Demitry’s POV
The ride is long and Tyler wouldn’t shut up about how great his mate is. This is annoying really. Raf knows how much I hate “mate conversations” and asks Ty even more questions about her so that it would never end. Asshole.
Ty shoves me his phone, showing me his mate’s i********:. Really? Who cares?! I look at it politely. His mate is cute, her feed is full of her selfies. I stop at one photo, I see a reflection of a girl, who was taking this photo in the mirror behind Ty’s mate – her face is covered with the phone and the flash doesn’t help, but somehow I can’t stop looking. She has hazelnut colour hair with soft curls falling onto her shoulders and a very hot body in tight jeans and a sports bra…
Ty grabs the phone back and growls, "Mine!"
"Yours, yours," I chuckle, "No worries here."
"Don’t you know that my brother never wanted a mate?" Raf intervenes.
"Everybody knows that," Ty signs, "Too bad for you, Demitry, having a mate is amazing!"
"Yeah, yeah, enjoy it then. I have more important things to do," I say. And it’s true. I have no time for a mate, nor desire to be with just one woman my whole life. To be honest I’m sure I don’t even have one. The Moon Goddess wouldn’t be so cruel to a poor girl. I would be terrible at this. And nothing good ever comes out of an Alpha having a Luna. My Dad could tell. He had my mum. And then Raf’s mum. And they both were killed by our enemies. And it broke him so much that we had to have Alpha trials when I was just 15. And Raf 13. Poor pup didn’t have a chance against me, but I know he is still holding a grudge about it.
There can be only one Alpha in a pack. And it’s just safer for everyone for him not to have a Luna.
I am not even so sure that it’s good that my Beta Tyler got a mate. The week since he met her was a disaster. She is all he thinks of. I hope it’s because they were apart those few days and as soon as they mate and all he’ll be able to think clearly.
"We are here," our driver Jake says as he requests permission to enter the Blue Moon pack’s territory. If Tyler was in a wolf form now he would be wiggling his tail.
We get out of the car and I have to admit that it smells nice here. Lilacs and vanilla. Is it the season for lilacs already? They were my mother’s favourite flowers, I would never mistake that scent for any other.
"Smells like flowers and vanilla," Raf says slowly, looking around.
"Lilacs," I correct him, "Lilacs and vanilla".
"Amazing," Rafael makes a deep breath in and smiles. I like the smell too, but I am not a child anymore. Neither is he, though. I am 27 and he is 25.
"Welcome!", I see the Alpha Michael Greenwood walk out of his house. We shake hands and he welcomes us inside.
"Beautiful house," I say without even looking around. Simply because I have nothing else to say. I hate small talk.
"Thank you," Alpha Michael smiles friendly. Has he never heard stories about me? I have to give it to him, most people are shaking when they meet me for the first time. And he is not young anymore, I could kill him in a second and wipe his pack clean within an hour if I wanted to. And yet here he is. Cool as a cucumber. Even makes me respect him a bit more.
"So nice to finally meet you, mister Greenwood! I am Tyler!", Ty is vigorously shaking the Alphas hand, looking around. He is searching for his stupid mate again.
I hope that f*****g ritual is not too long. No one does it anymore. I was beyond annoyed when I found out that Greenwood insists on us coming for the ceremony. I even thought it might be a trap. But my intel didn’t confirm it. And also it would be very stupid for them to plan anything against us. They are a strong pack, but not as strong or as big as us.
The house smells like lilacs as well, but I don’t see any around. A little hint of vanilla as well. Sweet. At least something nice today.
I hear Ty giving oaths to Greenwood that he’ll take great care of his mate. Blah-blah-la-di-dah… Annoying.
Lilacs again. I hear footsteps and look up a huge staircase in the middle of the hall we are in. I see Ty’s mate, whom I recognize from her pics. And right behind her, I see the most beautiful woman alive. Hazelnut curls fall down her shoulders, framing her full perky breasts. Her delicate hand holds to the rail as if it’s hard for her to walk. Lilacs and vanilla. That’s her smell. That’s her.
"Mate!" I hear my wolf Alexander shout. I stay silent. f**k.
"Mate!" I hear my brother Raf saying.
"Mine!" I growl loudly. f**k. I couldn’t help it.
My brother and I look at each other for a second. I know my eyes turn red as Alexander gets the control temporary. And Raf lowers his head. There are two other females in the room. He’d better be into that maid. Or the secretary. The girl in the black dress is mine. f**k. I can’t help thinking about it.
"f**k!" I hear the girl in the black dress say and the scent of lilacs and vanilla hits me again. It’s her. Interesting.
"You didn’t really think that you would be able to fight the mate bond," I hear Alexander chuckle inside, "She is ours! Let’s claim and mark her tonight."
"Alyssa!" I hear Greenwood warning the girl.
"Her name’s Alyssa," Alexander is happy, "Beautiful. As her and as her scent is. Go to her now".
"She doesn’t look like she is feeling good about any of this," I say to him, making him growl at me.
"You are an Alpha, your aura must be too strong for her. She needs to get used to it. Go mark her quickly at least!" Alex insisted. Sometimes I wish it was this simple...
"No one is marking anyone tonight!" I growl, "You don't want her to be scared of us, right?"
"You are not going to f**k this up for us, are you?", Alexander is not happy, "Not having her will kill us, Dimitry! She is ours!"
"Give her some time. And I need time to think as well."
"I know you never wanted a mate, but this is just stupid to refuse her when she is standing right in front of us!"
"Shut up!" I say and close our link. I feel how angry he is with me, but this is going to be my decision. Not his.
Meanwhile, Greenwood already introduces us. She is his daughter. Perfect. Just perfect. She doesn’t look at me, but our hands touch in the handshake. Sparkles are flowing through my body. She raises her head and looks into my face. Beautiful green eyes, a few freckles on her nose. I want to kiss them. f**k, control yourself Demitry! She is gorgeous, there’s no denying it, but she gets her hand back quickly and stops looking at me. Why? I don't like that! She moves on to my brother. Doesn’t she feel it? I’ve seen mates meeting each other plenty of times. They jump at each other and kiss and some almost ready to have s*x on the spot. And girls are usually melting with happiness. Why isn't she?
"What’s wrong with her?" I open the link with Alexander again even though I shut it myself just a few seconds ago.
"Nothing is wrong. She is perfect. Maybe she is not interested in having an asshole mate like you? Look, she is.."
I see my brother kissing her hand! Is he looking for death tonight?! I growl loudly! He lets go and she escapes behind her father, who then leads her to other members of my pack to shake hands. I don’t want her to do it.
We walk into the next room and I need to concentrate on the conversation with her father, but I just can’t do it. My eyes go back to her and I know I want her. But she doesn’t look pleased, or happy. What the f**k?
"Doesn’t matter," Alexander says, "She is ours. She will feel the bond soon enough. Don’t. f**k. This. Up."
I close the link again. And see how her brother gets her away. Followed by Ty and his mate. Meghan was it? I want to follow them, but I know I’d better not. I have a look at my brother and he doesn’t look at the f*****g maid. He looks at the direction they all disappeared. But I see that the secretary is going there. Good. He should have her asap and stop annoying me. But wow, Greenwood’s pack is strong. Two females found their mates and both are not hanging on their male’s necks yet. Maybe she would be a good Luna after all.
Ty is back within a few seconds. I look at him and he shakes his shoulders. The siblings have thrown him out. She felt it. They are discussing it right now. I can’t help but feel smug. She knows she is mine.
"They’ve been gone for a long time," Ty signs, and I see Greenwood nod to his secretary, who immediately disappears.
"Don’t worry Tyler," Greenwood says, "They are always like that. They grew up tight, they are probably discussing how great you are right now!"
"How about a wedding, Ty?" I hear myself saying, "Have you thought of the date yet?"
"N-not really. Although I think we’d want to tie the knot as soon as possible," he smiles happy. We discussed his f*****g wedding yesterday and I said that I don't care.
"Great! How about the first Saturday of the next month? We can do it at my mansion!", what the hell am I saying? Even Ty is looking at me strangely now, "You are invited, of course, alpha Greenwood. As well as your whole family and pack members. We wouldn’t want our Me…"
s**t. What's her name again?
"Meghan!"Alexander helps me when I open the link in desperation.
"Our Meghan to be alone on such important day," I say, "You should take her to the altar. And your daughter.. ghm… Should be the bridesmaid!"
Ty and Rafael's jaws drop to the floor at my words.
"Of course! It would be my honour! And I am sure both Megs and Alyssa would be happy to hear the good news!", Alpha Greenwood chuckles, Meghan was dreaming of her wedding her whole life!"
I smell lilacs. She is back in the room. I can’t help but only look at her.
"So, after today’s ritual, we’ll have their wedding at our pack’s territory next month. I hope you all will be able to attend," I say loudly so that she hears me for sure. You are mine, little one.
"Of course. Our family wouldn’t miss our Meghan’s wedding for the world," Greenwood agrees.
She looks at me and I feel warm and aroused. The wedding is in 2 weeks, I will not be able to wait that long.
"Mark her today!" Alexander whispers in the deep corner of my mind, "Ours!"