My Little Mate *Austyn and Zeus*

three

Austyn

We get home, and mom and dad go check on everything for the party. I run to the side of the house where my bedroom is. I can't wait to see what Zeus got me.

Oh my! No freaking way. I jump up and down in excitement. He got me a huge wheelbarrow full of roses. Red, the color of love, light pink, and purple roses. This is beautiful. The most beautiful thing anyone has ever gifted me. I love it so much. I know mom will hate it, but she better not try to get rid of it. I want to wake up and look at it every morning until I leave. I smell the roses, and sigh. This is so romantic, although I am sure that is not the way he means it. It was just a nice gesture on his part. I find a white envelope sticking out of it. I grab it, take pictures of this beautiful arrangement, even a selfie with it, and then run to my bedroom. I wish I had someone to tell about this. My mom will wonder who they are from.

I slam the door and lock it. I do a little happy dance, then I jump on my bed and pull out the box Zeus gave me. My heart is beating so fast. Is he going to propose to me? I snort. That's stup!d, but a girl can dream. I try to open it, but I can't. I am so nervous, and my hands are shaking like crazy. I count to 100, but I still can't. I calm myself down by screaming into my pillow. 3,2,1 I open it and the most beautiful white wolf necklace sits inside the box. It looks just like the stuffed white wolf he gave me years ago. He has a thing about white wolves. He used to always tell me stories about them when I was younger. I still remember them all. I wish he would still tell me those stories. I miss hearing them. Maybe that is why I have dreams of a young me with a white wolf.

I put the necklace on. I sit on my bed and open the white envelope. I pull a card out and open it. It reads, "Congratulations Austyn. I am so proud of everything you have accomplished. There is so much more yet to come. With your hard work and dedication, you will achieve all of your goals, and I will be here to help you every step of the way. Don't worry either, I made sure it was okay with your parents before bringing the flowers over. I told them they are from everyone at Valen's *winking emoji* Love, the god of the sky" I laugh at the fact that he wrote that. It is our little joke, because technically that is what his name stands for. I searched it up on a night when I couldn't retain any information while studying for my Algebra test and all I could think about was him. I remember texting him the meaning of his name, and ever since then it's been our little joke. I also can't believe he thought to ask mom. Everyone must know how big her hate for flowers is.

I take off my cap and gown and I look in the mirror and this dress is hideous. My new necklace needs a new outfit to go with it. I think about Zeus. He is older than I am. I am 17, about to be 18, but maybe I should do something, so I don't look like a child anymore. Maybe this way, once I turn 18, Zeus will look at me as a woman, not the little girl he was always stuck taking care of. Why wait until I turn 18 though? I should start right now. Yes, I will do something about it today.

I run downstairs and go find dad. He cracks easier than mom. I beg him to let me borrow the car and I tell him I will be back by the time the party starts. I just hope I can pull this off in a couple of hours.

Zeus

After the graduation, I had to return to the pack to deal with some visitors coming in. I plan on returning to my mate's graduation party, but I need to make sure everything is ready, and that I welcome the pack arriving today. Valen isn't back yet, and Beta Christoph and his Mate, Madeline and their pups are away visiting Madeline's sick relative, so I was sent back here to be the face of the pack. The DarkMoon Pack. Everyone wants an alliance with Valen's pack now. It has grown so much more throughout the years. The only alliance he has though is with Black River, because that is Catalina's pack, and we all work together. He works with packs once in a while, but mostly only if he benefits from it. I was assigned as Cat's Gamma/protector, but now I kind of just flip-flop to whatever role needs to be filled in either pack. I work a lot in the human world as well.

"They're here, crossing the border," a pack member links me. I head out front to be there to greet them. I watch a party bus pull up. I have seen and experienced many things before meeting with other packs. Never a party bus pulling up though. That's new.

4 huge warriors get out first, then a blonde man, and then a man with a bad tan whose lower body is much smaller than the top. Then, who I assume is the Alpha by the aura he releases. Well, that's pathetic. He extends his arm out, and he helps a blonde woman out, then a younger version of the blonde gets off, then two small boys. They walk over to me, then stop 5 feet away. "Alpha Payne and the Alpha family have arrived," one of the huge meat heads announces them as if they are the king and Queen of the kingdom.

I want to laugh at this display, but I keep my mouth shut, not letting them know that their little circus show isn't helping them. "Welcome to Dark Moon," I say. The Alpha stares at me as if he is expecting something, but he doesn't say a word, he is just releasing his aura, which has all of his pack members he brought with him submitting. Even his mate and pups have their heads down. Gross. I will never make my little mate do this.

"What kind of welcome is this? Who are you, where are the Alpha and Luna and why aren't you submitting to me and my family?" that attitude will get him nowhere. Did he expect a parade? "The Alpha's had an emergency, but will be back as soon as it is dealt with. For now, I can show you around, then show you to your rooms. There is a lot to do here to keep you busy until their return," I tell him. "Will they return today? We are only here for one night," he tells me. "They will be back by today, no worries. Your business will be dealt with. You and I can start now," I tell him, but he extends his hand and does a shooing motion as if he wants me to go away. "Do not worry. I will only discuss this with Alpha Valen. Who are you, by the way?" he asks me. "My apologies, I am Gamma Zeus Dark Moon." I say and his mate gasps. I can tell they are mind-linking and I have a feeling I know what they are saying. He's a white wolf. He's single. He's a lawyer. He's rich. I have heard everything people say about me. Alpha and Luna's come here to try to mate me with their daughters and get an alliance with Dark Moon, but little do they know, I already have a mate. "Oh, Gamma Zeus, thank you for meeting with us. This is my daughter Emilee," the Alpha tells me. The girl comes forward and tries to shake my hand, but I will not be touching anyone. She steps back and bows her head instead. "Do you want a tour or not?" I ask as I receive a mind link from Valen, saying he is on his way back and wanting an update. I straight up link him back saying it's a no-go. These people suck, but I already know he needs something if he is meeting with this man. "Yes, we would love a tour. The pack is so big and what we have seen is so beautiful," The Luna says. "Follow me,"

I take them around the pack, showing them everything we have accomplished. Valen has made great business deals, and it has allowed us to expand our pack. "What is this?" Emilee asks. "It's just an empty building, for now," I say. She nods, and we continue walking around the pack. My phone vibrates and I check it and get excited when I see my mate's name on my screen. "Thank you for my gifts. I love them," with a heart emoji. Another message comes in, and it is a picture of her with the flowers in the background and another of her wearing the necklace. I got my wolf made in a stuffed pillow for her, and now in a necklace so she can always wear it and carry me with her. "You're welcome Austyn. I had to come home to handle some business, but I will see you later for your party. I have one more gift for you," I text her back, as we arrive back to the front of the pack house.

Valen arrives, and releases me from any more duties, so I can have the evening off and tells me to have fun at the party, which Emilee and her family hear him say. All of a sudden, I watch the Luna's eye get big, and she looks like she has an idea and can't wait to tell us. Before I can say my goodbyes properly and get the h3ll out of here, she suggests I take her daughter with me. I say no, but the Alpha acts very offended, and to keep the peace, Valen mind links me to take her, so he can talk to her father. So, now I am stuck having to take Emilee with me, because even though Valen never really uses the Alpha card on me and has always acted as my cousin only, he is still my Alpha and I have to obey. I hate that he and Cat have two packs, and they are linked together as a one for all, but still separate at the same time. It can get exhausting working for 2 packs, plus the firm, but being busy was always good for me.

I am so pissed at Valen right now as I stand here listening to them talk, hoping he changes his mind, and gets me out of this, but apparently, he can't, or won't. Valen will offer protection, but he wants one thing from that Alpha's pack. He wants to butter him up to get it, then Valen plans on taking out the rogues attacking his pack in one day and be done with this Alpha forever. He just needs what this Alpha has, which apparently was stolen from his father after he was murdered. He has no idea how it got into this Alpha's hands. He always thought rogues stole it, but this is why he agreed to this meeting and this is what he needs to find out. I end up agreeing, because I will never not help him, but I told Valen he owes me, as the last thing I want to do is hang out with this female.

"So, where's the party?" she asks me. "It's just up the road," I tell her. "We are walking there?" she shrieks. "Yes, it's literally right there," I point in the direction of the farm. We are wolves. Exercise doesn't hurt us. We love it. "I can't mess up my hair, makeup and outfit," she tells me, but I ignore her and continue walking. She huffs and puffs the whole time. She is asking me way too personal questions, but I don't answer any. "Mind your business," is all I tell her. "Got it. You don't like talking. You aren't a people person," she says.

We arrive and head to the lake area, where my mate's party is being held. I got her a diamond bracelet with her birth stone on it that I saw on her web search. Yes, I check everything about her all the time. I don't care if it is possessive, controlling or an invasion of privacy. I almost had a heart attack when she searched for suicide on her computer once. I rushed to her house and asked her what she was doing. Turns out it was for a project she was working on. I can never be too safe though when it comes to Austyn.

I know that graduations are a big deal, so along with this diamond bracelet is a spa trip for herself, so she has a day of relaxation. I wanted to get her a vacation trip to an island or something, but it's not like I can take her alone. No-one will allow that, at least not right now. Eventually, though. I want to take her traveling around the world.

I follow her scent and find her immediately. Her eyes light up as soon as she sees me, or at least that's what it looks like to us. I also feel a lot of nerves coming from her. She stands up and looks at me with a huge smile on her face. I am shocked. She changed her appearance. Her hair is cut to her shoulders, and it is dark brown and has highlights. It's no longer the black hair she has always had. Her clothes are different. More revealing. "I don't like that. Others will look at her," my wolf growls in my head.

Her smile drops as soon as she looks behind me. "Oh, are these all humans? I hear Emilee ask, but I ignore her. "You brought me to a human party?" she whisper shouts, and at the same time I hear Austyn's family whispering, wondering who is with me, especially her mother. "Oh sh!t, Zeus brought someone. Let me go greet them. This is new, he has never brought a woman around before," Dallas tells her sisters and my mate is standing right f*ck!ng there. Oh no no no. I have to shut this down immediately.

"F*ck you Valen. " I mind link my cousin. "What did I do?" he mind links me back. "My mate and her family think I brought Emilee as my date dumb@ss," I link him back. "Sh!t, my bad. I hope you clear that up asap, good luck," he links back, but laughs at me struggling here. "I hope you fall and land on a huge pole," I link him. "Ouch, that's hurts," he links back, but I block him out, thinking of how to save this. It already looks like what it is not. But, I am a lawyer. I will just talk my way out of this one. These people are always big on the truth, and that's what I will tell them.