His Destined Mate

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

As the sun rose in the early morning, rays of sunlight illuminated the otherwise dark room. Nicole had learned to appreciate the silence surrounding her since waking from her coma, but she was beginning to value the calmness that greeted her as birds chirped and the breeze coming into her windows caressed her skin. She could certainly get accustomed to this.

It was almost a week since she'd been in the Sentinels' pack. She'd been given such a wonderful bedroom for her stay in at the Packhouse. Surprisingly, Alpha D'Amore had given her permission to stay here, which she didn't quite understand. She had expected to be tossed out of the pack and ordered to never return. Mike must have put in more than just a few words on her behalf. She didn't know if she would ever be able to repay him.

By allowing her unto their territory, he had done more than enough. She'd found out that he's the Beta of the pack, and Alpha D'Amore had been away at the time of her attack. It explained why she had been allowed unto their pack, and furthermore, into their infirmary to be nursed back to health.

She couldn't conclude that her health was back to being perfect. Dr. Paul had been adamant that she take long hours of sleep, and try not to exert herself to the point of going back into the infirmary. And she realized that the more she rested, the quicker she was getting back to normal.

In the meantime, until she could find a job or decide whatever she wanted to do with her life in such a huge pack, she would be helping the women in the kitchen. She still didn't know where everything was located. She hadn't really left her room since Mike had brought her there two days before. She didn't know anyone except for Mike, and the doctor, and she knew that wolves were sometimes intimidated by strangers in their pack. It was such a beautiful and humungous Packhouse, and she was afraid to touch anything. The room she had been given was more than enough.

Nicole got into the shower and scrubbed from head to toe. Her red hair was in a mess and she had to take extra special care to untangle the knots. Because of the bandages, it was the first refreshing shower she could have without concern about her wounds.

After a long shower, Nicole dried herself and went in search of an outfit for the day. There wasn't much to choose from. Mike had brought her some clothes from female members in the pack, although she had refused. Not like she could refuse a Beta, though.

He had no idea of her pack rank back home, and she thought it best to keep it that way. The less they know about her, the better. She knew that if one aspect of her life was to be revealed, it would only raise more questions. All they needed to know was that she was running away from a forced mating, one that is against werewolf law.

After dressing quickly into a pair of skinny jeans and a simple t-shirt- from the clothes which were able to fit her, she decided to leave her hair out to air-dry before leaving the room.

She walked down several hallways and staircases and had thought she was lost. Just when she was about to lose hope, she collided with something- or rather, someone. She was surprised to see a very beautiful strawberry-blonde haired woman, who beamed at her. Nicole instantly thought about her best friend, Amber. She missed their late-night chats, and their movie marathons during the weekend.

"Hi, you must be new here," the woman said. "I'm Debbie." She outstretched her hand, the smile still prominent on her face. Nicole wondered if she ever stopped smiling.

Shaking her hand, Nicole replied, "Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm Nicole."

Debbie grinned, before looping her arm with Nicole and guiding her further down the hall. "You must be joining us in the kitchen. That's where I'm heading."

A few moments later, they entered the kitchen, and Nicole was marveled by the lovely designs. Everything in here screamed the finest quality and expensive. She was amazed by the marble countertops and even the floors which were shining like crystals. This kitchen made her want to cook for the rest of her life.

She noticed the other women already in the kitchen, and they looked at her in curiosity before introducing themselves. Nicole replied simply, with smiles and a few handshakes. She didn't want to be rude. She was still trying to get used to the new scenery, and now- all the people. Mike had stated that over 3000 wolves resided in the pack, and she didn't want to be treated as an outsider- although she was.

They began preparing breakfast for members who resided in the Packhouse, and for the pack warriors. After breakfast, she helped the others clean up, and was about to go back to her room when Mike entered the kitchen to place his dirty dishes. Upon seeing her he waved her over and invited her on a pack stroll. She agreed, and together, they walked outside.

She had seen some of the pack already and was impressed just by the little glimpses. As she saw it in a newer light, she gasped at its magnificence. Everything was beautiful. There were trees everywhere, except where beautiful houses had been built. They walked along the concrete road, and Mike pointed out the different buildings to her and places she would love to go.

They came across a clearing, which Nicole noticed was an actual training camp. Mostly men stood there, some in just track pants. Some smiled welcomingly, others looked at her in confusion and curiosity- probably wondering what their Beta was doing with her. She tried to ignore the stares as best as she could, but she knew she would always be judged. She was in unfamiliar territory so she would feel like outside. For wolves of this pack, she was in their territory, so she would be looked down upon. She just had to live with it.

"Do you have anything planned for today?" Mike asked her when they had stopped at a few benches. The clearing was equipped for all training methods, and she was impressed. It wouldn't be a bad idea to join the women's training or do some daily exercises. She loved her body, but she knew she needed to continue exercising for her sake, and that of her wolf.

"No," she replied to Mike's question.

Mike nodded. "Okay. Just hang out around for a bit. I need to be here to supervise the trainers, but I promise to show you around right after."

Nicole nodded. "Okay."

Ten minutes into the training, and Nicole wanted so much to laugh at the younger wolves who were getting their asses kicked by men who were big enough to tear them into little pieces. It reminded her of the days she would train with her brother, Nick. Clearly, those training sessions hadn't been so much help after all. She felt that it was best if she kept the incident from her brother if they ever happened to meet again.

She watched as three teenagers tried taking down a very bare-chested and buff man. One hung unto his shoulder, another to his waist and the last to his leg. Even as the three of them tried to defeat him, she watched as they failed miserably. He knew all the right moves.

Suddenly, everyone's attention was caught by a group of men approaching. Nicole didn't think much of it because she'd never seen any of them before. Therefore, she turned her head away and continued to watch the men as they did their training. Nicole froze when she felt goosebumps along her skin, and her heart fluttered in her chest, wanting so much to escape the confines of her body.

She had never felt this way before. Her flood of emotions burst, and she felt happiness and joy- things she hadn't felt in a while. She was confused. Never in all the nineteen- almost twenty-years of her life did she feel such perfection. It was almost unreal.

She heard voices as they filled the air, but it wasn't until her wolf became restless that she realized what was going on. Her wolf, which had been slightly dormant for the past week, seemed to have awakened and was very excited. By the whisper of that one word, she knew without a doubt that she had found her mate. Or rather- he had found her.

She didn't want to turn around, for the fear of having her hopes and dreams crushed by rejection. She still didn't know who her mate was. Yet, it had to be one of the newcomers.

She sat silently, trying her best to ignore her energetic wolf as it begged to be near its mate. A moment later, a shadow fell over her and she realized that she had been lost in her own little world. She had totally forgotten that she had been looking at the training ahead. When she looked up, she saw that Mike was there, his hand outstretched and gesturing for her to stand. She took his hand, but halfway through him pulling her to her feet, a loud growl sounded, and she felt her blood heat up.

Mike instantly let her go, and gasps resounded in the field. It seemed like everyone had stopped whatever they were doing to look at the scene unfolding. She turned around to face her mate, but she was greeted with something- or rather someone that she hadn't seen before.

The man was the definition of tall; at least six foot eight. She'd met tall men before, but since stumbling upon The Sentinels' pack, she realized that men here were on a totally different level, not only in height but it looks. At five foot six, she wasn't particularly short. Actually, her height was just about average, compared to a number of people she'd met before.

He exuded power, and she instantly concluded that this man was none other than Alpha D'Amore. She would've seen the wolves surrounding them bowing their heads in respect, but her gaze was captured by his marvelous physique, and she couldn't look away even if she wanted to.

When their gazes met, it was like the rest of the world didn't exist. Nicole looked at the fine specimen ahead of her, and couldn't help her heartbeat from accelerating frantically.

She stopped to do a full physical assessment.

She watched as she walked closer to her, his long legs eating up the distance between them. When they stood a few inches away from each other, he stopped and regarded her with a look that was close to adoration. Well, she thought it was.

He was so handsome, so perfectly made that she wanted to pull him closer, and live life a little- for once. His jet-black disheveled hair had this nice Italian look to it, and she knew because she had a thing or two for hot and sexy Italian guys. At that thought, she wondered if he was actually American. His unruly curls looked like his hands had run through them for the entire morning. His eyes were of the darkest grey and sparkling in the daylight, and his luscious lips practically called to her to touch, or bite them. She breathed in to fill her lungs with much-needed oxygen. His high cheekbones practically begged to be looked at. And it was okay. She was staring at him like he's the first man she had ever met.

Then, she wanted to run her hands down his chest, and leave them there forever. His well-defined chest was muscular and she knew without a doubt that if she ran her hands down his chest, she would be greeted by a solid pack of abs.

She had to remind herself that she needed to keep her thoughts together before she humiliated herself.

His shoulders were broad and led to strong muscular arms. She could just imagine the number of women those arms had brought pleasure to. At that, she felt her heart twist in her chest. Had he waited for her? She had waited for her mate, wanting him to be the only man she had ever been intimate with. She had turned down dates and boyfriends, and even friendships with hot guys. So had her wait been in vain?

But he's Alpha Jake D'Amore! Did he even want a mate? For all she knew, he would reject her, and force her to leave the pack. Then, she would be dead soon because she wasn't certain she could survive a rejection from her mate. She'd left her pack, and everyone she'd ever known so she could be saved from having a forced mating with a man who wasn't hers, to begin with. Yet, never in the plans of her escape had she thought she would be meeting the devil himself. Well, that's what they call him. For once in her miserable life, she wished that rogue had killed her, to end her suffering.

Oh, boy! She's in so much trouble, she thought.

**

Jake stared at his gorgeous mate, and couldn't help the lovesick grin that was plastered on his face. There had been signs alright. But he was too stupid not to see them. She's so perfect, he thought.

Mike had urged him to meet his new pack member, but his stubbornness had gotten the better of him. He'd ignored the beautiful scent that had been haunting him since the night he'd returned to his pack. How stupid could he possibly be?

He'd just came from a pack run when he thought to stop by to supervise the training of the younger male-wolves. The first thing that hit him was the scent. Roses and strawberry. Just like the past few days.

Then he'd noticed a few males standing off to the side, their gazes on someone. From the comments they were making, he knew it had to be about a girl. When he finally found their area of interest, his breath had been caught in his throat. She was absolutely beautiful. Her hair which went all the way down to her hips was as red as the color itself. It flowed in the wind, and although he hadn't seen her face, he wanted to run his hands through her hair and worship every strand. He'd never seen such gorgeous red hair before in his life.

When he noticed that Mike had laid his hands on her, he felt his wolf rise to the surface and before he knew it, a loud growl had filled the air. It was only after he realized that the growl had come from him, and it was clear by the way his pack members looked at him in shock.

Mike had instantly let go of her hand and stepped back, and Jake's wolf calmed down slightly.

And, when their eyes met, he felt perfect. Like a missing piece to the puzzle of his life had finally been found. He felt whole.

The more he stared at her, the more amazed he became.

Finally, tired of the awkward silence, he stepped closer to her, ignoring the stares he received. When they were finally face-to-face, his wolf purred. Seeing his mate from afar was nothing compared to the fulfillment of seeing her so closely. His mate's beauty was beyond words. Never had he met such a beautiful woman- or one who made him speechless? Now he understood why members of his pack were so attracted by her. His mate didn't seem to recognize how gorgeous she really was.

She wasn't petite. She had this voluptuous physique going on, with curves in all the right places. And he was a man who couldn't be blamed for the thoughts running through his mind at seeing his mate. Her creamy skin glowed in the sunlight, and he wondered how amazing it would be to run his fingers against her skin. He could see the outline of her perky breasts under the t-shirt she had on- which looked a lot like a t-shirt Mike owned. Why is his mate wearing another man's clothes? He frowned and decided there were much better things he could be doing at the time. Like looking at her curves.

Oh, Moon Goddess! She should be charged for inciting similar thoughts into the minds of other men! His mate had curves to...kill! What good had he done in life to deserve a mate with an hourglass figure consisting of an average waist, gradual hip flare, and wide hip? Nothing! That's the answer. Absolutely nothing!

Jake's hands went off their own accord to tug on the red tendrils that framed her face. Her gaze came to meet his, and he was greeted by the bluest eyes he had ever seen. Those that were seeing right through his soul at that moment.

'Where had my mate been all these years?' Jake wondered. He'd searched and searched for her, praying to the moon goddess that she would show up and be with him. Yet, when he'd least expected, she had stumbled upon his pack and had almost been killed. As he thought about the pathetic rogue that had almost killed his mate, he wanted so much to change into his wolf and search the woods until he found the pathetic creature.

And he'd demanded that she be thrown out of the pack territory! How could he be so stupid?

The longer he looked into her eyes, the more he found herself trapped in her gaze.

"Hi," he heard himself whisper, even before his mind could realize that he had uttered those words. He sounded like a teenager speaking to his crush for the first time.

She didn't respond, but a pretty blush rose on her cheeks. He smirked at the effect he had on her, just by a glance.

"What's your name?" He asked her, and finally, her gaze came back on him. He marveled again at the blue orbs and how the moon goddess had taken her time to create such an amazing creature.

He thought she wouldn't respond, but then he heard her. "Nicole."

He nodded before his hand came up to hold hers, and he watched as her eyes widened. He had felt it too; the fireworks and sparks as their skins connected.

"You're the wolf," he said a moment later, although he knew. He was still getting used to the idea of having found his mate, and now he needed to start a conversation with her. How about the basics? "You're so beautiful." At those words, she blushed again, and he thought her cheeks would remain as crimson as they were for all of eternity.

"Thank you."

The crowd surrounding them had long before recognized the look their alpha gave to the gorgeous she-wolf and immediately knew that there wasn't any competition. This was their Luna, they concluded. The woman who would be leading their pack alongside their alpha. She seemed rather young to them, but they could never question how filled with life and charisma she seemed to be.

Mike was speechless and happy. He'd begged his best friend to meet with the new member of the pack, and he had refused, always making an excuse as to why he couldn't. He knew his friend had wanted nothing to do with the girl. Now, he couldn't be any happier. The moon goddess had chosen well for his friend. With a smirk on his face, he knew immediately that Jake would need a lot of patience to tame his fiery mate. Because from the few encounters with her, he knew she wasn't the typical she-wolf.

Turning to the rest of the pack as they watched their Alpha, he ordered that they are given privacy, and everyone turned and left the clearing. None of them murmured under their breaths as he'd expected. He had no idea how ecstatic they all were to leave practice earlier than normal.

With one last look at the newly found mates, Mike grinned and took his leave. Maybe his best friend would have a softer heart from now on, he thought.