Mated, But Not Marked

Chapter Three: Mate

“Okay, so here’s the good news. A lot of the members here are in the same boat as you and I. Future Lunas, Betas, Alphas, etc etc. This is a great opportunity for us to make some future allies! Some of the Alphas of the bigger territories will be also here to introduce themselves and explain to us our responsibilities and duties to our packs and to the supernatural world. It’s like training all over again!” – Clara explained excitedly.

I had met some of the Alphas and Lunas in the past when they visited Sea Moon and even worked for some of them with my tracking skills. I always found it fascinating learning how the different packs operated.

We took our seats in one of the conference rooms. They divided us into multiple meeting blocks that would rotate every hour in order to give everyone the opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level and meet as many new pack members as possible.

I fidgeted nervously, but did my best to look confident on the outside. Myla, you are a female warrior. You are a badass and one of the stronger, if not the strongest, warriors we’ve got. You are the future Luna to our pack. Keep it together. – my wolf Arayla reminded me.

I smiled internally at my wolf. I envisioned her proudly puffing out her chest and strutting around in my head. My wolf was magnificent. She had a beautiful, creamy coat with dark eyes that mixed with magenta in her irises. Her aura screamed grace, power and beauty. I wanted to be just like her.

You are me, Myla. We are one in the same. Do not doubt us. We are stronger and more powerful than you know. I smiled.

Wait, what is that scent? My wolf seemed to start pacing in my head and slowly started wagging her tail like a happy puppy. Now, she was practically prancing. What was happening to my wolf?

I took a deep inhale to see what Arayla was talking about and suddenly, I was completely dumbstruck by that incredible smell again. It was intoxicating. And this time, I was able to trace it to the person it belonged to. I held my breath for a moment as the owner of the scent came into view.

Alpha Kaden DeSantos, leader of the Black Obsidian pack, entered in the conference room along with his Beta and I could swear my heart almost stopped. My body started tingling all over, acknowledging his presence. He held a powerful aura, one of the strongest I’ve felt or seen, but his demeanor came off approachable and kind.

Alpha Kaden looked as though he was shaped perfectly by the Moon Goddess herself. His muscles could be seen through the outline of his shirt and pants. His black midnight hair complimented his lightly tanned olive skin and he had a slight 5’o clock shadow that highlighted his facial features in the best way. His dark brown eyes reflected the charming smile on his face. I noticed the moment my scent registered to him because his eyes suddenly went out of focus and frantically began searching the room. Our eyes captured each other and his immediately switched to the darkest shade of black as his eyes landed on me. I started squirming in my seat, desire filling my entire body.

“Mate”, I whispered to myself. His eyes immediately zeroed in on me and locked with mine. He silently mouthed the word back, his eyes darkening even moreso with lust.

I couldn’t believe it. I had met Alpha Kaden in the past and had always admired him and found him incredibly attractive, but he lived multiple territories away and at the times I’ve seen him, I would’ve been too young for my wolf to feel the pull. Plus, he was at least ten years older than me so I wouldn’t have considered him even a potential fated mate for me. All this time, I had no idea that I already met my mate. The Moon Goddess gave me a fated mate. A blessing. Logic flew out the window as I started to move out of my seat and towards him.

Our gazes remained locked as I caught some movement from the corner of my eye.

Kaden’s eyes only saw me in that moment, but just as quickly, he turned his attention to the beautiful woman approaching him and his eyes switched back immediately to their normal shade.

A heart shattering realization registered in my head.

It couldn’t be. I had heard through the grapevine that he had a Luna, but it seemed impossible given this moment.

His Luna, and chosen mate, Leah, walked in carrying a young child.

Her son. His child.

My mate was mated to someone else.