Silver Moon Luna

Chapter 3 - Scent Unmasked

With Alexander and Beta Lucas out of sight, I took the last bite of the cinnamon roll and gave Marie a quick hug as I snuck out the back kitchen door. Marie winked at me as she knew I enjoyed going for runs and she would often be the only one to know of my escapes. She mouthed 'be careful' to me as I closed the door behind me. I am sure I didn't have much time before someone was on my tail.

"Alina Marie, I suggest you return to the yard at once." I could hear Beta Lucas holler. He sounded just like my father right now.

"Alina, my darling daughter. Company is here and it is vital we are on our best behavior. Let's not give Beta Lucas trouble today." My dad spoke through our pack mind link.

"Alright, Alright. I didn't go far, just to the edge. I will return." I linked back to my dad. At least for now, that is what I was thinking. As the next Alpha male of his pack, I am sure that Alexander loved runs too. Maybe later I could convince him and, since he doesn't know the woods like me, I could sneak away for just a few minutes. But why would I want to not be around him. Except for when I do find my mate, it may be the only male my parents let me be around to adventure in the woods and city.

I ran back to the house and entered through the side door. "Beta Lucas, you were hollering for me and I am here. I was using the restroom." I nervously said as I clasped my hands together, acting like the perfect child.

"I know better than that, but I will let it slide for now." Beta Lucas told me.

For the remainder of the day, I never ran into Alexander again. He was not at dinner with the rest of the pack. Maybe he was just tired from the drive here. My parents like to fly when we have to travel long distances, so I am not sure how I would feel after driving for 12 hours.

The moon was shining into my room as I lay in the bed. I was mentally exhausted from following Beta Lucas around on his errands. He does a lot of paperwork, standing and talking to others. None of which were interesting today. I would have rather been a fly on the wall when my dad talked to Alexander.

As I was drifting off to sleep, the aroma of cedar and cinnamon came to me again. For only a few seconds before it was gone again. Soon I shall find out where and why that smell is coming to me, I thought as I fell off to sleep.

The sun awoke me the next day. Why am I dripping and the covers all wet too? I sat up feeling weirdly refreshed. I don't remember having any dreams last night. I looked around. Nothing was out of place. I got up and checked the window lock, and it was locked. Nothing would get in my room. I decided to let it go as a possible nightmare that I can't remember.

Nothing was out of place today for breakfast or lunch. Alexander joined us but didn't talk to me, so I decided he must be helping dad. I haven't smelt the odor since last night. I had just finished my last online class when there was a knock in my office. You see, dad had them turn the 3rd bedroom on our floor into my study room. He didn't want me mingling in with the humans at the local college. So, we agreed to go online as I wanted to earn a degree. I only have 1 semester left to get my Master of Arts degree. For some of the classes, he convinced the teachers to come out to the house, but now the remainder is all online. I will be glad to be graduated soon. I graduated High School at 14 thanks to all the tutor's dad hired. But that is part of being the only child that is set to take over the pack. He wanted to make sure I was setup properly.

Sitting in the kitchen enjoying a hot cup of tea as the cool wind blew in through the open windows is when it found me again. I breathed in and felt tingles go all over my body. I looked around the room, but it was empty as the pups were not home from school yet. Marie was off to the store to pick up her needed items for the arrival of the Gold Leaf Pack tomorrow. Why was this aroma beginning to make me feel things? I kept taking long deep breaths as I enjoyed the scent. It called to me, like it was wanting me to follow it. I stood up and opened the back door. Our training grounds were on the hill on the right side of the house. I started walking that way, excited to see who my mate was. I knew this scent belonged to my mate. Did someone have a visitor at training today? I began to run and when I stopped at the top of the hill I began searching. The scent disappeared so fast when I reached this point. Training was coming to an end today and the warriors were all putting their shirts back on.

There stood Alexander. He was shirtless, his muscles very well defined and an 8-pack calling for me to touch it. He had just finished putting what appeared to be a necklace back on. The silver against his tan made the silver sparkle more. His body covered in sweat from training with our warriors had me wanting to trail the sweat beads and follow them lower. As my eyes went down, his glorious V shape that toned males get was screaming to me to touch him. I didn't allow myself to look lower. As my eyes came back up, his eyes were locked onto mine.

Why was my body calling him, this Alpha male when he wasn't my mate? And how did this scent trail lead me here? But then stop. No one I saw left when I first arrived. They had just finished. I began looking around for someone new. The only one new was Alexander, who locked my eyes again. Something about him was different this time. His eyes! His eyes are dark! Like looking at the ocean at sunset with all the deep arrays of blue. My birthday is in two days. What could possibly be changing in me to make me want a male that is not my mate.

Alexander walked by me with a group of our younger warriors. I watched him as he walked towards me and then away. His eyes never faded from staring right at me. I wish I knew what was going on. I am acting like a maniac chasing this scent.

The remainder of the day was uneventful. By morning I was awake in a sweat again. Why was I doing this? This time I remember it was an erotic dream. An erotic dream of Alexander! Why, oh why must I be dreaming of a non-mate. I normally didn't act this way until my heat. Something was not right, and I needed to find out why. And how to fix this? Tomorrow is my birthday!

"Alina, I saved you a cinnamon roll for breakfast." Alexander slid a plate my way as I sat down at breakfast. Due to me sweating in a pool, I was late arriving.

"Thank you. I do love Marie's cinnamon rolls so much." I couldn't help but smile as he stood looking at me.

"Sweet Luna. Those two remind me of when we first met. Now, we are about to have a full adult daughter. Can you believe it?" My dad leaned toward my mom and she began to blush.

"They are cute together, for sure. Just like when they were little." My mom said and now my cheeks were bright red. I looked over to Alexander and he had a smirk on his face. He has to be hiding something and I will find out.

"Alexander, I challenge you to a match today on the training field." I tried to hide my blushing and bring out my confident self.

"What a great idea. She could use the spar with someone new. She beats all the guys and girls up around here." Beta Lucas chimed in as he got up from the table.

"See you there at noon, Alina'." Alexander said as he slowly turned away. He looked uncomfortable in his seat at that moment, but was not going to back down from a challenge.

"I suggest you don't wear your necklace, I might use it against you." Being smart and sarcastic as I stated this.

Alexander's eyes went large and wide and pitch black. This confirmed he was hiding a secret from me. I wasn't close to him but he was a visitor in our pack. He slowly got up and headed out of the kitchen. I could hear whispers from others in the room.

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It was now 11:30am. I was to meet him on the training field in 30 minutes. I put on my clothes that left little room for easy grabbing. My black sports bra and bike shorts. Black sneakers to top it off. I placed my hair in a tight french braid and tucked the end into the braid so that he couldn't grab it. I went off to the training field.