The Torn She-wolf

Vanilla

Shane POV

I got comfortable on the private plane that the Alpha King lent us to take me home. I haven't been back to the pack house since I was 16 and I think I'm feeling a little nervous about it. I know we have had some new pack members that might not know who I am and might not respect me right away. My father, in the past, had some new members challenge him for Alpha because they didn't believe that he had a son for a successor in another country. It was going to be a couple hours before we would land and my mother wouldn't stop blowing up my phone about unmated she-wolves at dinner tonight. I asked her not to but she never listens. I didn't even want to go to dinner tonight. I just wanted to lay down and take a nap. I knew the time difference was going to mess with me. I put my phone on airplane mode and laid my head back hoping to get some sleep.

I got off the plane to see my mom standing by a black SUV talking on the phone. The driver was standing next to the open truck ready to take my bags and Beta Dereck was standing next to mom. I stepped down the stairs with my carry-on bag in my hand. I walked over to the SUV and the driver took my bag. He turned to load the rest of my bags into the trunk. "Yeah, he's here. I have to go," she said into the phone, then hung up.

"My baby," she said, wrapping her arms around me.

"Hi mom." After a couple minutes she finally let go so I could greet Dereck.

"Hey man." He held out his hand and I shook it. He took me in to a guy hug. "You are not a boy anymore," Dereck said, pushing me back to look at me. "Your a full on man now. Ready to lead the pack to greatness!"

"Thats what I've been training for."

"OK, time to go. My baby has other plans." My mother said, prompting me towards the SUV. I folded in and slid over for my mom and Dereck sat in the passenger seat. The whole way to the pack house my mom went on about matching me to an unmarked she-wolf. All I could do was roll my eyes. We pulled up to the pack house and it was crowded with cars. Great mom, Im not in the mood for it. I got out and looked around. All I could see were she-wolves wispering, pointing, and giggling at me. I gave them fake smiles and turned to my mom standing behind me. "Mom...What did you do?"

"I invited all the unmarked she-wolves in the pack and surrounding packs that are high born."

"What? Mom, why would you do that?" I freaked a little. "I'm tired. I just want to go lay down."

"And you can, honey. These girls are staying here on pack grounds till you pick a suitable mate/Luna."

I slapped my forehead with my palm, "Ugh."

I walked in to the pack house and greeted a couple of people, then my mom and I headed upstairs. "Where's dad?" I asked.

"In his office." I reached the top of the stairs and turned right, towards the offices. I got to the Alpha office and knocked.

"Come in." I heard my dad on the other side of the door. I turned the handle and walked in. My dad instantly stood up. "Son" he said with open arms as he walked around his desk. I accepted his hug. "Dad, how's it going dad?" I asked as I separated from the hug.

"Good, did you see all the lovely ladys your mom brought here for you?"

"Yeah, couldn't miss them." I sat down in a chair across from his desk. My dad sat down in his office chair.

"Well, what do you think?"

"About what?"

"Your mom arranged a mate for you?"

"I'm thrilled," I said sarcastically with an eye roll.

"Hey," mom said from behind me, making her way around to stand behind my father. "You need a mate and we have a lot of eligible she-wolves. And some of them are very pretty and trained."

"OK." I said, standing up. "Im going to go lay down." I turned on my heels and walked out, shutting the door behind me.

I got to my room and opened the door. As soon as I opened it I was hit with an intense smell of vanilla. It smelled so good it was making Dash, my wolf, go crazy in my head. Was it air freshener? Was this the smell of my mate? If so, why would a high born be in my room? Maybe she followed our smell. Dash pointed out in my head. How? We haven't been here in 7 years? I doubt my smell is anywhere in this house. I replied back. Well, maybe they're not high born. Dash said as he started to calm down in my head.

That's impossible, I thought to myself. The moon goddess wouldn't match me with someone low born. I've been training with Wolf Royalty. I need a strong Luna, not a weak-low-born wolf.

I walked over to my bed and laid down. I dont feel like going to dinner and meeting a bunch of desperate she-wolves. I took a deep breath and vanilla filled my nostrils. Its on my bed too? I turned my head to my pillow and inhaled deeply. Yep, vanilla all over my bed. This is going to drive me crazy. Dash wont settle in my head. I sighed and closed my eyes, slowly falling asleep.

I woke up to knocking on my door. I picked my phone up. I've only sleeping for 2 hours, I kinda wanted to sleep a little longer. They knocked again. "Yeah, I'm coming." I shouted, sitting up from my bed. I got up and walked over to the door. I pulled it open and saw a petite girl standing next to a large older man. I looked the girl up and down. She was small around but had some muscle on her so I was a little put off. I never have been one for tiny muscular women. She was tall, maybe 5'10" with blonde hair and blue eyes. The older man was very muscular and tall, like 6'3" with a high-born carry. I low-key sniffed the air, yes they are high born.

"Hello Shane, Im Mark, Beta of Moon Ridge pack just over the Canadian border." I reached my head out and he shook it. "This is my daughter Carey." I took her hand that she was holding out. "Hi." She said in a small voice tilting her head down and looking up at me.

"Hello, its very nice to meet both of you. You'll have to excuse my appearance, I was resting before dinner tonight." I let go of her hand.

"Its okay. We were just settling in to our guest rooms and thought we would say Hi." I stepped out of my room and closed the door behind me.

"Well, thank you." We chatted for a while. I'm pretty sure they were trying to be first in line to be my mate. So I decided to evaluate her. She was definitely pretty, I wouldn't mind waking up to her every morning. She was trying a little too hard and it was definitely obvious. Her father seemed to be a good man, kinda and respectful, just wanted to give his daughter everything she wants. Eventually, they said good-bye. She leaned in for a hug and I didn't want to be rude, so I hugged her back. They walked away and I opened my door.

I decided to start getting ready for dinner tonight. I showered and got dressed in a button-up dark grey shirt with black straight-legged jeans. I'm sure my mother will complain but she could just be grateful I'm going. I looked at myself in the body mirror. I was tall and well built, 6'5" in height and, since I've been training with Wolf Royalty, I'm very muscular. My hair is dark brown and my eyes are piercing blue. I sat down at my desk, waiting for time to pass with vanilla swarming around me.