Apologies with roses.

Faouzia ' Minefields.

Marquee Nile.

"So you found your mate?" Cornell asked skeptically as I sat on the couch in his office whilst he paced infront of me. "Yes, I did." The love of my life, my everything, the man who would carry our children, the wolf who belonged with me, the one I would die for. The alpha still looked stunned, he was used to being drunk and processing slowly, right now wasn't a good time, I got that well. "When did this happen exactly?" He asked again with that perplexed face. "A week, give or take a few days in." I replied with a smile on my face and he finally glared at me.

"You tell me now!" There it was, the why I hadn't told him sooner so we could paint the town red in celebration, I had several reasons, but the most important one, I wanted my mate to be integrated into the pack, on his own terms, oh how I missed him. "I'm sorry, Xavier just wanted a little more time, he still does." I explained and kicked myself for mentioning his name, that was trouble brewing there. "Wait a minute, it's Xavier, damn I thought you'd never hit that!" I wondered if I should be happy or angry to hear that, it was a conflicting mess, on the other hand my best friend, turned alpha acted like a teenager in heat, so anything goes.

"Yes, he's my mate and I would like you to hold off on your party wagon, we're doing this by his terms." I warned knowing Cornell was very capable of ruining things, even with good intentions, it rarely came across as such and I had make sure to keep him in line. "Fine fine, but man, congratulations." He finally cheered up as he more or less fell on me, whilst in his own way trying to hug me, was it possible for wolves to be sensible when drunk and the opposite when sober because Cornell was demonstrating some weird things, he really needed to lay off the wolfrum for a bit.

"I'm happy for you." He genuinely addressed and I nodded in appreciation, I was glad he wasn't badgering me with more questions, at least this way, I could ask him for the favour I needed. "So having told you about my mate, I need a favour." I mumbled slowly and he raised an eyebrow asking what I needed. "I can't go to the festival in Sandton Bay, I promised I would go but with recent developments, my mate and our son need me." I asked hoping he wouldn't be too adamant, I couldn't handle leaving my mate for another week.

"Let me think about it, no, you're going." He refused, an inner groan and careful wordplay, I was ready to beg him. "Cornell, please, I just met my mate, and I need to court him before my wolf starts clawing to— you know." I expressed and confusion set on his face before it dawned on him. "Ohh, before he wants to eat his delectable mate in one swoop, you sly dog." He added making me  groan, my alpha had the dirtiest mind I could possibly know and never grasp, I also didn't take too well to being called a dog, it was demeaning.

"C'mon Cornell, if you go, think about the endless opportunities you'd have to find a nice girl or guy to indulge, a big strong alpha like you in a place full of horny wolves, they will fall at your feet, you might even fall in love." The last part was a bit of a stretch but I had to argue something right and it seemed to have worked, he was thinking it over. "You do make great points, fine I will go, on condition that when I get back your mate and I have dinner at his or your house, also you handle pack business while I'm gone." He accepted and I hugged him, he had just spared me a lot of begging.

"Thank you Cornell, and it was pretty obvious I would be handling the pack, who would I be if not your beta." I cockily responded and the alpha only replied with a snicker. "I did hope he found someone at the festival, he might not settle down but someone to just hold his hand through the bad and good." I gotta go, if I'm going I need clothes, better get shopping." He announced as he half hugged me and walked out of the office, I followed suit knowing I hadn't seen my mate in a week, we had talked several times over the week but it didn't compare to physical interaction and that's what I craved, so I made my way down to the ground floor.

Wolves passed me, several of them lived in the pack house, but most lived in their own homes in pack territory of course, I hadn't told my mate yet but all the running and constant meetings that I had were to buy more land for the pack, specifically in the area his house was, now it was in pack territory, safe and secure, I wouldn't worry so much with wolves who kept us safe patrolling the perimeter, even if it was a bit far from his house, he was still a bit more safe.

Walking out of the packhouse I headed for the Ferrari convertible, I had asked Xavier for it, he barely drove it and he could understand how much I wanted to drive it but after promising he would remain my first and only love, men and cars, mates become inexistent because of those blasted machines, he had told me when he handed me the keys and I vowed to love him forever, now it was time to return it and apologize for being away for so long, he and Jude would and must have been worried about me not coming over, and I wanted to take away that stress.

So I got into the car and headed for my mother's first, I had to pick up something special from her. Driving as fast as I could obviously avoiding hitting hamsters and squirrels, I got to my mother's house in one piece just as Granger drove up the walk way. "No way, no mother freaking way!" He all but yelled when I climbed out of the car. "You got a Ferrari!" He shouted making me laugh at how unbelievable it seemed. "Hello to you too nephew." I asserted and he reigned in his excitement. "Hie uncle Marquee." He replied whilst trying to wrap his arms around me and hopelessly failing. "Now tell me if I can drive the sleek speed machine." He asked with a hopeful look but his dreams had to be crushed for now.

"If I could I would—" I was cut off by my mother  "You're late." She hissed whilst walking toward the walkway with the bouquet in hand. "Sorry ma." I apologized and she rolled her eyes. "I wrapped it nicely for him, he'll love you fom it, bring him for dinner soon okay honey." She exclaimed and all I could do was nod, she was eager to meet Xavier ever since I told her about it, I was uneasy about how to introduce Jude though, but that was another problem to deal with later.

"Oh grans  special roses for your mate, lovely." Granger teased as I smacked his head. "Hey, oww, it's true isn't it." He argued and I rolled my eyes whilst walking away. "See you later kiddo, I have a mate to see and beg for mercy from." I called out as I buckled in, oh how I loved the purr of the engine. It didn't take time to get to Xavier's house, what had me trembling was what I was going to say, the truth was all I was going for but not having being around for so long would have him mad, I hoped not that baldly.

I drove up his pristine walkway and before the engine shut off Jude came out running through the front double doors. "Uncle Marquee!" He excitedly squeeled whilst launching himself into my arms, the kid got even  more good looking each time I saw him. "Hello my love, I missed you." I spoke whilst placing kisses all over his face and his giggles filled the air around us, he was nolonger sick or riddled with a heaviness, he seemed like a normal kid growing up with love all around him.

Our chat was cut short when I felt him, his scent wafted everywhere, invading the air I breathed, I reveled in it, so I positioned Jude in my arms carefully and held out the bouquet of roses specially made for him. "Honey I'm home." I whispered as his body made contact with mine, I expected anger or at least a vase thrown at me but he just hugged me. "I missed you." He whispered as I could hear small sniffles from his hidden face, I really should've come back earlier. "I'm sorry, I should've come back early, forgive me bella." I asserted handing him the roses after the long minutes of our hug.

"They are beautiful." He mumbled whilst taking in their scent. "Just like you, or rather you're more beautiful than them." I added sweetly and seeing his blush I knew I had accomplished my goal. "Would you like to come in?" There was no place I wanted to be, I was home.

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LMJ