A Tale of His Spy Mate

Chapter Three: The Kiss

Anna (Alana) POV

It seemed like I was forgotten. It has been five days since I arrived at the Crescent Moon Pack, and still no word on whether they would accept me as a part of their pack.

I had to start planning a way to get information on the pack. However, I was confined to the farm with Ellie and Jacob. The information I needed wasn't on the farm, of that I am sure.

My time here hasn't been bad so far. Ellie and Jacob have been extraordinarily nice to me. It was disconcerting because I was expecting them to demonstrate their vileness. The tales from the Rising Moon told how the Crescent Moon Pack beat their members to make them stronger and that kindness was a weakness. The worst I had seen so far was Jacob raising his voice at Patrick, a fellow slave.

Maybe Ellie and Jacob are faking it? Even as I thought that I knew that to be untrue. Their kindness seemed genuine.

"Good Morning, Anna! I'm glad you are up a bit early. I need you to run some eggs up to the packhouse," Ellie greeted me in her overly cheery tone for not-quite six am. Her enthusiasm at all hours of the day was exhausting. How she manages to maintain a sunny disposition at all hours is beyond me.

I quickly agree to take the eggs to the packhouse. Finally! A chance to leave the farm! Hopefully, I'll be able to gather information that will be useful.

After some quick directions and a basket of eggs, I headed towards the packhouse. I did my best to notice every detail I could, not knowing what information would help stop the war. Alpha Brandon had focused more on the pack's security

situation, such as how many warriors, the types of patrols, patrols times. But he also said that "anything I thought was useful".

The pack lands were quiet this morning, though in the far distance I could hear warriors practicing on the training grounds. I decided to take a quick detour to their training grounds, careful not to get too close as I was still a rogue and they would recognize my smell.

From a distance, I saw approximately fifty warriors on the training grounds. Some were running laps while others were practicing hand to hand combat. Their skills looked impressive from this distance and a battle with the Rising Moon Pack would result in massive casualties for both sides.

I continued on to the packhouse where I was impressed by its size. It was a large four-story building that looked new and modern. Massive windows ran all along the front side of the building, allowing me to glimpse inside and a ballroom, a library and a recreational room.

I veered off to the side where the kitchen entrance was.

As I entered the kitchen, I began to smell evergreen and vanilla. It was intoxicating.

Mate is here. Avery shouted in my head, almost causing me to drop the eggs.

It can’t be. Mate can’t be here.

Why not? Mate is here.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. My mate cannot belong to the Crescent Moon. He just can’t.

I wouldn’t be able to take him home to the Rising Moon, even if he wanted to go. The war between our packs would never allow for us to be mated. Both packs would likely banish us and being without a pack was worse than death.

Even when I find a way to stop the war, a mate from my enemy’s pack will never be accepted.

And I don’t know if I can forgive someone from the pack that killed my parents and left me an orphan with my two brothers.

As fear seized my heart, I couldn’t think of anything and could only follow my instinct.

I ran.

****

Justin POV

Ajax was excited. He forced me out of my warm bed.

Cinnamon and Orange. I smelled it.

I sniffed the area. There was a faint aroma, but it was gone as soon as I smelled it. Instead, it is mostly pungent with the smell of a rogue.

I think you need to get your nose checked, Ajax.

I'm sure it was mate. You need to find her.

It could just be breakfast. Maybe the cooks are trying a new recipe that has gone terribly wrong.

It's mate. You'll see.

I ignored Ajax and went downstairs to find some breakfast. Eric and Derrick, my gamma, were already sitting at a table with a heaping plate of food.

“It smells atrocious in here," I told Eric and Derrick.

"Evidently, the new slave girl came to drop off some things for the kitchen. You should make her a part of the pack, so we don't have to smell her anymore." Derrick managed to say while shoveling food in his mouth.

“You’re right. It’s been long enough already. How is she doing anyway?”

“From all accounts, she’s been working hard and hasn’t really complained. Ellie and Jacob have no issues with her. In fact, they are rather impressed with her work ethic, if she is a bit standoffish with everyone else.”

“I'm still a bit unsure about her, though. My conversation with Alpha Xavier of the Shadow Moon confirmed that he banished her. He refused to state the reason, though.” Eric chimed in. It would be suspicious if the Alpha didn't state the reason for the banishment.

“You want me to do a bit more digging?” Eric asked me.

"Yes, see what you can find. I don't want to officially bring her into the pack until we know why he banished her. It seemed like he was hiding something.”

"I'll get on it this morning, boss."

It was just the start of the day, but I already felt worn out. I was sure the Rising Moon Pack was scaring business away from our stores in town. Thankfully, the pack had made excellent investment decisions long ago, and the pack's businesses helped with the lifestyle, but it wasn't critical.

More concerning were the attacks on the humans in town. There were traces of magic in each of the human's attacks, and the townsfolk were starting to get anxious.

Derrick had talked to the Police Chief, which bought them some time. However, a meeting of the Alphas needed to be called. I dreaded it because I knew Alpha Brandon of the Rising Moon Pack would only manage to find a way to blame me.

I really need to find my mate. I believed in my fated mate, no matter who she was. If the goddess deemed her good enough for me, then I would have her.

Though I was tired of the balls and the constant set-ups. The last one was a disaster. One young Beta female clung to my arm until I had to force her off. Eric and Derrick snickered at me for the rest of the night as they looked at my distress

over the situation. The two of them didn't even bother to help me saying "You're a big strong alpha who doesn't need saving."

I mind-linked Ellie and Jacob to see where the new slave female was. I started heading in that direction.

I began heading to the barn and saw her from a distance. Her blonde hair shimmered in the sun, and her backside was framed perfectly by the tight jeans that she wore.

MATE!

The cinnamon and orange was there, underneath the smell of a rogue.

How did I miss it before? She hadn’t turned around, but I could already tell that she was gorgeous.

Talk to her now! Ajax commanded.

I didn’t need much prompting. I nearly ran towards her. I smelled more of the cinnamon and orange the closer I got.

She was focused on her task of pulling out chicken feed. I came up to her from behind and spun her around.

She was shorter by a few inches, and her heart-shaped face looked startled as her blue eyes connected with mine.

I felt a feeling of comfort and belonging all at once. I lost all control. She was mine and mine alone.

I cupped her face and brought her in for a kiss.