Marissa's Mate

Chapter 3

"Home? What do you mean, take me home?" I asked.

"I'm taking you to my pack. You're my mate. You'll live with me and be my Luna," he says matter of factly, raising his eyebrow like it's the most obvious thing in the world and I didn't understand.

"But I'm a rogue," I say, confused. This doesn't make any sense. Why did he want me?

"And my mate. I've looked for you for years since becoming Alpha. You're mine." I continued to look at him, searching for any hint of a lie and couldn't find any. My head was spinning but hope slowly grew in my chest. He was taking me home to his pack. Hailey! She could finally be apart of a pack. She needed this. 

" Ok, I'll go with you but I need to stop by my apartment and grab my stuff." And get Hailey. He narrowed his eyes, knowing something was up but he just shrugged and opened the back door of the Escalade for me to get in. He climbed in after me and the blonde from earlier got in on my other side. The other two men got in the front and after giving the driver my address, we took off.

"What's your name?" I asked, wanting to know the name of the man turning my life upside down.

"Declan Nova, Alpha to the Night Fang Pack." Declan. His name sounded like heaven. "The driver is Greyson, my beta and cousin. Next to him is my gamma and best warrior, Nathan. Next to you is my delta, Tyler." Finally looking at all the men, Greyson had Declan's hair but that's where the similarities ended. Nathan had black hair, that almost looked blue. All of these men were tall and strong. Hailey would be safe and that was what mattered. I was going to do this for her. Nothing mattered but her. I was finally going to be able to give Hailey a real home and a pack. I just had to hope now that the pack would accept us, that Declan wasn't going to reject me and Hailey when he found out about her. 

"What about my car?" I asked, not that I was worried about the piece of junk but making small talk distracted me from the nerves I was feeling.

"Give me the keys and I'll have someone pick it up later. Which car is it?"

"The tan one in the corner on the west side," I said as I pointed it out. Declan looked at the heap of metal and had barely been able to get me to work everyday and I caught the hint of surprise cross his face before it was gone.

We drove off, towards my apartment. When we arrived, the men all got out but only Declan followed me into the building and up the stairs. How was I going to tell him about Hailey? Goddess, please, let him accept her.

I knocked on Mrs. Rosen's door. Declan hung back behind me but I knew he was on edge, not knowing what was going on. 

"Marissa, what are you doing home so early?" Mrs. Rosen asked after opening the door and finding me standing there. I could tell she was surprised to see me but when she saw Declan, her eyebrows raised in question. 

"Umm, well, I'm here to pick up Hailey. We're moving. Declan is my mate," I said rushed, nervousness evident in my voice. Her eyebrows raised higher, if that was even possible but moved aside as she looked suspiciously at Declan. 

I went inside and found Hailey coloring at the living room coffee table.

"Hey sweetie. Whatcha coloring?"

"Rissa! I'm coloring a rainbow! Do you like it?!" She showed me her picture with her multi-colored scribbles on the paper.

"It's so beautiful," I say as I smile at her, trying to find the words to tell her that we're leaving. "Hailey, I need you to say goodbye to Mrs. Rosen and give her a really big hug because I'm not sure when we'll see her again, ok?"

"Ok, Rissa," she said as she went to find Mrs. Rosen and I followed behind her. As she said goodbye to the woman, Declan looked like a deer in headlights. He looked between Hailey and me with confusion and surprise, not knowing what was going on. I led Hailey to our apartment and helped her pack her duffle bag with her clothes and a few toys. We really didn't have much so there wasn't much to take, but I'd have to come back later to get the rest of our belongings. After Hailey was packed up, I set her on the bed as I packed my own duffle. Declan watched in silence but I didn't look at him to see what he was thinking. I was too embarrassed. I was a rogue that barely was able to put on the table for Hailey. Yet, I was mated to an Alpha. 

"Who are you?" Hailey asked Declan, being the curious toddler that she was, while I zipped my bag.

"My name is Declan." I froze as he talked in a gentle voice to Hailey. "I'm your mom's mate."

"My mom?" Hailey asked confused.

"She's my sister," I told him. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see his muscles relax a little. "Hailey, we're going to live with Declan and his pack. He's an Alpha." I grab both bags and her hand, leaving our little apartment behind.

"Oh! An alpha?!" Hailey was excited now. I had tried to teach her about wolves as I raised her, but she never had met an Alpha before. We walked down to the waiting men and the Escalade. Hailey hid slightly behind my leg as we stopped in front of them.

"This is Hailey," I introduced her as Declan took our bags and put them in the back of the SUV. "Hailey, these men are friends of Declan and they'll help keep you safe, ok?"

"Ok, Rissa." She was still nervous but she got up into the car. I put her on my lap after I climbed in and the men all took their original seats.

******************

The drive to Declan's pack was quiet. No one had said a word and Hailey had slept the whole way. It took around 5 hours to get there and we arrived in the middle of the night. The pack house was huge with what looked like 5 stories. It was log built with stone accents. It was beyond beautiful and I felt out of place.

Declan carried our bags as I carried Hailey. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside. It had a sort of expensive cabin feel to it and I was surprised at how cozy and inviting it felt. I definitely didn't belong here. Declan led me to a bedroom on the top floor and opened the door.

"She can sleep in here." Declan said, turning and seeing that I stopped in the doorway.  "What's wrong?"

"Um, I'd prefer if Hailey slept with me for awhile. She's never had her own bed or own room before." Declan raised an eyebrow but he gave me a gentle look and nodded his head.

"Then, you may both sleep in here for now. Tomorrow, I'll take you both into town and we can go shopping for whatever you need."

"Thank you but that's not necessary," I said, very unsure of how to handle this situation or what to do here. I put Hailey on the bed and tucked her in with her favorite stuffie.

"Marissa, I'd like you to feel at home here. This is your home now and I'd like to be able to take care of you." He slowly walked up to me and cupped my face with one hand. I jumped slightly at the tingles that erupted at his touch. It felt good but the nervousness was eating at me.

"Ok," was all I could say and it came out as a whisper. He leaned down to kiss me but before he could, I spoke up. "You thought she was mine?"

"She looks so much like you and you hadn't said anything about her." He was still so close, he hadn't moved back at all.

"When she was born, I took her and left home. I didn't want her to be abused by my parents." Declan got a murderous look in his eyes and I slowly backed up until I hit the edge of the bed.

"Your parents abused you?" He asked.

"Yes," I whimpered. Declan's eyes softened when he noticed I was scared and he reached out for my hand.

"Marissa, I'll never hurt you, I promise. You're safe here."