Sacred Bond: A Human Mate for Beta

Chapter Six

JOE

The next morning, I go down to the main food hall. Breakfast is underway. I see Andrew and Luna Brittany at our table at the head of the hall. I walk over to them. “Good morning.” I grin at them. “Good morning to YOU!” Brittany smirks. “So how are you going to ‘meet’her?” She asks, putting butter on a biscuit.

“I heard her say she was going to go to Goseman Trail. The views of that trail are right inside pack lands.” Andrew nods in agreement. “Getting her to the pack house will be another story, but hopefully you’re up for the task?” He lifts his eyebrow at me. “I am. I can’t believe she was human after all this time.” Saying it out loud makes me yearn for her. Her scent, her touch, her lips. I clear my throat. “Ehrrm, I think I’ll get there in wolf form, since it’s faster, and change to wait for her.” I say, composing myself. “Bring—snacks.” Brittany laughs, teasingly. “My man, I don’t wish this discretion of trying to hide the mate bond on anyone! Let alone one that has been suppressed for nine years. I’m relieved Britt and I found each other right at 16. Just don’t scare her off and make more work for yourself.” Andrew chuckles. It’s been known that it can be hard to get a human mate to accept the bond. It affects them just as powerfully, but their humanity and societal constraints prevent them from accepting or acting on the overwhelming urges to mate. It takes longer, and one usually has to be courted for a period of time before they accept the idea of being “marked”.

On my way back to the my apartment, people congratulate me. This isn’t something that is typical, but being that I am the Beta and I have gone so long without finding my mate, it is now public knowledge.

I shower and grab a towel to dry off in the hot steam. Stepping out, I rub the towel vigorously on my medium length hair to dry it, finishing by wrapping it around my waste. I lean both hands on the bathroom counter and look in the mirror. My bright gray eyes are looking back. “You can do this, don’t be nervous.” I tell my reflection. I feel my heart rate quicken in excitement. I want her, I just hope she wants me.

Typical werewolves can leave their packs on their own, while still being a part of them. They still report to their Alpha and fight when needed. I am not a typical wolf though, and Betas can’t leave their responsibilities to their Alpha. I don’t want to leave the pack. Especially since I know that Andrew and Brittany are hopefully going to have pups soon. I will do what I must though, if my mate needs.

I get dressed and grab a light weight bag that will be easy to carry as a wolf. I head down to the back deck to enter the woods. On my way, I pass Jess sitting in the atrium with her friends from the support group. She gives me a sad smile. The ladies around her all turn and nod at me in acknowledgement. Just yesterday, I would’ve walked up and kissed Jess to snickers and greeting. Today, they al know that I found my my mate. Not only that, that I chose her without a hesitation. It’s a bit of an awkward situation. Jess will hopefully recover.

I jog down the hill taking my clothes off and shoving them in the bag. There’s snow cover, but not much on this sunny side. shift and begin making my way through the trees towards the scenic point on Goseman Trail. I imagine that she won’t be there until mid morning the earliest based on how drunk her friends seemed last night. After a good trek, I approach the edge of the trail, giving a good whiff to see if her scent is here before shifting into my naked human form. Quickly getting dressed, I found a tree with a sturdy and cleared out base to set up to wait.

I think of a game plan. I’ll approach her in a friendly way and strike up a conversation. Yea, then I’ll invite her and her friends to the pack house under a guise it’s a lodge. There’s rooms with views the humans wouldn’t feel awkward in and away from the resident werewolves. Maybe I could offer to take her skiing at the actual lodge? I was lost in my thoughts when I heard labored breathing. I sniffed the air and was hit by her scent. I stood as the breeze picked up around me, blowing the light layer of snow up. I made my way to the path when I heard her footsteps stop. On the path ahead of me, my petite, beanie clad mate was standing stark still looking at me. I didn’t move so I wouldn’t startle her. Wisps of her blonde hair were peeking out from under her beanie. She abruptly dropped her walking sticks and made a move like she was going to walk right up to me.

“Great view from here.” I said gesturing towards the view of mountain crests and snow cover pines. The sun was making the snow sparkle down the hill. She bent to pick up her walking sticks. “Yea. It’s as good as I hoped.” She heaved out. She was out of breath still.

“You’re not from around here I’m guessing?” I asked and smiled at her. She turned her whole body towards me.

“No.” She paused. “My friends are right down the hill. We are visiting from all over.” She nodded towards the path she just came up.

I sniffed the air and no other scent came to mine but hers. “I’m Joe.” Your fated soulmate. I promise I’ll love all of you until the end of me. Yea, don’t come on too strong or anything, Joe. Christ. I thought.

Instead, I continued, “I’m a local here.” I offered her my hand that was not in a glove. She hesitated but took her glove off and connected around my palm with hers. Instant warmth was shooting up my arm like gentle sparks. Her face flushed more and she looked at me. “Everly.” She breathed out.

Her thumb gently rubbed the knuckle on mine. “Have we met? You seem so—familiar.” She didn’t let go of my hand. I stood still not mentioning it. Her warmth was intoxicating mixed with her scent.

“No, I would have remembered a face this gorgeous.” I said never moving my eyes from her. I could feel her emotions slightly at our touch. She was excited and nervous. A little confused too. I smiled at her silence as she took it in and released my hand from hers. We had stepped closer to each other. We were face to face for the first time. Our heaving chests created steamy mist with our breaths against the cold. I looked into her light brown eyes that reminded me of cinnamon sticks. Not wanting her to leave I asked, “Are you continuing on?” She shook her head and finally looked down. “Nah, I was going to turn around at this point. After a few pics of course.” She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out her phone. I watched as she took a few photos, looking out into the view I sometimes took for granted being in my backyard. “I’m headed down. Not to make it awkward but I can walk with you or slightly in front of you since we are going the same way.” I said. She laughed, “Might as we’ll be next to me.” My heart beat quickened. If she only knew how long I’d been waiting to be next to her.

We started down the mountain. I was planning on just walking on past the parking lot and catching the trail to shift after she left. Not before asking her on a date. We made small talk when she could catch her breath. I learned she is from Florida but is here on a girls trip. I happily chatted back or stayed quiet listening, all the while breathing in her amazing scent. It was citrusy like fresh oranges and warm with cinnamon. Like warm cider.

After a little ways she asked me, “If you were going to kill me and chop me up, you would’ve done it by now, right?”

I froze on the spot. This is a dangerous situation, from her point of view.

“I absolutely hope I am not putting out “serial killer vibes”, I said, chuckling uncomfortably.

“Actually, no. I feel oddly comfortable. Plus, I think I could take you.” She joked, holding up her poles like nun-chucks.

I laughed at her joke. She made it because she is trying to gauge if she could trust me.

We were approaching the parking lot.

“I thought your friends were on the path.” I asked.

“Oh yeah, they probably just turned around. They aren’t very outdoorsy.” She shrugged off her little lie for protection.

It’s now or never, Joe I thought to myself.

“I’m going to throw something out there—-would you like to meet up for a drink tonight? There’s a lodge thag—“ I was asking her out when she cut me off.

“Yes! I mean, yea, that would be nice.” She stammered out.

“Ok, so I’ll give you my number. You can be the one in control of the info if you decide to change your mind.” I tell her my number as she puts it in her cell.

“Meet me at Crescent Ridge Lodge at 6pm. Tell them you’re meeting Joe at the gate and they will let you in.”

“Oh, um, ok. Well, it was nice meeting you.” Everly extended her hand to me as an Uber pulled into the parking lot.

“It was incredible meeting you, Everly.” I shook her hand and at the last minute rubbed her thumb with mine like she did to me earlier.

I could hear her heartbeat pick up and I felt a new feeling. Arousal mixed with intrigue. It was hers. I turned to the path back into the trees, yearning for more of her touch.

I break away from the path and head to the heavier treeline to strip and shift once I don’t smell her scent.

I turned and began my run back to the pack house. I mindlinked Andrew on my way. “Hey Boss, I am going to need a couple of days. This is a wild ride.” His voice in my head was quick to respond. “Take few days. I understand this is a delicate matter. I’ll have Dawson run trainings and assign patrols for now.”

Great, a few less things on my plate. Now what the hell am I going to say tonight?