Apollo

I shift my stance slightly as I scan the forest around the pack house, taking in any scents that come as the freezing air blows through my fur. Even in this weather we can't afford to skip patrols, especially with Alpha Darin and Luna Erica away and a blizzard coming. An enemy can use it to cover their movements and ambush us.

I huff in slight annoyance, wanting nothing more than to be in my bed, getting some sleep before getting up to train the newbie warriors in combat practice tomorrow. There has recently been an opening for the Gamma position, and I've been working my ass off for the last few months to get it...and it all hinges on how well I can perform the duties of a Gamma.

However, instead of resting in my warm bed, my wolf insisted I come out for a patrol shift. Urging me to be out here, saying it's important without any explanation why. I'm losing valuable sleep here, why am I wasting it?

~You just need to be out here. It's important to both of us.~ Ronan lectures in my head.

~How is it important to us?~ I mutter back.

~Something's gonna happen, something big, I can feel it. Can't you?~

I sniff the air and move forward, taking in everything around me. Now that he mentions it, it does feel strange. The air feels...charged, or something like that. Like a storm is coming, except different somehow. It's difficult to explain.

~Whatever's gonna happen, is it good or bad?~

He ponders for a moment.

~Good. Definitely good.~

~Apollo, how are you doing? Everything clear?~ Beta Coran mind links.

~Yep, all clear Coran. How's your end?~ I reply.

~All clear on this end too. One more sweep and we'll trade off.~

~Sounds good.~

~If you don't mind me asking Apollo, why did you join us for patrols tonight? Not that we don't appreciate it or anything, but you had tonight off.~

I sigh, still wondering that myself, my vague wolf not giving me a direct answer.

~Honestly, my wolf urged me to join you. Saying it was important for us both to be here. In a good way of course.~

~Well, if your wolf senses something, you should follow it. At least that's what I've learned. A lot of bad situations have been avoided because of our wolves instincts.~

I agree silently. He's right, our wolves instincts can make the difference between life and death. I keep moving over the packs territory, checking for anything out of place. Just as I'm about to call in a rotation, the air intensifies. Seeming to be completely overwhelmed with electricity, which makes my fur stand slightly in response.

~You feel that Coran?~

~Yeah, it feels weird. What the hell is it exactly?~

Before I can reply, the last thing I expect to see in a blizzard happens. A large bolt of blue lightning rips from the heavens and strikes the earth below, hardly twenty feet in front of me. It's descent and impact sends a furious roar that could probably be heard halfway across the country, violently shaking the ground with its power and sending snow flying in its wake.

I stand in silence for a moment, completely in awe of the sight I just witnessed. Lightning? In a blizzard? How is this even remotely possible? My complete fascination makes me forget that Coran is screaming for me.

~Apollo! Apollo, are you alright?!~

I shake myself from my daze, pulling it together.

~I'm fine. It didn't hit me, but it came pretty damn close...about scared the shit outta me.~

~You and me both, and I'm glad you're alright. That was pretty powerful, especially considering this isn't lightning weather.~ He replies with obvious relief in his voice.

~I agree, which is why I'm gonna check out the impact site. Stay close.~

~Be careful, it could happen again.~

I allow the link to go silent as I approach the site of impact, trotting carefully towards the area. As I come closer, I can see a crater in the snow, it dipping downwards to the center. It has to be at least ten feet across and seven inches deep. As I move closer, I see the body of a person in the middle, lying in the snow, completely unmoving.

~Coran, get down here and link the pack doctor, someone was hit!!~

I don't even wait for a response before I jump towards the figure. As I land beside them, the most incredible scent hits my nose...one of roasted marshmallows and chocolate that makes my mouth water. Putting my muzzle close to the person below me, I inhale deeply, the scent most definitely belongs to them. Nosing at the coat, I push the hood back, revealing the most gorgeous girl I've ever seen.

~Mate.~ Ronan howls in my head.

Her heart shaped face is outlined by her black hair shaved into a Mohawk, beautiful full lips and dark skin. A small nose sits in the middle, with a pair of closed eyes above. I wish I could see those eyes, I bet they would be beautiful. 

I nuzzle into her neck, trying to wake her, enjoying the sparks from touching her skin. Something is wrong with her scent though... the marshmallows and chocolate is fine, along with the light nutty aroma that all humans have. But there are two more that are throwing me off...one of them being a light metallic scent that I have always associated with a strong thunderstorm, which doesn't shock me too much, considering she is laying where the lightning struck...

Shit!

I quickly give her a once over, checking for burns or any sign of blood. In my happiness of finding my mate, I had almost completely forgotten that this was where the lightning hit. Checking again, I'm dumbfounded, she doesn't have a single scratch on her. No marks, no burns, her clothes don't even have a burnt smell. How is it possible?

I sniff her neck again, remembering that second off scent. It smells...medical, like morphine. Who dosed her? I growl to myself.

Noticing the cold is starting to seep into her clothes, which are way too big for her, I start to nuzzle her again in an attempt to wake her, but the sound of approaching wolves sends me into defense mode.

I position myself so that I stand over her, crouching low and growling, making sure her small form is completely between my four legs. No one is touching her on my watch...especially not when she's this vulnerable. As the six wolves break through the trees, I growl louder, letting them all get the warning to back off.

~Apollo, it's us man...relax.~ Coran announces in my head, and I respectfully drop my growl and straighten out of my crouch. I still stand over my unconscious mate despite the fact she isn't in danger, at least not from the pack members.

~Are you alright? Why were you in attack position? Who was the person hit?~ He asks worriedly, noticing my still defensive behavior. He steps closer, and I fight against the urge to growl at him.

~They're right here. And I'm fine...the girl wasn't hit, but she's unconscious.~ I answer, tensing back up as the others look at the girl I'm guarding.

~Well, the pack doctor is ready for her. I can shift back and carry her-~

A harsh growl rumbles from my chest, making Coran jump back in surprise.

~Apollo?~

~Mine.~ I growl out, me and Ronan speaking together. Neither of us liking the idea of another man touching her, even if it's the Beta who's already mated.

~Of course Apollo.~ He replies, his eyes widening in surprise and happiness.

I could feel the other wolves, warrior wolves more specifically, happiness as well. They all knew about how unsuccessful I've been in the earlier searches for my mate, and now she practically lands in my lap.

Coran leaves for a few minutes and comes back with a pair of pants, which happen to be mine, in his muzzle. I pull them on after shifting back, thankful that I had hid some out here in case of emergencies. Lifting my mate into my arms, we begin to make our way to the pack house, moving quickly as Coran calls for a rotation in patrol. Looking down at the girl in my arms, I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead.

"I can't wait to actually meet you, my love."

~~~~~~

I keep a vigilant watch over my mates unconscious form, listening to her heartbeat and watching the rise and fall of her chest. After I had brought her to the pack doctor, she had found an empty tranquilizer dart inside one of her coat sleeves. She had been dosed with a high potency tranquilizer, meaning it would take a couple of days to fully burn out of her system.

I've been here all night, and I slept just enough to get a bit of rest. The rest of the time I've stayed awake and watched her sleep, trying to figure out exactly who she is, and why she was shot with a tranquilizer dart. The only theories I've come up with are one, it was an accident, or two, someone is after her. The first being unlikely, and the latter one sets both me and my wolf on edge, just the idea of someone hurting our mate stirs up our bloodlust.

So, as a precaution, the pack has amped up patrols, increasing patrol shifts and sizes to make sure nothing and no one came too close. The warriors are more than happy to make sure the mate of their future Gamma is safe, so there were no complaints about it.

The next mystery I'm still trying to figure out is the lightning bit. She had been found in the epicenter of where the lightning struck, but she was completely unharmed. Not that I am complaining, but the circumstances of her arrival in my life are completely bizarre. So, I decided to call the pack mystic to see if she could tell me anything.

Due to the weather though, it would be some time before she arrived, so I can only wait. However, there is a more pressing matter at hand right at the moment. My parents. My mom and dad had found out about her through the grapevine, which doesn't surprise me, they hear about almost everything whether they are retired or not.

They want to meet her, especially my mother, which worries me. Not that I think they won't like her, but because I haven't even met her yet. She hasn't opened her eyes once since we arrived...I don't even know her name. I sigh in frustration as I lean back in my chair, inhaling her sweet scent as I try to relax. I suppose it will be fine, as long as my mate is asleep my mother can't pester her with five thousand questions.

That will be my job first.

After about an hour I finish the paperwork for my Gamma title....I had to do it anyway, and with nothing else to do it's a decent distraction until my parents come by. I stretch and return to my seat next to my mate...as much as I like calling her that, I really want to know her name.

Gently, I pick up her small hand between my large ones, enjoying the sparks that erupt on my skin. As small as she looks, I feel as if she's even deadlier than she seems. Like her small stature is just an illusion to her real power. I smile at the thought, being strong is a plus in the werewolf world.

"I wish I knew your name, my love. I have a feeling it will be beautiful." I whisper to her silent form, hoping a part of her could hear me. The doc said she was only drugged to sleep, so it was just a matter of time before she woke up. A knock sounds at the door, and as I inhale the outside scent, I brace myself for a hurricane of trouble.

"Come in."

My parents open the door, my mother practically knocking my father over as she runs in.

"There's my baby boy!!!" She cries out in excitement, crushing me in a tight hug. I pat her back in an effort to get her to release me.

"Hi Mom..."

"Now Talia, don't suffocate the poor boy." My father laughs as he watches his mate squeeze the life out of me.

"But Sam, I haven't seen him in months!!"

"Mom, it hasn't even been a month since my last visit. Don't exaggerate." I say after managing to pry myself from her clutches. I see her pout and my dad chuckles.

"Still, it's been too long."

I sigh and return to gaze at my sleeping mate, who is lucky to be oblivious to the chaos right now.

"So, this is the girl that the moon goddess chose as your mate?" My father asks as they look to her as well, seeming to take in every detail of her face.

"Yes, this is her."

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" My mother states.

"Yeah, she is." I answer, pushing a lock of her hair out of her face.

"Oh my goddess, I can already imagine the pups." My mother squeals, and I stifle the urge to blush.

"Mom! I just found her!! And we haven't even formally met yet, just slow down would ya?"

"I know, I know. I just really want some grandbabies, your brothers aren't even old enough to find their mates yet!"

I groan and my father laughs at my mothers antics. My two younger brothers, Jace who is 15, and Kyon who just turned 7, both have a while before meeting their mates. I haven't told them about my mate yet and asked my parents not to either, I want to wait until our family dinner tonight...and I sigh at the thought. That means I'll have to leave her side tonight.

While my parents are here, I explain the circumstances of finding her. The tranquilizer, the lightning, her lack of injuries. I told them about contacting the pack mystic to try and get some answers. As we talk, I continue holding her hand, stroking it with my thumb as I silently contemplate who she is yet again. Wondering how she would react to me and the fact that werewolves exist, that they aren't as fictional as people like to believe.

Well, there is only one way to find out.