Discovering Me

Blackhart

The next morning, I woke up in my mate's arms. I must say this was the best feeling ever. I never would have thought being with my mate would feel so good.

"Good morning beautiful. Shall we see if I can get number 20 in the shower? If we both didn't have to be at training today, I would spend all day worshiping your body." Andre asked, causing my core to clench with his words.

"Maybe a quick round in the shower. I'm already going to be so sore for training," I replied. He scooped me up and carried me bridal style into the shower where our quickie was anything but quick.

We arrived at the training grounds a half hour late. Fortunately, Garrett had already started without us.

"Good morning to our soon-to-be Alpha and Luna. I'm surprised to see you join us today. I didn't expect to see either of you for a few days." Garrett greeted us as we walked in.

"Good morning Garrett. Thanks for filling in. Believe me, I would have loved nothing more than to stay in for the next few days, but we have a duty," Andre replied.

"Great. I'm excited to see what Lexi plans to bring to the training. I've seen her in action before. She's amazing, but from what I have seen, most hybrids are lacking in certain strengths that full-blood wolves naturally have." Garrett said, eyeing me in a curious way.

"I understand what you are saying. From what I've experienced, most training sessions don't teach hybrids to utilize their strengths. Wolves teach how to fight like wolves, but you can't teach a hybrid how to utilize their strengths on the battlefield and unless they are students at the Academy they aren't thoroughly trained." I explained.

"Strengths? You're so small. What strengths could you have?" Noah, the gamma came up asking.

"Watch it, Noah." Andre warns.

"Dre it's okay. Noah, would you like to see my strengths and abilities as a trainer? Would you mind sparring with me?" I asked .

"If that's what you want. Just know I'm not going to go easy on you." He warned.

"Good. I like a challenge." I said, walking over to the sparring ring. The warriors noticed when I stepped in the ring and stopped their exercises to see what was going on. "Good morning everyone. My name is Alexandria Collette. I'm sorry for my late arrival. I've been sent here by the Interspecies Council. I am one of the lead trainers of the Hybrid Academy. Gamma Noah was nice enough to volunteer to spar with me this morning.." I said, greeting the group that had begun to gather. I heard a growl coming from Andre and looked at him.

"Watch yourselves, gentlemen, she's my mate." He says, pushing forth some alpha pheromones. " No playing dirty Noah and watch your hands."

I winked at him and got into position. Noah is tall and strong but is bulky. I've had tons of experience sparring guys like this. They seem to rely on strength but lack speed and endurance. He's waiting for me to make the first move and I know I need to rely on my speed to avoid his clutches. I landed a few blows to his torso and he returned with a blow that, if I didn't have the speed to avoid, would have cracked a rib. He followed with another blow just as strong, but I spun out of it and countered with a jab kick combo that caused him to stumble. All I needed was to continue my assault and cause him to be disoriented. He swung a few sloppy punches that allowed his core to be open for a quick uppercut, knocking him down.

"Time" I heard Beta Garret say, calling the sparring session. " I have to say I'm impressed. I've always known you would be a good trainer, but the last time we met you were much more of a defensive fighter. Noah, what do you think about her strength now?"

"I definitely underestimated her. There was quite a bit of force coming from each strike. I'm glad you only wanted to daze me or I'd be knocked out. How are you so fast?" He asked, rubbing his jaw.

"I'm part vampire but also, with me being a smaller wolf, I have a bit more speed than a bigger wolf like yourself. I have many abilities that come either from my vampire, witch or wolf, which is why I'm here to help formulate a protection plan." I explained.

"Well I must say, I'm excited about this and can't wait to get started. With you here by my side, our pack will be the strongest." Said Andre, wrapping his arm around my waist. "Alright everyone, go ahead and do your cool down routine. Tomorrow we will start a new training regiment." He blew his whistle. " Baby, tomorrow I would like you to work with the females and smaller warriors. I want to spend the morning working with you. Last night you pushed forth a stronger aura than just a few minutes ago. I have a feeling we haven't seen your full potential. We can just work out together some here, then a little more at home. We can have breakfast brought for us. What do you say?" He asked.

"Okay " I said. Our workout lasted less than a half an hour before he threw me over his shoulder and carried me caveman style back to our cabin.

We actually worked very well together when it came to planning a training routine incorporating skills to help develop the hybrid pack members. Later that day, I gave my mom a call.

"Hey honey." She answered the phone.

"Hey momma. How are things at home? Any word on the search?" I asked.

"Not much. Your dad has been in meetings all week. Speaking of. He said there was a notice for your removal of pack affiliation. I know you are not going to go rogue, so what's going on? Are you being transferred to another pack that needs help or something?"

"No. That's what I was calling for. Is dad nearby? Can you put me on speaker phone?"

"Yes, he's in the living room. Eli honey, Lexi is on the phone. Okay Lexi, you're on speaker."

"Hi daddy."

"Hey baby girl. What's going on? Why is there a notice for you to denounce the pack?" Dad asked.

"Well, I have big news. Are you both sitting down?" I asked.

"Yes, we're both sitting. You're worrying me now," Mom said.

"No need to worry. I just found my mate. His name is Andre Blackhart and he is the next alpha of the Blackhart Pack. That's the pack I'm working at now."

"You what?" Dad asked.

"Oh Lexi! What is he like? Is he good to you? Can we meet him?' Mom screams into the phone.

"Hold on, he wants to say hello." I said, placing the phone on speaker and handing the phone to Andre.

"Hello, Mom and Dad. I can't wait to meet you. I will have to talk to Lexi about planning a trip once we get things together here." He says.

"Oh, Alpha, that would be wonderful. I can't wait to meet you as well," Mom says.

"Alpha? No, no mom. We are family. There is no need to address me with formalities. Dre is fine. I just have to tell you that your daughter is amazing. I feel like I have to send you something for allowing me to have her."

"Oh no, there's no need for gifts. Just promise me you will take care of my babygirl." My dad said.

"I can make that promise and I know there's no need for it. I just want to." He said, kissing me on my temple.

"You know. After losing our son. I'm just so happy that my daughter is going to be taken care of. I don't have to worry anymore about her safety." Dad says, and I can tell he's getting emotional from his voice.

"I just can't believe our baby girl has found her mate. I have to go tell Emma Jean." Mom says, so excited to brag to her best friend.

"Okay Mom, Dad, I'll give you a call later. I love you."

"Love you too baby." they say in unison as we hand up the phone.

" Lexi, you seem like a pink person. I saw a few of your keychains and your bags are pink. Do you like the color pink?" Andre randomly asked.

"Yes. That's my favorite color. Why are you asking? Are you planning on giving me something pink? Please don't paint the walls pink. I don't think I'd like that." I replied, looking around the room.

"I thought so. Glad I'm right. Come with me. I did get you something." He leads me out the front of the cabin where a pink corvette is sitting outside in the driveway. "I wanted you to be able to get around. I hope you like it. If not, we can pick out another from my family's dealership. We'll get it registered in your name tomorrow." He said, and I could feel his nerves.

"I love it. Thank you" I said. Jumping up to wrap my arms around his neck and suffocate him with a kiss.

Laying in bed that evening, I could tell Andre had a lot going on in his head. There were moments when he squeezed me tight and I could feel his desire for me, then his hurt, his fear, and mostly his rage.

I want him to talk to me but I can tell he's not ready to yet. When I asked what was wrong, he kissed me on my head and said it was nothing and that I should get some sleep for the day tomorrow. If only I could tap into his thoughts...

**Andre's thoughts**

I felt she was my mate from the moment she came into the territory but had to turn away. I told the fellas I had to run home for something, but in reality I just needed to brace myself for meeting her. I wouldn't have done it if Onyx wasn't in my head driving me towards her.

Father sensed her strength the moment he met her. I was shocked when he insisted I seduced her to impregnate her. Something about keeping alliances for a strong pack. He had no idea that she was my mate. It didn't matter if he knew. He has drilled how the mate bond only weakens strong wolves. That's why I have had no interest in searching for a mate before.

Many allow his good looks and pleasant demeanor to fool him, but 'The Alpha of death' is the nickname given to my father in his youth. A true narcissist. Blackhart was the perfect name for someone with such a blackened heart. He's obsessed with the darkness. That is the reason why he keeps everything darkened around this place.

My father's fated mate was an omega wolf he chose to reject. He then convinced my mother to reject her mate so he could have her as a chosen mate. He wanted an heir from my mother, who is an alpha female. On the surface, things look so loving between the two of them, but their relationship has always been more of a business than anything else.

He has to be in control, which is why he has not allowed me to ascend as the next Alpha even though it is my birthright and I am beyond the age of most. His reasoning to others is that I had not found my mate, but he enjoys coining my brother and I against each other.

My twin brother. The one that wasn't born as strong as I, was sent to live with dark witches to learn their skill set so he could add some value to the pack. I've always been taught the Alpha role to keep the pack strong with my warriors that most fear. I wonder what will happen now that my mate has arrived.

It took me 20 minutes to even walk to the conference room. Her sweet scent reminded me of a pear cobbler and was smelt all throughout the pack house. Hints of pear, vanilla, citrus, and sugarcane on top of a sandalwood undertone. My scents were engulfed and no matter how I tried to fight it I kept being pulled towards her. Onyx was even beside himself and kept breaking through the blocks I had set.

I stood at the door and heard how my father introduced her and others questioned her ability. A hybrid as my mate. Oh godless you have a sense of humor. I don't know what father has planned if I planted my seeds in her, but he would never approve of such a union of her as a mate. My feisty mate didn't back down from the insults, instead she gave an unquestionably good argument.

I had to see her up close. I slowly opened the door. She paused, looking almost frozen. Although short, she is perfection. Her golden brown hair is pulled sleek back to show off the features of her beautiful heart-shaped face. Those plump lips coated in red lipstick were calling for me to come taste. And her body. My baby is thick. Beautiful plump breast and hips I can't wait to have wrapped around me.

I could tell that father noticed me lingering my eyes on her by his sarcastic remark. Onyx had me so focused I wasn't feeding into his tactics. I needed to get to my mate.

"Mate, Mine, Mate, Mine!" Onyx kept chanting in my head and I almost lost control when she said her name. I had to taste those lips and they were just as juicy as I thought.

I swear Father was trying to torture me as he dragged on that meeting and made us come to dinner to celebrate after finding out this goddess was my mate. I snuck feels all night and got us out of there as soon as I could. I mind-linked Heidi to come pamper her and loosen her muscles so I could focus on pleasuring her all night.

Hindsight, it probably is not a good idea to call someone you have slept with to massage the kinks out of your mate. The way Lexi came to our room fuming was both hot and scary. I was surprised at the strength of her aura.

Last night was the best night of my life. It took everything not to mark her then and there, but I knew it wasn't for her best if she was tied to me. Even today, the way she handled Noah on the training field was a complete turn on. I completely lost control when we were working out together. The pheromones she projects are enough to drive me absolutely crazy. I hope I'm strong enough to go through with my task.

I will need to impregnate her. Not because it's what father wants, but because I need to leave a part of me with her to have forever. Even if I can't have her forever. She's strong despite being a hybrid. That's why he would want me to breed with her. Probably not just for me to breed with her, but she's mine. She needs to be protected.

She can't be my Luna, so I will reject her, but I'm going to make sure she has everything she needs. Father will probably try to have Wolfgang breed with her too, but he can't have her. She belongs only to me.

I need to make sure she falls for me enough to trust me. She seems to like nice gifts. I knew she would love the car. The way she kissed me when I gave her the keys. I wish this moment could last forever. She's perfect for me. If she behaves, I will give her some freedom. If not, there will be consequences.

I need her to make sure her army of hybrids is strong enough. No pack would dare challenge us and, if strong enough, we could take on the Alpha King.

"Are you okay?" Lexi looked up, asking. She's rubbing my chest with a concerned look on her face. She doesn't need to worry about this right now. I'm going to make sure everything is alright.

"I'm sorry baby. I was just thinking." I told her, kissing her forehead.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.

"Not really honey. We have a long day tomorrow.You're going to be in charge of your own group. I was just worried about you. I'll turn off my thoughts so we can sleep. You will need your rest." I told her as I laid her head back down on my chest and rubbed my hand up and down her back. I can feel she is trying to calm me through the bond. Goddess, she really is perfect. I wish things were different.