Alpha of the Ranch

The Mate

Oliver unbuttoned the top of his shirt as he leaned his head back on his seat. He was very thankful Lucas was driving because he was certain there was no way he could manage it right now. What was that?

“Our mate.” he heard rumble through his mind.

Oliver sucked in a breath. Mate. The word caught him off guard and excited him all at once. This was insane. This was so insane and he didn’t even know how to wrap his mind around it. Beside him, he heard Lucas clear his throat.

“So…” he trailed off, clearly unsure of what to say. “You seemed a little quiet back there.”

When Oliver didn’t respond, Lucas quickly looked over to take in his long-time friend. Oliver’s cheeks were still a little pink and he was taking in deep slow breaths with his eyes closed. Lucas couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the powerful man so out of sorts and unsure. It was honestly amusing. He couldn’t wait to get back to tell his mate, Sonya, all about it. She’d probably be upset Lucas didn’t catch Oliver’s floundering on video.

“I just…can’t believe it.” Oliver finally whispered, more to himself than to Lucas.

When he’d originally had to take the phone call to Borealis Ranch, he was annoyed. It shouldn’t have taken that much to convince them to fill the order. He was even willing to pay half of the money upfront and was ready to say so, especially with the hesitating pause, but when she spoke again, his wolf went crazy in his head. He felt so incompetent over the phone and when she went to rush off and hang up, he almost lost it. He knew he had to see the person that voice was attached to. If he was honest, he’d looked forward to it all the day prior. He was clearly unfocused yesterday and his mind had wandered at an inopportune time once or twice, but he couldn’t help it. Oliver couldn’t stop thinking about that voice. Even late at night, when he lay in his bed physically exhausted from the day, all he heard was the sweet, lyrical way she had said “Mr. Hemming.” It was all he could hear and he finally fell into a fitful sleep with it echoing around his head.

Lucas continued to drive them back. “Well? What are you going to do about it?”

Oliver opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow at his friend and right-hand man. “What am I going to do about what?”

Lucas rolled his eyes, but a smile had stretched across his lips. “About your mate? Our future Luna? You’ve only been waiting for her for literally years. Plus, you know the pack would be ecstatic about it. Especially your mother.”

Oliver groaned and closed his eyes again, this time in much less excitement. Lucas was right. If Oliver was this excited, his mother was going to be absolutely overjoyed. She had possibly been waiting as impatiently for him to find his mate as he had. And she’d know as soon as he saw her. She always knew.

Oliver scrunched up his face. “Yes, she will be excited. But she’s going to have to be patient too. Victoria…Vicky…” He took a breath, savoring her name on his tongue. It felt right. “Vicky is human. Things will have to go slow. Really slow…” He trailed off.

In all of his daydreaming about finding his mate, he had to admit this wasn’t in the plans. He imagined finding her while visiting another pack, or during the Winter Solstice celebration, or hell, even as a new pack member or on a run. He never thought she’d be a human, living in the local town and running a farm. He was honestly at a loss as to what to do. Did he even know anyone with a human mate? He knew it happened of course, but he hadn’t seen it first hand and didn’t know how they did it. Even during that meeting where he looked like a complete, mute, i***t, he had a hard time controlling himself. His wolf was going crazy in his head. And when they touched, he thought it was going to die. The sparks that exploded across his skin were just like he’d heard about and so powerful they almost put him on his knees. And her scent! Oliver never knew how much he loved the smell of the air right before a storm. Or that there was anyway a person could actually smell like petrochor. It was so enticing.

Oliver was brought back to reality when the thick trees started to spread out a little more and they got closer to the pack house. He turned to Lucas. “Just keep it quiet until I can get a better handle on things, okay? We don’t need word running wild just yet.”

Lucas gave a quick nod as the car pulled into its parking spot. The two men climbed out and began making their way to the door. As soon as it opened, a fiery ball of energy ambushed them, colliding with Oliver full force and knocking him to the ground.

“Where is she? Did you bring her home? What does she like to eat? Sweets? Oh my god, we’ll need to go shopping!!”

Oliver shoved the rambling attacker off with a grunt and cast his eyes at Lucas who had the witherill to look ashamed. It was his fault this was happening and he should have known better. “Really? Part of your job is to *not* share information with pack members to ensure our safety. You didn’t even last a whole day.” Oliver rolled his eyes.

Sonya popped up from the ground, pushing her strawberry blond hair back into place. “Really? You expected him to keep a secret from his mate?” She rolled her blue-grey eyes in exasperation. “Ollie, don’t be so foolish. Of course he was going to tell me the news. I mean, it’s wonderful news.” She began to bounce on her tip-toes with excitement, a grin stretched wide on her face. Lucas moved over to stand next to her, pulling his mate to his side and bringing her energy level down some. She placed a hand on his chest, turning to peck his cheek before looking back at Oliver, the excitement still making her wiggle, but at least she wasn’t pouncing on him. Oliver had to admit they were good together. He wouldn’t have picked his best friend as the mate for his sister, but it was a really good fit. More proof that the Moon Goddess didn’t make mistakes.

Oliver brushed that aside to scowl at his sister, before beginning to make his way further into the house. “Don’t call me Ollie, I’m not a little kid anymore.” he grunted.

Sonya and Lucas followed without prompting. “Sure you aren’t, but you’re still my big brother Ollie. Just like I’m Sonny.” Oliver could feel her grinning at his back and rolled his eyes. He grabbed a plate and piled it with some of the food still out from lunch, before settling into his seat. Lucas did the same, but Sonya said she’d eaten already. The dining room was empty by now, with only a few of the pups and young teens coming in to snag a dessert or two.

Oliver chewed slowly with his eyes cast down on his plate. He could feel Sonya watching him, waiting for him to answer her earlier barrage of questions. He finally swallowed. “She isn’t here, clearly. And I have no idea what she likes.” He sighed deeply.

Sonya was clearly about to ask more questions, but Lucas placed his hand over her thigh and gently squeezed it. She shut her lips and looked confusedly between the two men. She was clearly missing something, but she didn’t understand what. Besides, why Oliver’s mate wasn’t here.

Oliver placed his silverware down and threw his head back for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. “She’s a human Sonny and I have no idea how to tell her I’m not.