For the next few days, Akela was pampered, fed and tended to as if she was a treasured guest.

The Alpha family had given her full freedom to roam the territory, but Akela felt scared. What if she went too far? What if she crossed the borders and got lost?

"You're worried again," Zion observed.

Akela was sat in the living room pretending to read a book, but in reality worrying about never seeing Kira again.

She nodded.

"We'll find a way to get Kira here, don't worry. Dad was saying about setting up a trade agreement, just to get a reason to meet Alpha Preston," Zion smiled.

Akela looked up and her spine shivered as their eyes met. Slowly she was getting used to his unusual voice and the human expressions of his face.

For a long time, they were simply sat there, looking. Soft tendrils of Akela's soul reached out to sense him. His tail was slowly wagging, and she felt his intense joy at just breathing the same air as her.

She was so at peace with him.

It hadn't taken long to realise that while Abel could charm the socks off a penguin, Zion went out of his way to make sure she was comfortable and happy. 

"Would you go with them?" Akela asked.

"Huh?" Zion uttered.
He had been so completely lost in daydreams about the girl in front of him he wasn't sure what she was asking.

"Would you go with your dad to the north to find Kira?" Akela clarified with a small smile.

Zion smiled back. It looked so weird on his wolf face, but Akela decided in that moment that she liked it. He looked so genuine. As if every emotion altered his whole being.

He shook his head.

"I stay on Connor turf... I can't run with the wolves and I can't hide among humans," he shook his head with a slight frown.

Akela nodded. She had been a new girl in too many packs to pretend she didn't know what it meant to be stared at. Or mistaken for Kira. Or be called "The other one" because Kira was the outgoing twin.

They were quiet again. Zion fiddled with the sleeves of his jumper before he looked up at her again.

"Do you think... I mean... You don't really think we're both made for you do you?" he observed.

Akela nodded.

"How is having two mates going to work?" she asked with a slight scoff.

Zion shrugged and looked at the floor.

"Well... I figured... with me being a halfie... I might not be made for anyone," he mumbled.

"So you think I'm Abel's? And you're extra?" Akela asked, not able to hold back a small smile.

Zion nodded.

"I've dreamt of my true mate my whole life. Just one. My one," she said.

Zion nodded as if bracing himself for bad news.

"I was told... My mum always said... That there was one. My one. Who would complete me and make my heart sing," Akela muttered.

Zion sighed heavily and nodded.

"I don't want two mates. There is only one of me, and I don't even know if there's enough of me to keep one man happy, never mind two!" she said quietly.

Zion gave her a look through his eyelashes. Akela couldn't take her eyes off the sadness in them. in the link between them, she felt his exact emotions. He was trying to hide how his heart longed for her, but Akela sensed it, and she had to fight back a warm tenderness.

"You'd be more than enough for me...." he smiled carefully, causing a million butterflies to take flight in her chest.

Before Akela had a chance to reply, Abel burst in and sat next to Akela.

"Why am I feeling emotional spikes, my mate?" he asked with a suspicious squint towards his older brother.

Akela shook her head.

"Is that ruffian flirting with you?" Abel asked and lay his arm over Akela's shoulder.

"We're just talking Abe," Zion grumbled.

"Is he trying to turn you against me? Because if he is, I can tell you right now, it's all lies, lies, lies..." Abel smirked and sent Akela a flirty grin that had her stomach bottoming out. 

God this man was beautiful. With dimples, you could crawl into and eyes that sparkled with confidence and open adoration for her.

"Actually..." Abel said and straightened his face a bit.

"I was going to ask you if you'd go on a date with me? Dinner, movie, maybe a walk in the park?" he said and Akela felt a painful jolt of something between resentment and jealousy spike into her from Zion, who was still sat there staring at the floor.

"What's a date?" she asked.

"Ah... you've never been on one? Right. We go into the human town. I take you to a restaurant, maybe the Rose for our first date? And then a walk or a movie or something that will give us a chance to know each other... Just us... No interruptions?" Abel explained.

"No interruptions my ass..." Zion mumbled.

Akela stared at Abel and shook her head.

"Human town?" she asked doubtfully, terrified of the idea.

"It's safe. It's where we go out when we want entertainment or supplies," Abel smiled that million dollar Hollywood smile. 

Akela had seen movies before. Most packs had at least one TV. And right now, Abel looked like one of those glamorous male stars, despite his scruffy stubble and smelling of manual labour, sawdust, and fresh sweat.

Akela shot Zion a look.

"He can't come with us... for obvious reasons... In addition to the fact I'd like some time alone with you," Abel smiled, his confidence faltering slightly.

"I... I don't know..." Akela stammered.

"I'll treat you better than you've ever dreamed of," Abel begged, no longer just talking about the date.

"Abel!" Zion warned.

"Zion, butt out!" Abel smirked back.

Akela shook her head, mildly overwhelmed.

"Will you two leave her alone?" River warned from the hallway where she was following a crawling Felan in his exploration.

"I'm only asking my mate on a date... Hey, it rhymed!" Abel smiled.

River looked behind her at Gervais, communicating something to the man who so obviously adored her. The Alpha smiled and nodded back in agreement.

"You're right," he smiled at his Luna.

"What?" Abel and Zion asked.

"I'll talk to dad," Gervais nodded at River and left the room.

Akela looked at River's friendly smile. The Luna was fast becoming one of Akela's favourite people. She was resourceful and always knew how to solve a problem. 

"So how about that date?" Abel pestered again and gave Akela's shoulder a spontaneous kiss. 

She really had to focus to keep her head straight around this guy. He was so charming and beautiful she felt herself swoon, but then there was Zion, his permanent happy smile gone and his usually wagging tail hung limp as he glared at his younger brother.

"Not yet. I want to find Kira before I let myself get distracted," Akela shook her head and pushed Abel away. 

It took an effort, but eventually, he budged.

"I'll wait," Abel winked which made Zion huff deeply and leave the room.

"You're an ass!" Akela accused.

"I wouldn't be if he stopped flirting with my mate," Abel grinned confidently.

"Abel! Don't you have work to do?" River asked.

"Oh yeah! The new Alpha family residence!" Abel chuckled and pretended he had forgotten the almost finished house.

"Silly me," he grinned and facepalmed dramatically before lifting little Felan for a quick cuddle. 

"You're gonna live there, so I better get going before you start glaring at me like your mama does," Abel cooed and placed the squirming baby back on the floor before disappearing out the door.

River shook her head, giving Akela a dramatic eyeroll to show sympathy with her cause.

A couple of days later, Akela was sat in the comfortable kitchen with Diana and Nia, trying to understand the importance they placed on school.

"We live so near the human town, we can use the system they have and improve the pack," Diana smiled and showed Akela a stack of flyers for various education options.

"So... you're going to learn how to be... a ...  pilot?" Akela asked looking at the top flyer advertising for the airforce.

"Nope. Failed the eye test," Diana chuckled and held out another flyer for the police training programme.

"I'm going to be a police officer!" She said proudly

Akela nodded. It made sense for a delta prime.

"What about you, Nia?" Akela asked the other girl.

Almost a week in and the most Nia had volunteered was to scoff or pout at Akela. From the way she would hang on Abel's arm, Akela figured that the situation was more complicated than a simple crush.

Akela hated seeing how Nia would follow Abel like a lost puppy. There was nothing to say he wanted Nia, but Akela's bond with him hurt when Nia pouted.
And he knew it.
Because every time, he would brush Nia off and send Akela a flash of that gorgeous smile instead, which would draw a warning grumble from Zion and start a glaring match between the brothers.

"I'm the pack hairdresser," Nia announced proudly and flicked her own sleek, brown hair over a shoulder.

Akela nodded in approval.

"Would you do mine?" Akela asked in an attempt to be friendly. Her own hair was unkempt but not too bad. The only time it had ever been cut was when she was five and it got matted with sap from a pine tree.

Nia huffed and glanced up at her.

"You need a full makeover!" She said, measuring Akela with her eyes.

"Makeover?" Akela asked.

"Hair, face, clothes, personality..." Nia smirked and received a warning nudge from Diana.

Akela looked directly at her.

"But then... even a wild wolf, like you, won't have to make too much effort to impress Zion. He'd be grateful for anything," Nia challenged.

Akela sat there with her jaw slack. Diana was glaring at Nia.

"What? Everyone knows Abel is mine. I'm not going to let some unwashed, wild rogue walk in and take him," Nia announced.

Akela drew a few deep breaths to control her anger and hurt while Nia's smirk widened.

"That's enough, Nia!" A darkly threatening voice said from the back door. With him came the scent of wood shavings and a secure, protective wave of belonging.

"Abel!" Nia smiled sweetly.

"My bond is with Akela! My soul is tied to her! Get it into your head, Nia! You are not my mate!" Abel snarled.

"I could be... if she chooses Zion," Nia said uncertainly.

"I'm not interested in placing a black claim!" Abel declared and came to where Akela was looking between the two of them in confusion.
Looking over at Diana was no help. She was glaring daggers at Nia.

"Don't listen to her! I'm yours!" Abel said firmly as he sat on the bench next to Akela, his concerned eyes looking directly into hers.

He was so reassuring. So handsome. So worried.
Akela nodded and saw the relief wash over him.

"Good!" He whispered softly and gave her one of those smiles that could stop time.
His hand gently stroked her cheek, as if brushing off a non-existent tear, before he stood up and walked to the counter to get the coffee he had come in for.
With a small wink, he placed a cup in front of Akela as well before he poured his own into a stainless steel thermo-mug and went to the door.

"If you see River, tell her I need a decision on the bannister," he told Diana and disappeared back out to continue working on the new home for Alpha Gervais and Luna River.

Nia was sat with a glare at Akela for a few moments until Diana tossed the police academy info on the table and stood.

"Come!" Diana grinned and grabbed Akela's hand.

Akela grabbed her mug of coffee on her way past before being dragged out of the kitchen.

"You can drink that in my room," Diana chuckled at the other girl's sudden addiction to the dark liquid.

Once upstairs Akela was parked in a chair next to a dressing table full of tiny bottles in a wide range of colours.

"Girl time! No Nia!" Diana announced and swiped her hand out to indicate the nail polish.

Akela looked at her in confusion.

"Pick a colour," Diana grinned.

Akela looked at all the bottles and lifted one in a bronze, somehow the shimmery liquid reminded her of Zion's eyes.

"Okay. Boring brown..." Diana laughed.

Akela put the bottle back down.

"What is this for?" She asked.

"Oh. We're painting your nails,"  Diana smiled and grabbed Akela's hand, starting to file the nails.

"Paint my nails?" Akela asked in bafflement.

"Yep. It's a human thing..." Diana nodded.

Akela watched the way Diana moved the file, shaping her nails to perfect ovals.

"You can change your mind... pick a different colour if you want," Diana smiled warmly.

Akela picked up the shimmery brown again, studying it.

"Why did you pick that? It's the most boring one," Diana frowned.

Akela smiled and shook the bottle.

"I don't know... " Akela wondered.

Diana gave her a simple smile that made Akela feel at home with her.

"It reminded me of the colour of Zion's eyes," Akela admitted quietly.

Diana nodded with a smirk.

"I don't know... I mean... Abel's eyes are pretty too...." Akela hurried to say.

"But not as expressive as Zion's," Diana grinned.

Akela nodded sheepishly.

"You're allowed to say it, Akela," Diana smiled warmly.

Akela shook her head.

"I don't know how to choose. They both feel so.... real," she admitted.

"Because of your sister?" Diana asked.

Akela nodded with tears forming.

"I think one of them is really made for Kira... But I don't know which one," She sniffed.

"But she's tied to Alpha Preston..." Diana nodded.

"And I can't take her true mate... She'll need him when she gets free from Preston," Akela replied.

Diana studied Akela carefully.

"Can I ask you a favour?" She asked.

Akela nodded.

"Because they are my brothers..." Diana said.

Akela nodded again. Diana was trying to think of the right words.

"And because I can see that you are a good person..." Diana smiled.

Akela gave a careful smile back.

"Please don't reject Zion because of the way he looks," Diana said.
Akela saw the fierce protection in her eyes.

"Why would I do that? Zion is..." Akela wondered but stopped herself with a sudden realisation.

"Wait. You mean... " she frowned and saw Diana nod.

"Zion was in love once. The girl refused to even give him a chance. She called him a freak," Diana muttered darkly and Akela felt a primal growl build at the thought of someone else owning Zion's heart. Someone who hurt him.

"Ida. She's mated to one of my deltas now," Diana said.

"But she called him a freak?" Akela asked again.

"Yep. Cold hearted bitch!" Diana grumbled.

"But...Zion is beautiful. He's perfect!" Akela smiled and saw Diana frown in doubt.

"In the Inuit packs, they believe that Lycans originally were half man half wolf but that the wolf shape split from the man shape when this one Lycan nearly froze to death in the winter," Akela smiled.

"So you don't mind that Zion is a halfie?" Diana asked.

"No. He's the true Lycan! The original shape," Akela grinned.

Diana studied her for a second, seeing more than Akela consciously revealed.

"You prefer Zion!" She grinned.

"I don't... I haven't..." Akela blushed.

"I love my brothers. All three of them. Both these dingbats have their flaws. Abel can be a bit arrogant and Zion tends to throw himself under the bus, but I know both of them will be fantastic mates. You'll be well taken care of with either of them," Diana smiled.

"I just want someone who loves me," Akela replied softly.

"They both will. I'm pretty sure they already do," Diana smiled.

At the back of Akela's mind, she picked up two men whose thoughts were on her. There was no telling which felt truer. 

She looked at Diana with eyes overflowing.

"It's too much!" she whispered.

Diana tilted her head in a mind link before focusing back on Akela with a smile.

"We'll do this and then Dad wants to take you for a run. He will answer a few of your questions," Diana smiled reassuringly, picking the bottle of nail polish back up to finish Akela's nails.