Mark You in This Life

4: Breakfast

4: Breakfast

Kai's POV

I ran through a field of wildflowers, my brother at my side. Orion was happy to be out in the open air, and I couldn't blame him. Since first being bonded with him, going for a run was one of my favorite things to do. To be out in the open air, the feeling of the wind rushing through my fur, was a feeling of freedom that I had never experienced before. I couldn't thank the Moon Goddess enough for blessing my brother and I with this new gift. Werewolves, she called us. We went from being merely mortal men to being blessed with what she called a wolf spirit, who would be our other halves. And I had to say that I agreed with her. Orion truly felt like my other half. I had only had him with me for a short time, but I couldn't even picture life without him now.

My brother and I made our way to one of our favorite places, the cliff by the seaside. Standing there, however, was someone I had never seen before. I stopped in my tracks, as did my brother. I couldn't believe what I saw. In front of me was the most beautiful woman that I had ever seen. She was tall, with a lithe frame, dark olive skin, and black hair that fell to her shoulders in ringlets. There was an aura about her like she wasn't quite mortal.

I was in such awe of her that I almost missed what Orion said in my head.

Mate.>

I jolted up in bed, sweat running down my forehead. What the hell was that? It certainly felt real. It felt like me, but there was something about it that felt a little...off. Like it wasn't really me. Who was that wolf with me? And that woman, while gorgeous as hell, definitely didn't look like Freya. But there was something about her that definitely felt like it was Freya? What did it mean? I'd never had any sort of dream like that before. And yet, there was something about it that didn't feel like a dream, more like I was reliving a memory.

I groaned, putting my hands over my head. What the hell was that, Orion?>

All will be revealed in time, Kai,> he said, We have met our mate. That dream will make sense in time.>

Great. He was being cryptic now. Whatever. It didn't matter. I had found my mate now. I spent most of the evening talking with Freya and getting to know her. I found myself falling for her quickly. It was true what they said, the mate bond was truly one of the best things that you could ever experience. And now that I had her in my life, I never wanted to let her go. We hadn't officially accepted each other yet, but I had nothing but a good feeling. She was going to be my mate, and Luna. I couldn't wait to leave here with her at the end of the weekend and take her back to Silver Mountain with me. My family and the pack were going to love her, I could tell.

I was just lying in bed, thinking of how blessed I was to have an amazing mate when I heard a loud knock on the door. "Yo, Kai, you alive in there!" Sergei's voice was loud and booming. I moaned. My Beta always seemed to have boundless energy in the morning, no matter how late he stayed up last night. And from the sounds I had heard coming from his room before I went to bed, I knew he hadn't gone to bed early. Goddess, I wished I had packed earplugs.

"Give me a moment," I said, pulling on my boxers. Though we'd seen each other in various states of undress, and nudity was nothing amongst werewolves, it was still only polite that I didn't expose myself in someone else's packhouse. I opened the door, and sure enough, Sergei was on the other side, and he bounded into the room, closing the door behind him.

"Dude!" He said, slapping my shoulder. "Where did you go after the ceremony?"

While I would have loved to make Sergei wait, I had to tell someone. "I found my mate," I said, grinning at him.

Sergei broke out into a grin of his own, wrapping me into a bear hug. "Dude!" he said, "That's so awesome! Who is she?"

I chuckled. "Alpha Darius's sister, actually, Freya Wilder." I sighed dreamily. "She's amazing, Sergei. We stayed up just talking and getting to know each other. She's everything I could ever want in a mate and a Luna."

Sergei raised his eyebrows playfully at me. "Just talking?"

I rolled my eyes at him, "You'd smell it if we had mated, and you'd definitely see if I had been marked. Also, even if we had, that's none of your business."

Sergei pouted playfully. "Aw, man. But I'm so happy for you, though! We finally got a Luna!"

I sighed, as I went to get dressed. "I'm meeting her for breakfast, and then we're telling her family. Can I trust you to behave?"

He scoffed. "When do I not behave?"

"Do you really want me to answer that question?"

Sergei went to say something, but a knock on the door interrupted him. Before he could say anything, I quickly through on my jeans and a t-shirt, before opening it, to see Freya on the other side. Though she was no longer all dressed up, she still took my breath away. Her curls hung loosely down her neck now, each ringlet falling in place. Her dress from last night had been replaced with jeans and a sweater that hugged her curves. I grinned widely when I saw her.

"And just like that, my morning is made," I said, leaning in to give her a hug when she let me know that it was okay. I met her eyes, and she nodded, allowing me to kiss her cheek. "I was just thinking about you."

"Dude, let me see her!" Sergei exclaimed, practically shoving me aside once I let her go to wrap her in a bear hug of his own, picking her up the ground. "It's so great to meet you, Luna!"

"Sergei!" I said, using my Alpha tone a bit. "Put her down this instant!" Sergei, while one of the best men I knew, had a tendency to get over-excited and forget boundaries, something that I worked hard to reinforce with him.

Sergei smiled sheepishly, putting Freya down, who looked a little frazzled, though she still managed a laugh. "I apologize for my Beta, Sergei," I said, "He gets a little overzealous sometimes."

Freya laughed. "I mean, I get it but next time, maybe, ask first?" She gave him a smile to let him know that she wasn't angry.

Sergei nodded. "Of course, Luna."

Freya gave him a smile. "Please, Sergei, call me Freya." She then looked and turned to me. "Ready to head down?"

I gave her a nod, extending my hand so she could take it if she wanted. "By all means, lead the way."

Freya's POV

Thanks to Diana's excitement at meeting our mate, I could barely sleep that night. All she wanted to do was go to his guest room so that we could mate and mark each other. And while I assured her that would likely happen at some point, for now, I wanted to wait at least until my family was aware that I had met my mate. Though that night, when I slept, I didn't have the dream again. I decided to mark that as a good thing. I had finally met my mate. I didn't want to dream about finding him dead and murdered again. Though something was of note, the man in the dream didn't look like Kai at all, but there was something about him that felt like it was Kai. I supposed it was something to consider.

I laughed off his Beta's behavior, taking Kai's hand to lead him to the main dining hall. Though I knew that my parents would be excited, I couldn't help but feel nervous. Silver Mountain had a very prominent reputation, and I couldn't help but wonder what my parents' reaction to being mated to their Alpha would be. While I had a feeling they would be overjoyed, there was that small part that couldn't help but be worried.

Kai was understanding the entire time, saying that he would follow my lead, and asking if I consented every time before kissing or touching me. I had to appreciate that in a mate. Sergei teased him lightly, but I could tell, the two were close, and Sergei was happy to see that his Alpha had found his mate.

When we reached the dining hall, I dropped Kai's hand. "I want to let them ease into it," I said to him, leaning up to kiss his cheek before entering. Darius was seated at the head of the table, Mei at his left-hand side, as he tried to get her to eat something that wasn't bacon. She made a comment about it being for the baby. Darius's Beta, his best friend, Roland, along with his mate, Viraj, was there, as well as the Gamma, Wyatt, with his mate, Esperanza. Mom and Dad were sitting next to each other, talking about travel plans for their retirement.

Mei was the first one to notice me, her face beaming as she looked up at me. "Freya!" she exclaimed, "We missed you last night! Where did you go after the ceremony?"

I laughed. "It's funny you should ask that," I said, grinning at them. "I found my mate."

The dining hall erupted into everyone shouting happily at once, and I was very glad that the rest of the pack wasn't there, as well. Dad has always kept an open-door policy with pack members joining for meals, and I know that Darius wanted to keep the same approach. I was glad that everyone decided to give the ranked members breakfast by themselves today.

I held my hands up as I was meant with a barrage of questions. "Everyone just...chill a sec, okay? Let me bring him in." I turned to the doorway where Kai and Sergei were, extending my hand to Kai. Once he took it, I stepped aside, letting him in the space, and Sergei fell behind him. "Everyone," I started to say, "This is my mate, Kai-"

"KAI GRIFFIN THE ALPHA OF SILVER MOUNTAIN IS YOUR MATE?!" Mei exclaimed, jumping to her feet, causing my mother to chide her about overexciting herself, and to think of the baby.

Darius laughed, standing and kissing Mei's cheek, before walking over to us. "I think what Mouse means to say," he said, using the nickname he had for her since childhood, "Is that we're both very happy that you found your mate, Freya." He extended a hand to Kai. "Welcome to the family, Alpha Kai. I'm glad my sister has a mate that I know will take care of her."

Kai shook Darius' hand before they pulled each other into a hug. Everyone came forward to congratulate us, and I found myself grinning from ear to ear. Through just our short time together, I could tell that Kai was the best mate that everyone could ask for. I looked around the room, my eyes falling on my parents. While they looked happy, there was a look of concern on my father's face, and Mom massaged his hand lightly.

Needless to say, it gave me pause. "Mom...Dad," I asked, my tone wary, "Is everything okay?"

They exchanged glances, before Dad looked at Kai and I, a sad look in his eyes. "There's something that your mother and I need to tell you and Darius, Freya," he said, before looking at Kai. "You too, Alpha Kai. I have to gather the pack office, and then, we all need to meet in my office, immediately."

My heart formed a knot in my chest. What the hell was happening?