Hestia House Book One

Chapter Two

~Arynn's POV~

"Mate."

Locking eyes with his crystal blue ones, my wolf surged forward, our heart singing with joy. This strong attraction and connection was exhilarating and confusing at the same time. When mates were discussed growing up, they were assigned by the alpha, and were about breeding stronger wolves. Not this joyous, foreign feeling I was experiencing now. All of these emotions passed through my mind and heart in the space of about 2 heartbeats before I saw his eyes take in where I was and darken to a deep sapphire. His deep baritone voice had a sharp, dangerous edge as he growled questions to Alpha Sean, his eyes remaining on me.

"Why is she tied up? What did she do to deserve a whipping?"

Alpha Sean sputtered a response, his pride puffing him up in the presence of this stranger. "She is tied up so she doesn't run from her ten lashes. She was in charge of the baking for breakfast and burned half of it. She caused wolves to be hungry, so this is her punishment."

I mentally rolled my eyes and scoffed. The only wolves that ever went hungry were the omegas, since we weren't allowed to eat with the rest of the pack. My wolf wanted to break our bonds and run to this stranger, but if we did, then our punishment would be doubled. I had no idea what this mate thing meant, but I would rather not have more lashes because of it.

The stranger in blue glanced at me and chuckled, almost like he had read my mind, then turned to Alpha Sean with a grin. "Cut her loose. My mate won't be getting any punishment today."

Beta Woodrow pulled his hunting knife out of its sheath as he reached for the ropes, then froze as Alpha Sean barked at him.

"Stop! She needs to be punished for her insubordination! What right do you have to interfere with my pack?"

The stranger in blue turned a smug grin toward my alpha and took a step forward. His demeanor turned menacing, and Ash warmed to him even more. His voice was a cool, reserved tone as he addressed Sean.

"Oh, forgive my lack of manners. My name is Leo Winceter, Alpha of Pack Shadow Fang. I came today to see whether we could come to an agreement on peace, or if you were going to keep attacking my pack when we neared our borders. I didn't expect to be leaving with my mate as well." His voice dropped to a deadly growl, "Now let. My. Mate. Go."

My heart leapt, the promise of leaving and the unadulterated protection coming from this stranger a balm to every slight and hardship I dealt with over the past five years since I turned eighteen. Hope of more started bubbling up, gaining momentum as Beta Woodrow cut the ropes from my wrists and helped me stand. My knees threatened to buckle from the strain of kneeling and lack of food, but I didn't want to fall in front of my mate. Leo. The mate thing was still confusing, since Alpha Sean and Luna Kristin always chose mates for our pack members when they turned 25. But a deep primal part of me wanted to be with him, and I didn't want to deny it. I glanced over at my parents, only to notice the darkening expressions of worry on their faces. And they never worried about me. I was about to go to them when a hand was on my elbow and I looked up into Leo's blue eyes.

~Leo's POV~

Our mate was concerned about a couple standing off to the side, whose faces had darkened ever since I arrived. Flint, my wolf, was eager to get our mate away from this pack, but the alpha was going to take some convincing. This whole pack smelled off, and a peace treaty would be easiest to solve the border issues, so maybe finding our mate would ease tensions.

"Alpha, I would like to suggest that since this is my mate's home pack, we sign a treaty of peace. No fighting along our borders, and help when needed. What say you?"

Puffing up his chest, this slightly round man who had elevated thoughts of himself stepped forward, adding exaggerated swagger to his movements. I didn't fail to notice the slight shift as the circle moved away from him. Something was definitely off with this pack, but we could figure that out later. My Gamma Jace took a step forward, always protective. I could feel his excitement over his new Luna, but also the wariness of being in this foreign and strange pack.

"Well, I can't rightly let you take one of my Omegas, but I would be willing to offer one of my other females for your mate. This Omega wouldn't be fit to be a Luna." His nasally voice ground on my nerves, and his outright rejection of our mate bond pushed me to the edge of my patience. He thought another female would be acceptable when there was a connection to this slip of a female in front of me? And you would have to be blind to think she was an Omega.

'Leo, everything feels and smells off here. We shouldn't stay long.' Jace mind linked his thoughts to me, which mirrored my own.

'I know, but I can't leave without her. Tell the others to stay alert, but we stay until she is released.' My reply didn't distract me from this alpha as I sized him up. He didn't look like he would win in a fight, but enough encounters with rogues had left me cautious of appearances.

"Alpha, I won't be taking another female. Now, I would rather this be a peaceable exchange, so may we go inside to discuss this?"

"Of course, you are most welcome to join us in the conference room. Arynn, go prepare coffee and something sweet." This alpha dismissed the person named Arynn and turned to lead the way inside. I was about to follow when I realized Arynn was my mate, because she had started a brisk walk toward the side of the pack house. And I wasn't about to let her be dismissed like a servant.

"No. She will not be leaving us, or my side. We can do without the pleasantries since you are so disposed to ignore our mate bond. Now she and her family will join us in the conference room. If you insist on the coffee, send your Luna for it." As I talked, two of my warriors went to Arynn's side, and two others went to her parents. Then with Arynn by my side, I led our new little group into the pack house ahead of this repugnant alpha.