Scott Elrod of course as Matthias

"How was training today?" I asked Dawson, my head warrior.

"It was great, Alpha Matthias." He said.

"Good, I expect nothing but the best." I said continuing on with my walk.

I wonder when Kieth will get here, I knew he wanted to tell me something but he was being vague on details.

Walking back to the packhouse and to the Alpha suite, I ran into Lakyn, my Beta.

"Lakyn, what's on my agenda? You're better at keeping track of those than I am."

"Well since you and Keith have returned from Alpha Gregory's wedding, you have several requests from members wanting to go find their mates as well as meetings with investors and contractors, things of that nature." He said.

"Ok, just find out when I have those meetings and I'll fill out the requests and whatever else." I said and he nodded.

"Did you hear Keith got himself a roommate?" Lakyn asked.

"Of course I did, I was the first person he told when he brought the kid to his place. We are dating." I emphasized 'dating'.

"Did you remember to eat this morning? I can hear your stomach from here." He chuckled from the door.

"I did but that was breakfast, it's now midday so yes, I'm a little hungry but Keith should be on his way for his lunch break." I spoke.

"Very well Alpha, good luck with the paperwork." He said and off he went as I got to work.

As I finished the stacks of requests, in came Lakyn and Keith with two more stacks along with a sweet aroma that was coming from Keith, making my mouth water and getting turned on suddenly.

"I've been back for a few days, where was this hiding?" I asked my sneaky Beta and he shrugged and chuckled.

"It's things the contractors, interior designer and electrician and so on for your restaurant you're wanting to build in New York so you need to look over it as well as more pack stuff. Also you needed to catch up on the other stuff first so I worked on some of this in my office, there's some files that just need your signature and others that I can't do myself that are your files for the new restaurant." Lakyn said and put them on my desk.

"Here's your straight bourbon on the rocks you'll be needing." Keith said with a smile.

"Remind me why we're together?" I asked.

"Ouch, that hurt, love." Keith said covering his heart.

"You fell for me first, knowing I was a sarcastic and brutally honest son of a gun so unfortunately I cannot take that back." I huffed out and Lakyn left us be.

"That's not what at all what attracted me to you. You know why I did." He said sitting on the corner of my desk being unoccupied by papers.

"Yes, you said it was my intelligence, physical strength as well as my confidence in myself despite what others think." I repeated his words from long ago.

"I can't help that I love a strong man with confidence." He snickered.

"Well this strong man is about to take you to his bed because you smell divine." I said getting up and found myself between his legs and trapping him on my desk.

"What has gotten into you all of a sudden? I've been here for at least fifteen minutes or so now." He said in shock.

"You just smell different and it's heavenly." I inhaled his scent.

"Are you sure? I mean nothing's changed in the year of us dating but..." He said sliding off of my desk.

"But...?" I asked.

"My roommate..." He said as he was pacing, looking at me and to the floor a few times. I can see he's put two and two together just as I have?

This kid, is he really my mate?

"Of course he is, we're not naive, we're not children who second guess." My wolf, Hati said to me.

"Well aren't you aggressively eager." I said. Twenty seven years we've waited for our mate.

"What's going on...?" Keith asked and I grabbed him, put him over my shoulder just for the hell of it and carried him outside, got into my car and drove the half hour to Franklin where his house was.

"What do you know about your roommate?" I asked not out of jealousy but curiosity.

"Well..." Was all he said before he told me in detail of my possible mate's life story up until this morning.

"I'm sure you already know why I'm asking all this." I said.

"I do, unfortunately it seems he's not here." He said with a sigh as I pulled into his driveway, the lights were out in the house and there was no noise coming from inside.

"I don't want to lose you, I'm in love with you Matthias." He said as he broke down and I held him as he cried, tugging at my heartstrings from how broken he sounds. God I do love him, he saw me for me, not how I act for everyone else to see.

"I know and I've grown to love you as well don't want to lose you either. I know your love is genuine and believe me when I say mine is as well, it may not seem like it at this moment but I truly want you to be happy, can you be truly happy with me knowing I may have found my mate? I will forever love you, there's no reason for you to ever doubt my love for you Keith." I said trying to be as genuine and sincere with my words. I know I'm no good with emotions but logic is my game.

"You're right, but, I wished we had more time. I love you, you make things better." He said and bit his lip and tried to even out his breathing.

"We can have more time, it's your choice but I am willing to still be with you, even if I met my mate. What we have is real Keith, you don't see me for my age, for my hard ass persona, you see me for the man I have buried deep inside and being with you makes me want to be a better man."

"So I guess now would be the time I tell you that Ashton is my second chance mate? That's what I was going to tell you earlier, that's why I took him in because I couldn't let him be on the streets knowing he's well our mate and that I could help him. I was planning on ending things with you but now, I can't. I love you too much to let you go Matthias, I'll always love you. We just have another person to love." He said and I kissed the shit out of him, making him whimper and wrap his arms around my neck and straddle my legs as he got on top of me and clinging onto me like a needy child needing comfort.

"I want you." He said as he kissed my neck, making me grip his hips to stop him from grinding his ass on me.

"The next time we fuck is with our mate." I said and he whined causing me to chuckle.

"Fine, if we must wait we will." He said and I kissed him again.

The sound of tapping on my window brought me out of my drunken Keith daze and looked at the person standing there, a beautiful angel who has ever walked this earth stood there with his bright light brown eyes, his soft looking brown hair blowing gently in the wind and his freckles littering his tan cheeks, taking my breath away.

"Our mate! He's here, he's so beautiful." Hati purred at the sight of our mate standing there with the moonlight shining down on him, making him look so flawless and glowing.

"Keith, what are you doing home? I thought you were out for the night." His voice, so soft and delicate, the most beautiful sound I had ever heard in my life.

Keith sat in the other seat and opened the door and got out of the car and I did as well, wanting to meet my mate.

"Yea I ah forgot something so Matthias brought me back." Keith smoothly lied to our mate.

"Ashton this is Matthias Striker, Matthias this is Ashton Cooke." Keith introduced us and Ashton put his hand out towards me.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Matthias." My name on his tongue sounded like angels singing and I had a hard time finding my voice as I just kept staring at him.

"Are you going to speak or no? I felt and still feel the same way but you have to speak to him." Keith asked, chuckling through our private link, bringing me back to earth.

"It's nice to meet you too Ashton." I said and shook his hand. When his soft warm hand was in mine, I had to hold back a moan from the pleasurable sparks that shot through my arm to my heart.

"Ok well have fun Keith, I gotta get to bed, I have work in the morning." Ashton excused himself but before he could take a step away, I gently grabbed his very thin arm. Concern filled my heart for his health at how thin just his arm is.

"Can't you stay up for just a little bit longer?" I didn't mean for it to sound so desperate but fuck, I waited half my life for my mate, I didn't want to be apart from him so soon after meeting him.

"It's already almost ten and I have to be in at seven, I'm sorry." He apologizes like it's his fault he has to work but I wanted him to stay with me.

"It's fine Ashton, go rest and make sure to eat breakfast before leaving in the morning, alright?" Keith said and Ashton nodded.

"I know, I've had this routine for a week now. You don't need to worry so much Keith." Yes we do, we're your mates, we're always going to worry about you.

"Just go to bed and eat please, don't sass just do." Keith said and Ashton smirked and it was fucking sexy as hell.

"Whatever you say, Black Hammer." Ashton teased and Keith's mouth dropped to the ground and his dark skin got red.

I couldn't help it, I tried to hold it in but I felt the laughter bubble up in my stomach until it reached my mouth and I laughed so hard my stomach hurt, with tears falling out of my eyes bending over trying to keep my balance from falling from laughing so hard.

"Oh shit that was classic!" I said as I tried to calm down but one look at Keith as he playfully glared at Ashton and I lost it again.

"It's not that funny babe!" Keith whined and Ashton skickered.

"I gotta say it kinda was. I mean I have never seen a black man blush that hard before." Ashton said and laughed a little but held it in for Keith's sake I'm sure.

"Don't pout, you're too cute to pout." Ashton said and walked over to Keith and kissed his cheek.

"Mhm, you should get to bed though, you have a long shift tomorrow, remember?" Keith said and Ashton sighed softly.

"Yes I remember, I have my schedule on the fridge to remind me every time I open it. Good night Keith, good night Matthias." Ashton waved and walked up to the door and went inside.

"Are you alright?" Keith asked me as I kept looking at the door, hoping for Ashton to come back out.

"Yes, I just can't believe after so many years and thinking I didn't have a mate, I find him. No wonder I didn't before, he's so young. What if he thinks I'm some kind of pedo creep wanting to just use him?" I was worried. He's a young adult and I'm a middle aged man, I can't not be around him to get to know him and be with him. Not after so long.

"You just have to get to know him and tell him who you are to him, just like I'm doing. It's not easy living with him and not tell him he's my mate and take him to bed, trust me on that. The attraction is there and the playful flirting so he's starting to feel the bond and he will with you, just give it a little time. Since he's both our mate, you can get to know him when you and I are here and he's here and it'll be like we're just hanging out but we know it's more until we tell him. Just be a little more patient, I know it's easier said than done but we have to be." He has a point but he doesn't understand, half my life I have felt empty and like I was cursed in a way and to find out my boyfriend was living with my mate and meeting him finally, I just want to hold him and never let him go.

"Go in and cuddle with him, he's ours." Hati said and it was so tempting to do but I didn't want to freak him out.

"I wish Hati, Goddess I wish we could." I sighed and Keith smiled softly at me.

"I know." Is all he said, he knows me so well.

The next morning I felt weird, happier even, was this what having a true mate was like? I had to tell the other Alphas, god I sound like a hormonal teenager who got asked out by their crush, gross.

"Matthias my friend." Gregory said.

"Matthias, you're never one to call first, are you under attack?" Ajax asked.

"Hello everyone, and Ajax no I'm not under attack. I'm actually calling because I found my mate, who oddly enough is Keith's second chance mate." I said and couldn't help the smile that was plastered on my lips at the mention of my mate.

"Congratulations, It's been a long time coming." They all said in their own way.

"So you and Keith aren't mates?" Jacob asked.

"No, Jacob." I said. I don't blame him though. Only Gregory and Ajax knew.

"Congratulations nonetheless Matthias, If anyone deserves it more it would be you." Ryker said.

"Thank you, Ryker, I appreciate it." I said.

"I can't wait until you're the one getting married." I heard Travis in the back.

"I was barely able to say hi to the boy. He's Keith's roommate which is hard in itself that he's with our mate." I began to explain what Keith told me.

"That's so sad." Ryker said.

"It is." I said nodding to myself.

Before hanging up with them, I agreed we should all meet up when Keith and I tell Ashton about us.

"Was that the other Alpha's?" Keith asked as he brought me breakfast.

"It was, I told them about Ashton. Are you on your way to the station?" I asked taking a bite of the food made.

"You didn't tell them everything I told you, did you?" He asked, eyeing me for my answer.

"No, some things are better left just between us, I don't know everything of Gregory and Ajax's mate's pasts so no need to tell them about Ashtons, especially when he didn't have much of a choice and had a hard life." I said and felt my heart squeeze at the thought of my sweet mate suffering all his life like he has. His hard times are over now though since he has Keith and I.

I'm sure there is a lot more he hasn't told Keith but I'll find out in time, I'm obviously a very patient man.

"Who made this? No offense, but you're not a breakfast person." I said.

"I mess up on pancakes six times and I'm labeled for life. To answer your question, Ashton made it, by the way, he said you should really fire your pastry chef at your newest Nashville location on the tour bus route." He said and I chuckled.

"He's not the only person to complain, I'm just trying to find a replacement." I sighed.

"Is it that bad?" He asked.

"I've had several people complain so yes, It's just everyone I hire is too by the book, they don't cook from the heart, they're not spontaneous. Just because the restaurants I own are extravagant means my dessert has to be trash." I said.

"So a home baker would be fine?" Keith asked.

"Yes, why do you ask?" I asked.

"Our mate, remember him? The brown-eyed sexy man we both crave like crazy." He said.

"I completely forgot I've just been caught up in the fact I do have a mate after all." I said and he smirked.

"Shut it...I don't want to hear you say it." I glared at him.

"Ok, see you later then." He said kissing me and left.

As my day went on, as usual, I got a text from Keith saying he couldn't take Ashton anything for dinner cause he was dealing with something. He also said Ashton knew I'd be coming so it wouldn't look weird.

It's been a bit since I had the chance to cook for anyone since Keith always beat me to it anytime we were both off. I wonder what I should make him, I have no idea what he likes.

"Go all out, be yourself." Hati said.

"Steak and potatoes with rosemary and garlic." He huffed and I just took that as he agreed.

As I finished cooking I realized I spent quite a bit having a mental battle with myself and Hati.

"Calm down, he's going to love it. You did well for our mate. He's a bit thin so we have to fatten the poor boy." Hati said with a whimper.

"We'll take care of him Hati, don't worry." I said as we got to the gas station.

"Fill 'er up buttercup." I chuckled looking at Ashton and holding out his food.

"I'm on it." He chuckled and took the bag and I turned off the car.

"Thank you for the food, it smells great." He said as he took a seat behind the counter and opened the containers of food, inhaling the smells drifting from it.

"No worries." I said.

"How has your day been?" I asked awkwardly.

"Busy but good. How was yours?" He asked.

"Busy, busy, and oh yea, busy." I said and he laughed and I just wanted to kiss those damn plump pretty pink lips.

"I can imagine, I heard great things about you from Keith and I've got to say, although you're a bit older, I wouldn't mind being your friend. Keith told me some things and well, I want to get to know you. You're a big part of his life so I want to get to know you too." He said and took a bite of the steak.

"This is so good. Keith wasn't lying when he said you could cook. Have you eaten?" He asked looking up at me with his big innocent looking lighter in the light now that I can see better brown eyes and sweet smile that makes my heart skip three beats.

"I snacked along the way." I said honestly and found myself with a piece of steak being shoved in my face.

"We simply can't have that. The chef must taste his creation." Ashton said innocently but the sexual tension was thick, which was mostly mine and it took everything in me not to mount him on the counter.

"So?" He asked innocently.

"It is good." I said and he disappeared and reappeared in a few minutes with a container and split his meal.

"Enjoy." He said smiling.

"Where did you...?" I began to ask.

"I went to the store and bought a few containers, some of Keith's needed replacing."

Before I left the gas station Ashton gave me his number. He bought more than just that it seemed as he pulled out a phone.

"Are you getting around ok with transportation?" I asked.

"I manage, getting things bit by bit. I have a few things on hold considering I don't have a car as of yet. I got a really nice TV in great condition off the internet, it's just picking it up from the person selling it and I want to do more clothes shopping but I'm only one person and carrying my bags would be a challenge, and I don't want to burden Keith being a cop and that's stressful as hell." He said and his concern for Keith is touching, it does seem like the bond is there even if he doesn't realize it, yet.

"Well how about this, if I'm not doing anything tomorrow or if I finish what I have to earlier than I expect then I can take you between three and four in the evening." I offered.

"That would be amazing, thank you Matthias." He said, throwing his arms around my neck and hugging me, feeling those incredible sparks again making me hard as hell. Fuck did he smell good. Like chocolate and roses.

"Anytime Ashton, I'll see you tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your shift." I said breaking from his hug and getting in my car.

"See you tomorrow da...Matthias." Daddy huh? Hmm I think I'm going to love hearing that from his angelic voice screaming it when I fuck his tight ass. Keith says the same thing and it from his voice gets me going so I can only imagine how it will be from Ashton.

God, I'm whipped for those two.