Mark You in This Life

3: Mine!

3: Mine!

Freya's POV

Keeping Diana under control during the Alpha and Luna Ceremony was one of the hardest things that I ever had to do. All she wanted to do was run off and find our mate. Mom was right, there was nothing stronger than the mate bond. It took everything I had to convince Diana that as soon as the ceremony was over, we'd find our mate.

Darius was going to be an amazing Alpha, and with how he looked at Mei the entire time, I could tell that they were going to be a powerful Alpha and Luna. The energy among the pack was the highest that I had ever seen. At the end of the ceremony, Darius shifted, and the rest of the pack did as well for the pack run. Well, all except Mei, as being three months pregnant, it wasn't safe for her to shift. I wanted to shift, to run alongside my brother in his new role as the Alpha of the pack, but I was having hard enough time as it was keeping Diana in check.

Freya, we must go find our mate!> Though usually very level-headed, Diana was practically whimpering in my head.

Diana huffed in agreement in my head. Though she was anxious to meet her mate, she knew that there was only so much that I could do. I waited for the crowd to thin a bit and then focused on the scent that I smelled earlier in the ballroom. That heavenly, heavenly sandalwood, honey, and lavender scent. I closed my eyes, blocking everything else out. All that mattered was finding the source of that scent. After what felt like forever, I found it, and though I wanted to sprint in that direction, I took my time, walking, letting the scent get stronger.

I rounded a corner in the courtyard, where I came face to face with the most handsome man that I had ever seen. He was tall, at least six-foot-five, and lean, with broad shoulders, and the suit he was wearing fit him perfectly, highlighting his muscular and toned body in just the right ways. He had warm, deep, russet brown skin, and black hair that fell to his shoulders pulled back in a braid. He had brown eyes that were piercing in a way that I had never seen before. I didn't need to sense his aura to know that just by looking at him, this man was an Alpha and a very powerful one at that. But he wasn't arrogant in the way he carried himself. There was the confidence and swagger that came with being an Alpha radiating off of him. Yes, but no arrogance, which seemed rare but refreshing in an Alpha of his level.

I locked eyes with him, and my body shuddered, as I inhaled that perfect scent of sandalwood, honey, and lavender. I wanted to bottle that scent up, it was the most perfect thing that I had ever smelled. Every hair on my body stood on end and the most primal of urges took over me, as a single word escaped our lips at the same time.

"Mine."

Diana was growling in my head, as I could tell coming into contact with our mate filled her with a lust that she'd never felt before, and it was spilling over to me, as well. Just by looking at him, it was taking everything that I had to not just jump on him here and now. I had heard stories from my family and friends about the mate bond making them do crazy things, but there was something about this man that was just calling me. Almost as if I had met him before. He took a step towards me, closing the distance between us, and my heart was pounding so loudly in my chest, I was certain that he'd hear it, too. He reached out, his hand going to my face, but stopping right before touching my cheek.

"May I?" He asked, looking down at me and giving a smile. I nodded, a tightness filling my chest. God, that he even asked was just so sexy. His voice was deep and had almost a musical quality to it, and I could listen to him speak all day.

He touched my cheek, and the sparks from his fingers sent a reaction throughout my body, and I shuddered at his touch. Goddess, how had I ever not found this man before? I didn't even know his name, but I knew this was my mate, the person the Moon Goddess made just for me. I locked eyes with him, and the tension in the air was so heavy, I could barely breathe. I couldn't take it anymore. I threw my arms around his neck, standing on my tiptoes, pressing my lips against his. He seemed hesitant at first, but I leaned against him, silently giving my consent for him to kiss me back.

His lips were soft and warm, and soon, I felt myself deepening the kiss, my tongue seeking access. I kissed him like he was my oxygen, the kiss sending electric feelings of warmth throughout my entire body. His hands wrapped around my waist, as he pulled me even closer to him. Just even being so close to him was enough to make me want to just lead him up to my room right there and then. I moved my hand along his neck, gently brushing my fingers against his marking spot, and I could feel him shudder at my touch.

I lost track of how long we kissed for. Eventually, though, we broke apart, and he leaned down, pressing his forehead against mine, his brown eyes meet mine, a playful look in them as we both caught our breath.

"I guess I should ask your name," he asked with a teasing grin.

Kai's POV

After seven years of searching for her, I had finally found my mate. Just looking at her, I could tell that there was nothing more in the world that I wanted than to make this woman my Luna, and bring her back to Silver Mountain, to mate and mark her. In fact, I had to talk Orion down from convincing me to do that very thing right there and then. I was perfectly content to let her take the lead, and when she kissed me, I'd gladly return it.

However, I had no idea what her name even was. Though just by looking at her, I could tell that she was ranked. It didn't matter to me that she was, but everything from how she carried herself, to her muscular frame that showed countless hours of training, and the aura she gave off, showed that she came from some sort of ranked lineage. I would've taken her as my mate no matter her background, though. The Moon Goddess had blessed me with this strong, beautiful woman, who clearly had no problems taking control of a situation.

After I asked her for her name, she blushed a little bit, and I gently tipped her chin up to let her know that she shouldn't feel embarrassed for how she behaved. In fact, I found it extremely sexy.

"I'm Freya," she said after a moment, "Freya Wilder."

"You're Alpha Darius' twin sister, then, right?" I asked her, and she nodded. I smiled at her. "Your brother and father both speak very highly of you at the Alpha meetings. I'm glad to finally put a name with the description. And even happier to be mated to such a strong warrior. The Moon Goddess has truly blessed me."

She grinned at me, her eyes full of pride. "Thank you, Alpha," she said, "And I suppose, it's only fair that I ask your name, as well."

"I'm Alpha Kai Griffin, of the Silver Mountain Pack," I said, gently brushing a loose strand of her hair aside. "Though it's just Kai for you."

Though I could tell that she was trying to keep her composure, I could tell that she was surprised. Silver Mountain's reputation, as well as my own, was well known through the packs in New Hampshire, as well as the Northeastern region. "Oh. Oh. Wow," she said, stepping back for a second, "I've heard a lot about you, Kai. Darius speaks very highly of you. You are one of the Alphas that he looks up the most to." She chuckled. "My family is going to flip out. Silver Mountain has always been one of our strongest allies."

I chuckled lightly, taking her in my arms again. She relaxed in them with ease, and I knew, right then, I never wanted to let her go. "And what about you?" I asked, "You're the one that's mated to me. How do you feel about this? I know that the mate bond has a mind of its own."

Freya rested her head on my chest, and I resisted the urge to play with her hair. She had done it so nicely, and I didn't want to mess with it. Also, though she was my mate, I knew that touching a black woman's hair without her permission was just something that you didn't do, mate or not. Instead, I settled for rubbing her back, which she seemed to enjoy. Just touching her skin sent tingles throughout my entire body.

"I didn't expect to meet my mate tonight," she said, after a time. "Diana, my wolf, told me that she had a good feeling about tonight, but I'd been looking for my mate for five years, I honestly just didn't have high expectations anymore. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely happy that I did, but I definitely wasn't expecting it."

"I know how you feel," I said, "I've been looking for my mate for seven years. I was starting to think that I'd never find them, either."

Freya sighed, looking up and locking eyes with me. "Please don't tell me that you're expecting some pristine virgin that saved themselves for their mate. Not there's anything wrong with that, but that's not me."

I couldn't help but laugh at that, and I kissed her forehead. "That would be extremely hypocritical of me, considering that I did the opposite of that. I respect anyone who takes that route, but I definitely didn't, and it's not fair of me to assume that my mate should save themselves while I go around having s*x. Werewolves are very s****l creatures. I know there's only so much holding out that we can do."

She sighed, chuckling a bit. "Thank Goddess for that," she said, grinning at me. "I'm so glad that you're not some caveman Alpha, stuck in the old ways that she-wolves need to keep themselves pristine and virginal until they meet their mates."

I laughed out loud. "So then, my beautiful mate, shall we find your family and tell them you found your mate?"

Freya shook her head at me. "I would love to, but tonight is my brother's night. I don't want to take away from Darius and Mei with our news. I know there's an Alpha meeting tomorrow afternoon, so why don't we tell them in the morning, at breakfast?"

I looked down at her, my hand brushing against her cheek. "That sounds perfect. Tomorrow morning it is."