His Disguised Mate - Burgov Series II

2. Autumn

"Autie, stop! You're going to get us into trouble. Again!" - Faith whispered-yelled from behind my back in her usual nervous manner that only made me smirk.

"Relax, Fifi. What is he going to do? Send us to bed without dinner? Do you know how long it has been since I ate after 4pm?" - Fifi muttered something incoherently. - "That's right, at least two months! You can totally live with skipping one meal." - I smiled at her over my shoulder, but my sister was too busy looking around like a meerkat on the watch to notice.

"I know, but I'm afraid he'll come up with something more acute this time. You know what Rod thinks about us mingling with his men. He…"

"He doesn't approve." - I said in a gruff voice with an eye roll. - "Yes, I know. But there's no fun in following his dumb rules."

"He's protective of us."

"Oh, little Sis, there's the difference between being protective and keeping us sheltered and in the dark." - I pointed out.

"I don't see anything wrong with that. At least we are safe." - she muttered and even though she was walking behind me I could picture her sweet, innocent pout. That's my Fifi for you, a rule follower.

"We're young she-wolves, it's in our nature to live a little. Thank the Goddess you have me."

Faith didn't answer, which was probably for the best, since the warriors quarters came into view. I quietly tiptoed to the back of the building and started sneaking closer to my destination, feeling Faith's body close behind me. I crouched down avoiding windows, until I got to the one in particular.

I pressed my back to the wall on one side of it, and I noticed Fifi doing the same on the other. She looked so scared that her fair face seemed even paler. I winked at her with a broad grin, and she just shook her head disapprovingly, but her reddened cheeks said loud and clear that her curiosity was taking over and her mind was spinning a hundred miles per hour. Just the effect I was going for.

I raised one digit to tell her to wait and then I peeked inside the fogged room. When I was sure no one was paying any attention to my head appearing behind the window, I gave Fifi an okay to look for herself. She bit her bottom lip and slowly glanced inside, then quickly backed away, but finally after the third or fourth time her eyes stayed on something inside and I saw her eyes grow wide at the sight in front of us.

In my opinion it was the most ridiculous idea to put the window in the ground floor Warrior's washroom, but I'm not going to complain about architecture. Aside from a few books approved by my brother and a bunch of shows and movies appropriate for young ladies, this was my only form of entertainment I had.

And what an entertainment that is. Everyday after their scheduled practice, thirty nice equipped guys all come here, nude as the day they were born to wash all the sweat and dirt away. And since the day I discovered that window, I never missed a single show.

I came here everyday to get my fill of visuals to replay later in the privacy of my bedroom. And man, did it give me material to pick from. I had younger, older, tall and short, dark and fair skinned, lean and bulky, blondes, brunettes, one auburn haired and even one shaven close to his scalp. But the best part was watching how their muscles moved and flexed under the cascading water. And just like that I knew where term 'eye candy' came from.

Some might say it's not exactly normal to peep at a bunch of unaware men, but I prefer calling it gaining knowledge. How else would I learn how a man's body looks like and what I find attractive?

After that one incident when Rod found me in a compromising situation, it's not like I could go and check for myself. He made sure of it. So window shopping was all I could do.

I glanced to the side at Fifi and noticed her almost glued to the window. I hear you sis, it was just as intense for me the first time I came here.

"Fi, you're drooling." - I whispered and she quickly wiped her lips with the back of her hand, and then glared at me when she found no saliva there. - "We better head back before they're done, otherwise they can notice us and it would be game over. Literally."

She reluctantly nodded gaping inside the washroom one last time before stepping away.

Faith remained silent during our walk back to the Pack House, but the deep red blush that adorn her cheeks was a clear sign of where her mind was at.

"Are you alright?" - I asked my eighteen-year-old sister, who I often forget is as innocent as a basket of puppies.

She turned her green eyes towards me and nodded, awkwardly brushing one of her loose brown strands behind her ear.

"I just never…"

"Saw a d**k before? Yeah, that's what I thought. But what are older sisters for, eh?" - I answered with a wink and she smiled and blushed even harder.

We were almost by the entrance to the Pack House when Gage, my brother's annoying Beta, with little cunning eyes blocked our way.

"Where the hell were you?" - he asked, grabbing me forcefully by arm.

I janked my hand from his grip, because even a smallest touch from this man made my skin crawl.

"It's none of your business, Beta." - I hissed, ready to go head to head with him. I may respect my brother, and follow his leadership, but his disgusting friend is another story completely.

"You better watch it, Autumn. Rod was looking for you for the last two hours and he isn't happy." - he smirked as if the perspective of me getting into trouble with my brother was something he would like to see. Sick bastard.

"I'm here now, am I not." - I rolled my eyes, completely unfazed by his tone. - "So be a good lap dog and take me to him." - he took a one threatening step towards me, and I instinctively growled when his hand reached for me again. - "But keep your sleazy paws to yourself." - he scowled but obliged.

He took me to my brother's private office, which was rather unusual, as this particular room was strictly forbidden for anyone besides Rod. Not that I haven't sneak in there once or twice, but it still made me wonder what my brother wants for me that is so important to talk in there.

"There you are. Where on earth have you gone to?" - Rod asked when I stepped in, and I glanced back at Gage and waited for him to leave us alone.

"I was taking a walk with Faith." - I said when doors locked after sleazy Beta.

Rod nodded and tapped a pen he was holding on the desktop, before he stood up. He wasn't the tallest, and the most impressive when it comes to his frame, but I always admired his sharp-witted mind, that always worked hard to create the safest circumstances for our family to thrive.

Our Pack was small in numbers, but thanks to businesses he did with other Packs we were fairly untouchable. No one attacked us, no one threatened us. We were safe.

Rod went around his desk and sat on the edge in front of me, focusing his brown eyes on me.

"I have something important to tell you." - I nodded, waiting impatiently for him to continue. - "I've made a deal which you are a vital part of. Do you remember Alpha Richard Collins from Opal Moon Pack?"

I scrunch my nose remembering a fat and sweaty forty-something-year-old with bad breath and lustful eyes that followed every young girl during his last visit. Oh yeah, I remember him.

"Yes." - I said slowly with distaste clear in my voice.

"You are going to become his new Luna." - my brother announced without sugarcoating.

At first I thought I heard him wrong, but then I decided it must've been a really bad joke, so I started laughing. But seeing how Rod hadn't joined in, the giggles soon died in my throat and an absolute dread took over.

"You are joking, aren't you?" - I asked in disbelief.

He slowly shook his head, watching my reaction closely.

"Rod, you can not be serious. This guy is as old as time. I can't, no, I won't become his Luna! That's… that's… disgusting!" - I whined.

I knew how things were in our Pack. I knew we didn't have the privilege to wait for our fated Mates, but Rod used to find my sisters candidates more suitable, younger and sometimes even handsome. I knew that would be my fate too, but not in a million years have I expected to be traded off to a man who could at best dress as Santa, without the need of stuffing his belly.

"I'm sorry, Autumn, but you don't have much of a choice here. It's already decided and Mother agreed, we can't back out from this deal now."

Now I want to take back everything I said about his good leadership skills. Because when I'm on the receiving line of something like this, no amount of profits for our Pack is simply worth it.

"Then let her become his Luna. - I huffed, crossing my arms. - "I won't mate with that disgusting pig."

My brother narrowed his eyes.

"Watch it, Autie. It's your future Alpha you're talking about." - he said in a warning tone.

"No, it's not, because I respectfully decline. I'd rather resign from dinners for all the eternity."

Rod sighed and rubbed his face with annoyance. But come on, he must've expect that reaction. I wonder how he would feel is someone was forcing him into a relationship with a woman twice his age?

"Why do you always have to be this difficult? Why can't you understand that all of us have to do things for a greater good?" - he asked accusingly.

"And I'm happy to play my part, but with someone else. I'm fine with a chosen mate, but can't he at least be someone I would actually like? Is a man who doesn't need pills to mate is too much to ask?" - I asked my brother with pleading eyes.

But instead of hearing me out his brown eyes got even darker from anger.

"Where have you heard about such pills? Have you been once again going behind my direct order?" - he demanded.

Crap, I totally forgot myself there, and his stupid rules that were meant to keep us as oblivious as they could.

"Am, I heard about them the last time I was in the clinic at my weekly check up." - I said awkwardly, praying for him to believe me.

From the way he was looking at me, I'm sure he didn't, but he nodded either way, not wanting to argue about that too when we had bigger issues at hand.

"Either way, it's decided." - he said, pushing off his desk.

"But Rod…"

"No buts Autumn, I am Alpha here and I make decisions and I say it's happening!" - he said with an angry growl and his eyes glazed over from mindlinking. A few seconds later the door to the office opened and Gage strolled in with a s**t eating grin on his face. I wouldn't even put it past him to come up with this whole mating thing. - " Take her to her room and make sure she starts packing." - my brother ordered his second and I looked between them in utter shock.

"What? Already?! I thought we would have time to talk about it." - I raised my voice in disbelief looking at my brother as if I had seen him for the first time.

"There's nothing to talk about, sister. Go and pack, you leave tomorrow." - he said dismissively, sitting behind his desk and focusing on the documents in front of him showing me that our conversation is over.

I stood up, flipping the chair back and stomped out angrily.

If he thinks I'm going to be fine with selling me out to this senior-class Alpha, he has another thing coming. That I can promise.