The Rising Moon Pack

Chapter 7

Maria POV

An Emerald Wolf.

That's what she called me. My dad was looking at me with pride, Michelle looked like she was about to throw up, and my mom's hands trembled slightly when she spoke.

"We will have to continue this conversation at a later date, we have guests waiting downstairs and we must have been up here for at least an hour!" She said, " Are we in agreement to keep this a secret until Harry was been informed by Maria?"

My father nodded, followed by Michelle. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." My mom called.

The door opened, and an omega by the name of Skye stood in the doorway.

"Excuse me, Alpha, Luna," She began, " But some of the guests are requesting your presence."

"Of course. Thank you, Skye. We were just helping Maria with the final touches of her dress." My mother smiled brightly. "Come, Benny, let's go and see our friends."

My dad gave me a reassuring hug as he stood to leave the room, and my mom kissed my cheek gently.

"No matter what happens out there, Maria, whether your mate is downstairs tonight or not; this will always be your home. BOTH of you." She winked at me, and I caught her double meaning. Skye was still waiting patiently at the door, ready to help escort me downstairs.

I turned to Michelle, smiled at her reassuringly, and asked," How do I look?".

"You look beautiful." she said. "Now let's get you a mate!"

The party was being held in the packhouse gardens, so we made our way downstairs slowly. Michelle had looped one arm around my own in case I had felt light headed again, and I could feel Isabella pacing nervously in my mind.

"Could you knock it off?" I asked her.

"He's here somewhere, I can feel it!" she howled suddenly in my mind, making me wince.

"Ugh, Bells, please stop that. You're a lot louder now you're physically inside me."

She giggled, and it made me so happy. I'd missed hearing her laugh, and even if I couldn't hug her, being able to speak to her everyday for the rest of my life was just as good.

We walked out onto the patio where everyone was stood waiting my arrival. I could hear people chattering, and see that the balloon arches had been fitted with beautiful twinkling lights. As I stepped down from the backdoor step, everyone called out "Happy Birthday, Maria!".

But I wasn't listening to them. I wasn't listening to anyone, not even Bella. I had been wrapped up in the scent of sandalwood and mint, and I needed to know the source. I pulled out of my link with Michelle and made my way across the makeshift dancefloor. I needed to know where that scent was coming from. I walked towards a group of people but before I could reach them, a man the size of a mountain stumbled through them, knocking them to the sides like scattered bowling pins. He was at least 6"4, but built like a warrior. His ashy white blonde hair flopped lazily across his forehead and down into his eyes. His eyes were like pure honey; with flecks of gold and amber in them. He was wearing a navy blue suit, with the cutest little bow tie. I was frozen to the spot but as we made eye contact, there was only one thought on my mind; MATE.

I couldn't breathe, but Isabella howling inside my head confirmed that this was definitely real and I was not dreaming. He walked up to me, his long strides making him appear to move super fast, even by werewolf standards. As he came close, he reached out his hand to me and bowed gently. I still couldn't muster the words to leave my body, so I took his hand and he gently led me back to the dancefloor. I loved the way my hand fit inside his, the sparks moving between us felt like tiny fireworks dancing across my skin.

He pulled me in close and leaned in to take a whiff of my scent.

"You smell like freshly baked vanilla cookies," He confessed. " It's one of my most favourite comforting smells in the world."

I smiled at up at him. "My name is Maria." I said. "But it's nice to know that you think I smell like vanilla cookies. They're one of my favourites."

"I can't believe I forgot to tell you my name," he laughed bashfully, " I'm Jake."

"Well, hi Jake! It's nice to finally meet you."

We continued to sway gently to the music, and as he twirled me around in a gentle spin, and I caught sight of my parents watching us happily from afar.

Jake POV

I hadn't wanted to come to this party, but as an Alpha I didn't have much choice. I was tired of going to these events hoping to find my mate, but always coming away empty handed. Finding a girl wasn't the problem; scores of women would throw themselves at me, but they weren't what I wanted. I wanted her, I wanted the one.

When Alpha Benjamin of Rising Moon had called me to invite me to the birthday event of his only Daughter, part of me wanted to decline. Of course, I would still have to tend the alpha's meetings over the few days that followed, but I didn't want to walk away disappointed again. However, my wolf Flynn seemed insistent that we go. He still held on to the hope that she was out there, and for some reason, he seemed convinced that she was going to be here.

So here we were, an hour into the party, and no mate. But this time was different. Flynn paced nervously in my head, and every now and then I caught the whiff of fresh vanilla cookies baking. The suspense was becoming too much, Alpha Benjamin and Luna Kate were nowhere to be seen, and neither was their mystery daughter. I caught the attention of a passing omega, and I asked her when the party was due to begin, and where I could find the Alpha to discuss the meeting arrangements for the next few days. At 23, I was one of the youngest Alphas in the area, but my pack was the largest and I took my job seriously. I gave everything I had to my pack, and the wellbeing of my people. The only thing I had left to give, was a Luna of their own.

The omega I had flagged down earlier had returned, ushering everyone to silence just then, the back door opened and the huge crowd went wild.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIA!"

I wasn't listening. As the door had opened, I caught the deepest whiff of freshly baked vanilla cookies, and Flynn started howling in my head. I couldn't see anything, but I knew she must be close by. I started pushing my way blindly through the mob of people dancing, and that's when I noticed her.

She was tiny, but built like an hourglass. Long legs, big ass, tiny waist. I stared at her, wanting to commit every inch to memory. Long, red curls pulled back to expose her neck. She was wearing a beautiful emerald dress that brought out the sparkling emerald of her eyes. Her eyes, oh my goddess. I stumbled towards her, just wanting to touch her and see if she was real. I offered her my hand as I bowed for her. A queen like her deserved nothing less. She took my hand, and as she touched me I felt sparks travel from her small hand all the way up to my chest. Warm, fuzzy sparks that made me feel calm inside.

I leaned down to take in her scent once more, and I finally felt at peace.

" You smell like freshly baked vanilla cookies," I confessed. " It's one of my most favourite comforting smells in the world."

She smiled at me, that sweet, beautiful smile that took over her entire face, right up to her eyes.

"I’m Maria." she said. "But it's nice to know that you think I smell like vanilla cookies. They're one of my favourites."

I realised I hadn't even introduced myself. In my lovestruck haze, I couldn't even remember my name.

"I can't believe I forgot to tell you my name," I laughed bashfully, " I'm Jake."

"Well, hi Jake! It's nice to finally meet you."

The words were like music to my ears. She really had no idea just how much she meant to me, already. I knew one thing though, I would spend every day for the rest of my life showing her just how much she had bettered my life.