Mated

Chapter 10

Hunter’s POV

By the time I made it to the packhouse I had run through over a dozen ideas for our second date.

Scrapping each one.

I need help.

With a sigh, I knocked on the door of the one person who I was hoping to avoid asking for dating advice.

As Anna opened the door, she took one look at my face before smirking.

“What do you need Hunter?”

“Zoey agreed to a second date tonight.”

“And you have no idea what to do?”

With a reluctant nod, I agreed.

“Come in, I have so much to teach you.”

My wolf and I both inwardly groaned as a devilish smile covered her face.

After two hours of back and forth, we had finally settled on a plan.

I just hope Zoey likes it.

For a while I tried to work, to pass the time until I could see her.

Re-reading every document, unable to focus on it.

Just as I was about to give up, the door opened and Conrad strode into my office, collapsing on my couch.

“You could knock.”

“I could.” He agreed.

With a shake of my head, I put the paperwork away. Turning my attention to him.

“What do you need Conrad?”

“Nothing, I was just wondering where you were last night. I didn’t see you come home.” He replied, smirking. “To think of it I haven’t seen you in two days.”

Waiting he eyed me up, eagerly awaiting the details.

“I spent the day begging Zoey to give me a second chance after she met my parents. Luckily, she did, and I spent the night at hers.”

Conrad cheered before his eyebrows furrowed.

“Wait, what happened with your parents?”

With a groan I explained the events of the last two days.

As soon as I had finished, he started to laugh. His hand gripping his stomach as his laughter grew.

“So, this poor woman was just sitting there in her underwear as the parents of a one night stand ask her for grandchildren?”

When I nodded his laughter grew.

“Don’t forget Annabelle asking why I hadn’t bitten her yet.”

He started gasping, unable to breathe and I couldn’t help from laughing with him.

At the time I was furious and terrified she’d never talk to me again, but Zoey had forgiven me.

And as I look back on it now the absurdity of the entire thing did make me laugh.

Zoey’s shocked expression as she ran out of the room in only my shirt and her panties.

“How on earth did you convince her to go on a second date?”

“Luck, I ran into her and Lucas at the park after I’d almost given up.”

“Lucas?”

“Her son.”

His eyes widened, processing the information I had given him.

“Son? Whoa, I’m sorry man. That’s got to sting.”

“It did, but he’s a cute kid, besides she’s human. It’s not like I can expect her to wait for a mate she never knew about.”

Conrad nodded, his gaze softening.

“True, still can’t be easy. Do you know who the father is?”

“Yeah, he’s a member of the pack. I met him when he picked the boy up.”

“A wolf? does she know?”

A growl slipped through his lips as I shook my head.

He has every reason to be angry, we have rules, laws we stand by as a pack.

We do not tell humans what we are unless they are our fated or chosen mate. If he had a child with a human, mate or not he is allowed to tell her.

She has a right to know what her child is.

And if she has a child with him, she is also allowed to live in the pack. Meaning she and Lucas would be entitled to a home here.

Instead, she’s living in a small apartment, having to work on her days off to get by.

If I could, I’d find him and punish him for what he’s done. But Zoey already has doubts about me and locking up the father of her child will only make it worse.

So, for now I’m going to avoid interfering, no matter how much myself or my wolf may want to.

“It doesn’t matter now.”

His eyebrows furrowed and he stared at me.

“I’m not going to risk losing her. Going after the father of her child is going to make her hate me.”

He thought about it for a second before agreeing.

The rest of the morning went by at an agonisingly slow pace.

I watched the clock, rushing out of the door as soon as I could.

Not caring that I’m going to show up a few minutes early.

I need to see my mate.

A smile spread over my face as I parked outside her apartment.

Standing outside her door, dressed in a short red dress. The top hugged her body to her waist, flowing out at her hips stood Zoey.

Her eyes searched the road in front of her building, a smile breaking out on her face as her eyes found mine.

As she reached me, she put her lips to mine gently before pulling away.

My wolf howled in my head happily. Seems we aren’t the only ones who were eager for tonight.

Intertwining my fingers through hers, I walked her down the street. Past my truck.

Her head tilted and her eyes went to the street ahead of us.

“We’re not driving?”

“No, I thought we could explore Redwood. You said you hadn’t had a chance to see anything.”

I held my breath, waiting for her answer.

As a smile filled her face, my body relaxed.

“Sounds perfect.”

Hands intertwined we walked through the centre of Redwood, going in each of the small shops lining main street.

As we neared the museum at the end of the street, Zoey’s face lit up. her eyes trailing over the displays in the window.

Tugging her inside, I pulled her towards the nature display.

Standing in the middle of the exhibit stood a wolf.

I watched her eyes widen at the animal in front of her.

“You have red wolves here? I thought they were only in North Carolina now?”

My eyes widened as I stared at her, with a shrug she went back to exploring the museum.

“I volunteered at a nature preserve in college.”

“Where did you go to college?”

“Harvard.” Her eyes widen as she spoke, as if she surprised herself with her own answer.

With a shake of her head, she went back to exploring the exhibits.

My mate went to Harvard.

A sense of pride filled me as I followed her through the museum.

My mates smart.

“What did you study?”

Avoiding my eyes, she bites her lip.

“Literature and art history.”

“I’m impressed, shall we get dinner?”

I asked, changing the subject.

She looked as though she’d rather talk about anything else.

With a grateful smile, she nodded, her fingers intertwining with mine.

We walked towards the one semi formal restaurant in Redwood. Our hands never separating as we were led to a table beside the window.

After taking out order, the waiter left, leaving the two of us alone.

Playing with the hem of her skirt, Zoey avoided my eyes.

“Are you okay?”

A smile covers her face, not quite reaching her eyes as she looked up at me.

“Yes, sorry. My mind wondered for a minute.”

Unconvinced, I dropped the subject. Something telling me she wouldn’t tell me anything anyway.

Mate’s sad.

I know.

Fix it. He growled.

How? She doesn’t want to talk, it’s not like I can force her to tell me.

With a growl he blocked me.

Stupid wolf.

“Hunter?”

Zoey’s eyebrows furrowed as she stared at me. a concerned look covering her face.

With a shake of my head, I replied.

“Sorry, I was just thinking.”

The rest of the night went by in a comfortable silence as we ate and walked along Main Street towards Zoey’s apartment.

The tense atmosphere slowly disappeared as we walked.

As Zoey’s hand intertwined with mine, the last ounce of stress faded away.

By the time we made it to the door I had a smile plastered on my face.

Zoey’s eyes found mine as we stopped.

“Thank you, it was nice to see the town.”

“You’re welcome.”

Leaning onto the tips of her toes she reached up, pressing her lips to mine.

For a moment, the world melted away as her lips synced with mine pulling me in deeper.

The click of the lock sounded behind us as the door opened. Zoey’s hands gripped my jacket as she pulled me inside, the door slamming behind us.

Pulling me through her apartment, she led me to her bed, never once disconnecting her lips from mine.

As her lips leave mine, she removes her shoes, turning so that her back is facing me.

Motioning to the zip on the dress, she looks back at me. Without pausing, I tugged the zip, a little too hard. With a chuckle, she slips out of the thin material. Standing in front of me in her red laced under wear, biting her lip as she catches my gaze trailing her body.

My erection, struggling against my pants I rush to her. Grabbing her hips as I press myself against her, groaning as she grinds her hips against me. In a flash I lift her, throwing her on the bed as I remove my clothes, smirking as I catch her watching me. Her eyes darkening as my boxers fell to the floor.

Moving onto the bed, I capture her n****e in my mouth, my tongue circling it as she moans. Slowly, I let my tongue run down her body until it reaches her panties.

In a flash I rip them off of her, exposing her.

My mouth replacing them, as I began to suck on her swollen bud, making her moans turn to a scream.

Threading her fingers into my hair, she arches her back as I lick across her lips forcing my tongue into her.

As I feel her grip on me tighten, I stop, earning a disappointed groan from her.

Moving I position myself my length at her core and let it slide in an inch before removing it. Groaning, she pressed herself against me and I slam into her, capturing her mouth as she begins to scream out a moan.

Keeping my pace slow I grind my hips, making sure to hit ever spot inside of her.

Fastening my pace as she begins to move with me. Her head tilts back as I bite my way along her neck. As her walls tighten around me as she shatters and I explode, groaning into her shoulder.

Once I caught my breath, I rolled, pulling her to lay on my chest. With a content sigh, she leans against me as we both fall into a satisfied sleep.

The morning had been dragging along. I left Zoey’s first thing this morning, everything in me wanting to stay by her side, but instead I’m here filling out paperwork.

Conrad walked into my office, his eyes wide as they found mine.

“Rogues were spotted in town, I’ve sent extra warriors to the border.”

Town…

Zoey.

“Where were they spotted?”

With a worried expression he replied.

“Main street.”

With a growl, I rushed to the door. Dialling Zoey’s number.

When her voicemail answered I let out another growl.

Find mate!

Conrad followed me to my truck, turning to me as I stopped.

His eyebrows furrowed as he turned to me.

“What is it?”

“She’s not at work, she said she had plans.”

“What plans?”

“I don’t know.”

“If the rogues smell your scent on her…”

“I know.” I growled.

They will assume she’s, my mate.

An alphas mate, who’s human and defenceless. They’ll kill her or use her to get at the pack. At me.

“We can try her apartment, or her work. Someone there may know where she went.”

With a nod, I got in my truck. Eager to find my mate.