The Wolf's Mate

Chapter 3

8 years later:

" Yes, babe I will see you for dinner tonight. I can't wait." I said into the phone in my hand. I looked left then right on the street before walking across the crosswalk. Just because you have the right-a-way doesn't mean cars aren't going to come speeding by. " I know that your job can keep you later than you mean to hun, I just want to remind you about our anniversary dinner tonight. I'll send you a text later as well." I laugh and shook my head, he knows me too well. I always get sucked into my work and forget about everything else. I'm so lucky I found him.

Trent Vale has been my boyfriend for the last 2 years. We met at a concert that I had gone to on a whim 3 years ago. I wanted to broaden my horizons a bit and try some new things to see what I would like. He had become my concert buddy, whenever a new band came into town he would invite me to go. Sometimes I would be able to make it and other times I couldn't because of my late nights at work. He always understood and never got upset with me. He had asked me out after a year of knowing me and I said yes. Ever since we've been together.

" You know me too well darling, alright I got to go I just got to work. I love you." He chuckled in my ear,  he said goodbye and I hung up. I walked into the building I had worked in for the past 4 years. I had left home when I was 17 and never looked back. I had managed to make it over to California of all places. When I had left I didn't keep in contact with any of my family, there were a few times over the years that I had almost broken down during Christmas time or my birthday I had picked up the phone to call them. Yet, my cowardness won out every single time.  I couldn't do it. At first, it was because of Chase's rejection but after a couple of years, I had realized that I was afraid of them getting upset with me for running away. 

I would completely understand if they were. I was their daughter and I hadn't said a word to them that I was leaving I didn't even leave a note. On top of that, I hadn't called them anytime after either.  I didn't check in to see how the pack was doing either, I couldn't without revealing where I was. I didn't know if Chase's pack agreed to the peace treaty or not or if the rogues have continued to sneak into pack territory. I was a complete coward when it came to my past. I had promised myself that in the future that I won't be a coward and that I would try new things without fear of failure and it had a workout for me. For a year or two I had sought counseling to try to get over that irrational fear of failing and it helped greatly. Now at 25 years old I was an FBI agent with a great boyfriend who loves me for who I am and supports me and my decisions no matter what they are and doesn't judge me for them. 

Walking through the lobby I waved at a couple of co-workers on my way to the elevator and some waved back. When I had reached my floor I went to my desk and sat down. I was going through my to-do list for the day and started checking things off when my captain called for me. " Brooke I need you in my office." I looked up to where he was and nodded. I closed all the windows on my computer and got up. I leaned on the captain's door frame and looked into his office. It wasn't anything special it had a bookcase or two and his awards on his walls. He had his desk which he was currently sitting at and two chairs in front of it. He looked at me and waved me in.

I walked in and sat in one of the chairs waiting to see what this was about. " What can I do for you, Captain?" He took his sweet time taking out a folder and laying it out on the desk, I recognized that it was mine. I felt my stomach sink. Was he going to fire me? I tried to quickly think of what I could have done that would make the captain fire me. Nothing. I couldn't think of a single thing. Finally, he started talking, "Ms. Brooke, I have decided that I would like to relocate you. You have done a fantastic job here and I think that your services could be a great asset to our people in Alamosa, Colorado." 

It took me a few seconds to process what he was telling me. So I wasn't getting fired but I was being relocated. That was horrible, that could be great a new place to see. Now the problem was the place that he was sending me to. It was home. I couldn't go to Alamosa because my pack was there.... and so was Chase's. I rubbed my hand on my face, I looked at the Captain and asked, " Is there anywhere else you could send me? Anywhere but to Colorado?"  He shook his head. " No not at the moment."

I sighed, great. I guess I was going home.

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I was driving on the highway and was almost into town. It had taken me almost 15 hours to drive from California to Alamosa. The day I found out I was being relocated I had packed up my desk and gone home. I started packing my clothes and other things I might need until I could get movers in and a truck to bring my furniture and boxes to Colorado. Of course in the middle of me doing this Trent had texted me reminding me of our date. I had cringed at the text because my news would ruin our anniversary dinner. I felt awful having to tell him that I had to move. He wasn't happy. But he promised that he would call and he would visit whenever he could and I promised the same. 

I stopped at my apartment to drop off my suitcase and a couple of boxes that I managed to fit into my car. It was mostly my pots and pans and food. The rest I could live without, I had done it before and I could do it again. When I had delayed the inevitable as long as I could I sighed and got back into my car. I had to let the Alpha know that I was on pack territory before he sent pack members after me. The entire drive my mind was racing, I wasn't sure if I was going to run into my brothers or parents while I was there. I was hoping that I could avoid them and just see the Alpha and leave. God, I was a horrible daughter.

When I pulled up the driveway I had noticed that someone was opening the front door already and was waiting for me to stop and get out of my car. I shut my car off and took a deep breath before getting out and meeting the pack member at the front door. " Why are you on our territory rogue?"  I tilted my head in greeting and gave a response, " I'm here to see your Alpha." He looked at me cautiously before nodding and let me into the packhouse. 

"Follow me." I followed through the front door and he lead us up the stairs. The Alpha's office was on the second floor and the rest of the floors were apartments for the pack and Alpha's family. We walked down a familiar hallway and at the end of it we stopped at a door. The pack member knocked on the door and we waited for a response. After a minute a voice answered "telling us to come in. I didn't recognize the voice and was confused. Where was Alpha Dan?  

The pack member opened the door and a scent that was as familiar as my own wafted over. I took a deep breath trying to not submit to the panic that was inside me. My wolf was jumping and running in circles with excitement at the presence of our mate. I had to remind her that he didn't want us and had rejected us. At this reminder, she whined and laid down with her head on her paws looking miserable. I almost felt bad for reminding her about what Chase had done but realized that I can't let my wolf's feelings cloud our judgment.

We walked into the office and sitting in the Alpha's chair and at his desk was no other but Chase. He had changed since I last saw him. He looked taller and more muscular, he had stubble on his face and looked tired and worn down. But his eyes looked hardened and cold. Not like they were when I first met him. He wasn't the only one who changed either. I had grown up. I was curvier than I was and I had grown two inches higher than what I was and I had dyed my hair black. But just because my appearance had changed doesn't mean my scent had. I knew the moment he realized who I was when he took a deep breath to check my scent.

" Alpha this rogue wishes to speak with you." Chase nodded and waved his hand. The pack member left us by ourselves in his office. We stared at each other neither of us wanting to look away first. I decided to be the bigger person and looked around the office pretending to check out my surroundings. Chase had cleared his throat before he started talking, " Ms. Brooke what can I do for you?" I rolled my eyes and looked at Chase again. " I need permission to live on pack territory. My job has relocated me to our office here in Alamosa and that, unfortunately, means that I am on your territory so I have come to seek permission to be here." 

He didn't respond and just stared at me for a few seconds, glancing up and down my body. I grew annoyed and growled at him, " Hey my eyes are up here buddy. Do I have your permission or not?" He growled lowly back at me glaring at me. " Be careful how you speak to me Elena, you are a rogue on my territory." I glared back at him daring him to attack me or have someone else do so. He watched me for a few more seconds before nodding, " You have my permission to reside on pack territory, Ms.Brooke." I nodded my head, " Thank you Alpha" I turned to leave when he said something else. " If you start any trouble or attack any pack members I will not hesitate to chase you off pack lands or kill you." I looked back at him and nodded my head before leaving his office.