TWO

Val's Pov

Once we made it back to the pack house the Delta went to go get changed and it looked like Alpha Roman and the Beta were mindlinking each other about this predicament. I crossed my arms over my chest, noticing how the other three pack warriors were standing as far away from me as possible.

At least this meant that Colton would never bother me again. I stopped myself from chuckling at that.

It didn't take long for the Delta to change and he was making his way right over to me. He stood a good foot taller than me and was very handsome. He had a wide grin on his face as he made his way over and ran a hand through his brown hair.

All of a sudden he engulfed me in a hug and stuck his head in my neck. I let out a gasp of surprise and attempted to push him away, but it was no use. He had me in a death grip. "You are so gorgeous, I can't believe I actually found you-"

"Wait-" I finally was able to shove him off, "- a damn minute. Listen, I'm not feeling the imprint bond. I don't know if there is something wrong with me, or a fluke-"

"Sometimes," the Beta spoke to me, I looked over to him, seeing he had the same scowl on his face, "it can take longer for the bond to form. You need an emotional connection."

"Oh!" The Delta's face went from one of sorrow to very happy. "I can do that. No one can say no to my charm," he gave me a handsome smile, but I simply raised an eyebrow. I wanted to quip back, but stopped myself as I thought over what the Beta said.

Sometimes it can take time? I guess that makes sense, maybe a little bit. Either way, it made me feel better about the situation.

The Delta went in for another hug, but I stopped him. "Listen, if this is going to work- we're going to have to take it slow."

He looked confused before a look of realization came to his face. He then started to... give me a slow-mo hug? I stopped him again.

"That's not what I meant," I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest again. "Like- I don't even know your name." I pointed out, I've only been referring to him as Delta.

"Ozzie Fellowes," he said quickly before going in for another hug. This time I swat him away, before I think about what I'm doing. I expect him to get mad, but he just looks hurt. "Why'd you do that? I told you my name."

"No hugs until I say we can hug," I made it clear to him, starting to get annoyed. This is not how I expected today to go at all. "We can talk more tonight after our shifts, okay? Right now, I'm supposed to be on guard."

He gave me a distraught look, as if I had destroyed his dreams. "Can I just have one little small hug? Then I promise to get back to work-"

"Fine," I say, not trying to hide the fact that I was annoyed. I opened my arms and instantly I was taken into his strong grasp. This time I patted him on the back and took in his scent. He smelt like the rain. It was nice.

I had to push him away before the hug went on too long and he broke away. He didn't walk over to stand by the Beta, instead he looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "What's your name?"

"Oh," I didn't realize I hadn't told him my name yet. "It's Val."

*

"Hey, Val!" I heard Ozzie call from behind me.

I stopped walking and turned around, seeing him jogging over to me from the pack house. I thought he had more work to do with Alpha Roman and his Beta.

He came to a stop in front of me and grinned widely. "Where were you headed to?" He kept inching closer and it looked like he was stopping himself from touching me. At least he's learning boundaries.

"I was going to meet my brother at the pack border," I told him and nodded behind him to the pack house. "Have you finished? It looked like they were still going over some stuff in there-"

"I saw you leave and I can't let you travel alone," he told me with a frown, as if it were obvious. "Kai understands, this bond can't be controlled. You... you might not feel it yet, but I'm feeling it full force and I can't let anything happen to you.'

His words almost touched me, and the look of seriousness made it more clear that he was telling the truth. I've only known him a short time, but I feel like he is not one to be serious.I didn't give him a reply, just simply nodded before starting walking towards the northwest post.

"So, was there anything you wanted to know about me?" He said after a moment and I shrugged before thinking about it.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but is your Alpha as scary as they say?" I asked him, glancing to see his face.

"Seb can be tough, but he does what's right for everyone. He has to make the hardest decisions for the best of the pack." He said after a moment and I was a little surprised to hear him saying the Alpha's name without a title.

"Are you two close?" I ponder allowed.

"Yes, I'm his personal Guard whenever he travels outside of the pack's borders. I would call him one of my best friends. That's how I know that despite his hard outer shell, there's a little bit of kindness in his heart." He said with a dashing smile, in a sort-of joking way.

His own personal Guard? I mean, he is the Head Delta so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. "So, should I be worried about you getting injured while guarding him?"

He surprised me by giving me a wide smile. "You're already worrying about me? See?! You're already feeling the bond!" He said happily and almost came in for a hug, but stopped himself.

"I was just asking an innocent question, forget it," I waved him off as we walked through the woods. We were almost at the post, so I was glancing around for Michael.

"I know you feel it," he grumbled beside me, but was cut off as we saw my brother come into view.

Michael was already looking over at us, eyeing Ozzie at my side curiously. He could probably smell him from yards away. "Who is-"

"This is Delta Ozzie of the Aconite Pack. Ozzie, this is my brother, Michael," I introduce them, giving a look to Michael. 'He's imprinted on me.'

He looked even more confused than before replying. 'But... you DIDN'T imprint on him?'

I shook my head at his question and suddenly he let out a laugh. It made Ozzie and I jump and he instinctively wrapped an arm around me. I tried to shrug it off, but he held it firm.

"Poor guy... it's probably because your heart is frozen over," Michael said in between laughs and I glared at him. He always claimed that I didn't have feelings.

"Shut it, his Beta said it can take time sometimes for the bond to form," I say in defense to him, feeling my anger rise. Something about my brother always made me angry.

"It's nice to meet you Michael," Ozzie said to him, still holding me to his side. He was grinning like he had won the lottery. "Even if she doesn't feel it now, she's my mate. So, that'll make us family." he reached his hand out to shake Michael's.

Michael shook his hand, a chuckle still playing at his lips. "I'm going to wish you luck now, because she isn't easy to deal with-"

"Whatever," I grumble as I turn suddenly and start making my way home. I didn't have to hear this. "I'm going home."

Ozzie said his quick goodbyes before he caught up with me. "Your brother seems nice."

I scoff and roll my eyes. "He's an ass." I mumble to him. After a while of us walking I spoke up again. "So, will I have to come to your pack with you?" The question came out quiet, lacking any of my previous confidence. I had been thinking about it all day, but wasn't sure when to ask.

"O-only if it makes you feel comfortable! Otherwise... I can stay here until the Running next week. We can make it official then, if you want?" He said and I looked up at him, seeing genuinity on his face. I half-expected him to take me back to his pack tonight.

"I would like to stay here a little longer... wait, where will you be staying here?" I asked him. He better be talking about the pack house, because he wasn't sleeping in my bed.

"I'll sleep with you, of course," he said matter-of-factly with a smile. I looked at him like he had two heads. His smile faltered. "I mean, I can sleep on the floor in your room?" His eyes pleaded with me.

"You can sleep on the couch in the living room," I told him with a look. He gave me a sad look.

"Please, let me stay in your room with you. I promise I won't try anything, my wolf and I just want to be surrounded by you and make sure-" I cut him off before he could go on this mantra again.

"You'll be sleeping on the couch, no more discussion about it." I told him firmly before continuing my walk to the house. He sulked beside me. "Mom and dad are out on some out-of-territory business with our Beta, so you don't have to worry about meeting them yet."

"I'm not worried about meeting them, I can't wait to meet the rest of your family," he said to me with confidence in his voice. He must be family oriented.

We came upon my house and I looked at him before we went in. "This is it. Do you need to tell your Beta that you'll be staying or...?"

"He is already aware of the arrangements, I mindlinked him about it," he told me with a smile. "That means, you have me all to yourself until next week. What do you want to do tonight-" he spoke in an excited tone as we made our way inside.

"I'm going to go to sleep," I murmured to him and went to the closet by the living room to grab some blankets and pillows. I went back to the living room and threw the stuff on the longest couch. "You can sleep here, and I'll be-"

"Val," his voice was deep and thick and I looked up at him. He had an urgent, pained look on his face. "Can I- can I please sleep on your floor? I don't want to be away from you." He murmured softly, looking at me with so much emotion, I could almost feel his desperation.

I opened my mouth to say no, however my wolf was starting to like him and wanted him to be close by too. After a moment of thinking about it, I slowly nodded. "Fine, you can-"

"Yes!" He punched into the air before grabbing the blankets and pillows that I threw on the couch. He looked at me expectantly. "Show me the way, my little mate."

I let out a 'hmph' before showing him to my bedroom. I had a few clothes lounging around the floor, but other than that it was pretty clean. "I think this is the-" Suddenly I was in his arms and his head was in my neck. "Ozzie, I told you-"

He let out a growl and I knew his wolf was out. My wolf reached out to him, offering him calmness which helped him take control of his wolf. After a moment he pulled away, but still had his hands on my hips. "I'm sorry, your scent just overcame me and I couldn't control my wolf. It won't happen again." He said, even as his thumbs were rubbing gentle circles into me. I don't even think he knew what he was doing.

I brought my hands down to his and forcefully removed them and took a step back. He looked like a love-sick puppy when I did that, but instead of pursuing me further he started making a comfortable spot for him on the ground to sleep. I was too tired, I didn't even change before I plopped down on the bed.

I could hear him say, "Good night, my mate," before I passed out.