Reclaiming Herself—Completed

Chapter Twelve

Patrick.

Dreading the entire endeavor for the past year, Patrick barely paid any attention to his appearance. However, it only took a split second for him to be grateful that he had cared and that he was looking his best. She was gorgeous. In fact, she was perfect. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her in her emerald dress and sexy slit that showed just enough leg to make his mouth salivate.

His brain wouldn’t shut off, though, and it ruined the moment for him. Once she broke eye contact with him, he started thinking. What was she doing here at the Alpha Summit Ball? She was a prisoner in Richard’s pack, wasn’t she? Her scent was all over that cell. It was then that the crowd moved just enough that he saw Richard’s hand snake around her waist.

Patrick felt Aero attempt to surface in order to rip his grimy hands off of her.

What f*****g right does he have to touch our mate?

Calm down. I’ll try to figure it out. Perhaps there’s been some misunderstanding.

Patrick moved toward the group and mind-linked Matthew as he walked to inform him that he had found his mate and that she was at the ball.

“Greetings Alpha Leo and Luna Mindy. And you as well, Alpha Richard, and pray tell, who is this?” Patrick said as he forced himself into the small circle.

The sweet scent of his mate overwhelmed his senses. He was lost in her scent and gave her a wide smile. She was the most enchanting creature he’d ever beheld.

Richard attempted to hide his contempt as he replied with a tight smile, “This is my luna, Danielle. She is my second chance mate, and the Moon Goddess brought us together by fate.”

Patrick frowned with confusion. “Second chance mate?”

“Well, yes. My wife passed away some years back, and I almost died from sorrow. However, this exquisite creature walked into my life, and I’ve praised the Moon Goddess ever since,” Richard stated with a smug expression.

His eyes met Danielle’s as she smiled at him and held out her hand. “Pleasure to meet you… I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch your name.”

Her voice was like birdsong. It was light yet confident; full-bodied yet melodious.

“Alpha Patrick of the White Eclipse Pack,” he answered, taking her hand in his.

Sparks immediately shot through his hand and up his arm. He felt whole for the first time in his entire life. He had met his other half, his soul mate.

Richard jerked her back, causing them to lose touch, and as Patrick watched her hand steady herself on Richard’s chest, he yearned for her in a way his body had never done.

“I think that’s enough of that,” Richard said harshly. “I’m rather protective of my mate.”

Patrick could only nod, though, his eyes were still on hers. She seemed to be pleading with him.

Clearing his throat, Richard excused himself and his luna and headed for the buffet line.

“When will you meet your mate, you think, Alpha Patrick?” Leo asked.

Pulling his eyes off of her retreating figure, he turned towards Leo and replied, “Hopefully soon. I haven’t lost hope. In fact, I feel like it won’t be too much longer.”

“Oh ho ho, really now?” Leo chuckled. “So does that mean you won’t be taking a chosen mate anytime soon? My daughter would look good on your arm, and it wouldn’t hurt to shore up our alliance.”

“That is the second time you’ve offered such a deal, Leo. But, I’m afraid, though your daughter would make any good man happy, I must decline. Also, didn’t she only just turn 21?”

Leo nodded with a big smile.

“She may be a little too young for me,” Patrick laughed politely. “I’m afraid I’m getting too old to keep up with the youngsters these days.”

Clapping Patrick on the back, Leo continued to laugh after taking a rather large swig from his glass. “Better you than some of the other old geezers. Alfred has been after her since she was 15. I’ve practically had to beat him off with a stick!”

“Isn’t he nearing 60?” Patrick asked, disgusted.

Leo nodded. “That’s why better you than him.”

“Perhaps she’ll find her mate soon,” Patrick said with a pained smile after mind-linking Matthew to get him out of the conversation.

Moments later, the beta appeared. “Alpha Leo,” he started. “I’m afraid I must take my alpha away to talk business elsewhere. I’ve got him on a tight schedule tonight!”

“Oh what a good and loyal beta,” Leo chuckled. “I’m sure my beta is already s**t-faced somewhere. Enjoy your night boys!”

Patrick gave him one last smile before turning and speedily making his way toward the buffet line. He was looking for Danielle.

“So!” Matthew said excitedly. “Tell me about her!”

“Apparently she’s Richard’s second chance mate.”

“WHAT?!” Matthew said a little too loudly, which drew the attention of several people nearby.

Patrick pulled Matthew away from the crowd and hugged the wall.

“That’s what he said,” he began. “But when we touched hands, we had the sparks. Also, I can’t explain it, but she looked like she was silently asking me for help!”

“What?”

“Yeah, man. He’s gotta be keeping her against her will or something. I mean, her scent was all over that cell. And she must’ve felt the sparks, too!”

Matthew pressed one hand to his forehead and the other rested on his hip. “Hold up a second. If she felt the sparks, did she say anything? Are you sure you really felt them?”

“I–I think so. I mean, I don’t know. Richard broke it up pretty quickly, which is weird, right?”

“If some guy who had just invaded your pack came up to your mate and lingered for too long, would you really stand there and let it happen?” Matthew asked with a skeptical look on his face.

“I suppose not.”

“But you’re sure you felt the sparks?”

“Yes.”

Matthew sighed. “Describe it to me.”

“Are you being serious right now?”

“Completely.”

“Fine. It felt, uh, like, um… There was an electric feeling, like accidently touching a live wire and getting shocked, but it didn’t hurt. It felt nice. Like, really nice. And it traveled up my arm.”

Matthew looked at Patrick and gave him the ‘yeah, you have a point’ face. “That sounds about right. Okay, so you felt the sparks. But, why is he claiming that she’s his second chance mate? That’s where you lost me. No way the Moon Goddess could do that girl dirty by pairing her with a mate who’s a complete asshole. I mean, you don’t think you’re both her mates, do you?”

Patrick just about punched his beta in the face. “There’s no way she is mated to that son of a b***h. He’s gotta be lying or something. I refuse to believe she actually mated to him. Perhaps he doesn't want to say that she’s his chosen mate in case she ever does find her mate? I don’t know. But, I do know that I’m not going to leave this party without her.”

“That’s certainly a fair assessment. Though, you can’t make a scene here. You’ll need to talk to her. Get her side of the story. Make sure she felt it too.”

Nodding, Patrick was already walking towards his mate, whom he had been keeping tabs on even while discussing things with his beta. All he had to do was follow his nose to her delicious scent. She smelled like a floral perfume.

“Distract Richard, please,” he mind-linked Matthew.

“Yessir.”

Patrick went over and picked up a plate and began loading it with an assortment of different dishes. He wasn’t particularly paying attention to what he was placing on his plate. He didn’t really care. It wasn’t until Matthew took Richard away from Danielle that Patrick made his move. He approached her, though she looked a bit sheepish.

“Hey,” he said quietly, losing all sense of cool.

She gave him a small smile. “Hey.”

“I’ve dreamt my entire life what I would say to my mate, and now, for the life of me, I can’t even muster up a one-liner, let alone something smooth enough to impress you.”

“Mate? She asked, seeming surprised and taking a step back.

Patrick panicked for a moment. “Yes, mate. You’re mine.”

He watched as Danielle’s eyes flashed with fear. She looked around and briefly spotted Richard with Matthew and began shaking her head.

“I–I’m sorry. I think you have the wrong person. Excuse me,” she said as she attempted to dash around him.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist, causing more sparks to shoot up his arm. He saw her eyes flutter shut and her heart rate shot up. Her heart had the same reaction as when they touched earlier.

“You feel it too,” he breathed.

“I–I can’t. You, you wouldn’t understand. I–”

“I don’t care. I just need you. Let me help. Let me take you out of here,” Patrick pleaded, not understanding her reaction.

Fear passed over her features. “You don’t get it,” she whispered. “He won’t let me go. I think you have the wrong person.”

Patrick shook his head as she freed herself from his grip and walked off.