Is It You

Malachi POV 7

I eyed the surrounding area one last time before I turned back to Adira. She had willingly come with me to the meeting with Dark Moon Pack and I felt better having her with me than leaving her at home alone. She was starting to grow on me and I enjoyed her companionship more than I’d let on. Wildon wasn’t able to be present since I had him running a few pack errands. I needed to ensure everything was in place for the induction ceremony and he promised it’d be taken care of.

Dark Moon’s territory was spacious and green, decorated with a few signs leading to the different buildings and houses. Adira stood on the path, using her wide brimmed hat to shield her eyes from the warm sun and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She was dressed comfortably in a blue button skirt that had large white buttons down the front and a pastel pink peplum top that accentuated her curvy figure.

Her toes were hidden from me in a pair of white moccasins that emphasized her tiny and delicate feet. She was too beautiful. I brought her for company but she was more a distraction. I walked back over to her, shielding the rest of her body from the sun and she breathed a breath of relief.

“I’ve made note of two emergency exits if needs be. Let's head to the main hall now,” I offered.

I grabbed her hand in mine and started to lead her to Carlyle’s large manor at the end of the strip. The interior was similar in design to my house but Adira’s flowers livened up the rooms more than I realized they did. She had also changed out my brown cupboards to white and bought a different brand refrigerator. All the changes were surprising but I didn’t mind. It made me feel happy she thought of it as her own home and I hoped she would keep that thought forever.

I stopped in the living room, through the open door and cleared my throat to the man standing in front of me with his back turned. Arthur Evans, Dark Moon’s Beta stood before me with a condescending smile on his face. His gaze was directed at Adira and I could feel Marcel biting to get a grip. I didn’t like it.

“Alpha Carlyle will see you in a minute,” Evan informed us and gestured that we take a seat.

I let Adira sink into the love seat next to me but continued to stand. If he pulled anything I wanted to be prepared. In a few minutes, heavy footsteps sounded down a flight of stairs and Alpha Carlyle stepped into view. He resembled that of a middle aged man with cropped dark brown hair. He wore black slacks and a white button up shirt. He extended his hand to me and I clasped it in mine.

“Alpha Carson,” He stated formally. “Good to finally meet you! Your reputation precedes you, especially the fact you were mateless. Who is this you’ve brought with you?”

Adira stood to her feet next to me and tipped the brim of her hat out of her face.

“This is Adira Stone, my mate.” I introduced.

Carlyle smiled at her and nodded. He was more pleasant than I expected but I kept my guard up anyway. I didn’t want Adira around them for too long so better to get right down to it. All I needed was his signature and we’d be done. Majority of our discussions had been over the phone and I was pretty sure nothing was left to be said.

“We can sign the treaty in your office,” I suggested.

He nodded in agreement and started down the corridor again. I gave Adira a calm look and she shooed me off with a knowing smile. My eyes drifted to Evan, giving a hard glare as a warning if he tried anything then followed after Carlyle. He led me to his office and quickly got out a pen.

“Lovely to see at least one of the rumors is false. I give you my blessing to you and your mate” Carlyle encouraged.

What game was he playing at by being so nice?

“Thank you,” I responded. I passed him the treaty and he read from top to bottom. He affixed his signature at the end then slid it back to me so I could see. I had a digital copy signed back home so now he had one to hang.

“I expect all the rules on this to be adhered too. Once those rules are met then I hope we have a peaceful alliance for ages to come” I completed. Now I needed to get back to Adira. I followed the steps back to the front and saw her still sitting down. She jumped up as I walked over and gave Evans a curt smile goodbye.

“That was tense.” She surmised.

“My wolf doesn’t trust him but his cooperation in this treaty was crucial” I added.

“How, If you don’t mind me asking”

“Well, there are seven packs closest in these mountainous areas. If war wages, the sides will always be uneven and each pack can deny an assistance request. The treaty ensures that we all stay at peace and if one pack steps out of line, the remaining six has each other's back indefinitely. We also can share resources and leadership when necessary,” I simply put it.

She shook her head in understanding and reached for my hand. Wow. She didn’t normally reciprocate couple actions but it was becoming more common now. Lovely. We walked around the territory until we got back to my Jeep and climbed in.

“It’s strange that I’m here with you, pretending to be your mate when I know nothing about you,” She taunted.

On the drive over we had listened to music from the popular hits to the oldies. I guess she wants to talk now, three weeks late. I shrugged. If it was what she wanted, I’d do it. I started the car and proceeded out the gates.

“What do you want to know?” I asked.

“Well, tell me more about you,” She suggested. “I know you love junk food and have an insane obsession with the color black. You also tend to chew your lip when you’re focused on work but apart from that, I’m lost”

She had taken note of me a little, yay.

“Well, I became the Alpha twenty years ago when my father decided to retire and step down. I got my parents two awesome cruise tickets for their retirement gift. They’re on a two year cruise and I miss them a lot. Uh, I love the color black and junk food is my go to when I couldn’t cook...”

“Continue,” She urged with wide, interesting eyes.

I slowed my Jeep as we came into the highway to head back.

“I sort of hate salmon, I wonder why Gina sent it up to the house. She should have a list for me”

I could see her face confounded for a split second from the corner of my eye but then fanned it away.

“What about you, Adira?”

We drove for some more while she looked out the window.

“Well, I have a degree in communication arts. Um, I’ve been cooking since I was fourteen so it’s kinda my favorite pastime. I hate seafood too so that actually is cool that we have in common. My parents are upstanding pack members, that’s all. My mom had us when she was twenty-seven, with Adair being older by five minutes” She stopped talking and looked over at me.

“Am I rambling?” She asked in a small voice.

“No, you’re fine. I’m listening so go ahead”

“Well, alright then...”

And that was how we spent the rest of the ride back, getting to know each other. It was a bit unconventional but I already knew that nothing would be normal between us. Making this work had to happen in our special way.