Chapter Five
1328 Words
MAXWELL POV
“Remind me again why we’re going to this pack,” Daphne whines. “Haven’t you already drafted plenty of guards for war? I want to go home, where we can finally have our ceremony and mark each other. Don’t you want that?” She leans into my side, pouting.
I rub her arm reassuringly. “Of course I do. This is the last stop, and then we’ll be home. I plan on throwing you in our bed, marking you, and then f*****g you for hours.”
She shivers at the thought, and I can scent her anticipation. I’m ready to mark her. I’m 27 years old—the oldest Alpha King to not have a fated mate—and it’s time I take things into my own hands. Daphne is beautiful, smart, and would make any man a perfect Luna. And Silver Lake needs a Luna. Without one I can feel myself getting weaker, my wolf more desperate every day to find his mate.
Speaking of my wolf, Nox isn’t happy about this one bit. He insists on waiting for his mate, but I truly believe that I just don’t have one. I can’t wait forever, and I know that it’s time for me to let this go.
The car pulls to a stop and I look out at the Blue Stone pack. It’s nothing special, just an ordinary pack like everyone else’s we’ve visited the past month. Large pack house surrounded by a decent sized town. It does have amazing Mountain View’s though. I open the door and step out. As I’m helping Daphne from the car, the scent hits me. The most amazing scent in the world. My wolf howls happily, rejoicing, but as I turn to face the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, I freeze.
Our mate! Finally! Nox exclaims.
My mate… this isn’t how I imagined this would happen.
Claim her! He commands.
I want to. I notice her hand being held by another man and the anger coursing through me is like nothing else I’ve ever felt.
I feel Daphne looking at me and I realize that she’s introduced herself. I should do the same.
“Hi,” I mumble, clearing my throat awkwardly. “I’m Maxwell, Alpha King of the Silver Lake pack.”
Im looking at her. I can’t look anywhere but at her. She’s so beautiful. Hurt flashes across her face but it only lasts a second before it’s gone. She smiles.
“Hi, my name is Violet. I’m here for anything you need during your stay here. This is Zane, Beta of Blue Stone pack, and he’s going to lead you to Alpha Jordan’s office. I’ll meet you back in the foyer to show you to your rooms.”
And then she turns on her heel and leaves without hesitation.
“Why’d she leave?” Daphne asks, pouting. “I didn’t want to be the only girl at this meet-and-greet. Will the Luna be there?”
The Beta, Zane, laughs. “She has some… er, history with the Alpha, so she went to finish making arrangements for your stay. The Luna has not yet arrived back from her marking ceremony shopping trip.”
“Oh, that’s exciting,” Daphne coos, elbowing me gently. “Maybe we should do a little shopping, too.”
“Mhmm,” I hum in response, my mind on the Auburn haired girl. Violet. She knew that I was her mate—there’s no way she didn’t notice our connection. It wasn’t subtle. It took every ounce of energy I have in me not to grab her up and claim her as mine then and there. I know that my saying nothing hurt her, and she was probably confused as well seeing me with another woman being referred to as my Luna. This is going to be messy, and I need to handle this situation with tact. Daphne is wonderful, but I can’t turn away my mate for her.
Was she disappointed that I’m her mate? Had she wanted to stay with this Beta? Fury pulses through me at the idea.
“Are you ready King Maxwell?” The Beta, Zane, asks.
I just nod and follow him into the house, Daphne’s hand in mine. My heart aches. I just want to find Violet.
He pauses at a door at the end of a long hallway, knocking and then not waiting for an answer, entering the office.
“Alpha Jordan. Alpha King Maxwell and his mate, Daphne, have arrived.” I flinch at Daphne being referred to as my mate, but quickly recover.
Alpha Jordan stands and moves from his desk to greet us. “Alpha King Maxwell,” he says, holding out his hand. I shake it. “Luna Queen Daphne,” he greets her, to which she smiles and lets out a small laugh.
“Not Luna Queen yet, but it has a nice ring to it.”
He smiles at her. “Welcome to Blue Stone pack. I hope you’ll find your stay here to be a good one.” He pauses and looks hesitant for a moment, but continues. “Excuse me for cutting straight to it, but how many of my pack members are you planning on drafting?”
I admire his concern for his pack and the confidence he has to ask. I chuckle. “Luckily for Blue Stone yours is the last pack we’re recruiting from. We’ll start with volunteers—we still need approximately 50 warriors—if we don’t get enough volunteers, we’ll begin drafting.”
He looks relieved. “That’s great. I’d heard about the numbers being reported from other packs, and my people were beginning to worry. Obviously, you have our full support.”
“That’s great to hear, Alpha. If you don’t mind, we’ve had a long drive. We’d love to rest before we begin the recruitment this afternoon.”
“Of course,” he responds. “I’ll walk you back to the foyer.”
“You sure, Alpha?” Zane asks. “I know you’re very busy, I don’t mind escorting them.”
Alpha Jordan just brushes him off with a chuckle, and we follow him back down the long hallway.
“How is Mrs. Devereaux treating you? She’s gotten you everything you need?” He asks as we walk.
“We haven’t gotten to speak to her much yet, but she seems lovely,” Daphne answers. Lovely, indeed.
We enter the foyer and there she is. Violet, my mate, pacing nervously back and forth. Goddess, she’s beautiful.
“Violet?” Alpha Jordan asks, stopping in his tracks. She looks up, surprised, then her eyes find mine and she frowns.
“Alpha,” she says somewhat icily.
“What are you doing here?” He asks her.
“I’m filling in for my mother,” she tells him and then turns her attention to me. “I’ll show you and your mate to your room. Follow me.”
“Vi,” Jordan calls after her, but she’s already marching up the stairs.
“This is not going to end well,” I hear Zane mutter under his breath, following us.
I get the distinct feeling that I’m missing something.
- Writer
