Song : Royal Blood - Figure it out

I walked along side my father as we entered the city pack house. The main pack house was located deep in the forrest, surrounded probably by their packs member's houses, secure and hidden by the human eye in a private owned area. Most packs followed the same logic these last decades because the danger of exposure had raised high due to the rapid advancement of technology. Our pack was situated in a similar way. I had never seen this pack's main house, there was never a reason for me to go there. If I had a problem or I needed information or even protection, I would seek it in this magnificent town house. All students were considered guests thus we were all protected as long as we were not the ones who caused trouble.

We passed through the foyer and entered a large drawing room where there was already a small group of females chatting near the impressive balcony windows while some males were drinking in the other side of the room, gathered around a tall male, who had their upmost attention.

He was here. He was the one that had their ears and eyes. His aura seemed to be much stronger than before, surpassing even Alpha Anderson's who was considered the most powerful male in the room.

A little gasp escaped me but my steps didn't falter. This new power caressed my senses in a new way, more commanding and carnal. My wolf started moving and posturing herself inside me sending the message that she was impressed. His eyes turned to me and they flashed for a moment, showing me that he received the message.

I gripped my father's arm a little harder. I was mortified that he might have sensed my enthusiasm, if one would call it that but he turned to me with a question in his eyes."What's wrong, pup?", he used the mind link.

"He is here, he is the tall one in the grey suit", I said turning my gaze to the windows so we wouldn't alert anyone that we were  talking in secret.

My father halted in his place." Are you sure, Vivian?" I huffed internally and my father continued "That is..."

"Hamilton, it's so good to see you again old friend, it's been what...Six years I believe. And this must be your youngest pup," an older wolf approached us with warmth radiating out of him. I recognized him as the retired Alpha, a face I had seen several times during growing up back home. We had many business deals with the Ghosts. My level of anxiety started to climb but I calmed myself and smiled politely.

"She is just as radiant as her mother was, dear Colleen. She is greatly missed" the Alpha's voice revealed his genuine sorrow.

"Thank you James" my father responded with a scent of pain in his voice that was always present when my mother was mentioned. Quickly, wanting to stop this line of talking I addressed the former Alpha." Thank you for your kind invitation to dinner sir, I'm happy to have a chance to see you before I return back home and my father was very pleased as well." The Alpha smiled and said "You are welcomed. Now I will borrow your father for a while, there are some people that would like an introduction with him. Feel free to look around or join the other ladies. Dinner will be served shortly".

I nodded politely and I headed to the group that was near the balcony. This was typical in our world, she-wolfs were treasured and respected but often left out. I observed that this also happened in the human world and in some aspects, the women had it worse than she-wolfs because they were often exploited and abused in terrible ways. We had bad apples amongst our ranks as well but nothing compared to the extent that was happening in humans. Our ways were old but our younger generations seemed to be approving in the aspect of equality. There was still a long way to go in my opinion and we were moving in a snail's pace.

I was pretending to listen to the chit chat that the ladies had but my eyes caught my father talking with him. He bent his head in acknowledgement to the slight tilt of my father's neck, a submissive gesture. That confirmed what I felt since entering. He was an Alpha and a dominant one. My patience was running very thin. My father knew him, the Alpha knew him, bloody hell everybody in this room knew who he was except me!!My wolf was feeling my nerves and she too was getting agitated. This was beginning to turn ridiculous and to add to my current state, he walked out of the room with my father in toe.

I couldn't go storming after them, demanding explanations since we were guests here and so was he apparently. I cursed myself for my lack of attention that first meeting in the woods. Now that I was thinking about it, neither he nor the enforcers had that native smell of oak tree that was popular in the resident pack, mixed with each of their signature essence except maybe one of them. I was so confused about my own feelings that I didn't think much of anything else the following weeks. Big mistake as it turned out.

We were called to the dining room. After we all stood in front of our respective seats, we waited for the Alpha to join us as so he would be sited first as a sign of respect. He entered with my father and my mate and took his place so we could all start eating. My father was placed across from me, near his old friend and my mate sat next to Alpha Anderson.I tried to reach my father via the mind link but he had it blocked. He felt the pressure, he smiled towards me and sent me a message "You will find out after dinner".

I can honestly say that my appetite was ruined. I kept my attention to the people close to me, waiting for this torture to end. I hid my feelings well, no one seemed to notice anything but at times I could feel him staring at me. I wanted so badly to stare him right in the eyes and show him exactly how much I didn't appreciate his little games. My wolf was relishing in his dominant vibes and her contentment, while annoying at this point, served as a sedative.

Dinner was over and done and everyone stood to walk outside to the patio where coffee and drinks were being served. He walked straight towards me before I got the chance to follow the others outside.

"Vivian, I would like to speak to you in private"

Now this was new. My name coming out of his lips was new, exciting and scary at the same time.

I could act like a petulant child and ignore him but I was not a child and my curiosity had reached its peak so I nodded and followed him down a hallway and into a private room, filled with books and a big glass window that overlooked the garden and the street beyond it. I stood by the window as he closed the door and waited.

"I believe introductions are in order" I wanted to scowl, be rude and say "you think?" but I kept my tongue. I was better than that.

"I am Ian Barker, Alpha of the Ravens from the Northern Packs. Are you familiar with the name?

"I know of the Northern packs" I replied in a cold way. The North was divided into three packs due to the vast land it offered and the Ravens were the most prominent of them and a leading pack in dealings with the other regions. Intelligence, agility and a remarkable ability to adapt easily to tough situations along with the typical traits all wolves carried. I was standing in front of a wolf that embodied some of the finest characteristics of our kind. My wolf howled her excitement and I hushed her. This was not the time or place. I needed answers. She agreed. Our balance was intact.

"I had a business agreement to finalize with Alpha Anderson so I came to finish it. On my last day here, I found you in the woods." He paused like he was thinking of his next words "I have already met two other possible mates and none of them appealed to me to such a degree as to claim them as mine. I didn't expect to find another. I wasn't looking for another match".

I didn't say anything. I wanted to hear him out before I allowed any thoughts or feelings to cloud my judgment. Information is power, knowledge is power. He took my silence as permission to continue.

"However you intrigued me. I sensed symmetry in you and your wolf that is very hard to come by even in older and high ranked wolfs. So I found out about you and your family line is impressing as well as your reputation"

I didn't know if I was to feel insulted that he spent his time evaluating me like I was a worthy ventured deal or flattered that he praised me in a very weird way. His tone gave me nothing, not a single emotion.

"So I decided that I wanted to get to know you better. That and the fact that my wolf took an immediate liking to you."

"You obviously don't share the same views on everything" I couldn't stop myself from saying that.

"On the contrary, that is one thing we agreed from the start. I find you very tempting Vivian." his voice dropped a little lower and a flash of green went through his eyes. The first emotion until now.

I felt my cheeks getting a little red. This was one of my weaknesses, I could keep my composure almost through anything but I couldn't take a compliment that was related to my external appearance. I suspected my brothers had something to do with it, they loved me but I got teased enough times growing up about clothing and other girly activities that when admiration started to hit my doorstep, I got embarrassed. It was much better now, living on my own helped in more ways than one. One should feel proud about his good points, physical or mental.

He noticed and I decided to change the subject.

"Why did you want to speak to father?"

"I informed him of my intentions to get acquainted with you."

How proper of him and completely unnecessary. It would be my decision, this was always between the wolves in question providing they had reached adulthood.

"Shouldn't that be something that would be resolved between us?"

"It is and it will be but I have a special request that I would like your father to know beforehand. He assured me that it would not be needed but I must insist."

"What is it?" I couldn't think of anything that would make him do all of this.

"I must return to my pack the day after tomorrow. I understand that you have finished your studies and you are expected back home in two weeks. We live miles away and that is inconvenient for both of us. I would like you to come with me when I leave here but I want to assure that I have an appropriate amount of time with you. I want to forge an Arcto Coniunx .

To say I was surprised was an understament. What he proposed was to sign a contract of mates by exchanging blood thus allowing our wolves to connect spiritually for the duration of the contract. It allowed mind link to open which wouldn't happen if I didn't sifted my loyalty to his pack. For all indented purposes, we would be considered mates, without the ability to break it if we found another match or even our true one, not until the time agreed between us had come to pass.

He was willing to bind himself to me, even temporarely. It was quite flattering but very invasive. Usually we would spent time together like normal wolves and humans for that matter and decide if we were compatible enough to form a bond but he was an Alpha and our time would be limited. Still it was an enormous obligation for the both of us. We would feel each other's emotions, not all but enough to get answers at times.

I went ahead and asked the practical questions."What is the duration?"

"Until the Autumnal Equinox" he remained calm and collected, like he was expecting my reactions.

He wanted four months."And when will this begin?"

"I leave in two days. I want to take you with me. That means that you can't return home until late September. I know that will bring you discomfort but it cannot be helped. I must return, my time here is limited. You have until tomorrow to make your decision"

A night and possibly a day and a half didn't seem like enough time for me but what could more time give me? It was a risk either way.

"I have one more question. Besides your lack of time, why are you proposing this. I would like to know at least one other reason."

His lips curled in amusement and he walked to me. His face came close to mine but not too close. He tucked my hair behind my shoulders and said"I will give you two. You will be in my care and I want to be able to reach you wherever you are. The safety of my people is imperative to me and you will live amongst us for whatever time that will be."

He leaned closer and his mouth touched my neck for a brief moment before he spoke, close to my ear.

"And I want to have your scent in my house. It is exhilarating."

He removed himself from me and walked to the door. He turned and looked at me with those eyes that gave me shivers.

"I will wait for your decision. Until tomorrow Vivian." He exited the room and left me alone. If it was possible, I was feeling even more conflicted then when I came here. 

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