering to look at the person in my place. “Mark is my son. He took over last week.” He says, looking proudly at his son. Merde, this is not good. This is not how it was supposed to be! Why hadn't anyone heard of a son? I started getting angry. This pack is supposed to be mine with that little girl outside who is my mate!

I grit my teeth and try to relax by pulling in my anger. “Well, my apologies for the mix-up. You’ve caught me off guard.” I said to them both. “No worries, we keep our pack a mystery to most. We follow the laws but are a haven for wolves needing a safe place to be themselves." Alpha Mark says. Ah, that's what my mate was droning on about. I resisted rolling my eyes. This pack is a bunch of weak werewolves.

“I see. I wasn't aware that your pack did that.” I said, who wants a pack like this? The potential for this land is incredible, and they harbor wolves. Pathetic.

“So what can we do for you?” Alpha Mark says. I try my best not to glare at him. “I was hoping to apply for your Beta position. I was under the impression the job was available.” He nodded, “It was before I took over. I'm sorry, but the position has been filled since I was appointed Alpha. If I may ask, why are you looking to move Beta Dakota?” He asks, stopping to look directly at me.

“My Alpha cannot run the pack in his current...state. However, the council rejected my offer to take over due to his incompetence and behavior. I have reached my limits. I need to get away from his...” I paused, “Inability to be a leader.” They both looked wide-eyed at me.

“I see Beta Dakota. Well, the most I can offer right now is a few weeks of staying here to see how you fit into our pack. From there, we can discuss a more permanent place if this is where you want to be?” His voice was irritating, and I tried my best to smile genuinely. “I would like that."

Now would be the best time to pull my trump card and see if this was just a game for a visiting ranked member. So I smiled shyly and played the innocent smirk, "It would also allow me to get to know my mate more,” I stated, looking Mark in the eye. This brightened my sour mood when his face fell open in shock. They are hiding something.

They shared a look I couldn't be bothered to understand since I figured out their small secret. “Your mate is in our pack?” Alpha John says to me tightly. I nodded, smiling even wider, “It appears your daughter is my mate.”

He looks stunned. Alpha Mark looks at me expressionless, but his hands ball into tight fists. He shakes it off quickly, “Of course! We would be glad, Beta Dakota, to have you here with us while you get to know her! Kaitlin is an amazing young lady and is beloved by her pack. They would be disappointed to see her go.” He smiles at me, but his smile doesn't reach his eyes. He regards me closely, and I wouldn't say I like it. Not one bit.

"I would love to give you a tour. Unfortunately, you are not my only meeting." Mark says, and I know it's bullshït, but I let it slide, "I can see if you want to spend more time with Kaitlin..." Mark trails off, but I scoff, having a plan of doing everything myself to see what I could change, and I am about to retort when John stands up, effectively cutting me off.