Mated, But Not Marked

Chapter Two: Chicago

Chapter Two: Chicago

Landing in a neutral territory is always an exciting feeling. Being immersed in a new place allows you to escape your regular routine and I was ready for a change of pace.

When I wasn’t busy with pack duties, I was also pushing for success in the supernatural & human world as well. Evan had a large family business, while I pursued my talents in the holistic arts and tracking. People from my former pack tended to have special talents, and one of mine was my connection to energy and animals. Being that wolves are natural predators, it was a very unexpected talent to have. I could connect with almost any animal in the area I was in and use their eyes and ears. Other packs and even humans would sometimes hire me to help them find loved ones, missing people etc. It was very fulfilling work, but it was sometimes emotionally draining. Between pack life and regular life, I felt eager to get away, even if it was technically a business trip.

I walked swiftly through the airport and to my ride with the other pack members. My best friend and future Beta, Clara, was eagerly waiting for me to get in the car.

“Can you believe it?! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to see all the different packs. I wonder if my mate is here. Can you imagine? Ugh Myla! Pay attention!”

I gave her an apologetic grin as I stifled a yawn.

“Myla, you have been overworking yourself lately. When are you going to learn that it’s okay to let go once in a while? After the conference is over, we need some girl time. Let’s go out and explore, or better yet, DANCING!”

I rolled my eyes and smirked. She could change the subject in half a second. Clara and I were similar in so many ways, but she was able to let loose and I never seemed to have that ability.

“I’m not sure Clara. The conference will take up most of our time here and we need to make a good impression, but I promise that we will do something fun before we go”.

“Well, if I don’t find my mate, maybe I’ll find a wolf from another pack at the club to have a little fun with before I go. Either way, I’m getting laid on this trip!” Clara raised her eyebrows suggestively and laughed with conviction.

Unlike myself, Clara was still motivated to find her fated mate. Part of me almost envied her optimism about meeting her mate. I guess I was too jaded at that point to even consider it anymore. Even though she wanted to find her mate more than anything, she also wasn’t afraid to have a little fun with other wolves while she waited. In our world, casual s*x is very commonplace because sexuality is in our very nature. There will probably be a lot of hookups for many unmated wolves on this trip.

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The rest of the car ride passed in a blur. I soaked in the city streets and changes of scenery until we arrived at our hotel.

Immediately, we were surrounded by pack members from territories all over the place. I knew this meant I needed to go into my professional mode, and prepare myself for the “show”. I introduced myself and my pack members, making small talk here and there. I tried to ignore the awkward stares I would get from others…I wanted to look confident, but I couldn’t help wondering why they were looking.

“Myla, chill. I can feel your aura changing already and it’s stressing me out because of how intimidating it is. Why does it look magenta-ish? How are you even doing that? You’re not even a Luna yet.” – Clara mind linked questioningly

“Sorry, I just don’t know why they’re staring. I can’t decide if it’s making me uncomfortable or pissing me off” – I linked back and ignored her comment about my aura.

“They are probably just checking you out. They haven’t seen you before and are just trying to figure out who you are. You aren’t marked yet, but you’ve got a Luna aura thing going on and on top of it, you’re looking beautiful girl!”

I chuckled at the last part and shook my head in denial.

“It’s true. And hey, looking this good, maybe you’ll even find your mate here!” – Clara linked with hope in her thoughts.

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes.

“Clara, I have a commitment to Evan, and responsibility to the pack. Having a mate doesn’t seem to be in the Moon Goddesses plans for me.” – I linked back.

She huffed and cut our link off. She left to continue to circulate with the others and flirt with some of the unmated wolves.

As I stood there talking to the future Luna of one of our neighboring packs, I was completely caught off guard by a faint scent of balsam and bermagot. I froze. I couldn’t help taking a deeper inhale only to discover that the scent filled me with a weird anticipation in my body.

Am I nervous? I immediately started scanning the room to track the cause of the incredible smell. Maybe it was cologne? Most wolves have their own defined scent so wearing cologne was rare, but maybe a human worker? I felt my wolf start to pace in my head.

“Myla, are you alright?” Natalia, Luna of the Red Eclipse pack interrupted my mental tangent.

“Sorry Natalia! I just got lost in my thoughts. You were saying?” I refocused my attention to Natalia, knowing how important it was for me to make as many pack connections as possible.

The rest of the meet & greet came and went. I checked into my room that I was to share with Clara. I insisted that I not be guarded outside of our doors. Even after agreeing to be Evan’s future Luna, I still felt uncomfortable having other people put their own safety on the line for me, and I was certain I could protect myself. Until I was officially Luna, they were not required by pack laws to protect me full time.

I curled into the covers of my bed, lost in my thoughts. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep curious as to what the day ahead would look like.