Mated Runaway

Eli’s introduction

Eli’s POV

Another day. I’m lucky. I have a strong pack, great friends, and I get to do what I love everyday but I can’t help feeling that nagging loneliness that tends to creep in when I wake up. All I ever wanted was to be a good Alpha and have my Luna by my side, a team for life. But here I am, 30 years old and still no mate. I don’t understand it. Most wolves find their mates not long after their 18th birthday.

Ever since I was little my parents were always united. They never argued and just the sight of one another made the other instantly relax. I want that. Watching them together solidified everything we were taught in school about the mate connection. I never thought it would take me this long to find her. Especially being Alpha. The elders always comment saying it’s not uncommon to take a few years to find your mate, but I’m going on 13 years of searching. I come up with any little excuse to meet other packs in hopes that maybe my mate will be there, but there’s only so many alliance and peace meetings I can host without seeming sketchy. I sigh as I drag myself out of bed and head to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

I blast music as I turn the shower on to drown out my thoughts and try to pull myself out of the fog I seemed to wake up in. I have meetings with the elders and warriors today, followed by pack training, and I run patrol tonight. Perfect. Busy days are appreciated to keep my mind occupied. I quickly wash and get dressed to head down to the kitchen to eat breakfast with my parents.

I’m the oldest of four and the only son. Cilia is 27, Emily is 23, and Jasmine is 19. I’ve been protective of my sisters since they were born. When Cilia was 15 she easily could have passed for 17 or 18. I was 17 at the time, one day at school I caught a tail end of a conversation between a small group of no good seniors planning to drug her at a party and do goddess knows what. I didn’t want to outright tell Cilia what was going on so instead I told slipped to my dad that there was going to be alcohol and he forbade us from going. Cilia ended up sneaking out to the party while I was in warrior training with dad. When I found out, I almost lost my mind. I can’t remember how I got to the party, I just remember ransacking everything in my path until I found her. Luckily, I got there before the delinquents were able to carry out their plan, but Cilia was mortified. She’s always been one to push limits and loved being the center of attention. She ended up being mated to a warrior of a neighboring pack when she was 20.

Emily is more laid back. Growing up she was more concerned with school and her grades than her social status, but she had the best sense of humor. Even being 7 years apart she is the only one that can make me laugh without trying. We’ve always had the closest bond out of all our siblings. She’s the one I can talk to when I get into a tough spot, it makes perfect sense that she ended up being my Beta, Jameson’s, mate. Jameson was my best friend since we started school. They had been around each other all their lives and when she came downstairs the morning she turned 18, Jameson stopped mid-sentence during a briefing and their eyes locked. It was the most awkward and mesmerizing thing I had ever seen. It reminded me how bad I wanted that connection with someone. They’ve been unsufferable *ahem* I mean, inseparable ever since.

And then there’s Jasmine. The feistiest teenager I have ever seen. She refuses any help and trains every day to ensure she can protect herself- all while keeping up her appearance. I don’t understand how she finds the time to get all her training in and manage to look like she just stepped out of a magazine. She puts me to shame with her time management skills. Me and her are the only 2 of the siblings that haven’t found our mates. She doesn’t seem as concerned but of course she’s stubborn and just turned 19. She helps me keep things in order at the packhouse and may or may not keep my personal schedule in check.

My parents are the greatest. My dad was chosen as Alpha when he was only 16. The former Alpha of our pack was killed by a group of rogues that unexpectedly showed up one night during patrol and since he didn’t have any sons the elders had to hold an emergency meeting to decide on our next leader. Dad always told us he never imagined he would be Alpha, but he was honored. My dad is the most humble person I’ve ever met. From what I hear he’s the best Alpha that the Emerald Pine pack has had in a long time too. After the rogues attacked, which later we learned was the biggest group of rogues the area has ever seen, dad revamped all the trainings and organized a more detailed patrol unit. So when it came time for me to take over as Alpha at 21, it was some big shoes to fill. My mom being the supporter that she is made sure to instill honor and respect in me from a young age. She was firm but loving. She said that great leaders always have a caring heart. Take care of the weakest pack member just as fierce as the strongest. And every day that’s what I strive to do. I just wish I had my own personal supporter that wasn’t my mom. Ugh, this mental fog doesn’t seem to be going anywhere today. If I could just find my mate.