Loving Luna - Sasha

Chapter Two - Meeting

Sasha was in awe. The pack village was beautiful. She looked around as best she could, Joshua was going slow enough for her to see that the pack, Midnight, definitely worked well together. This made her think that Ayden must be a good alpha. The village was also quite big, bigger than her father's pack. He pointed out a few places of interest until eventually, they were out of the village and on another road. She gasped as she saw the mansion come into view. The grounds were massive with big willow trees. The word stunning came to mind and she realized that Ayden obviously did well for himself. 

"Right here we are, safe and sound." He smiled at her as he parked the car at the steps that lead to the front door. Her nerves were going crazy and she sat still as she waited for him to help her out of the car. As he did, she felt something strange. A weird butterfly effect in her stomach. She frowned as all of her senses became aware. More specifically, she became aware that there was someone standing at the top of the steps. She felt excited and afraid to look.

"Don't be nervous," Joshua whispered to her. She gave him a weak smile and finally gave in to her curiosity as she turned she saw him. Tall, muscular, and drop-dead gorgeous. Or sexy. Or both. Her wolf sturred as she caught her breath. Their eyes locked and she could clearly see the shock in his eyes. For a moment time stood still. Every fiber of her being was alive. It was as if there was an invisible magnet drawing her to him. They both took a step towards each other.

Mate!! 

Her wolf yelled out. Her gaze fell to his lips, she could see them move but there was no sound. Sasha was in heaven, she had found her mate. Her wolf was jumping for joy and Sasha grinned. As they got closer, all of her senses were heightened. She breathed in his scent. But wait, he had stopped and he was frowning at her. Sasha stopped and looked at him, questioning him with her eyes. He looked passed her and addressed his beta.

"All is well Joshua?" His voice was deep and it sent shivers down her spine. 

"Yes, the trip went off without any problems." Joshua gave her a nod before going passed her with her bags. 

"Welcome, Sasha." He spoke to her softly but with no emotion. His expression was now guarded and she couldn't read him at all. Her wolf began howling in anguish. Did he not realize she was his mate?

"T-thank y-you." She said awkwardly and this annoyed him, she could tell. He gestured for her to enter the house and she did so. Although taking in the beauty of the design, she was having an inward battle about his actions towards her.

"I will meet with you in my office in twenty minutes. There is an issue I must deal with urgently." He didn't bother to do or say anything else, but instead just left her there in the entrance hall. She watched as he walked away from her and disappear around the corner. Sasha took this sudden moment to groan aloud. How could he react to her in such a manner? They were mates! 

"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in." Sasha turned at the sound of the voice. She met a very good looking woman. Blonde, blue eyes, and legs for days. The woman laughed.

"Cat caught your tongue eh?" 

"I...guess." this made her laugh again.

"I'm Jewel, Ayden's sister." Jewel hugged her quickly and then slipped her arm around hers.

"Come, let me show you to your room. Joshua has already taken your things there." Sasha allowed her to lead the way, barely noticing her surroundings as she still continued to wonder about her mate. Finally, Jewel opened a door and let her into her new room. 

"I do not understand." She whispered to herself. 

"What's that?"

"I'm sorry, I'm Sasha, apparently I'm your brother's mate." Sasha found her ground and stood it proudly.

"Mate?" Jewel laughed. Harder than she had earlier and that made Sasha frown.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh my dear, Ayden will never accept you as his mate." Jewel sat down on the bed. She had stopped laughing and was now looking at her with concern.

"And why not?"

"Well, I'd like to explain but it might be best he does that." Jewel tried to smile but it was obvious that she felt sorry for her.  "Freshen up, and I'll send Lilly, your helper, to escort you to Ayden's office." She left quickly, closing the door behind her. Leaving Sasha even more confused.

-

Ayden paced his office. Up and down. He knew that Joshua was waiting just outside and he was all too aware of the fact that his new arrival was probably upstairs. His heart was pounding. His wolf was raging. And Ayden was in complete denial. There was no way he would accept her as his mate. A mate made an alpha weak. He had seen that first hand with his father. After trying to calm not only himself but his wolf down, he called out for Joshua.

"Come in." Joshua entered and closed the door behind him.

"Ayden, what is wrong?" at first he considered confiding in him, they were after all best friends for as long as he could remember. But he couldn't, no, he wouldn't utter the words aloud. 

"Lots on my mind, my friend. But listen, thank you for collecting Sasha." 

"Anything else?"

"No that's all for now." and with that he dismissed Joshua. As he left, Jewel came barging in.

"She reckons shes your mate!" she blurted out and he growled. 

"Dammit Jewel."

"What? She introduced herself as such." she was looking at him with concern and he already hated it.

"Regardless, I'm in no mood to discuss it. Now leave me and send for her." she nodded and left. Ayden went and sat down behind his desk. Mentally and physically preparing himself.

"Can I come in?" her voice attacked him like a knife to his heart. So smooth and soft, like silk. He gave a quick nod, not trusting himself to speak. He couldn't take his eyes off of her and her scent filled the room. His wolf was going crazy and it took everything in him to get him to calm down. 

"Look, I don't know what's going on here" she paused "Mate." the word drove him to get up and move towards her.

"Yes, mate," he said softly. He stopped just in front of her and breathed in deeply. Her scent driving him crazy, his eyes glazed over with desire and he noticed her breathing had quickened and her eyes shone with heat. He leaned in as if to kiss her seductive lips, but he caught himself just in time.

"What's going on here, is that I don't want nor need a mate. What I do need is an alliance with your father." he saw the pain in her eyes and his heart broke, his wolf howling out in pain. He quickly turned away from her.

"Then reject me!" she shouted. He stopped and turned to look at her. She had tears in her eyes and she looked as he felt. Broken. 

"For now, you can go to your room. Tomorrow I will announce our engagement and the alliance with your pack. We will have a good life together." He didn't trust himself to look at her as he spoke. Instead, he pretended to read the newspaper that was laying on his desk. He didn't see but rather heard her painful sob as she rushed out of his office.

"Aw damn, I had not seen that coming" he muttered to himself.